We finally have the 2025 RCQ schedule and format information, answer a number of questions that we've had as players, LGS's, vendors, and the like. This week we break down the timing, format information, TOs, and hopeful future of the system. https://www.magic.gg/news/play-in-rcqs-earn-secret-lair-promos-and-qualify-for-pro-tour-3-in-2025

With a continuously shifting landscape, the removal of Pioneer as an RCQ format to Universes Beyond being standard legacy, LGS operations and MtG Finance on the whole have become rather difficult to manage. Anything can be reprinted at any time, so how do you handle an impending price crash on your foil Patrick Starfish while also worrying about the five Standard sets. So, this week we took at step back and began to discuss what it's like at the LGS level now. What are ways that people are...

We went to Collect-A-Con so you don't have to! But you should because it's awesome. https://collectaconusa.com/ This week we discuss what is was like at Collect-A-Con Chicago 2024 as a gaming vendor. What kind of a event was it, what expectations did we set. What had we learned in the past that we put into practice, what were some of the take aways. And, most importantly, is it worth it to add Collecet-A-Cons as part of your list of shows to vend as either an LGS or a vendor.

We've had the pleasure of experiencing cEDH from multiple points of view over almost a decades worth of play and thought, what better way to discuss the format than to try and bring together all of that. With the experience of judging one of the largest cEDH events on the East Coast barely in the rear view, we talk about what cEDH means to players, judges, the LGS, and vendors. What is the impact the format has on all the aforementioned people and where we see the format heading. This...

From the Judges to the LGS, from the players to the formats we discuss what it's been like operating in the new RCQ system. What changes have felt impactful to each of the aforementioned elements? What are we seeing now that we haven't seen before? Do these changes to the system even feel good?

This week, wes set off to discuss Duskmour: House of Horror and the hype cycle surrounding it. What cards shone bright during spoiler season, what seemed to fall through the cracks? What references did we pick up and like the best? Join us on our review of the Spoop-tacular set, with your hosts with the mosts.

With each set, we look at cards that we think are underrated or overrated during the prerelease period. Taking into account what we've seen from these cards over the SEVEN WEEK period between set releases, we cut through what happened in order to hold ourselves accountable. Utilizing the notes we took from that episode we reflect on where we went wrong, where we went right, and evaluate why that was the case to help improve our abilities in making correct picks during prerelease.

Prior to the Spotlight Series announcement, there was a light push for standard play at the LGS level and though meaningless as there were no competitive reasons to play, it did pave the way for the return of Standard at the LGS. Now, with buying from WotC, from large TOs, and, hopefully, a least one RCQ season a year, there are a multitude of reasons to engage with the Standard format. So. Are we seeing a return of Standard at the LGS in any meaningful capacity?

The Spotlight Series announcement was one that was received rather well. The return of a WotC sponsored competitive event series with a clear path to the Pro Tour, a clear prize structure, and a clear tournament structure is what players have been clamoring for, for years dating back to the GP era. But, as with everything, we take a look at some of the good things and some of the bad things within this announcement and what it means for various players around the...

The long awaited August 26th Banned and Restricted announcement was delivered and touched a number of formats, as players expected. We gave it about a week, for MODO and paper results to roll in before diving in and discussing what we've seen, what people are saying, and how we feel about this particular...

With a change in the Ban & Restricted announcement timings, WotC created a problem of their own design: A B&R shortly after a set release yields few, if any changes. This lead to two, lame duck, announcements in back to back months, allowing most contructed formats to start to fester. We discuss what the timing changes mean for players, for WotC, for the health of the game, and, importantly, for the trust that plays have in WotC to do right by them.

Our annual look at GenCon has us taking a look at what happened at the event. In the main halls, the gaming room, even in Lucas Oil Stadium. What we heard about the auction, the play spaces, panels, and tournaments. What did players in the Legacy Showcase events experience. How did it feel to be part of the panel announcing Mystery Booster 2 and subsequent draft events. What was the floor and general atmosphere like?

Bloomburrow release has come and gone. We're late to the party but, this week we look at and breakdown our hype review for Bloomburrow. What cards do we think are over hyped? Which are under hyped? Are mice and otters cute enough to push sales on a set that looks pretty medium in terms of power level?

With Halt attending SCGCon Baltimore all weekend, taking notes, engaging with players and vendors alike, we'll be discussing what the current look and feel of an SCGCon is in the current era of the circuit. Join us as Thursty live fires a bunch of questions to help build a better understanding of what attending an SCGCon is like. Discussing everything from room layout, to the streaming area, to side events.

With Bloomburrow set to release shortly, we look back at our Outlaws of Thunder Junction card assessment to see how discerning an eye we cast at the set. Where did we go right? Where did we go wrong? Join us for this analysis and accountability effort.

As collecing Magic continues to be a pillar of interaction for people, creating memorabilia along the way, we see it begin to follow the trends of other collectables and historical pieces before it. Things like grading the raw game pieces, general art, collectors only items, and signatures of various entities encircling the game. This means that it's time to upcycle a topic from the early days of the podcast: the maturity of the marketplace. With a more mature marketplace comes more unique...

Another year, another Modern Horizons set release and with it comes the fresh hell that is a Modern Mythic Championship in a format that is ripe for asbuse. As has been the case historically, this MC was one for the books as MH3 reshaped the entire Modern metagame, likes of which only Hogaak before it had. We discuss what these continued efforts by WotC mean to Modern speculation when it comes to a MC within such a tight proximity to the set release, how we handle them individually, and,...

Summer vacations are in full swing and univierties across the United States have been in summer break for some time now which means it's time to drum up seasonal attendance in one of the most difficult times to find foot traffic. So, what can we do and what have we seen our LGS's do that help improve summer attendace? What's worked the best to help make the season when even WotC has called out having issues with product sales and event attendance? Well, the answer is, plainly. A lot. There...

With the sheer quantity of leaks and WotC's shift in spoilers we decided to told off on our normal set evaluation for Modern Horizons 3 and break it into two parts. In the second part, we discuss a number of trends we saw. Starting with pre/release weekends we discuss what events looked and felt like. What was, and is, player sentiment across all formats; limited to Vintage. What impact and trends does this set for the LGS. And, finally, what do these trends mean for older constructed...

With the sheer quantity of leaks and WotC's shift in spoilers we decided to told off on our normal set evaluation for Modern Horizons 3 and break it into two parts. This first part we will take a look at the cards people are currently interested in after having them in hand for a bit over two weeks and discuss what we are seeing in regards to player interest and whether or not we think cards are appropriately hyped or not.

With WotC expressing interest in entering the cEDH event sponsorship/TO/host space, we decided it was time to dedicate the time to discuss what this means through the lens of "cEDH Finance." In this series of episodes we discuss what cEDH finance looks like for cards designed for main set play. What are signals that cEDH is pushing a cards price. And what it means when a card becomes cEDH viable or a cEDH staple. In this third episode we take a look at the left over cEDH staples that...

With WotC expressing interest in entering the cEDH event sponsorship/TO/host space, we decided it was time to dedicate the time to discuss what this means through the lens of "cEDH Finance." In this series of episodes we discuss what cEDH finance looks like for cards designed for main set play. What are signals that cEDH is pushing a cards price. And what it means when a card becomes cEDH viable or a cEDH staple. In this second episode we take a look at some instants, sorceries, artifacts,...

With WotC expressing interest in entering the cEDH event sponsorship/TO/host space, we decided it was time to dedicate the time to discuss what this means through the lens of "cEDH Finance." In this series of episodes we discuss what cEDH finance looks like for cards designed for main set play. What are signals that cEDH is pushing a cards price. And what it means when a card becomes cEDH viable or a cEDH staple. In this first episode, we breakdown our criteria for a cards consideration and...

With Modern Horizons Three spoilers in the books, the time between the release of Outlaws of Thunder Junction and said spoilers has been a pretty lowkey time for the game. In times like this, it's important, as an LGS, to make sure you are still serving your other communities as diligently as you are your Magic community. So this week, we discuss other games that are popular at the LGS level, why they are being focused on by the LGS, and how to best serve some of these communities.