Recurring Insight: Overrun
Patrick Sullivan analyzes the history and MTG Design behind the card that inspired the phrase “Overrun fallacy”!
AuthorPatrick Sullivan
Patrick Sullivan is a game designer for Dire Wolf Digital. His resume boasts four Grand Prix Top 8s, a slew of SCG Tour® top 8s (including a win), and an SCG Invitational Top 8 in Indianapolis. He is also one of the most celebrated faces in Magic commentary for his work on SCGLive.
Sullivan’s Satchel: Damage On The Stack, Variance, And Revisiting Mirrodin
Patrick Sullivan answers mailbag questions about how damage used to work, why variance is misunderstood, and the game design challenges of the Mirrodin setting.
Recurring Insight: Inquisition Of Kozilek
How good is too good when it comes to hand disruption? Patrick Sullivan explores an MTG card that rides the line: Inquisition of Kozilek.
Sullivan’s Satchel: Why I Like Planeswalkers More Than You Do
Patrick Sullivan delves into MTG’s planeswalker card type, what he admires, and where he thinks it could be better for the game.
Recurring Insight: Delver Of Secrets
Patrick Sullivan analyzes one of the most popular and most infamous blue MTG one-drops of all time: Delver of Secrets.
Sullivan’s Satchel: Moonrager’s Slash, Fact Or Fiction, And Commander Matchmaking
Patrick Sullivan answers mailbag questions on the design of Moonrager’s Clash, how certain cards are like Fact or Fiction, and the nature of Commander matchmaking.
Recurring Insight: Restoration Angel
Blink effects may be optimal at one mana, but is that really the best way to design them? Patrick Sullivan analyzes the history and MTG Design behind the ideal blink creature — Restoration Angel.
Recurring Insight: Huntmaster Of The Fells
Patrick Sullivan analyzes the history and MTG Design behind a card that embodies the fun and balanced side of Magic — Huntmaster of the Fells.
Sullivan’s Satchel: Storybrook Brawl, Rucker Park, And Landfall
Patrick Sullivan answers mailbag questions on the deceptive simplicity of MTG’s landfall mechanic, autobattler games, and basketball at Rucker Park.
Recurring Insight: Demonic Tutor
What if you could find any card in your library and put it straight into your hand? Patrick Sullivan analyzes the immensely powerful Alpha card Demonic Tutor.
Sullivan’s Satchel: Why I Don’t Like Cycling As Much As You Do
Patrick Sullivan strays from his usual mailbag questions to conduct a deep-dive on the Cycling mechanic and why he doesn’t like it as much as most
Recurring Insight: Fetchlands
Patrick Sullivan analyzes the history and MTG Design behind Magic’s most iconic cycles — the fetchlands!
Sullivan’s Satchel: Power Creep, Bouncelands, And Legacy Burn
Patrick Sullivan answers mailbag questions on game design to fight power creep, the proper role of lands in Draft, and why it’s time to let Legacy Burn go.
Recurring Insight: Thief Of Sanity
What makes a card design succeed where other versions have failed? Patrick Sullivan analyzes the history and design of Thief of Sanity, one of Magic’s most distinctive flying creatures.
Sullivan’s Satchel: Ravenous Chupacabra, Mythic Rares, And You Make The Card
Patrick Sullivan answers mailbag questions on card designs comparable to Ravenous Chupacabra, who benefits from mythic rares, and how he rates the four You Make the Card designs.