Who goes first?
From the publisher’s rulebook

Who goes first in Magic: The Gathering?

Wizards English rules, two-player game

For the first game, agree on a method to select who chooses the starting player, such as a coin flip or dice roll. That person decides who takes the first turn.

Back of a standard physical Magic: The Gathering card

Rule details

In later games of a match, the previous game's loser chooses the starter. After a draw, the same person who chose last time chooses again.

In a two-player game, the starting player skips their first draw step.

Special formats and card effects can override the ordinary opening procedure.

Source & edition

All 3 Wizards of the Coast starting rules

Image: © Wizards of the Coast · Wizards of the Coast

If your rules call for a random choice, use the player picker.

Missing the dice? Roll them online.

If there’s a tie

The rulebook doesn’t say. If you need a tie-break, pick a player at random.

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