Mapquest says that Harrisburg is four hours and random minutes from Pittsburgh. Scott Teamann says it’s three and a half hours, so I can pick him up at six on Saturday morning and get there with time to spare, but on Friday night I get a "something’s come up" email. A little bummed I am,…
Ten Extended Decks to Beat #3: Trix Trix has an interesting ancestry, one that can be traced to the number of "cereal" nicknamed decks that it evolved from. First, there was Fruity Pebbles, the R/U/W/B deck that used the // engine to kill an opponent. Later, black was added to the deck to run ,…
I’m sure the question on everyone’s mind is,”Did Bennie defend his title?” The answer is”no,” but I came damn close – I lost in the quarterfinals, one match away from the finals. 4th place is a fine showing, all things considered, and I had an absolutely great time. A fantastic environment, pleasant opponents (by and…
This week’s been one of those where forces around you put aside their differences and concentrate on sabotaging your fun. The worst part is that it has happened insidiously. Everyone around me is rediscovering an interest in Magic. Still more terrifying is how smart they all are. I ask Adam for a prediction of the…
It was last Sunday night, after an exhausting session of playtesting (I was then running a janky control white deck). My chances of attending States was very slim. (Unlike myself!) I was feeling horrible, and the game that has brought me much happiness began to lack appeal for me. I guess I miss Urza’s Block…
GENERAL COMMENTS: A bit like green, red has to give up a bit of its mindless rush instincts in multiplayer and concentrate on its control aspects. Of red’s two primary themes – DIRECT DAMAGE and LAND DESTRUCTION – neither can maintain its usual stock of staples (Lightning Bolt, Stone Rain) and expect to do as…
Up until now, you may not have realized that demonically-possessed cows play a vital role in multiplayer design. I don’t blame you for not having figured this out before… Mainly because they don’t. Which begs the question: "So why in hell did you call this column ‘Diabolic Cows?’ " The answer is, as with most…
This week’s an odd one. We’re just before the States, and probably the biggest change in Magic, in the last two years. Any strategy I could give you has been hammered out by a million other strategy pundits; a million other pundits have suggested any decks I might suggest (in one form or another). That’s…
From the onset, this looks suspiciously like a tournament report (funny how titles do that), but I promise all of you rules junkies your weekly fix. That’s the great thing about tournament reports from Judges: it’s all about funky rules situations (plus some random stuff). I jetted to Dallas from San Antonio after spending a…
In a week, I’ll be hopping on a plane to Sydney, Australia to compete in the Magic: the Gathering Invitational, thanks largely to the votes from the readers of StarCityCCG.com. (You GO, girl! – ) Most of you probably know what the Invitational is all about, but in case you haven’t, here’s the general idea….
: Mr. Wise, as a start to the interview I would like to ask you a background question: What Pro Tours, Grand Prixes, and so on have you participated in and how have you done in them? : Well, I’ve actually been around for a long time now. My first PT was Dallas, at the…
Ten Extended Decks to Beat #1: Stompy Stompy’s rise to power arrived with the release of and the cheap and powerful and . Running an extremely low mana base and , the deck was packed with the undercosted and overpowered green creatures that could overrun an opponent (literally, since was usually the kill card) by…
This week: States and how I want to be like , plus what criteria your deck will need to meet to have any chance this weekend. SWORN TO SECRECY At about this time last year, began a campaign on rec.games.trading-card.magic.strategy to create a brand-new archetype deck to play at States. He posted a primary decklist…
Look at this: Limited: 1628 Rating 25 Matches 4 Events Team Limited – Trios: 1578 Rating 6 Matches 1 Events Composite: 1585 Points 4 Events Constructed: 1542 Rating 33 Matches 7 Events Say it with me (a la on "Friends") OH MY GOD. Now look at this: 04/29/00 2000 US Regionals Columbus, OH: 367th place…
What’s Invasion known for? Extremely expensive spells that do amazing things. Not the least of these are the awesome legends that are included in the set. Ranging from Dragons to Clerics to Angels, Wizards has arrayed the set with various different kinds of legends. But, they left one legend type out: Creature – Writer Legend….
