Reads: Meddling Rakdos Raid
At last, the cycle is complete! With a retooling of the Rakdos Raid Intro Pack over on Gathering Magic, all five Return to Ravnica guilds have had their time to shine!
Duels of the Planeswalkers (2009): Teeth of the Predator Review (Part 1 of 2)
Amongst other innovations and changes to the game, the release of Ninth Edition in 2005 marked the end of an era to the White player. This was the first time that the Circle of Protection had been omitted from the core set. Present since the dawn of the game, this five-card cycle had been a staple part of White’s defensive-minded style, but over time their shortcomings became more apparent.
Duels of the Planeswalkers (2009): Thoughts of the Wind Review (Part 2 of 2)
It’s time to put the most expensive planeswalker to the test- or, really, the deck based upon him. Joining me at the table is Sam, who has grabbed the copy of the Naya-themed Claws of Vengeance. Can Jace think his way out of this latest bind?
Duels of the Planeswalkers (2009): Thoughts of the Wind Review (Part 1 of 2)
Some things just happen to feel ‘right.’ Consider, for instance, the “classical” four elements: air, earth, fire, and water. Although modern science has presented us with a glorious, periodic table of over a hundred of them, the notion of the four elements has persisted. A look at the notion’s history reveals a remarkable perseverance that has transcended time and place. Plato ascribed the association to a Sicilian philosopher, Empedocles, around 450 BC, and this may have descended from the earlier Babylonians and their epic of creation, the Enuma Elish. Interestingly, the Babylonians themselves saw five elements, splitting “air” into “wind” and “sky.” Around a century later, Aristotle would ‘restore’ a fifth element to the mix, aether, the stuff of the stars and heavens.
Duels of the Planeswalkers (2009): Eyes of Shadow Review (Part 2 of 2)
Move over Chandra, now it’s Liliana’s turn to cut loose! I’m taking Eyes of Shadow for a spin today, but it looks like Sam is keen to throw a wet blanket over the party. She’s setting up behind Sarkhan Vol’s deck, Scales of Fury. Will mono-Black impose its will on the game, or will Liliana be taught the value of diversity?
Duels of the Planeswalkers (2009): Eyes of Shadow Review (Part 1 of 2)
In a broad sense, the word trope is used to describe a theme or concept that recurs across a type of creative work. It’s a relatively modern concept, but what it describes are spread across human culture and history. We touched upon this concept in examining Champions of Kamigawa, when Wizards was looking at using medieval Japan as a setting for a Magic set. In order to identify the concepts that would mot resonate with the intended audience- Magic players- members of Wizards polled themselves internally to see what ideas kept cropping up when considering the genre. The challenge of Kamigawa was that after the obvious choices- samurai and ninja- the obvious options rapidly diminished. Perhaps not coincidentally, outside of a dedicated Vorthos following the set was considered overall to be a creative disappointment.
2011-12 Precon Championships: We Have a Winner
It’s been an exciting past couple of months with the Preconstructed Championships, but in the end there can be only one… or can there?
Duels of the Planeswalkers (2009): Hands of Flame Review (Part 2 of 2)
Chandra and Jace. Garruk and Liliana. Thanks to the stories and the repestive Duel Deck releases, these opposite pairs feel like natural foils for one another, and today we’ll be opening the next chapter in that saga. As it happens, Sam has selected Jace Beleren’s Thoughts of the Wind to serve as opposition. Can he lock down the battlefield, or will Chandra’s fire prove unquenchable after all?
2011-12 Precon Championships: The Finals
Welcome to the final installment of the 2011-12 Preconstructed Championships! It’s been a wild ride thus far, and by the end of the day the events of the past nine weeks will have revealed our Champion. But who will it be?
The “Gifts that Keep on Giving” Holiday Contest!
Another holiday season is upon us, and in between all of the “Black Friday” shopping, holiday travel, cooking plans and everything else, we’re willing to bet you might enjoy the gift of Magic: the Gathering!
Ertai's Lament 