Why build a deck you’ll never play?

Brewing a deck you never bring to a game might sound like a failure, or at least a squandered effort. By default, decks are built to be played; the expected flow of gameplay is what gives deckbuilding choices complexity and guides our card selections. But I’ve found brewing for its own sake can still be rewarding—just as a stage play ... Read More...

Background – MTG Keywords Explained

Background is a subtype of Enchantments, and flavorfully represents a Commander’s backstory — or at least an aspect of it. They do function as normal enchantments, so if they are in a deck they can be drawn and cast normally, although as they specifically only affect Commanders, it’s very unlikely you’ll ever encounter one in any other format. But the ... Read More...

Fringe Format: Oathbreaker

In Fringe Format, Chris looks at a lesser-known way to play Magic! Oathbreaker is a singleton format like EDH, but with a few key twists! Oathbreaker! A format that was briefly all the rage when it burst onto the scene several years ago, and still exists today, just maybe a little more in the shadow of other singleton formats like ... Read More...

The Best Commander Cards from Battle for Baldur’s Gate

Battle for Baldur’s Gate is upon us, so it’s time for another set review. Today, I’ll break down what’s hot from the set. I won’t be going over what’s not, and it’s likely I’ll skip over any super niche cards that don’t impact your collection enough. I’ll also briefly cover the better cards from the Preconstructed Commander decks worth picking ... Read More...

Exit From Exile Precon Upgrade Guide

Scott takes a look at the Exit From Exile Commander Precon deck, and has some suggestions for how to give it a bit of an upgrade! Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate is here, and players are ready to gather their party and embark on new Commander adventures! There are a slew of new staples, as well as potent commanders ... Read More...

News of the Realm – 6/3/22

Welcome one and all to News of the Realm! Here’s what we and our friends had going on for the week leading up to June 3rd, 2022. The Professor Shuffled Up and Played with Cedric Phillips and Patrick Sullivan, explained magnets to Kyle Hill, looked at the dangerous worlds of MTG, and looked at the best new Commanders from Baldur’s ... Read More...

The Abrupt Decay of Thoughtseize in Modern

Thoughtseize, once a Modern mainstay, seems to be largely missing from the format now. Michael looks at why and where it can still fit in. Anyone who has played Modern for a significant period of time remembers when Thoughtseize was considered a premium interactive spell. Now, as we move through the middle of 2022, almost 11 years after Modern’s debut, ... Read More...