Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Strategy”
Commander 2021 is out now, and the set will be introducing a few new keyword mechanics designed for multiplayer games. Here’s a quick primer on ward — a keyword that protects your creatures from removal! What is Ward? First, there was shroud. Then, there was hexproof. Now, there’s ward! Whenever a permanent with ward becomes the target of a spell …
Magic is going back to school with Strixhaven: School of Mages, a set that takes place in an elite university. And what could be more appropriate for an academic setting than a mechanic all about learning? Today, we’re going to break down the learn mechanic and the new card type Lesson from Strixhaven. Are you ready to learn? What is …
Along with banding, flanking ranks high on the list of Magic‘s most complex and misunderstood mechanics. If you’ve never seen this keyword before — or if you need a refresher on how it works — we’re here to break it all down for you today. What is Flanking? Flanking is one of Magic‘s most unique combat mechanics. It doesn’t modify …
Magic: The Gathering has been around for a long time, and as you wade through the archives of older cards, there are bound to be some keywords that give you pause. Whether these keywords are completely new to you or you need a refresher, we’re here to help! Today, we’re here to explain a mechanic from way back in Ice …
Back in the early days of Magic, creatures were much weaker than they used to be. Creatures had fewer abilities, and they were much smaller relative to their mana cost. Of course, creatures still had useful abilities that gave them an edge over other creatures in combat. And while some of those abilities haven’t been printed on cards in quite …
Games of Magic are commonly won through combat damage, and creatures with evasion often have the edge. Previously in this series, we covered the ability flying, which allows some creatures to soar across the red zone. We talked about trample, which allows some large creatures to deal damage depending on how they’re blocked. And more recently, we covered fear and …
This week, I’m rolling up my sleeves to tackle one of life’s great questions: what does “tempo” mean in Magic: The Gathering? It’s a controversial bit of jargon among Magic players even at the highest level, and this is far from the first article written about it. I have faint memories of reading one by Ben Bleiweiss back in Guildpact …
Time Spiral Remastered is coming out soon, and many longtime Magic players are having flashbacks to fifteen years ago. Today, we’re talking about a Time Spiral block mechanic called… well, flashback! What is Flashback? Flashback is a graveyard mechanic that you’ll find on instant and sorcery cards. When a spell with flashback is in your graveyard, you may cast it …
As you’ve learned to play Magic: The Gathering, you’ve probably familiarized yourself with the instant and sorcery card types. These spells have a one-time effect — on your turn, and maybe on someone else’s. But in the early days of Magic, there was a third spell type with short-term effects. Interrupts were like instants, but more powerful — you could …
Earlier in this series, we explained hexproof: a mechanic that prevents your opponents from targeting your creatures with their spells or abilities. In explaining hexproof, we alluded to an older mechanic called shroud, from which hexproof evolved. But what is shroud, and how does it differ from hexproof? That’s what we’re here to talk about today! What is Shroud? As …
