Planechase: Elemental Thunder Review (Part 1 of 2)
When we last left the origin story of Planechase, Wizards of the Coast Brand Manager (now Director) Elaine Chase had spearheaded a marketing initiative to develop a multiplayer product for the casual Magic player. With the success of 2007’s Duel Decks inaugural release, pitting two tribal decks against one another, Wizards was once again ready to enter the preconstructed special products market, a position in the field that they had abandoned after 2001’s Deckmasters: Garfield vs Finkel release. Read more 
Planechase: Strike Force Review (Part 2 of 2)
It’s our first foray back into the world of Planechase in nearly two years, when we reviewed two of the decks and left two for later. How have they stood the test of time? I’m in with Strike Force, a Boros-coloured deck with plenty of splashy burn effects, while Jimi’s volunteered to try and stop me in my tracks. In her hand is Metallic Dreams, an artifact-themed deck that plays with all five colours. Which deck will find the will to prevail?
Planechase: Strike Force Review (Part 1 of 2)
Sometimes it’s hard for us to grasp just how long we’ve been reviewing preconstructed Magic, a new review piece every other day, steadily and methodically. When we decided to fill the narrow gap between Project Mirage Block and Avacyn Restored with the conclusion of our Planechase reviews, it was a little surprising that we had first started reviewing the set back in August of 2010! It’s hard to recall at this point why we moved on after only reviewing two of the decks (Metallic Dreams and Zombie Empire), though bouncing about was a little more common in the site’s earlier days than now. Still, with the next Planechase release right around the corner at the beginning of June, we’re delighted at the opportunity to close the book on the first iteration before getting to plunge into the next!
Whispers of the Muse: Werekill’s Venser Deck
Welcome back to another installment of Whispers of the Muse, our occasional deckbuilding series that takes a reader-submitted deck, then turns it over to the community to tweak and modify! Today’s submission is a timely one, as Duel Decks: Venser vs Koth was only recently released. Werekill has been poring over it, sensing that there were improvements to be made but not quite sure where to begin.
Duel Decks- Venser vs Koth: Koth’s Deck Review (Part 2 of 2)
It’s our last taste of Duel Decks: Venser vs Koth, and after getting the Golden Broom award last game for going 0-and-3, Venser will certainly be looking to take the scalp off his rival. But can Koth keep the fires burning long enough to make his opponent’s next blink, his last?
Duel Decks- Venser vs Koth: Venser’s Deck Review (Part 2 of 2)
We’ve now given both constructions from Duel Decks: Venser vs Koth the once-over, and now it’s time to see how they play out. Joining me at the table is Jimi, all to happy to play Koth’s role as mono-Red and Boros decks are her specialty. We noted that Venser’s deck is filled with lots of little synergies…will it be enough to turn aside the wrath of the hammer?
Duel Decks- Venser vs Koth: Koth’s Deck Review (Part 1 of 2)
When Duel Decks: Venser vs Koth was announced last year, it raised more than a few eyebrows from a flavour perspective. Previous releases of the Duel Decks series had centered around conflicts between tribes, groups, or planeswalkers, and indeed that identity was the raison d’etre of the entire concept of a “duel deck.” You had the heroic Nacatl, Ajani, squaring off against the operatic arch-villain, Nicol Bolas, scheming to turn the entire plane of Alara to his own ends. Garruk and Liliana squared off in the chase for an eldtritch artifact, as seen in one of Magic’s webcomics. Phyrexia and The Coalition recreated one of the storyline’s greatest conflicts, while others paired tribes which historically had opposed one another, such as Knights and Dragons.
Duel Decks- Venser vs Koth: Venser’s Deck Review (Part 1 of 2)
Sooner or later in Magic, everything comes full circle. It is a game filled with variations upon repetition- note the many iterations of of Giant Growth that are made set after set after set- and yet it is those very variations that keep things fresh and engaging. Still, there are some constants in Magic, as there must be- the game only has five colours. We saw this circling back most recently with the Event Decks. The first Event Decks for Mirrodin Besieged were mono-Red and Blue/Green, and a series of mono-coloured decks followed. Each colour got their turn, then they looped around and began with another White deck and a multi-coloured one.
Dark Ascension: Spiraling Doom Review (Part 2 of 2)
Fresh from Gleeful Flames’ hiding in our last meetup, I’m back to put Spiraling Doom to the test. Joining me at the table is Jimi, who- given her affinity for mono-Red and Boros decks- is excited to give Flames a try. We sat down for a match of three games to pit the Dark Ascension Event Decks against one another, and here’s what resulted.
Dark Ascension: Gleeful Flames Review (Part 2 of 2)
We couldn’t return to a plane like Innistrad and not expect to escape at least a little fighting, and with the release of two new Event Decks (numbers nine and ten overall) we’re well equipped for it! Jimi’s piloting Spiraling Doom, looking to push my mono-Red burn deck to its very limits. Will she manage to hold out for victory, or will she go down in a sea of flames, 5 damage at a time…
Ertai's Lament 