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?
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.
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!
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!
The Ultimate Extended Tournament began with 32 great Extended decks — including five from the season just ended. It is down to eight (or so), and these are playing it out. Can any of the modern decks compete with the best of 1999, or 2002, or the decks from PT Tinker? We are answering those questions.
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!
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
Craig “The Professor” Jones is currently locked in his secret bunker, beavering away on his metagame-shaping creation in time for his triumphant performance at Pro Tour: Yokohama. With a week to go until the big event, he takes a sneaky look at the format, brings us an interesting deck, and waxes lyrical on the subject of Teferi…
Yesterday, Tim asked 21 Questions regarding Grand Prix: Massachusetts. Actually, he asked twenty, but what’s one question between friends? You can read the questions above. Today, in the form of a tournament report, he answers each and every question posed. Innovative in style and Old School in execution, this article is packed with Aten’s brand of in-jokes, stories, and irreverence. Enjoy!
You all know the drill by now… Rich Hoaen, Canada’s finest and grumpiest draft export, takes us by the hand and drags us through the rollercoaster ride of an 8-4 TTP Draft on Magic Online. From pick 1 to pick 45, Rich shares them all, and his final deck and draft performance are analysed in the article, the forums, and beyond. Come join in the fun!
