What if the healthiest way to enjoy Magic: The Gathering is to stop trying to keep up with Magic: The Gathering?I've been playing since 1995, and over the years I've found that the best parts of this game have very little to do with buying every new product. For me, it's about gameplay, deck building, mastering a strategy, discovering the game's history, and spending time with a community.In this episode, I talk about how I've started being more intentional about the parts of Magic I engage with—and why you don't have to buy into every set, crossover, or new card to be a dedicated player.I explain why I avoid most Universes Beyond sealed products, why I focus on formats like Legacy and Premodern, and how sticking with a deck can make it easier to stay competitive without constantly buying new cards.In this episode:<ul><li>Why you don't need to follow every new Magic release</li><li>My approach to Universes Beyond and buying singles</li><li>The pressure content creators can add to the hype cycle</li><li>What I actually love about Magic: gameplay, mastery, history, and community</li><li>Why Magic's original worlds and flavor still matter to me</li><li>How cube, battleboxes, and locked formats create lasting experiences</li><li>Why playing one deck can save money and improve your skills</li><li>How to protect your time, money, and attention</li><li>Why you can love Magic without endorsing every direction the company takes</li></ul>This isn't about telling you what you're allowed to enjoy. If you love Commander, Marvel, Final Fantasy, or every new set, that's your choice.It's about making your own choices—and remembering that you can love Magic without treating every new product as something you need to own.What have you deliberately stopped doing to make Magic more enjoyable? Have you quit a format, taken apart decks, stopped buying sealed product, built a cube, or stopped following spoiler season? Let me know in the comments.Subscribe to Eternal Durdles for Legacy, Premodern, deck building, competitive strategy, and discussions about the parts of Magic that make the game worth playing.#MTG #MagicTheGathering #MTGLegacy

What if the healthiest way to enjoy Magic: The Gathering is to stop trying to keep up with Magic: The Gathering? I've been playing since 1995, and over the years I've found that the best parts of this game have very little to do with buying every new product. For me, it's about gameplay, deck building, mastering a strategy, discovering the game's history, and spending time with a community. In this episode, I talk about how I've started being more intentional about the parts of Magic I engage with—and why you don't have to buy into every set, crossover, or new card to be a dedicated player. I explain why I avoid most Universes Beyond sealed products, why I focus on formats like Legacy and Premodern, and how sticking with a deck can make it easier to stay competitive without constantly buying new cards. In this episode:Why you don't need to follow every new Magic releaseMy approach to Universes Beyond and buying singlesThe pressure content creators can add to the hype cycleWhat I actually love about Magic: gameplay, mastery, history, and communityWhy Magic's original worlds and flavor still matter to meHow cube, battleboxes, and locked formats create lasting experiencesWhy playing one deck can save money and improve your skillsHow to protect your time, money, and attentionWhy you can love Magic without endorsing every direction the company takesThis isn't about telling you what you're allowed to enjoy. If you love Commander, Marvel, Final Fantasy, or every new set, that's your choice. It's about making your own choices—and remembering that you can love Magic without treating every new product as something you need to own. What have you deliberately stopped doing to make Magic more enjoyable? Have you quit a format, taken apart decks, stopped buying sealed product, built a cube, or stopped following spoiler season? Let me know in the comments. Subscribe to Eternal Durdles for Legacy, Premodern, deck building, competitive strategy, and discussions about the parts of Magic that make the game worth playing. #MTG #MagicTheGathering #MTGLegacy

The Best Way to Enjoy Magic Might Be to Ignore It

Eternal Weekend is just over a month away — so what does Legacy look like right now?Zac and Phil break down the latest Legacy threat levels, looking at which cards and decks are gaining ground, which are falling off, and what those numbers might mean for Eternal Weekend.Zac is currently deciding between Breakfast, Draco/Guildpact Beanstalk, and Infect, while Phil is planning to play Miracles. The conversation turns into a full examination of the current metagame and the cards players need to be prepared for. One of the biggest stories is Orcish Bowmasters. Its representation has fallen dramatically compared with previous threat-level measurements, and Phil explains how Bowmasters can act as a metagame "guardrail" that pushes certain strategies out of the format — creating opportunities for those decks to return when Bowmasters numbers fall. We also cover:<ul><li>Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student</li><li>Orcish Bowmasters</li><li>Flow State</li><li>Stock Up</li><li>Felia, Quantum Riddler</li><li>Barrow Goyf</li><li>Karn</li><li>The One Ring</li><li>Urza's Saga</li><li>Petrified Hamlet</li><li>Dragon's Rage Channeler</li><li>Eldrazi</li><li>Doomsday</li><li>Dark Ritual</li><li>Murktide Regent</li><li>Boros Energy</li><li>Hogaak</li><li>Sneak and Show</li></ul>Phil also makes the case for Karn Tron as his pick for Eternal Weekend, while Zac sees Beanstalk as a deck that could benefit if the current Bowmasters trend continues. And we talk about the Johnny Magic hack: instead of trying to prepare for every deck in a huge Legacy tournament, can you choose a strategy that forces everyone else to interact with your game plan?Finally, Zac makes a commitment for Eternal Weekend: play every round. Even if you're no longer in contention for Day Two, finishing the tournament gives you a record to beat next year — and more importantly, more Legacy games against some of the best players in the world. What are you playing at Eternal Weekend?00:00 — Eternal Weekend Is One Month Away 01:18 — Breakfast, Beanstalk or Infect? 05:00 — The Latest Legacy Threat Levels 06:18 — Reality Fracture & Selesnya Depths 08:06 — Tamiyo & the Bowmasters Decline 12:12 — Flow State, Stock Up & Felia 16:15 — Why Barrow Goyf Is Disappearing 18:25 — Is Karn Tron Going to Three-Peat? 22:09 — Dragon's Rage Channeler & Fast Decks 26:00 — What the Numbers Mean for Eternal Weekend⏱️ Chapters

Eternal Weekend is just over a month away — so what does Legacy look like right now? Zac and Phil break down the latest Legacy threat levels, looking at which cards and decks are gaining ground, which are falling off, and what those numbers might mean for Eternal Weekend. Zac is currently deciding between Breakfast, Draco/Guildpact Beanstalk, and Infect, while Phil is planning to play Miracles. The conversation turns into a full examination of the current metagame and the cards players need to be prepared for. One of the biggest stories is Orcish Bowmasters. Its representation has fallen dramatically compared with previous threat-level measurements, and Phil explains how Bowmasters can act as a metagame "guardrail" that pushes certain strategies out of the format — creating opportunities for those decks to return when Bowmasters numbers fall. We also cover:Tamiyo, Inquisitive StudentOrcish BowmastersFlow StateStock UpFelia, Quantum RiddlerBarrow GoyfKarnThe One RingUrza's SagaPetrified HamletDragon's Rage ChannelerEldraziDoomsdayDark RitualMurktide RegentBoros EnergyHogaakSneak and ShowPhil also makes the case for Karn Tron as his pick for Eternal Weekend, while Zac sees Beanstalk as a deck that could benefit if the current Bowmasters trend continues. And we talk about the Johnny Magic hack: instead of trying to prepare for every deck in a huge Legacy tournament, can you choose a strategy that forces everyone else to interact with your game plan? Finally, Zac makes a commitment for Eternal Weekend: play every round. Even if you're no longer in contention for Day Two, finishing the tournament gives you a record to beat next year — and more importantly, more Legacy games against some of the best players in the world. What are you playing at Eternal Weekend? 00:00 — Eternal Weekend Is One Month Away 01:18 — Breakfast, Beanstalk or Infect? 05:00 — The Latest Legacy Threat Levels 06:18 — Reality Fracture & Selesnya Depths 08:06 — Tamiyo & the Bowmasters Decline 12:12 — Flow State, Stock Up & Felia 16:15 — Why Barrow Goyf Is Disappearing 18:25 — Is Karn Tron Going to Three-Peat? 22:09 — Dragon's Rage Channeler & Fast Decks 26:00 — What the Numbers Mean for Eternal Weekend ⏱️ Chapters

Eternal Weekend is just over a month away — so what does Legacy look like right now?Zac and Phil break down the latest Legacy threat levels, looking at which cards and decks are gaining ground, which are falling off, and what those numbers might mean for Eternal Weekend.Zac is currently deciding between Breakfast, Draco/Guildpact Beanstalk, and Infect, while Phil is planning to play Miracles. The conversation turns into a full examination of the current metagame and the cards players need to be prepared for. One of the biggest stories is Orcish Bowmasters. Its representation has fallen dramatically compared with previous threat-level measurements, and Phil explains how Bowmasters can act as a metagame "guardrail" that pushes certain strategies out of the format — creating opportunities for those decks to return when Bowmasters numbers fall. We also cover:<ul><li>Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student</li><li>Orcish Bowmasters</li><li>Flow State</li><li>Stock Up</li><li>Felia, Quantum Riddler</li><li>Barrow Goyf</li><li>Karn</li><li>The One Ring</li><li>Urza's Saga</li><li>Petrified Hamlet</li><li>Dragon's Rage Channeler</li><li>Eldrazi</li><li>Doomsday</li><li>Dark Ritual</li><li>Murktide Regent</li><li>Boros Energy</li><li>Hogaak</li><li>Sneak and Show</li></ul>Phil also makes the case for Karn Tron as his pick for Eternal Weekend, while Zac sees Beanstalk as a deck that could benefit if the current Bowmasters trend continues. And we talk about the Johnny Magic hack: instead of trying to prepare for every deck in a huge Legacy tournament, can you choose a strategy that forces everyone else to interact with your game plan?Finally, Zac makes a commitment for Eternal Weekend: play every round. Even if you're no longer in contention for Day Two, finishing the tournament gives you a record to beat next year — and more importantly, more Legacy games against some of the best players in the world. What are you playing at Eternal Weekend?00:00 — Eternal Weekend Is One Month Away 01:18 — Breakfast, Beanstalk or Infect? 05:00 — The Latest Legacy Threat Levels 06:18 — Reality Fracture &amp; Selesnya Depths 08:06 — Tamiyo &amp; the Bowmasters Decline 12:12 — Flow State, Stock Up &amp; Felia 16:15 — Why Barrow Goyf Is Disappearing 18:25 — Is Karn Tron Going to Three-Peat? 22:09 — Dragon's Rage Channeler &amp; Fast Decks 26:00 — What the Numbers Mean for Eternal Weekend⏱️ Chapters

Eternal Weekend Is One Month Away — Here's the Meta

Zac gets upset about Side event payout structures, Nate Romances RUG, and ED gets some interesting new in the new year.

Episode 60—Leading into 2018

Nate and Zac interview Brian Andersen, owner of Paragon city games to announce the Legacy Syposium

Episode 59—Interview w/ Brian Andersen

Nate's Faeries Deck

4 Snapcaster Mage
4 Spellstutter Sprite

4 Ponder
4 Brainstorm
4 Force of Will
4 Fatal Push
4 Thoughtseize
2 Umezawa's Jitte
2 Bitterblossom
2 Ensnaring Bridge
2 Spell Snare
1 Go for the Throat
1 Collective Brutality

4 Cavern of Souls
4 Mutavault
4 Underground Sea
4 Polluted Delta
3 Misty Rainforest
1 island
1 swamp
1 Bloodstained Mire

2 Flusterstorm
2 Surgical Extraction
2 Vendilion Clique
1 Sorcerous Spyglass
1 Chill
1 Echoing Truth
1 Engineered Explosives
1 Ratchet Bomb
1 Collective Brutality
1 Marsh Casualties
1 Liliana, the Last Hope
1 Diabolic Edict

Nate's Faeries Deck 4 Snapcaster Mage 4 Spellstutter Sprite 4 Ponder 4 Brainstorm 4 Force of Will 4 Fatal Push 4 Thoughtseize 2 Umezawa's Jitte 2 Bitterblossom 2 Ensnaring Bridge 2 Spell Snare 1 Go for the Throat 1 Collective Brutality 4 Cavern of Souls 4 Mutavault 4 Underground Sea 4 Polluted Delta 3 Misty Rainforest 1 island 1 swamp 1 Bloodstained Mire 2 Flusterstorm 2 Surgical Extraction 2 Vendilion Clique 1 Sorcerous Spyglass 1 Chill 1 Echoing Truth 1 Engineered Explosives 1 Ratchet Bomb 1 Collective Brutality 1 Marsh Casualties 1 Liliana, the Last Hope 1 Diabolic Edict

Episode 58—We're Back!

Nathan and Zac talk about the writing on the wall after Eternal Weekend.

Episode 57—Eternal Afterthoughts

Zac and Nate interview Eric Vergo after his double top 8 in the main events for Eternal Weekend.

Episode 56—Eternal Weekend Warrior Eric Vergo Interview

Nate poses several questions about the top 8 of Eternal Champs to Zac. What will the answers be?

Episode 55—Pardon The Percentage! EW Predictions

Episode 54—BnR Course Charting by Zac Clark/Nathan Golia

Episode 54—BnR Course Charting

Nate and Zac look at the steadying of the meta and how to pick it apart now that it's stable.

Episode 53—Steady as She Goes

Nate and Zac scour Ixalan for format roleplayers and come up with some interesting finds!

Episode 52—Ixalan Treasure Hunt

Episode 51—Back From HasCon/EE7 Chat by Zac Clark/Nathan Golia

Episode 51—Back From HasCon/EE7 Chat

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Eternal Durdles is a weekly Magic: the Gathering podcast focusing on the Legacy format. Hosted by long-time MTG veterans Zac Clark and Phil Blechman.

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Become a Paid Subscriber: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/eternaldurdles/subscribe Eternal Durdles is a weekly Magic: the Gathering podcast focusing on the Legacy format. Hosted by long-time MTG veterans Zac Clark and Phil Blechman.

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Eternal Durdles is a weekly Magic: the Gathering podcast focusing on the Legacy format. Hosted by long-time MTG veterans Zac Clark and Phil Blechman.

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