Let’s just face it. There is something we can each be good at in Magic. So what is one of the easiest things to be good at in this game we have come to love? Could it be trading? Maintaining a collection? Netdecking? Nope. In my opinion, everyone is capable of being good at losing in Magic.

"But Watchwolf, why would I want to learn how to lose at Magic?"

Great question, me. While no one enjoys losing at Magic, it is a game, and every game has a winner and loser (except for those that result in draws). Personally, I feel like I have been on the losing end for quite a while. There is nothing wrong with this though; it only feels like a waste of time if you cannot learn from the mistakes that you make.

It was Thomas Edison who once said, "I have successfully discovered 1000 ways to not make a light bulb." This sets a precedent for how people should think about their "failures" in the future. It is important not to treat losing as a bad thing. Win or lose, there are many lessons to be learned. We need to be able to look back and try to observe what went wrong and how to prevent it in the future. For that reason, I wish to discuss topics that if not handled properly will lead to defeat.

Let’s start off with something easy:

Mulliganing

There are many aspects to mulliganing that can cause people to lose at Magic, but in my opinion, the biggest disadvantage is the mental one. A lot of people mulligan once or twice and feel like they already lost the game. Even worse, people try to convince themselves that their one land keep was justified because they didn’t want to mulligan again down to five cards. Card advantage can be made up with a nice two for one or the inherent power of your deck. However, the mental wound of mulliganing down to five cards is not to be underestimated.

What are the possible cures for not being able to keep your head in the game when you are two cards down? The first one would to have a mentality, "I play with the cards I am given." This idea is much easier for those who practice it in life, but it can help in a pinch. You shouldn’t be worrying about what could have been in your opening hand; you should only worry about what you have and what you have access to in your draws.

Another decent strategy is to take risks. Let’s just face it: if you are two cards down, what are the chances that you will win a long, grindy game? Depending on your deck, I suppose you can if it generates enough card advantage or has a lot of inherent power, but most of the time you want the game to end as quickly as possible. There have been times where even though I mulliganed down to five cards, I was able to win the game with my opponent having three or four cards in their hand. Sometimes your opponent may just have dead cards in their hand or they are expensive and haven’t had enough time or mana to play the card. This leads to a situation where, in essence, you both mulliganed down to five cards instead of just you being down.

Even if you know that your opponent could have a trick to three for one you if you take a risk, sometimes you need to go for it anyways. If you play it safe, you will feel the effects of being down two cards. If you risk it you may lose a game you would have lost anyways, but you may also simply win the game straight up if they have nothing. Going all-in is not always a bad thing. In Limited, I have been fearless with Dark Favor on Tormented Soul against my blue opponents. Sometimes, you need to load everything up on your one creature and hope that your Predator’s Gambit just gets there. Desperate times call for desperate measures, but if you believe that you lost the game before it even started, there is nothing you can do.

How about we look at an example of where mulliganing and being ahead strong truly mattered?

The last round camera feature match during Day 1 of Grand Prix Anaheim had Paul Rietzl facing a Jund opponent. The commentators noted how Rietzl could have kept his five card slow hand of (I believe) Fiend Hunter, Hellrider, and lands, but Rietzl tanked and then mulliganed down to four. He had a blazing start (on the play) of Champion of the Parish, into Gather the Townsfolk, into Stromkirk Noble. His Jund opponent played land, land, land Borderland Ranger. Rietzl simply attacked into the Borderland Ranger, Fiend Huntered the opponent’s Olivia Voldaren next turn, and then won the game with a Brimstone Volley off of the top.

Was Rietzl lucky?

In my opinion, yes and no. Sure, he was lucky that he drew a sequence of aggressive cards that allowed him to win the game blisteringly fast. However, he made this luck happen. He deemed his first three hands unworthy to win the game, so he mulliganed down to four. He gave himself the chance to win and was rewarded for this decision.

One thing that wasn’t quite highlighted enough was the fact that the Jund opponent also caused his own demise. Look at how slow that draw was: land, land, land and Borderland Ranger, land and Olivia Voldaren. This hand can never beat a one-drop from Rietzl. Having an opening hand of lands and spells isn’t always enough; the decision to mulligan or not influences the course of the whole game. The game I just brought up was a prime example on both ends.

How about we discuss another route to losing?

Pace of Play: Thinking Through Your Options

No, I am not talking about tempo or any of those technical Magic terms that refer to how fast the game is developing. I am simply talking about the pace of one’s play. You know, how fast or slow someone is physically playing. It is important to be able to play at a pace that is comfortable to you.

Psychology studies have been done with regards to education, learning, and test taking. If someone learns or studies in an environment or mood, then it is easier for them to recall information and perform better if they are in a similar environment or mood. This can be done in Magic too.

For instance, music is a good way to stay in rhythm and at your own pace. Many tournament settings will allow you to play music while playing your match as long as you can still communicate with your opponent. Obviously, you can do the same on Magic Online as well. Now if you always play Magic while listening to music (especially the same songs, like a Magic playlist), then it will be easier for you to concentrate and think of the right play.

In terms of thinking, there should be perhaps a to-do list (a mental checklist, if you will). You can either try to stick to a game plan, or you can simply try to make the play that gives you the greatest chance at victory. While the latter strategy seems like it should always be better, the former strategy is not to be underestimated. Sometimes being stubborn and sticking to a strategy can get people far. Look at the Patrick Sullivan and Paul Rietzl of the Magic world. They know how to stick to what they believe in and enjoy playing.

If you want to lose at Magic, all you have to do is lose sight of your goal. Sometimes you can even get absorbed in your opponent’s rhythm. I have had friends that play Magic relatively quickly. In return, their opponents would also play quickly to try to keep up with my friend. Misplays would occur, and my buddy would win games he shouldn’t have.

On a personal level, I play Magic just to have fun and make friends. However, when I play Magic I try to have a range of personalities that I can play as. There is always the happy-go-lucky Jonathan Sukenik that everyone loves. When the situation calls for it, I can be the stone-faced person that is just focused on the game and won’t speak much outside of the game. In the end, people are never just one person. People have different sides to them, and it is important to bring out the person you need to be when the situation calls for it. In layman’s terms, you should either play the same why every time to stay in your own rhythm, or you should be able to have multiple ways of acting that make you feel comfortable.

Now that we got a couple big topics out of the way, let’s talk about some minor things that can cause you to lose at Magic:

Not Worrying About Your Health

This is one that I speak about from experience. It was around September or October last year, and I needed to get to 45 Qualifier Points on weekends only. This is because I was taking 23 credits and had to really study hard during the week. As a result, I would lock myself up in my apartment from Friday night to Monday morning and only have two meals in that period of time. I wouldn’t feel tired, but I found my success going down. It wasn’t because I was quad-queuing or anything; it was something much simpler than that. I was not living a healthy life.

My body was disappointed in me. While when I would eat I would eat very healthy, my body lacked the amount of calories that it needed. I was also not drinking enough water. When I went to my doctor for my yearly checkup, he told me that my blood sugar was really low, I had thin blood, and that I was slightly underweight. Since then, despite how much Magic I play I always have a glass of water every round and make sure eat something once a tournament. Quad-queuing means four times the food!

Long story short: if you want to perform well in anything, you must treat your body with the respect that it deserves.

Here is a quick checklist of Magic Health Tips:

• Carry a bottle of water. I personally have a huge POM bottle from Costco, and I drink from it every time my opponent thinks.
• Bring some sort of fruit (I recommend an apple or banana).
• Bring a type of junk food. Sometimes the calories are all that matter (especially if you are me).
• Exercise before and after playing Magic.
• Try not to play Magic if you feel sick or tired. Listen to your body and take a break.
• In terms of mental health, remember that Magic is just a game. You should try to be able to have fun with the people and be a part of the community. I know I have made countless friends that I can talk to regardless if I play Magic or not.

And there we have it! It is like what Lorelei says from Pokemon Puzzle League: "Learn from losing." Always try to learn how not to lose in Magic; that way you can maximize your chances at winning.

Thanks for reading,

Jonathan "Watchwolf92" Sukenik