It’s time to once again don the mantle of Planeswalker as we check out the best Magic the Gathering play mats!
Though of course there’s absolutely nothing wrong with playing Magic the Gathering (or MTG, for short) directly on the tabletop, there’s something to be said for having your own themed play mat to compete with.
It’s not going to make you a better deck builder or player of course, but having a solid and dependable play mat – particularly if you have your cards sleeved – keeps your deck and the spells you’ve cast from slipping around on the surface of a tabletop.
There’s also an awful lot of options when it comes to play mats themed and designed around playing Magic the Gathering, so we’ve taken a look at plenty of them for you, whittling them down to the ones we liked the most.
Which are the best though?
Let’s find out, as we check out the best Magic the Gathering play mats!
5. The Grinning Gargoyle – Neoprene Tabletop Game Mat
Despite not being a game mat specifically made for Magic the Gathering, this is an excellent game mat that’s versatile and very well made indeed.
So it’ll be useful not just for your Magic the Gathering games, but for any tabletop game you play!
So, what’s so good about this mat that earns it a spot on the best Magic the Gathering play mats list?
With two sizes of play mat on offer – 90cm x 90cm and 90cm x 60cm – either option will be more than enough to cope with two players battling it out with their MTG cards on the table.
The mat is really solidly put together, with stitching to prevent the polyester design from fraying at the edges and peeling away from the neoprene bottom layer.
Talking of that protective, non-slip neoprene, it’s 3mm thick – giving a really solid feel to this mat.
It’s also worth noting that the mat itself is rolled in a protective bag that, just like the game mat, feels like a premium, well made product that’ll allow you to store and transport the mat safely.
We’re not too keen on the design, which feels like it could be used as a carpet in the Overlook Hotel – but it’s not a deal breaker in our opinion.
A great all round product, even if it isn’t just for MTG itself!
4. GMC 2-Player MTG Gaming Mat with Exile Zone
Though somewhat plain, this GMC play mat does have a few features that make it a good choice for MTG players.
First of all, there’s the fact that it’s designed to accommodate both players at the table – so you’ll be taking care of your own cards as well as your opponent’s!
Secondly, the mat also has clear markings for your deck, graveyard and even an exile zone for cards removed from the game entirely.
So despite being incredibly plain, it’s definitely functional and useful for MTG players.
With a fabric top and non-slip rubber backing, it’s a well made mat that gives players a decent surface to play on – with the added advantage of being suitable for both players, not just one!
3. Four Leaves MTG Play Mat and Bag
Another mat that isn’t going to win any prizes for aesthetics, the Four Leaves MTG play mat is a smartly designed product that’s specifically for Magic the Gathering players.
That’s because it has the different zones of play marked out on the mat itself, with a turn order printed on there too.
Though long term Magic the Gathering players – or even those with a reasonable familiarity with MTG – aren’t likely to need this, especially as the turn order in Magic the Gathering is so intuitive, it’s a really handy reminder for newer players and those just dipping their toes into the vast ocean of Magic the Gathering.
It even has a space for your life total, however you want to mark it – whether it be with tokens or a D20, the fact that there’s a space here to keep it visible to both yourself and your opponent is really useful.
It also shows a clear understanding of what’s important for MTG players to each keep track of during their games.
This play mat is a decent size too, coming in at roughly 60cm wide and 38cm long.
It’s made from polyester – which provides the surface – and a non-slip, 2mm thick rubber backing keeps it feeling solid and dependable.
Despite being plain and mostly functional, this is a solid choice for players new to MTG – or even veterans looking for a cost effective play mat for their CCG action!
2. Paramint Lucid Dragon Blast – Stitched Play Mat
We know that the quality of artwork can be subjective, but this Magic the Gathering play mat has such a great, near-abstract design that we couldn’t ignore it.
Aside from the dragons and other geometric patterns that make up the bulk of the mat’s aesthetics, you’ll also notice the five different types of Mana, cleverly integrated into the centre of the mat.
It’s not just that this mat looks good either – being much more aesthetically pleasing than the two mats that preceded it on this list – but it’s another product that’s made with care and attention, ensuring that it’ll last even hardcore MTG players for a very long time.
With three subtly different colour options, stitched-edge polyester top construction and a protective box for storage (though you’ll probably want to invest in a bag for transporting this particular mat), it’s a great choice for the more artistically inclined Magic the Gathering player.
Speaking of that art, even the artist behind the design is also credited, giving this a much less generic feel than other play mats sometimes have.
Paramint do also produce mats with other designs; some again integrating the MTG mana types into Asian/Arabian-influenced designs and others with more traditional painted artwork -that looks more like the pieces found on actual MTG cards – so there’s likely to be a design for just about any aesthetic taste.
1. Ultra Pro – Magic The Gathering: Phyrexia: All Will Be One Play Mat
Not just known for their excellent card sleeves (you’ll find Ultra Pro on our list of the best Magic the Gathering sleeves), toploaders (they’re also on our list of the best toploaders for trading cards) and other accessories, Ultra Pro also have a huge range of official Magic the Gathering play mats available too.
With art often taken directly from Magic the Gathering cards or officially licensed by artists who have also contributed to different MTG sets,, these play mats have an incredibly premium feel.
As they feature characters and events from the game’s storylines, it’s a great way to express yourself as an MTG player, customise your play area and protect your cards during play at the same time.
The design we’ve chosen to highlight is one of popular Planeswalker Jace Beleren – and it’s actually a gorgeous, holofoil print on this playmat – depicting him during the events of recently released set Phyrexia: All Will Be One.
We won’t go into spoilers here, but you can check out more on that particular set in our Upcoming MTG Sets article!
There’s a bewildering number of designs available from Ultra Pro, including more plain and functional ones that show the turn order for newer players – but I think you’ll agree that having these spectacular painted designs definitely elevates these play mats.
So it’s no wonder that you find the officially licensed Ultra Pro Magic the Gathering play mats at the top of our list!
Looking for more Magic the Gathering information? Why not check out our list of rare Magic the Gathering cards?
Jason – who lives in the UK – has had a lifelong interest in video games, which all started when he discovered Space Invaders in the early 80s. The first game he ever completed was Wonder Boy in Monster Land on the Sega Master System – which remains one of his proudest gaming achievements. Jason is a passionate writer – and has been writing about gaming since the late 90s. He currently runs pop culture blog midlifegamergeek.com, which he updates on a daily basis (and has written more than 700 articles on the blog alone!).
Outside of video games, Jason is a keen tabletop gamer, film buff and comic book fan.
