Magic 2013: Sole Domination Review (Part 1 of 2)
A rotating card pool. Multiple new sets each year. A Standard format which evolves and adjusts each Autumn upon rotation. At its core, change is bound up in the heart of Magic. In our last review, we discussed how the advent of Magic 2010 marked a milestone in Magic’s history, a major turning point for the design philosophy of Core Sets. It should not be surprising, then, that the game has hardly sat still since then, with other innovations being introduced. Indeed, we would see the first of these the very next year.
Magic 2013: Depths of Power Review (Part 2 of 2)
And we’re off! The first playtest for the new slate of Magic 2013 decks is here, and it promoses to be quite the clash! I’m piloting the instant/sorcery-centric Depths of Power, looking to see if its synergies can be harnessed together to make a whole greater than the sum of its parts. Serving as opposition is Sam, running Wild Rush, a Green beaters deck with a splash of Black.
Build a Magic 2013 Intro Pack Contest: The Conclusion
At last, the moment you’ve all been waiting for is here! The Build a Goblin Artisans Magic 2013 Intro Pack is over, the polls complete, the voices heard. All that remains is to unveil the final selections, and pick two winners for the prize packages.
Magic 2013: Depths of Power Review (Part 1 of 2)
With its release in July of 2009, Magic 2010 revolutionised the Core Set format. For the first time since Alpha/Beta, you had a Core Set that didn’t consist entirely of reprints, but rather intorduced entirely new cards to the Magic landscape. In addition, the biennial release schedule was changed over to an annual one, allowing Wizards greater ability to tune and adjust the Standard metagame as well as keep players’ appetites whetted. It was a risky approach, but with the luxury of hindsight and history we can see that it has well paid off.
Perhaps lost in the shadow of this period of innovation was the previous Core Set, Tenth Edition.
Lorwyn: Elementals’ Path Review (Part 2 of 2)
Our trip to Lorwyn has been surprisingly disappointing thus far. Now on our last deck, can the five-colour Elementals’ Path follow in the footsteps of Merrow Riverways and help redeem the set? Or will it just be the final nail in the coffin. I was joined by Sam, who was piloting the selfsame Merfolk. Here are the notes from our match.
Lorwyn: Elementals’ Path Review (Part 1 of 2)
Although beyond the scope of what we cover here, Lorwyn introduced one of the most seismic shifts ever witnessed in the game with the introduction of the planeswalker card type. Hinted at in Future Sight, it had indeed originally been intended to release with that set but had been pushed back. Although somewhat incongruous (a pack of Humans on a plane that featured no Humans), it left an immediate mark on the game and has been a critical component of it ever since.
On the other hand, the rest of the set’s many mechanics have been decidedly less so. Read more 
Reads: Changes I Would Like to See in Magic
Welcome to a new occasional feature here on Ertai’s Lament! We’ve linked to articles of interest in the precon community before on a number of occasions, but beginning today we’ll be doing so in a way that makes for easier browsing in the drop-downs.
Lorwyn: Kithkin Militia Review (Part 2 of 2)
I’ve got Sam squaring up on the other side of the table… fresh cups of tea steeping… and she’s shuffling up Elvish Predation. It’s time to take the Kithkin into battle, but will teamwork be enough to counter the threat of endless hordes of Elves?
Build a Magic 2013 Intro Pack Contest: Part 5
Splice the mainbrace, we’ve got ourselves a crew, begad! Thanks to you we’re now one step closer to building our Intro Pack for the Magic 2013: Goblin’s Lair set.
News: M13 Intro Pack Decklists Revealed!
If you haven’t already, head on over to the mothership for today’s Daily Arcana. This time around Wizards has jumped out early with the decklists for the Intro Packs of Magic 2013, and they’re ready for inspection!
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