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…could use it to annoy someone playing with<br> Living Death. It's very good in those situations, but<br…

Friday, December 11th – Man, it feels fantastic to type that title! While I’ve gotten more than a few condolences on my finish (since 2nd place also means you were this close to 1st place), personally I’m just thrilled to have returned to the Top 8 tables of States after way too long…

…And of course there’s living the dream – making Thornling indestructible, then casting Martial Coup for five or more, wiping…

…Curse of Death’s Hold. 2.0: Niche card. Sideboard or currently unknown archetype. Naturalize. (Bear in mind that many…

…We test together for every tournament even though we aren't even close to living in the same city. We…

…Lieutenant 1 Zulaport Cutthroat 1 Alesha, Who Smiles at Death 1 Banisher Priest 1 Devout Chaplain 1 Frontline Medic 1…

Rizzo’s still on his mono-black kick – and doesn’t demand credit for it.

…White came up on me like nobody’s biz, in the form of Vindicate, Death Grasp and enchantment removal, with…

Today, we’re going to talk about Fatties. We’re going to look over historically good fatties, a hall of fame of real king-hitters, those heavyweights and the few rare super-heavyweights. To qualify for this discussion, it’s not enough to be played. Once upon a time, Zvi said a spell that cost five mana or more, “had better win me the game right there.” This quote is trotted out many, many times by better players than you or I, and these players are almost universally wrong to mention it.

…Legions<br> Another set with some near-misses; Gempalm Polluter and Bane of the Living both qualified on a technical…

The Ultimate Extended Tourney was a trial by fire of 32 of the top Extended decks of all time. It’s over, and we have a winner. That’s nice, but the winner in a format that never existed is not really relevant. Examining how and why decks did well in this format is relevant to anyone building decks for a new format, including Legacy for Grand Prix: Columbus, or Time Spiral Block Constructed for the PTQs.

…It wants to bring in the extra Oath of Ghouls, the Living Death (an answer to Mystic Enforcer and Meddling…

Monday, March 10th – Stephen has been working overtime this week… In today’s edition of So Many Insane Plays, the Vintage World Champion brings us the lowdown on every single playable deck in the format! From the top decks, to the Contenders, to the Marginal Players, to the Dark Horses, this article has it all. Brilliant stuff from the format’s finest…

…Manaless Ichorid (Dredge) You’ve been living under a rock recently if you haven’t seen a Vintage Ichorid list…

…Whether you go with the more expensive living weapon equipment or the cheaper sword, these are both colorless ramp pieces…

“I don’t trust R&D to make what they think are”Type I-specific” cards. No one there knows enough about Type I, and their little gift might prove more abusive than they realized. Then, we’re stuck with it until DCI says something, and no one knows whether or not they’re looking at the new mistake until they actually make a restriction.” The above text seems to suggest that you do not think Wizards can make cards for, or even designed with half an eye towards, Type 1. In fact, Wizards themselves have admitted they simply have not the time and resources to playtest Type 1 (a statement which, although I find it disappointing, I fully sympathize with), and they would probably agree with your assertion that no-one at Wizards knows enough about Type 1 to design cards for it. But, my question is, does anyone?

…Cunning Wish adds a new layer to control decks, and Living Wish has found a place in Survival of the…

Aggressive mirror-matches are much maligned in Magic. While folk look on control versus control fights as the true Magical path, aggro versus aggro is often labeled as hugely luck based or draw dependant. Today’s Deep Analysis sees Richard throw monsters at other monsters in an attempt to ascertain the truth behind such myths…

…The negative consequences of a Knight or Forge -Tender living for more than a couple of turns seem to far…

Tuesday, October 6th – It’s technically possible that you made more mistakes at your Prerelease than Rich did at his, although he rather doubts this. Read this article, however, and you’ll make fewer mistakes next time. Gosh, and all you have to do is click? Right you are!

…It really is what I do for a living. Hopefully, my questions lead to information, enlightenment, comedy, an insight into…

…She throws the angel game piece down, and it breaks into two, death elixir spreading upon the ground. Aresaan blasts…

Wednesday, September 10th – Weighing in at a feed-a-family-of-four-all-you-can-eat 7000 words or so, Rich leaves very few rocks unturned as he examines the legacy of Time Spiral, and marks your card for all the bits you want to stick in the cupboard, and everything that wants a good bonfire. Mmm, the smell of rotting Detainment Spell…

…By far the more popular, Sudden Death was an efficiently-named piece of no-messing removal, although perhaps they couldn…

…Its backside also works well with death-friendly goblins, or those with good enters abilities. You may just want to…

…We expected a lot of Death’s Shadow Zoo and Eldrazi, and instead the field was basically all Abzan and…

Todd tells you about the problems he sees in the Modern format and how he thinks they could be solved by way of the banned list and Modern Masters.

…It didn’t cascade into a Living Death or Balance. It sure as hell didn’t cascade into Eureka. It…

…So much about living and loving as a red mage is unfettered and unrestrained; it is never unwise to feel…

Last time we saw Ben Snyder, he was blowing up Twiddle Desire as part of a 40-page manifesto on the deck and how fast it goldfishes. Well he’s back, folks, and this time he’s tackling Standard combo instead. Part in-depth deck primer on an Intruder Alarm combo deck and part format overview for what Standard will look like for months to come, this article is all quality and will be referenced many many times in the months leading up to Regionals.

…Its not quite that bad, but the combination of Black discard, Black removal, and Death Cloud is vicious. You’ll…

The incomparable JFR took his latest baby – Nearly Mono Black in Standard – to a Team PTQ, in an attempt to qualify for Charleston. The deck performed well… but not in the way you’d expect. A report full of wit, invention, and the odd play-tip thrown in for good measure. Did Rizzo and pals take home the bacon? Can Nearly Mono Black make a splash at the approaching Regionals tournaments? The answers lie within…

…He started to beat the living hell out of me, due to having a huge upper hand thanks to Bob…

Chas Andres spends the day discussing the casual card market’s fluctuations with annual supplemental set releases and where he thinks the market on these new Commander cards is going!

…Scrap Mastery – $3 Scrap Mastery Scrap Mastery is a Living Death but for artifacts! Much like Feldon, this is an…

Cassidy found the perfect Commander list for this week that really encapsulates what tribal is all about while also offering some solid room for improvement.

…This is going to be a recurring theme, folks.) You’ll be living and dying by board wipes most of…

Wednesday, July 30th – Isn’t it interesting to think that Oona’s Prowler never got much play? It’s a three-power flier for two mana, with a drawback that is not really much of a drawback. Pitch Evershrike to the graveyard on turn 3 with Oona’s Prowler, then spend 3 mana to put it into play with, say, Edge of Divinity attached, for a 7/7 flier. Is that worth all the trouble?

…First we had Living Death, then we had Twilight’s Call —which was still a bit expensive for that era…

Engineered Explosives Single card in search of home. Likes decks with lots of different colors of mana, and few small casting cost permanents. Does not enjoy being related to cousins Pernicious Deed and Powder Keg. Instead likes to stand on its own. If you have a place in your deck for such a card, call us at 1-900-HOT-MACHINE-LOVE tonight. Don’t delay!

…Compare it to Living Death and you’ll see that it comes out unfavorably. Probably a powerful card for the…

…Did you know that Skullclamp is also unrestricted in Vintage? Skinwing 4 Artifact — Equipment Living weapon Equipped creature gets +2…

The Modern project was our next, best hope for a turn-four evergreen format. It failed. But in so doing, it became something greater: Our last, best hope for diversity.

…Lands in your hand or drawn off the top later are death because they don’t add to your storm…

…The city of Ghirapur moved like a living thing, the architecture adapting to the needs of the gearcrafters, thopter-builders…

…more than meets the eye, convert, flying, living metal, adapt … it’s too much. Unfortunately, it’s also pretty good…

…1 This guy has technically seen a little play in Living End in Modern but that is due to such…

…You finish the extra turns, and go into sudden death (the first life total change wins). You have no cards…

How many cyclers do you need to run Astral Slide in the maindeck… And how many do you need to make it a good deck? What are the minimum number of soldiers you need before you can reliably use Piety Charm? How many birds must you have before you can play Airborne Ai – okay, that was a trick question. But if you wanna know the bare minimums before you can start putting tribal cards and Peer Pressures in your decks, start here – oh, and I’ll give you ten hints as to how NOT to name your team so you don’t sound lame.

…13 or more Airborne Aid: <br> <br> As Gary Wise (who I seem to quote more than any living soul…

…4 mana is just too much to spend on land death even if you do pick up a little versatility…

Sean wants to have fun with his EDH deck (no more combo kills), so he decides to create one with Reaper King as the Commander with an artifact theme.

…Open the Vaults – Another benefit to playing artifact-heavy, this is our version of Living Death, and it should trend…

…The price is inflated because of Phyrexian Negator, but the deck also includes Living Death, Phyrexian Arena, and both Lightning…

…The deck Trevor was playing was still somewhat in the design phase and it uses Balthor as a Living Death…

…I pound my deck, threatening it with certain death, unless it coughs up a land. And not one of those…

Good Thursday to you! Welcome back to the series that will take 200 non-rares and put them up for your perusal. Included here are some of the best hidden gems I know. Today we are counting down 150-101, but remember, these cards are not ordered… not until we get to the Top 50. Ordering a Top 200 would be a bit much, don’t you think?)

…It was an engine of death with the right deck. Today, I still find a use for it in the…

…I keep a hand with Koth on the play and am excited about the prospect of living the dream. I…

…Avacyn, a powerful angel who is the living embodiment of hope and protection for humans everywhere, is free from her…

…Play Defy Death – If you look at this card and like what you see, might I suggest the instant-speed…

…David Martin <br> When Death Charmer does combat damage to a creature, unless that creature's controller pays 2, that…

Take one Limited PTQ and combine with three parts well-lubed Rizzo. Add one Sealed Deck pool, two drafts, and a whole lotta love and you get the recipe for the other Jonny Magic’s latest concoction.

…hang out a little and beat the opponent to death. Brian, still smarting from the “invention” speech, decided to rub…

…The narcomoebae were created as living recollections, as the genealogical memory stores of the Iquati were sundered in some unknown…

Cuddly Bear Tim Aten shows his smoother, softer side, as he pleasantly recounts the events that took place at Pro Tour: San Diego. He sends this 17th place report out to all the lovers in the room…

…What’s so wrong with just having fun living and, when you do end up competing at something, doing your…

…I'm going to be indebted to him forever, and not even death, especially not even death, will free me…

…believe five each, but both are basically knocking on death's door. Mike's opponent is the active player, and…

…he will still be quite a beating. -Card Name: Death or Glory<br> Card Color: White<br> Rarity: R<br…

Cassidy revisits Sharuum the Hegemon thanks to a reader’s submission… or does he? He feels a glitch in the Matrix as the submission spooks him, and overthrows the head of the Machines to put a new Commander at the helm.

…I’m off sweep my living room for bugs and hidden cameras. Well played, Brian! A Changing Of The Guard…

…When the magic began to course through him, it pulsated in his bloodstream like a living, volatile being. The vibrations…