The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth is the latest adventure into Universes Beyond, and the first one to receive a full Magic: The Gathering set. At the same time, this is also the first time Card Kingdom plans to ship sealed preorders early, on June 16, giving players a head start at exploring everything Middle-earth has to offer. …
Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth Early Look
The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth is right around the corner with previews starting next week on May 30. We’re here to round up everything we know about the set so you can be prepared for Magic’s journey into one of the most impactful fantasy settings of all time! The Story Settle in, this may take a while. …
Afflict – MTG Mechanics Explained
Afflict is a triggered ability that appears on creatures, and is always written with a number, like “Afflict N.” Whenever a creature with it becomes blocked, the defending player loses N life. Multiple instances of the mechanic on a single creature each trigger separately (which is something made possible by equipping Dagger of the Worthy to a creature that already …
Why is Sway of the Stars Banned in Commander?
While Commander’s grassroots origins make it different from many other Magic formats, it still has a ban list like the rest of them. However, since Commander is not a format with tons of tournament data to back up banning certain cards, some players are unsure why certain offenders end up on the list. Today, we’re going to look at Sway …
20 Essential Blue Commander Cards
Blue is one of the best control colors in Commander. If you’re looking for some tips on what blue cards will enhance your Commander collection, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s our 20 essential blue cards — cards that will be great in any number of blue decks. Blue, more than any color, has an abundance of control and …
Planeswalkers Changing for the Better
With March of the Machine and its Aftermath now both revealed, 2023 looks very much like the end of an era for Magic’s Planeswalkers. Many were casualties of the struggle against Phyrexia, including some who lost their spark and were demoted to mere legendary creatures. But even the survivors can tell their role in the multiverse has changed. In fact, …
Fun and Underappreciated Decks to Play in Pioneer
Pioneer is one of Magic’s most diverse formats. The threat pool is large while the answers are fewer in number, meaning many decks can execute a diverse array of game plans and succeed. And while the meta has produced a handful of “best decks,” it’s still possible to have fun with a Pioneer deck your opponent rarely runs into. Today, …
Your Guide to The Gauntlet 2023: Fables
The Gauntlet 2023: Fables is coming to you live from Bellevue Mox Boarding House on Sunday! This year’s competition will benefit Game to Grow, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the use of games of all kinds for therapeutic and educational purposes, as well as community growth. This is the ninth Gauntlet event hosted by Gamers Engaged, a national non-profit. For …
Streamlining Text-Heavy New Commanders
Have you noticed popular commanders are getting more mechanically complex every year? Recent sets have set records for the amount of rules text on cards, but it’s definitely most apparent on the legendary creatures leading our Commander decks. WHY SO LOQUACIOUS? The trend is driven both by general power creep and an even more insistent push for novelty. In 2023, …
Embalm – MTG Mechanics Explained
Embalm is a creature keyword that works from the graveyard. When a creature with it is in your graveyard, you may pay that creature’s Embalm cost. When you do, you exile the creature from your graveyard and create a token copy of that creature, except that it’s white, has no mana cost, and is a zombie in addition to its …