Scheduling: Evergreen; available all season long and beyond; use the Magic Academy: Learn to Play scheduling template
Format: New Player Event
Rules Enforcement Level: Casual
Pairing Method: Player List Only
Material Support: 

• Welcome Decks for participants, available only in English; new decks will be sent to English-language WPN stores for Tarkir: Dragonstorm; stores in non-English regions use Foundations Beginner Box
• Learn-to-Play Brochure and pocket reference card for participants
• Sticker Sheets for participants

Gift-with-purchase promos should only be distributed during Magic Academy events. All promos and promotional materials are available while supplies last. For complete promo details, refer to the Promo Usage & Policies hub.

What is Magic Academy: Learn to Play?

Magic Academy: Learn to Play is a structured demo experience that makes teaching new players the game easier. It uses Welcome Decks (or Beginner Box decks) and instructional videos to do most of the heavy lifting allowing your staff to focus on individual customer needs. It's a great opportunity for existing players to bring interested friends to your store to embark on their Magic journey.

We recommend scheduling at least one Magic Academy: Learn to Play event ahead of time each season, but they can also be scheduled as needed for walk-in demos. Whenever you use a Welcome Deck to teach a new player the game, be sure to help them sign up for a Wizards Account and record it in Wizards EventLink using the Magic Academy: Learn to Play scheduling template. This will both contribute to your store's play metrics and demonstrate the efficacy of Welcome Decks, supporting our ability to continue to provide them.

How to Run Magic Academy: Learn to Play

1. If they don’t already have one, help players set up a Wizards Account and use it to register for the event; only players that register using a Wizards Account qualify to keep physical event materials. Recommend downloading the Magic Companion app and explain how they can sign up for events and track life totals right in the app.
2. Play the Magic Academy: Learn to Play introductory video on your play space display or direct players watch it on their mobile devices. In conjunction with the other learn-to-play materials, players will have all the information they need to play their first game.
3. Identify and point out staff and experienced players that new players can come to with rules questions or advice. If you still have Community Tutor Badges from the Foundations season, provide them to these individuals to signify them as a friendly helper.
4. Provide each participant with the following while supplies last:
• Welcome Deck (or Beginner Box deck)
• Learn-to-Play brochure
• Pocket reference card
• Sticker sheet

Pair players up for their first casual match. Each Welcome Deck comes with two 30-card half decks, each of a different color. Instruct players to take out their two decks and choose which color they'd like to try first. For their first game, they will only use one mono-colored half deck.
5. Once players have a game or two under their belt, suggest shuffling in the other half deck to experience multi-color Magic
6. Help players find additional opponents for more casual matches.
7. Share your event calendar and invite them back for their next event such as Magic Academy: Deck Building or Friday Night Magic.

Players that register for the Learn to Play event using an Arena-connected Wizards Account will automatically receive the following digital rewards:

• 1 introductory deck on Magic: The Gathering Arena
• Welcome Deck Cosmetic Sleeve on Magic: The Gathering Arena