TagFundamentals

Building Good Aggro Decks

Pro Tour Champion Ari Lax sees a lot of decks in the new Standard, but there are a lot of archetypes already falling out of favor. Most of them are aggro decks. For excellent guidance on how to construct decks like Tom Ross and Paul Rietzl, this is your stop!

Storm, Affinity, And The Math To Not Messing Up Free Wins

A lot of the time, explosive Modern decks can just win on the backs of their own power, but that isn’t always the case! Join Pro Tour Champion Ari Lax for a look at how you can do some simple tricks at SCG Columbus to keep your wins coming!

Control Yourself

There’s another type of control in Magic that we usually don’t think about: self control! Collins Mullen explains how to master the art of always playing the best form of control when you’re playing tournament Magic!

Unlocking Better Draw Steps

You can’t control what’s on top of your deck most of the time, but the truth is much more interesting than that! Up your play for SCG Columbus this weekend!

Modern’s Family Tree, Part 2

Carmen Handy finishes Modern’s family tree with the unusual lands of the format, from Spire of Industry to Snow-Covered Islands, ahead of SCG Columbus!

The Airing Of Grievances

As a better-late-than-never Festivus present to you all, Ross Merriam airs grievances including tournament etiquette, inefficient playing mechanics, and full-art lands. Bring the popcorn and the pitchforks!

Remaking Magic Methodology For 2018

With Magic approaching its 25th anniversary, much of the professional game has yet to be figured out. Ari Lax is on a quest to remake the way pros like him prepare, and today he shares his points of focus.

The Importance Of Consistent Magic

Playing Magic without a plan is asking to lose. Jadine Klomparens shows the importance of making sure your plays are consistent with each other…and when it’s important to change plans anyway.

How To Playtest

“Practice makes perfect.” “No, perfect practice makes perfect.” Sam Black brings up the platitudes only to sweep them away as he gives you no-nonsense playtesting advice!

Learning When To Blink In Magic Games

In strategic standoffs, usually the player who blinks first loses. Jadine Klomparens’ latest theory examines what it means to “blink” in a game of Magic…and when it’s right to do so anyway!

Goals For 2018: One You Shouldn’t Set, And Four You Should

So 2017 is almost in the rearview mirror. It’s time to make goals for 2018. But are you setting goals that will help you get where you want to go in Magic? Brad Nelson has one goal you should avoid and four you should make!

Scat, Cat! Why Sideboarding Out Longtusk Cub Works

Temur Energy is jam-packed with quality cards, but that doesn’t mean they all have to stay in the maindeck for Game 2! Carmen Handy offers a step-by-step process for deciding whether a “good” card should stay or go in a matchup.

End Step Bolt: The Quest Begins

Learning to cast removal on the opponent’s end step has long been seen as a sign of growth as a Magic player. But why is this correct? Jadine Klomparens examines the thinking behind the play…and why the thinking is sometimes wrong!

How To Fix Standard: A Detailed And Surprising Format Comparison

That’s a mighty bold title from the Magic Pro Tour Hall of Famer! But don’t be too surprised if the game designer and leading theorist has you nodding along by the end. He just hopes Wizards of the Coast has figured all this out by now…

Is 60 Ever Wrong?

Carmen Handy contemplates a Constructed conundrum: when does a maindeck of more than 60 cards make sense?