Budget Magic Decks: The Best Way to Start Playing

Which budget deck do you need to start Magic?

The best starting point depends on your playgroup. If someone teaches you with borrowed decks, learn before buying. If your group plays Commander, you need a legal list for that format; adding a legendary creature does not automatically turn a single-colour pack into Commander.

Your situation	What to seek	What to check first
Never played	A guided game with borrowed decks or a learning product	Someone can teach and both players have materials
Want to build and try colours	An affordable card pack	Required lands and whether you must select the list
Want to open and play	A prepared deck for the agreed format	List, lands, language and availability
Friends play Commander	A rules-compliant 100-card deck	Colour identity, copies and suitable power

If you do not yet understand turns, our first Magic game guide includes an opening hand and explained combat.

What the Deck Lab pack includes and the total cost

Our starter catalogue features 100-card single-colour packs for learning and building. These are configured reference prices, excluding shipping:

Selection	Cards received	Reference price
Base pack	100 cards	€5
Pack and 30 lands	130 cards	€7
Pack, 30 lands and commander	131 cards	€8.50

Lands are a €2 extra and the commander a €1.50 extra. They are optional if you already have them, but beginners must account for the lands needed to build.

Receiving 131 cards does not mean a 131-card Commander deck. Select exactly 100 including the commander, respecting colour identity, copy restrictions and legality. A pack with variable contents cannot guarantee a specific list either.

From a collection to your first deck

For a casual 60-card learning game, start with an illustrative structure of 24 lands, 24 creatures and 12 other spells. This is an example distribution, not a product list or a recipe for every deck.

1. Choose a colour and separate cards payable with its lands.
2. Choose creatures at different costs, with several early options.
3. Add simple spells demonstrating a role: answering a creature, protecting or drawing.
4. Count to 60 and check that the selection works with your lands.
5. Test opening hands and play. If you can rarely act early, review costs and lands.

Do not put every pack card in the deck merely because you own it. For competition in a specific format, also check its rules and legal cards.

Choosing a colour simply

Colour	What you can practise	A question to help choose
White	Supporting and protecting creatures	Do you enjoy cards working together?
Blue	Timing responses and managing your hand	Prefer saving resources for later?
Black	Trading resources and using the graveyard	Enjoy recovering cards or sacrificing?
Red	Attacking and using damage	Prefer a direct plan?
Green	Producing mana and playing creatures	Want to learn through combat?

Colour does not guarantee difficulty: card text determines it. Fewer different abilities are usually easier to teach than many exceptions.

When not to choose a building pack

• If you need to play immediately without selecting cards or adding lands.
• If you want an identical published list: ask for the product’s exact list.
• If you expect a tournament-legal deck without checking the cards.
• If you have a near deadline and the product cannot be purchased.

A tutorial product may suit learning as a pair better. Wizards distinguishes its Beginner Box for learning and deckbuilding products, for example. Compare each option’s contents and current price, not just card count.

Booster packs or a prepared deck?

For a specific playable list, known deck contents reduce uncertainty. Boosters make sense for opening for fun or playing Draft, but do not guarantee the cards your planned deck needs.

If your group plays Commander

First read what Commander is and ask what experience the table expects. Do not infer power solely from price.

Compare budget Commander lists or request a custom Commander deck. For a commission, confirm the proposal, final price and timing before committing; it is different from an in-stock deck shipping immediately.

Checklist before buying

• Will I play casual, Commander or another format?
• Am I receiving a playable list or cards to select from?
• Are lands and, where relevant, the commander included?
• Do I know language, condition and whether contents vary?
• Have I counted extras and shipping?
• Is it available by the date I need it?

Content reviewed: 4 September 2026. The prices above describe Deck Lab’s currently paused reference catalogue.