Hello!
Adriano Moscato here!
Today, I’ll explain to you how to prepare youselves for a big Magic Tournament.
We all know that the best way to prepare for amazing results and achieve great success is to join a Magic team with other skilled players and play a LOT before the event.
However…
Sometimes this is not possible because you don’t have enough time, or it’s one of your first experiences, so you can’t find good teammates to play with.
This guide is specifically designed for those situations. It’s unlike anything you’ve seen or tried before, offering a fresh perspective to help you stand out and succeed despite a busy schedule
I never joined a competitive team throughout my entire career. Despite that, I played in 14 Pro Tours in a row, so I’ll share some tips to help you prepare for and perform well both before and during the tournament.
During the preparation, we will focus on time optimization, prioritizing being as prepared as possible compared to the time invested. During the tournament, on the other hand, we will focus on the emotional aspect and on avoiding the most common mistakes I have seen during my experiences.
PREPARATION
TIME IS TYRANT: CHOOSE YOUR DECK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
You can spend all your time playing every deck in the format to understand which one is the best, and even if you find it, you might end up playing it improperly. I think it's more important to choose a deck you can play at 100% than to have the best deck in the meta but not be able to play it well.
That doesn't mean you have to play a tier 2 deck. When your preparation begins, choose a strong deck you're comfortable with and learn to play it to its maximum potential. Results will come!
For example, at RC Lille, I played Rakdos Midrange for a month before the tournament. Even though after testing I thought decks like Izzet Phoenix or Jund Sacrifice were slightly better, I was sure that playing Rakdos Midrange at 100% was better than playing those decks at 60-70%. In fact, the performance was amazing, and I managed to finish in 10th place.
COMPARING OPEN DECKLIST TO OTHER TOURNAMENT FORMATS
Almost all major tournaments are open decklists, so testing without knowing your opponent's deck is not accurate. For example, in a blind matchup, I would always keep this hand:
But if I know that my opponent is playing an aggro deck (like RB Prowess or GW Company), I would probably mulligan this hand. So, you’re playing a totally different game, which wouldn’t be helpful for your preparation.
I’m not saying that playing Leagues or Challenges are useless—those are really helpful for learning to play your deck—but when it comes to serious testing, try to play with a friend or teammate while knowing your opponent's decklist.
BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE SIDEBOARD: ADAPTING TO THE META
Build your sideboard by considering your side-in and side-out cards.
For example, in Rakdos Midrange, I had 4x Fatal Push and 2x Torch of the Tower, which are pretty bad against UW Control/Incarnation, so I knew my sideboard needed to have at least 6 good cards for those matchups.
Also, try to predict the percentage of the metagame that each deck will represent. If you expect a deck to make up 40% of the metagame, build your sideboard with plenty of cards to counter it.
WHY BUYING GUIDES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
To qualify for a big tournament, you certainly have to spend a lot of money on cards, tournaments, and trips.
Pro players' guides are so cheap, and $10 is nothing compared to all the other expenses. A well-written guide can be game-changing and help you achieve great results.
I remember before the Amsterdam 75k Modern Open, I played Goryo's Vengeance a LOT. When I found a Patreon guide, I wasn't sure whether to purchase it or not, but since it was only $10, I decided to purchase it.
Even though I knew most of the things about the deck, it was really helpful for some sideboard adjustments. Maybe without that $10 spent, I wouldn't have won $5000 and a PT invite.
THE KEY TO SUCCESS: FOCUSING ON PREPARATION
Try to stay focused and dedicated throughout your testing.
Just like in sports, preparation is crucial: if a soccer player doesn't train properly, they won't perform at their best on the field.
The same goes for you—without proper preparation, your performance at the event won't reflect your full potential, and your results may suffer.
Given that the premise of this article is that we don't have unlimited time to prepare, it's especially important to stay concentrated during your testing sessions. Every match you play counts, so make the most of the limited opportunities you have to practice and optimize your performance.
STREAMERS ARE YOUR FRIENDS!
If you see a pro player streaming the deck you plan to play at an important tournament, seize the opportunity!
There are techs and strategies they know that can be game-changing, and on top of that, you have the chance to interact directly with them to clarify any doubts or questions you might have.
It's a rare opportunity to gain insights from someone who has extensive experience with the deck and its matchups. Additionally, you can indirectly benefit from the countless hours of testing they've done with their team, as their choices and decisions often reflect refined strategies that have been honed through deep collaboration and analysis.
For example, whenever I can, I watch Mattia Rizzi and Gabriel Nassif's streams, who are two absolute monsters in constructed and are always available to answer your questions.
In fact, I went on a 10-0 streak in Standard Leagues with UB Tempo the first time I played it, just by learning from Mattia's stream.
LEARNING FROM THE BEST
If you have the privilege of knowing any experienced players personally, don't hesitate to reach out if you have any doubts. Being a good listener in these conversations is crucial, as they often have valuable insights to offer.
Most of the time, they are more than willing to share their knowledge and help you improve, but it’s important to approach them with respect and an open mind, ready to absorb the wisdom they’ve gained through years of experience.
DURING THE TOURNAMENT
CONTROL YOUR EMOTIONS!
As I grew older, I realized that the calmness I developed at the table allowed me to achieve incredible results, unlike when I was younger and would get angry at bad luck. Big tournaments are really long, and tilting after an opponent’s lucky topdeck is the worst thing you can do—it will only lead to playing poorly for the rest of the rounds.
I’ve seen players who were doing quite well suddenly go on a losing streak after a "bad beat" simply because they couldn’t control their emotions. Learning to handle pressure well and being composed is fundamental. If you absolutely must tilt, do it at the end of the tournament (although you really shouldn’t).
TAKE YOUR TIME!
Thinking may seem an unnecessary advice, but I saw a lot of people playing key-turns really fast and making crucial mistakes: when you recognize you have a key-turn use some time to think on what can happen and try to anticipate the next 2-3 turns.
Also remember that if you have some doubt both about rules and your opponent's behavior you can call a judge everytime.
Thinking may seem like an unnecessary piece of advice, but you’d be surprised how often players rush through key turns and make critical mistakes as a result.
I’ve seen it happen countless times: a player reaches a pivotal moment in the game but acts too quickly, missing opportunities or failing to account for potential risks.
When you recognize that you’re facing a key turn, it’s crucial to take your time—pause, reflect, and carefully evaluate all the possibilities.
Ask yourself what could happen not just in this turn, but in the next two or three turns, and try to anticipate the flow of the game.
This level of foresight can give you a significant advantage, as it allows you to adapt your strategy and make decisions that account for both immediate outcomes and long-term goals. Remember, there’s no prize for playing quickly—what matters is playing effectively.
Another important point to keep in mind is that if you have any doubts—whether about the rules, your opponent’s behavior, or the game state itself—you can and should call a judge.
Judges are there to ensure a fair and smooth game, and there’s absolutely no shame in seeking clarification or assistance when you’re unsure about something.
It’s far better to take a moment to confirm everything than to proceed with uncertainty and risk making an irreversible mistake.
MAXIMIZING PERFORMANCE THROUGH METAGAME KNOWLEDGE!
As we mentioned earlier, this article is intended for those who are not part of a team and cannot dedicate significant time to testing for a big event. However, having an in-depth understanding of the metagame can make a substantial difference between success and failure in a tournament.
Depending on the type of event you’re participating in, metagame analysis is typically provided during the early stages of the tournament. For example, in the case of RCs (Regional Championships), this often happens after the first couple of rounds, while at PTs (Pro Tours), it is usually available a few days beforehand.
At that point, it’s crucial to take the time to study your sideboard plans and think carefully about how your games should play out against the most popular decks in the format. This preparation helps you maximize your performance, even if you haven’t had the time for extensive testing.
Moreover, knowing the format inside and out—including every card that could potentially come into play—can help compensate for a lack of testing. The more familiar you are with the decks, their strategies, and the key cards that might be played against you, the faster and more confidently you’ll be able to make decisions during matches. Understanding not only your own deck but also the meta as a whole allows you to anticipate threats and opportunities, even in high-pressure situations where time is limited.
In summary, while testing is undoubtedly valuable, a thorough knowledge of the metagame and a solid understanding of potential matchups can bridge the gap for those who lack the time to prepare extensively. By leveraging this knowledge, you’ll position yourself to perform at your best, regardless of the circumstances.
CONCLUSIONS…
This article was a bit different from the usual, but I hope these tips will help you improve your performance at large Magic: The Gathering tournaments, even if you're not part of a team or able to play non-stop. The reality is, you don’t need to be grinding matches every day or surrounded by a squad of experts to succeed—you just need to be smart about your approach, make the most of the resources you have, and stay mentally sharp during the event.
I truly hope these insights resonate with you and give you a fresh perspective on how to excel in competitive Magic, even in the most intense environments. If you found these tips helpful, be sure to stick around—there’s plenty more coming your way right here on my Patreon. Let’s continue growing together and elevating our gameplay, one article at a time.
Good luck at the next tournament, and I look forward to sharing more with you soon!
If you have more questions i will be happy to answer on Patreon: AdrianoMoscato
Thank you for reading!