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Non-Fiction Book Index

The following is a list of Magic: the Gathering non-fiction books. Because we haven't read most of these books, it's hard to sort out which ones contain useful information and which ones are outdated, but we'll try to keep the useful ones near the top. If you've read a book that should be elsewhere in the list, or if you know of one we missed, please let us know.

Clicking on a book's title will open up a new browser window for the book at Amazon.com, where you can read more about it and order it if you want to.

If you're interested in Magic fiction novels, check the Novel Index.




Reference Guides


The Complete Encyclopedia of Magic the Gathering by Brian Tinsman
For the first time ever, all the existing Magic the Gathering cards are recorded in a single 720 page book. With over 7,200 card pictures, The Complete Encyclopedia of Magic the Gathering is a must for any collector, trader and art-admirer.

Official Encyclopedia, Volume 1 by Beth Moursund
Volume 1 of the Official Encyclopedia features more than 2,000 cards from Antiquities to Legends, including discontinued cards, promotional cards, and misprints. The history and significance of each expansion complement each set.

Official Encyclopedia, Volume 2 by Beth Moursund
The Official Encyclopedia Volume 2 picks up where Volume 1 left off.

Official Encyclopedia, Volume 3 by Beth Moursund
Beautiful full-color reproductions of over 1,000 new Magic cards fill the pages of this comprehensive reference guide.

Official Encyclopedia, Volume 4 by Beth Moursund
With full-color reproductions of over 1,700 new Magic cards, it includes the full Urza's Saga and its two expansions. The new basic set, Sixth Edition, and Wizards of the Coast's "broken" expansion, Unglued, are also featured.

Official Encyclopedia, Volume 5 by Cory J. Herndon
The huge number of Magic cards makes these encyclopedias must-haves for any serious player. They are invaluable reference guides, collecting all the cards in the latest expansions and including information crucial for collectors as well as history, rules, strategies, and playing techniques.

Official Encyclopedia, Volume 6 by Cory Herndon
With a how-to-use guide, collector's history, and a visual guide incorporating the latest releases, Volume 6 will also feature an in-depth look at the newest set of Magic cards, full card listings for decks and sideboards, and fully updated deckbuilders' indexes.



General Strategy


Official Tournament Player's Guide by DCI Staff, Lizz Baldwin
The Official Tournament Player's Guide is a reference book for anyone aspiring to play in Magic the Gathering tournaments. It is written by the people who make the rules, known as the DCI. It contains the complete DCI floor rules (how to behave at a tournament), as well as the Magic the Gathering technical rules (what happens if I combine this card with that one?).

Baxter on Magic by George H. Baxter
A guide to proper playing techniques for Magic: the Gathering.

Deep Magic by Charles K. Wolfe, George Baxter
Advanced strategies for experienced players of Magic: the Gathering.

Dominating Dominia by George H. Baxter
A type II tournament player's guide. Type II tournament structure has increased in prominence since it is too expensive for most Magic players to compete in Type I tournaments. Dominating Dominia includes over 20 Type II decks, all constructed by some of the nation's best players. Also included are tactics for overcoming the metagame, attrition, and transition of Type II.

Official Deckbuilders' Guide by Tim Dedopulos
This guide to the construction of the "perfect deck" gives precise directions on creating and playing more than 100 decks, based on winning tournament strategies.

Deck Deconstruction Companion by Beth Moursund
The Deck Deconstruction Companion is Wizards' official deckbuilding strategy guide for Magic the Gathering. It contains the 'definitive' collection of deck lists. Every type of player should find something to their liking.



Background Information


The Art of Magic by Anthony Waters, Lizz Baldwin, Richard Garfield
The Art of Magic: The Rath Cycle is a comprehensive, generously illustrated survey of the turbulent story line that spans the Weatherlight, Tempest, Stronghold, and Exodus card sets. Players familiar with the sets will quickly recognize the principal characters and locales, from detailed schematics of the Weatherlight to blown-up card art and conceptual sketches for nearly every character in the series. The text that accompanies the illustrations matches them in quality, adding another dimension to the art with intriguing details from the backstory. A great find for fans of the Rath Cycle. --Paul Hughes [Amazon Review]


Set Reviews


Alliances Revealed by George H. Baxter
A Review of the Alliances Edition of Magic: The Gathering. It includes some of the top 1996 U.S. National tourney decks as well as other popular type II decks.



Probably Outdated


Learn Magic Cards by Larry W. Smith

Official Strategy Guide by Beth Moursund
This strategy guide provides information on all issues of the game, including clarification of the complex timing sequence, description of the fine art of deck design, and explanations of complicated Magic jargon.

 
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The Complete Encyclopedia of Magic the Gathering

For the first time ever, all the existing Magic the Gathering cards are recorded in a single 720 page book. With over 7,200 card pictures, The Complete Encyclopedia of Magic the Gathering is a must for any collector, trader and art-admirer.

Onslaught

Onslaught continues the story of Kamahl, who struggles to cope with what it means to be a druid. At the same time, he has to help his sister, Jeska, who has been transformed into Phage, a being that can kill with a mere touch. At the same time Ixidor, an illusionist with the ability to shape reality is out to kill Phage for killing his one true love. Who will find her first?



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