Lab Notes!

  The Strange Guilt of Winning Here’s something weird that no one tells you about casual Magic: if you lose often enough, winning can feel worse than losing. Sounds backwards, right? But let me explain. When you’re used to losing, it becomes part of your identity at the table. You’re the “fun chaos player,” the “pillow-fort that never quite closes the deal,” or the guy everyone knows won’t be the threat by turn seven. Losing becomes safe. Expected. Comfortable. Then one day, the stars align, your jank combo finally fires, and—you win. Boom. Game over. Victory. And instead of basking in glory, your brain serves up… guilt. Why? Psychology’s got a few nasty little tricks at play here: The Loser’s Script: If you’ve been the underdog long enough, winning feels like you’re breaking character. Like you stole someone else’s ending. The Group Dynamic: In casual pods, “losing gracefully” is sometimes valued more than “winning ruthlessly.” So when you finally crush it, you worry ...

  From Mad Saxxon to Mentor: Why Commander Should Stay Fun There was a time—long ago, when my beard was less gray and my plays were a lot wilder—when I earned the nickname Mad Saxxon. Why? Because in the middle of a brutal match, someone once said: “You’d cut off your own arm just to beat someone to death with it!” And honestly… they weren’t wrong. That was my vibe back then. Winning wasn’t enough—I wanted to win with fire, with style, with absolute chaos. But time (and Magic formats) have a way of shaping you. My headspace has changed, my opinions and strategies have shifted, and I’ve learned that Commander is a whole different beast. Now, as I work with other creators on bringing new players into this format, I’ll admit—I almost overthought it. I was looking at the enormity of the task, the endless possibilities, the labyrinth of Commander politics and deckbuilding. I was making it way too complex. Here’s the truth: This is a game. It should be fun. The job isn’t to ...

  I Hate Alchemy (and Why Nice Guys Finish Last on Arena) “A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.”    Let me get this out of the way up front: I hate Alchemy. Hate it. Despise it. The digital-only nonsense, the endless “rebalancing,” the half-baked mechanics that would collapse under their own weight if they ever had to exist in cardboard form—Alchemy feels like Magic’s integrity got fed into a paper shredder just so someone in accounting could hit their quarterly bonus. Sure, the official line is that it keeps the game “fresh” and “exciting.” But let’s not kid ourselves. This isn’t about fresh gameplay—it’s about milking the cow until it keels over. And here’s the real kicker: nobody cares. Nobody at Wizards cares that Alchemy cheapens the game. Nobody on the Arena ladder cares if you’re stubbornly refusing to play the busted cards. Nobody gives you a shiny badge of honor for “staying true to real Magic.” If anythin...

  Ob Nixilis Hits the Gym: Cutting the Fat From My Commander Deck So here’s the thing—my Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath deck was looking a little… flabby. You know the type: carrying around Manalith and Darksteel Ingot like they’re still “good” ramp, waddling into battle with Gravebane Zombie hoping to scare someone. Cute, but not exactly striking fear into a Commander pod. Time for a workout. Time to shed the bulk and stack on muscle. I pulled out the red pen and put my deck through the ultimate gym session: swapping out the cards that were just hanging around eating chips for ones that actually do work . What Got Cut (aka the Dead Weight) Manalith / Darksteel Ingot – Slow, clunky, no synergy. Commander's Sphere – Cute draw trick, but we can do better. Fountain of Renewal – Gained me nothing but false hope. Raise the Draugr / Disturbed Burial – Weaksauce recursion. Carnage Altar – Overpriced gym membership, no gains. Gravebane Zombie – Indestructible bulk, ...

  Sometimes, Magic: the Gathering feels like jazz—improv, chaos, everyone trying to solo at once. But what if you played it like a grandmaster of chess? Enter José Raúl Capablanca, the "Human Chess Machine," world champion, and the guy who made beating people look as casual as breathing. Capablanca wasn’t flashy. He didn’t need fireworks on the board. He just made the right move, over and over, until his opponents ran out of options. That style translates beautifully to Magic. Here’s how we can steal a page from his book (without needing a monocle and a Havana cigar): 1. Clarity Over Chaos Capablanca never cluttered the board with nonsense. Every move had a purpose. In MTG terms: cut the jank. Every card in your deck should either buy you time, build advantage, or lock down the board. Tibalt’s Apprentice translation: Stop playing that one-off pet card that sometimes does something cool. Stick with your Counterspells , Swords to Plowshares , and Propagandas that always del...

      MTG Product Fatigue: How to Survive the Flood Without Going Broke If you’ve been playing Magic: The Gathering lately, you’ve probably noticed something… There’s a lot of Magic coming out. Like… “drown-in-cardboard” levels. But instead of just complaining about product fatigue, let’s talk about how to make it work for you, so you keep playing, save money, and stay sane.      PICK YOUR BATTLES You don’t need to buy everything Wizards puts out. Seriously. Think of it like a buffet — you don’t pile every dish on your plate. Pick the products that fit your playstyle and skip the rest without guilt. Commander player? Maybe you grab one precon a year and singles that upgrade your deck. Standard grinder? Focus on the sets with the mechanics you actually want to play.      USE THE FLOOD AGAINST IT When everything’s getting printed, prices tank faster than a Goblin in a Pit Trap. That’s your window — wait a few weeks after release and scoop up st...

  Blog Post: Sarcasm, Steely Dan, and Why You Never Know If I’m Insulting You A friend of mine once told me, “When I talk to you, I never know if I’ve just been insulted.” And honestly? I took that as high praise. Because sarcasm, done right, is an art. It’s the seasoning that makes dry truth taste like dessert. It’s humor with teeth. And apparently, I wield it like a scalpel dipped in glitter and spite. Lately, I’ve been trying to broaden my horizons beyond Magic: the Gathering. Not just new decks or formats—but the stuff around the game. The things that shape how I think, speak, and create. The quirks that define me not just as a player, but as a person. And something I’ve realized? I freaking love sarcasm. Especially in music. I’ve already professed my love for Steely Dan—masters of the jazzy, cynical wink. But I also love Ben Folds, whose lyrics feel like middle fingers hidden in piano chords. Both artists blend dark humor with razor-sharp wit, crafting songs that sa...