The Howling Salt Mine

Welcome to Episode 90! It's the MagicCon Chicago Recap Special! In today's episode, we are joined by Nick as we talk about our experience at MagicCon Chicago! Join us as we go day by day and talk about the games we played, the people we met, and the overall experience of this convention.  Thank you so much to all the prospectors at the convention that played games with us, had us sign things, wore...

Welcome to Episode 89! In today's episode, we talk about dealing with a cheater in style, dying from your own powerful cards, and when your local "aspiring judge" can't seem to get a rule right. Sam also talks about his experience at SCG Con Hartford from the highs of interesting cEDH tech to the lows of karmic backlash. Stay Salty! ____ Find HSM merch on our website and our Bonfire site ! Email y...

Welcome to Episode 88! The mine cart is full today as we welcome our first guests of 2024 with Andy and Kyle from the Legendary Creature Podcast! In today's episode, we talk about "sideboarding" silver bullets in EDH, dealing with house rules in an already miserable 8-player game, and a salt lord who spoke a big game and got what he deserved.  Also storm turn bathroom breaks, santaria rock band, a...

Welcome to Episode 87! In today's episode, we talk about pubstomping the pubstomper, that one guy that takes a three player game way too seriously, and an LGS that doesn't approve of custom tokens. We also talk comfort shows and Simian Horse Fish.  Stay Salty! ____ Find HSM merch on our website and our Bonfire site ! Email your salty stories to thehowlingsaltmine@gmail.com! Find links to all our s...

Welcome to Episode 86! In today's episode, we talk about splintering the meta of your playgroup with a healthy dose of salt, when your opponent loses and still says your deck is bad, and when a new player gets angry at you for helping them out. Also finger carrots, autocorrect, and Tony auditions for another musical.  Stay Salty! ____ Find HSM merch on our website and our Bonfire site ! Email your...

Welcome to Episode 85! In today's episode, we talk about a hero delivering vigilante justice to save two excellent friends, a player who was banned for burning the meta, and when you don't want to run a card because it is too clunky. Also, Gullah Gullah Island and American Psycho business cards. Quothe the douche, "I swear my deck never does this." Stay Salty! ____ Find HSM merch on our website an...

Hey all! Just a quick announcement from us about MagicCon Chicago! If you didn't catch it on the main feed, we will be at MagicCon Chicago from Feb 23 to 25th, AND we will have exclusive Food Tokens to hand out featuring our new Pizza: The Gathering design!  We are also selling a new shirt special for Chicago on our Bonfire site with the new Pizza: The Gathering design! These will be sold in one w...

Welcome to Episode 84! In today's episode, we talk about two players "pubstomping" in a two-headed giant tournament, how forgetting to bring stuff to a game night is the WORST, and someone who is so salty that they yell at your dad.  Also, stealing from your friends, elderly lizardfolk, and double slappin'! Stay Salty! ____ Find HSM merch on our website and our Bonfire site ! Email your salty stor...

Welcome to Episode 83! In today's episode, the Salt Boys become Salt Justices as we review our first salt rating appeal! Then we talk about how knowing the rules is OP and what happens when your deck gets a bad reputation that you can't shake. Also, the wonders of the didgeridoo and epic Turn 1 plays in cEDH! Stay Salty! ____ Find HSM merch on our website and our Bonfire site ! Email your salty st...

Welcome to Episode 82!  Tony is away so the Pat will play! Pat is here with us this week! In today's episode, we talk about a player that walked into an infinite combo ending in a draw, when throwing aside your weighted clothing anime-style isn't very exciting, and brotherly love with brotherly salt. We also talk about Timeless, caving, and the toxic meta of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Stay Salty! ____...

Welcome to Episode 81 and Happy New Year! The Salt Boys kick off this episode with some podcast resolutions for the new year. Thank you to everyone who helped us grow in 2023. We have big plans for 2024! In today's episode, we talk about a salty scooper who leaves in a hurry, a double deal with a double cross, and a 5 player game that ended in a drawn out value grind.  Mike also tells us why Phyre...

Welcome to Episode 80! Callahan and Ian of The Mind Sculptors are with us today! (More like the Mine Sculptors amiright?) Welcome back to the mine, Ian! In today's episode, we talk about a player that scooped from their LGS by crewing Mom's Minivan, a salty confessional between friends with a dash of slivers, and whether humor really does help with salt or not. Callahan also treats us to some Flas...

Welcome to Episode 79! Who is that on the rooftop??? It's Santa! Well not really... but the holidays have the Gremlin Boys in high spirits as Mike tries to rein us in.  In today's episode, we talk about a player who decided to go for value over the win and cascaded into salt, a friend group torn asunder like so many scattered electronics, and a playgroup with tunnel-vision and a penchant for not o...

Welcome to Episode 78! In today's episode, we read a saga of cEDH salt from a salty city, talk about mana bases and hypergeometric distribution calculators, and discuss a story where a dad couldn't get away from a salt lord that cried Real Tears (tm). Sam even tells a saga of his own about replacing his tub faucet. Also you should just mulligan. You're not going to draw that one land you need. Sta...

Welcome to Episode 77! Today we are joined by our friend Dan, aka Moderately Anonymous MTG!  In today's episode, we talk about encounters with a salty Un-card, a potentially spiteful Pact of Negation in a cEDH game, and playing against a tired Nekusar player that has run out of patience.  We also talk about being a stickler for the rules and why Shivan Gorge is actually really good and cool. Long...

Welcome to Episode 76! Today we are joined by the Nitpicking Nerds, Mia and Beezy!  Tony couldn't make this one, but the mine cart is nice and full today. In today's episode, we talk about someone who insists that group hug is "casual" while playing a deck that is anything but, a player dealing with some frustrating playgroup dynamics and poorly timed spells, and a spelltable deck stacker who scoo...

Welcome to Episode 75! It's the MTG Summit Recap Special! Our episode today strays from our typical format as the Salty Boys recap their experience at the MTG Summit convention in Salt Lake City. We talk about the games we played, the salt we experienced, and all the awesome people that we met! We also recount Mike and Sam's harrowing trip to Salt Lake City, all of us drafting the Mental Misplay C...

Welcome to Episode 74! This episode was recorded live at MTG Summit, and we have our buddy Nick along for the ride with us today. In today's episode, we talk about a problem player named Kyle, when twiddling your basalt monolith goes wrong, and gloating hard in front of your friends. We also chat a bit about the Summit convention, but we are saving most of that for the upcoming Summit recap episod...

Welcome to Episode 73! It is time for the GREMLIN BOYS as Mike is away and Sam and Tony are left unsupervised.  In today's episode, we talk about an irritating situation at an LGS, getting stomped on your lunch break, and a sudden betrayal with a big Yargle and a couple squirrels. We also talk about food delivery services and why we love and hate them.  Stay Salty! ____ Find HSM merch on our websi...

Welcome to Episode 72! Our buddy Alan from Mental Misplay is in the mine cart with us today! Also Tony missed this week because we are absolutely pros at scheduling (not really we are trash). In today's episode, we talk about a friend who can't put down the COD, a spell table player who's cousin is a judge, and a player who went salt for salt all day with their games. Also all the homies love the...

Welcome to Episode 71! In today's episode, we talk about the tantrums of a local salt lord, the ups and downs of making friends salty, and a week by week escalation of salt between two friends.  Mike also treats us to a salty cEDH tale where the vibes were off, and we struggle to pronounce Boggart.  Stay Salty! ____ Find HSM merch on our website and our Bonfire site ! Email your salty stories to t...

Welcome to Episode 69! NICE! Tony is BACK and here we are with episode 69! It's like a regular episode except with slightly more raunchy jokes and slightly more exasperated groans from Mike.  In today's episode, we talk about the salt of having bad booster pack luck, some blazing hot takes with a Dash of salt, and a player that got bamboozled about commander damage.  We also talk about wearing rin...

What's this? Stray Grains on the main feed?? Yes, that is right! We are expanding our Patreon with new tiers, and what better way to spread the good word than by sharing some of our favorite Stray Grains episodes! Tune in to hear about our new Patreon tiers and benefits, AND listen to these wonderful Stray Grain episodes: Stray Grains: Tony Vs The Power Company Stray Grains: Blooming Onions and Sh...

Welcome to Episode...70? No, this isn't a mistake. Tony insisted he be a part of Episode 69, and he is still on his honeymoon right now so here is Episode 70! TIME TRAVEL! With Tony away, we welcome our honored guest host, Pat! In today's episode, we talk about an Urabrask deck that storms off only to leave two players heavily salted, what happens when a new deck gets wrecked by the perfect silver...

Welcome to Episode 68! Today we have the Scrybabies in the mine cart! Tori of the Vast and Lua Stardust join us for a day of salty stories. Welcome back to Lua, our first returning guest! In today's episode, we talk about infinite combos that don't quite fit in casual or cEDH, a salty confessional about a deck that is anything but group hug, and getting salty when your board gets wiped. We also he...