What Magic: the Gathering Core Are You?

By: Amanda Monell
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
What Magic: the Gathering Core Are You?
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

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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.

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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

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Do you know what mana type you tap the most?
Plains
Islands
Forests
Mountains

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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Aside from the Sengir Vampires, which of these blood drinkers is your favorite?
Krovikan Vampire
Barony Vampire
Vampire Aristocrat
Vampire of the Dire Moon

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Who is your favorite planeswalker?
Nicol Bolas
Liliana Vess
Ajani Goldmane
Chandra Nalaar

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What banned card are you dying to play with?
Chaos Orb
Sol Ring
Wheel of Fortune
Deathrite Shaman

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How long have you been playing the game?
A few months
Over a decade
A few years
Almost a decade

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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Which of these spells would you use to destroy an opponent?
Fireball
Volcanic Eruption
Earthquake
Flame Sweep

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Do you use card protectors?
No
Only on my good cards
Only on my competitive decks
Absolutely

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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What artifact from Fourth Edition would you want to add to your deck?
Winter Orb
Howling Mine
The Hive
Rod of Ruin

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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

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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.

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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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You Got: