Hello everybody and welcome to another edition of the Magic Show. This week we’re taking a long, hard look at all of the numerous Future Sight Spoilers. With only two weeks to go a plethora of new, interesting cards are coming, so let’s get started.
There have been discussions about the relationship between spoilers and the health of Magic in the past, but never before from so many angles! Ben examines the pros and cons of having sets spoiled early from the perspectives of a player, a General Manager, and a writer set to official spoil cards!
Today’s Flores Friday sees Mike take three of the more popular decks in the current Standard environment and update them for the ever-evolving metagame. Boros, Orzhov, and the ultra-efficient Zoo all receive the Flores treatment, each with one eye on practicality and the other on the prize. If you were one of those players trying to port Raphael Levy’s Gaea’s Might Get There deck from Extended to Standard, then this is the article for you!
In a change from our usual program, Master Tim Aten brings us a Quiz… twenty-one questions (allegedly) on the subject of Grand Prix: Massachusetts. Part tournament report, part mental exercise, and part Atenesque nonsense. The answers will appear tomorrow, with the meat of this article… so if you wanna know if Tim had an insulting encounter with a cleaning lady, or if Rich Hoaen got knocked down onto his grumpy buttocks, come join us then!
With the Pro Tour Train making its scheduled stop at the Block Constructed Station in Yokohama soon, Benjamin Peebles-Mundy brings us an interesting look at a number of Gauntlet of Power decks. Not one, not two, not three… but four separate Block decks for your entertainment pleasure! Are you looking to rock Block with some top tech? Then smell the glove!
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!
After a weekend failure at a Two-Headed Giant PTQ, Zac Hill is in a remarkably reflective mood. By analysing the form of two distinct mistakes – one in the PTQ, the other in a Legacy Grand Prix Trial – he examines the nature of decision-making itself. How do the puzzle pieces fit together, and where in the grand scheme do you place yourself? All this, plus a B/U/R Control decklist for Time Spiral Block Constructed!
I looked at the cards I have in my MTGO collection and realized that my simple goal of acquiring four of each common of a set for a bargain price — usually 3-4 tickets — was a good policy, but actually not very doable in real life. Real life players do not necessarily have draft tables to chase, don’t have bots that will spit out cards at a 32/1 rate. These are the players who buy a few boosters, crack them, and gleefully build a collection in the exact opposite way in which you eat a gobstopper.
Do you like playing Limited but want a chance to play different formats? Are you tired of the same old Limited matches? Welcome to Casual Limited! Feel free to have a seat and relax, because we’ve been here all day and we’ve just got started.
Countdown to Grand Prix: Columbus! Previously, Kevin claimed that “aggro-board control is the new aggro-control.” This week he steps up to try to prove it with aggressive strategies built around very powerful cards. As a bonus he talks about how to choose a deck for the Grand Prix and Grand Prix trials.
Tiago went to Grand Prix: Massachusetts without a Two-Headed Giant win to his name (at the GP level, at least). Pairing with the mighty Shuhei Nakamura, surely this diabolical run was about to change? Well, they got their win… but how did they do in the tournament as a whole? Tiago takes us through the highs, the lows, and the crazy good times.
It’s finally happening, folks… Raph has all the technical know-how in place, and he’s ready to draft with the Great Magical Unwashed! I myself will be putting my name down to be Raph’s wingman in the coming weeks, so be sure to sign up early. Today’s draft sees the Hall of Famer take a fellow named Rapcat by the hand and walk him through the creeks and canyons of an ornery 8-4 draft, producing an interesting deck and questioning each pick along the way. For details of how to join the fun, read on!
After placing 8th at Grand Prix: Amsterdam, Jeroen Remie and Victor van der Broek had nothing to prove. Their knowledge of the format is unquestionable, and their appearance at Pro Tour: San Diego is a given. Of course, when a pair of flights is up for grabs, then winning a PTQ is always welcome… so that’s what Jeroen and Victor did! Today’s Ask The Drama brings us their hints and tips for the 2HG format, and a little rundown of the Top 10 shows on television.
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!
Last week’s Mock Block tournament proved to be a great success, and another is in the pipeline soon. Today, Josh takes us through some of the observations made when playing the format, and sets out a blueprint for success. If your Block deck of choice can’t tick the checkboxes here, it’s back to the drawing board!
