Magic: The Gathering, the popular trading card game from Wizards of the Coast, has a long history of providing free sample products to attract new players. These samples range from physical decks handed out at events to digital promo packs obtained through video game purchases. For UK consumers, these offers provide a no-cost way to experience the game without purchasing a starter kit. This article details the types of free samples available, their distribution methods, and the historical context, based exclusively on official information.
Understanding Magic: The Gathering Samplers
Samplers in Magic: The Gathering are defined as decks or booster packs given away as free products to advertise the game. They are typically handed out at conventions and distributed to game stores for potential new players. The primary goal is to lower the barrier to entry, allowing individuals to try the game with pre-constructed, ready-to-play decks. Starting in 2013, sample decks were also used at the yearly Magic Celebration event. Since 2016, these have been advertised as welcome decks and welcome boosters.
These promotional items are distinct from standard retail products. They often contain a curated selection of cards designed to teach basic gameplay mechanics. The composition can vary, but they frequently feature cards from recent sets alongside reprints of older, foundational cards to ensure a balanced and educational experience.
Historical Starter Products and Demo Games
Before the standardisation of welcome decks, Magic: The Gathering released several starter products that included demo game boosters. These were foundational samples aimed at new players.
Portal and Portal Second Age
The Portal set, released in 1997, was specifically designed for beginners. Its demo game boosters contained 24 cards, forming two mini-decks (one red/black and one green/white) that only contained lands and creatures. This simplified the initial gameplay experience. Each booster included a "how to play" information sheet and a tip card to guide new players. Notably, some cards in these packs were printed with either flavour text or reminder text that differed from their regular booster pack counterparts, making them unique collectibles.
Starter 1999
The Starter 1999 set included demo game boosters that contained 24 cards. These boosters featured eight cards from the Starter Game Box that were not available in regular boosters, providing exclusive content. In addition to the cards, the pack included a tip card, a rebate card, and an instruction sheet, offering a comprehensive introduction to the game. Everything needed for two players to play their first game was included.
Starter 2000
The Starter 2000 set came with two types of sample products: 24-card demo game boosters and 10-card sampler packs. The demo game boosters followed the same format as previous starters, providing a complete two-player introduction. The 10-card samplers offered a smaller, curated selection of cards from the set.
Core Set Samplers and Sample Decks
As the game evolved, core sets began to include their own sample products, which eventually transitioned into the modern welcome deck programme.
Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Editions
Seventh Edition introduced 10-card sampler packs. Eighth Edition continued this trend, offering both 22-card demogame boosters and 10-card sampler packs. The demogame formed two mini-decks (red/black and green/white) containing only lands and creatures, accompanied by a "how to play" information sheet. Ninth Edition's demo game was identical to Eighth Edition's. Each Ninth Edition 10-card sampler contained a specific selection of cards, which were listed in official sources.
Tenth Edition and the Transition to Preconstructed Decks
Tenth Edition marked a significant shift. It came with preconstructed decks, a format that would become standard. From Magic 2011 onwards, each core set included these preconstructed decks. Initially, there were ten different decklists. From Magic 2013 onwards, this was streamlined to five distinct decks. These decks mostly contained cards from the relevant core set, though a few cards from previous blocks were sometimes included to add variety and teach older mechanics.
The Welcome Deck Programme
In June 2016, the modern Welcome Deck programme was launched. Five monocoloured 30-card ready-to-play decks became available as free sample decks at Wizards Play Network locations around the world. These decks were also available in Booster Battle Packs. The Welcome decks are distributed for free by Wizards of the Coast, enabling game stores to give them away to new or potential Magic players. This programme is ongoing, with the Welcome decks being renewed each year to reflect the current game environment and card pool.
The Welcome decks are designed to be immediately playable. Each deck focuses on a single colour, teaching the core philosophies and mechanics associated with that colour. For example, a red deck might focus on direct damage and aggression, while a green deck emphasises creature growth and mana acceleration. By offering five distinct decks, new players can try different playstyles to discover what they enjoy most.
Digital Promo Packs from Duels of the Planeswalkers
Beyond physical samples, Wizards of the Coast has also distributed free card samples through digital means, specifically via the Duels of the Planeswalkers video game series. These games served as a digital entry point to the game, and purchasing them often came with physical promo packs.
Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013
With each copy of Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013, a six-card sampler (or "promo pack") could be obtained by redeeming a unique code on the official Wizards Duels of the Planeswalkers site. The contents of the pack varied depending on the platform: * Steam, iPad, and Android: Scavenging Ooze * PlayStation 3: Bonescythe Sliver * Xbox 360: Ogre Battledriver
Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014 and 2015
The 2014 iteration also offered six-card promo packs, though the specific card distribution for each platform is not detailed in the available sources. For Duels of the Planeswalkers 2015, the six-card promo packs contained five random cards from Magic 2013 and one Alternate Art promo card, the specific nature of which was dependent on the system the game was purchased for.
These digital-to-physical promo packs provided a tangible reward for engaging with the digital version of the game, effectively bridging the gap between the video game and the physical trading card game.
How UK Consumers Can Access Free Samples
Based on the provided information, the primary method for obtaining free Magic: The Gathering samples in the UK is through authorised game stores that are part of the Wizards Play Network. These stores receive annual allocations of Welcome decks and are instructed to distribute them to interested individuals. There is no mention of a direct mail-in sample programme or an online sign-up form for physical samples in the source data. The distribution is managed at the retail level.
For digital promo packs, the process involves purchasing a specific video game title and redeeming a unique code through an official website. This is a promotional tie-in rather than a standalone sample request.
It is important to note that the availability of these samples is not guaranteed at every store and is subject to the store's discretion and stock levels. The annual renewal of Welcome decks means that the specific cards available will change over time, but the programme itself is a consistent offering from Wizards of the Coast.
Conclusion
Magic: The Gathering has employed a multi-faceted strategy for distributing free samples to attract new players in the UK. Historically, this included demo game boosters and sampler packs within starter sets and core sets. Since 2016, the standardised Welcome Deck programme has provided five free, monocoloured, 30-card decks through game stores. Additionally, purchasing specific video game titles has occasionally granted access to digital promo packs containing physical cards. For consumers, the most reliable way to obtain these free samples is to visit a local game store that participates in the Wizards Play Network and inquire about the availability of Welcome decks. The information presented is based on historical and current official distribution methods as documented in the provided sources.