Duel Decks- Sorin vs Tibalt: Sorin’s Deck Review (Part 2 of 2)
We’re back for the final match with the latest Duel Decks, before we bid a fond adieu to the plane of Innistrad. Jimi’s lined up behind Tibalt and is ready to hammer me into submission. Can a Vampire- as unlikely a hero as you might find- claim the night and seize the day?
Duel Decks- Sorin vs Tibalt: Tibalt’s Deck Review (Part 2 of 2)
At long last, having reviewed both decks it’s time to see how they fare in battle! Joining me at the table is Jimi, ready to pilot Sorin’s deck to victory. Can Tibalt turn the tables while he turns the screws?
Duel Decks- Sorin vs Tibalt: Sorin’s Deck Review (Part 1 of 2)
It may seem hard to believe now, but when Zendikar was handed off from design to development the set did not contain Vampires. Sure there might have been one kicking around in a rare slot somewhere, a ‘token representative’ creature fleshing out a splashy one-off, but the Vampires as a cohesive and cultural element in the Zendikar world had not yet come to be. No Vampire Nighthawks, no Gatekeepers of Malakir, and certainly no Vampire Lacerators. Although we’ve touched on this briefly in the past, the story of how the set’s iconic tribe came to be is worth a revisit- though as we’ll see iconic is probably the wrong word to use.
Duel Decks- Sorin vs Tibalt: Tibalt’s Deck Review (Part 1 of 2)
Given the relatively short time they they have been a feature of the game, the history of the planeswalker is still a relatively modest one when looked at against the backdrop of the span of Magic’s two-decade history. Certainly while this feeling is reinforced by the fact that planeswalkers are themselves the most infrequent card type to see print, their high profile gives them an outsize impression. And that certainly doesn’t mean that there hasn’t been some innovation along the way.
Gatecrash: Rally and Rout Review (Part 2 of 2)
It’s our last look at Gatecrash today, for the next time we break out these decks it will be for the Preconstructed Championship later this year. Joining me at the table this time is Sam, who’s volunteered to give Thrive and Thrash another shot. Will she prove that the previous match was just a fluke, or will the Boros live up to the billing and rout the Simic?
Gatecrash: Thrive and Thrash Review (Part 2 of 2)
Now that we’ve had a chance to review both decks, it’s time to see how the fare against one another. Joining me to take the role of the Boros is- who else- Jimi, ready to champion her guild. Can my three-colour ‘Simic’ stand a chance?
Gatecrash: Rally and Rout Review (Part 1 of 2)
For the most part, the overlap between the competitive world of the Event Deck and the more casual one of the Intro Pack has remained fairly segregated. After all, aside from the set whose banner they are released under, they really don’t have much in common. Intro Packs, aside from being an accessible point of entry for new and returning players, tend to give a fair amount of design space over to showcasing the set’s themes and mechanics. Event Decks, on the other hand, care far less for these things, instead focusing on presenting a valid option in a given competitive environment.
Gatecrash: Thrive and Thrash Review (Part 1 of 2)
Released in 1991, Morrissey’s Kill Uncle occupies an unusual place in the singer’s discography. Only his second album in four years after the breakup of The Smiths, the album ranged from the deeply sentimental There’s a Place in Hell for Me and my Friends to the quirky and pun-laden King Leer, with stops all over the map in between. Buried almost at the end of the album is a subdued little number called (I’m) the End of the Family Line. What has that to do with Gatecrash? Hopefully, nothing.
Return to Ravnica: Wrack and Rage Review (Part 2 of 2)
It’s back to the table for our last visit to Return to Ravnica- at least until next year’s Preconstructed Deck Championships! Joining me is Sam, who’s been eager to get her hands on Creep and Conquer. Can she steer the Golgari to the finish, or will the Rakdos pitch a carnival tent stake on her grave?
Return to Ravnica: Creep and Conquer Review (Part 2 of 2)
The table is set and the tea is brewed, an altogether overly civilised setting for the brutal savagery that’s about to take place. I’m piloting the Golgari and their Creep and Conquer Event Deck, while Jimi’s looking to dance on our graves with the Radkos and Wrack and Rage. Can she burn her way to victory, or will she just end up another body in the fungus pile?
Ertai's Lament 