CategoryMagic The Gathering

The Beautiful Struggle – A Chilling Look Into the Future

I am (wisely) not the official set reviewer for StarCityGames.com. However, in one possible future, I might be. In another possible future, the MTGSalvation.com spoiler for Future Sight would be 100% accurate (I didn’t say it was a likely future, just a possible one). So, I think that my random observations about selected cards on the MTGSalvation.com spoiler can substitute for a Future Sight review, at least for those of you who do not have Premium accounts. WARNING! Contains spoilers!

By

From Right Field – Born Again Again! The Ritual of Rebirth Precon-Decon, Part 2 (of 2)

When you last left me – you cold, heartless, fickle person, you — I was working on smooshing together two copies of the Ritual of Rebirth precon deck into something that might win you a few matches at your local Saturday Standard tourney. Today, I continue that journey… and what a journey it was!

By

Deep Analysis — Walking Anthems

Last week, Richard set out on a mighty quest… a journey of self-discovery that would hopefully lead to him breaking Standard with a deck of his own design! He brought us Red Gold, a greedy deckbuilder’s dream. Today, he runs the deck through a tough set of matches against a tournament favorite. And to cap it all, he brings us a fresh new deck.

By

The Combat Phase – Bringing A Ham Leg To Paris

Now how’s that for an intriguing title! Jamie regales us with his usual mixture of flavor, tech, and good times. Today’s installment of The Combat Phase sees our hero journey to Paris, share an intimate clinch with a man on a scooter, play a myriad of matches on Magic Online, and actually cast Remand. Will these wonders ever cease?

By

Featured Article — Catching Up With Kyle

Kyle Sanchez hasn’t written an article in a while… however, despite the long hiatus, it appears he is a crazy as ever. Today, he talks us through exactly what he’s been up to in the lost months, and walks us through a couple of TTP drafts. Be warned, folks… this ain’t Drafting With Rich! Plus, he spins some fun stories as only he can, and displays his prodigious artistic talent for the world to see.

By

Budget Legacy – G/W Aggro Loam

Grand Prix Columbus - May 19-20, 2007!

Countdown to GP: Columbus! Christopher Coppola analyzes a successful Legacy deck that is also very easy to build, and discusses how to play the deck properly in a competitive environment.

By

Magic Puzzles – Mistakes

A quarter of a year has passed since I started this weekly column. Over the last thirteen weeks I’ve presented you with all kinds of Magic puzzles, from the obvious to the obscure. I have only stumped you a couple times, while you have gotten the better of me at least three times! How, you ask? By submitting an answer to a puzzle that I did not at all expect. This week I will take the opportunity to revisit those three wayward puzzles, and attempt to set things straight.

By

You Lika the Juice? – Mr. Hand, Venser, and Player Rewards Cards

I’d like to start things off by touching on last week’s official Future Sight previews, namely the latest ridiculous Blue wizard Venser, Shaper Savant. The online response seemed mixed, with a majority of people seeming to fall somewhere between “meh” and “ugh.” All I have to say is…

What are you, people? On dope?

By

So Many Insane Plays – Gifts versus Belcher, Post Board

Last week, Stephen Menendian walked us through five pre-sideboard games between the innovative Belcher deck and the perennial warhorse Gifts deck. Today, he continues the match-up analysis with a look at five post-sideboard games. In a format packed with ridiculous turns and ultra-quick wins, does Belcher have the tools to make a splash in the metagame?

By

Limited Lessons — Limited Thinking

Nick takes a break from archetype breakdowns and card evaluations in order to break down some of the more nebulous aspects of draft strategy. Playing to your subconscious, controlling the pace of play, and the understanding the draft tendencies of your own game (and those of others)… it’s all here in this thought-provoking and masterful article.

By

Insert Column Name Here – Taking You At Your Word

Read The Ferrett... every Monday at StarCityGames.com!Last week, some of you said that Ferrett should have gone with a Green/White-based build for his card pool… So he decided, in this last gasp before Planar Chaos strategy becomes extinct, to take your build for a spin around the block! How did he do with the deck suggested by the folks in the forum? Click the link and see!

By

Flores Friday – Boros Update, Ghost Whatever Update, Zoo Update

Today’s Flores Friday sees Mike take three of the more popular decks in the current Standard environment and update them for the ever-evolving metagame. Boros, Orzhov, and the ultra-efficient Zoo all receive the Flores treatment, each with one eye on practicality and the other on the prize. If you were one of those players trying to port Raphael Levy’s Gaea’s Might Get There deck from Extended to Standard, then this is the article for you!

By

The Real Deal – Spoilers

There have been discussions about the relationship between spoilers and the health of Magic in the past, but never before from so many angles! Ben examines the pros and cons of having sets spoiled early from the perspectives of a player, a General Manager, and a writer set to official spoil cards!

By

The Magic Show #39 – Futureshifted

Hello everybody and welcome to another edition of the Magic Show. This week we’re taking a long, hard look at all of the numerous Future Sight Spoilers. With only two weeks to go a plethora of new, interesting cards are coming, so let’s get started.

By

Magical Hack — Eating My Veggies

Sean’s previous attempt to take a sledgehammer to Time Spiral Block Constructed involved pairing that perennial nuisance Teferi with the shambling behemoth Spectral Force. Today’s offering brings a little more finesse… actually, that’s a lie. This Block deck is Big, Green/White, and has a face that only Flores could love. However, is it strong enough to kick seven bells out of the prospective Yokohama metagame?

By