Magic: The Gathering is a collectible card game created by mathematician Richard Garfield and published by Wizards of the Coast. It was first released in 1993 and has since become one of the most popular trading card games in the world. The game is played by two or more players who use a deck of cards representing magical spells, creatures, and artifacts to defeat their opponents.

Each player starts with a deck of at least 60 cards, and the objective of the game is to reduce their opponent's life total from 20 to zero. Players take turns playing cards from their hand, casting spells, summoning creatures, and activating special abilities. Each card has a cost associated with it, usually measured in mana, which is a resource that players generate each turn by tapping lands, which represent sources of magical power.

The game's mechanics are complex and intricate, allowing for a wide variety of strategies and playstyles. Players can build decks around themes such as aggressive creature rushes, control-oriented spellcasting, or tricky combo plays. Additionally, the game's vast array of cards, numbering in the tens of thousands, allows for endless customization and experimentation.

One of the most notable aspects of Magic: The Gathering is its lore and world-building. The game's universe is a multiverse, consisting of countless parallel worlds or planes, each with its own distinct flavor and story. The game's cards often feature characters, creatures, and locations from these planes, making the game feel like a living, breathing world.

Magic: The Gathering also has a thriving competitive scene, with professional players competing in tournaments for cash prizes and worldwide recognition. The game's complexity and depth make it a fascinating and challenging competitive experience, and players must master not only the mechanics of the game but also the intricacies of the current metagame, the ever-changing landscape of dominant strategies and popular decks.