Escalate appears on Instants and Sorceries. Specifically, modal instants and sorceries, where you have a choice of several possible effects when you cast the spell. When you cast a spell with the mechanic, you chose a mode for its normal cost. You could then choose additional modes by paying the Escalate cost, adding another effect each time you paid that ... Read More...

With WotC’s surprise adoption of Oathbreaker last week, we’ve entered a boom time for experimentation and brewing in the Planeswalker-centric format. But what possible playstyles does the format offer – and how should you decide on your first deck to start figuring it out? The easiest thing to latch onto is the Oathbreakers themselves, the Planeswalker-commanders which go a long ... Read More...

So you want to build a Black Commander deck? Ultimate power awaits, for those who seek it. We’ve prepared a list of 20 Essential Black Commander cards to get you started on your brewing journey.  Black has access to oodles of card draw, removal, life drain and reanimator effects. It’s the best color at using the graveyard – both at ... Read More...

With Pioneer RCQ season coming up in a couple of months, players unfamiliar with the format may be looking to get their feet wet beforehand. In order to practice and play, you’ll need a deck, but buying into a deck before you know if you like it could be a pricey endeavor.  Luckily, the two rounds of Pioneer challenger decks ... Read More...

Four-color is back! Since the banning of Yorion back in the fall, players have tried to make four-color work. On a few occasions it has succeeded, however, ultimately the deck quickly fell off the competitive radar as decks like Breach, Hammer and Murktide dominated the metagame.  However with the release of All Will Be One, a new card was added ... Read More...

The story reveal and previews for March of the Machine are just around the corner, so you know what that means: time for me to make some predictions that we’ll very quickly get to see how wrong I am about! Elspeth’s Angelic Fate  There’s a lot of lore out there about Elspeth’s connections to Magic’s angels; just look at her ... Read More...

What makes a particular combat trick special? Must it create a blowout or just maximize the efficiency these cards are known for? Or is a great combat trick one that exceeds our expectations, generating additional resources or utility beyond its combat application? These questions make it difficult to identify the best combat tricks in Commander. One thing you notice trying ... Read More...