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XMage is free to download and play — no account required to join public games. This guide walks you through installing the launcher, connecting to a public server, building a deck, and sitting down at your first table. The whole process takes less than ten minutes on a typical internet connection.

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Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have Java 8 or later installed on your system. XMage’s launcher and both the client and server components are compiled to target the Java 8 runtime.
Download a compatible Java Runtime Environment from java.com. OpenJDK distributions from Adoptium also work. Verify your installation by running java -version in a terminal.
# Verify Java is installed and at version 8 (1.8) or later
java -version
# Expected output example:
# java version "1.8.0_361"

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Installation & Launch

1

Download XMage

Go to xmage.today and download the latest XMage launcher and app files. The download is a ZIP archive containing the launcher JAR, the client JAR, configuration files, and supporting libraries.
The client and server versions must match. If you connect to a public server running a different version than your client, you will be refused or experience errors. Always download the latest release from xmage.today to stay in sync with public servers, and check xmage.today/servers/ for the version each server is running.
2

Unpack the Archive

Extract the downloaded ZIP to a permanent folder on your machine. Avoid paths with spaces or special characters. Suggested locations:
D:\games\xmage\
Right-click the ZIP in Explorer and choose Extract All…, then browse to D:\games\ as the destination. You should end up with a folder like:
D:\games\xmage\
  XMageLauncher-0.4.xx.jar
  mage-client\
  mage-server\
  config\
3

Launch XMage

Start the XMage Launcher by running the launcher JAR. The launcher manages updates and lets you start the client and/or a local server.
Double-click XMageLauncher-*.jar in File Explorer.If the file opens as a ZIP instead of running, right-click it and choose Open with → Java Platform SE Binary, or run it from the command line:
cd D:\games\xmage
java -jar XMageLauncher-0.4.jar
Once the launcher window opens, click Launch Client to start the XMage graphical client.
4

Connect to a Public Server

When the XMage client starts you will see a connection dialog. Community-maintained public servers are listed at xmage.today/servers/. Pick a server whose version matches your client.Fill in the connection dialog:
FieldValue
ServerHostname from xmage.today/servers/ (e.g. xmage.de)
Port17171 (default for all public servers)
UsernameAny name between 3–14 characters ([a-z0-9_])
PasswordLeave blank or register on servers with authentication enabled
Click Connect. A successful connection places you in the main lobby where you can see open tables and chat with other players.
If you want to play without an internet connection — for example to test a combo or learn the interface — you can start a local server from the launcher instead. The local server supports a special test mode that lets you set up arbitrary board states, skip to specific turns, and run automated scenarios. Click Launch Server in the XMage Launcher, then connect the client to localhost on port 17171.
5

Load or Build a Deck

Before you can join a table you need a deck. In the client, open Deck Editor from the top menu.
  • Build a new deck: Search for cards by name, type, set, or text. Drag cards into your main deck and sideboard panels. XMage validates deck legality for the selected format as you build.
  • Import an existing deck: Click File → Load deck and select a .dck file. XMage’s deck format is plain text and compatible with many external deck builders.
  • Download card images: On your first run, card images will be missing. Go to Preferences → Images in the client and choose an image source to begin downloading artwork in the background.
Save your deck with File → Save deck before proceeding.
6

Create or Join a Table

Return to the main lobby. You have two options:Join an existing table
  • Browse the tables list in the lobby.
  • Double-click an open table (shown in green) that matches your deck’s format.
  • Select your deck from the list and click Join.
Create a new table
  • Click New Table in the lobby toolbar.
  • Choose a game type (e.g. Two Player Duel), format (e.g. Freeform), and set time controls.
  • Click Create, then select your deck and wait for an opponent to join.
Once all seats are filled the game starts automatically. XMage enforces all priority passes, timing rules, and triggered abilities — just choose your actions when prompted.

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What’s Next?

Now that you’ve played your first game, here are some directions to explore:
  • Explore formats — try Commander, Oathbreaker, Booster Draft, or Sealed tournaments from the New Table dialog.
  • Host your own server — follow the wiki guide to set up a private server for friends or configure a public-facing instance with authentication.
  • Tune performance — if the client feels sluggish, add JVM rendering flags in Settings → Java → Client java options. On Linux, -Dsun.java2d.opengl=true often provides a large speedup.
  • Contribute — XMage is open source. See the Development Setup wiki to start implementing cards or fixing bugs.
  • Get help — visit r/XMage, the Discord, or GitHub Issues if you run into trouble.

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