"Magic: The Gathering Arena
“Magic: The Gathering Arena” is currently in closed beta. (Wizards of the Coast Image)

Wizards of the Coast in Renton, Wash., has been a cornerstone of the American games market since the debut of “Magic: The Gathering” in 1993. “Magic” introduced the concepts of deck construction, randomized cards, and collectability to card games, creating a constantly evolving and addictive experience.

In January of 2017, Wizards created a new department, its Digital Games Studio, to improve upon “Magic’s” presence in the online-games market. According to Wizards’ president Chris Cocks, the goal was to make “your Wizards experiences more efficient, connected, and convenient,” both for “Magic” and Wizards’ other major property, “Dungeons & Dragons.”

In September of 2017, the Digital Games Studio revealed its next product, “Magic: The Gathering Arena,” which is currently in closed beta. There have been “Magic”-based video games before, such as “Magic Online,” but “Arena” is intended to focus on a more immediate, up-to-the-minute “Magic” experience. Whereas “Online” featured its own unique sets and cards, “Arena” will include the newest expansions from the physical “Magic” card game, including the brand-new Rivals of Ixalan.

On Wednesday, “Arena’s” principal designer Chris Clay put up a blog post concerning the current plans for “Arena’s” in-game economy, and how they intend to translate their collectible card game into a modern games-as-service title.

“Arena” is planned to be a free-to-play game with no attached fees or required purchases. As of right now in the beta, it offers two in-game currencies. Gold can be earned by playing the game, via winning matches, competing in events, and completing quests. Gems (not yet implemented as of this writing) are only available if you buy them with real money via the in-game store.

Magic: The Gathering Arena
(Wizards of the Coast Image)

Both gold and gems can be used to unlock cards and special events in-game, and the only items that must be purchased with gems are planned to be strictly cosmetic unlocks. (No one’s said what those cosmetic unlocks will be as of yet. There’s a rumor, based on past “Magic” games, that it might include the ability to use older or different art on your in-game cards than what’s conventionally available.)

You can use gems to unlock normal cards and other such purchases, so you can throw money at “Arena” in order to hit the ground running. Much like other, similar game economies, what you’re really using your money for in “Arena” is the ability to surmount whatever initial treadmills would typically confront the new player. If you’ve got time, but not money, you can play for free; if you have money, but not time, you can drop money on a few extra pulls of the slot machine lever. Both players end up in the same place eventually, but the latter gets there measurably faster.

You earn cards in “Arena” by winning matches, at a rate of up to 30 per day. You can also buy eight cards at once in booster packs and 14 cards at once via draft packs. You may also find “wildcards” in your packs which can be redeemed for a card of your choice of a matching rarity.

Finally, every time you open a booster or get a fifth duplicate of a card you already own, you earn progress toward opening the Vault. What this means is still being worked on, but Clay makes it clear that one of the guiding ideas behind “Arena” is to “make sure players get the specific cards they want.” There’s a lot of random chance involved in the card acquisition process, but between wildcards and the Vault, the system is designed to have its own blind-luck protection built in. Every time you open a random selection of cards and get one you don’t want, you’re ostensibly earning progress toward the ability to select a card you do want.

The game is currently in closed beta, so anything and everything about it should be considered to be in a constant state of flux. Its most recent update included content from Rivals of Ixalan, the newest “Magic” expansion, which is available for sale today.

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