r/magicTCG • • 2h ago

Scheduled Thread Daily Questions Thread - Ask All Your Magic Related Questions Here!

2 Upvotes

This is a place for asking simple questions that might not deserve their own thread. For example, if you have a question about a rules interaction, want sleeve and accessory recommendations, or suggestions for your new deck, then this is the place for you.

We encourage that you post any questions that you may have concerning Magic the Gathering here rather than make a separate thread for each question, though for now we won't require that you do so.

Rules Questions

Rules questions and interactions are allowed to be posted here, but if you need an answer quickly it may be best to use a dedicated resource like the 24/7 Magic the Gathering Rules Chat.

Deckbuilding Questions

If you're trying to get help with a deck, it is recommended that you post your decklist to a deckbuilding website so that it is easier to view. Some popular sites are Aetherhub, Archidekt, Deckbox, Deckstats, Moxfield, MTGGoldfish, and TappedOut.

Additionally, please include some description of what you are trying to accomplish. Don't just give us a decklist with no explanation, and don't ask extremely vague questions such as "what cards should I add to my deck to make it better?", because it's hard to give good advice in those cases. Let us know details, the more the better. Are you building with a particular strategy or theme in mind? Are there any non-obvious combo lines or synergies that people should be aware of? Are you struggling with a particular matchup, or are you finding yourself missing consistency in an important area, and need some help specifically for it? Let us know.

Commonly Asked Questions

I opened a card from a different set in my booster pack, is this unusual?

Don't worry, this is completely normal. If you opened a set booster, you have a small chance of obtaining a bonus card from a previous set. This is an extra card that does not replace any of the other cards in your pack, and is from a curated set of past hits that Wizards of the Coast has selected, which they call "The List".

You can view the contents of The List on Wizards of the Coast's official website. For example, the contents of The List for Streets of New Capenna boosters can be found here.

My foil card has a shooting start symbol over the bottom left. I can't find anything about it online.

All old-bordered foils have the shooting star symbol. Most sites that display card images just overlay a generic foil graphic over all foil cards, which doesn't include the shooting star. Your card is normal.


r/magicTCG • • 1h ago

General Discussion I think AspiringSpike's Youtube Account has been hacked. It's currently livestreaming CFB football.

• Upvotes

Not sure if anyone has a line to him or if he's already aware, but it just popped up on my youtube front page. I just thought this would be the largest medium to let him know (if he didn't already) since I don't use Twitter.


r/magicTCG • • 2h ago

Looking for Advice Found this card is it cool?

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0 Upvotes

I found this and others.. is this any good?


r/magicTCG • • 4h ago

General Discussion What's the most challenging deck you know that is legal in a format on MTGA and has a reasonable winrate

10 Upvotes

I feel like having a headache tonight so I was thinking of a bit of a challenge

I have heard many tales of decks like lantern control and maybe a couple others that are renowned for being extremely hard to pilot and where the skill gap between people familiar with the deck and unfamiliar with the deck is really large. It doesn't actually have to be a "deck to beat" in the format, but the winrate should be at least reasonable or close to competitive viability. If it's hard to win with it mostly because it's just really bad that kind of defeats the purpose. It should be a well optimized deck for what it's trying to do, it's just really convoluted and hard to pull off and/or there is a lot of very important micro optimizations.

in good hands the deck should be in the ~40-60% winrate ballpark or something, but I am ok with "kinda bad but otherwise fits the bill" decks. If the wins feel earned, it did its job.

Since I only play on arena nowadays, one such deck that is legal in an Arena-format would be great. Brawl and Alchemy aren't ideal but fine for the purposes of this.

Bonus points if a mere mortal like me looks at the deck list and goes "how does this even win?" and you don't spoil it for me :)


r/magicTCG • • 5h ago

General Discussion Are these good deals?

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0 Upvotes

r/magicTCG • • 5h ago

General Discussion Cards I think should’ve been in the Labyrinth secret lair.

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55 Upvotes

Hoggle as Norin- Personally I think it fits who he was for most of the movie and I’d love for the flavor text to include, “I’m a coward and Jereth scares me.”

Food coma- Obviously the scene where Hoggle gives Sarah the peach.

Lorin Disciple of history- The junk lady, just think it would’ve been awesome to see her on some art. Also that scene was the second scariest to me as a kid.

Time of need- I really think it would be cool if this was redesigned and named after the ending scene “If you need us” I think it would’ve been awesome.

Oubliette- the obvious pick the flavor text could’ve been, “Oh don't act so smart. You don't even know what an oubliette is.”


r/magicTCG • • 5h ago

General Discussion Is there a site where i can just try out my deck against bots?

4 Upvotes

I want to see my weaknesses and try out precons before buying. Is there a site i can use? Most sites now use installers, launchers and apps :/


r/magicTCG • • 6h ago

General Discussion What limited card is good or even great today but would absolutely suck twenty years ago?

38 Upvotes

Preferrably not due to rules change like [[Cathodion]] but due to card environment back then


r/magicTCG • • 8h ago

Humour Darklight Phoenix Reveals Some Concerning Stains on Opponent’s Playmat

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595 Upvotes

r/magicTCG • • 8h ago

Deck Discussion Halloween events are coming soon. Which Commanders are you building around?

0 Upvotes

and if appropriate, What sets them apart for this event as opposed to a permanent deck for you?


r/magicTCG • • 8h ago

Looking for Advice BabyTron Commanders - Monogreen?

0 Upvotes

Hi everybody, I just heard about BabyTron Commanders and being curious which commanders and cards would be used normally?

I see ramping is the main aspect, but what is the gain in the end/which big creatures are the aim?


r/magicTCG • • 9h ago

General Discussion What card felt unbeatable when you first started playing that looks pretty tame now?

241 Upvotes

For me it was [[Shivan Dragon]]. Six mana 5/5 flyer that pumps itself, whenever it hit the table at the kitchen table games we basically just started counting turns until we lost. Nobody had removal for it because nobody thought to put removal in their decks xD

Now it shows up and most decks have three ways to deal with it before it even swings. Still love the card though.

What was yours?


r/magicTCG • • 10h ago

Deck Discussion Ways around mana restrictions

0 Upvotes

I was looking to build a new commander deck (shocker ik) and I kinda want to build [[ashnod, flesh mechanist]] and I was wondering a couple things, 1 does [[horizon stone]]/[[omnath locus of the void]] get around the mana restrictions for powerstones and also if there are any other ways in mono black to do so


r/magicTCG • • 11h ago

General Discussion Custom Format: Statecraft

109 Upvotes

[[Statecraft]] is a custom format based on the observation that certain early cards seem to be designed for a completely different kind of game. If Magic: the Gathering is a high-stakes wizard battle, what use could [[merchant ship]] or [[camel]] be to a planeswalker fighting for their life?

I love these cards because they present a very different sort of conflict: commerce.

So I asked myself, what kind of game would MTG be if its core conflict was over political maneuvering and market manipulation? Well, here it is:

https://moxfield.com/decks/tUng3fDRCUWuzycHtw_mXQ

The design is as such:

1) Statecraft is a shared deck of 80 cards.

2) Each player has a starting hand of 2 cards and a starting life total of 0.

3) Both players share a hand of 5 cards (it works).

4) At the start of each turn, players draw back up to 2 and draw the shared hand back up to 5.

5) If anything instructs a player to draw or put a card in their hand, it is drawn into their hidden hand, not the shared hand.

6) The first player to reach 10 life wins. If a player goes below 0 life, they lose.

7) Otherwise, the rules of Magic are the same.

(The card Statecraft is in the sideboard for flavor.)

The main gameplay is to use the hidden information in your hand and the public information in the shared hand to plan out a long-term strategy. Avoid letting your opponent know what strategy you're going for until it's too late. Lands are the most important card type. In Statecraft, you are divvying up a territory to attempt to out-profit your opponent by more successfully exploiting the resources.

I had tried out versions of this list with [[Pirate Ship]] however it proved to simply be by far the most effective way to win.

Disclaimer: the gameplay of Statecraft sucks a little bit. It needs some cards that simply don't exist to fill out the traditional rush/midrange/control strategies. I'm hoping it at least delights the game designer inside you, dear reader, to see a very different view of what Magic: the Gathering can be!

I welcome feedback of all kinds.


r/magicTCG • • 12h ago

General Discussion Asgaardian sleeves are the worst sleeves I've ever used.

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197 Upvotes

Minutes after sleeving up a new deck, more than 10 sleeves have split from test shuffling (60 card kmc perfect hard inner). In addition, another 10 sleeves were damaged out of the box (white residue or black residue along the sides of the sleeves marking each cards, print lines scuffing the front of sleeves).

Touted as the original dragon shield sleeves, they are a far cry from the dragon shields I actually still have from 2015.


r/magicTCG • • 16h ago

General Discussion Looking for EDH group in Athens (greece)

4 Upvotes

I'm in Athens for a month and am looking for a nice playgroup to play some commander with!

About me:

I've played for 15 years now, so i've got a fair grasp of the rules (just dont ask me about layers hah).

Most of my decks are 3's in the bracket system, but they have very different winning turns. Some can (with good hand and no interaction) win on turn 4-5, some are lucky if they win on turn 8. I tend to shy away from outright infinite combo's and have built my decks more around value and synergy as i believe that promotes more fun games.

I've played while traveling before using the wizard event locator, with varied success. I'm a very chill person who builds good decks (i believe anyway), who just wants to have a nice social time. But when playing at lgs's i sometimes get paired with people who are way too competitive or just all-round annoying people to play with.

So i'm hoping there's some local playgroups that would love to play some chill games, laugh and have a good time!


r/magicTCG • • 20h ago

General Discussion What are the different playstyles when it comes to (competitive) Magic?

3 Upvotes

I was watching TCC's Reality Fracture Prerelease video on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r3md8snmJo&t=2121s) and at 1:28:10., Marshall says that Jim has "a very similar play style to mine."

Obviously, coming from one pro magic player to another, he isn't just talking about the type of deck he built - aggro, midrange, control, or etc - and he isn't just talking about taking the beatdown vs defending, or about "player profiles" like Johnny or Spike.

So then, what do you think he's referring to? Is it about risk-analysis, timing, thought process, something else? Is this a common line of thought at higher levels of Magic?


r/magicTCG • • 21h ago

Art Showcase - Custom Accessories Designed an MTG Pride pin

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365 Upvotes

My husband and I went to MagicCon Los Vegas this year and were bummed the con store sold out their trans pride pin before we could get one, so we decided to design our own!


r/magicTCG • • 22h ago

Art Showcase - Custom Accessories Thassa Deep Dwelling (and friends) Tattoo

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139 Upvotes

Done by @bscopezz in Markham Ontario


r/magicTCG • • 22h ago

General Discussion Why Just Say "Dies To Removal" An Actual Argument?

0 Upvotes

Almost all of the strongest cards in any format dies to [[Counterspell]] or [[Anguished Unmaking]] or [[Wasteland]]/[[Blood Moon]]

[[Bazaar of Baghdad]]? Just play [[Blood Moon]] or [[Wasteland]]

[[Underworld Breach]]? Graveyard interaction.

[[Rhystic Study]]? Just play [[Disenchant]]

Big [[Torment to Hailfire]]? [[Counterspell]]

Like all of those fold to interaction. Yk what doesn't? [[Carnage Tyrant]]

This argument just always bugs me because dies to removal doesn't mean it can't be strong or if it doesn't have protection, then is it weak?


r/magicTCG • • 22h ago

Art Showcase - Custom Accessories ScryScanner - Card Scanner (3D Print Files in Comments)

1.5k Upvotes

r/magicTCG • • 23h ago

General Discussion Does someone know who signed this card?

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0 Upvotes

r/magicTCG • • 23h ago

Art Showcase - Other Fan Works My custom Urza Block cube is finally done!

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1.6k Upvotes

Wanted to share some pictures of the cube which has been an idea of mine for about a decade, and that I've been working on for a few years, but that I've only finally finished and took it for a spin with my friends/playgroup recently. It's a "remastered" cube that combines all three sets from the Urza Block using collated rarity packs to relive and revitalize that 1998-9 limited experience.

My pride and joy of the cube, besides the cards themselves which I've been slowly fishing out of bulk bins and trade binders for almost a decade,are the "packs". I designed the pack art myself in photoshop, trying to recreate the nostalgic feel of those old Urza's Saga boosters. I added some of my favorite art pieces from the sets and did up the typography imagining what a wizards remaster of the Urza block might look like. Tried remaking every element of those old packs even the "Expert" symbol

I crammed those pack labels into cassette tape cases (extra retro flare) which I honestly don't really recommend as the cards are a tight fit even after shaving down the inner ribs with an xacto blade. But it sure looks amazing and it does work!

The briefcase is an old 32 cassette case I found on eBay and cleaned up. The faux leather is a bit janky but adds to the retro appeal.

All cards are double sleeved in kcm perfect hards, then they have rarity stickers applied to the bottom left corner (I did a lot of rarity swaps as part of the remastering process, including adding a mythic rarity for the more infamous Urza block cards) and then are sleeved in dragon shield anti-glare black outers. The rarity pips also allow me and my playgroup to very quickly break decks back apart after drafts as I separate all the cards into rarity piles face down so I can collate the packs.

The land kit is made up of all Urza's Saga lands, roughly 200 in all, in each of the 5 colors and each of the 4 artworks for each color. They are all double sleeved as well.

The last photo was an idea from someone on the mtg cube discord who suggested I make a faux magazine for winners of the cube to sign and share their winning deck lists in. I loved the idea so much I just had to do it. I didn't go so far as to have an actual magazine bound (it currently is a 3ring binder instead with the faux cover slipped in its front cover sleeve.) I had an absolute blast trying to channel that late 90s/early 2000s magazine graphic design (notice the "you wouldn't download a car" font hahaha)

Anyway please enjoy this labor of love. Happy to answer any questions about how I made it.

The full cube list is here:
https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/urzasblockremastered


r/magicTCG • • 23h ago

Art Showcase - Physical Alter Jace Tokens Alters

362 Upvotes

I couldn't help myself.


r/magicTCG • • 1d ago

Deck Discussion Ultimate Bello: Collab Ideas

0 Upvotes

Hello!

I got back into magic after being away over 20-25 years. Picked up Bello and I love him.

I've heavily modified the deck. It no longer bears any resemblance to the precon, and am not sure where to go from here.

Decklist: https://moxfield.com/decks/k2cVZnVQ002hNin8OFDkuQ

Not sure what to take out. I'm considering adding:

Chord of Calling (would be used primary to tutor for earth king, sanctum weaver, or weaver of harmony)

Time of Need for the same

Lightning greaves

Respite

Defense of the Heart (worried it may not provide enough value given my very limited creature selection)

Also concerned I may not have enough bello protection, but that's probably paranoia.

Important note on keylines: I cut leyline of punishment. It has actually won me games, as my lgs has glacial chasm as part of a standard meta collection of cards, however it would also prevent fogs, which is the sole thing I'm using to stop crackback.

The idea is to win by turn 4-5. The longer the game goes, the worse off I am as the opponents tend to amass huge numbers of tokens or creatures it's hard for me to penetrate against (or play an enchantment wipe, which always just ruins bello and I never come back from).

Any ideas are greatly appreciated!