Casual Try Hard MTG

This week  is our 100th show!  We take time to look back on what was going on in the world of magic and in our lives around episode 1 and compare them to what is going on at episode 100.  Needless to say, a lot has changed. Magic Around Episode 1 - 5:50 Magic at Episode 100 - 26:02 How cards have changed - 1:13:55 To help support the podcast, please consider going to TCG using our link: tcg.casual...

This week we are joined by Kristos @kristosiivevo , a local player and streamer.  He has been grinding the historic ladder and spent all weekend watching the Zendakar Rising Championship.  We discuss the best decks from the weekend, what he is seeing on ladder and his general impressions on the format.  We also talk about the upcoming roll out of Pioneer on Arena and if that will save the format....

This week is all about Arena.  First, with members of the community talking about the Arena economy, we wanted to talk about our experiences.  How we build collections, how many manage our Arena funds and what would be nice to see changed.  Then we talk about how to have fun on Arena.  We know that not every format or way to play is for everyone so we talked about what things we like to do. Arena...

This week is all about our collections.  We first talk about all of the sealed product that we have decided to collect.  We talk about why to keep product sealed and what products you should keep.  Then we talk about what singles we buy.  Finally, we get into how to store and protect these cards.  With all this knowledge, we give you some suggestions as to what you should buy from the new Commande...

This week, we discuss the pros and cons of Historic and Pioneer.  We talk about what which format brings to Magic and why they both need to exist.  They we talk about a Mardu vehicles list we found on Twitter.  Then we talk about how to draft Kaladesh Remastered. Historic vs Pioneer - 8:13 Why do we need Historic - 10:17 Why do we need Pioneer - 27:33 Mardu Vehicles - 54:23 Kaladesh Remastered - 1...

This week we wander around the world of Modern.  Not to talk about the top tier decks, but to talk about some budget options.  We discuss the many flavors of no land combo decks that are in the format.  Each of these decks plays out differently and can have room for you to tailor it to your play style.  Since these decks have no lands, they avoid the cost of the fetch-shock mana base and can provi...

This week is all about new cards.  First, we talk about some Commander Legends cards that could impact legacy.  Then we get into the new Arena set Kaladesh Remastered.  We talk about the cards that did not make the list and the most impactful cards from the set for Historic.  Commander Legends cards in Legacy - 8:28 Kaladesh Remastered - 33:36 Kaladesh cards that missed the cut - 42:22 Kaladesh ca...

This week, we talk all about planeswalkers.  We start with broadly why planeswalkers are good.  Then discuss the designs that see play and why.  We then work down a list of all of the various types of planeswalkers and highlight what makes them succeed or fail.  Our hope is to help give you the tools to evaluate planeswalkers during next spoiler season.  We then talk about the all-time great plane...

These week, we walk through common card choices in standard.  We talk about one version of a card is better than another.  We go through what aspects of the card and format can lead you to pick one card over another.   Card choices - 4:17 Ramp spells - 5:28 Burn spells - 28:10 Black Removal - 43:53 Counter Spells - 1:02:09 Protection spells - 1:21:27 Lands - 1:29:57 To help support the podcast, pl...

This week we have more bans.  Omnath has been sent away from all Arena formats and we have new formats to talk about.  We start off with bans.  The basic who, what and why.  The we talk about the grand finals and what happened and what decks were good.  That lead us into talking about what decks are still worth thinking about in standard and historic going forward.  Then we got excited about getti...

This week, we play RR and discard a card as an additional card to cast Wild Guess.  We are taking some guesses at what types of mechanics are coming for the next year.  A listener asked and we delivered! Guess the upcoming mechanics - 7:58 Kaldheim - 8:34 Snow specs - 18:48 Back to Kaldheim - 26:20 Strixhaven - 32:46 Forgotten Realms - 43:23 Return to Return to Innistrad - 56:07 Arena time - 1:07:...

Well, we are back to ban talk again.  Standard did not even make it a full week before something had to go.  We discuss sending Uro to the Shadow Realm.  Then we get into what should have been banned and why this keeps happening.  Then, the "Walking Dead" is coming to Magic and we wonder if this is a good thing?  Since Standard is a bit of a dumpster fire, we have spent most of our time in Zendika...

This week we give our first impressions of Zendikar Rising for both constructed and limited.  Our constructed comments are based on what we have seen on social media, streams and other sources since we focused on limited.  What we do know for sure is YIKES!  The majority of the podcast is focused on limited.  We go over our first impressions, talk about cards that impressed us or disappointed.  We...

This week we get into the interesting cards from Zendikar Rising!  We start out be working through the signpost uncommons to see what you should do in draft and what archetypes might find a place in standard.  We then work through the colors to talk about cards will think will be interesting in constructed from the set.  We then talk about cards members of our discord were interested in. To help s...

This week we use the principles that were discussed last week to look at the banned in standard the last few years.  We wanted to see if there were commonalities among them that would help us find the next broken card.  We take a few minutes to think about how have a history in the game impacts our card evaluations and if people are new to the game have an advantage.  Then we discuss the new Zendi...

This week James did has homework and reviewed articles from Magic's history to discuss the worth of a card.  We go through the classic theory laid out in the "Philosophy of Fire", the "Grand Unified Theory" and the "Theory of Everything."  We then look at why flexible cards are so good using some of these principles.  Finally, we look at the new planeswalkers from Zendikar Rising. Philosophy of Fi...

This week is bans and new products.  First, to the surprise of no one Field of the Dead is banned in Historic.  We talk about the why and where the format might go from here.  Then we discuss some new commander products.  We look at them from the prospective more competitive players.  They are a way to get staples you do not have and will introduce powerful cards into legacy.  We then use the exam...

This week we take a long look at Amonkhet Remastered's impact on Historic.  We go through all of the cards that we think will be important for you to have for Historic from the new set.  That way you know where to spend your wild cards.  Then we talk about the Historic metagame a bit. Amonkhet Remastered sealed 3:38 Amonkhet Remastered - White 5:55 Amonkhet Remastered - Blue - 18:06 Amonkhet Remas...

This week we look back on the bans that happened all across magic.  We talk about why these things happened and what it might mean.  Then we get into how to approach Double Masters from a finance prospective.  Finally, we check in on the Arena State of the Game. The How and Why of the Bans - 3:34 Standard Bans - 7:08 Format Refresh  - 16:59 The Why of the Pioneer Bans - 19:07 The pioneer bans - 26...

We wanted to get in on all the fun of doubling stuff up so in honor of Double Masters, here is a double length podcast.  We start off talking about the new set boosters which leads us into the problem with having a million different Magic products.  Then we talk about our frustrations with current Magic, all the products and how Arena plays a role in all of this.  We try to come up with a way to f...

This week we spent some time on the hot topic for Magic, VIP boosters.  What is in them and is it worth it to crack them?  Then we dive into some listener questions about fetch lands and sideboards.  We talk about jumping into Jumpstart on Arena last week.  We go over the format, how the decks play and talk a little about the distribution model for the set.  In historic, James is serving up some s...

Another week, another Banned and Restricted announcement for Magic.  Isn't 2020 great?  This week the guys talk about the changes to Historic, Pioneer, Modern and Pauper.  They look at why the cards left and what might happen to the format going forward.  Then they talk about the danger of leaks when it comes to speculating then immediately talk about a leaked card.  Finally, they talk about a new...

Well Core 2021 has been out for a little bit and so we look at the various formats where it is making an impact.  First, we talk about the draft format and what we have liked and been drafting.  Then we talk through how and to some degree why Core 2021 has not had a big impact on standard.  James has a spicy brew in historic, while it does not use many Core 2021 cards, he is winning a lot. Then we...

This week is all about Jumpstart.  First, we break down what Jumpstart is and why it is.  Then, we go through the decks and all most of the new cards in the set. Next up is the Arena state of the game.  We breakdown the changes coming to the program, how Jumpstart might be brought to arena and talk about a new set on the horizon. What is Jumpstart? - 4:11 Jumpstart Themes - 22:33 Jumpstart final t...

This week we breakdown the cards that look interesting from Core 2021.  We breakdown cards were are excited about and talk about cards listeners have asked us about. Uncommon Limited Signposts - 3:40 Interesting Standard Cards - 19:41 Sublime Epiphany - 19:55 Teferi, Master of Time - 24:28 Teferi’s tutelage - 30:02 Archfiend’s Vessel - 33:03 Kitesail Freebooter - 38:26 Liliana Waker of the Dead -...