The world has changed so much in the past 18 months, and a whole new subset of social experiences have helped to shape the pandemic zeitgeist. Between wearing pajamas to work (at the dining room table), experimenting with hair or fashion styles, or even just giving your food delivery app a greater workout, everyone has developed some form of “lockdown …
Modern Horizons 2 is a Magic History Lesson
Few sets in Magic have ever been as highly anticipated as Modern Horizons 2. The passionate reactions to each day’s spoilers show as much — people have figured out that these Horizons sets are special, that no longshot reprint or kooky keyword portmanteau is off limits. When you dangle hope in front of players who had long since given up …
Modern Horizons 2 Preview Card & Interview with Chris Rahn
This week, we’re kicking off the preview season for Modern Horizons 2 with a bang by showcasing one of the mythic rares from the upcoming set. Not only is it a reprint of a popular card from the original Modern Horizons set, but it’s been given the beautiful old border treatment! Sword of Truth and Justice was a new addition …
An Early Look at Adventures in the Forgotten Realms
Thanks to a blockbuster “season overview” from WotC, we’ve finally gotten our first glimpse at Adventures in the Forgotten Realms: the first official crossover set between Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. The article seems to indicate another top-down set design, emphasizing the flavor and even some of the mechanics of D&D. Adam Styborski writes that: “Adventures in the Forgotten …
What Strixhaven’s Mystical Archive Means for Budget Magic
Wakey wakey, it’s time for Strixhaven! The most prestigious university in the Multiverse is opening its doors for us in the coming weeks, and social media is alight with talk over which College everyone belongs to. It’s having a massive impact on people’s ability to express themselves: some are abandoning the Boros Legion in favor of the more historically appreciative …
Top 10 Splinter Twin Situations
Magic: The Gathering is a game with a storied past. When you go to your local game store (again, eventually), you’re liable to hear people who have been playing the game for a decade or more discussing old decks in hushed voices. Stories of Caw Blade, Hypergenesis, and ANT fill the room. But there’s one deck that always rises above …
Reexamining Magic’s Most Powerful Mechanics
At this point, Magic has been around for long enough to experiment with a ton of different mechanics. In the name of keeping things fresh, WotC are always expanding the design space of the game, pushing the boundary of what we think is possible with every new set. But sometimes, they cross over that boundary. Not just with one card …
Strixhaven Predictions
Well we all had a ton of fun with Kaldheim, didn’t we! But the big Magic wheel is always turning, and it’s time to… wait. Isn’t this awful soon to be moving on from Kaldheim? That’s certainly how I reacted when WotC dropped their unexpected Strixhaven preview article back on February 18th. As the hype train left the station, they …
A History of the Power 9
Nearing three decades of shaping the gaming landscape, Magic: The Gathering stands apart from its many imitators because it is more than a game. After years of constant evolution and vociferous growth, Magic has become a lifestyle for generations of players. A major esport, before we even had the word for that kind of professional competition. A true global community …
Most Metal Magic Cards
Happy New Year, my fellow magicians! We all made it through 2020 — now let’s celebrate with a hearty headbanging session. Maybe throw in a bit of haircopter, if you’re well-coiffured. Yes, we’re continuing to wind ourselves up for the release of Kaldheim, the first Magic set to overtly claim inspiration from the heavy metal subculture. Personally, I think this …