First Pick & Giveaway:

GIVEAWAY - Heavy Metal Magic Zombie Tokens - 5 Winners

https://gleam.io/CFcpy/heavy-metal-magic-zombie-token-giveaway

MTGO Commander - as tone deaf as it gets? http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-online/1v1-commander-banned-list

Official Sheldon Menery response: http://mtgcommander.net/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18600

https://twitter.com/grixisguy/status/859817629850226688

https://twitter.com/grixisguy/status/859815798633885696

AKH Limited is Great!

Gather the Townsfolk:

We complain a lot - https://twitter.com/RhysticStudies/status/859869124935155714

Desperate Ravings:

AJ Sacher’s response to women should just ignore Twitch chat: https://twitter.com/AJSacher/status/859182623968460800

Emma’s observation that started this: https://twitter.com/Em_TeeGee/status/858899567361884160

Q & A

The Finisher

Merriam-Webster’s English Dictionary has added a brand new word to their dictionary: sheeple, a (port-man-toe) portmanteau of “sheep” and “people.” Everybody loves a good portmanteau, so if you can, help the English language to continue to evolve and move forward with a portmanteau of your own.

First Pick & Giveaway:

GIVEAWAY - AKH Box https://gleam.io/R32d2/magic-mics-amonkhet-booster-box-giveaway

B&R Announcement - Top banned in Legacy, Gush & Gitaxian Probe banned in Vintage, NO BANS in Standard: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/april-24-2017-banned-and-restricted-announcement-2017-04-24

• Eternal Masters reprint

• Counterbalance / Counterbalance /

Addendum to the B&R: Felidar Guardian! http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/addendum-april-24-2017-banned-and-restricted-announcement-2017-04-26

https://twitter.com/misterorange/status/856538153821360128

Hasbro $ report: Magic down?

http://newsroom.hasbro.com/mediakit/events.cfm (I HAVE NO THOUGHTS ON THIS)

https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgfinance/comments/679p57/hasbro_financial_results_q1_2017_magic_down_for/

The Girlfriend Bracket 100 - The end of the podcast

Gather the Townsfolk:

MTG Art Show Announcement!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/originalmagicart/magic-art-show-art-exhibition-at-gp-las-vegas-2017

Magic Online exert implementation sucks: https://twitter.com/OndrejStrasky/status/856835439545733120

New Black Lotus art walkthrough (for Eternal Weekend):

http://stevenbelledin.blogspot.com/2017/04/black-lotus.html

Continued difficulty for overseas LGSs, this time China:

https://i.redd.it/hieh1z3o7tsy.jpg

https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/66m6xy/new_wotc_policy_thats_banning_most_card_stores_in/

Meanwhile…

https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/67ox4a/mixed_message_from_magic_wizards_for_nonlgs_events/

Melissa DeTora hired full time at WotC: https://twitter.com/MelissaDeTora/status/855453167865053184

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgfrNNwTPe8 <<--melissa’s ep of TableTop

WER crashed 3x Prereleases in a row http://newsroom.hasbro.com/mediakit/events.cfm

https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/66uoex/wizards_and_wer_get_your_shit_together/

The Finisher

This week, after the banned and restricted announcement part one on Monday, StarCityGames.com announced that they would be refunding customers who purchased Invocation Counterbalances after Sensei’s Divining Top spun out of the format. CoolStuffInc has offered to buy back all Saheeli Rai’s bought since Monday. This is excellent customer service of course, but it got me thinking: what other format shakeups could result in order reimbursements?

First Pick & Giveaway:

GIVEAWAY - Win all five Unhinged Land Deck Boxes from Ultra Pro   https://gleam.io/8YcuC/win-a-free-copy-of-all-five-unhinged-land-deck-boxes-from-ultra-pro

Magic Art Show almost there: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/originalmagicart/magic-art-show-art-exhibition-at-gp-las-vegas-2017/

Iconic Masters accidentally spoiled by WPN Email.

https://twitter.com/MishrasFotoshop/status/854845797409714177

HUGE OP News: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/organized-play/ixalan-worlds-pro-tour-nationals-and-rptqs-2017-04-18

• Ixalan announced - where is Hour of Devastation info? Release on 9/29/17
• • Previously seen style in survey leak: https://www.mtggoldfish.com/articles/atlazan-an-atlantean-plane
• Pro Tour Ixalan is Nov 3-5th - FIVE WEEKS after release (instead of two)
• Nationals
• • Sept 9-10
  • Sept 16-17
  • Oct 14-15
  • Mix of Standard AND Booster Draft (AKH for first two, XLN for last)
  • Nationals participation promo: Inkmoth Nexus

Commander 2017 - Tribal, 4x decks instead of 5x - http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/announcing-commander-2017-edition-2017-04-18

• 4x instead of 5
• Unexpected Tribe(s) hints
• August 25th (moved up)
• Creature Classes? (Cleric, Wizards) Reuben thinks: Warriors, Rogues

RPTQ charge poll: https://twitter.com/misterorange/status/854722831040598016

RPTQ Promo as “prize” for PPTQ winner, now diminished: https://twitter.com/aje8888/status/854727107779465216

Just charge for PTs - https://twitter.com/AliEldrazi/status/854394289090170880

https://twitter.com/tommartell/status/854401158776999936

Baffled - https://twitter.com/OwenTweetenwald/status/854425891883044864

Gather the Townsfolk:

Did a Mass Unbanning Happen? https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/65jtq4/did_a_mass_unbanning_happen/

Magic Art Show almost there: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/originalmagicart/magic-art-show-art-exhibition-at-gp-las-vegas-2017/

Going Infinite:

Magic Novel problem: https://twitter.com/jay13x/status/854674292147187712 (Erin)

The Finisher

In celebration of 4/20, a 4/20 joke! It came to light this week that, for some reason, Taco Bell WiFis around the country prevent those connected to it from visiting Magic: The Gathering websites, such as Wizards.com, MagicCards.info, MTGSalvation, and Gamepedia. One would think that Magic and Taco Bell would go together like nerds and junk food, so why do you think the Bell blocked the Gathering?

First Pick & Giveaway:

Magic Mics Swag arriving!

GIVEAWAY -  Rhonas Invocation version

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEWS:

Amonkhet Spoilers

http://mythicspoiler.com/newspoilers.html

Rhonas the Indomitable Invocation Version

Oketra’s Attendant (and token)

Grasping Dunes

Cradle of the Accursed

Bontu the Glorified

Liliana, Death’s Majesty

Nissa, Steward of Elements

Harsh Mentor

Samut, Voice of Dissent

Vizier of the Menagerie

Never // Return

Vizier of Many Faces

Glory-Bound Initiate

Pull from Tomorrow

Angel of Sanctions

Approach of the Second Sun

Gather the Townsfolk:

Play w Amonkhet the day after paper pre-release on MTGO

http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/magic-online/amonkhet-magic-online-earlier-ever

Sad tweet storyline: https://twitter.com/mtg_lee/status/852216964323737600 (Erin)

Invocations still only in Treasure Chests: https://twitter.com/klug_alters/status/852253899884863488 (Erin)

They edited today’s story to be less...overt? https://twitter.com/misterorange/status/852248630509674497

Wizards’ response: http://wizardsmagic.tumblr.com/post/159507277666/not-to-sound-acusatory-which-its-all-too-easy-to

WotC doesn’t try to recreate certain experiences: https://twitter.com/TheCardNexus/status/852256375946309633

The Finisher

This week is Passover, the Jewish Festival of the release of the Jews from Egypt, a fact I just learned because Reuben wrote this joke. But this Passover is different from all other Passovers because this Passover we’re also celebrating the release of the Amonkhet set from Wizards of the Coast, so on this happiest of holidays, do you have anything you’d like to get off your chests?

First Pick & Giveaway:

GIVEAWAY -  Hazoret the Fervent (aka The Pervert) Invocation version

“Hazoret the Pervert” Invocation

https://gleam.io/pMfNX/win-a-free-copy-of-hazoret-the-fervent-invocation-version

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW - 4/12

Amonkhet Spoilers

http://mythicspoiler.com/newspoilers.html

1 - Cut//Ribbons, Destined//Lead, Insult//Injury, Mouth//Feed

2 - Dusk//Dawn, Prepare//Fight, Rags//Riches

3 - Canyon Slough (Bicycle!), Drake Haven, Kefnet the Mindful

4 - Gideon, Aven Mindcensor, As Foretold

5 - Cast Out, Channeler Initiate, Combat Celebrant

Gather the Townsfolk:

Amonkhet Split Cards Rules Change: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/amonkhet-split-card-rules-changes-2017-04-04

Magic: The Gathering’s Head Designer has a damn hard job: http://compete.kotaku.com/magic-the-gatherings-head-designer-has-a-damn-hard-job-1793792384

The Finisher

This week, New York City FC signed FIFA pro Christopher Holly to a contract, as the first esports star signed to a Major League Soccer club. Now this is of course is a soccer club signing a soccer star, of the digital athletic variety, but it does open the door for future partnerships. Perhaps partnerships with Magic. So who would you like to see make the leap from cardboard to a traditional sports franchise?

First Pick & Giveaway:

GIVEAWAY -  7 Wonders Duel - Winner chosen Friday at 11PM ET - https://gleam.io/cLWet/7-wonders-duel-giveaway

EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW - 4/12
ERIN PREVIEW - 4/4

Amonkhet Spoilers

http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/so-much-amonkhet-news-2017-03-27

• Punch card token?!
• • “Embalmed” / Exerted / Brick Tokens / -1/-1 Counters
• Exerted Mechanic (“Tryhard”)
• • Glorybringer
• Archfiend of Ifnir
• • Return of Cycling!
• Oracle’s Vault
• • Brick Counters
• Trueheart Duelist
• • Embalm mechanic

Invocations:

http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/card-preview/masterpiece-series-amonkhet-invocations-2017-03-29

Trick GIF: https://twitter.com/TrickMTG/status/846850855626145792

Via Aaron Forsythe - They were meant to look not English; So...good job?

https://twitter.com/mtgaaron/status/846898199893852160

Gather the Townsfolk:

MTG Art Show Kickstarter - Josh Krause and Mike Linnemann

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/originalmagicart/magic-art-show-art-exhibition-at-gp-las-vegas-2017

Three Unique pieces of Original Artwork to show off based on our chosen guild:

• Erin - Overgrown Tomb by Rob Alexander
• Reuben - Guttersnipe by Steve Prescott
• Evan - Render Silent by Kev Walker

Cascade Games partnering with DreamHack Austin for $10k event; is this the next big thing for non-CFB TOs” To partner with non-MTG big gaming conventions?

https://austin.dreamhack.com/17/magic-tournament/

Announcement Day moved to “June” http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/announcement-day-moved-june-2017-03-24

Lack of Graveyard Hate was planned

http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/158927141188/have-we-already-seen-the-reason-for-the-lack-of

Mike Davis has died

http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/158835525848/sad-news

Going Infinite

http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/latest-developments/update-standard-2017-03-24

• What makes Standard Good?
• No Core Set means no ‘random cards’ (like Steel Overseer in M11 to help Scars block, etc) to help previous themes.
• 4 Huge Set Themes vs 2 Huge Set Themes = a problem with balance.
• Hate cards are lacking. Kaladesh didn’t need Shatterstorm, but not even a Naturalize?

Besides Tibalt, what is the worst Planeswalker in a Standard Set?

https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/61fr3j/besides_tibalt_what_is_the_worst_planeswalker/

Popular:

• Chandra Ablaze (Zendikar)
• Gideon, Champion of Justice (Guildpact)
• Jace, the Living Guildpact (M15)
• Liliana of the Dark Realms (M14)
• Sarkhan Unbroken (Dragons of Tarkir)
• Dovin Baan (Kaladesh)
• Kiora, Master of the Depths (Battle for Zendikar)

The Finisher

I stumbled across a Reddit thread this week that got me thinking: we’ve seen Homelands, Prophecy, Dragon’s Maze, Rebecca Guay-gate, Necro, Affinity, Bant Company, Eldrazi, enemy fetchlands, enemy fetchland reprints, counterfeits, Wingdings mana, Wingdings abilities, and now Wingdings Masterpieces. But so far, nothing has successfully killed Magic. So in one sentence, what can actually kill Magic?

First Pick & Giveaway:

COOLSTUFFINC GIVEAWAY - 2x copies of Duel Deck: Mind vs Might - https://gleam.io/ovkVI/win-a-free-copy-of-duel-decks-mind-vs-might

ChannelFireball takes over ALL GPs beginning 2018, ‘multi-year’ plan;

Magic Show points:

• No Competition means…
• • Likely higher prices for players
  • Likely higher prices for vendors
• Players get:
• • Consistent Experience
  • Promotions can last multiple events
• Player dangers:
• • Higher prices
  • No new ideas / bland events
• Judge good
• • Only one place to schedule events
  • Consistent compensation (no bad vs great organizers)
• Judge bad
• • End of Judge program due to lawsuits
  • Centralizing of premier level play judging will allow the implementation of a separate institution easily

Modern Masters 2017 Release - price drops?

Thanks to MM2017 - Dragon’s Maze is now worth $35/box, $.97/pack

No Bans: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/march-13-2017-banned-and-restricted-announcement-2017-03-13

Mind vs Might Decklists: YAWN http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/duel-decks-mind-vs-might-2017-03-20

Gather the Townsfolk:

http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=13853&writer=Neale+Talbot&articledate=3-14-2017 

Neale Talbot

• Wizards needs to consolidate their customer tracking information into a single customer-identifiable ID.
• Wizards have already consolidated DCI and other information into “Wizards Accounts.”
• Wizards is phasing out DCI numbers and shutting down legacy systems.
• MDN has been identified as a “platform” that provides a “seamless digital experience.”
• MDN could serve as Wizards opportunity to unifying accounts as a launch-pad to interacting with Magic IP products, both online and offline.

• WotC copying Blizzard by creating a “Wizards ID”
• • Can track online and offline play
  • No need for DCI (see also: Judge program)

Going Infinite

https://www.mtggoldfish.com/articles/the-face-walker-problem - Too many PWalkers these days? 4x per set since BFZ, was 2.4~ or so per set before. Small set get 2 vs 1 previously.

Splash Damage
I Made Obscene Money Forging Magic the Gathering Cards: http://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-2472-i-made-obscene-money-forging-magic-gathering-cards.html

Lifecoach on Quitting Hearthstone: http://www.pcgamer.com/lifecoach-on-quitting-hearthstone-you-dont-get-rewarded-you-get-punched-in-the-face/?utm_content=buffer00bed&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=buffer-pcgamertw

The Finisher

This week after the GAMA show, there was a huge shake up that left three iconic long-time board game legends out of a job. I'm talking of course about the three Monopoly pieces (the thimble, the wheelbarrow, and the boot) that got the boot from the all-time classic and truly terrible Hasbro title. More than 4.3 million votes on social media determined the newly configured group of eight: a T-Rex, rubber ducky and penguin will join the five classic tokens Scottie the dog, hat, car, battleship, and the cat, which you may recall replaces the iron in 2013. This is a truly momentous day, but it begs the question: what iconic character would be next to get the boot in Magic?

First Pick & Giveaway:

SUNDAY - PATRON HANGOUT @ 10PM ET

COOLSTUFFINC GIVEAWAY - Ultra Pro supplies featuring new Snapcaster Mage - Deck Box, Playmat, and Sleeves - https://gleam.io/B8Bzr/snapcaster-mage-ultra-pro-product-giveaway

Modern Masters comedown - Tarmogoyf, Blood Moon, Cavern of Souls in the set. EV off the chain.

Pauper - Thunderous Wrath at common(!)

Reactions:

• Karn price spike
• Mishra’s Bauble continues to get more expensive
• Noble Hierarch
• Fulminator Mage (at $30+)

Banning announcement on Monday - what stays? Can JtMS return? Will Mox Opal get banned?

MTGO Champs reactions: Wrapter Wins, Lucas Blohan 2nd Place with impressive showing

http://magic.wizards.com/en/events/coverage/mtgochamp16

https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/5xj2oe/the_magic_online_championship_coverage_is/

https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/5xjqo5/patrick_sullivan_is_insane_at_commentary/

Gather the Townsfolk:

MOCS - reactions mixed, new casters (PSulli)

Masterpieces in future Modern Masters sets?

http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/157891732608/why-are-there-no-masterpieces-in-modern-masters

Pass the Salt

Reserve List Birthday - March 4th, 1996 - in response from Chronicles & Fourth Edition

From reddit:

The revision of the list happened in direct response to the Phyrexia vs. Coalition Duel Decks, which were revealed to contain a copy of Phyrexian Negator. Duel Decks being such a heavily printed product compared to something like a judge foil or FTV product caused a lot of people to get extremely worried about the potential future reprints that this could lead to (Forums were ablaze at the time), and either due to the outcry that this resulted in, or due to someone with actual power to do something, a meeting was called to discuss the future of the Reserved List. At the time, it was something that Wizards were open to discussing to some degree, and everyone expected that it would be the death knell of the thing.

Splash Damage

MaRo top-rated speaker at last year’s Game Developer’s Conference: http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/158080188633/excited-to-discover-i-was-the-top-rated-speaker-at

Broken Concentration & Accursed Witch nominated for Spectrum awards: http://fleskpublications.com/blog/2017/03/06/spectrum-24-award-nominations/

Viewer - Q&A

The Finisher

This week, the NHL’s expansion team the Las Vegas Golden Knights signed the very first player in franchise history: a free agent forward from the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League by the name of Reid Duke. Now, obviously, this Reid Duke is not the same Reid Duke we all know and love, but that didn’t prevent the Twitter mentions of our favorite Peach Gardener from filling up faster than an open net. It also means that hashtag Baewatch is now also hashtag Knightwatch and we all have a new favorite hockey squad, so Erin and Reuben, what I want to know is this: what’s next for the NHL’s Golden Knights now that they have the adoration of Magic players everywhere?

First Pick:

Exclusive Preview - Scavenging Ooze!

GIVEAWAY - 4x Scavenging Ooze from Modern Masters 2017

https://gleam.io/nhEgc/magic-mics-4x-mm3-scavenging-ooze-giveaway

Damnation

Enemy Fetchlands

Path to Exile & Inquisition at Uncommon (Inquisition was rare in Conspiracy 2)

Liliana of the Veil

• Giving community members spoilers
• • Kibler gets Bonfire
  • Losset gets Terminus
  • Alexander Hayne was Entreat
  • Frank Karsten was Stony Silence
  • Loading Ready Run was Seance
  • Mark Rosewater had Gifts Ungiven

PAUPER

• Burning-Tree Emissary
• Magma Jet
• Mortician Beetle from Rare to Common(!)

Still Looking For:

• Mishra’s Bauble
• Blood Moon
• Engineered Explosives
• Crucible of Worlds

Gather the Townsfolk:

CFB & CoolStuffInc buying back reprints

The Finisher

It seems Wizards of the Coast is really into trolling it’s official previewers this time around, what with giving us a graveyard hate card and giving Brian Kibler Bonfire of the Damned, giving Frank Karsten Stony Silence, and giving Loading Ready Run Seance, and a few more. So for when Amokhet rolls around, what card would troll you the most?

First Pick:

GP VEGAS STARRING US

CoolStuffInc.com sponsorship coming next week!

Amonkhet packaging, full art lands, mummies

http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/modern-masters-2017-edition-and-amonkhet-packaging-2017-02-20?

2017 Modern Masters - Domri Rade & Stoic Angel on Packaging? (Griselbrand on other); Clearly Snapcaster Mage on packaging.

Planeswalker Decks - Gideon & Liliana

- Liliana, Death's Manipulator 5BB

+2: -1/-1 cntr on 1 creature;

- Gideon, Martial Paragon 4W

+2 Untap guys, +1/+1 UEOT

Amonkhet Full Art Lands - 4 in 1

Archenemy: Nicol Bolas - Red-Headed Stepchild

Hasbro Investor Call - More Magic Digital Next Details

• https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/5umqp7/first_ever_look_at_magic_digital_next/
• Magic “with no compromises”
• Trailer reaction “similar to Halo”

MTGO having to scrap the Mirage-Tempest Flashback Gauntlets, replacing with Triple Khans Flashback Drafts. (Gurl.)

Gather the Townsfolk:

Gerry T, Sam Black, Josh Utter-Leyton attempting to break Modern with Death’s Shadow: http://magic.wizards.com/en/events/coverage/gpvan17

Most dominating GP deck ever? No: https://twitter.com/Walaoumpa/status/833695766174633984

What I Love About Magic: The Personal Growth: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/ways-play/what-i-love-about-magic-personal-growth-2017-02-21

Auctioning off 1996 WC original art https://www.facebook.com/groups/1884307028466174/1938239219739621

Original Card - $200k:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162395566127

Going Infinite

Magic’s eSports Future: http://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=13819&writer=Corbin+Hosler&articledate=2-22-2017

No mo Kamigawa probably :(

https://twitter.com/TheManaSource/status/834485968707153922

The Finisher

Today NASA held a press conference announcing that seven, count ‘em, seven Earth-sized planet have been discovered in a solar system only about 40 lightyears from ours. The discovery of the TRAPPIST-1 system sets a new record for the greatest number of habitable-zone planets found around a single star outside our solar system. All of these seven planets could have liquid water, and three fall within the Goldilocks zone that can support human life. This is obviously a huge day for those interested in space exploration and that meme guy from the History channel, but tell me: what will Magic be like once we enter the Interstellar era?