MagicCon Atlanta kicks off this Friday and if you’re attending then you may be asking yourself, “What am I even going to do there?” For me, it’s all about the special events and panels. But I know everyone goes for different things. I put together a quick list of the things I’m most looking forward to this weekend in the recently-turned-blue state of Georgia. I hope this helps, even if you already have your weekend planned out!
Star Trek
First and foremost, if you’re a fan of Star Trek, prepare for some (hopefully) cool exhibits. At New York Comic Con, for example, there was a transporter room with mana symbols all over it, as well as huge artwork of the shock lands. At MagicCon Las Vegas when Final Fantasy was the most recent expansion, there were a bunch of different exhibits for photo ops as well as exclusive merch and other interesting things. I expect Star Trek will get a similar treatment in Atlanta and trekkies will want to make sure to check it out.
Special Events
Council’s Call (Friday at 5:30pm or 8:30pm)
If you’re more of a Universes Within fan then you may want to pay attention to this limited ticketed interactive event that calls planeswalkers (like yourself) to a council to discuss what comes next in the wake of the defeat of the Echoverse. If you’ve been paying close attention to the Magic story then you’ll likely be invested in the outcome of this event and how it shapes the next chapter of multiverse storytelling. Tickets are still available if you’ve been on the fence about this one. With the $299 price tag the experience promises to be high end.
Cosplay Contest (Saturday at 5pm)
But not everyone is up for dropping a few hundred dollars on dinner to get their Vorthos fix so if you already have a convention badge then make sure you check out the cosplay contest on Saturday evening to see the most impressive of Magic cosplay creations. You can get more information on the contest and some of the featured guests on the Cosplay Experience page.
Magic World Championship 32 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
If you’re a fan of competitive Magic then you’ve come to the right place. The best players in the world will face off in draft and Standard to crown a new world champion of Magic. Viewing areas will be set up and there will be a watch party on Sunday for the top eight bracket.
Top 8 and Pro Tour Hall of Fame Induction (Sunday 2pm)
Even if you’re not a huge fan of organized play, this is an event worth checking out. The Pro Tour Hall of Fame returns this weekend with inductions taking place on Sunday during the World Championship top 8. It’s truly the pinnacle of celebration for the game and you can catch it live in Atlanta or on Twitch and YouTube.
Panels
Preview Panel (Friday 1pm)
I’m going to highlight four panels even though there are plenty more that will be worth checking out this weekend. The biggest of course is the preview panel which will go over cards from upcoming sets. With the release of Nauctis: The Sunken Realm just three months away, expect it to be the focus of the panel, with a look at what’s next for the planeswalkers who survived the echoverse. It’s also possible we’ll get a sneak peek at some more Marvel Darkhold Destiny cards but I expect that’s being held for the next MagicCon in Detroit in February.
Cascade Cascade (Friday 3pm)
I can’t resist giving a shout out to Hipsters contributor Cal Jones as he talks about Cascade Cascade with co-founder Dan Sheehan as they talk about how they successfully published the first physical Magic magazine in ages. If you’re invested in the future of Magic content then don’t miss this one (and you probably are if you’re reading this site)!
The New Magic Judge Program (Saturday 2pm)
The Judge program has had a challenging few years. Change has been a long time coming and it looks like we’re going to finally get some insights and a look at the new program returning to organized play.
Ify Nwadiwe’s Big Facts (Saturday 3:30pm)
I know Game Knights and Commander at Home will be there and that Mark Rosewater’s panels are always a hit but I expect Ify Nwadiwe and Brian David Gilbert’s live comedy panel featuring Gavin Verhey and Mark Rosewater will be the funniest hour all weekend.
Actually Playing Magic
Command Zone
Maybe you actually want to play Magic while you’re there. I cannot recommend enough the Command Zone and its friendly approach to pairing players in the correct bracket for the games you want to experience. I usually bring a casual deck to these events because the nonstop action can be enough stress and anxiety without having to also play top-tier games. My experiences have been very positive, with games going pretty long and letting everyone have a chance to do something fun at the table.
On-Demand Play
When I’m not attending panels, covering special events, or otherwise taking in the biggest Magic events, I can’t help but hop into an 8-player draft queue. From the very first time I went to a Grand Prix in 2005 to this weekend, it isn’t a Magic event if I don’t get in at least one draft.
Exhibitors
Heavy Play
I need to replace some of my broken rounded corner sleeves and check out whatever sweet accessories they’ve cooked up since the last time I’ve seen them. As someone who doesn’t want to collect playmats, Heavy Play is my preferred playmat and deckbox maker.
InfiniTokens
I use these for Magic and Dungeons & Dragons and can never get enough. I can’t say enough good things about them. If you’re in Atlanta this weekend, and aren’t familiar with their products, check them out.
Rich Stein (He/Him) has been covering Magic the Gathering since 2012, began attending Magic conventions (then known as Grand Prix) in 2005, and picked up his first starter deck in 1995. More than three decades later he’s still excited to be following and writing about the greatest card game on the planet.