Friday Night Magic, usually shortened to FNM, is a weekly evening of Magic: The Gathering at your local games shop. Stores in the Wizards Play Network run it every Friday, and each store picks the format. Commander, Booster Draft and Standard are all popular choices. You turn up, sign in and play a few relaxed games against other locals, and there are often promo cards to be won.
A Commander night is the same idea built around Commander, the group format where three or four players share a table. It may run on a Friday as that week’s FNM, or on another night of the week. Both are open to every level of player, and a ready-made deck is all you need to join in.
How FNM works today
Wizards supplies the framework and the shop shapes the evening. For each season, Wizards lets stores schedule as many FNM events as they like on Fridays, in any format, and sends them packs of promo cards to give out. The current Reality Fracture season runs from 2 October to 5 November 2026. The Magic: The Gathering | Star Trek season follows from 13 November 2026 to 28 January 2027.
Because the shop decides the details, two FNMs a few miles apart can feel quite different. One might run a single Commander evening, another a Standard event and a draft side by side. Check the event listing or ask the staff what is on.
FNM is run at either a Casual or a Regular rules level. Casual means the focus is on fun and learning, and mistakes are fixed in a friendly way. Regular is a little more structured, with players taking more care to follow the rules exactly, but it is still welcoming.
Formats you might see
| Format | What you bring | How the night runs |
|---|---|---|
| Commander | A 100-card Commander deck | Casual games in groups of three or four |
| Booster Draft | Nothing but the entry, the shop supplies packs | Open packs, pick cards in turn, build a 40-card deck, then play |
| Standard | A 60-card deck of recent cards | Rounds of one against one games |
Competitive one against one events usually use Swiss pairings. You play a set number of rounds and are matched against players on a similar record each time, so everyone plays every round.
Prizes and promo cards
Each season, shops receive Promo Packs for FNM, and the store decides how to use them. Some reward the top finishers. Others give one to everyone, or reward good sportsmanship and helping new players. Supplies are limited, so ask the organiser how the evening’s prizes work.
Other events at your local shop
FNM is one of several regular events that Wizards supports in shops. Once you have been to a Friday or two, these are the natural next steps.
Commander events
- Commander Party. Casual Commander with a twist themed to the newest set, such as extra objectives or special party cards placed on a shared play aid. Any legal Commander deck is welcome, and a ready-made deck from the shop is a good choice if you have none. It runs twice per season, and for Star Trek that means 20 to 26 November 2026 and 15 to 21 January 2027. Pods are three or four players, and each participant receives a Commander promo while stocks last.
- Two-Headed Giant Commander Night. You team up with a partner for two against two Commander. Each of you plays your own 100-card deck and the pair shares a 60-point life total. Shops can run one a month during the season, with a participation promo for players. It is a lovely way to try store play with a friend beside you.
- Commander Box League. During prerelease week you buy a Play Booster box and build a 60-card Commander deck (including your commander) from what you open, plus basic lands. Colour identity is ignored for this event, so you can use every card you open. Then you play other league members through the week. It is designed to be casual.
Other formats
- Prerelease. Your first chance to play a new set, the week before it goes on sale. You build a deck from a Prerelease Pack on the day, so you need no cards of your own, and the shop supplies basic lands. Most run for four to five hours. Our prerelease guide explains the day in full.
- Standard Showdown. A weekly Standard event. Most have three to five rounds of best-of-three games, and the winner receives a promo card while supplies last. Sign up with the shop early to secure a seat.
- Store Championship. A more competitive Standard event with special promos for strong players, and a step up once you feel at home at FNM.
Finding a night near you
The official Wizards Store and Event Locator at locator.wizards.com lets you search for Magic events or for stores in the Wizards Play Network near you. Each event page on the Magic website, including Friday Night Magic and Commander Party, has a Find an Event button that leads there too. Open a listing to see what the shop has planned.
Our own listings help too. Browse Magic: The Gathering venues across the UK, see shops in Manchester, Leeds or Exeter, or check the weekly calendars for Manchester and Leeds.
Before you go, check a few details with the shop:
- Start time. Across the UK Friday Magic events we list, 6pm is the most common start, followed by 6.30pm and 7pm. Arrive a little early so you can register calmly.
- Booking. Some shops take pre-registration or limit numbers, especially for drafts. Booking ahead secures your seat.
- Entry fee. Each store sets its own. Most Friday events we list charge a few pounds, typically around £5 to £6, and a few are free. Drafts cost more, usually from about £8, because the fee covers the packs you open.
Signing up on the night
Most shops register players through Wizards EventLink. You will need a Wizards Account, and it is easiest to have the Magic: The Gathering Companion app on your phone. The app helps with event sign-up and can track life totals. Many shops display a QR code so you can join in seconds.
When the first round begins, the organiser announces pairings or groups. You find your table, shuffle up and play. Between rounds there is usually time to grab a drink, chat and trade.
The pre-game chat at Commander tables
Commander tables usually start with a quick conversation about everyone’s decks, so the game suits the whole group. Wizards’ Commander Brackets give that chat a shared scale. There are five brackets, from 1 (playful theme decks) to 5 (fully competitive). Brackets are optional and still officially in beta.
A simple way to join in is to say which bracket you think your deck fits, mention whether it is a ready-made deck, and ask if there are any table rules. Bracket 2 decks, for example, aim for low pressure and social games where you can expect at least eight turns before anyone wins. Our guide on how to play Magic: The Gathering covers brackets and the Commander rules in more detail.
Etiquette that makes the night go smoothly
- Keep things visible. Say what you are casting and what it targets, and keep your cards where everyone can read them.
- Shuffle properly and offer your deck to an opponent to cut.
- Ask before touching anyone else’s cards.
- Track life clearly, out loud or on paper, and agree on totals as you go.
- Ask for help from the organiser if a rule question comes up. It is part of their job and they are glad to help.
- Finish kindly. Saying “good game” at the end of each match is a friendly habit.
- Look after the space. Follow the shop’s rules on food and drink, and tidy your table at the end.
Your first night checklist
- A Wizards Account and the Companion app, set up before you leave home
- Your deck in a deck box, ideally in card sleeves (not needed for a draft)
- A die, counters or pen and paper for life and tokens
- Payment for the entry fee
- A water bottle, and a snack if the shop allows it
- A short sentence ready for your first table: “This is my first FNM, so please bear with me”
If you would like a gentler start, look for a Magic Academy session first. It lasts about one to two hours and provides everything you need.
Common questions
Is Friday Night Magic good for beginners?
Yes. Wizards describes FNM as open to players of every level, so newcomers are welcome. If you have never played, a Magic Academy session first will give you the basics.
How do I find Friday Night Magic near me?
Search the official Wizards Store and Event Locator for Magic events or stores near you. You can also browse the venue pages on this site and check each shop's own social media for that week's plans.
What format is Friday Night Magic?
Each shop chooses. Wizards lists Commander, Booster Draft and Standard among the usual options, and some stores run more than one event on the same Friday.
Do you win anything at FNM?
Shops receive seasonal promo packs from Wizards and hand them out as they see fit, for example for taking part, for good results or for good sportsmanship. Ask the organiser how prizes work before the first round.
Do I need my own deck for a Commander night?
For Commander you will need a 100-card Commander deck, and a ready-made one is perfectly fine. For a draft night you only need to pay the entry, as you build your deck from the packs you open.