MTG: A Guide to Jumpstart – Crack Some Packs
Never played Magic before? No problem! Jumpstart is the perfect way to get in and start playing fast.
Greetings, fellow Planeswalkers and Praetors! Magic the Gathering is a fantastic game and has been the top TCG for many years for a reason. One of the most exciting parts of playing is deckbuilding. From hardcore Standard players to more casual EDH, crafting the perfect mix of creatures, spells, and artifacts is the best part of Magic for some people.
However, building a deck can be daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. How do you know which cards are good? Are you sure that the card you like the art for is good in your deck?
That’s where Jumpstart comes in! As the name suggests, it allows you to jump right into a game without all the fuss of building a deck. However, it still might be scary to folks that have never seen it before. After all, Jumpstart sets usually only have throwaway cards. It can’t be that good, right? Well, wary traveler, take a look at this handy guide and decide for yourself!
What is Jumpstart?
Jumpstart is a title added to a series of beginner-focused supplement sets designed for quick play. The first Jumpstart was released back in 2020 and was closely tied to the Core Set 2021, another “beginner-friendly” set. It was originally meant to be released in June of 2020 but was pushed back to July due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jumpstart combines the speed and excitement of sealed gameplay with old-school “shuffle up and play” rules. The idea was that players could crack two Jumpstart packs, shuffle them together, and get right into playing. Each pack is based around a theme, sometimes typical like Elves or Hydras to gimmicks like Cantrips or the number thirteen. You get 20 cards per pack, including lands, so it’s super simple to get brewing right away.
Each theme works well with the others, so you aren’t going to get messed up playing this way. However, there is still a variant rarity; some themes are rarer than others, and within each theme, there are several possible combinations. It’s still a luck-of-the-draw style set, but it’s a great way to teach new players about sealed and prerelease events.
Is it Just One Set?
Since Jumpstart’s inception, several sets have included a Jumpstart supplement. The entire Invasion of New Phyrexia cycle had Jumpstart releases, as did the Tales of Middle-earth set. In December of 2023, another Middle-earth-themed set will be released, chock-full of brand-new cards to power up your deck.
Each set changes the themes around a little. Where the All Will Be One Jumpstart packs included Phyrexians and Rebels, the LotR packs have Hobbits, Elves, and Orcs. This thematic coding is designed to make Jumpstart run alongside the current run of sets, making them interchangeable. If you want to practice for an upcoming Draft at your favorite game store, Jumpstart is a great way to get a feel of the themes.
Is it Just Reprints?
It is not! Jumpstart does boast several reprints from both beginner Core Sets and sets from the past. However, there are also brand new cards printed just for Jumpstart that haven’t been available anywhere else. One notable example is Ashcoat, a Rat Warlock that almost knocked Marrow-Gnawer off his throne as king of the rats. Since her release, she has become a staple in both Modern and EDH rat-themed decks.
What are the Themes?
The themes depend entirely on which Jumpstart set you’re looking for. At the time of writing, the upcoming Tales of Middle-earth set has only revealed five themes, but they look amazing. White has Mortals, Blue has Cunning, Black has Orcish, Red has Riders, and Green has Elven. These themes go perfectly with the cards released in the Tales set, and empower them even further. As more sets are released, it’s likely more Jumpstart sets will be released alongside them.
