Spring semester is almost here! Magic Academy returns for the Aetherdrift season providing resources to help you introduce new players to Magic: The Gathering, connect them with your in-store play community, and keep them coming back. This two-part play program takes players through the basic pillars of the game with Magic Academy: Learn to Play and Magic Academy: Deck Building.

This introductory program provides a basic structure for teaching the game, but the most important thing to remember when teaching new players Magic: thoroughly explaining and enforcing the rules of the game are not important, what is most important is highlighting the fun and social aspects of Magic play!

Get a full refresher on this program for the Aetherdrift season in our article below, or jump ahead to the relevant section:

Scheduling Update
Promotional Materials
How to Run Magic Academy: Learn to Play
How to Run Magic Academy: Deck Building

**EventLink Scheduling Update—Magic Academy now Evergreen**

Beginning with Aetherdrift and moving forward, both Magic Academy events will be available as evergreen templates. This means that they will no longer be labeled as part of the current set’s season and can be scheduled anytime throughout the season or beyond—no functional change to the events themselves.

We recommend scheduling your Learn to Play event earlier in the season, allowing you to invite players back for the Deck Building event later in the season. Once they have learned the ropes, they will be ready to join the fun at other events you host such as Friday Night Magic or the following set’s Prerelease.

You can also schedule and report walk-in Magic Academy events on demand, the same day you're giving a demo to immediately connect new players with the reward materials and start them on their Magic journey. Reporting walk-in demos in this way helps demonstrate to Wizards of the Coast the efficacy of learn-to-play materials such as Welcome Decks, supporting our ability to continue to provide them in the future.

As always, the earlier you schedule, the more time your events will be advertised on our Store and Event Locator. If you haven't yet, be sure to schedule these events in Wizards EventLink today.

Promotional Materials: Additional Welcome Decks Coming for Aetherdrift Season*

Ahead of the Aetherdrift season, English-speaking stores will receive a fresh batch of Welcome Decks to use at Magic Academy Events. Other program materials will be resupplied for the Tarkir: Dragonstorm season. Players must register for their event using a Wizards Account (not a guest account) to qualify for physical reward materials.

Magic Academy events ran during the Aetherdrift season will continue to use the learn-to-play materials sent to stores ahead of the Magic: The Gathering Foundations season:

Welcome Decks: for Learn to Play participants to try their first game of Magic and take home at organizer discretion (English-language stores only; non-English stores will continue to support the event with the Magic: The Gathering Foundations Beginner Box)
Learn-to-Play Brochure and pocket reference card: for players to reference as needed throughout the event
Darksteel Colossus Promo: provided to event participants that also purchase a Magic: The Gathering Foundations Beginner Box, Magic: The Gathering Foundations Starter Collection, or any Starter Kit. Magic Academy: Deck Building participants that purchased 6 Play Boosters with their entry also receive a promo.
Sticker Sheets: provided to all participants—for extra snazzy fun!

*For the Aetherdrift season, English-language stores will receive a resupply of Welcome Decks, but not the other associated program materials; please continue to use the other materials from your Foundations season supply until they run out. All stores will receive a new quantity of Sticker Sheets for participants.

**How to Run Magic Academy: Learn to Play**

Part one of Magic Academy is the Learn to Play event where brand new players learn and practice the basics Magic gameplay. We recommend running it like this:

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 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.
Play the Magic Academy: Learn to Play introductory video on your play-space display (or direct players to do so 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.
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.
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 would like to try first. For their first game, they will only use one mono-colored half deck.
Once players have a game or two under their belt, suggest shuffling in the other half deck to experience multi-color Magic
Help players find additional opponents for more casual matches.
Share your event calendar and invite them back for their next event: Magic Academy: Deck Building.
Provide any player that also purchases a Beginner Box, Starter Collection, or any Starter Kit with a Darksteel Colossus promo card (Wizards Account registration required to receive promo).

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

**How to Run Magic Academy: Deck Building**

Part two of Magic Academy is the Deck Building event where new players learn the basics of constructing a deck. We recommend running it like this:

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.
Play the Magic Academy: Deck Building introductory video on your play-space display (or direct players to do so on their mobile devices). In conjunction with the other learn-to-play materials, players will have all the information they need to build their first 40-card deck.
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.
Provide each participant with the following while supplies last:

6 Play Boosters (we recommend incorporating the cost of these boosters in your event entry fee)
Learn-to-Play brochure
Pocket reference card
Sticker sheet

Instruct players to open their packs, review their cards, and build their first deck referencing the instructional video as needed on their mobile device.
Once completed, have a staff member or experienced player review their deck build to provide tips and advice (and praise!).
Pair players up for their first casual match. Encourage players to share their decks with one another before playing and to keep the conversation going throughout play. This experience is about learning and having fun, not competition.
Help players find additional opponents for more casual matches.
Share your event calendar and invite them back for their next event such as Friday Night Magic or Prerelease.
Provide all players with a Darksteel Colossus promo card (Wizards Account registration required to receive promo).

Players that register for the Deck Building event using an Arena-connected Wizards Account will automatically receive the following digital reward:

6 Magic: The Gathering Foundations packs on Magic: The Gathering Arena

Magic Academy is Just the Start—Keep Them Playing

Once your players have completed their Magic Academy experience, encourage them to keep playing however they’re most comfortable. Invite them to your next Friday Night Magic or Prerelease, suggest new player friendly products they can play at home such as the Beginner Box, and recommend getting some practice under their belt using Magic: The Gathering Arena. The more they engage with the game the more likely they are to return to your store to purchase and play.

Don’t wait! Schedule your Magic Academy events for the Aetherdrift season in Wizards EventLink today.

Magic Presents: Spring Flourishes Planning Guide

Magic Academy Overview: Aetherdrift