Good trip in DC. Kinda did this one for the vibes as I’m pretty burnt out of playing. Vibes were better than the results but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ zero testing for a win and in match at 5-3 was better than I hoped for.

Flights and hotel have been booked. It’ll be a short trip but I’m finally making it back to NYC.

My friend to me: “what do you want to do in NYC?” Me: Play Magic, do improv, get drunk. Not necessarily in that order.

Put it as my epitaph “They died happy, do they died having tasted the splendor of the Monte Cristo”

Won a 22 player RCQ yesterday with Naya Energy Combo. ritual+ specialist was really strong. The combo itself was lackluster R1: LL affinity R2: WW hollow one R3: WW goryo R4: pair down/homie scoop R5: ID QF: WLW vs simic ritual SF: WW vs broodscale. F: 2 Slot 🔥 @fireshoes.bsky.social

I have 4 trips in May and June and flight 1/4 is booked. Holding off on the others cause it’s a bit outside of my typically booking timeline and prices are still a little high.

Judging is cool and all till you have to book 3 events worth of flights and hotels weeks before ever seeing a dime of comp for the events. I know it’ll all get paid out after the fact…but still 🙃🙃🙃

Contraversial Magic opinion: The TMNT hate feels forced.

5-0’d my first prerelease. What can I say…I love being a turtle!!!

After three failed attempts to make even a small NYC trip these last few years…I think the stars are aligning to get me a weekend there before my improv world championship in New Jersey! Don’t wanna jinx it yet, but things are looking optimistic. #igottagetbacktonewyork

How it feels fighting my mono red demons.

🏆 Congratulations to Valerie Jade, winner of Spotlight: Eclipsed! 🏆 After going 6-2 on Day 1, she went 3-0 in every single draft pod on Day 2, in both the Swiss and Top 8!

Won a small 14 person RCQ today with Boros Dragons. R1: 5color Gearhulk Cub 2-0 R2: Dimir Doomsday 2-0 R3: Lessons 2-1 R4: Dimir Doomsday 2-1 R5: ID SF: Dimir Mid 2-1 F: Lessons 2-1 Deck felt great. Shoulda listened to @manaricflair.bsky.social sooner. @fireshoes.bsky.social for value ❤️

“ICE isn’t the Gestapo. The Gestapo was…” (proceeds to describe qualities that apply to what ICE is currently doing)

I really gotta play Traditional limited more often. Because how in the world did this go 3-0… @fireshoes.bsky.social for shame value here.

We made it!! THREE spotlights ruined due to WOTC’s refusal to take action. Hopefully the RCQ scene can bounce back from this dumpster fire of a season.

Two down and since the last time I posted this we’re very locked into all three making the count!!

I’m honestly quite eager for when the Universes Beyond grief period eventually ends and things settle. People are allowed to feel how they wanna feel but man, I’m just here enjoying myself and it’s really hard to do so and be positive when everyone else just wants be 24/7 hostile and negative.

How it feels to just love Magic the card game and know that theming doesn’t impact my enjoyment of the mechanics and gameplay.

How high will The Count go before November 24th? We’ve got 2 more Spotlights before then.

Punched my first ticket this round! 7-0 across Swiss then draft! Sealed with the GW deck going 4-0 8-1 then top 8 with the UG deck for the 3-0 6-0. The buddy I drove up with was the only one to give me a loss all day!!!

Got accepted to judge Magiccon Atlanta! The energy of these events are unmatched and so excited to be apart of another one and contribute to the success of and enjoyment of our community! Perhaps schedule an L3 test there as well if some things align at Orlando later this month 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

I love my cube! I especially love that it’s a time capsule cube and I don’t have to deal with updating it every set. Super happy for those that enjoy that but I don’t think that’s for me with my current free time.

Society if WOTC never printed the words “Standard rotation in 2025 will occur with the release of Edge of Eternities.” I can’t tell you how much time I’ve spent explaining to my friends what this sentence actually means.

Won a RCQ for my 2nd invite ⚡️⚡️⚡️ R1: Domain 2-0 R2: Grixis Reanimator 2-0 R3: Boros energy 2-1 R4: 🤝 R5: 🤝 QF: Izzet prowess 2-0 SF: UW affinity 2-0 F: 2 slot 🔥🔥🔥 Good cap to the season and I can’t wait for Houston AND Vegas!! For the first time in a long time @fireshoes.bsky.social for value.

Went to a store champs with mono red that started at 6:30pm. Start off 2-0 then reverse sweep into 2-3 for 9th place. Drive 2.5 hours to Houston. Sleep 2.5 hours and am now awake again getting ready for my flight. Fun stuff.

Format is right where I like it.

I realize I’m just genuinely not a brewer after seeing all these people so excited to test standard after the bans. Meanwhile I’m just counting down the days until rotation so I can start prepping for RCQs. I love to tinker and optimize but experimenting with cards on their deathbed ain’t for me.

Old photos cause I’m reminiscing about NYC Pride! Out of PTO for the year but I really gotta get back there in 2026! #happypride #NYC #takemeback

Magiccon was great. Had a wonderful time judging all weekend. Got to see a few panels too. Did Vegas touristy stuff Thursday and today so it even felt like a real vacation. Eagerly awaiting Orlando and Atlanta apps to apply to those.

5-0 in my prerelease! Decks was solid, snagged a couple kills with the mythic equipment, the wind crystal was bonkers. They may have demoted Captain Storm to an uncommon but she still hits like a rare. Don’t know how much I can afford to play this IRL but excited for MTGA limited.

Ah well, I did not do this and tested like 30% online and felt I got more from that than the 70% paper reps I did. Oh well. Excited for Houston where I promise to REALLY test only online .

Oh wow, haven’t been on here in a minute. I day 2’d Minneapolis a month ago with prowess and just won a RCQ this weekend with boros energy featuring 2 main deck blood moon. Maybe I’ll be more active here or maybe not. Kinda enjoy just browsing this and twitter for lists with minimal posting.

TOP 8 with Boros Energy at the HBMO. Hell of a run and I’m very proud of myself. Absolutely thrilled to have done so well and can’t wait for breach to get banned soon. 74/75 of Joe Leo’s RC list. moxfield.com/decks/-ALZdL... Can’t wait till next year!!! @fireshoes.bsky.social

Update. This deck is just bad lol. I think some analyst/lumra deck is viable in Pio but don’t have the time to figure it out. So either mice or demons for me

Oh boy, just when I thought I settled on mice for the HBMO.

3-4 at this RC, making 4 RC’s in a row with underwhelming performances. This last year I pretty heavily altered my RC prep as opposed to the first 4 I tested for and I think I’m just way overrating paper testing. Heading into Minneapolis (and maybe Hartford) I plan to test like 90% online.

Being around mtg friends again made me want an easier way to keep up with them. So I redownloaded this. May or may not be active again.

Back to back top 8’s this weekend with Gruul!! Deck is cracked. Some SB choices (twisted fealty) are to account for local meta game. Highly recommend playing this deck if you want to win games of Magic.

I was dead set on going to RC Minneapolis but I just learned that Hartford is only a 3 hour train ride from NYC and I think I have to go now either as a player or a judge!! It’s been over 2 years since I was last there and that’s far too long.

Won the fabled 8 person 2-slot today with Gruul Aggro!! I like Questing Druid but I think the 2-2 split may be better as drawing multiples can be awkward. Deck is very strong though and I think it’s a great choice for RCQ’s moving forward!! First ever @fireshoes.bsky.social Bluesky tag for value