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AuthorPatrick Chapin

Patrick Chapin, "The Innovator," is a member of the Hall of Fame class of 2012. The Pro Tour Journey into Nyx Champion and five-time Pro Tour Top 8 competitor is a renowned deckbuilder and author of both Next Level Magic and Next Level Deckbuilding.

Innovations – Metagaming and Deckbuilding: The Three Laws of Prediction

Grand Prix GP Columbus July 30-August 1, 2010
Tuesday, July 13th – Magic is a complex game with a myriad of deck possibilities. Why, then, is it relatively easy to predict the archetypes you’re likely to face at any given tournament? Patrick Chapin discusses the art of deckbuilding and metagaming, and examines how the decline of the expert deck builder may be something we can exploit…

Innovations – The Secret to Reviewing M11

Grand Prix GP Columbus July 30-August 1, 2010
Monday, July 5th – With the Magic world focused on the spoiled cards from M11, it seems we are awash with New Card Opinion. Today, Patrick Chapin breaks free from the shackles of such set and card review technique, and delves a little deeper… [Warning! Contains Spoilers!]

Innovations – Format-Changing Effects in M11

The StarCityGames.com Open Series heads to Denver!
Monday, June 28th – M11 is fast approaching, and many of the format’s nuts and bolts are slowly being revealed. Today, Patrick Chapin takes a look at some of the more exciting spoiled cards, cards that will certainly impact Constructed Magic upon their introduction. (Warning: Spoilers!)

Exclusive M11 Spoiler – Hoarding Dragon!

Friday, June 25th – M11 is shaping up to be an interesting set, and today’s exclusive preview card is no exception. Decent power / toughness, evasion, and card advantage in one tidy package: This is Hoarding Dragon!

Innovations – Double Your Standard, Double Your Fun

The StarCityGames.com Open Series comes to St. Louis!
Monday, June 21st – On Friday, Wizards of the Coast dropped an Extended bombshell. From now on, the format contains four years of cards, rather than seven. Patrick Chapin examines the new format and suggests a few decks that could form a new gauntlet. He also offers his thoughts on the latest Legacy bannings…

Innovations – M11 Spoiler Heaven

The StarCityGames.com Open Series comes to St. Louis!
Monday, June 14th – M111 is fast approaching, and Patrick Chapin is prepared! Today, he takes a look at a selection of common and uncommon cards spoiled thus far, both new stock and reprint, and suggests how the various formats may look when the new Core Set arrives! [Warning: M11 Spoilers!]

Innovations – Grand Prix: Sendai, M11 Discussion, and Vegas

The StarCityGames.com Open Series comes to Seattle!
Monday, June 7th – In this week’s edition of Innovations, Patrick Chapin discusses Brian Kibler’s successful changes to the Next Level Bant deck for Grand Prix: Sendai (Congratulations, Brian!), what the M11 Core Set has to offer, and much more!

Innovations – Pro Tour: San Juan, Block, and Standard

StarCityGames.com Open Series: Philadelphia June 5th - 6th
Wednesday, June 2nd – Pro Tour: San Juan has come and gone, and with it goes the exciting Block Constructed format. Today, Patrick Chapin examines a number of the more successful decks in the format, and asks what the decks mean for Standard yet to come…

Innovations – A Grand Prix: Washington D.C. Tournament Report

StarCityGames.com Open Series: Philadelphia June 5th - 6th
Wednesday, May 26th – Patrick Chapin decries the demise of the tournament report as a Magic art form. Today, he rectifies things with a deliciously Old School report from the trenches and benches of Grand Prix: Washington, complete with hijinks, decklists, and massive amounts of chicken.

Innovations – It’s Cool to Play Jund

Visit the StarCityGames.com booth at Grand Pris: Washington!
Monday, May 17th – While the current Deck to Beat may have shifted away from the Savage Lands, Jund is still a potent force. Patrick Chapin discusses possible directions for the strategy in the current metagame, and suggests that maybe there’s still time to say hi to this particular bad guy…

Innovations – Building a Modern Blue/White Control Deck

Visit the StarCityGames.com booth at Grand Pris: Washington!
Monday, May 10th – With Blue/White Control taking over Jund as the top deck in Standard, Patrick Chapin shares his latest build, bringing us a deck that straddles the world of Tap-Out and pure Control. He also brings us an Esper deck from the fevered mind of Gerard Fabiano!

Innovations – A Fresh New Standard: The StarCityGames.com Atlanta Open

Visit the StarCityGames.com booth at Grand Pris: Washington!
Monday, May 3rd – The StarCityGames.com Standard Open hit Atlanta on Saturday, and the Rise of the Eldrazi fuelled metagame did not disappoint! Every deck in the Top 8 features cards from the new set, and today Patrick Chapin examines the state of the format.

Innovations – Mono-Red, Polymorph, and U/W Control in Standard

The StarCityGames.com Open Series returns to Atlanta!
Monday, April 26th – With Rise of the Eldrazi now officially in the Standard mix, Patrick Chapin examines three decks that have huge potential in the evolving metagame. Are Jund’s days of dominance finally coming to an end? Let Patrick lead the way…

Innovations – Vengevine In Standard: Things Are Different Now

The StarCityGames.com Open Series returns to Atlanta!
Monday, April 19th – Now we’ve had a chance to play with Rise of the Eldrazi, it’s fair to say that the set is matching expectations across the board. In today’s Innovations, Patrick Chapin examines Vengevine, and suggests how this powerful creature is poised to revolutionize the Standard format…

Innovations – Rise of the Eldrazi: Examining The Future

The StarCityGames.com Open Series returns to Atlanta!
Monday, April 12th – In this week’s edition of Innovations, Patrick Chapin looks at some of the spoiled cards from Rise of the Eldrazi, and investigates their possible impact on upcoming Constructed tournaments.