Friday, October 31st – Hello everybody, and welcome to another edition of the Magic Show. This week is Halloween and we’ve got a ghastly and ghoul-y show for you this week. We’re going to take a look at the frightening Standard environment as we approach States in just two weeks, take a look at the Wizards Play Network, Mike Flores’ latest video venture, and check out the Magic Halloween Top 5 Countdown. Let’s go!
Thursday, October 30th – This past weekend, the StarCityGames.com $5000 Standard Open set the metagame for the current Standard format leading into States! Which cards are going to rise in demand and value based on the tournament results, and which are going to start dropping? Find out in today’s edition of Insider Trading!
Thursday, October 30th – The Top 16 decks from the recent SCG $5K Standard Open make interesting reading. While some things stay the same (congratulations Chris!), some things are wildly different. The target for States may firmly be fixed on the Big 3 decks in the metagame, but there are many other options available for the fearless spellslinger. Let Billy lead the way!
Thursday, October 30th – That’s right, folks… it’s back! While Canadian draft maestro Rich Hoaen battles it out at Pro Tour: Berlin, we have Nick Eisel bringing us a Shards of Alara 8-4 draft walkthrough each day, from pick 1 to pick 45. Nick supplies draft analysis in the forums! Rich Hoaen returns soon, to battle Nick head to head… watch this space!
Thursday, October 30th – There’s a brand new “large†expansion to explore, chock full of new cards, themes, and mechanics. There’s also a huge hole that’s usually significant, where the oldest block has rotated out. The maelstrom of new cards rushing in to fill the void of the old cards leaving is normally an exciting time. Only this time… nothing seems to be changing.
Thursday, October 30th – Recently, I have had some discussions about getting cards, cost of packs and so forth. One debate has come up again and again – the debate between people who buy packs and just open them and the people who feel that not drafting with any unopened pack is foolish. Both online and off, a very large percentage of all packs produced are simply opened. For most of the people who bust the packs, that is a perfectly rational option.
Thursday, October 30th – As any long time reader of my column will know, I love Five Color. I absolutely adore it! I also dig the online variant, Prismatic. Today, I thought it would be fun to look at my Prismatic deck, and see the cards I run.
Wednesday, October 29th – With the StarCityGames.com $5K Standard Open Top 16 decks now in the public domain, Richard looks at his much-discussed Blue/White Merfolk deck, a copy of which placed fifth in the main event. He shares his current thinking regarding card choices and sideboarding options, and brings us a ten-game set against Faeries…
Wednesday, October 29th – States is coming, and Kyle Sanchez is here to get your States Locked Down. Today’s Down And Dirty sees Kyle bring us three interesting decklists… the first is his version of Five-Color Control, the second another greedy control strategy, and the third a funky fresh Elemental build. He also brings us perhaps the oddest Sanchez Gallery to date…
Wednesday, October 29th – That’s right, folks… it’s back! While Canadian draft maestro Rich Hoaen battles it out at Pro Tour: Berlin, we have Nick Eisel bringing us a Shards of Alara 8-4 draft walkthrough each day, from pick 1 to pick 45. Nick supplies draft analysis in the forums! Rich Hoaen returns soon, to battle Nick head to head… watch this space!
Wednesday, October 29th – I’ll give you three guesses what this week is all about. Torvill and Dean? No. The rain delay of Game 5 in the baseball World Series? No. Last chance, or you’ll just have to click to find out…
Wednesday, October 29th – A few months ago, Chris Coppola wrote an article entitled “Legacy and Alara Design”. I commented on the forums that I thought it was interesting and thought-provoking, but that it needed to become more concrete. In other words, tell us whether you think this is good or not and where design needs to go to make good Legacy cards. After some thought I decided that if he was not going to write that article, I would…
Wednesday, October 29th – We discuss the announcement of the third set in the Shards of Alara block, Alara Reborn. It will have 145 cards and be released in stores on April 30, 2009. Gavin gives us a more in-depth discussion on how the new ratings system discussed in BDM’s latest article will affect players in the upcoming PT 2009 season. Plus much more!
Tuesday, October 28th – Is it a good idea to give strangers power over your life? The Ferrett asks for your feedback while he asks your help to test a new feature on StarCityGames.com! Also, some Shards of Alara thoughts!
Tuesday, October 28th – Constructed maestro Gerry Thompson posted a fine result at Grand Prix: Kansas City, making Day 2 in an impressive field. Today, he discusses his ideas concerning Shards Limited in general, before moving on to fresh Standard ideas that spring from the Top 16 decks at the StarCityGames.com $5K Standard Open. States is fast approaching… be prepared!
