4 Pillars of Standard: 2021 Rotation
Standard rotation is so close I can feel it! As of today, we’re just four weeks away from rotation and the release of Innistrad: Midnight Hunt on Arena. Last week, we took a look at the first batch of preview cards in Midnight Hunt to see how they might perform in Standard. Today, we’ll be doing the opposite: reexamining the ... Read More...
Ranking the Planes: Where Will Magic Return Next?
Innistrad: Midnight Hunt will be the 90th MTG expansion — a new Standard set which takes place on a particular named world, or plane, within Magic’s multiverse. For the first decade of expansion sets, the multiverse was more of a storytelling conceit or source for new villains, with the majority of sets taking place on Magic’s “home plane” of Dominaria. ... Read More...
Sunburst – MTG Keywords Explained
Last week, we discussed modular: an ability that adds counters to artifact creatures and allows players to move those counters around. Today, we’ll be talking about another mechanic you’ll find on artifacts: sunburst! What is Sunburst? Like modular, sunburst first appeared in the artifact-heavy original Mirrodin block, and it appears solely on artifacts. Both artifact creatures and non-artifact creatures can ... Read More...
Innistrad: Crimson Vow
The hunt has begun, but how will the story end? This fall, Magic has released TWO new expansions set on the world of Innistrad. We’ve already had a taste of the Werewolf-themed set, Midnight Hunt, coming in September; now, it’s time to get ready for the most anticipated Vampire wedding of the season. Innistrad: Crimson Vow is available now, and ... Read More...
The Best Budget Versions of Commander Staples
Commander is probably the most budget-friendly format in Magic, where a well-built $100 deck can hold its own against decks with ten times the value. At the same time, that cost can be a huge barrier to entry; some of the most famous and popular cards in the format are simply out of reach for many players, and sometimes it ... Read More...
The Secret to Better Commander Games is Intent
When you sit down to a game and shuffle up, what do you hope for? Personally, I hope that “this game is the best one yet.” The most foundational approach for this is to have clear and open Rule 0 conversations. These have had a healthy time in the spotlight lately, with more and more creators including these conversations in ... Read More...
Building Sideboards for Lurrus Decks in Modern
Lurrus of the Dream-Den has been a pillar of Modern for a while now, and thanks to Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer and Dragon’s Rage Channeler, the archetype has been supercharged. Black and red are the common base colors for Lurrus decks, but as Modern has evolved, they’ve included all five colors at various points. Each splash color has its own strengths ... Read More...