Patrick “The Innovator” Chapin Launches Kickstarter for In-Depth Magic Strategy Book

Last updated on January 13, 2026

Index | Illustration by Kev Walker

It's easy to throw around names when you're discussing some of the best players in MTG, but Patrick Chapin might actually be the GOAT. Multiple second-place finishes at Worlds, a win at Pro Tour Atlanta in 2014, and… a rap album? Doesn't get too much more goaty than that.

He's also responsible for some of the best strategic reading material in the game, having published the popular Next Level Magic back in 2010, as well as Next Level Deckbuilding in 2015. Looks like there's a third book in the works, so if you're a fan of Chapin's work, get ready for Next Level Magic Forever.

Book Number Three

Source: Kickstarter

Patrick Chapin took to Twitter/X to advertise his new writing venture with a simple message: “January 13th…” That's the date the Kickstarter for his new book launched, which gathered around 250 backers and over $25,000 pledged on the first day.

Next Level Magic Forever is the third in a series of deep dive Magic strategy books penned by Chapin, and advertised as “The MTG book I wish existed.” Chapin's a well-known name in MTG, both for his high-level tournament play and his written content, much of which comes from Star City Games.

Known as “The Innovator”, Chapin was inducted into the Magic Hall of Fame in 2012, and has appeared in the Top 8 of five separate Pro Tours, winning Pro Tour Journey into Nyx in 2014. You can watch the finals of that Pro Tour down below, harkening back to a pre-Khans era when people were still calling Abzan “Junk” (spoiler, Chapin wins). If you love grindy midrange mirrors, this match is still worth the watch 10+ years later.

Chapin's known in the community for his deckbuilding prowess, championing an old Dragonstorm storm deck that was popularized back in the late 2000s. You can check out some much more dated gameplay involving that deck as well.

And of course, Chapin's involved in one of the most memorable moments in Magic history, where he fired off a few storm copies of Ignite Memories against Gabriel Nassif, and, well, the result got the crowed cheering for a few seconds. It's up there with the “Kibler Bonfire of the Damned” moment. This is all to say that Chapin's an accomplished Magic player with the track record to back up publishing multiple books about Magic strategy.

According to the Kickstarter campaign, this latest Next Level entry features “contributions from many of the game's most brilliant minds,” and specifically mentions household MTG names such as Reid Duke, Sam Black, Seth Manfield, and more. Couldn't help but notice he never reached out to me for testimony, but it seems my genius shall remain hidden from the world.

The Kickstarter reached its goal of $15,000 almost immediately. Both previous works are available as physical books and e-books, and there's confirmation that Next Level Magic Forever will also have a physical release, which should look nice on the bookshelf next to all those unopened Final Fantasy Collector Booster boxes you have for some reason.