What Magic: the Gathering Core Are You?

Amanda Monell

5 Min Quiz

Image: Alpha Investments via YouTube

About This Quiz

If you know your way around a card-riddled battlefield, have had cards tossed into your graveyard callously and can calculate your next moves, you have survived a game of Magic: the Gathering. With its expansive library, M:tG is not only one of the pioneers of the collectible card playing industry, but it is also considered the hardest game playable. It is one of the only real-world games that has stumped computers. So if you've won a game, even just one, it is no small feat. But why is it so hard?

Magic: the Gathering may be considered a simple game compared to the other fantasy roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons. However, it is in its simplicity that it becomes so challenging. Instead of being pulled into a dungeon where maps and miniatures are used, M:tG relies more on an imaginary plane and that is only the tip of the iceberg. When you step onto the battlefield of an M:tG game it is almost like you're locking minds with your opponents. You'd have to gauge their abilities and bank on certain little things like reading their tells, their deck size and even what kind of mood the opposition was when they took their seats.

So out of the 20 Magic: the Gathering core sets out there, which one are you? Cut your deck, deal your hand and head out to our battlefield!

Before playing Magic: the Gathering, what other fantasy games have you played?

Dungeons & Dragons

Warhammer
Any of the Legend of Zelda games

Any of the Final Fantasy games

How were you introduced to the world of Magic: the Gathering?

I was at school.

A friend introduced me.
It was in a game shop.

It was in a department store.

Who would win in a fight, a Serra Angel or a Sengir Vampire?

It would depend on how long the vampire has been out on the field.

It would be a draw.
Definitely the vampire

Undoubtedly, the angel

Do you know what mana type you tap the most?

Plains

Islands
Forests

Mountains

When you want to bring on the heat, you should use a mountain deck; what mountain dweller is in your library?

Ripscale Predator

Orgg
Bogardan Hellkite

Shivan Dragon

Have you ever considered playing M:tG competitively?

Nah, I just like to play with my friends.

At one time, I did.
I have and I didn't do very well.

I have and won a prize.

Before he was a planeswalker, Nicol Bolas terrorized players with the elder dragons; what dragon would you use?

Vaevictis Asmadi

Chromium
I've never heard of the elder dragons.

Nicol Bolas is the only one still around, so him.

Known for its doom and gloom motif, a swamp deck is ideal for the horror fan. What swamp creature is your favorite?

Nightmare

Lord of the Pit
Royal Assassin

Rotting Regisaur

What size is your card library?

It's tiny; I'm always adding cards between games.

It is immense: I'm often removing cards between games.
It's average-sized.

It's slightly larger than normal.

Aside from the Sengir Vampires, which of these blood drinkers is your favorite?

Krovikan Vampire

Barony Vampire
Vampire Aristocrat

Vampire of the Dire Moon

Who is your favorite planeswalker?

Nicol Bolas

Liliana Vess
Ajani Goldmane

Chandra Nalaar

What banned card are you dying to play with?

Chaos Orb

Sol Ring
Wheel of Fortune

Deathrite Shaman

How long have you been playing the game?

A few months

Over a decade
A few years

Almost a decade

Get your deck ready, it's game night! Where are you about to play?

At home

At a friend's house
At a coffeehouse

At a game shop

While playing against a newbie, they come across a combo that could end the game. Do you let them know?

Of course

It depends on the newbie.
I would expect others to do it for me.

No, they should know their cards.

Common in all of Magic: the Gathering, goblins are aplenty; which goblin card would you use?

Goblin Balloon Brigade

Goblin King
Goblin Piker

Goblin Bird-Grabber

Have you ever played two-headed giant?

I have and I loved it.

I have and I wasn't a fan of it.
I did, and it confused me.

No

Boom! Your opponent just dropped a big old nasty creature onto the battlefield. How do you react?

I start figuring a way to destroy it.

I freak out.
I ask to see the card so I can read more about it.

I don't sweat it, I know my army will cover me for a couple of turns.

Grab your galoshes, it's time to look at the wet and murky island cards. What creature of the air or sea would you want in your deck?

Leviathan

Prodigal Sorcerer
Clone

Octoprophet

Which of these spells would you use to destroy an opponent?

Fireball

Volcanic Eruption
Earthquake

Flame Sweep

Do you use card protectors?

No

Only on my good cards
Only on my competitive decks

Absolutely

What dual land from the 2020 Core Set is going to be tossed into your deck?

Temple of Mastery

Field of the Dead
Dismal Blackwater

Blossoming Sands

Your opponent has just played a card that makes you discard your whole hand. How do you react?

I grab my new hand and hope something comes to me.

I smirk but that's all.
I get a little upset.

I freak out.

A forest deck, ideal for the nature lover, celebrates the wildness of nature; which of these cards makes it into your deck?

Force of Nature

Craw Giant
Awakener Druid

Cavalier of Thorns

What would you do if a player broke out snacks that could damage your cards?

I ask if they brought anything to share.

I just watch everything closely.
I ask that they put their food away.

I insist that they put their food away.

Where do you store your extra cards?

I keep them in card boxes.

I keep them in binders.
I put them in an empty deck box.

I really don't have any cards that I'm not using.

What artifact from Fourth Edition would you want to add to your deck?

Winter Orb

Howling Mine
The Hive

Rod of Ruin

Known for its healing and pure creatures, a plains deck is perfect for those who are still learning the rules. Which white creature is at the top of your library?

Serra Angel

Mesa Pegasus
Pearled Unicorn

Cavalier of Dawn

In a typical game, how many moves do you plan in advance?

It truthfully depends on the game.

It depends on how well I know the opponent.
I try to play one or two in advance.

I never plan anything.

You are introducing a friend to Magic: the Gathering by playing a practice hand with them. When you come across a combo that would end the game, what do you do?

I toss one of the cards in my graveyard.

I ignore the combo that I know could end the game.
I stall playing the combo.

I end the game.

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