When I first started playing MTG I lost. In fact I lost a lot. Not only did I lose a lot, I lost is a spectacular fashion. I clearly remember one game in which I was running a deck full of big heavies with just ten manna where I spent the entire game loosing to a single Sage Owl who I was powerless to stop. As you can imagine, I was tempted to quit playing, but I didn’t and slowly my game started to improve. Soon not only was I winning more games, but I actually was starting to place in tournaments. It was a long road, but during that time I learned an important lesson. You can learn a lot from losing.
No matter who you are, or how long you have been playing, you will loose a game every now and then. The trick is to not let a loss discourage you, but instead try to use the loss to improve your game. While it is easy to say this, it is quite another story when it actually comes to practicing this fact. This is the very reason I have compiled the following tips.
Tip number One: Write down game information
Yes, writing down each turn on a piece of paper can slow down the game. However, if you want to learn from a loss, one of the most important things to do is keep track of how you got beat. Don’t worry about recording every single turn. Instead write down the creatures or spells your opponent played that caused you problems. For example, if every creature you put down got nuked right away, jot down the names of the cards that did the nuking. Also make sure to write down the things your deck did well.
Tip number Two: Review your game information
It does absolutely no good for you to write down information about a game if you never look at it again. Find some time to sit down and look at your notes. If possible look at cards that caused you problems. Examine the reason why those cards caused you problems. Also, find out what your deck did wrong. Was it to manna heavy? Were you unable to get creatures out quick enough to be effective? Ask yourself all the questions you can think of.
Tip number Three: Ask a vet how to improve
No one likes to ask for advice. However, if you plan to be a good player, you will have to ask someone a question at some point. If there is one thing most MTG players have in common, it is a love of talking about how awesome they are. Use this fact to your advantage. If you really can’t approach someone local, use the internet. There are tons of MTG sites dedicated to improving play. Visit these sites often and don’t be afraid to ask questions in forums and blogs. Not only will you learn something, but other people will as well.
In the end, winning at MTG is a process. You probably won’t start out as a pro caliber player, but neither did anyone who went pro. Take time to learn what you can, apply it, and pretty soon you will start winning as well.
