Some really good data on Akim today, which is definitely what I wanted from tonight. Really fun seeing a Sundial deck. After months of hearing about Ellie's Grist List, finally got to see it play. Reaver Titan from Clare's Depala deck was brutal for the board states we had.

I actually have more time for people who just hate UB as a concept, than I do for people who pick and choose when to be pro or anti-UB based on the IP. At least they're consistent.

Trying to add one more intentional Bracket 2 deck to the roster before a final push to complete the Chromatic Project. "Talrand and Friends" archetype with Akim providing token support, but mainly a way to close the game out, in the Command Zone. Needs some tinkering but like the initial core.

Because it was guaranteed to align all 4 people in the car for long journies. My family love it and it fills up all, or most, of the journey.

Ah, the perfect birthday to really drive home all the crappy thoughts I currently have during my birthday.

Now, that's funny.

That performance from Craig Pawson and the Referee's Cabal is going to make me fail my blood pressure test at 3.40pm TOMORROW. That's how atrocious it was.

There's not many better feelings as a control player than finding the weird card that solves the issue you have in the meta. Whether it's standard, modern, tiny leaders or Kaladesh Block Constructed.

Morningtide's Light is another in a long list of "cards that let survive another turn". ML can target your opponents creatures to clear the way for a big swing and then lets you sit all comfy for a turn cycle (note it prevents all damage, not just combat damage). This is not just for blink decks.

Christ, I do love playing this Preston deck. moxfield.com/decks/K6_Xbu...

Fully expect Kinbinding to quickly become one of the best cards in Otharri. Despite it's strengths, Otharri has had trouble with closing power without the Impact Tremors. This will help in that regard immensely. moxfield.com/decks/MNlopu...

While I'm not one for typal decks, I do apply this way of thinking to archetypes. Are there better mono-black control commanders than Vogar? Yes. Are there better Rakdos Reanimator commanders than SOI Olivia? Yes. Are there better Enchantress commanders than Zacama? Yes. Do I care? No.

And this is why I have long believed, on a pure "allow you to play as little magic as possible"* metric, that Mono-Red is the best control deck. *Which is what most people pretend Control Decks are there to do.

A nice chunky update to Lazav off the back of Lorwyn (but not entirely Lorwyn cards). The main issue with the deck has been a lack of creatures limiting the available lines the deck was capable of, making the deck feel one-dimensional, easy to counterplay if you knew it, and generally hit or miss.

Finally got around to building the queen. Still an absolute work in progress, but I think there's some fun lines we can put together here. Also, Penance reprint, when? Please WotC! In the meantime, I need an alter. moxfield.com/decks/0Olm5W...

I'm not going to complain about a player of Isak's quality being at my club, but I said from the moment we signed Ekitike that the Isak money could've been better served elsewhere. Lad is consistently proving me right. Though it'd be frightening if we got the best version of Isak on his return.

Magic performance ❌ Magic packs ✅

Not a great performance, going 1-2. Made some predictions on the possible meta that didn't come to pass, and it meant the build here was not set up properly. That's a death knell for a control deck, being reactive means the spells, and their quantities have to be spot on.

Tonight is week 1 of a new Block Constructed League at my LGS. This time, just Kaladesh and Aether Revolt, with Felidar Guardian and Attune with Aether being pre-banned. I'm starting off with Jeskai Gearhulk control, but would like to move to Grixis for nostalgia. moxfield.com/decks/T3Jhof...

Being 3 mana is a saving grace for my playgroups as it means I can't run it in Muldrotha/Gyruda, where it would be devastating. moxfield.com/decks/_3GYeu... So instead, I've compromised by adding it to Olivia Reanimator. moxfield.com/decks/jUXpcD... Looking forward to seeing how it performs.

We are deeply saddened at the news of the passing of Magic legend Kai Budde. His achievements in the game and community go beyond what we could say in one post. Our thoughts go out to Kai's friends and family in this moment. Remembering Kai Budde: magic.wizards.com/en/news/anno...

sometimes people get angry when I "destroy" magic cards with stamps I am reminded of paul desilva's reasoning why old school players sign cards at events

I now exclusively order from UK sellers because of the mess I have to go through to get anything shipped from the mainland. The worst is delay in arrival and 99% of them can be attributed to my postman. But then, I have built up a listing of known quality sellers, including private individuals.

If you're out there and making people feel bad for engaging with the game through interaction and trickiness, you're ultimately not a positive part of the game. Get over people removing your permanent, or countering your spell. If you don't like it, find ways to counteract it IN GAME.

This is too many people's approach to EDH. I hear of it too much where people get upset that they can't do whatever they feel like in a "strategy card game". "It's a social game" has been weaponised to discourage people from engaging in actual strategy. I'm so glad the people I play with, don't.

CHAOS GREMLINS ASSSSEEEMMMMBLE! Its been a real weird week, which is kind of a perfect premise for Tonight's Chat Chaos Stream. The most Chaotic one since 2025! We are joined by the one and only @dingusegg.bsky.social who has not yet been a victim to the whims of chat! don't miss out links below

That second Bournemouth goal has absolutely been given because the referees listened to the incessant whinging that everyone could "clearly" see Wirtz was 3 micrometers offside against Fulham. 'Cause Jiminez was offside.

In the space of about 10 minutes, I've gone from unsure whether Preston even wants this card, to completely sure and devising the most evil things I can do with it.

Both these games were a ton of fun with good people. Didn't even realise that I pivoted from my power matters to my toughness matters decks between games. Some of the new includes for both decks showed up and I'm happy with what they did. bsky.app/profile/elli...

Weird how Vibrance only got one piece of art, while the rest of the cycle got two. Anyway, Shrek is Vibrance.

Come on people, multiple things can exist at once. You're all adults who can choose what you want to focus on. You want to focus on Lorwyn, then just do that, nobody is stopping you except yourselves. But just remember that not everyone is hyped up for Lorwyn the same way you are.

Teleportation Turtles ™ ® ᶜʳʸᵖᵗᶦᶜ ᵈᶦⁿᵍᵘˢ ᵉᵍᵍ

The time of trees is tomorrow!

I love inflicting psychic damage on people by selecting psychic type damaging moves (except against dark types).

Either of; I Am An Island - Fatherson Red Earth and Pouring Rain - Bear's Den Black Holes and Revelations - MUSE Depending on the mood I'm in the moment the question is asked.

I seem to remember recently that everyone else - especially City - we're completely fine with decisions like this. Even though Robertson was impacting precisely nobody unlike Haaland here. Wonder what the difference is? 🤔

From experience, the "maths" here resolves in "we'll calculate the actual numbers if you think you have a chance of profiting from the combat, my friend". moxfield.com/decks/26TESz...

Remember almost immediately after the Nemona battle that I could've just flown back out into the Region. So that's what I did, continuing to explore "Storyless Paldea". Picked up 5/6s of the team (need to figure out my water type) before I start the story.

Managed to break sequence and explore half of Paldea before even triggering the Nemona "Tera Tutorial" battle in front of Mesagoza. Messed up though and entered the city from the East entrance by accident and then saved. Here's me triggering the battle from the opposite side.

Also, this absolutely means more cEDH from me this year. Can't let such a gift go unused.

Get yourself friends like @ellie.wubrgsky.org who in addition to just being wonderful, also helps you indulge your most evil clown self.

And there's a corollary to this: Webcam Commander is its own format compared to IRL Commander For Content too. Yeah @infinitokens.com exists, but I've actively gone out of my way to not include cards that cast opponents spells or steal things because it's a tracking nightmare sometimes.

once again thinking about how "commander for content" and "commander night at your LGS" are functionally two different formats

Today has been a super productive day. Built my new TV unit for the bedroom, which meant I could *finally* move the IKEA chest back to the office and start making this space actually feel like an office space. It's been a "dumping ground with a PC and desk" for nearly 2 years.

Don't play a lot of cEDH, but been slowly learning Kefka, Court Mage. Kept this going 4th against Aang, at the Crossroad (1), Etali, Primal Conquerer (2) and Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin (3). Unfortunately, Aang played a T1 Magistrate and took me off T1 Kefka, but my draw was Remora, which helped.

Thank goodness there's a version of this that doesn't look unnecessarily dog-like. Seeing homes in Erinis/Urchin, and Eshki for this one.

Okay, just got around the story endgame for Z-A. Didn't cover *everything* I wanted as a proxy Pokémon Z (but there may be epilogue-like stuff to come). Still enjoyed it massively, some fantastic characterisation in this one, even the city felt like a character. Gonna be hard to Nuzlocke though.

Not gonna do a big new year thing, but it's not likely I'll get a 106th game in before midnight, so here's 2025's performance.

I know most of you playing Legends:ZA are well past this and into whatever you're doing in Mega Dimensions. But I am really loving this game, the battle system takes a moment to get used to, but once you do, it's wonderful. Plus the new Megas are a joy.

Jokes on you, I don't like Eggnog.