Is a Boardwipe in the Command Zone Fair?

Boardwipes are a great way to reset the board in Commander. They stop one or more players running away with the game, and they give you a chance to catch up. While it can feel frustrating to have your board wiped a way, they’re a necessary part of the format – otherwise we’d just be playing four player solitaire. So ... Read More...

Magic: the Gathering Basic Definitions: Part 2

Players who pick up Magic: The Gathering for the first time face an intimidating learning curve, that’s for sure. But the first and most important step is mastering the game’s unique language: an arcane vocabulary of keywords, rules terms and specific phrasing that holds the key to understanding every card from the last thirty years of Magic. I already got ... Read More...
Getting the Most Out of Coalition Victory in Commander

Getting the Most Out of Coalition Victory in Commander

You may have heard that Coalition Victory and several other cards got unbanned in Commander last week. This is a big deal, since the card had been illegal in the format for almost two decades, originally getting banned in 2007. More than two years ago, I wrote an article titled “Why is Coalition Victory Banned in Commander?” and in it I ... Read More...
Building Gifts Ungiven Piles in Commander

Building Gifts Ungiven Piles in Commander

Gifts Ungiven has recently been unbanned in Commander, so it’s high time we cover how to play with the card. Today we’ll look at covering how many cards to search for, what types of cards to find, and powerful combo lines – including what’s available in cEDH. GIFTS UNGIVEN Gifts Ungiven is an instant speed tutor effect. You can search ... Read More...

Magic: the Gathering Basic Definitions: Part 1

Players who pick up Magic: The Gathering for the first time face an intimidating learning curve, that’s for sure. But the first and most important step is mastering the game’s unique language: an arcane vocabulary of keywords, rules terms and specific phrasing that holds the key to understanding every card from the last thirty years of Magic. It would take ... Read More...

Beginner Tips for Playing Combo in Commander

Playing a Combo deck in Commander can be a daunting choice for beginners. Combo decks are generally seen as more competitive, more fragile, and requiring a deeper well of gameplay know-how to pull off. If you’re wanting to have a go at playing a Combo deck in Commander for the first time – or you just want a few tips ... Read More...

An Introduction to Magic: the Gathering’s Formats

Magic is a very popular game, so it’s no surprise that the game is always getting new players. In fact, the potential for new players might be at its highest ever as Universes Beyond sets have become commonplace. Whatever you may think about those types of sets, which are based on non-Magic intellectual properties, it has to be acknowledged that ... Read More...