Allied Strategies: Recent Episodes
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This is the final episode of Allied Strategies, and we have none other than the original co-host of the show, Neal Oliver, to reminisce about the past 6 years we’ve spent together! As the primary reason the show’s ending is that Benjamin is going to work for WOTC, we’ve also picked out some of our […]
Benjamin’s competing in the upcoming Zendikar Rising Championship – learn about the decks he’s chosen for both Standard and Historic and hear some bold claims about the power level of his cards!
This week’s episode features the debut of a fun new magic-card naming game, inspired by Alex Horne’s No More Jockeys. There’s also sporadic discussion of magic strategy, but really not very much so skip this episode if that’s what you’re looking for!
This week we’re taking a look at what went down at the MOCS, both in broad terms of how the metagames looked for the constructed formats and how Vintage Cube worked as a limited format, as well as some analysis of specific moments.
This weekend is the MOCS – read about it here: https://magic.gg/news/2019-magic-online-championship-viewers-guide In this episode, we break down how Modern, Pioneer, and Cube are looking going into the weekend.
This week we’re taking a look at several of the decks that occupy the most sizeable portions of the Standard metagame. Though there are some clear pillars of the format, there’s a lot left to explore and a lot of opportunity for a savvy player to be rewarded for good deck selection, building, and tuning, […]
This week we’re busting out an old segment, Will of the Council, in which we present two options, vote on them, and then declare the loser stupid. We also discuss the new style of broadcasting for organized play, and some fun games to play during quarantine. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week we’re taking a strategic look at the London Mulligan and discussing how it impacts gameplay, deck selection, deck building, and mulligan decision-making. This was inspired by a blog post by Alex Majlaton, read that here: https://neverdraftingagain.blogspot.com/2020/10/we-probably-dont-understand-london.html Here’s the reference image for the end story:
This week we covered the 2020 Season Grand Finals. Topics include Benjamin’s tournament results and deck thoughts, Intentional Draws in the digital age, and the future of Standard. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week Benjamin is getting ready for a tournament he’s decided to refer to as Worlds! Learn all about the Standard and Historic metagames he’s expecting and the decks he’s picked for each format. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week we’re not going to dwell for too long on the state of standard, just for a few minutes at the start. Our main topic is a selection of cards from the new set that we think will be impactful in the Historic format. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week we’re honoring (and dishonoring) some of the cards exiting Standard with this rotation. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
We’re back with more Zendikar Rising individual card discussion! Join us again next week to see if we will repeat the pattern for a third time! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week we’ve picked out some exciting cards from Zendikar Rising to discuss, mostly in the context of constructed but with a little bit of limited discussion too! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
Learn the strategic adjustments we suggest based on the power level of the format! Tips and tricks are given for formats everywhere on the spectrum from the highest power level formats, like Masters sets, all the way down to the most basic Core Set. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week we’re ranking stuff! Find out our top 5 Planeswalkers, Sweepers, Draft Commons, and more! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
Here’s the B&R announcement: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/august-8-2020-banned-and-restricted-announcement This week we’re discussing these bans and the kind of cards and strategies that may be enabled by them. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
Benjamin has experienced some uncharacteristic success and will be making an appearance in the top 8 over at twitch.tv/magic this weekend as the first seed! This week we inflate his ego further by discussing this, though we make sure to keep it in check with frequent backhanded compliments. Download this episode here! (right click and […]
This week we didn’t really have anything to talk about – the PT finals are coming up this weekend and both Ben and Sam have been prepping but neither felt like talking much about it, so instead we talked about all kinds of things. We hope to be back to magic soon, but we’re all […]
As is tradition, there are some Organized Play changes that draw discussion from us as part of this week’s show. Here’s a link if you want to follow along: https://magic.gg/news/announcing-the-2020-2021-magic-esports-season After that, we transition to our main topic – Benjamin’s getting ready to play the PT finals with a deck that he neither enjoys nor […]
This week’s show goes into a few different moderately sized topics, including a discussion of Mana Advantages, the number of health that Healing Salve would need to restore to be as powerful as Ancestral Recall, and then we get to our main topic of how to save Pioneer, a format in which 3 of the […]
This week we’re joined by returning guest Sam Sherman, currently ranked #32 on the MTG Elo Project, putting him in a solid third place among members of this episode. He’s been jamming some M21 drafts and is here to educate you (and us!) about the format. He’s also just started streaming Magic at https://www.twitch.tv/samdsherman – […]
This week we’ve picked out some cards from the upcoming Core Set to talk about that we think might make waves in Standard, Historic, and Modern! Download this video here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week we have Eli back on the show, coming off of a top 8 finish at the PT! We discuss the tournament itself, the process of playing an Arena/Discord tournament, and the decks that everyone settled on. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
Ben and Sam are playing the PT this weekend! Listen in to hear all about the decks they’ve been considering and their thoughts on the metagame. Next week we’ll check back to see how they did! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
A massive rules change and banning has landed on the Standard format (in addition to all the others), and this week we’re taking a look at some of the strategies that may emerge (or have been left standing) from the destruction. Next week we’ll explore this further as the PT will be upon us. Download […]
Ben and Sam both won tournaments this weekend! Unfortunately, neither format will continue to exist for much longer, as there is an impending B&R announcement, which we discuss, along with other news about Player Bannings, the MPL, and the new Double Masters set. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week, Ben and Sam are practicing for a brand new format, consisting of a bunch of random sets from Magic’s history. We also cover the changes to Organized Play this year. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
We’re piling onto the discussion about companions, covering our expectations for banlists, our thoughts on the mechanic and the cards as a whole, and our take on the entire process that led us to this point. We’ll tackle such questions as “should a card that is exciting for Standard but awful for Modern/Legacy be printed?” […]
It’s time for a stroll down memory lane as we tell the tales of our favorite constructed decks of all time (along with a few dishonorable mentions!) What decks do you have the fondest memories of? Let us know on twitter @alliedstrats Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
With dozens of drafts under our belts, this week we’re breaking down the fundamentals of the Ikoria Draft format – how each Archetype works, the key cards in each strategy, and cards that have surprised us by over- or under-performing. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
Sam’s cooked up a spicy Modern Combo deck built around Zirda, with a Collected Company shell and some cards you may recognize from decks such as his beloved Birthing Pod. The inspiration for this deck comes partly from Friend of the Podcast Raymond, who submitted a Pioneer deck for discussion last week. Here’s the rough […]
This week Ben and Sam have picked out some Ikoria cards that have potential in Pioneer and Modern, and Tristan has picked bad cards that he should be ashamed for picking and will deservedly be made fun of. Check out Friend of the Podcast Raymond’s Bant Blink pioneer deck: https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/pioneering-bant-blink/ Download this episode here! (right […]
Ikoria spoilers are here, and we’re taking a look at them and discussing the mechanics of the set. Companion in particular has drawn a lot of scrutiny from the community, so we’re weighing in with our thoughts. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
We’ve created a new segment for the show! Find out what it is towards the end. For our main topic, we’re discussing new Organized Play changes in response to the changing global situation. It’s impacted the amount of Magic we’ve been playing too, but we hope to return to strategy content next week with some […]
Allen Wu (@nalkpas on Twitter) tweeted about this Standard format having the characteristics of a good one, yet not being fun. This week we’re discussing that theory, in addition to the news of Magic’s enhanced online offerings in this era of no tabletop play. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week we’re taking a look at a selection of the Video Games we’ve enjoyed most. If you’re finding yourself inside more often these days, you may be interested in picking up one of these to help pass the time, and we’ve got recommendations for every type of person, including how the different games relate […]
Staring down a Dream Trawler, a Citadel Siege, or a Glorybringer can be a daunting prospect, but the best Magic players find ways to edge out a few extra percentage points in these situations and we’re going to give an overview of some of those strategies for both Draft and Sealed. Download this episode here! […]
Sam’s been messing around with a mono blue list in Pioneer – here is the list: 4 Thassa’s Oracle 4 Ashiok’s Erasure 4 Omen of the Sea 2 Thassa, Deep-Dwelling 4 Gadwick, the Wizened 2 Brazen Borrower 4 Witching Well 2 Agent of Treachery 2 Reflector Mage 2 Temple of Enlightenment 2 Thassa, God of […]
Follow along with this episode here: https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=265418 Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
We’ve been to hundreds of Magic tournaments in the real world, and there are some nuances to the process that we decided to spend an episode discussing. Learn about the process of choosing which tournaments to attend, how to get there, where to stay, what to eat, and more! Download this episode here! (right click […]
The first set of Players Tour events are now behind us, and Ben (briefly) and Sam have competed in one! We’re talking all about their experience in the new type of tournament, as well as the debut of Pioneer at this type of event. Ben also won a GP after he scrubbed out so we […]
Three mini topics make up this week’s show: Firstly, Worlds is coming and we’re previewing the tournament and the competitors. Next, Pioneer’s land imbalance has led to a suggestion of completing the cycles that only have half of their cards in the format. We’ll discuss that idea, and then finally move on toe the suggestion […]
This week we’re covering each of the two-color pairs in Theros Beyond Death. This limited format is being received quite well so far, and our hosts have already got several drafts under their belts, so we have a pretty good idea of what each of the color pairs is supposed to look like, though there […]
With the full spoiler out, we’ve each picked some commons and uncommons we think are interesting to discuss in terms of Theros Beyond Death Limited. The plan is to report back on our findings next week, with another episode focused on this new limited format. Here’s a link to this week’s show!
This week we’ve each picked out some cards we think are interesting in Constructed from the cards spoiled so far from Theros: Beyond Death. Next week we’ll probably run the same plan, so let us know which cards you’d like to hear about! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This episode, we’re taking a look at the best things from the last decade – mostly Magic-related with a few random other topics thrown in for good measure. Next week we’ll start diving in to Theros: Beyond Death stuff! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
Let’s take a look ahead to the New Year in Magic. We’ll talk about what we know about the sets that are coming, and the structure of Organized Play in Magic, as well as our personal goals and expectations for the year. How about you? Do you have any MTG New Years Resolutions? Let us […]
This week we’re taking a retrospective look at the year in Magic the Gathering. You’ll hear about our years, and what we think of the direction the game has taken in terms of Design, Organized Play, and as a developing eSport. How was your 2019? Let us know on twitter @alliedstrats Download this episode here! […]
After several waves of bannings, we’ve finally moved into a Standard Format that our hosts find to be quite good. This week’s show, we’re taking a broader look at the characteristics of good standard formats for us, drawing from our full breadth of Magic and Game Design experience. Download this episode here! (right click and […]
This week we’re covering Red Black Fires – Ben’s been playing the deck a ton so he has a bunch of information to share! Here’s John Rolf’s list: 4 MIDNIGHT REAPER 4 CAULDRON FAMILIAR 4 CAVALIER OF FLAME 4 MAYHEM DEVIL 4 GOD-ETERNAL BONTU 4 STORMFIST CRUSADER Sorceries: 2 COVETOUS URGE (this is the most […]
This week’s Episode is coming out early, partially due to holiday timings, and partially so you can hear it before too many of the Pioneer PTQs that are scheduled for this week are in the past! We’re taking a look at the format through the lens of the Pillars of the Format, like Thoughtseize, and […]
Many of the skills we hone by playing Magic competitively can transfer to other parts of life! This week, that’s our main topic, as well as the recent Bans and Restrictions, of course! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
In limited, most people know to usually play 17 lands, but why is that the number? What are the reasons to deviate? This episode will tackle these topics and also catch up a little with our hosts’ results from the recent Mythic Championship!
This week we’re diving into Ben and Sam’s Mythic Championship prep by going over the decks they’ve been working on – tune in this weekend to discover what they ended up playing! We’ll be back next week with a regularly recorded episode. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
Oko, Thief of Crowns looks like a format-warping mistake, and one that causes serious problems for the format beyond mere power level considerations. What causes led to this card making it to print? For reference, here’s Ari Lax’s article on the subject: https://armlx.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-actual-problem-with-oko-thief-of.html And here’s Jon Finkel’s tweet: https://twitter.com/Jonnymagic00/status/1188918066824011782?s=20 Download this episode here! (right click […]
There’s a whole new format that’s been announced since we last Podded – read all about Pioneer here: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/announcing-pioneer-format-2019-10-21 We’re examining the format’s crucial characteristics – what is the mana like? What are the cards legal in this format that are banned in others? What’s the removal like? Download this episode here! (right click and […]
The exact same Magic card can vary wildly in value from format to format. This week we’re examining the factors that cause this fluctuation, as well as some specific card examples that have gone from unplayable to premium between the years. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week we’ve identified some of the most insidious types of errors we see people commit in Limited, and we’re unpacking them all! If there’s anything you think we missed, let us know and we’ll mention it next week! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week, after a healthy amount of nonsense and Happy Birthday singing, we covered the 8 decklists in the MPL this weekend. Here is a link to those lists if you’d like to follow along: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/competitive-gaming/eldraine-split-sapphire-division-decklists Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week we’re taking a look at the archetypes in Throne of Eldraine – the payoffs, the enablers, and the color combinations they work best in! Of course we haven’t played any games yet, but hopefully this episode will give you a good starting point for your first few drafts of the format. Be warned, […]
This week we’re examining more Throne of Eldraine cards – it turns out that the ones we’re most interested in talking about are almost all Black, so if you’re a fan of Swamps, this episode is for you! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week we’re talking about more Throne of Eldraine cards, while Sam is on a weird thing about “The” correctly being used or omitted in card names. Here are the cards we covered this week: Witch’s Vengeance, Opportunistic Dragon, Epic Downfall, Greedy Impulse, Harmonious Archon, Giant Killer, Charming Prince, Robber of the Rich (with a tangent into Outlaws’ Merriment), and Once Upon a […]
This week we’re talking about the new mechanics from Throne of Eldraine and some cards we think are exciting from the spoiler so far. We’ve also got some predictions about future mechanics based on what we’ve seen of this set, and some flavor critiques and other assorted nonsense thrown in for good measure. Download this […]
This week we’re covering recent events – the Banned and Restricted list changes as well as the new Organized Play system! Check those out here: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/august-26-2019-banned-and-restricted-announcement-2019-08-26 and here: https://www.magic.gg/news/the-future-of-magic-esports Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
Figuring out what’s in your opponent’s hand is both vital and difficult. This week we’re sharing some tips and techniques that you can use to help identify what might be in their hand – and what to do about it! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
Modern Horizons was an extremely important Magic set for the state of the game, and this week we’re taking a retrospective look at it. Was the idea good? Was the implementation good? How would we like them to proceed with the Modern Masters legacy going forward? Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
Jon Stern joins us this week to talk all about a shared passion we share outside of Magic – Board games! Here’s a list of the games we talk about in this episode: Hanabi Biblios Onitama 7 Wonders Duel Puerto Rico Quacks of Quedlinburg Clank! Bridge Spirit Island Agricola Join us again next week for […]
Find out the full scoop on the Hogaak deck that Ben and Sam played at the Mythic Championship, as well as the other variants of the deck. We also cover the directions this powerful archetype can be taken in upcoming Modern tournaments – at least until the next Banned & Restricted announcement! Download this episode […]
This week, Sam breaks down the decks he was considering for the Mythic Championship that’s getting underway in Barcelona! This episode was recorded a while in advance for scheduling reasons, so we’ll catch back up with Sam and Ben next week to see how their team’s thinking evolved between the time of the recording and […]
Grand Prix Champion Neal Oliver returns to the show to talk about M20 draft – find the lists of cards discussed here: https://pastebin.com/1eERMaQr Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week, Bridge from Below was banned from Modern. We’re using this to lead into a larger discussion of what kind of cards should be banned in which formats and the types of cards we expect to see banned going forward. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week we’re taking a look at a new strategy that is exciting in Standard – Scapeshift! Enabled by Field of the Dead, Scapeshift can create a horde of Zombies as a one-card win condition. Find out how we think that deck might look in this episode! Here’s a link to the article discussed in […]
The Era of Pro Points has ended. This week we’re taking a retrospective look at the time between now and when we began playing Magic competitively. We hope you enjoy our stories. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week we’re reviewing every pick from Shuhei Nakamura’s Top 8 Draft (which Ben was also a participant in!!) from GP Washington DC – follow along here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZRAvRJk2PT3_vGCn8bj7u_gWJGSJ_cAMn-ByhkQxdKk/ Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week we’ve been doing some Modern Horizons drafts and we’re sharing our thoughts about which archetypes are strong in the format, and the implications the metagame may have for particular cards in draft. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
Modern Horizons might bring new decks to the forefront of Modern, or breathe fresh life into older decks that have stagnated as the format’s power level has creeped upwards. Find out some archetypes we think might be among them, and which cards we’re most interested in building around in these new and existing strategies. Download […]
This week’s episode is all about the Mulligan – largely focused on one controversial mulligan in particular made recently by Ross Merriam. Here’s the post he made about it, which we reference heavily during the show: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qJ-c6wVr09evcVdTim09lE_EiHPMSRUkFniyMV0PlMk/ – huge thanks to him for making this reasoning public, which made this episode possible! Download this episode […]
This week we’re taking a look at some of the first spoilers from Modern Horizons! We also share our initial thoughts about the overall design and direction of the set. Find out which cards we’re excited in for both existing and new-to-Modern archetypes! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week we’re diving into some current events – changes in the structure/composition of the MPL, the Arena Mythic Championships, and our thoughts on the direction of competitive Magic! We also discuss the upcoming MOCS, which is this weekend! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
We’re excited to have longtime fan of the podcast and winner of Mythic Championship London Eli Loveman on the show this week to talk about his big win, as well as War of the Spark, Modern, and the intersection of the two. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”) Download
This week we dive in to the results from the recent Mythic Championship, and cover the new War of the Spark limited format the debuted there. Learn our hosts’ opinions on the London mulligan going forward, as well as how the tournament went for them! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week we’re preparing you for the upcoming Mythic Championship in London by discussing the Modern format – specifically, how the new London Mulligan and the open decklists of the tournament impact the metagame. Learn which deck Sam expects will skyrocket into the top slot given these new rules! Download this episode here! (right click […]
This week we’re back to talk about more War of the Spark cards – again largely aimed at Standard, although we’ve also identified a few cards that we think might see play in Modern and even Legacy! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
It’s time to take a look at some more new War of the Spark cards! This week we’re focusing primarily on Constructed, especially Standard, and in future weeks we’ll loop back around and cover the limited format as more commons and uncommons get revealed! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
War of the Spark’s already looking to be one of the most exciting sets in Magic history, and this week we’re starting to think about how the new cards might play! We’re beginning with an analysis of the mechanics of the set: Amass, Proliferate, and Planeswalkers, with both general thoughts and specific examples of cards […]
This week is a theory episode! How do you evaluate cards in a limited environment, and how do you update those evaluations based on new information? What about decks in a constructed environment? We take a crack at these questions and more! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
Izzet Phoenix is Modern’s new bogeyman, but does action need to be taken by WOTC or by Modern tournamentgoers? We’re not 100% sure, but this episode is dedicated to figuring out exactly what the latter should look like! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week we’re wrapping up our cycle of episodes on the guilds of Ravnica Allegiance! Learn all about the Orzhov, and the impact of the guild in both limited and Standard. Big round of applause to Sam who joins us despite not having power due to a storm – luckily his phone still works! Download […]
Compatriot of the Podcast Matt Nass joins us again this week, as Sam is away, and we discuss the upcoming Mythic Invitational, as well as the new Modern Horizons set that Matt spoiled last week! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
Ben and Sam are back from the first ever Mythic Championship! Find out how their tournaments went, how they landed on the decks they did, and how they felt about the limited format after a few teams dominated the drafts. We also cover the upcoming changes to the mulligan rule which will be tested in […]
This weekend is the Mythic Championship – and both Ben and Sam have been hard at work, testing all sorts of different decks to determine the best one to attack the Ravnica Allegiance standard format! We’ll be back next week to discuss the tournament and perhaps Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
It’s time to discuss the Azorius in both limited and constructed! For the next week or two we’ll be talking about the Mythic Championship, but we’ll finish off this series with Orzhov week sometime in the next month – let us know what you thought about it! Download this episode here! (right click and “save […]
Learn all about the Simic combine: What makes a good Blue/Green draft deck in Ravnica Allegiance? What standard strategies best use the Simic cards, especially powerhouses like Hydroid Krasis? What does it mean to be a member of the Simic? Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
Andrew “BK” Baeckstrom joins us this week to discuss all things Gruul! What does the red-green color combination need to do to succeed in Ravnica Allegiance draft? What is it missing from its constructed deck? What is the philosophy of the guild? Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
This week we’re discussing all things Rakdos. How does the guild play in Limited, how does it work in Constructed, and even some bonus Rakdos color philosophy content for true fans of the cult. Please let us know what you think of this episode categorization – if it’s popular, we can think of four other […]
Which cards from Ravnica Allegiance will break out and make their way into Modern? We’ve picked out some cards that could potentially define or revive entire archetypes, some cards that may fill in as solid roleplayers in existing strategies, and some speculative picks for cards that might see play under the right circumstances. Download this […]
The Prodigal Host returneth! Grand Prix Champion Neal Oliver, former host of this podcast, is back for the first time after his departure as co-host. We talk with him about Ravnica Allegiance, Magic Arena and the Best of One format, and we reprise an old segment to match the old host! Let us know what […]
We’ve got a host of exciting new Rares and Mythics to talk about this week, and we’re joined by Magic Pro League Competitor Matt Nass to do just that! Which card is his bold prediction for best card in the set? Which co-host is absent this week? Are either of the Planeswalkers playable? Find out […]
We’ve got the full suite of Ravnica Allegiance mechanics now, and our hosts break down their implications for Limited, Standard, and Modern. We’ve also selected a few cards from the new set as we begin the Allied Strategies tradition of picking cards and talking about them. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)
A new set is finally on the way! We’ve taken a thorough look at the mechanics that have been revealed so far, and have analyzed their potential impact in Limited, Standard, and even older formats. Next week, we’ll cover the remaining mechanics and discuss more specific cards that we think are worth mentioning from those […]
The History of Magic is littered with excellent draft formats, but today we’ve each identified our favorite three and explained why we love each format so much. We also spend a bit of time discussing a tournament from last weekend where two of our host clashed in an epic undefeated showdown. Allied Strategies is planning […]
Few sets have impacted Modern as dramatically as Guilds of Ravnica. Today, we examine the specific cards behind this as well as the design paradigm shifts that they suggest, and the the implications this might have for the future of the format. We also speculate on the potential future playability of some sleeper cards from […]
If you’ve watched any Modern GPs this year, chances are you’ve seen Matt Nass in the top 8 with a deck he built or optimized. In both Standard and Modern, he’s been a remarkably successful tuner and crafter of decks, and today he’s a special guest on our show to talk about it! Find out […]
A few weeks ago, Ben had an idea for a Standard deck. Hear the story of how that idea underwent the rigors of Pro Tour testing and ended up being the deck that both Ben and Sam sleeved up event. You’ll also learn how to adapt the deck to different metagame factors, and predictions for […]
Join us as we spend an entire episode breaking down every single pick of one player’s draft from the Pro Tour. This time, the honor of being that featured drafter goes to our buddy Mark Jacobson, whose stellar performance on the first day of the event earned him a place in the featured pod on […]
Sam and Ben are at the Pro Tour! Hear about their preparation for the Standard format as they reveal the decks they considered, the innovations they came up with, and the secrets of their testing process. We’ll be back next week at our usual time and going forward we may be re-working our Pro Tour […]
A full sized episode is airing this Sunday! Our hosts (or at least two of them) are busy getting ready for the Pro Tour, and the episode will contain spoilers for their strategy, so we won’t release it until that’s no longer relevant. To tide you over until then, we’ve collected some of the funniest […]
The best Magic players get much of their edge from games 2 and 3, so this week’s episode is a marathon guide to picking up some equity post-board. You’ll learn about the theory of the sideboard with practical examples from real decks, covering all the major constructed formats and a bit of limited too. We […]
With a few upcoming Modern tournaments, we’re using this week to identify the best Aggro, Combo, and Midrange decks to beat in the current metagame. We also cover an exciting new fringe deck that we think has some potential, and finally we did a rapid-fire round of opinions on a dozen or so of the […]
The best deck in Guilds of Ravnica draft is Dimir Control, and this week we’re providing you with a guide to drafting it. We’ve broken the archetype down into the different effects you’re looking for, and which cards do the best job filling each of those roles. You’ll also learn the order that we prioritize […]
This week we’re going card-by-card to give you a thorough guide to Bant Spirits, a powerful aggro deck that’s dominated recent Modern tournaments including Grand Prix Detroit where Sam’s team used it to make the finals! Here’s a link to the decklist if you’d like to follow along: https://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=20093&d=330612 Download this episode here! (right click and […]
It’s turn 3. Your 2/2 is staring down your opponent’s 2/2. Should you attack? The answer requires an understanding of your role – are you the aggressor or are you the defender? This episode defines those terms and arms you with the tools you need to answer that question for yourself. We cover how roles […]
Multicolored sets tend to create complicated draft environments, and Guilds of Ravnica looks to be no exception. This week, we’ve picked out some cards to discuss that we think might highlight some of the different options available to you at the draft table. We also cover some adjustments we’re making to our baseline evaluation of […]
The full spoiler for Guilds of Ravnica is out and there are dozens of cards (and millions of lines of text on them) that are interesting in the context of Standard. Join us this week as we select a few such cards and discuss their potential merits in the post-rotation world. You may also get […]
Sam Pardee breaks down the nuances of the aggro matchup against control on this week’s episode. You’ll learn how to change your plan of attack against your control opponent based on the specifics of each player’s deck. We’ll also cover the complicated art of playing around sweepers and countermagic, cards that your control opponents are […]
How will the mechanics of Guilds of Ravnica play in the limited environment? We’ve analyzed each of them individually to bring you thorough predictions about how they’ll play, what patterns they’ll incentivize, and how highly you’ll need to prioritize certain effects. We also discussed the tension or accord created by mechanics overlapping in colors, and […]
Sam Pardee joins the show this week to dive deep into the nuances of Red decks in Standard. Many guides lump all Red decks together, but you can gain an edge by figuring out what specific plan your opponent is enacting, and by carefully paying attention to which cards they’ve played you can infer much […]
We took some of the best Banter/End Story content from the past 20 or so episodes and condensed it into a 20 minute compilation. Don’t worry, our regularly scheduled content is still coming later this week, this is a bonus! Let us know what you think about this sort of content and if it’s something […]
For the past month or so, we’ve been collecting your questions on a variety of Magic and not-so-Magic topics, and today we’re answering them all! Today we’re also saying goodbye to Neal – he’s transitioning from being a co-host to a listener due to Magic becoming a smaller part of his life. We’re so thankful […]
Special guest Pro Tour 25th Anniversary Champion Allen Wu joins us this week to talk about his victory and the legacy deck he played at the tournament. Learn about the technology he likes in the deck, his thoughts on Legacy in general, and his delightful teammates. Next week will be our mailbag episode – send […]
It’s a strategy as old as, um, 2007 according to Google Trends, and thanks to the controversial printing of an instant speed time walk at super duper rare, it’s back in Standard: Turbofog! The goal of this strategy is to draw multiple cards each turn, then mitigate any number of opposing threats with one fog […]
Neal’s playing a rogue deck this Pro Tour – join us this week to hear about his testing process and how he ended up transforming one of this Standard format’s fringe combo decks into an aggro deck! Next week we’ll be back to regularly scheduled content for episode 149, and then we’ll have episode 150 […]
All three of your podcast hosts have picked up some Professional REL Drafting experience with the new set at GP Sacramento and this week we’re sharing it with you! Learn about our opinions of each two-color combination, their relative power levels, and key commons/uncommons that you may have overlooked but that perform better in this […]
This episode is an in-depth guide to another great Modern deck powered by Mox Opal and Ancient Stirrings! Hardened Scales is an enchantment that combines with every creature in the deck to generate ridiculous bursts of value that are often immediately lethal through surprising board states and life totals. We went over every card in […]
With Limited Grands Prix fast approaching, we decided to use this week to talk about our initial thoughts of the M19 Sealed format now that we’ve played some combination of physical and online Prerelease events. We’ve also got a Mailbag episode coming up for Episode #150 (so 5 episodes from now) – if you have […]
The last three core sets have each featured dramatically different limited formats. Magic Origins was a fast-paced format where being on the play was a big deal and missing your 2-drop was often fatal, whereas M14 was the polar opposite: a format where Divination was a first-pickable card, Opportunity was a bomb, and cards like […]
Nicol Bolas, the Ravager has 4 qualities that make him potentially very powerful in standard. He’s cheap, he’s reasonably sized, he does something immediately when played, and he can take over games. Our wonderful Patrons therefore decided that this episode would involve us building an M19 Standard deck featuring Bolas. A normal edition of Allied […]
Last week’s formula worked so great that we decided to run it back – we’ve picked even more M19 cards that are even equally as exciting as last week and we broke down how they might fit into standard. Don’t worry, we didn’t forget to account for the 1-toughness tax! Next week, on this feed, […]
The 2019 Core Set is fast approaching, and in classic Allied Strategies fashion, we’ve picked out a few cards each to talk about in terms of constructed (almost entirely Standard). We also spent a bit of time talking about Grand Prix Vegas, which was the first GP in half a year that all three of […]
Nailing down a specific 75 card configuration for any event is a complicated process. It’s the kind of subject that takes much more theory than we can cover in one episode if we wanted to create a general guide, but this week we were able to go deep on a specific example with Ben’s constructed […]
This week is an in-depth analysis of a single draft from the recent Pro Tour – we went over every single pick of the draft, an episode archetype that we have really liked doing at least once after each Pro Tour. In the history of the podcast, however, we have never disagreed with each other […]
Ben joins us from the past this week for a special timeshifted episode to discuss the decks that he tested for Pro Tour Dominaria. This Pro Tour was notably different than most due to the longer time gap between the set’s release and the event – how did this affect testing? This set also brought […]
Dive deep into Magic theory with us this week, as we cover the concept of Mana Efficiency. This week, we not only define and explain Mana Efficiency for the beginning or intermediate players, we also cover a number of extrapolations and corollaries that should be interesting for even the most grizzled veteran. What does Mana […]
This week we return to Dominaria limited to examine the draft format now that we’ve gotten the chance to get a few dozen matches under our belts. What is the general texture of the format? How are our predictions about specific cards holding up? What archetypes are consistently viable draft strategies and what signals should […]
This week we’re venturing in to a new format on Allied Strategies – Brawl! This 60-card singleton format features a commander but only standard legal cards, and is dominated by Baral and Ghalta on magic online in a way that formats are rarely dominated. We’ve decided to basically ignore that phenomenon, and brew up a […]
For the millionth week in the row we’re going to talk about Dominaria cards! Theorizing about this set hasn’t gotten old yet – and after prerelease weekend we got together to talk about how some of these cards might impact the Modern metagame, which is famously stable and diverse at the moment. Ben’s already gotten […]
You can learn a lot about a format from its cycle of multicolored uncommons. At the very least, they hint at what sort of archetype each two color pair might default to, but their relative power level can also influence which of those color pairs is strongest to draft. This week on Allied Strategies we’re […]
Everybody’s talking about all the exciting implications of Dominaria for constructed (including us, the past two weeks,) but this week we’re going to look at how the cards might play in limited. There are a few powerful auras that might produce all-in battlecruiser strategies, but there are also some very efficient pieces of removal and […]
Last week we were excited by the cards that had been spoiled from Dominaria. This week things have gotten even more promising, with a bunch of spoilers that offer great potential to the deckbuilder willing to build around them. We’ve picked some such cards to talk about to try to determine which might be Standard […]
There are so many cool cards in the Dominaria spoiler that it’s a good thing we have a few extra weeks to talk about them! This week we’ve picked out just a few to discuss in the context of Standard (mostly). In addition to the cool cards of Dominaria, somehow Llanowar elves made its way […]
This week, Ben joins us to talk about the Krark-Clan Ironworks combo deck that he and his friends played to exceptional results last weekend at GP Phoenix. If you’ve never played or heard of the deck before, you’ll love hearing about all the crazy stuff that it can do, and you’ll be ready if you […]
Masters 25 is here and there are a lot of things going on in the limited format. After a very studious half-hour or so, Tristan and Neal have identified a number of potential archetypes, combos, and synergies that are present in the set. Today we share those with you! We also briefly cover the Dominaria […]
Playing a Magic tournament with only a dozen or two other players is a very different experience from the large fields of a Grand Prix or even a Pro Tour. Especially with a format like modern, you can make metagame predictions based off your knowledge of other players’ preferences, such as Reid Duke’s Jund, Craig […]
Magic’s most powerful format isn’t as scary as it seems – this week we break down the defining cards and decks of the format with Sam, a frequent vintage player and all-around highly talented magician. Part of what makes vintage such an exciting format is the modular way that the blue decks are built, so […]
Ben’s been trying to make dinosaur decks work in Standard for the past few weeks, and this week he’s sharing that process and the resulting decks with us! We also talk about a few of the other decks Ben’s been working with, as well as Bant Approach, a deck that Tristan has been having success […]
Our Podcast’s very own Ben Weitz drafted in a feature pod at the recent Pro Tour – which means the entire draft was recorded for posterity! This week on the show we dive in to that draft and go over every single pick that Ben made. If you want to follow along, here is the […]
Dedicated Pro Players like Ben spent months testing Modern, but each could only register one deck for the Pro Tour itself. This week we dive into that testing process with a focus on all of the other decks that Ben tried before ending up on boring old affinity for the tournament itself. Last time there […]
Neal and Ben almost won a GP! They made it to the top 4 of last weekend’s GP Indy on a team with Eric Severson, who joins us this week for his second appearance on Allied Strategies to discuss Team events. This year features a large amount of team tournaments of a variety of formats […]
This special edition of Allied Strategies aired one week early for our supporters over at Patreon! We took a look at Merfolk, the tribe which won the Patreon poll, and built a sleek and aggressive deck that looks capable of coming in way under its opponents, then closing out games with a combination of cheap […]