Locations
The biggest excitement sweeping through the Magic community this week seems to be Aaron Forsythe’s confirmation of Modern as an upcoming sanctioned format. That combined with Mark Rosewater confirming a few details about Innistrad (horror theme featuring werewolves, vampires, and more) and the announcement that the second set in the Innistrad block will be called “Dark Ascension” made this week very forward-looking.
Shows geared toward competitive play focused on the most recent Star City Open series results and preparing for the next tournament, as ever. This week’s upcoming tournament is a bigger deal than most as everyone prepares for U.S. Nationals. Will Caw-Blade remain the deck to beat, or will some new archetype be the new king of the format?
Let’s tune in.
Format Staples
Format staples are my favorite shows and the shows I believe are the most important for someone interested in Magic: The Gathering and podcasts to be listening to week in and week out. You want these in your 75.
CommanderCast #36 – Broke-Ass Cast – (Running time 1 hour 8 minutes)
- Andy, Donovan, and Carlos are joined by Adam Styborski this week to discuss the Pauper variant of Commander.
- Community Segment: Pauper Commander
- The group discusses what Pauper Commander is and why we should look into it.
- Community Segment: Free-for-All Roundtable – Money Generals
- In a format designed to only allow commons, should the Legendary creatures used as Commanders be exempt?
- Strategy: Alternate Format Strategy – Pauper
- Enforcing a limitation on your playgroup as strict as Pauper has to change your deck-building strategy. How should you adapt for deck-building in the format?
- Technology: Pauper Tech
- Many people like to impress their opponents by playing cards in their Commander decks that cost a lot of money. In an all-commons format, the group recommends impressing people with creative card choices.
- Each of the guys provides a Commander and two commons recommended for the Pauper format.
CrazyTalk #18 – Jonathan Medina, Combo Player – (Running time 1 hour 49 minutes)
- Show notes:
- In this less-Alex episode, KYT and Frank welcome back their dear friend Medina as they talk about his SCG Cincinnati experience and then move on to discuss all formats, including using Johnny, Combo Player in Commander.
The Eh Team #46 – The AJ Episode – (Running time 1 hour 39 minutes)
- KYT and Scott are joined this week by AJ Sacher of Star City Games Open series and AJTV fame.
- AJ kicks off the show with the story of how he got into Magic at age eleven with a rough story of having his cards stolen at the first prerelease he attended.
- Scott asks about AJ’s goals and thoughts on the Pro Tour.
- Asked what his favorite card is, AJ easily picks Brainstorm (leave a comment on the episode post to win a playset of Brainstorm signed by AJ).
- Asked what his favorite deck is, AJ offers a few: Michael Flores’s Aggro Ideal, Meandeck Gifts, Legacy Threshold (pre-Tarmogoyf).
- Of course, with the fallout that followed the article, the guys talk at length about AJ’s article “Learning to Fish”.
- AJ also discusses the controversy (or the apparent controversy) over his article Brainstorm.html">“Pondering Brainstorm”.
- Wrapping up the interview with AJ before he has to run, the guys discuss his great video series AJTV.
- Once AJ steps out, Smi77y tells the group about his experience at SCG Seattle.
- To wrap up, the guys discuss a few of the more prominent decks in Standard.
Horde of Notions #14 – Back in a Brewport Grove – (Running time 2 hours 15 minutes)
- Show notes:
- It’s been a while, but the gang’s all here together again for one massive brewing session. Deck ideas galore spew from the mics of Chris, Jack, Noyan and Adena as we get back to our rogue brew roots. Find out what happens when Chris gets countered, what Adena and honey have to do with each other, why Jack is afraid of Hugh Laurie and even hear a very angry Englishman! Plus Noyan and Chris agree on something…will the world end?
- Do A Barrel Roll: Cast through Time
- The Surge Node deck
- Freddy Kreuger in Mortal Kombat
- Awkward
Inside the Deck – SCG Cincinnati Part 2 – (Running time 8 minutes)
- In part two of Inside the Deck’s visit to SCG Cincinnati, we see interviews with a number of competitors in the Sunday Legacy Open portion of the tournament.
Limited Resources #92 – M12 Thoughts and Tournament Weekend Recap – (Running time 1 hour 32 minutes)
- Episode #91’s guest Jon Loucks is back again to join Marshall to discuss M12 Limited from a few more perspectives that were not discussed last week.
Magic TV #96 – Limited and Magic 2012 – (Running time 15 minutes)
- Tristan and LSV discuss the strengths and weaknesses of Magic 2012, evaluating how it stacks up against other recent core-set Limited experiences.
Magic TV Top 8 of the Week: Most Overrated & Hyped Cards – (Running time 14 minutes)
- In their continuing Top 8 series, Tristan and LSV discuss the eight most overrated cards in the history of the game.
- Be sure to tune in after the Top 8 for the guys’ methodology for determining which cards to include (it has something to do with Conley Woods.)
7. Surgical Extraction / Extirpate
5. Ring of Gix
3. Sarkhan Vol
Magic TV #97 – U.S. Nationals Preview – (Running time 20 minutes)
- LSV shares with Tristan his methods and thinking for testing decks in preparation for U.S. Nationals.
Monday Night Magic #269 – Werewooooooolves! – (Running time 1 hour 1 minute)
- Show notes:
- Jack, Adena, Marcel and Usman bring an Innistrad-packed show this week.
- Great article on creating 3D magic cards.
- Slew of Innistrad news from the SD Comic Con panel for MTG.
- Second set of the Innistrad block will be called “Dark Ascension” with the tagline “Command the Night”.
- Check out a crazy high res version of the new Planeswalker poster.
- Aaron Forsythe announces at Comic Con that Modern is officially a new format.
- Promo ‘old border’ Dark Confidant given to judges.
- Sun Quan, Lord of Wu and Doran, the Siege Tower (old art) and Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker (new art) to be in FTV: Legends and the video segment seen at SD:CC.
The Third Power #18 – Planeswalkin’ on Sunshine – (Running time 2 hours 6 minutes)
- Usman and Anthony are back this week to discuss the role of planeswalkers in Cube.
- Before jumping into the discussion about the new faces of Magic, Usman reveals the results of his recent poll: Rate the Robots. In this poll, he asked listeners to rate their favorite artifact creatures in the Cube format. Results are as follows:
- This week’s crack-a-pack:
- Control Magic
- Mox Sapphire
- Journey to Nowhere
- Fyndhorn Elves
- Rolling Earthquake
- Glen Elendra Archmage
- Batterskull
- Karn Liberated
- Flickerwisp
- Bribery
- Thoughtseize
- Steppe Lynx
- Krosan Tusker
- Mirran Crusader
- Soltari Priest
- The obvious pick, despite the strength of most of the cards in this pack, is Mox Sapphire. In order to give the pack a more interesting spin, the guys throw out Mox Sapphire and pull another card, which ends up being Aether Adept.
- After a long, difficult discussion, the guys both settle on Batterskull.
Untapped #17 – DPing in Cincinnati – (Running time 1 hour 50 minutes)
- Show notes:
- Special Shout-Out to @JakeAntonetz for editing the cast!
- “Putting it down” – Jonathan schools the crew on gang lingo.
- SCG Cincinnati
- RUG TwinPod -
- TwinPod Videos by Jake Antonetz
- UWr Splinter Twin
- JR tilts hard at the EDH Table
- Gen Con
- Prize Talk
- JR’s Phyrexian Ingester Story
- New Standard by Frank Lepore
- Frank Decks Himself
- Pre-Release Changes
- Ponder Vs Preordain -
- Ari Lax’s Article
- LSV’s Review
- Orvis Ultimate Travel Jacket
- Google Plus
- Trick Annihilates Medina in an Argument
- Shout Outs
The Sideboard
The Sideboard includes shows that may or may not record every week but are quality podcasts that you may be interested in. At a minimum, I will provide the show notes, but in the case of better-than-usual episodes will provide recap or commentary. You don’t run them in every deck, but they are often a great metagame call.
Avant Card Show #40 – Now With 40% Less Magic Content – (Running time 1 hour 36 minutes)
- Show notes:
- Seriously, how can three people chatter for ninety minutes and no one remember what they talked about? I don’t know, either. In this episode, we are missing a Christian, but picked up
a . . . well, we actually didn’t pick up anything but a whole lotta nonsensical banter tangentially related to Magic cards. I vaguely remember something about lottery tickets.
Deck Builder Radio #51 – Who is Your Twin and What Does He Do? – (Running time 32 minutes)
- Show notes:
- Today on Deck Builders, we welcome back everyone to the Show! It’s been well over a year since we’ve had the crew together and we discuss Standard, the Seattle 5k, and finish on some legacy.
Fatal Flaw #2 – A Casual Look at Modern – (Running time 1 hour 24 minutes)
- Show notes:
- Lots of new stuff has been emerging from Wizards lately, including the M12 core set, the announcement of Innistrad and Dark Ascension, and the new Modern format. We will tell you how our pauper tourney fared and some of our favorite cards we see coming into play.
MTGCast Interviews the Men of Magic #57 – Richard Hagon – (Running time 54 minutes)
- In a very special edition of The Men of Magic, Robert Martin interviews Richard Hagon, author of the new book “Grinder: The Brad Nelson Story.”
MTGCast Interviews the Men of Magic #58 – Ben Stark – (Running time 43 minutes)
- Robert Martin speaks with Ben Stark about life on the Pro Tour.
Pauper to the People #18 – 3D Square – (Running time 55 minutes)
- Show notes:
- Matt and Chris discuss the beginnings of the Pauper Cube, with huge thanks to Adam Styborski and his website. The duo then plunges to the depths of Matt’s soul to find out if he has a heart. Spoiler alert: no. Laugh at the misfortune of others, and feel nothing while doing it. This is Pauper to the People.
- Adam’s awesome website and rundown of his cube
- Combat bluffing fundamentals
Scrubland #48 – Wait, I Thought They Banned This Stuff… - (Running time 1 hour)
- Show notes:
- Join Scrubland as we look at various results from French and Australian Nationals, as well as the SCG Open in Seattle. But first, we’re giving away the secrets of how to Top 8 your PTQ with drunken behavior and minimal sleep. Also, DSale has a great new idea for sponsorship that he thinks will really take off in the near future. WELCOME TO THE SCRUBLAND!
Top 8 Magic – Not So Quickcast – (Running time 44 minutes)
- Show notes:
- I have had this podcast stranded since before leaving for San Diego Comic Con. This was Michael J Flores and I grabbing a quick half an hour before my trip to discuss the Hall of Fame ballots and various eligible candidates. Sorry for the delay.
Top 8 Magic – HeezyCast – (Running time 37 minutes)
- Show notes:
- While I was away MichaelJ got lonely and called up Hall of Fame hopeful Mark Herberholz. I honestly have no idea what they talked about — it could be anything. I am going to listen to it as soon as it goes live (don’t try this method at home!) and you should do the same. Before I have to take it down.
Voice of Seraphim #30 – (Running time 1 hour 6 minutes)
- Show notes:
- Welcome to Episode 30 of the Voice of Seraphim: Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Bride. The Voice of Seraphim is your source for all the news and information related to Magic Online and the Seraphim Clan! Join hosts Dicax and Eldritch along with Darkworship and Mathewsmeg on Mumble to discuss recent clan events, recent spoilers and an M12 Crack a Pack.
In Development
Shows in development are newer podcasts. I will keep you guys up to date on new shows as they arrive on the scene, at a minimum providing show notes and possibly providing recap and analysis (I'm more likely to start writing about new shows once they've made it through five episodes and have begun to hit their stride). Consider these shows the cards you play with for the first time at the prerelease: You are excited to try them out but no one is sure how much play they will see.
Fatal Flaw #1 – Introductions – (Running time 29 minutes)
- Show notes:
- Husband and wife team discussing all things (physical) Magic: The Gathering including casual play, cards, decks, and news. This episode is an introduction to our experience playing Magic, where and what we have been playing since we got started, and a featured card: Jace’s Archivist.
Lowering Standards #4 – Tempering Steel – (Running time 33 minutes)
- Show notes:
- Our mission is to bring you a condensed 30-40 minute podcast. Today we will be discussing our the miniscule amount of news present in the wake of a set release, our Standard Deck of the week – Tempered Steel, and Gaming on a Budget – Limited Magic.
- Deck of the week link
- Updated Fresher Meat
MTG Tournament Show #1 – (Running time 5 minutes)
- Show notes:
- Jake Antonetz, aka Agur on MTGO and @jakeantonetz on Twitter was kind enough to make a new video show and share it here on 60cards.com!
- Enjoy this video, akin to The Magic Show about all the latest in Magic’s Tournament scene!
- All comments are very welcome as he is working out the kinks to bring you a better show each episode. You can also subscribe to his YouTube page HERE
Public Enemies #8 – Politically Correct Does Not Mean Taking Punches to the Nuts – (Running time 1 hour 3 minutes)
- Show notes:
- This week Jack Lacroix joins the Public Enemies to discuss From the Vault, the Modern format and its effect on pricing, and which pros are arrogant jerks. (And yes, they name names!)
- Special thanks to Jack Bowen of Dredging For Humor podcast (@DredgingHumor on twitter) for creating our sick intro!
- Also special thanks to Jacob Bascle (@FreemindGraphx on twitter) for creating our sweet logo! Please send questions or feedback to: publicenemiesmtg@gmail.com
RTFC Podcast #6 – Things That Matter – (Running time 58 minutes)
- Show notes:
- Special Guest Matt Calhoun, State of standard, draft debates, rogue deckbuilding and Kirk eating snacks.
The Scoop Phase #9 – Sniper Henesis – (Running time 1 hour 10 minutes)
- Show notes:
- This week is more of the same stuff that you guys love. We go over SCG Seattle and pick apart why Hive Mind is such a good deck. Need to know what deck to play that has the best chance against Hive Mind? We go over it. Want to know what the Metagame looks like for Pittsburg? We go over it. At the end of the show, Zac unveils his own creation. Based upon Extended decks of the past, Hypergenesis rears its powerful head. Be sure to tune in next week when we have another Special Guest!
So Many Insane Plays #5 – Vintage Championship Preview – (Running time 2 hours 6 minutes)
- Show notes:
- Kevin Cron and Steve Menendian preview the upcoming Vintage Championship and debate Five Scenarios.
Tapping It Taber Style #6 – SLURPEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS – (Running time 1 hour 23 minutes)
- Show notes:
- Welcome back to Taber. The boys are back with some fun times. We talk about Net Decking and Rouge Deckbuilding. Steve-O loses his mind over Tribal, Eldrazi, and Kammathisisastupidgawa Block. Vintage Tournaments and Extended brewing. Modern Format and other shinanagans.
World at War #4 – Our Homemade R&D – (Running time 1 hour 10 minutes)
- Show notes:
- World at War has gotten a drastic hormone injection. We will no longer be a casual magic podcast. We will be designing cards instead! In this episode, we come up with a setting for the first set to be designed. Chris, being the smart Canadian that he is, came up with a fantastic idea for the plane. On the plane, there has been a Zombie outbreak. Its inhabitants are all blaming each other, but the Merfolk stay out of the argument for some reason. It turns out that they are behind the infestation, and plan on wiping out all other races on the plane. Stay tuned for next week’s episode, where we will each bring some preliminary cards to the table. Expect Jack’s broken cards, Aleks’ subgame creator, Chris’ answers to mana leak, and my AMAZING cards.
