Avacyn Restored: Bound by Strength Review (Part 1 of 2)
In 2007, Magic players long accustomed to the now-traditional three-set block were in for a surprise. Indeed, going back to 1996’s Mirage Wizards had settled on a formula of an annual cycle of blocks consisting of a large set in the Autumn followed by two smaller sets, a fashion which endured all of eleven years. By that point, many players had never known a Magic that was any different, a game made up of a string of unconnected, self-contained expansions. And so when Lorwyn arrived, it was something novel and unusual- a block made up of only two halves, itself connected to a subsequent block made up of two halves.
2005-07 Precon Championships: Round 9 and the Leaderboard
This is it! At long last, the field has been narrowed from thirty-one decks to a final four. Ove the course of the 2005-07 season, we’ve seen decks from Ravnica Block, Coldsnap, Time Spiral Block, and Ninth Edition battle it out for the right to represent their randomly-seeded divisions in the semi-finals, all for the right for a shot at enduring glory as Champion.
Avacyn Restored: Angelic Might Review (Part 2 of 2)
At last, the much-anticipated moment has arrived, and we’re ready to crack into the Avacyn Restored Intro Packs and take them to battle. We’ve given Angelic Might a once-over, and it’s time to see how it holds up in practice. Playing the opposition’s role today is Jimi, who has enthusiastically grabbed for the Boros deck Fiery Dawn.
Avacyn Restored: Angelic Might Review (Part 1 of 2)
As we’ve often touted these past four months, 2012 is the “Year of Firsts.” From the first set to release Theme Decks (Tempest) to the first-ever block to see Magic: the Gathering Online-only deck releases (Mirage) and a number in between, we’re kept to that theme even as we’ve made allowances for new releases like Dark Ascension and Duel Decks: Venser vs Koth. Right on schedule, we now move on to the third set in Innistrad block, Avacyn Restored. And unless we really want to warp the spirit of our initiative and claim that Avacyn Restored falls within the Year of Firsts by merit of being the first Magic set with the name “Avacyn” in the title, we’re completely fine with the set being another departure from theme.
But is it?
2005-07 Precon Championships: Lauer Division (Part 2 of 2)
We’ve covered no small ground to get where we are today, and by the end of the day all four divisional champions will have made themselves known. Thus far, we have three ready for their shot at the title. Endless March from Planar Chaos has emerged from the Nagle Division, while Future Sight’s Fate Blaster has come out of the Tinsman. Moving from the Rosewater Conference across to the Forsythe, Future Sight’s Suspended Sentence has laid claim to the Turian. Today, one deck of the remaining four will take its place amongst these three, and next weekend they will clash in tremendous battle for the right to call themselves Champion.
Planechase: Elemental Thunder Review (Part 2 of 2)
It’s out final visit to the world of Planechase until later this year when the next expansion releases, and we’ll be looking forward to seeing the brand-new cards and other advances the line has made since its release in 2009. To field test our last deck, the Red/Green tribal offering Elemental Mastery, Jimi has enthusiastically volunteered to pilot Strike Force, a deck firmly in her wheelhouse. Here are the notes from the match.
2005-07 Precon Championships: Round 8 and the Leaderboard
We’re in the home stretch of the 2005-07 season, just one more round away from determining a winner of the Lauer Division and then on to our final day’s big event- the semi-finals, then the championship match! We had three matches on the ticket this past week, thanks to a bye given to Rakdos Bloodsport by random fortune. That means while three decks would be advancing, three still were heading to the showers.
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?
2005-07 Precon Championships: Lauer Division (Part 1 of 2)
Don’t let its traditional position fool you, for although the Lauer Division plays last in the Championships, the Lauer has every bit the story and tradition of any other division. In the 2008/09 season, it saw Invading Spawn all the way to the finals, where it faced Eldrazi Arisen in a fratricidal struggle for the title. Though it fell short, it repeated the feat in the 2010/11 season with Elspeth, and didn’t make the same mistake twice. Favoured over the unlikely Doom Inevitable from Mirrodin Besieged, Elspeth’s Duel Deck put the match away and the Lauer had its first taste of championship glory.
Ertai's Lament 