Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast TOPDECK THERAPY

In this conversation, Justin and Kevin discuss the personality of the color black in Magic: The Gathering, its strengths, weaknesses, and notable game-changing cards. They explore reanimation, graveyard recursion, card draw, creature removal, sacrifice outlets, and the vulnerabilities of the color black. They also highlight the game-changing cards in black and its struggles with artifact and enchantment removal, life usage, and graveyard hate. The conversation delves into the essence of black in Magic: The Gathering, exploring its themes of despair, depravity, and the need for alignment in gameplay. It also uncovers the darker and more complex aspects of black, including infinite combos, greed, and the manipulation of life and death. The discussion further explores the mana and power dynamics of black, as well as the hosts' favorite black cards and their significance.

Takeaways

• Black's personality is ambitious, self-reliant, power-hungry, and lacks morality.
• Black excels in reanimation, graveyard recursion, and card draw.
• The color black struggles with artifact and enchantment removal, life usage, and graveyard hate. Black's essence is rooted in despair, depravity, and the need for alignment in gameplay.
• The darker aspects of black include infinite combos, greed, and the manipulation of life and death.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Personality of Black
• 01:27 Reanimation and Graveyard Recursion
• 04:48 Black's Card Draw
• 08:39 Creature Removal and Control
• 12:19 Sacrifice Outlets and Engines
• 15:41 Game Changers in Black
• 23:37 Black's Weaknesses
• 26:59 The Essence of Black
• 28:43 The Ugly Side of Black
• 30:36 Life and Death in Black
• 32:27 Mana and Power in Black
• 42:25 Favorite Black Cards

In this episode of Top Deck Therapy, Kevin breaks down his Zask, Skittering Swarmlord Commander deck and explains how it turns the graveyard into a second hand. The deck leans into green-based graveyard value, insect token production, and repeatable recursion to keep threats coming back turn after turn. You’ll hear how Zask enables land play and insect casting from the graveyard, why the deck can function without black, and how it wins by flooding the board, drawing cards, and overruning opponents with huge combat swings. Kevin also shares some of the key cards that make the list so consistent, including token makers, ramp pieces, graveyard enablers, and finishers.If you like Commander deck tech, graveyard synergy, and board states that keep growing back, this Zask build is packed with value.

Justin and Kevin are back again. This time the conversation delves into the topic of pet peeves, emphasizing the importance of open and honest conversations to understand and address pet peeves in gameplay and social dynamics. It explores table organization, cleanliness, and etiquette, as well as deck shuffling and turn duration etiquette. The discussion also touches on personal growth and reflection, concluding with an unboxing and expressions of gratitude.

Takeaways

• Open and honest conversations are essential for understanding and addressing pet peeves in gameplay and social dynamics.
• Table organization, cleanliness, and etiquette, as well as deck shuffling and turn duration etiquette, play a significant role in creating a positive gaming experience.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Pet Peeves
• 05:23 Information and Organization on the Table
• 10:34 Gameplay Etiquette and Consideration
• 19:25 Deck Shuffling and Etiquette
• 33:29 Personal Growth and Reflection

The conversation covers the introduction to the open-ended commander series, Andrew's inspiration for building the commander deck, an overview of the Thalia and the GitRog Monster card, card highlights, deck building strategy, and a detailed overview of Justin's modular deck. The conversation covers various deck building strategies, including the use of Rishkar's Expertise, plus one plus one counters, and artifact zone change. It also explores the Maze's End win condition, unique deck building, and the concept of brewing and learning in open-ended commander games.

Takeaways

• Deck building with existing cards is a cost-effective approach
• Card synergies and deck building strategy are crucial for a successful commander deck
• Modular decks offer unique and strategic gameplay opportunities Synergy over price
• Maze's End win condition
• Unique deck building approach
• Learning from different deck building approaches

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to the Open-Ended Commander Series
• 06:00 Deck Cost and Affordability
• 11:00 Card Synergies and Deck Building Strategy
• 18:36 Deck Overview: Justin's Modular Deck
• 25:32 Deck Building Strategies
• 31:51 Unique Deck Building
• 48:00 Brewing and Learning

Welcome Back to the WUBRG Series!

In this episode, Justin and Kevin discuss the power and strategy of the color blue in Magic: The Gathering. They explore the meaning of blue, its strengths in card draw, counter magic, and control, as well as its methodical and slow approach to the game. The conversation delves into the love-hate relationship with blue, its potential for future design improvements, and the game-changing cards that define the color's impact on the game.

Takeaways

• Blue is a versatile color with strengths in card draw, counter magic, and control.
• Blue's methodical and slow approach to the game allows it to outvalue and outtempo opponents.
• Blue's power lies in its ability to control the game, enforce rules, and disrupt opponents' strategies.
• Blue's strength in combo potential and its ability to win through combos make it a formidable color in higher-powered games.

Chapters

• 00:00 Designing Blue for the Future
• 34:26 Game Changers in Blue

The episode covers the hosts' experiences at Magic Con Vegas 26, highlighting the sense of community, the excitement of meeting content creators and celebrities, and the special moments and interactions that made the event memorable. The chapter titles capture the essence of each theme, providing a comprehensive overview of the Magic Con Vegas experience. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to Magic Conventions, including card collecting, nostalgia, deck composition, unique finds, merchandise, gameplay experience, reflections, and community engagement. The hosts share insights on the importance of using the event app and maps to navigate the convention effectively, as well as the treasure trove of rare and valuable cards found at Magic Conventions.

Takeaways

• Magic Con Vegas is a must-visit for Magic the Gathering fans
• The sense of community and shared passion at Magic Con Vegas is infectious Magic Conventions are a treasure trove for finding rare and valuable cards
• The importance of using the event app and maps to navigate the convention effectively

Chapters

• 00:00 Vendor and Merchandise Experience
• 50:10 Community Engagement and Event Highlights

The conversation delves into the impact of Universes Beyond (UB) sets on the realm of magic, exploring the journey of a player, the immersion-breaking effect of UB sets, and the rapid release of new products, leading to IP overload and attention grab in the magic community. The conversation delves into the concerns of power creep in Magic: The Gathering and its impact on the game's community. It also explores the future of UB sets, the evolution of Magic, the role of power creep in Commander, the impact of UB sets on the Magic community, and the potential of a Magic film/show.

Takeaways

• UB sets bring new players and OG players into the realm of magic
• UB sets break immersion of the realm of magic for some players
• The rapid release of new UB sets can lead to IP overload and a feeling of being inundated with new products Power creep concerns in Magic: The Gathering
• Impact of UB sets on the Magic community

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Universes Beyond Sets
• 08:16 The Good and Bad of Universes Beyond Sets
• 24:22 The Evolution of Magic Sets
• 30:55 Power Creep in Magic: The Gathering
• 36:01 The Impact of Power Creep on Commander
• 45:12 The Role of UB Sets in the Magic Community
• 54:23 The Potential of a Magic Film/Show

In this episode co-hosts Justin and Kevin have Andrew back on the show to discuss the dynamics of play groups and the roles within them, exploring the ecosystem of play groups and the various roles that individuals take on within these groups. It discusses the ever-changing and adaptive nature of play groups and the impact of social dynamics on the game. The conversation delves into the impact of winning and losing on the overall game experience, as well as the dynamics of playgroup interactions and their influence on gameplay. It also explores the concept of a game winner and reflects on playgroup interactions. The conversation delves into the self-regulating nature of the format and the importance of balancing the ecosystem to ensure a healthy and enjoyable play experience for all participants.

Takeaways

• Dynamic of play groups
• Roles within play groups Consider the impact of winning and losing on the overall game experience
• Reflect on the dynamics of playgroup interactions and their influence on gameplay Self-regulating format
• Balancing the ecosystem

Chapters

• 00:00 Roles Within the Play Group
• 28:00 The Concept of Winning
• 51:40 Ecosystem Balance and Self-Regulation

Episode 10 marks a milestone for the hosts, celebrating their journey and the Commander series. They present two unique decks: one focused on open-ended commanders and the other on Voltron strategy. The open-ended commander deck features Shiko and Narset Unified, emphasizing spell copying and enchantments. The Voltron deck focuses on auras, card draw, and protection for the commander. The conversation delves into the detailed discussion of artifacts, enchantments, and sorceries, as well as the strategic considerations and deck-building choices. The hosts share insights into their deck-building process and the unique themes and strategies they have employed.

Takeaways

• Milestone celebration and gratitude
• Unique deck strategies: open-ended commanders and Voltron Deck-building strategies
• Artifact and enchantment selection

Chapters

• 00:00 Milestone Celebration and Gratitude
• 22:18 Voltron Deck Strategy
• 29:24 Artifacts and Mana Ramp
• 44:17 Sorceries and Deck Strategy
• 53:02 Upcoming Commanders and Deck-Building Plans

In this episode of Top Deck Therapy, Justin and Kevin dive into the color white in Magic: The Gathering, focusing on its strengths, weaknesses, and the evolving role in Commander format. Whether you're a white die-hard or just curious, learn about white's standout features and strategic potential.

Key topics:
White’s reputation for powerful removal, including board wipes like Wrath of God and Farewell
White’s support for token strategies with iconic cards like Anointed Procession and Miral the Moonsilver
The color’s strengths in reanimation—bringing back artifacts, enchantments, and creatures
White’s stacks and group-hate strategies, including Winter Orb and Ghostly Prison, and how they affect gameplay
The evolution of white ramp and card draw in Commander, closing the gap with traditionally faster colors
Notable white planeswalkers, including Elspeth, Gideon, and the eternal wanderer, and their impact
Famous white cards like Smothering Tithe and Enlighten Tutor that are game changers
The future of white in Commander and its increasing synergy with other colors
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to the Wuburg series and White's themes

0:30 - White’s association with removal and board wipes

1:28 - White exiles and supports white's control aspects

2:22 - White's board wipes and support for fairness in gameplay

3:20 - Classic and modern white board wipes with support strategies

4:41 - The impact of white’s flicker effects and token generation

5:41 - The versatility of white reanimation and support cards like Sun Titan

6:39 - White’s card draw capabilities and ramp strategies

7:33 - The evolution of white ramps and their role in Commander

8:59 - Smothering Tithe and other game-changing cards

10:40 - White’s stacks strategies, how they shape game outcomes

12:07 - Token generation and the power of white tokens in Commander

13:32 - White’s life gain and big creature strategies with Miral

14:14 - Personal pet decks and white’s synergy with flicker and tokens

15:41 - The value of flicker effects and infinite combos in white

18:01 - White’s potential as a value engine and its evolving presence in Commander

19:57 - Reanimating across all permanent types with white

20:49 - Top white planeswalkers and their strategic importance

21:47 - Classic white reanimation spells and their synergy

22:46 - White’s token strategies with Rick, and their consistency

24:11 - White’s ability to protect and respond with flicker effects and protection

25:37 - White's stacks and control elements, including Winter Orb and Ghostly Prison

27:03 - Notable white commanders like Giada, Elspeth, and angels

28:22 - The importance of white’s token decks and synergy with anthem effects

30:21 - The fair and balanced personality of white in multiplayer settings

31:19 - Equipment strategies and blue-white synergy with artifact-based Voltron

32:45 - The future potential of mono-white decks and their growing strength in Commander

34:05 - Limitations and opportunities for white-based decks and how they're improving

36:03 - White’s game-changing cards like Enlighten Tutor, Smothering Tithe, and others

37:02 - The impact of stacks cards like Derevi and Winter Orb on gameplay

38:29 - Balancing white’s stacks and control without making games unfun

40:50 - The evolving role of white in Commander, from fair to powerful strategies

41:49 - What's next for white in Top Deck Therapy's journey into MTG colors

Enjoy exploring the white archetype's evolution and potential in Commander! Stay tuned for more as Top Deck Therapy dives into each color’s unique traits.

Keywords
Magic: The Gathering, Bracket System, Game Changers, Deck Building, Commander, Casual Play, Competitive Play, Proxies, Power Levels, Intent

In this conversation, Justin and Kevin discuss the intricacies of the Magic: The Gathering bracket system, focusing on its intent, power levels, and the importance of communication among players. They explore the definitions of tutors and game changers, the dynamics of different brackets, and the challenges of deck building in a competitive environment. The conversation also touches on the rising costs of Magic cards and the use of proxies to maintain a fun and engaging gameplay experience.
Chapters

00:00 Return to the Podcast: Excitement and Updates
01:36 Understanding the Bracket System
04:44 Exploring Bracket One: Ultra Casual Play
07:28 Diving into Bracket Two: Average Pre-Con Level
09:45 Bracket Three: Upgraded Gameplay
15:08 Reflections on the Old System and Intent
18:20 The Importance of Pre-Game Conversations
21:14 High-Powered Gameplay: Bracket Four and Five
25:20 The Cost of Playing Magic: A Financial Perspective

The conversation delves into the struggle of building decks and the desire for uniqueness in deck construction. Kevin's difficulty in building his own decks is explored, along with his inclination towards uniqueness and the challenges it presents. The discussion also touches on the impact of budget constraints and the complexity of the game. The conversation delves into the challenges and strategies of deck building, the importance of discussing ideas with friends, and the satisfaction and exploration of building unique decks. It also explores the struggles, mental blocks, and self-reflection involved in the deck building process, as well as the encouragement and support needed to overcome these challenges.

Takeaways

• Struggle with Building Decks
• Desire for Uniqueness Deck building struggles
• Importance of discussing ideas with friends

Chapters

• 00:00 The Desire for Uniqueness
• 29:35 Deck Building Challenges and Strategies
• 35:14 Deck Building Process and Unique Decks
• 40:25 Deck Building Excitement and Encouragement
• 45:39 Deck Building Strategies and Encouragement

In this episode, Justin and Kevin explore the various tribes in EDH (Elder Dragon Highlander), discussing the unique characteristics and strategies of each tribe. They emphasize the importance of finding your tribe in the game, highlighting popular tribes such as elves, slivers, zombies, dinosaurs, goblins, merfolk, cats, dragons, angels, fairies, humans, and eldrazi. Each tribe offers distinct gameplay experiences, from the straightforward nature of elves to the chaotic speed of goblins, and the resilience of zombies. The conversation provides insights into deck-building strategies and the evolving nature of tribal synergies in Magic: The Gathering.

Y'shtola Commander Brew and Strategy Breakdown:

In this new Series Justin and Kevin will explore each others different build styles!

Join us as we explore two unique Y'shtola builds for EDH, showcasing different approaches to leveraging this popular Esper commander. Whether you prefer clone-heavy tactics or spell-slinging control, this episode offers insights into deck construction, synergy, and strategic play.

• Deep dive into Y'shtola, Night's Blessed and its abilities
• Building around cloning Y'shtola for exponential value
• Incorporating non-creature spells to trigger damage and draw triggers
• Strategies for protecting your key creatures and combo pieces
• Comparing the two deck archetypes: clone swarm vs. spell-based control
• Tips for managing life total and leveraging group slug effects
• Essential mana rocks and utility lands for non-creature spell focus
• Reflection on deckbuilding philosophies and community insights

00:00 - Welcome back and episode intro
00:41 - Personal Christmas and New Year stories
01:39 - Announcing the Y'shtola series and expected exploration topics
02:07 - Discussing Y'shtola's abilities and card synergies
03:03 - Key themes: non-creature spells, damage, and card draw
05:00 - Deck stats overview, focusing on non-creature spell support
06:29 - Cloning Y'shtola for exponential value
07:57 - Clone options: Auton Soldier, Sakashima, Spark Double, and more
08:52 - Group slug effects and damage/relich gain strategies
09:22 - Highlighting Gixion Puppeteer for dual value
10:21 - Additional clones and synergy cards like Risky Shortcut and Pain's Reward
11:43 - Removal, counterspells, and mana ramp setup
13:37 - Artifacts for mana fixing: Chromatic Lantern, Bender's Water Skin, and others
15:05 - Utility and copy artifacts: Machine God's Effigy and Videlcan Ori
16:20 - Instant speed spells to maximize commander triggers
17:16 - Card draw and damage combos with Ophidian Eye, Helm of the Gaslord
18:42 - Group slug and life drain effects, with Sanguine Bond/Exquisite Blood comparison
20:10 - Protective enchantments and resilience strategies
22:30 - The impact of multiple Y'shtola and clone proliferation
23:58 - Land selection, including utility lands like Academy Ruins
24:28 - Justin's contrasting build: fewer creatures, more utility, and protection
26:22 - Deck themes centered on spells, damage, and recursion
27:47 - Counterspells, mass removal, and board wipe considerations
28:42 - Card favoritism: Desynchronization and Transpose
30:09 - Wizard tokens, additional damage triggers, and deck resilience
31:36 - Deck protection and slowing down opponents' strategies
34:23 - Enchantments and stax pieces for control
36:11 - Land choices and utility lands to enhance consistency
36:57 - Comparing deck strategies and build philosophies
38:00 - Reflections on protection, resilience, and the importance of cloning and control
40:25 - Final thoughts on multiplayer dynamics, threat windows, and deck versatility
42:30 - Encouraging individual deckbuilding and community creativity
43:00 - Closing remarks and invitation for community suggestions

In this episode, Justin and Kevin discuss the art of politicking in Commander games. They explore the importance of social negotiation, precise language, and reading players. They also dive into the pitfalls of over-talking, the skill of making deals, and the role of threat assessment in the game. The conversation emphasizes the entertainment value of Magic and the importance of having fun while leveraging politicking to influence game outcomes.

Takeaways

• Social negotiation
• Reading players
• Precise language
• Becoming the threat
• Making precise deals

Chapters

• 00:00 The Art of Politicking
• 14:27 The Skill of Making Deals
• 28:04 The Role of Threat Assessment
• 41:34 The Entertainment of Magic

The conversation covers a variety of keywords in Magic: The Gathering, exploring their significance and synergies in the commander format. The discussion delves into the impact of keywords such as lifelink, haste, trample, flying, menace, hexproof, indestructible, and more, highlighting their strategic value and potential synergies.

Takeaways

• Strategic Value
• Synergies

Chapters

• 00:00 The Significance of Indestructible

In this episode hosts Justin and Kevin talk about the critical role of threat assessment in Commander, emphasizing the importance of understanding and evaluating threats. It also explores the dynamics of politicizing and social interactions, shedding light on the complexities of emotional targeting and the art of becoming the threat. Throughout the discussion, the theme of adapting and reevaluating threat assessment is highlighted, providing valuable insights for mastering this essential aspect of the game.

Takeaways

• Threat assessment is crucial
• Politicizing and social interactions are integral to Commander

Chapters

• 00:00 The Importance of Threat Assessment
• 06:12 Assessing Threat from the Start
• 11:33 Reevaluating Threat Assessment
• 16:50 Emotional Targeting and Taking Things Personally
• 26:24 Adapting Threat Assessment
• 32:55 Becoming the Threat

The first episode of Top Deck Therapy is a get-to-know-us session where the hosts discuss their introduction to Magic: The Gathering, their favorite decks, and their goals for the podcast. They share personal stories, memories, and insights related to the game and its impact on their lives.

Takeaways

• Community Building
• Personal Connection

Chapters

• 00:00 Favorite MTG Memories and Podcast Goals