To play Magic: The Gathering (MTG) against a computer opponent on Manjaro Linux, you have a few options:

Magic: The Gathering Arena

Magic: The Gathering Arena is the official digital version of the game, which allows you to play against computer opponents and other players online. While it’s not natively supported on Linux, you can run it using Wine or through Steam:

Using Wine

  1. Install Wine and its dependencies:
sudo pacman -S wine jq curl
  1. Clone the mtga-launcher repository:
git clone https://github.com/otti358/mtga-launcher.git
cd mtga-launcher/
  1. Run the launcher:
./mtga-launcher

Using Steam

To install and play “Magic: The Gathering Arena” (MTGA) on Manjaro Linux using Steam’s Proton compatibility layer, follow these updated steps:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Install Steam on Manjaro: Open a terminal and run the following command to install Steam:

    sudo pacman -S steam

  2. Launch Steam: After installation, launch Steam from your application menu.

  3. Enable Steam Play for Windows games:

    • In Steam, click on “Steam” in the top-left corner and select “Settings.”
    • In the Settings menu, click on “Steam Play” in the left sidebar.
    • Check the box for “Enable Steam Play for all other titles.”
    • Select the latest Proton version from the dropdown menu.
    • Click “OK” and restart Steam to apply the changes.

  4. Install “Magic: The Gathering Arena”:

    • Use the search bar in the Steam store to find “Magic: The Gathering Arena.”
    • Click on the game in the search results and then click the “Play” button to install it.
    • Follow the prompts to complete the installation.

  5. Launch the game:

    • Once the installation is complete, go to your Library.
    • Find “Magic: The Gathering Arena” in your game list and click “Play.”
    • Steam will automatically use Proton to run the game on Manjaro.

Additional Tips:

  • Check Game Compatibility: Before playing, you can check the compatibility of MTGA on ProtonDB to see if there are any specific tweaks or settings recommended by other users.

  • Try Different Proton Versions: If you encounter issues while playing, you may need to try different Proton versions:

    • Right-click on “Magic: The Gathering Arena” in your Library.
    • Select “Properties.”
    • Go to the “Compatibility” tab.
    • Check the box for “Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool” and select a different Proton version from the dropdown menu.

  • Non-Steam Games: If you want to add non-Steam games to Steam and use Proton, you can do so by:

    • Clicking “Add a Non-Steam Game” in the Steam Library.
    • Selecting the game’s executable file.
    • Setting the compatibility layer (Proton version) in the game’s properties.

Alternative Options

If you’re having trouble running MTG Arena, consider these alternatives:

Forge

Forge is an open-source MTG simulator that runs natively on Linux:

  1. Install Java if not already installed:
sudo pacman -S jdk-openjdk
  1. Download Forge from its official website.
  2. Extract the archive and run the launcher script.

Forge offers single-player modes against AI opponents and allows you to play against yourself.

XMage

XMage is another open-source MTG client that supports playing against AI:

  1. Install Java if not already installed.
  2. Download XMage from its official website.
  3. Extract the archive and run the launcher.

XMage provides a rules engine and AI opponents, allowing you to play against the computer or set up games against yourself.

Citations: [1] https://github.com/otti358/mtga-launcher [2] https://forum.garudalinux.org/t/installing-magic-the-gathering-arena-fails-using-lutris/34461 [3] https://www.reddit.com/r/archlinux/comments/1cbk7k2/dockerized_magic_the_gathering_arena_for_arch/ [4] https://forum.manjaro.org/t/how-to-install-magic-the-gathering-arena-on-manjaro-arch/122546