Mana Vault Games

Westcliff Drive's combo of Magic, Pokemon and Lorcana cards with retro video games and consoles, plus prerelease events and Commander nights in west Las Vegas.

Mana Vault Games covers two hobbies under one roof. On Westcliff Drive, at the edge of Summerlin, half the store is trading cards and the other half is used video games and retro consoles. That combination draws a crowd you won't find at a TCG-only shop.

On the card side, Magic: The Gathering leads, followed by Pokemon and Disney Lorcana, with both popular sets and harder-to-find older cards in stock. The store buys, sells and trades cards. It hosts prereleases and regular Commander play, and the tables are relaxed enough that groups come in just to play among themselves.

The video game side is just as serious. Shelves hold used games for current and classic systems, and consoles are cleaned and tested before they're sold, including Nintendo 64s and other retro hardware. The store also has a reputation for restoring scratched discs and cartridges that other shops would turn away. Toys and pop-culture collectibles fill in the remaining shelves.

The owner is closely involved in the store, and trade-in conversations tend to be unhurried. You won't be rushed through a stack of cards or a box of old games. First-time customers have sometimes been offered a small discount, so it's worth mentioning if it's your first visit. Bring any Magic, Pokemon or Lorcana cards you want to trade along with old games, since the counter handles both in one transaction. Weekend afternoons are the liveliest, with Commander pods running while other customers browse retro cartridges at the counter.

If you want MTG singles in west Las Vegas and also need a cartridge for the kids, this is a good shop for both. As at any store, buy offers on cards are aimed at resale margin, so look up your cards' values before you sell. Mana Vault is open 11AM to 9PM every day. The store is a short drive from Summerlin's main shopping areas.