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!
Weatherlight: Gatecrasher Review (Part 2 of 2)
This is it- our final game for Project Mirage Block. At last, our top-to-bottom analysis of the MTGO-based Theme Decks of Mirage, Visions, and Weatherlight can conclude after two months, and it has been some adventure! From exploring the history of MTGO and the decision to release previously out-of-print sets in electronic format, to building a world in a “dark continent” setting, we’ve really enjoyed seeing where the journey has taken us. We hope you have as well.
To see things off, we’ve got the final matchup ready to go, and Sam has the honour of serving as the spoiler to the party. Wielding the mono-Red Fiery Fury, she’s ready to stop the beat of the jungle with my Red/Green stompy deck Gatecrasher.
2005-07 Precon Championships: Round 7 and the Leaderboard
Welcome back to our coverage of the 2005-07 Preconstructed Championships! This past weekend saw the exciting conclusion to the Turian, the seemingly deadliest division of the season. As it happened, Time Spiral block was the 800-pound gorilla, with a deck from each of its three sets contending for advancement. Looking for the spoil was Coldsnap, the “hidden set” that rounded off Ice Age block.
Weatherlight: Gatecrasher Review (Part 1 of 2)
What better place to end our trip through the Theme Decks of Mirage block than in the jungle? It’s been a long trek through the sultry, buzzing, chattering jungles of Jamuraa these past couple of months, and at last we’re about to come out the other side. These decks occupy a unique place in the landscape of Magic: the Gathering. It’s not that we haven’t seen exclusive, Magic: the Gathering Online-only decks before- indeed as recently as last year Wizards held a contest to design an MTGO-only release of Phyrexians vs Mirrans, and they have also released a pair of “Legacy Theme Decks.” But this was the first- and notably last- time you saw preconstructed decks released for a set that didn’t initially launch with them in paper form.
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.
Weatherlight: Dead and Alive Review (Part 2 of 2)
Sam takes a turn at the table to see if she can take down Dead and Alive, the graveyard-based Theme Deck from the graveyard-based Weatherlight. Before her lies Air Forces, a Blue/White skies deck with a difference- lots of tricksy utility and surprise creatures. Will it be enough to send my mono-Black deck to a more permanent rest?
2005-07 Precon Championships: Turian Division (Part 2 of 2)
Last week we saw the opening action in what might be this season’s most dangerous division, and if the results of the first four matches are anything to go by, it’s only going to get harder from here. Intriguingly, Time Spiral block has a representative from each of its sets in the final four squaring off today, while Coldsnap is in with a fighting chance as well. No such luck for Ravnica block or Ninth Edition, which saw their champions fall in battle.
Weatherlight: Dead and Alive Review (Part 1 of 2)
As we continue our coverage of Project Mirage Block and the theme decks of Weatherlight, it’s worth noting that we’re sandwiched right in the very heart of Innistrad block, a set which can look at a deck like Dead and Alive and recognise a sort of descent from lineage. Although the block veers off in a different direction with the onset of Avacyn Restored, which sees the triumph of goodness and light over the darker and more sinister entities of the benighted plane, both Innistrad proper as well as Dark Ascension played heavily in the graveyard as source of mechanical identity.
Weatherlight: Fiery Fury Review (Part 2 of 2)
Fiery Fury has one of the most potent and unrestrained removal suites of any deck we’ve ever reviewed. Coupled with a lot of hasty creatures, it makes for a tremendously aggressive cocktail in a mono-Red framework. Of course, even the best-laid plans never survive first contact with the enemy, so to get a true idea of the deck’s capabilities we’d need to pit it against another. Jimi volunteered to be in the hot seat (ha!), and she chose the mono-Black graveyard deck Dead and Alive.
2005-07 Precon Championships: Round 6 and the Leaderboard
Welcome back to our continuing coverage of the culmination of every preconstructed deck’s hopes and dreams, the Preconstructed Championships! This season we’re looking at the decks of 2005-07, a period of time which saw the likes of Ravnica block, Time Spiral block, the “lost” set Coldsnap, and Ninth Edition. This was a high-water mark in Magic’s history, and Wizards this past weekend shellshocked the community with the exciting revelation that a Return to Ravnica is on the cards for this coming Autumn. Fall will be a big time for some of the current decks as well, for then the decks of Innistrad block, Magic 2012 and a few other premium sets will be girding themselves for their own Championship.
Ertai's Lament 