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.
Wednesday, May 6th – In the first of two articles on Limited, forty-card fanatic Quentin Martin examines the effect of Alara Reborn on the format. He examines a few of the unsung cards from the new set, and re-evaluates some of the cards we came to love in Shards/Shards/Conflux…
Wednesday, May 6th – In the fourth part of the excellent Discussing Draft series, Manuel Bucher and Olivier Ruel move onto their Top 20 card lists from Conflux, across a number of archetypes. Today, it’s the turn of Bant, White-based Aggro, and the all-popular Five-Color Control. Antoine Ruel also weighs in with his own White-based Aggro list…
Wednesday, May 6th – 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!
Wednesday, May 6th – Today, we’re talking about the mechanics of how people are affected by space. This article is about how we can most effectively manipulate the tournament environment – or, more commonly, how we can best accommodate the realities of that tournament environment by changing some of our own habits – to be most conducive to our success.
Wednesday, May 6th – I’m excited by Thought Hemorrhage. It seems like a strong sideboard card for more than a few matchups, taking away a card that’s a central theme for them before they can deploy it. I know that a lot of people are dismissing it as a narrow card, and I agree that it’s probably not maindeckable, but it still seems relevant in some matchups. Besides, isn’t that what sideboard slots are for?
Wednesday, May 6th – Regular readers may remember that I write an article for my column when the newest set comes out and build some decks around the new cards. This is a chance for me to take the new cards for a spin and test them out. In other words, in this article… Decks!
Wednesday, May 6th – Conley Woods joins Tom this week for a great show! There’s more in-depth discussion of Alara Reborn impact on Limited, Standard, Block Constructed, Conley gives some great insight and tips on the preparation for Pro Tour: Honolulu, Tom discusses the lack of release announcement for Duels of the Planeswalkers… and much more!
Tuesday, May 5th – Now that my wife’s birthday celebration of last weekend was over, I got to go to an Alara Reborn draft this Friday. (I wanted to attend the Sunday draft as well, but I stayed up too late partying with bellydancers. Yes, it was as fun as it sounds. No, you can’t have the videos.) I played six matches and went 5-1, so here are my initial impressions of the cards as I played ’em!
