After years of playing MTG, attending MagicCon finally convinced me to buy a playmat – these early Prime Day deals might just give me an excuse to get another one
Jul. 8, 2024places my wallet in my graveyard
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As my bank statements can attest, I’m not against splashing the cash on Magic: The Gathering merch. My shelves are filled with brands like DragonShield and UltraPro, and card sleeves with art of my Commanders are pretty much non-negotiable at this point. While I might not be rocking anything close to Power Nine level, I’d still like to avoid sticky tables or rogue beverage condensation dealing damage to my precious cards. So, sleeves and card storage are a totally justifiable expense – at least in my mind. Yet, somehow, a playmat has always been a harder sell.
Playmats are used by players across all of thebest card games, but are they really even necessary? When I have newer decks that are left languishing in cardboard boxes, why would I drop $50 on what is, at its core, a glorified mouse mat? Well, it turns out that all it took to change my mind was a trip to MagicCon Amsterdam and a glimpse at MTG artist Daria Aksenova’s adorably chaoticWorld of Trashcollection. Like some kind of garbage-diving siren, Daria’s opossum playmat called me back to the Artist Alley again and again until I finally gave in.
Did buyer’s remorse set in as soon as the high of the con passed? No, actually. Not only is my new playmat really high quality and incredibly stinkin’ cute, it’s made each game of Magic I’ve had since feel a little more special and pretty much entirely eliminated any confusion my opponent might have around my (messy) board set-up. I’m officially a playmat convert, and judging by the influx of early Prime Day MTG deals, the next addition to my collection could be just around the corner.
We’re not due to see the majority of this year’sPrime Day board game dealsuntil next week but you can already get up to50% offplaymats at Amazon. No matter what your preferred aesthetic is or what part of the color pie you’re trying to coordinate with, there are plenty of options to choose from. Even beyond the land of Prime, there are some great savings to be found at other retailers likeEtsyandWalmart.
1985 Games Skelly Telly playmat|$19.99$9.99 on AmazonSave $10 -With all the hype building around MTG Duskmourn, this spooky retro-inspired playmat feels like a perfect red carpet to roll out for the set. At under $10, it’s also a total steal.Buy if:✅You like the 1980s horror aesthetic✅You play a lot of ‘graveyard matters’ decksDon’t buy if:❌You prefer a cute look❌You want something more colorful
Price check:💲1985 Labs | $35.00💲Walmart | $29.00
UK deal:💷£35.56 at Amazon
Ultra Pro MTG Fallout V.A.T.S playmat |$32.95$24.40 at AmazonSave $8.50 -This 24 x 13.5 inch stitched-edge playmat features everyone’s least favorite creature to encounter in the wasteland – a Deathclaw. While it’s already tempting enough for any Fallout-loving MTG fan, it being at its lowest-ever price definitely sweetens the pot.
Buy if:✅You’re a Fallout fan✅You’re a big green, black, or Tarmogoyf player
Don’t buy if:❌You’d like a playmat that marks out your board zones❌You want something more colorful
Price check:💲Star City Games | OOS💲Ebay | $27.99
UK deal:💷£17.95 at Magic Madhouse
Ultra Pro Ravnica Remastered Fblthp playmat |$39.99$29.99 at AmazonSave $10 -MTG’s cowardly homunculus, Fblthp is constantly getting lost and he’s somehow found himself on this playmat. If you have a soft spot for this little green guy, you’ll be happy to hear you can get this holofoil playmat for its lowest price ever right now.
Buy if:✅You’d like a cute, colorful playmat✅You’ve got the Fblthp deck boxDon’t buy if:❌You find Fblthp creepy (understandable)❌You want a playmat that will intimidate your opponents
Price check:💲Ultra Pro | $29.99💲Walmart | $29.99UK deal:💷£28.12 on eBay
LevelUp!Desks Dungeon Map playmat |$39.99$31.99 at EtsySave $8 -This dungeon map layout might seem like it would be more at home in a tabletop RPG, but the zoned ‘rooms’ help separate each section of your board perfectly organized while playing Magic. Not only can you get $8 off right now, but you can also have it personalized for no extra cost.
Buy if:✅You’d like a zoned playmat✅You’d like to customize your playmat with your name or another message
Don’t buy if:❌You want a more eye catching playmat❌You’re not into TTRPGs or don’t like the dungeon map theme
UK deal:£31.36 at Etsy
Looking to get ahead on other savings this July? Don’t miss our guide to the upcomingPrime Day board game deals, or thesePrime Day 3D printer deals. If you fancy moving your games from the tabletop to your handheld, swing by ourPrime Day Steam Deck dealspage.
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Abigail is a Tabletop & Merch writer at Gamesradar+. She carries at least one Magic: The Gathering deck in her backpack at all times and always spends far too long writing her D&D character backstory. She’s a lover of all things cute, creepy, and creepy-cute.
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