2023 has multiple TCG games to get into, from MTG to Yu-Gi-Oh and even Digimon! You got your cards, your sleeves, so what are you missing? A playmat to put on the table to both protect your sleeves and showcase unique artwork that goes with your taste. Your playmat can inspire you to play better, and it's an extension of how you personalize your card's aesthetics.
Another good reason to get a playmat is to ensure your sleeves are kept in good quality. In tournaments and other competitions of card games, having faded sleeves can lead to a ban or a losing game! With that in mind, you will see some fantastic playmats with great art and quality in this guide!
Inked Playmats Cathulhu 2 TCG Game Mat for Cards
Because everyone loves cats.
The Inked Playmat Cathulhu features one of a kind artwork, smoothness and durability. It is also compact and easy to take on the go!
- Unique artwork, making it a rather special playmat
- It's washable, so you can always have it looking its best!
- It has a cat in it. I don't need to say more.
- Might not be the most family friendly playmat.
Inked Playmats showcase their vibrant and unique art style with the Cathulhu playmat. This playmat will capture your opponent's attention and can be used with various TCG games. The fact that it can be washable and compact makes it an attractive choice for casual play with drinks or when packing things up to go to a competition.
Inked playmats have been known for their original ideas regarding the direction of their art and the lack of zones for putting up the cards. If you want a playmat centered on making the art take center stage, you can't go wrong with the Cathulhu playmat.
Mlikemat Diaboromon Duel Playmat for Digimon TCG
The best playmat to play Digimon TCG!
A fantastic playmat that becomes the ultimate partner of a Digimon TCG game, it contains all its layout zones and the counters to always keep track of the match!
- Includes counters and zones to keep track of the development of matches.
- Dual art featuring Diaboromon!
- Great quality mat with clear artwork
- The dual art can be an acquired taste.
Mlikeman means to play Digimon with the delivery of this playmat of Diaboromon. The brand has outdone itself by making this mat the perfect partner for a Digimon TCG game, as it includes all the zones for the cards with fantastic dual art. The main attraction is that it contains the counters on top, letting you track both numbers from you and your opponent during the match.
Its superb quality and clear picture make it a desirable mat, and adding all the zones for the cards make it essential for Digimon TCG players. If you are starting to play the game, having the layout on the mat will also allow you to put all the cards in the correct spots and keep track of the game's development as your opponent plays.
Pokemon TCG: Sword & Shield Ultra-Premium Collection Charizard
Show your passion with Gigantamax Charizard!
The Pokemon TCG: Sword & Shield, Ultra Premium Collection, contains everything you need: cards, accessories, and an epic Charizard playmat!
- Includes accessories and cards!
- Is a rare playmat, making it rather exclusive!
- Charizard is one of the most popular Pokemons out there, and he looks great on the mat!
- It is expensive compared to other playmats
- The playmat only comes in the bundle
The Pokemon Company showcases the epic art of Gigantamax Charizard in this fantastic playmat. The accessories included with the mat mesh skillfully with the centerpiece showing an imposing Charizard laying everything to waste with his powerful moves! The fact that it comes with a bundle might be a bit hard to acquire, but that can lead to an overall exclusive mat!
Charizard has been the most popular Pokemon in the history of the series, with its only rivals being Pikachu and Greninja in the popularity polls. Making a fire theme deck with this mat is sure to get a compliment out of your opponent, but even without going all into the fire, this playmat will show your fiery passion!
Mlikemat Dragonmaid Playmat for Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG
Dragonmaids at your service~
The Mlikemat Dragonmaid Playmat showcases the core members of the Dragonmaid Yu-Gi-Oh deck! A comprehensive arrangement of colos with a white background delivers a calm yet vibrant energy!
- A cheap option that still packs quality!
- Multiple colors in one playmat.
- Dragonmaids are popular characters due to their fun deck!
- Contains zones for laying cards in Yu-Gi-Oh matches!
- It is less premium than more expensive playmats.
Yu-gi-oh has been popular since 2003 and keeps going strong after two decades. With more human-like cards, the Dragonmaid deck left an impression thanks to its fun use! The mat shows all the core members of the Dragonmaid archetype, and they all look elegant and cute. If you prefer a more laid-back mat that shows you are relaxed when playing and want to have a good time, this is the perfect playmat for you!
Alternatively, you could be a big fan of the Dragonmaids. The different colors are featured over the white background, creating a vast spectrum of colors without overdoing it. The vibrant mat looks great on any table and includes the zones for laying out the cards. Mlikemat wants to be the brand to go to when purchasing Yu-Gi-Oh and Digimon playmats!
Ultra PRO Modern Horizons 2 Playmat V5 for MTG
That monkey is stylish!
Ultra Pro shows its creativity with this unique licensed MTG playmat! The mat is made of soft fabric, and the whole art is gorgeous!
- Colors pop well, making it a beautiful playmat!
- Full artwork which is perfect for MTG due to card placement being free
- Is officially licensed for MTG.
- Does not contain zones, making it MTG focused.
- Can be quite hard to find in stock, prices might vary among sellers
Time to go with a playmat that goes with Magic The Gathering with this Ultra Pro piece. The modern Horizons playmat brings the best out of MTG art illustration with this mat. The striking colors pop well, while the art features a monkey using goggles with various objects. That is the essence of some of the most MTG memorable characters, as the goggles can remind you of Chandra Nalaar, the setting of Kaladesh, and more!
Since MTG games can go a bit different on the layout depending on the deck being used with the number of land cards and other types such as planeswalkers, playmats with no zones are ideal companions to the game. The non-slip rubber backing keeps the mat in place as you play, ensuring it doesn't slide. This playmat shows that Ultra Pro is one of the best brands to go to when getting an MTG mat.
Inked Playmats Toad Rider TCG Game Mat For Cards
A squirrel rides a frog to battle!
The Toad Rider playmat is here to show something magical! And what could be more magical than an armored squirrel riding a toad to battle! This mat is durable and compact!
- Is a squirrel riding a frog, adorable and exciting!
- The mat is durable and doesn't fade, making it an excellent long term choice!
- Is popular and beloved thanks to it's vibrant artwork.
- Doesn't contain zones for cards
Inked Playmats is back with another fantastic mat; the Toad Rider playmat shows a squirrel riding a frog to battle. It doesn't get any better than that. The durability and rich art make this mat a trendy choice for those wanting something that stands out.
The durability plays a significant role here, as the colors won't fade over time, keeping the mat usable for years. It is a mat that goes well with games such as Magic The Gathering, as the style is of a fantasy setting while still delivering an original, innovative art direction.
Pokemon TCG: Volcarona & Frosmoth Freezer Burn Playmat
A cosmic explosion of Fire and Ice!
Volcarona & Frosmoth Freezer Burn shows the duality of Fire and Ice in their best form! These two popular Pokemons appear together in a cosmic playmat that is one of a kind!
- Cosmic artwork of Volcarona & Frosmoth that is unique!
- Provides ample of space to set cards in!
- A Pokemon Center original playmat made by the Pokemon Company!
- Less color variety than most playmats.
Back to the Pokemon playmats, this mat features the duality between fire and ice types with Volcarona & Frosmoth. Volcarona has been a popular Pokemon recently due to its high output damage in the games, while Frosmoth is a cute moth that has become the favorite of many trainers. There is no better duo to integrate into a mat than these two.
Add to that the constellation and space theme the mat is going for, and you have a striking piece of art that will elevate your style to the next dimension. The playmat offers plenty of space and is durable, making it a good choice for playing Pokemon TCG. If you are into the dual combination of fire and ice, this mat is an excellent one that will catch the attention of everyone playing against you.
Bottom Line
A playmat serves various purposes: it protects your sleeves to protect them from fading, offers a stylish area to set your cards with, and showcases a part of your personality to your opponent! Choosing a playmat is an enjoyable process in which you go for something you like to look at. The collection of mats shown in this guide is bound to fulfill a specific role, whether to get the best playmat for Digimon or be durable enough to withstand the passage of time.
The best pick is the Inked Playmat Cathulhu, thanks to its unique, striking artwork and compact design, making it an attractive choice whenever you want to get complimented on your mat or packing for a big tourney. It is an adorable yet somber mat that is bound to get an impression out of your opponents, and it has enough thickness to protect your cards while being of premium quality. It fills that overall check of being good at everything: full artwork, durable, distinctive, and funny! If you prefer a less expensive mat, check out the Dragonmaid mat, as it is the budget choice while keeping quality assured with its vast array of colors!
FAQ
Are playmats essential accessories to own or more of a caveat?
Playmats are very important! That is due to the competition rules and formats in card games. Picture the following: if you were playing Yu-Gi-Oh with a friend and one of their cards back is of a different color, you suspect them of knowing what they are drawing next turn. In the same way, an opponent can claim that if one of your sleeves artwork is faded, you could always know what card is in that sleeve. That will lead to disqualification in tourneys, among other penalties. If sleeves protect your cards, then playmats protect your sleeves! Don't worry; the playmat doesn't require protection unless it is from a nearby drink.
Do playmats offer some sort of prestige in TCG games?
Yes, they do! Some playmats can be hard to get due to companies running out of stock, while others can only be obtained by winning competitions! A playmat can showcase not only your personality but also your accomplishments in card games! Having multiple playmats could mean the player is a card game veteran. Meanwhile, having exclusive ones can show their compromise to the game or how good they are at it!
What are the benefits of using a playmat?
A mat can offer roles to fill for certain types of TCG games. These, for example, can go from keeping track of the match, like in the case of Digimon. Other TCG games, such as Pokemon and MTG, prefer full art playmats, as while there is a layout zone for cards in general, these games are not too strict on the space and benefit from freedom.