Building a deck for kids
Standard Deck Help forum
Posted on Jan. 26, 2021, 1:28 a.m. by FlashBastard
I work with special needs children, and a lot of them really want to play Magic. Several of them have gotten premade decks with mixed success. They have difficulty understanding the more complex features of MTG (Much more than "my creature attacks" trips them up at times. They seem to do well with red and white, but one of the kids got a blue deck and spell combinations seem a little bit above their level right now.) I'm trying to find a deck based on the following criteria. It must be fairly inexpensive (They're kids and stuff will happen) and it must be dead simple to play. I'd like to use them as tools to give them a super simple introduction to Magic that we can build on over time.
seshiro_of_the_orochi says... #4
I like what Raknulfr said. These decks are pretty hard to find though (as they're from roughly 17 years ago...). The lists might drift around somewhere online I guess. "Normal" current precons might work, as JeanYass said. These include planeswalker cards, which tend to be complicated, but you could replace the planeswalkers and their "associated" cards for creatures with a similar CMC if your kids really can't cope with it.
I have some questions before giving more advice:
1: How old are the children?
2: You mentioned that spell combinations are hard to grasp for them. Can you say approximately where it gets too complex?
January 26, 2021 2:20 a.m.
Gabe_The_Controller says... #5
If you live near an lgs they would hopefully have the welcome decks that they can give away. They're thirty card mono color decks so can play with a smaller deck or combine 2 for a full siZe deck. Can also mix and match multicolor decks or just run multicolor decks.
January 26, 2021 2:28 a.m.
I don´t know if that is easy enough but I crafted some decks in my lunchbreak at work. They are mostly standard except maybe one or two cards. You might need to adjust some cards if they are too difficult since I don´t play much with children (especially not with yours ^^" )
I hope it helps.
Look into my profile, there is a folder named "Intro Decks for kids". Don´t know how to put a link in here ^^"
January 26, 2021 9:47 a.m.
FlashBastard says... #7
Thanks for the ideas Raknulfr Those decks look pretty promising! As far as answering the questions asked earlier, they range in age from about 12 to 17, most of them on the younger end of that. When it comes to spells they just have a hard time understanding when spells are the main method of play, such as with a typical blue deck. They do much better with decks in which the main playstyle is to get out and use creatures. I have several of my own decks that are a bit more complicated for them to use once we get the very basics down.
January 26, 2021 12:59 p.m.
seshiro_of_the_orochi says... #8
Thank you for the answers. After looking at the decks Raknulfr created, you should definitely try them out. They look simple, but it's hard to believe these filigree interactions between them weren't made on purpose.
January 26, 2021 1:22 p.m.
what is it about the blue noncreature spells that make them more difficult than noncreature spells in another color?
January 26, 2021 1:59 p.m.
FlashBastard says... #10
It isn't that blue spells are more difficult, it is that prefab blue decks that I have seen rely more heavily on the spells for their play style. The blue deck Raknulfr created looks more creature based and much easier for the kids to understand. I think I will be getting some of his decks put together to try out with the kids. I'm pleasantly surprised with how helpful you all have been with this. You have my thanks and the kids' as well.
January 26, 2021 7:06 p.m.
wallisface says... #11
I would suggest the CardKingdom battle decks. They're all $10 and so are very inexpensive. Some of them may have slightly more complicated cards you want to avoid, so check out the lists before buying them (I think a few people here on TappedOut have cataloged all these lists, so a quick google of "Battle Decks Tappedout" should find you everything you need to). The good thing about these decks, is that each one will often only have a few mechanics which are then repeated throughout the cards, so there's not a huge learning curve.
January 26, 2021 10:41 p.m.
libraryjoy says... #12
I made some 40 card decks for a fellow who was teaching a similar group of kids how to play (he wanted 40 card for whatever reason). You might find some ideas from them, too. Extra copies of cards would easily fill them out to 60 card. They are not standard format, if that matters to you, but they are from the last few years. Good luck! I hope the kids have lots of fun!
Training Wheels Simic Elementals
Training Wheels Selesnya Constellation
Raknulfr says... #2
Are they supposed to be mono-coloured? I´d start with the signature abilities and go up from there. For teaching purposes I still have multiples of the 8th edition premade decks, they´re simple enough and mechanics rarely go crazy in them.
I think to build similar budget decks shouldn´t be that hard.
January 26, 2021 1:49 a.m.