And while they will face much tougher tests than this, last year's beaten semifinalists showed they may still have the talent to maintain their record of never finishing outside the competition's top four.
Mainland fans look set for another long season after finishing in the bottom two for four years running.
The Tactix actually led midway through the first quarter but it was all downhill from there, with the visitors ending the period with a 10-2 run to build a healthy seven-goal advantage.
Harten and goal attack Ellen Halpenny (29/32) were enjoying much more success than counterparts Mwai Kumwenda (29/30) and Sophia Fenwick (12/20), seeing the Magic double their advantage by halftime.
Leana de Bruin shook off an injury worry to her heavily-strapped left ankle to form a solid rearguard with Casey Kopua, in her first game as Magic captain, with the pair limiting the Tactix to 10 goals in the third quarter.
The Magic lead was an insurmountable 22 goals heading into the fourth, easing the foot slightly off the accelerator en-route to a comfortable win.
In today's games, the Steel host the Firebirds and the Mystics play the Vixens in Melbourne.
