MTG Arena flickers black when in a match

When I try to play MTG Arena the menu looks fine, btu the screen flickers black as soon as I enter an actual game. Any ideas why this might happen? I added a big portion of the log, because I am unsure what is important. Nothing gets logged during the flickering.

DEBUG    2023-03-31 12:27:40,472 [xrandr._get_vidmodes:14]:Retrieving video modes from XrandR
DEBUG    2023-03-31 12:27:40,513 [command.start:139]:DISABLE_LAYER_AMD_SWITCHABLE_GRAPHICS_1="1"
DEBUG    2023-03-31 12:27:40,513 [command.start:139]:SDL_VIDEO_FULLSCREEN_DISPLAY="off"
DEBUG    2023-03-31 12:27:40,513 [command.start:139]:LD_LIBRARY_PATH="/home/username/.local/share/lutris/runners/wine/lutris-mtga-5.0-x86_64/lib:/home/username/.local/share/lutris/runners/wine/lutris-mtga-5.0-x86_64/lib64:/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu:/lib/i386-linux-gnu:/lib:/lib32:/lib/i386-linux-gnu/sse2:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libfakeroot:/lib64:/lib64:/usr/lib:/usr/lib64:/usr/lib32:/usr/lib64:/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu:/home/username/.local/share/lutris/runtime/Ubuntu-18.04-i686:/home/username/.local/share/lutris/runtime/steam/i386/lib/i386-linux-gnu:/home/username/.local/share/lutris/runtime/steam/i386/lib:/home/username/.local/share/lutris/runtime/steam/i386/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu:/home/username/.local/share/lutris/runtime/steam/i386/usr/lib:/home/username/.local/share/lutris/runtime/Ubuntu-18.04-x86_64:/home/username/.local/share/lutris/runtime/steam/amd64/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu:/home/username/.local/share/lutris/runtime/steam/amd64/lib:/home/username/.local/share/lutris/runtime/steam/amd64/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu:/home/username/.local/share/lutris/runtime/steam/amd64/usr/lib:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH"
DEBUG    2023-03-31 12:27:40,513 [command.start:139]:DXVK_LOG_LEVEL="none"
DEBUG    2023-03-31 12:27:40,513 [command.start:139]:WINEDEBUG="-all"
DEBUG    2023-03-31 12:27:40,513 [command.start:139]:WINEARCH="win64"
DEBUG    2023-03-31 12:27:40,514 [command.start:139]:WINE="/home/username/.local/share/lutris/runners/wine/lutris-mtga-5.0-x86_64/bin/wine"
DEBUG    2023-03-31 12:27:40,514 [command.start:139]:WINEPREFIX="/home/username/Games/magic-the-gathering-arena"
DEBUG    2023-03-31 12:27:40,514 [command.start:139]:WINEESYNC="1"
DEBUG    2023-03-31 12:27:40,514 [command.start:139]:WINEFSYNC="0"
DEBUG    2023-03-31 12:27:40,514 [command.start:139]:DXVK_NVAPIHACK="0"
DEBUG    2023-03-31 12:27:40,514 [command.start:139]:WINEDLLOVERRIDES="d3d12,d3dcompiler_42,d3dcompiler_43,d3dcompiler_46,d3dcompiler_47,d3dx10,d3dx10_33,d3dx10_34,d3dx10_35,d3dx10_36,d3dx10_37,d3dx10_38,d3dx10_39,d3dx10_40,d3dx10_41,d3dx10_42,d3dx10_43,d3dx11_42,d3dx11_43,d3dx9_24,d3dx9_25,d3dx9_26,d3dx9_27,d3dx9_28,d3dx9_29,d3dx9_30,d3dx9_31,d3dx9_32,d3dx9_33,d3dx9_34,d3dx9_35,d3dx9_36,d3dx9_37,d3dx9_38,d3dx9_39,d3dx9_40,d3dx9_41,d3dx9_42,d3dx9_43,nvapi,nvapi64,nvml=n;winemenubuilder="
DEBUG    2023-03-31 12:27:40,514 [command.start:139]:game_name="Magic: The Gathering Arena"
DEBUG    2023-03-31 12:27:40,514 [command.start:139]:PYTHONPATH="/usr/lib/lutris:/usr/games:/usr/lib/python310.zip:/usr/lib/python3.10:/usr/lib/python3.10/lib-dynload:/home/username/.local/lib/python3.10/site-packages:/usr/local/lib/python3.10/dist-packages:/usr/local/lib/python3.10/dist-packages/PyPDF3-0.0.1-py3.10.egg:/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages"
DEBUG    2023-03-31 12:27:40,514 [command.start:139]:LUTRIS_GAME_UUID="45094b9a-2444-4152-b1e0-ca0d25c27451"
Started initial process 53716 from /home/username/.local/share/lutris/runners/wine/lutris-mtga-5.0-x86_64/bin/wine /home/username/Games/magic-the-gathering-arena/drive_c/Program Files/Wizards of the Coast/MTGA/MTGALauncher/MTGALauncher.exe
Start monitoring process.
esync: up and running.
38 [1] INFO RootLog (null) - Initialized with Flavor: "Live"
58 [1] INFO RootLog (null) - Initialized with AppDir: "C:\Program Files\Wizards of the Coast\MTGA\"
1050 [1] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Looking for Language in RegKey:Software\Wow6432Node\Wizards of the Coast\MTGArena
1079 [1] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Key ProductLanguage doesn't Exist
1080 [1] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Unable To Determine Language From Registry. Setting to English
1083 [1] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Language Set
1088 [1] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Loc Strings Populated
1090 [1] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Status:Checking for Updates...
1125 [3] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Retrieving userID
1130 [3] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Creating userID
1131 [3] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Key Existed, value did not. Created and setting new userID: 10ce1675-af1b-4ac8-88bd-f28b36393599
1148 [4] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Admin Rights found! Initializing BI Manager.
1150 [4] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Get Processor Count.
1150 [4] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Setup PerformanceCounters.
1156 [3] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Moving to Stage:CheckingVersion
1173 [3] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Starting Version Check...
1173 [3] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Status:Checking for Updates...
1176 [3] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Starting Version Check Thread
1269 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - HttpClient started.
1347 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Attempt 1 to get Doormat Version
1482 [4] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Failed to Start PerformanceCounters!
1490 [4] INFO DefaultLog (null) - System.InvalidOperationException: Category does not exist.
   at System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounterLib.CounterExists(String machine, String category, String counter)
   at System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounter.InitializeImpl()
   at System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounter..ctor(String categoryName, String counterName, String instanceName, Boolean readOnly)
   at System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounter..ctor(String categoryName, String counterName, String instanceName)
   at MTGALauncher.BIManager.<>c.<InitBI>b__29_0()
1492 [4] INFO DefaultLog (null) -    at System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounterLib.CounterExists(String machine, String category, String counter)
   at System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounter.InitializeImpl()
   at System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounter..ctor(String categoryName, String counterName, String instanceName, Boolean readOnly)
   at System.Diagnostics.PerformanceCounter..ctor(String categoryName, String counterName, String instanceName)
   at MTGALauncher.BIManager.<>c.<InitBI>b__29_0()
1495 [4] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Done Initializing BI Manager.
2152 [3] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Adding message to queue: clientID:10ce1675-af1b-4ac8-88bd-f28b36393599 environmentID:Prod region: logLevel:Info sourceType:Installer messageType:ReinstallData details:{
  "sessID": "c5ec279e-3dd3-4c1e-b459-7f7f43a2ecc9",
  "ping": "2023-03-31T11:27:44.6626534Z"
}
2157 [7] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Starting SendThread
2168 [7] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Sending Message: {"MessageType":"ReinstallData","RegionId":"","Details":{"sessID":"c5ec279e-3dd3-4c1e-b459-7f7f43a2ecc9","ping":"2023-03-31T11:27:44.6626534Z"}}
2169 [7] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Message Length: 143
2661 [13] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Client reported 10ce1675-af1b-4ac8-88bd-f28b36393599 - {"MessageType":"ReinstallData","RegionId":"","Details":{"sessID":"c5ec279e-3dd3-4c1e-b459-7f7f43a2ecc9","ping":"2023-03-31T11:27:44.6626534Z"}}
2662 [13] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Removing message from Queue: {
  "sessID": "c5ec279e-3dd3-4c1e-b459-7f7f43a2ecc9",
  "ping": "2023-03-31T11:27:44.6626534Z"
}
2891 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - LauncherVersion From Doormat:1.0.95.809059
2892 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - ClientVersion From Doormat:0.1.4502.993828
2896 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Parsing Launcher version:1.0.95
2897 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Got local launcher version file:1.0.95
2905 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Checking version
2906 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Getting local version file
2908 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Local file didn't exist:C:\Program Files\Wizards of the Coast\MTGA\version
2909 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - newest version:0.1.4502.993828
2910 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - current version:0.0
2912 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Parsing Launcher version:1.0.95
2914 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Attempt 1 to get the Remote version file from:https://mtgarena.downloads.wizards.com/Live/Windows64/versions/4502.993828/version
3430 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Adding Sumo message to queue: details:{
  "UpgradeFrom": "Not Installed",
  "Flavor": "Live",
  "LauncherVersion": "1.0.95.809059",
  "UpgradeTo": "0.1.4502.993828"
}
3431 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Created SumoMessage with body of :{
  "UpgradeFrom": "Not Installed",
  "Flavor": "Live",
  "LauncherVersion": "1.0.95.809059",
  "UpgradeTo": "0.1.4502.993828"
}
3432 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Setting AssetBundle Version to:4502.993828
3433 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Unable to retrieve product codes
3434 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Performing NPE Install
3435 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - A major upgrade is required.
3436 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Build: 0.1.4502.993828
3436 [7] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Sending Message: {"UpgradeFrom":"Not Installed","Flavor":"Live","LauncherVersion":"1.0.95.809059","UpgradeTo":"0.1.4502.993828"}
3437 [7] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Message Length: 111
3437 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Need to download:MTGAInstaller_0.1.4502.993828.msi
3442 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Moving to Stage:MovingTo64BitPF
3443 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Moving to Stage:DownloadingUpdates
3447 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Queueing Downloads for 1 Patches!
3448 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Queued: MTGAInstaller_0.1.4502.993828.msi
3449 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Download From: https://mtgarena.downloads.wizards.com/Live/Windows64/versions/4502.993828/MTGAInstaller_0.1.4502.993828.msi
3450 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Download To: C:\Program Files\Wizards of the Coast\MTGA\MTGALauncher\Updates\MTGAInstaller_0.1.4502.993828.msi
3546 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - MTGAInstaller_0.1.4502.993828.msi is 162600960 bytes
3548 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Status:Downloading update 1 of 1...
4676 [11] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Successful send of sumo message {"UpgradeFrom":"Not Installed","Flavor":"Live","LauncherVersion":"1.0.95.809059","UpgradeTo":"0.1.4502.993828"}
4677 [11] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Removing message from Sumo Queue: {
  "UpgradeFrom": "Not Installed",
  "Flavor": "Live",
  "LauncherVersion": "1.0.95.809059",
  "UpgradeTo": "0.1.4502.993828"
}
17381 [4] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Download Complete:MTGAInstaller_0.1.4502.993828.msi
17382 [4] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Status:Downloading update 2 of 1...
17384 [4] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Status:Download Complete, Installing...
17389 [4] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Another install is currently running.
17396 [4] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Moving to Stage:InstallingUpdates
17403 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Status:Installing update 1 of 1...
17406 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - File Type:.msi
17409 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Installing:/i "C:\Program Files\Wizards of the Coast\MTGA\MTGALauncher\Updates\MTGAInstaller_0.1.4502.993828.msi" ProductLanguage=1033 /qn /norestart /L*V "C:\Program Files\Wizards of the Coast\MTGA\MTGALauncher\Logs\MTGAInstaller_0.1.4502.993828.msi.log" APPDIR="C:\Program Files\Wizards of the Coast\MTGA\"
17458 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Starting Creation of Log Parser
17459 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Checking To see if Install log exists
17561 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Checking To see if Install log exists
17662 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Checking To see if Install log exists
17764 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Checking To see if Install log exists
17865 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Checking To see if Install log exists
17866 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Creating parser for installLog
17874 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Starting logParser for C:\Program Files\Wizards of the Coast\MTGA\MTGALauncher\Logs\MTGAInstaller_0.1.4502.993828.msi.log
17894 [17] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Starting Log Parse Thread
28102 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - MSIEXEC Process exit, checking ExitCode
28103 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Install ended with an ExitCode of 0
28104 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Moving to Stage:DownloadingAssets
28106 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Cleaning up old Installation Packages
28107 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Looking for Old Install packages at:C:\Program Files\Wizards of the Coast\MTGA\MTGALauncher\Updates\
28128 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Deleteing C:\Program Files\Wizards of the Coast\MTGA\MTGALauncher\Updates\MTGAInstaller_0.1.4502.993828.msi
28156 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Deletion of C:\Program Files\Wizards of the Coast\MTGA\MTGALauncher\Updates\MTGAInstaller_0.1.4502.993828.msi complete.
28219 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Deleteing C:\Program Files\Wizards of the Coast\MTGA\MTGALauncher\Updates\MTGAInstaller_0.1.4502.993828.msi.dat
28220 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Deletion of C:\Program Files\Wizards of the Coast\MTGA\MTGALauncher\Updates\MTGAInstaller_0.1.4502.993828.msi.dat complete.
28222 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Checking For Cleanup32Bit Key At:Software\Wow6432Node\Wizards of the Coast
28223 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Status:Determining needed Assets...
28246 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Resetting and then calling:System.Action
28249 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Trying to Change assetDownloader state from Pending to Pending
28253 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Cancel all Downloads!
28254 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Trying to Change assetDownloader state from Pending to CancelingDownloads
28256 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Starting Bundle Download Attempt 1
28257 [5] INFO DefaultLog (null) - buildNUmber:4502.993828
28257 [3] INFO DefaultLog (null) - We Finished downloading bundles!
28259 [3] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Trying to Change assetDownloader state from CancelingDownloads to Complete
28261 [3] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Asset Download Complete! Bundle Priority NPE
28267 [3] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Adding message to queue: clientID:10ce1675-af1b-4ac8-88bd-f28b36393599 environmentID:Prod region: logLevel:Info sourceType:Installer messageType:NPEInstallData details:{
  "verChk": "2023-03-31T10:27:43.6741900Z",
  "dwnUpd": "2023-03-31T10:27:45.9575284Z",
  "insUpd": "2023-03-31T10:27:59.9108559Z",
  "dwnBun": "2023-03-31T10:28:10.7365263Z",
  "ExCa": "NPEInstallComplete",
  "ExTi": "2023-03-31T10:28:10.7803779Z"
}
28268 [7] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Sending Message: {"MessageType":"NPEInstallData","RegionId":"","Details":{"verChk":"2023-03-31T10:27:43.6741900Z","dwnUpd":"2023-03-31T10:27:45.9575284Z","insUpd":"2023-03-31T10:27:59.9108559Z","dwnBun":"2023-03-31T10:28:10.7365263Z","ExCa":"NPEInstallComplete","ExTi":"2023-03-31T10:28:10.7803779Z"}}
28269 [7] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Message Length: 284
28273 [3] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Adding message to queue: clientID:10ce1675-af1b-4ac8-88bd-f28b36393599 environmentID:Prod region: logLevel:Info sourceType:Installer messageType:NPEInstallData details:{
  "sessID": "c5ec279e-3dd3-4c1e-b459-7f7f43a2ecc9",
  "TotBun": "",
  "ErrBun": "0",
  "Ver": "0.1.4502.993828",
  "lauVer": "1.0.95.809059",
  "Country": "United States",
  "Lang": "English (United States)"
}
28298 [3] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Adding message to queue: clientID:10ce1675-af1b-4ac8-88bd-f28b36393599 environmentID:Prod region: logLevel:Info sourceType:Installer messageType:NPEInstallData details:{
  "LauVer": "1.0.95.809059",
  "Ver": "0.1.4502.993828",
  "sessID": "c5ec279e-3dd3-4c1e-b459-7f7f43a2ecc9",
  "LaunchMTGA": "2023-03-31T11:28:10.8115179Z"
}
28300 [1] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Closing Window
28301 [1] INFO DefaultLog (null) - mtgaGlobal.CloseConfirmed:True
28302 [1] INFO DefaultLog (null) - mtgaGlobal.Stage:DownloadingAssets
28357 [17] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Log Parse was requested to exit.
28786 [15] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Client reported 10ce1675-af1b-4ac8-88bd-f28b36393599 - {"MessageType":"NPEInstallData","RegionId":"","Details":{"verChk":"2023-03-31T10:27:43.6741900Z","dwnUpd":"2023-03-31T10:27:45.9575284Z","insUpd":"2023-03-31T10:27:59.9108559Z","dwnBun":"2023-03-31T10:28:10.7365263Z","ExCa":"NPEInstallComplete","ExTi":"2023-03-31T10:28:10.7803779Z"}}
28787 [15] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Removing message from Queue: {
  "verChk": "2023-03-31T10:27:43.6741900Z",
  "dwnUpd": "2023-03-31T10:27:45.9575284Z",
  "insUpd": "2023-03-31T10:27:59.9108559Z",
  "dwnBun": "2023-03-31T10:28:10.7365263Z",
  "ExCa": "NPEInstallComplete",
  "ExTi": "2023-03-31T10:28:10.7803779Z"
}
29271 [7] INFO DefaultLog (null) - Stopping SendThread
Initial process has exited (return code: 0)
Monitored process exited.
Exit with return code 0
DEBUG    2023-03-31 13:41:52,679 [command.on_stop:193]:Process 53714 has terminated with code 0
DEBUG    2023-03-31 13:41:56,563 [game.beat:588]:Game thread stopped
WARNING  2023-03-31 13:41:56,563 [game.on_game_quit:614]:Game still running (state: running)
INFO     2023-03-31 13:41:56,563 [game.stop:599]:Stopping Magic: The Gathering Arena (wine)
DEBUG    2023-03-31 13:41:56,567 [game.stop_game:554]:Magic: The Gathering Arena (wine) has run for 4456 seconds
DEBUG    2023-03-31 13:41:56,592 [game.on_game_quit:632]:Magic: The Gathering Arena stopped at Fr, 31 Mär 2023 13:41:56
DEBUG    2023-03-31 13:41:56,592 [game.save:257]:Saving Magic: The Gathering Arena (wine) with config ID magic-the-gathering-arena-latest-self-updating-1680257538
1 Like

I think this is mainly a performance issue. Reducing the game’s resolution also reduces the amount of flickering.

Just in case you still have this issue, what fixed it for me is right click on the game → Configure → Toggle the “Advanced” switch → Allow “Enable DXVK” → Set the DXVK version to “v1.10.3”.

I found this solution on another reddit thread.