Magic Con Atlanta 2025: Day Two — Learning the Game & First Matches
Series Note (Part 2 of 3)
This post is part of my MagicCon Atlanta 2025 series, where I share my first-time experience stepping into the world of Magic: The Gathering with my son Julien.
Day Two: Learning the Game & First Matches (you’re here)
Starting the Day in Downtown Atlanta
After the energy of Day One, I woke up at the Residence Inn Atlanta Downtown ready for more. The short walk back to the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) felt familiar now, like stepping back into a world I was slowly beginning to understand.
Day One had been about observing and soaking in the culture. Day Two was about rolling up my sleeves and finally learning how to play Magic: The Gathering.
My First Lesson with MagiKids
Inside the open play area, I met the team from MagiKids by Weirdcards, a nonprofit that collects donated Magic cards and builds free kits for schools and youth programs. They weren’t just there to promote their cause — they were also teaching brand-new players how to play.
They handed me a starter deck and walked me patiently through my very first game. Every turn was a lesson:
Lands gave me mana, the energy needed to fuel everything.
Creatures entered the battlefield, ready to attack or defend.
Spells and abilities added layers of surprise and strategy.
The goal: bring my opponent’s life total from 20 to zero.
At first, it felt like information overload. But as I played a few turns, the rhythm started to click. Every card mattered. Every decision shaped the story unfolding between two players.
It wasn’t just a game — it was a classroom in disguise. And that’s when it hit me: this was exactly what MagiKids was all about. They weren’t just teaching rules. They were showing how Magic could build problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity. The same lessons they bring to kids in schools, they had just given to me.
Lunch Break: Twin Smokers BBQ
After my first real lesson, Julien and I stepped outside for some fresh air and food. Just a short walk from the GWCC, we found Twin Smokers BBQ, an Atlanta favorite.
Twin Smokers BBQ
Brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and classic Southern sides filled the table. Cold drinks washed it down, giving us exactly the reset we needed before heading back into the convention.
(Full review of Twin Smokers BBQ coming soon in our Food & Drink section.)
Painting the Yeth Hound
After my first round of play, I wanted a break before diving deeper into the card tables. I found myself once again at the WizKids miniature painting station — the same place where I had painted the Death Tyrant on Day One. This time, I picked up the Yeth Hound Paint Kit.
As I started painting, I realized my skills were already improving. On Day One, I was just layering color, trying not to make mistakes. But on Day Two, one of the staff members showed me two techniques that changed everything: dry brushing and wet brushing.
Dry brushing: using a lightly loaded brush to highlight raised edges, giving texture and depth to the fur.
Wet brushing: blending colors smoothly, creating shadows and gradients that brought the figure to life.
Learning these techniques gave the Yeth Hound more character — dark fur, a snarling muzzle, and a sense of movement. The more I painted, the more natural it felt.
To my surprise, I was finding real joy in it. Painting wasn’t just a filler activity between games; it was becoming a hobby in its own right. What started as curiosity on Day One was now something I could see myself exploring even outside the convention.
It reminded me of why I came to MagicCon in the first place — to step out of my comfort zone, try something new, and discover experiences I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did.
Father vs. Son: My First Matches
Later in the day, a MagiKids staffer slipped me three Jumpstart booster packs, which gave me enough to build my first real deck. Julien and I sat down across from each other, ready to test everything I’d learned.
👉 Photo placements:
Action shot mid-match with Julien
Julien was the perfect mix of coach and competitor. Sitting across from me, he balanced two roles seamlessly — guiding me through the game while still doing everything he could to win. He explained the basics of probability, showing me how to think about the chances of drawing the right card at the right moment. He walked me through strategic choices, pointing out when it was smarter to hold back instead of rushing into an attack. And, like any passionate fan, he sprinkled in some of the deeper “what if” conversations that longtime players debate — theories about balance, deck archetypes, and even the philosophies that shape how people approach the game.
Every card I played, he countered with both a move and a lesson. I could feel my decision-making sharpening with each turn. At first, I leaned heavily on his coaching, but slowly I began to see the patterns on my own. For the first time, I wasn’t just reacting — I was planning.
The matches themselves were close, filled with swings of momentum and moments where a single card changed everything. Julien pressed me hard, but somehow, I managed to win both games. It shocked us both, but the real victory wasn’t in the outcome.
It was in the experience: the adrenaline of playing a card at just the right time, the mental exhaustion of juggling rules and possibilities, and the satisfaction of seeing a plan come together. For the first time, I wasn’t just a spectator watching Julien play or a newcomer stumbling through the basics. I was a participant, locked into the same flow that has hooked millions of players for decades.
And in that moment, I understood. I understood why Julien lights up when he talks about deck building, why he stays up late playing with friends, why he wanted to share this world with me. It wasn’t just about the game — it was about the stories, the strategy, the community, and the connection.
Wrapping Up Day Two
As the convention floor began to wind down, I felt the weight of the day settling in. My head was buzzing — not from the noise of the GWCC, but from the sheer amount of new information and experiences crammed into a single afternoon. From sitting across the table from Julien for my first real matches, to discovering new painting techniques with the Yeth Hound, to savoring brisket and pulled pork at Twin Smokers BBQ, the day had been as much about discovery as it was about play.
Julien stayed behind to squeeze in a few more rounds with other players. His stamina for the game seemed endless, his focus unwavering. Watching him settle in with strangers and instantly bond over a shared passion reminded me that Magic is as much about community as it is about strategy. Everyone speaks the same language at those tables — a shuffle of cards, a laugh at a clever play, the respectful nod after a hard-fought match.
For me, the day ended differently. I made my way back toward the hotel, feeling both exhausted and exhilarated. Along the way, I noticed something I hadn’t paid attention to before: groups of players carrying sleek black tote bags. When I asked about them, the answer was simple but intriguing: “Mystery bags.” They spoke about them like they held secrets, treasures, or maybe even bragging rights. I didn’t know exactly what was inside, but the curiosity stuck with me.
Back at the Residence Inn, I collapsed into my bed with a notebook in hand, jotting down details before the memories blurred. My wins against Julien, the rush of pulling off the right move at the right time, the small victories in learning dry brushing at the painting table — all of it felt like stepping deeper into a culture I had only skimmed the surface of before. What had started as Julien’s world was becoming my world too, one lesson, one brushstroke, one match at a time.
As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn’t help but wonder about those mystery bags, the hidden surprises they might hold, and what the final day of MagicCon would bring. Day Two had proven that I could not only learn the game, but also find joy in unexpected places. Day Three, I knew, would bring its own surprises — and I was ready for them.
