For Magic: The Gathering players, playmats are an essential part of the game. On a practical level, they provide a portable and clean playing surface thats smooth but also provides enough grip to keep cards from slipping. But on a personal level, a playmat gives a player a means to express themselves through play. If a player likes dragons for instance, then a dragon playmat is a must have. Likewise, players with a quirky sense of humor may like a ridiculous looking playmat to get a chuckle from others. The one thing we know though, is that there’s no shortage of choices when it comes to playmat selection. Which is why we’ve selected 10 of what we think are some of the coolest Magic: The Gathering playmats available.
But these are just our selections. Agree? Disagree? Let us know and share your favorite playmat with others in the comments section below!
1. Black Lotus Playmat
The Black Lotus. The most iconic and rarest card in Magic: The Gathering, is as beautiful as it is powerful. Some playmats are amusing, others are unique, but nothing makes a statement like this Black Lotus. Collectors regularly pay thousands of dollars just to own this piece pf power, but with this stunning Black Lotus playmat, it’s untapped potential can be yours to weld. Use it wisely.
2. Blueprint Playmat
Magic: The Gathering is an incredibly complex game. Which is why this brilliant Magic blueprint themed playmat is perfect for new players. Easily learn how to play the game thanks to the written instructions and reminders printed on the playmat. Every playzone is labeled clearly so there is no confusion of where cards are supposed to go. The handy sequence of events that take place in a player’s turn and combat are easy to get confused, but not when the playmat has them clearly explained. And the numbers at the side work as a sliding life counter. All of these features make this the perfect playmat for starters or to help teach newcomers play Magic: The Gathering.
3. StarCityGames Liliana Vess
Devious, powerful, and greedy, Liliana Vess is one of the most popular Planeswalkers in all of Magic: The Gathering. Her dark necromancer magic reanimates armies of the dead to fight by her side and do her biding. And now with this gorgeous Liliana Vess playmat she’ll always by your side too. This special promotional playmat features art from the Magic card, Dark Salvation and has the StarCityGames Open Championship series trophy on the bottom left corner. Playmats like this can be collector’s items and always get a player’s attention.
4. Gift of Orzhova Playmat
There’s no doubt Magic: The Gathering has some of the most breathtaking art around. And this playmat proves it. This stunning image of an angel up high with illuminated stained glass wings is simply beautiful. Many players pick a playmat as a way to keep their favorite card art on display for others to see. This card art taken directly from Gift of Orzhova has always been one of the best pieces from recent memory and still demands attention even today. This playmat is ideal for players who play lots of angels, identify with the guild of Orzhova, or just want something beautiful to play on.
5. Rick And Morty Playmat
For a funny playmat, nothing beats Rick and Morty! This fantasy themed take on the misaligned duo features a freaked out Morty and a determined Rick ready to fend off advancing hoards of monsters. Be they Eldrazi spawns, demonic horrors or Cthulu himself it’s hard to tell, but this playmat delivers on the typical Rick and Morty antics fans of the show love. This is a great playmat to change things up and display something funny that’s sure to get a chuckle or two from opposing players.
6. Commander 2016 Atraxa Praetors Voice Playmat
Atraxa is one of the most powerful, and therefore popular Commander generals of all time. So it seems only fitting for fans of the Commander format to show their allegiance than by rolling out a playmat of this Phyrexian angelic horror. With a designated space for a player’s deck and life counters at the top this playmat is as functional as it is gorgeous. Inject some fear into any opponent when you roll this playmat out and announce Atraxa’s presence to the table. Glory to New Phyrexia.
7. Stained Glass Eldrazi Playmat
Fans of the Eldrazi Titans will love this unique playmat. Featuring Ulamog, Kozilek, and Emrakrul in a religious stained glass setting this playmat is good for laughs. And for some serious Eldrazi worship from the faithful. What’s humorous about the design of this playmat is the fact the Eldrazi were originally worshiped as gods by the inhabitants of Zendikar, the plane on which they were imprisoned for thousands of years. The art, flavor and creativity on display easily makes this one of the coolest Magic: The Gathering Playmats around.
8. Magic LGBT Playmat
Now this is a playmat we love for its beauty and for its message. The stylized lotus flower in the playmat’s center features all five of the colors in magic in gilded leaf borders. The colorful image is a stark image that pops against the white granite background. Keeping with the colorful theme of the image, in the bottom left corner is a small rainbow image of the LGBT community. Magic: The Gathering is well-known for being an inclusive game that embraces diversity in its player base. And what better way to celebrate players of all backgrounds than with this stunning playmat that so beautifully promotes the ideas of shared differences?
9. Spellbook Playmat
When it comes to Magic: The Gathering playmats few are as on point as this one. In a game of Magic, a players deck actually is supposed to represent their spellbook. Each card they draw from it represents a page from its tomes with a powerful spell inscribed and ready to be cast. Therefore, this playmat of an old and dusty spellbook fits perfectly with the flavor of the game. Additionly, the open spaces in the pages are perfect for customization if artistic players would ever wish to add some more magical runes or incantations on their mat. How cool is that?
10. Chandra Nalaar Playmat
Set your enemies ablaze with the fiery pryomancer powers of Chandra Nalaar! This playmat features the gorgeous full art used in the Magic: Origins card for Chandra, Roaring Flame. This art was used to showcase the first time Chandra’s spark was ignited and she became the fiery and impulsive Planeswalker players have grown to love and identify with. Let Chandra help you rain down fiery destruction on your opponents with this red-hot playmat. It’s perfect for players who enjoy playing burn or who just want to keep Chandra close by their side.