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Lab Report 001: The Binary Trap — Why Fun Should Be the Goal

 LAB REPORT 001:

The Binary Trap — Why Fun Should Be the Goal

Commander is one of the richest formats in Magic, but all too often I see players fall into what I call the binary trap. It's the idea that there's only one acceptable outcome: winning. When winning is your only goal, the game becomes black and white—either you win and have fun, or you lose and walk away disappointed. Every card, every turn, every interaction is judged by whether it contributes to a victory, and if it doesn’t, it’s seen as a waste. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a game.

But when you make fun your primary objective, the whole game opens up. Suddenly, there are infinite shades of gray between winning and losing. You start to notice the little victories—the perfect topdeck, the unlikely combo that almost goes off, the chaos you unleash with a single card. You laugh more. You engage more. You remember more. Fun doesn’t have to be the opposite of winning—it can include it—but it’s far more sustainable as a reason to play. And for players like me, who thrive on weird synergies and offbeat strategies, chasing fun makes every game a win, no matter the outcome.

 

Mad SaXXon, Tibalt's Apprentice

 

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