• Learn the Basics of Magic the Gathering

• Choose Accessories for Magic the Gathering

• Find Magic the Gathering Cards on eBay

• Buy Magic the Gathering Cards with Confidence

Learn the Basics of Magic the Gathering

Learn the Basics of Magic the Gathering

Magic the Gathering is played with a core deck, or starter deck, of 60 cards and an optional 15-card Magic Booster Pack. (Individual cards are also available.) Each deck is unique, with its own fantastic characters and artwork, and each individual card is ranked as “common,” “uncommon,” or “rare”—the most sought-after of all.

The challenge is to win highly collectable cards from other players and earn points at the same time. As players amass more cards, they seek out particular cards or even entire decks to fill in gaps in their personal collections, cards that are unique and feature especially fantastic artwork, or cards that are in good or even mint condition (these can be quite valuable.)

Although Magic the Gathering is played with two people, tournaments with several players competing alongside one another are very popular, especially on college campuses and among die-hard collectors. Special tournament decks are often used and players may even continue competing for several hours until one of the players has run out of cards!

Choose Accessories for Magic the Gathering

Choose Accessories for Magic the Gathering

A good starting point for the novice Magic the Gathering aficionado is “Eighth Edition: Core Game.” This package includes two decks, two instructional comic books, a rulebook, and a CD-ROM tutorial. There are several other Magic-oriented strategy books, rulebooks, and even encyclopedias on the market as well.

There’s also a video game version of Magic the Gathering (for one or two players only) featuring 200+ creatures of infinite variety, and other challenges at various levels of difficulty. Or check out one of the novels based on the game’s characters and situations.

Especially important accessory investments: deck boxes, binders, sleeves, and cases to protect your cards. They’ll keep your collectables in mint condition through any important battle.

Find Magic the Gathering Cards on eBay

Find Magic the Gathering Cards on eBay

Once you know what type of Magic the Gathering cards you want, go to the Toys & Hobbies portal, click trading card games, and start searching for item listings on eBay.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You'll find links for Magic the Gathering and more. As you dig deeper into the site you'll also be able to narrow down your choice by brand.     

• Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a Beta Black Lotus card, type "Beta Black Lotus" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Magic the Gathering Cards with Confidence

Buy Magic the Gathering Cards with Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to C$1,250.

• eBay Security & Resolution Centre: Visit the Security & Resolution Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.