Seven Budget Gift Ideas for the Magic Player in Your Life

Christmas is right around the corner, and we here at Commander’s Herald know how stressful budgeting can be this time of year. After 6 Standard Legal sets and licensing-led price increases, with 7 more on the way next year, many are struggling with how to afford gifts. Thankfully, we have put together a list of seven great gifts for Magic: the Gathering players that won’t break the bank.

1 – Overstock Licensed Playmats

With every media property since the 1980’s trying to cash in on the licensing market, not everything can be a hit. That desperate marketing manager’s loss can fortunately be your gain. Why pay full price for Final Fantasy or Spiderman when you can give them the same quality material showing off Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion”. Who needs Tigtone when you can give your loved one Wulin Warriors instead? They’ll surely be the talk of the card shop when they roll out their Drake playmat at FNM, for better or worse.

2 – Proxy Printer Gift Card

With the cost of cards going up, many players both casual and competitive have turned to proxy printing services to help get them the cards they want for unofficial circumstances. Treat the Magic player in your life to the same peace of mind with some cheap-as-free cards of their own with a gift certificate. Sure, the company is based out of a territory international agencies list as “a fringe separatist republic”, and technically the substance they’re printing on is banned in 16 states and Canada, but feel free to judge for yourself at their website.

3 – Defunct TCG Sleeves

Know someone in need of Dragon Shields, but can’t afford a full box of mattes? Fret not, the wide world of accessories for defunct TCGs can come in handy. While packs of 80 don’t help the modern Commander player, and the cards poke out a couple centimeters at the top, and the game predates the notions of “Shuffle Feel” and “Non-Splitting Backs”, they do feature the hottest designs on the market for 2010.

4 – Repurposed Card Carrier

While Quivers and Stanley Toolboxes are the go-to solution for most players, they can be cost prohibitive. As a cheaper alternative, consider the White Castle Crave Case. The slider holders are perfect for your commander deck of choice, and the box can hold up to 6. As a bonus, now every game you play can be accompanied by the wonderful smells of grease, onions, and inebriation.

5 – Single Use Tokens

Since their debut a few years ago, rewritable tokens have been a staple of any player’s arsenal. For a more budget alternative, consider one of the brands of single-use tokens. Just write with any standard pen, and discard when done. The materials are 100% recyclable, and our plumber thinks you might be able to flush them too.

6 – Assorted Loose Pens

We all have that one friend who never shows up to an event prepared, and is asking for something to write with every round. Fear not, as we can offer our friend the gift of Pens, with enough variety to cover any hotel chain, pharmaceutical, or legal firm they may desire. Plus, they can be gotten at a steep discount, costing as low as the respect of every waitress in town.

7 – Dwayne

Hey look everyone, it’s Dwayne, the pet rock mascot from Arena! Your favorite Magic player can have their own handmade pet rock, just for the cost of a couple googly eyes and some glue. Now every time your friend looks at their new pet, they can see that they are the second most important thing in your life. Just behind affording more Magic cards.