Monday, May 11th – The Philly Open 3 is in the books, and it was another awesome event. In addition to a Standard event with nearly 80 players, there was also a Vintage event with nearly 60 players battling for a Mox Sapphire for first and a Mox Emerald for second. I’m going to recap the top 8 of both events, starting with Standard as that is most relevant for the majority of players.
Monday, May 11th – Hall of Famer Olivier Ruel takes us through an 8-4 draft queue on Magic Online. He shares some comprehensive thoughts about both the picks and the games, and talks us through each step of the way! If you’re looking to improve your Limited game, this is the article series for you!
Monday, May 11th – Luck does not exist. It is an illusion we use to mask our mistakes. We retell stories with epic endings where we fell just short of victory due to the presence of lady luck on our opponent’s side, but the truth remains that we as humans inherently create the errors that cause our opponents to “get lucky.” I try to tell myself this every time I sit down to play a match of Magic, but I struggle with it on a constant basis.
Friday, May 8th – With Regionals just around the corner, and Alara reborn in the Standard Mix, not to mention a host of PTQ opportunities on the horizon including this weekend’s double-header at StarCityGames.com HQ, Kyle Sanchez brings us his personal take on the Regionals Gauntlet. With a host of familiar and unfamiliar lists, make sure you’re prepared for your next Standard outing!
Friday, May 8th – Hall of Famer Olivier Ruel takes us through an 8-4 draft queue on Magic Online. He shares some comprehensive thoughts about both the picks and the games, and talks us through each step of the way! If you’re looking to improve your Limited game, this is the article series for you!
Friday, May 8th – Hello everybody, and welcome to another edition of the Magic Show. This week we’re going to be delving into Alara Reborn Standard. The pundits have spoken, our first PTQ results are here, and it’s time to delve into Alara Reborn’s hidden gems. Let’s go! [ Due to unforeseen circumstances, there’s no video content this week. Instead, Evan has written a normal text-only article. Normal business will be resumed next time out. – Craig]
Friday, May 8th – The road to Hell, they say, is paved with good intentions. The road to Regionals, however, is paved with good intentions and bad technology. With the release of Alara Reborn just last week and firmly shaking up the Standard metagame, you’ll see a lot of good decks mixed in with the bad…
Friday, May 8th – Today, I’ll share with you some of the new deck ideas I’ve been kicking around. Maybe with some feedback from you in the forums we could whip some of these into fighting shape. Regionals is just a week away, and let’s not forget that StarCityGames.com is having a double-shot PTQ weekend right here in Richmond, starting tomorrow.
Friday, May 8th – When playing Magic, it is generally accepted that a good poker face is a considerable bonus. However, we’re not all blessed with such iron features. Today’s Reflecting Ruel sees Olivier examining those tiny tells we all likely make. He outlines what to look for, and gives excellent advice on how to improve our mental game.
Thursday, May 7th – The following are passages from “Next Level Magic,” Patrick Chapin’s Strategy Guide that is being released as an e-book, here on StarCityGames.com, at the end of the month. Each week this month, there will be an excerpt from the book for your enjoyment. Today: Semi-Soft Locks.
Thursday, May 7th – Faeries, the loved and loathed Standard deck that revolves around Bitterblossom, has been on the chopping block for wuite some time. Volcanic Fallout was supposed to kill it, but it simply wasn’t enough. Does Alara Reborn offer solace to those battling with, and against, the Black/Blue Menace? Paulo reveals all!
Thursday, May 7th – In the new Standard format, there are a number of cards that define our approach to deckbuilding. One of the strongest is Windbrisk Heights, and today’s Deep Analysis sees Richard Feldman searching for the ideal strategy to exploit the free spells it offers. If you’re looking for a fresh perspective on the blossoming metagame, this is the article for you.
Thursday, May 7th – Since the prerelease, I have been fervently drafting the full block as much as possible in preparation for the Pro Tour. Spare time on the weekdays has turned into frantic phone calls looking to cobble together eight people for a draft; weekends have become a blur of shredded booster wrappings and stacks of tips and Tricks cards. While I’m not a weak drafter by any means, I’ve got a lot of drafting to do if I want to stand up to Magic’s finest in Honolulu.
Thursday, May 7th – It’s not very often that a 63/63 Legendary Human Warrior gets shut down by a 1/1 Frog. Yet there I was, staring down David Rappaport (a good friend and a great judge from Michigan), completely cold to his Spore Frog/Volrath’s Stronghold recursion. Meanwhile, Kresh the Bloodbraided glowered at me, craving blood and finding no joy.
Thursday, May 7th – Late this fall, the World Championships will take place in Rome. I so want to be there, but I know the limits of my play skill, and the amount of time I can devote to playtesting. If I make it, it will be as a judge. However, if you want to play in Rome, you can get there either by playing in real life, or online. Let’s look at how the two compare.
