Mystical Tutor: Brush Up On Your MTG Slang

Magic: The Gathering is full of strategy, stories, and incredible cards, but it also has a language all its own. If you are new to the game, hearing experienced players chat can feel like stepping into a different world. What does it mean when someone says they are top-decking? Or that they got mana screwed?

Don't worry, we are going to break down some of the most popular MTG slang terms, what they mean, and why players use them.

Top-decking

When players say they “top-decked” a card, it means they drew exactly the card they needed from the top of their deck at just the right time. It is often used when a player turns a losing position into a winning one with a single lucky draw. It is also used when someone has has an empty hand and is just trying to find somethign useful to play.

Example: “I was about to lose, but I topdecked a Wrath of God and cleared the board.”

Mana Screw

Every Magic player knows this pain. “Mana screwed” means you did not draw or are not drawing enough lands to play your cards, leaving you stuck while your opponent runs ahead. It is one of the most frustrating experiences in the game but also one of the most relatable.

Mana Flood

The opposite of mana screwed. If you are “mana flooded,” you are drawing way too many lands and not enough useful spells. Your hand is full, but you cannot do anything impactful with it.

Ramp

“Ramp” is slang for playing cards that accelerate your mana, tokens, or counters. Green decks are famous for ramp, with spells like Cultivate or Llanowar Elves helping you cast big creatures faster than your opponent can keep up.

Scoop

To “scoop” means to concede the game. Instead of playing out a lost position, a player picks up their cards and moves on to the next round. The term comes from physically scooping your cards off the table.

Bolt the Bird

This one is a classic phrase from competitive play. It refers to using Lightning Bolt (a one-mana red spell that deals three damage) to kill a Birds of Paradise (a one-mana green creature that produces mana).

More broadly, it means using removal on a small but important creature early in the game.

Jank

“Jank” is slang for a deck that is clunky, underpowered, or just plain silly. Jank decks are not expected to win consistently, but they can be fun, creative, and sometimes surprisingly effective.

Going Wide

When someone says they are “going wide,” it means they are building a big army of creatures instead of one huge threat. Token decks are a perfect example of this strategy, overwhelming the opponent with numbers.

Going Tall

The opposite of going wide. “Going tall” means stacking resources, buffs, or equipment onto one creature to make it a massive threat. Voltron-style commander decks are known for this approach.

MTG SLang: Give us your favorite!

Magic slang might sound confusing at first, but once you start using it, the game feels even more comfortable. So whether you're mana screwed, going wide with tokens, or just building jank, this language makes the community feel connected.

Next time you hear someone say they top-decked a win-con ant their opponent scooped, you will know exactly what they mean.