RENTON, Wash. — Wizards Of The Coast is releasing a new format to address concerns about Magic: The Gathering’s cost and complexity being an impediment to newcomers.
“Magic has been a beloved brand for more than 30 years, but we want to welcome new players of all abilities into our world. To address this, we’ve developed the ‘Barrier To Entry’ deck retailing for $200, which is quite reasonable considering the value of cards on the secondary market. The set features simplified foil-embossed card designs, and we’ve made adjustments to make it easier to learn and play,“ said Hasbro Marketing Representative Audrey Ryder. “Magic collectors will also love the new mechanics, additional mana colors, resized cards, and new sleeves and other accessories.”
Aspiring players are excited to purchase the new deck as a way to dip their towns in the Magic waters.
“Magic was popular when I was stationed in Afghanistan, but for obvious reasons, it was impossible to jump in,” said newcomer Crystal Rafferty. “When I returned stateside, the hostility to teaching a newcomer was more tense than the warzone. So the ‘Barrier To Entry’ set was perfect, but when I got home, I realized I just got the Land Deck. Once I buy the additional Spell Deck, Creature Deck, and required hardcover New Players Guide, I’ll be ready to hold my own at my local comic shop’s Friday Night Magic tournaments.”
Longtime players seem skeptical about incorporating yet another style of play.
“I have devoted decades of my life to MTG, learning dozens of formats, investing my Christmas money on the best Commanders I could get, scraping some of the best decks because of lame banlists only to build myself up again, but nothing makes me happier than nuking noobs and collecting antes,” said Tournament player Stephan Fulton. “But enough already! I love Magic, as anyone on the subreddit will tell you, but how many times do I have to grab up new decks, learn new play styles, deal with new house rules? Sure I’m grabbing the new set, but Hasbro will hear about this, they’ll have to send all the Pinkertons to shut me up!”
At press time, WOTC announced they will be sundowning the “Barrier to Entry” set, and announced a completely new product “Planescrawler” set for new players.
