With Order of the Sacred Torch just around the corner, Zac and Phil sit down to talk brewing, bizarre deck ideas, and one question that refuses to go away:

Can Phyrexian Portal actually win a tournament?

From there, the conversation evolves into a broader discussion about the future of Magic's alternative Eternal formats—including Heritage, Classic, Peak, Pre-War, and what the vision for Returnal Durdles could become. Along the way, they react to recent polls, discuss channel direction, and share their excitement for Magic's upcoming in-universe sets.

In this episode:

• Defending the Brewer's Award
• Brewing with Phyrexian Portal
• Preparing for Order of the Sacred Torch
• Heritage vs Classic vs Peak vs Pre-War
• The future of Returnal Durdles
• Living vs locked Eternal formats
• Viewer poll results
• Thoughts on Magic's upcoming sets
• Why in-universe crossovers have us excited again

Question of the Week: If you could only play one alternative Eternal format besides Legacy and Premodern, which would it be?

#MagicTheGathering #Premodern #Legacy #PhyrexianPortal #OrderOfTheSacredTorch

00:00 Nobody Likes Us… We Don't Care
00:25 Defending the Brewer's Award
02:30 Brewing for Order of the Sacred Torch
03:00 Can Phyrexian Portal Work?
05:52 Will Zac Actually Play It?
06:40 The State of Alternative Eternal Formats
07:45 Community Poll Results
09:30 Heritage vs Peak vs Classic vs Pre-War
12:15 What Should Returnal Durdles Cover?
15:58 Living vs Locked Formats
20:10 How Should We Organize the Channel?
28:30 Viewer Feedback & Future Plans
30:25 Thoughts on Zhalfir and Titan Breach
31:55 Why In-Universe Sets Feel Different
35:08 Dream Plane Crossovers
36:20 Wrapping Up & Community Questions

Timestamps

With Order of the Sacred Torch just around the corner, Zac and Phil sit down to talk brewing, bizarre deck ideas, and one question that refuses to go away:

Can Phyrexian Portal actually win a tournament?

From there, the conversation evolves into a broader discussion about the future of Magic's alternative Eternal formats—including Heritage, Classic, Peak, Pre-War, and what the vision for Returnal Durdles could become. Along the way, they react to recent polls, discuss channel direction, and share their excitement for Magic's upcoming in-universe sets.

In this episode:

• Defending the Brewer's Award
• Brewing with Phyrexian Portal
• Preparing for Order of the Sacred Torch
• Heritage vs Classic vs Peak vs Pre-War
• The future of Returnal Durdles
• Living vs locked Eternal formats
• Viewer poll results
• Thoughts on Magic's upcoming sets
• Why in-universe crossovers have us excited again

Question of the Week: If you could only play one alternative Eternal format besides Legacy and Premodern, which would it be?

#MagicTheGathering #Premodern #Legacy #PhyrexianPortal #OrderOfTheSacredTorch

00:00 Nobody Likes Us… We Don't Care
00:25 Defending the Brewer's Award
02:30 Brewing for Order of the Sacred Torch
03:00 Can Phyrexian Portal Work?
05:52 Will Zac Actually Play It?
06:40 The State of Alternative Eternal Formats
07:45 Community Poll Results
09:30 Heritage vs Peak vs Classic vs Pre-War
12:15 What Should Returnal Durdles Cover?
15:58 Living vs Locked Formats
20:10 How Should We Organize the Channel?
28:30 Viewer Feedback & Future Plans
30:25 Thoughts on Zhalfir and Titan Breach
31:55 Why In-Universe Sets Feel Different
35:08 Dream Plane Crossovers
36:20 Wrapping Up & Community Questions

Timestamps

This week, Zac sits down with legendary Magic illustrator Donato Giancola to discuss his remarkable career, from illustrating Thran Tome, Steel Golem, Chrome Mox, Mirari, and Shivan Dragon, to painting book covers for Mark Twain, Jules Verne, Lord of the Rings, and much more. Along the way, Donato shares stories about breaking into the industry, his creative process, the influence of comics and fantasy art, and why Magic has always been just one part of a much larger artistic journey.

We discuss:

• Breaking into Magic during Mirage
• The story behind Thran Tome
• Steel Golem and Chrome Mox
• Painting Magic packaging art
• Working on Lord of the Rings and classic novels
• Comic book inspirations including Walt Simonson and Bill Sienkiewicz
• Why Donato stepped away from Magic
• The changing relationship between artists and Wizards of the Coast
• Advice for aspiring illustrators
• What makes great fantasy art timeless

If you grew up with Magic during the Mirage through Mirrodin era, this conversation is packed with nostalgia, incredible stories, and a behind-the-scenes look at some of the game's most beloved artwork.

#MagicTheGathering #MTG #FantasyArt #DonatoGiancola #MagicArtist

00:00 Introducing Donato Giancola
00:48 The Story Behind Thran Tome
02:30 Hidden Details in the Box Set Artwork
03:25 Discovering Fantasy Art
05:20 First Professional Illustration Jobs
09:58 Breaking Into Magic: The Gathering
12:31 Working with Wizards of the Coast
14:07 Artist Rights & Leaving Magic
15:15 Life Beyond Magic Illustration
16:50 Painting Tolkien's Middle-earth
20:47 Getting Started with Magic Art
22:05 Construct of Time & Chrome Inspirations
25:45 Steel Golem Memories
29:29 Comic Book Influences
32:31 Painting Mordenkainen & Modern Magic
34:16 Favorite Magic Illustrations
36:46 Advice for Aspiring Artists
38:51 The Importance of Finishing Your Work
40:00 Closing Thoughts

Timestamps

This week, Zac sits down with legendary Magic illustrator Donato Giancola to discuss his remarkable career, from illustrating Thran Tome, Steel Golem, Chrome Mox, Mirari, and Shivan Dragon, to painting book covers for Mark Twain, Jules Verne, Lord of the Rings, and much more. Along the way, Donato shares stories about breaking into the industry, his creative process, the influence of comics and fantasy art, and why Magic has always been just one part of a much larger artistic journey.

We discuss:

• Breaking into Magic during Mirage
• The story behind Thran Tome
• Steel Golem and Chrome Mox
• Painting Magic packaging art
• Working on Lord of the Rings and classic novels
• Comic book inspirations including Walt Simonson and Bill Sienkiewicz
• Why Donato stepped away from Magic
• The changing relationship between artists and Wizards of the Coast
• Advice for aspiring illustrators
• What makes great fantasy art timeless

If you grew up with Magic during the Mirage through Mirrodin era, this conversation is packed with nostalgia, incredible stories, and a behind-the-scenes look at some of the game's most beloved artwork.

#MagicTheGathering #MTG #FantasyArt #DonatoGiancola #MagicArtist

00:00 Introducing Donato Giancola
00:48 The Story Behind Thran Tome
02:30 Hidden Details in the Box Set Artwork
03:25 Discovering Fantasy Art
05:20 First Professional Illustration Jobs
09:58 Breaking Into Magic: The Gathering
12:31 Working with Wizards of the Coast
14:07 Artist Rights & Leaving Magic
15:15 Life Beyond Magic Illustration
16:50 Painting Tolkien's Middle-earth
20:47 Getting Started with Magic Art
22:05 Construct of Time & Chrome Inspirations
25:45 Steel Golem Memories
29:29 Comic Book Influences
32:31 Painting Mordenkainen & Modern Magic
34:16 Favorite Magic Illustrations
36:46 Advice for Aspiring Artists
38:51 The Importance of Finishing Your Work
40:00 Closing Thoughts

Timestamps

How did Moneyball Black go from an experimental mono-black brew to one of Premodern's defining archetypes?

In this Masterclass, David Gleicher, the creator of Moneyball Black, sits down with Zac to explain the philosophy behind the deck, its evolution over time, why every card earned its place, and how to approach both deckbuilding and sideboarding. Whether you're sleeving up the deck for your next tournament or simply want to understand why it's become a format staple, this is the definitive guide.

We cover:

• The origin of Moneyball Black
• Why mono-black works in Premodern
• The "Moneyball" philosophy
• Ravenous Rats vs. Black Knight
• Urza's Bauble technology
• Why Dark Ritual is still essential
• Cursed Scroll's role in the deck
• Graveborn Muse vs. Phyrexian Arena
• Mishra's Factory and Spawning Pool
• Plague Bearer and other key card choices
• Sideboarding philosophy
• Matchup guides against the format's top decks

Whether you're new to the archetype or have been playing it for years, there's something here for every Moneyball Black pilot.

#Premodern #MagicTheGathering #MoneyballBlack #MTG #Masterclass

00:00 Introducing Moneyball Black
00:22 Why David Built the Deck
01:58 Early Suicide Black Lists
04:40 The Birth of Moneyball Black
07:15 Why Play Moneyball Black?
07:53 The "Moneyball" Philosophy
09:32 Ravenous Rats Explained
12:55 The Evolution of the Deck
14:14 Black Knight vs. Ravenous Rats
16:47 Urza's Bauble Technology
19:07 Why Cursed Scroll Matters
23:22 Dark Ritual's Role
28:06 Mishra's Factory & Spawning Pool
30:05 Plague Bearer Tech
31:35 Graveborn Muse vs. Phyrexian Arena
34:25 Sideboarding Philosophy

Timestamps

How did Moneyball Black go from an experimental mono-black brew to one of Premodern's defining archetypes?

In this Masterclass, David Gleicher, the creator of Moneyball Black, sits down with Zac to explain the philosophy behind the deck, its evolution over time, why every card earned its place, and how to approach both deckbuilding and sideboarding. Whether you're sleeving up the deck for your next tournament or simply want to understand why it's become a format staple, this is the definitive guide.

We cover:

• The origin of Moneyball Black
• Why mono-black works in Premodern
• The "Moneyball" philosophy
• Ravenous Rats vs. Black Knight
• Urza's Bauble technology
• Why Dark Ritual is still essential
• Cursed Scroll's role in the deck
• Graveborn Muse vs. Phyrexian Arena
• Mishra's Factory and Spawning Pool
• Plague Bearer and other key card choices
• Sideboarding philosophy
• Matchup guides against the format's top decks

Whether you're new to the archetype or have been playing it for years, there's something here for every Moneyball Black pilot.

#Premodern #MagicTheGathering #MoneyballBlack #MTG #Masterclass

00:00 Introducing Moneyball Black
00:22 Why David Built the Deck
01:58 Early Suicide Black Lists
04:40 The Birth of Moneyball Black
07:15 Why Play Moneyball Black?
07:53 The "Moneyball" Philosophy
09:32 Ravenous Rats Explained
12:55 The Evolution of the Deck
14:14 Black Knight vs. Ravenous Rats
16:47 Urza's Bauble Technology
19:07 Why Cursed Scroll Matters
23:22 Dark Ritual's Role
28:06 Mishra's Factory & Spawning Pool
30:05 Plague Bearer Tech
31:35 Graveborn Muse vs. Phyrexian Arena
34:25 Sideboarding Philosophy

Timestamps

What if Legacy had stopped evolving in 2019?

This week we're joined by Gary, creator of Pre-War Legacy, a community-driven format that captures Legacy just before War of the Spark, FIRE Design, and the wave of Modern Horizons cards fundamentally changed the format.

We discuss:

• Why War of the Spark became the cutoff
• The impact of FIRE Design on Legacy
• Why many players consider 2018–2019 Legacy its golden age
• The philosophy behind Pre-War Legacy
• Miracles, Death & Taxes, Delver, Dark Depths, and Storm
• Why deck specialists thrive in closed formats
• Brewing opportunities in an 18,000-card card pool
• How to join the growing Pre-War Legacy community and play online

If you've been missing the Legacy of Brainstorm, Wasteland, Delver, Miracles, and Death & Taxes—without Modern Horizons or Universes Beyond—this format might be exactly what you've been looking for.

What deck would you register first?

#MTGLegacy #MagicTheGathering #PreWarLegacy #LegacyMTG #EternalFormats

What if Legacy had stopped evolving in 2019?

This week we're joined by Gary, creator of Pre-War Legacy, a community-driven format that captures Legacy just before War of the Spark, FIRE Design, and the wave of Modern Horizons cards fundamentally changed the format.

We discuss:

• Why War of the Spark became the cutoff
• The impact of FIRE Design on Legacy
• Why many players consider 2018–2019 Legacy its golden age
• The philosophy behind Pre-War Legacy
• Miracles, Death & Taxes, Delver, Dark Depths, and Storm
• Why deck specialists thrive in closed formats
• Brewing opportunities in an 18,000-card card pool
• How to join the growing Pre-War Legacy community and play online

If you've been missing the Legacy of Brainstorm, Wasteland, Delver, Miracles, and Death & Taxes—without Modern Horizons or Universes Beyond—this format might be exactly what you've been looking for.

What deck would you register first?

#MTGLegacy #MagicTheGathering #PreWarLegacy #LegacyMTG #EternalFormats

Think Hermit Full English Breakfast is just another Survival of the Fittest deck?Think again.This week we're joined by Galen LeMay, one of the premier Hermit F.E.B. pilots in Premodern, fresh off a Top 8 finish at the North American Championships. Together we break down one of the most complicated—and rewarding—combo decks in the format.In this episode we cover:Why Hermit F.E.B. is so difficult to masterThe Survival of the Fittest engineVolrath's Shapeshifter combo linesHermit Druid explainedPhyrexian Devourer + Triskelion killsPsychatog and Akroma combat killsKarmic Guide tricksAnimate Dead interactionsBattlefield Scrounger technologyWhy Palinchron is more important than it looksSideboarding philosophyHow to approach learning the deckWhy this archetype rewards hundreds of games of practiceIf you've ever wanted to understand one of Premodern's deepest combo decks, this is the episode.00:00 Introduction00:50 Why Hermit F.E.B. Is So Difficult03:03 Why Play This Deck?07:37 What Does Hermit F.E.B. Actually Do?11:20 Phyrexian Devourer Explained14:30 Triskelion Combo Kill20:10 Hermit Druid Combo25:20 Psychatog & Akroma Kill28:45 Mana Creatures Matter More Than You Think30:35 Karmic Guide Combo Lines37:50 Animate Dead Technology45:15 Battlefield Scrounger Innovation49:20 Palinchron Explained53:30 Hidden Combo Lines55:40 Patreon Matchup Guide Preview58:40 Sideboarding Philosophy1:12:45 Replenish Matchup & Sideboarding1:18:58 Goblins Matchup & Sideboarding1:27:24 Elves Matchup & Sideboarding1:34:40 Stiflenought Matchup & Sideboarding1:41:07 Mono Black Control Matchup & Sideboarding1:48:31 Burn Matchup & Sideboarding1:58:18 Landstill Matchup & Sideboarding2:06:34 The Rock Matchup & Sideboarding2:12:55 Enchantress Matchup & Sideboarding2:18:42 Survival Matchup & Sideboarding2:26:01 Closing Thoughts & Final Sideboarding Philosophy

Think Hermit Full English Breakfast is just another Survival of the Fittest deck?Think again.This week we're joined by Galen LeMay, one of the premier Hermit F.E.B. pilots in Premodern, fresh off a Top 8 finish at the North American Championships. Together we break down one of the most complicated—and rewarding—combo decks in the format.In this episode we cover:Why Hermit F.E.B. is so difficult to masterThe Survival of the Fittest engineVolrath's Shapeshifter combo linesHermit Druid explainedPhyrexian Devourer + Triskelion killsPsychatog and Akroma combat killsKarmic Guide tricksAnimate Dead interactionsBattlefield Scrounger technologyWhy Palinchron is more important than it looksSideboarding philosophyHow to approach learning the deckWhy this archetype rewards hundreds of games of practiceIf you've ever wanted to understand one of Premodern's deepest combo decks, this is the episode.00:00 Introduction00:50 Why Hermit F.E.B. Is So Difficult03:03 Why Play This Deck?07:37 What Does Hermit F.E.B. Actually Do?11:20 Phyrexian Devourer Explained14:30 Triskelion Combo Kill20:10 Hermit Druid Combo25:20 Psychatog & Akroma Kill28:45 Mana Creatures Matter More Than You Think30:35 Karmic Guide Combo Lines37:50 Animate Dead Technology45:15 Battlefield Scrounger Innovation49:20 Palinchron Explained53:30 Hidden Combo Lines55:40 Patreon Matchup Guide Preview58:40 Sideboarding Philosophy1:12:45 Replenish Matchup & Sideboarding1:18:58 Goblins Matchup & Sideboarding1:27:24 Elves Matchup & Sideboarding1:34:40 Stiflenought Matchup & Sideboarding1:41:07 Mono Black Control Matchup & Sideboarding1:48:31 Burn Matchup & Sideboarding1:58:18 Landstill Matchup & Sideboarding2:06:34 The Rock Matchup & Sideboarding2:12:55 Enchantress Matchup & Sideboarding2:18:42 Survival Matchup & Sideboarding2:26:01 Closing Thoughts & Final Sideboarding Philosophy