Magic: The Gathering – Guide & 2026 Sets
The most useful thing before buying: which product suits which buyer. The difference between two boxes of cards can be enormous.
Techbox, Thessaloniki
What to buy – depending on who it is for
This is where the most expensive mistake happens. Two boxes can look identical and serve entirely different purposes.
A starter set or a ready-built Commander deck. These contain a playable game straight out of the box.
Play Boosters – packs of random cards, for building or improving a deck.
Collector Boosters – more expensive, with rare and special printings. Not for a beginner.
A Universes Beyond set – Marvel, Ninja Turtles, The Hobbit, Star Trek.
The most common miss: someone buys Collector Boosters for a beginner, assuming "the expensive one must be better". It is not – they contain beautiful cards to collect, not to play with. A beginner wants a ready-built deck.
The five colours
The whole of Magic rests on five colours. They are not decorative – they determine what each card does, and every player has their favourites.
Useful for a gift: if you know which colour they play, you already have half the answer. Players will tell you instantly – "I play blue-black".
The 2026 sets
Magic releases six to eight sets a year. Here is this year's schedule:
- Lorwyn Eclipsed – January
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – February
- Strixhaven – April
- Marvel Super Heroes – June
- The Hobbit – 14 August 2026
- Reality Fracture – October
- Star Trek – November
Reality Fracture in October concludes the game's current storyline – significant for anyone following the narrative.
Universes Beyond – when other worlds arrive
Wizards of the Coast – the same company that publishes Dungeons & Dragons – has for years been bringing other franchises into Magic.
2026 brought Ninja Turtles and Marvel sets, with The Hobbit and Star Trek to follow.
The Ninja Turtles set has one distinction worth knowing: the four headline cards were illustrated by Kevin Eastman – the original creator of the Turtles, back in 1984.
Commercially: these sets make an excellent gift for someone who loves the franchise without playing Magic – the cards work as collectibles in their own right.
Frequently asked questions
- What should I buy for someone who has never played?
- A starter set or a ready-built Commander deck. They contain a playable game out of the box. Do not buy Collector Boosters – those are for collectors, not for playing.
- What is the difference between the boosters?
- Play Boosters are for playing and deck-building. Collector Boosters are more expensive and contain rare, special printings – for collecting.
- What do the five colours mean?
- They determine what each card does: white order and protection, blue knowledge and control, black power at a price, red impulse and fire, green nature and size. Every player has their favourites.
- Which set is out now?
- The Hobbit, on 14 August 2026. Reality Fracture follows in October – concluding the current storyline – and Star Trek in November.
- Where can I find Magic cards in Thessaloniki?
- At the Techbox store (Al. Papanastasiou 100) and online at techbox.com.gr. You can order online and collect from the store with no shipping cost.
