Eternal Durdles

Premodern is evolving — and some decks are starting to break away from the pack.

In this episode, we go through Phil Nguyen’s latest MTG Banded article covering the 10 breakout Premodern decks of 2025.

We break down:

• Why Aluren is surging again
• The power (and price…) of Cephalid Breakfast
• Classic strategies like Terravore / Armageddon
• The rise of Moneyball Black
• And a few under-the-radar decks that could define the future

Plus…

🔥 Zac reveals his pick for a 2026 breakout deck — a wild Dimir Infestation control build that blends:

• Zombie Infestation
• Squee, Goblin Nabob
• Forbid lock
• Wonder tempo finishes

If you’re preparing for LobsterCon or just want to stay ahead of the Premodern meta, this is your snapshot of where things are heading.

Premodern is evolving — and some decks are starting to break away from the pack.

In this episode, we go through Phil Nguyen’s latest MTG Banded article covering the 10 breakout Premodern decks of 2025.

We break down:

• Why Aluren is surging again
• The power (and price…) of Cephalid Breakfast
• Classic strategies like Terravore / Armageddon
• The rise of Moneyball Black
• And a few under-the-radar decks that could define the future

Plus…

🔥 Zac reveals his pick for a 2026 breakout deck — a wild Dimir Infestation control build that blends:

• Zombie Infestation
• Squee, Goblin Nabob
• Forbid lock
• Wonder tempo finishes

If you’re preparing for LobsterCon or just want to stay ahead of the Premodern meta, this is your snapshot of where things are heading.

Join our Email List: https://eternaldurdles.kit.com/b3d4a4dc9bSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnWe’re back with updated Legacy Threat Level data — and the numbers tell a very clear story.https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1D7HvuGRUI0qvT5xA--zb68g2cu9wS0JZ24ddbadZSz0/edit?usp=sharingUsing two months of MTGTop8 data, we break down:• The most played creatures in Legacy• How “Threat Level” is calculated• Which cards gained the most ground• Why Orcish Bowmasters jumped dramatically• Tamiyo’s still-dangerous presence• What declining Wasteland numbers actually mean• How Modern Horizons and Commander cards dominate the formatIs Legacy truly diverse… or are the decks just playing the same cards?We also discuss:– The rise of Stompy & Painter– Why fair decks are shrinking– How combo pivots into tempo– Why play patterns feel increasingly redundantThreat Level isn’t a banlist demand — it’s a tool to measure format pressure. And right now? The data is loud.Spreadsheet + previous episode linked below.If you care about Legacy health, this matters.JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil

Join our Email List: https://eternaldurdles.kit.com/b3d4a4dc9bSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnWe’re back with updated Legacy Threat Level data — and the numbers tell a very clear story.https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1D7HvuGRUI0qvT5xA--zb68g2cu9wS0JZ24ddbadZSz0/edit?usp=sharingUsing two months of MTGTop8 data, we break down:• The most played creatures in Legacy• How “Threat Level” is calculated• Which cards gained the most ground• Why Orcish Bowmasters jumped dramatically• Tamiyo’s still-dangerous presence• What declining Wasteland numbers actually mean• How Modern Horizons and Commander cards dominate the formatIs Legacy truly diverse… or are the decks just playing the same cards?We also discuss:– The rise of Stompy & Painter– Why fair decks are shrinking– How combo pivots into tempo– Why play patterns feel increasingly redundantThreat Level isn’t a banlist demand — it’s a tool to measure format pressure. And right now? The data is loud.Spreadsheet + previous episode linked below.If you care about Legacy health, this matters.JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil

Join our Email List: https://eternaldurdles.kit.com/b3d4a4dc9bSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnGrand Prix used to define competitive Magic: The Gathering.Grinding points, earning byes, traveling to massive events, and playing multiple formats at your LGS — that ecosystem kept Standard, Modern, Limited, and competitive paper Magic alive.In this episode we talk about:• Why Grand Prix events were so important• How byes and the points system drove local play• Why MagicCon and Spotlight Series aren't replacements• How the loss of large paper tournaments changed Magic• What Wizards of the Coast could do to fix competitive playIf you miss Grand Prix, Pro Tour qualifiers, and the competitive Magic grind, this conversation is for you.JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil

Join our Email List: https://eternaldurdles.kit.com/b3d4a4dc9bSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnGrand Prix used to define competitive Magic: The Gathering.Grinding points, earning byes, traveling to massive events, and playing multiple formats at your LGS — that ecosystem kept Standard, Modern, Limited, and competitive paper Magic alive.In this episode we talk about:• Why Grand Prix events were so important• How byes and the points system drove local play• Why MagicCon and Spotlight Series aren't replacements• How the loss of large paper tournaments changed Magic• What Wizards of the Coast could do to fix competitive playIf you miss Grand Prix, Pro Tour qualifiers, and the competitive Magic grind, this conversation is for you.JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil

Join our Email List: https://eternaldurdles.kit.com/b3d4a4dc9bSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnA tweet from Brian Coval (BoshNRoll) sparked a conversation we’ve surprisingly never had on the show:What is the Reserve List actually doing for Magic?Using Meddling Mage in Pre-Modern as the example, we break down how collectability and playability can coexist. One version of the card costs $14… while perfectly playable versions cost under a dollar.So what does that mean for the future of Magic finance?In this episode we discuss:• Why Pre-Modern highlights a healthier model for card prices• The concept of Veblen goods in Magic collectibles• Why reprints don’t always crash card prices• Commander’s surprising impact on Reserve List cards• Whether Wizards could ever realistically remove the Reserve List• And how Eternal formats could change if they didAlong the way we talk about Time Twister, Mox Diamond, Tarmogoyf, Rhystic Study, and the strange economics that shape Magic’s secondary market.If you care about Legacy, Vintage, Pre-Modern, or the future of Eternal formats, this is a conversation worth having.JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil

Join our Email List: https://eternaldurdles.kit.com/b3d4a4dc9bSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnA tweet from Brian Coval (BoshNRoll) sparked a conversation we’ve surprisingly never had on the show:What is the Reserve List actually doing for Magic?Using Meddling Mage in Pre-Modern as the example, we break down how collectability and playability can coexist. One version of the card costs $14… while perfectly playable versions cost under a dollar.So what does that mean for the future of Magic finance?In this episode we discuss:• Why Pre-Modern highlights a healthier model for card prices• The concept of Veblen goods in Magic collectibles• Why reprints don’t always crash card prices• Commander’s surprising impact on Reserve List cards• Whether Wizards could ever realistically remove the Reserve List• And how Eternal formats could change if they didAlong the way we talk about Time Twister, Mox Diamond, Tarmogoyf, Rhystic Study, and the strange economics that shape Magic’s secondary market.If you care about Legacy, Vintage, Pre-Modern, or the future of Eternal formats, this is a conversation worth having.JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil

https://www.hipstersofthecoast.com/2015/02/developments-in-durdling-the-names-and-faces/Join our Email List: https://eternaldurdles.kit.com/b3d4a4dc9bSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnCheating scandals are back in the Magic discourse.Again.In this episode we talk about the recent cheating controversy and ask a bigger question:What should actually happen when someone cheats in Magic?Most people immediately jump to lifetime bans. But is that enough? And is there ever a path back for someone who cheats repeatedly?Zac brings a unique perspective to this discussion — having been banned himself early in his Magic career and learning firsthand how reputation, accountability, and community trust actually work in the long run.We discuss:• Why cheating in Magic can become a compulsion• Whether lifetime bans are enough of a deterrent• The difference between mistakes vs habitual cheating• Whether cheaters should have to make financial reparations• If there is any path back into the community• And why reputation might be the real punishmentUltimately this episode isn’t about one specific scandal.It’s about how communities handle trust, accountability, and consequences.And why cheating in Magic almost always costs more than people think.🎙️ Eternal Durdles covers Legacy, Vintage, Premodern, and Eternal Magic culture.Subscribe for weekly discussions about Eternal Magic, tournament play, and the broader Magic community.JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil

Cheating scandals are back in the Magic discourse.Again.In this episode we talk about the recent cheating controversy and ask a bigger question:What should actually happen when someone cheats in Magic?Most people immediately jump to lifetime bans. But is that enough? And is there ever a path back for someone who cheats repeatedly?Zac brings a unique perspective to this discussion — having been banned himself early in his Magic career and learning firsthand how reputation, accountability, and community trust actually work in the long run.We discuss:• Why cheating in Magic can become a compulsion• Whether lifetime bans are enough of a deterrent• The difference between mistakes vs habitual cheating• Whether cheaters should have to make financial reparations• If there is any path back into the community• And why reputation might be the real punishmentUltimately this episode isn’t about one specific scandal.It’s about how communities handle trust, accountability, and consequences.And why cheating in Magic almost always costs more than people think.🎙️ Eternal Durdles covers Legacy, Vintage, Premodern, and Eternal Magic culture.Subscribe for weekly discussions about Eternal Magic, tournament play, and the broader Magic community.JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil