My editor says that articles are best at around 1500 words. My problem is that I’m a teacher. I teach sixth through twelfth grade students. In teaching we use something called the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) dictates what students are and are not able to learn based on what they currently know. I want…
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Previously, this article series has covered the basic considerations for a Standard-only Commander card pool consisting of Return to Ravnica, Gatecrash, Dragon’s Maze, Magic 2014, and Theros. This second part will cover the eight mono-colored legendary creatures provided by Theros and their possible inclusion in mono-colored decks. These legendary creatures are a good start for…
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I love Modern because of all the value. Even though Modern is a format where everything is subject to reprint, in addition to the likely release of more Modern Masters sets, the prices of staples are still low. In the year 2013, [card]Splinter Twin[/card] doubled in the U.S. shortly after doubling in Europe; [card]Chord of Calling[/card],…
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I know what you might be thinking. Why talk about multicolored creatures in regard to devotion? High devotion needs to be built up in the first three of four turns, right? You’re not wrong. All that extra mana can enable a hand-barf, but why not play a powerful creatures earlier than intended? Even better, what…
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Modern season is getting closer and closer. People are preparing for Pro Tour Valentia, the big Modern event before the PTQ season starts. At the PT, we’ll see the world’s best players brewing all manner of new decks that will inspire entire communities to speculate on cards. Competitive players will need to slowly start picking…
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This week’s episode comes from episode 83 of Brainstorm Brewery with guest host Adam Styborski (@the_stybs). Jason and Corbin inquire about how to make a fun yet powerful EDH deck. Corbin gives his reasons for playing Combo elements in his decks. Jason is still looking to find the perect 75% EDH deck. Adam see red…
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This weekend marked the first major Modern event of the year: Grand Prix Prague. As we creep closer and closer to Modern season, Modern staples are beginning to ascend in price almost across the board. If you don’t believe me, go TCGplayer and search [card]Birthing Pod[/card]. It’s already almost a $10.00 card, and Modern season…
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You have less than a month to sell your [card]Mutavault[/card]s or trade them away for something insane five minutes before a PTQ starts. This card should be in an event deck soon, and even if it’s not, demand can’t get much higher. There’s no upside left in the card, and it’s time to turn your…
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Hello and welcome to Serum Visions everyone It’s been a quiet week in the MTG world it seems. Or maybe I haven’t been paying any attention. I was stretching to come up with a topic that was related to the MTG world and my wife recommend to “just give them a good old history lesson.” I though…
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In every game of Magic, there is a winner and a loser. This is never more evident than playing in the first round of a large tournament. Sure, all of us want to win, but the truth is that some of us will lose that round. In fact, half of us will. That’s a lot…
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2013 is in our rearview mirrors, and what a year it was. There were a lot of financially-relevant happenings in the year gone by, and the gang reminisces. What happened in 2013, and how can that help us look at 2014? What will we be ready for when history repeats itself? Tune in for a…
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I don’t think I would be alone if I said that the MTG finance world is surrounded by a lot of misconceptions, especially as of late. With the recent [card]Splinter Twin[/card] and [card]Phyrexian Obliterator[/card] price spikes, speculators are pointed at maliciously. Casuals and grinders alike believe that those of us who want to make money…
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Go big or go home. Two wrongs don’t make a right, but three rights do make a left. I am never going to see a merman, ever! The Dow is up due to speculators. Oil is down due to speculators. These are common phrases in today’s investment world. One would think that speculators are responsible…
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I am not really one for the called shot in Magic finance. Aside from the fact that there is no accountability whatsoever, I’m not the type to deploy my capital based on one person’s opinion (unless that person is me). I read two or three Magic finance articles each week that use this methodology for…
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Over the holiday break, on New Year’s Eve, I was fortunate enough to get married to a beautiful woman I love very much, who has been supportive and encouraging, and without whom I would not be writing this article. Nika was the one who suggested that I take the opportunity to write for Brainstorm Brewery…
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Hey everyone! Sorry for the hiatus. I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays. I have been debating a lot of the future of this column and I’m writing a mini-article to bring the series up in the new year. What’s changing, you ask? I will be making the articles more poll-driven, with multiple per article to…
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This week’s episode comes from to episode 67 of Brainstorm Brewery with guest hosts Slick Jagger (@SlickJager) & Motyka (@mmotyka). Come listen to the brainstorming process behind the beer that Motyka is creating for the podcast. The debut of Brainstorm Brewery’s Black IPA will happen at #GPMontreal this March! Come learn a thing or two…
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Welcome to the Puzzle Box, everyone! It has been an awesome Christmas season! Lots of family and food and beer. I’m lucky that my brother was the one to introduce me to Magic. I bring my cube and we always fire couple of quick drafts after everyone has tired of each other. There was lots…
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Investing 201: Tracking Buy low sell, high. Double down when the dealer shows a six. Never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well known is this—always track your progress. Ahahahahahaha…..haha…..ha…………. In today’s world of investing, the media will all too often glorify a wild call that went right. A…
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The first item on my fearless personal inventory (discussed in my last article) is bad money management. If you are into the financial end of Magic in any way, shape, or form, bad money management should be at the top of your list as well. For most people, myself included, it is something that you…
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