Learn to play MTG online
New to Magic: The Gathering? Three short guided lessons teach you to play lands, cast spells, attack and choose targets, against an AI opponent in your browser. No deck needed.
Free account required. No download. Alpha: expect bugs.
Start a lesson
Sign in
Open the game and sign in with a free account. The first time, a short site walkthrough shows you around; you can replay it from Learn to play whenever you like.
Open Learn to play
On the home screen, press Start learning. The lessons are listed in order, each with a short summary.
Press Start lesson
Each lesson sets up a game against an AI opponent with the cards it needs, so you don't need a deck of your own. Hints walk you through each step as you play.
Replay any time
Completed lessons are ticked off and can be replayed. Lessons don't count toward your game record, and your progress is saved in your browser.
The three lessons
Play cards and pay mana
Play a Forest from your hand, then cast Grizzly Bears with the mana your lands make. You can normally play one land a turn. Auto-pay taps your lands for you, or you can choose which to tap. Your creature goes on the stack first, and enters the battlefield when it resolves.
Attack with a creature
Move to combat, choose Grizzly Bears as an attacker and confirm the attack. Pass priority through combat, and your unblocked 2/2 deals 2 damage to your opponent.
Choose a spell's target
Cast Lightning Bolt with one red mana and aim it at the opponent's Grizzly Bears. Targets are chosen before a spell goes on the stack. When it resolves, its 3 damage destroys the 2/2.
Magic in a minute
Each player starts at 20 life, or 40 in Commander. You win by bringing your opponents to 0. On your turn you untap, draw a card, play up to one land, cast spells and attack.
Lands make mana, and every spell has a mana cost. Creatures stay on the battlefield and fight; instants and sorceries have a one-off effect and go to the graveyard.
Spells and abilities go on the stack before they happen, and players can respond to them. On the Stack handles the stack, priority, combat and triggers for you. Press Space, or Resolve, to pass priority when you're done.
After the lessons
Pick a starter deck, or build or import one in the deck editor, then play a full game. A game against AI at Easy is a gentle first match; see the AI play guide to set one up.
When you're ready to play with friends, the Commander guide shows how to invite your group. Only supported cards can be played yet; the sets page shows which.
Learn Magic for free, in your browser
There is no download, no card purchase and no card unlocking. You do need a free account. On the Stack is in alpha, so expect bugs; report problems from the game's menu.
Start learning for free