A once recurring mechanic, intimidate now stands in the long line of defunct mechanics that restrict how a player can block attacking creatures. So are you feeling intimidated yet? If not, let’s delve into what intimidate is and how it works in...
Read moreA lot of the basic mechanics that we learn in Magic as new players are foundational to the game itself. Only one expansion has ever decided to replace flying: Portal: Three Kingdoms. Today I’m going to look at the mechanic that took its place, if...
Read moreEveryone acknowledges the ubiquity of the +1/+1 counter. But what about its evil cousin, the -1/-1 counter? Throughout the years one mechanic or another has focused on creating -1/-1 counters, and wither may be the iconic -1/-1 ability.
Read moreI love Magic mechanics that are “controversial” among fans. Today I want to talk about Commander’s very own exclusive and controversial mechanic: eminence.
Read moreConvoke was one of the most well-known alternate ways to pay for cards in Magic for years, but it only counts creatures. What about artifacts? Let me introduce you to improvise.
Read moreThere isn’t just one kind of draft; there are actually 15 (!) different ways to draft. I feel like talking about all of them would be confusing so let’s just stick to one for today: the Winston Draft.
Read moreWe saw a handful of designed-for-digital mechanics with Arena’s new Alchemy format. One of the new mechanics is known as a “spellbook,” which is oddly familiar to one of Hearthstone’s mechanics. But what is it?
Read moreIf you’re like me and started playing Magic after 1999, you probably just thought that “interrupt” was the old word for instant. Well, it’s not. Let’s talk about that!
Read moreOne of my favorite mechanics from the Amonkhet block came about in Hour of Devastation: eternalize. If that doesn’t sound awesome, I don’t know what does.
Read moreBlack was one of my favorite colors and to this day I’m pretty sure it has to do with two things: Phyrexians and [REPLACE CARD]Fear[/REPLACE], both the card itself and the ability that spawned from it. But what is the “fear” mechanic? Let’s take...
Read more2021 is Magic’s 28th birthday, and there’s a good chance you don’t know much (or even anything) about the “ante” rule if you started playing any time in the last 25 years. It’s said that when Richard Garfield first created the game, he intended...
Read moreAs all MTG players know, you “tap” your lands to cast your spells and “tap” your creatures to attack your opponent. Lands and creatures that haven’t yet been tapped are “untapped.” Though such lingo is likely second nature to everyone with me...
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