Premium Header

Premium

Drafting With Rich #2

In the second of this daily series, Rich returns with another draft walkthrough. He shares his picks and final decklist, and adds a brief commentary on the final deck and draft result. Do you agree with his choices? If not, come to the forums and tell us! Rich will be there, defending his decisions every step of the way…

In The Know #3: Vintage Play Scenarios Examined

Josh returns with another installment of his enlightening “In The Know” series. Today, he supplies a sample hand for the popular Stax deck, and asks a number of quality Vintage players for their input on what to do next. This article is perfect for both Stax and non-Stax players, as it examines the plays that power this Vintage behemoth… perfect preparation for those attending the approaching StarCityGames.com Power 9 Events in Charlotte!

Information Cascades in Magic

In Magic, there’s one thing we all crave: information. Be it in the form of articles, or tech, or statistics, we can’t get enough of that sweet, sweet gold… but what if the information is leading you in circles? What if the information spawns faulty logic and inbred testing conclusions? In this excellent article, Pat examines the phenomenon of Information Cascades, and shares some pertinent tips regarding our creative process.

Drafting With Rich #1

In the first of a daily feature, exclusively for our Premium subscribers, Rich Hoaen shares his drafting techniques. Utilizing the excellent DraftCap draft recording software (availiable for download here), Rich shares a draft a day, from first pick to forty-fifth, with decklist and final draft result. Rich also gives a brief overview of how the deck fared, and is available for detailed deconstruction in the forums. The best players, the best writers… at StarCityGames.com!

The Red Fundamentals: Learning From The Pros

After much cajoling, Dan Paskins (Red Mage Extraordinaire) returns to StarCityGames.com! Today he brings us some sound advice regarding Red spells… when to hold them back, and when to send them to the face. With solid analysis of Tomoharu Saito’s semi-final play at Pro Tour Charleston, he examines the plays and skills required in order to maximize our beatdown potential.

Punch Limited In The Face For Me

Last weekend, JFR and Berto headed out to their local Limited Champs tournament, looking to place in the Top 8 and pick up a foil Voidslime. So, how did they do? Re-read the article title, and I’m sure you’ll find the answer to that particular conundrum. Rizzo rants and rails as only he can, bringing us an entertaining report full of wit and Rizzo wisdom. He even dons his Reporter’s Hat and covers the Top 8 highlights…

Toronto Tales: A GP Toronto Report *3rd*

The Pro Tour Qualifiers for PT Kobe are upon us, and what better way to brush up our RGD Sealed skills than with a tale of success! Kyle Sanchez, half of the South Texas 2HG Champions (the other half being Billy Moreno), recently placed very highly at GP Toronto. When the dust settled, he banked more cash than the winner himself… read his entertaining report here!

Two-Headed Giant: Hits and Misses in Ravnica Block Team Trios, Part 2 – Hits

On Friday, Mike shared his opinion on the mistakes made during his testing for Pro Tour Charleston. However, it wasn’t all bad news at the PT… his team, Two Headed Giant, finished strongly in 26h place. While some things went wrong in testing, some things definitely went right. Today he reveals the strengths of their testing, the secrets behind their fine finish, and analysis of the deck that gave him his personal best Constructed performance to date.

Two-Headed Giant: Hits and Misses in Ravnica Block Team Trios, Part 1 – Misses

Mike’s team, the abovementioned Two-Headed Giant, posted a creditable 9-5 at the recent Pro Tour Charleston, earning them 26th place… when the money slots descended to 25th. In today’s Flores Friday, he examines the “misses,” or mistakes, that he and his testing crew fell foul of during their preparation for the event. The line between success and failure is thin – Mike’s frank appraisal of their format evaluations is one from which we all can learn.

An RGD Draft Walkthrough

With Ravnica Limited finally becoming a little clearer, it’s time to dust off our walkthrough shoes and watch Nick go though the paces. In today’s informative article, Mr Eisel presents every twist and turn from a successful RGD Draft. He examines each pick in detail, discusses some of the trickier deckbuilding decisions, and shares the plays and pitfalls from the resultant games.

Meandeck Lists and the Rochester Wrap-up

Stephen revisits his predictions for the Rochester SCG Power 9 events, and gives a breakdown of the field. Some of his predictions were spot on… some, not so much. He investigates the impact the results have on the Vintage metagame, and presents some strong decklists from the successful strategies. A perfect article for those planning to play at the upcoming SCG Power 9 events in Charlotte!

The Math of Magic, and Moving Decks Between Formats

Today, Jeroen answers a number of Magic related questions from readers and fans. He presents a handy mathematical crib-sheet outlining some probabilities of drawing cards at a certain stage of the game, and presents his ideas on moving a deck between formats. Plus, he answers the age-old question… just how do you pronounce his name?

More Necro Than Prison – Shredder in Extended

Patrick brings us the story of Shredder.dec, an Extended offering capable of running with the big dogs. Last season, we all saw Friggorid rear its mighty head, overshadowing the format with its broken power. Extended is a format with a number of strong archetypes, and Shredder has game against them all… but the Friggorid matchup was a cause for concern. Patrick has now changed that, bringing game to the table against Ichorid’s Finest Hour. Strategy, sideboarding, and detailed matchup analysis, all available with a click of the mouse!

A Grand Prix Toronto Report – Day 2 *T32*

Yesterday, Geordie told the tale of his strong Day 1 performance at Grand Prix Toronto. Today he moves to Day 2 play, sharing the highlights of his draft experience at the higher GP tables. His report so far has been a wild ride of strategy, bad beats, and humor. This final part sees Geordie sign out in fine form. All we can hope is that he writes again soon…

A Grand Prix Toronto Report – Day 1 *T32*

Yesterday, Geordie began the tale of his excellent run of form at Grand Prix Toronto. He told of his sterling efforts in gaining three byes. Today, he shares his Sealed cardpool and describes the highs and lows of Day 1 play. Limited Champs are but a whisker away, and the Qualifiers for Pro Tour Kobe are RGD Limited… let Geordie show you the route to success!