Use This MTG Tournament Checklist Before Game Day

Whether you’re preparing for your first tournament or a seasoned grinder, there are things we can do to make our experience better and optimise our minds for the mental sport of Magic: The Gathering.

Even if you’re just attending to have a good time with friends, you need to make sure you’re equipped to go all the way if necessary. In this article, we’re going to go through a MTG tournament checklist to make sure you only have to worry about slinging spells.

Travel and Logistics – Plan Ahead

First things first, where in the multiverse is the tournament?! In the UK, we’re fortunate that we’re able to get to most locations and home again in the same day, however you could use an Airbnb with mates to ensure you’re well rested and avoid any unnecessary travel stress. In terms of getting there, road trips are fun, as are train journeys where, if you manage to get a table, you can even jam some games!

Check exactly where a tournament venue is in a city, they aren’t always as central as you might hope, and what this means for travel times.

Don’t forget to register too – this can usually be done online either via the Magic: The Gathering Companion App or the organiser’s website, or in person at the event – just check what’s required in advance. Look at the schedule for the day, including round times, so you can start to plot your day, from breaks to lunch.

Finally, a few essentials to make sure you have, besides your deck: you’ll need ID, proof of your deck registration, and a pen.

Deck and Cards – Prepare with Intention

We’ve talked about tournament prep – but we can’t forget about arguably the most important thing, your deck prep!

Firstly, make sure your deck is sleeved with quality MTG sleeves that will see a tournament through to the finals (many brands are available, but I do personally love Dragon Shields). New sleeves are important so there’s no scuffs or other markings that could be considered ‘marked’ (i.e. a mark that makes the card identifiable from the back), and ensure the colour is fully opaque. Spare sleeves are important too, in case any sleeves split or get marked in the process of playing.

In terms of the cards themselves, just double check everything in your deck is legal in the format you are playing – there are so many products released these days, from Commander Decks to Secret Lairs, that it can be hard to know exactly what new cards’ legality are, especially for Standard.

Play-test your deck too – not only to ensure you know what the cards do and how they interact, but also so you can play at a reasonable pace to complete your rounds in time and avoid unnecessary draws. You’ll be playing so much Magic: The Gathering on the day that anything you can do to ease the metal load will pay dividends, so knowing your deck inside out is a huge advantage.

Lastly, bring everything your deck requires with you – tokens, dice, a pad and pen to note life totals, and also any notes that will speed up your processes and ease the metal burden (e.g. simple sideboarding notes).

Tournament Gear – Bring the Essentials

We’ve touched on many of these items already, but here’s a full MTG tournament checklist:

• MTG Deck Box with your deck and sideboard
• MTG Playmat to keep your deck clean and unmarked
• Pad and pen to keep track of life totals and other notes (e.g. cards you’ve seen of theirs)
• Tokens for your deck, all clearly marked what they are
• Extra sleeves for your deck
• Dice and any other counters you may need
• Card divider within your deck box to keep main deck and sideboard separate

All of these accessories and more can be found here at Magic Madhouse – including with cool Magic: The Gathering artwork.

Physical Readiness – Stay Sharp on Game Day

Many players forget that MTG tournaments can be physically and mentally gruelling, especially if you go deep into the later rounds. The temptation can be to have a few drinks or a late dinner with friends the night before, especially if the tournament is a reunion with people you’ve not seen for a while. Do your best to try and save this for when the tournament is done so you can be fresh and at your mental peak.

Food too is essential. It can be hard finding good, nutritious food at tournaments, especially when you're in cities you’ve never been to before, or huge tournament halls with little choice but fast food. Try to plan ahead when and where you can get a proper meal, and bring your own snacks – fruit and nuts work really well, and can be found at any supermarket. Make sure you stay hydrated, with a bottle of water (or two!) you keep filled regularly, and avoid too much coffee or sugary drinks so you’re not having to deal with caffeine and sugar crashes.

Lastly, think about what you’re wearing to make sure you're comfortable all day.

Mental Prep – Stay Focused and Flexible

If you lose a game or match, keep calm and carry on, not letting errors or bad luck compound into further issues. Just take each round at a time rather than stress about your record – you can rally and win multiple rounds in a row from a losing record.

Most important of all – be kind, respectful, and a positive example to others. Magic: The Gathering is, at the end of the day, just a game, and we’re all here to have a good time. Keep your communication clear, be respectful to other players (and judges and other staff), and keep the pace of play reasonable. It’s ok to ‘tank’ for a moment (maybe even tell your opponent you need to think for a moment), but don’t drag your heels by getting distracted or even chatting to mates at other tables.

Post-Tournament Essentials – Wind Down and Reflect

Once the dust has settled, it’s time for a fair and honest reflection of how things went. Crucial to this is being honest about what you wanted from the day – was it about your competitive record (e.g. winning, or qualification), or was it just to have fun with friends. Being clear on your goals will allow you to assess the day fairly, and therefore what changes to make next time.

Matches can often come down to a few key moments and plays – so review these in your head, maybe even speak to others about them, to see what you can learn. It might be you made the correct play but still lost, or did the wrong thing and won – both are perfectly possible in a game like Magic with random elements.

After the event, you can help your future self by sorting your cards right away – e.g. de-sideboarding your deck so it’s ready to roll, or even deconstructing it if you know you won’t be playing that format again or if the deck is going to change due to rotation or bans. You can also make notes of changes you would make to your deck while it's fresh in your mind.

You’re likely to need new supplies too, especially new sleeves, or maybe even a binder to store those cards in (or any winnings you have, like a cool promo). All of those essentials for your MTG Tournament Checklist can be found right here on Magic Madhouse, as well as singles for your next tournament adventure!