Growing Rites Of Itlimoc In Standard
It’s an enchantment that turns into Gaea’s Cradle, but is it any good? Sam Black has the lowdown on Growing Rites of Itlimoc!
AuthorSam Black
Sam Black is professional Magic player who's known for his love of building decks that attack formats from unexpected angles. He's made the Top 8 of sixteen GPs covering every format as well as three Pro Tours, but he's particularly proud of his less common accomplishments, including a Top 4 at the World Championship, a win in the Team World Championship in 2008, and winning a car in 2007.
Vampires And Arguel’s Blood Fast In Standard
Arguel’s Blood Fast promises card advantage…for a price. Sam Black explores its potential in Vampires with several decklists, but does its true home lie elsewhere? Get his insight ahead of SCG Dallas!
Exploring Ixalan
The Ixalan legendary enchantments that turn into lands have Sam Black flipping out! You’d better believe he wants Legion’s Landing for a Tokens deck, but what about Search for Azcanta?
Shaping Decks For Ixalan Standard
Sam Black is uncommonly enthusiastic about the setting of Ixalan! As for its tribal themes, the jury’s still out, but that won’t stop him from trying to build a sweet Primal Amulet deck and many more!
Ixalan Previews: A Reply To Ross Merriam
After Ross Merriam wrote his thoughts on the first batch of Ixalan previews, Sam Black had some…mild disagreements. Get the Worlds competitor’s take on the future of Standard!
What Makes Standard Great?
Standard has gone through a rough patch the past few sets, but Hour of Devastation has broken the streak! Sam Black investigates how the Standard of Grand Prix Washington DC will be enjoyable…and whether the good times will last after rotation!
Champion Of Wits In Standard
If the Standard metagame is evolving to go bigger, Sam Black wants to go really big! And drawing four cards from an eternalized Champion of Wits is how he wants to do it. Could one of his decklists evolve into the Grand Prix Washington DC champion?
Playing With More Than 60
It’s some of Magic’s longest-standing Constructed orthodoxy: “Play exactly 60 cards.” But what if that’s not correct? Sam Black explores the possibilities of running more than 60 cards in Modern ahead of SCG Richmond!
The Pro Tour Hour Of Devastation Testing Files
The road to a Pro Tour Top 4 is treacherous! It’s filled with lots of brews that are only a step away from being great, and Sam Black is ready to share a number of cool deck ideas that just need that little something to go to the next level!
Catching Fire: Pro Tour Hour Of Devastation *3rd*
Sam Black went to Pro Tour Hour of Devastation wondering if he would make Gold for the year. Instead, he earned Platinum and a ticket to Worlds! Today he talks the deck, the drafts, and the decisions that got him there.
Overlooked In The Hour Of Devastation
Every set has its overlooked cards! Sam Black looks beyond the obvious to showcase his Hour of Devastation sleepers in Modern and Standard ahead of SCG Atlanta!
Anointed Procession With Hour Of Devastation
Sam Black put Abzan Tokens on the Standard map! See how he’s updating his Anointed Procession decks for Hour of Devastation!
Hour Of Devastation: The Aftermath
How does a professional see Hour of Devastation? Sam Black showcases the cards that caught his eye and the early decks they’ve led him to consider ahead of SCG Cincinnati!
The Decks I’d Play At The SCG Invitational
Whether you’re hunting for a strong build for Standard or you’re still waffling on the deck to settle on for Modern, Sam Black has plenty of advice for anyone looking to get their own token made this weekend at the SCG Invitational!
The Art Of Sideboarding
Why did those fifteen specific cards make it into the winner’s sideboard? Sam Black breaks down the classes of sideboard cards and uses an analogy from Limited to sharpen this side of your game!