Clock Spinning—Magic: the Gathering History – Details, episodes & analysis

Today we review every Force of Will art. Therese Nielsen sets an almost unbeatable standard with her Alliances original; can any other piece hope to match it? Join us as we dive deep into the art, weird Balduvians, and the true height of Kefnet in this tangent-laden edition of Clock Spinning.

• See all the cards in today’s episode: https://scryfall.com/search?q=%22force+of+wil%22+unique%3Aart+prefer%3Aoldest+-is%3Aoversized+-is%3Adigital&unique=cards&as=grid&order=released&dir=asc 
• Nielsen’s blog #1: https://tnielsen.com/alliances-original-force-of-will-art-being-auctioned-live-now/ 
• Nielsen’s blog #2: https://tnielsen.com/force-of-will-print-and-background/ 
• Balduvian Shaman: https://scryfall.com/card/ice/59/balduvian-shaman 
• Baludivan War-Makers: https://scryfall.com/card/all/66a/balduvian-war-makers 
• Matt Stewart’s blog post: https://mattstewartartblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/gencon-and-force-of-will-alternate-art.html 
• Nielsen’s blog #3: https://tnielsen.com/eternalmastersfow/ 
• Every art depicting Kefnet: https://scryfall.com/search?q=art%3Akefnet&unique=cards&as=grid&order=name 
• Scott M. Fischer 2XM YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW4wbHCPEDE 
• William Blake: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Blake 
• Kamigawa cognitive test: https://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/Hobbies/Tales-of-Kamigawa-215822.html 

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Timestamps for each card:

• Terese Nielsen (Alliances) - 2:41
• Matt Stewart (Judge Gift Cards) - 13:28
• Terese Nielsen (Eternal Masters) - 17:12
• Jaime Jones (Amonkhet Invocations) - 24:00
• Scott M Fischer (Double Masters) - 28:51
• Donato Giancola (Dominaria Remastered) - 35:28
• Richard Kane Ferguson (Dominaria Remastered) - 41:04
• Outro - 48:20
• Secret Kamigawa Bonus Content - 49:43

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Music by Ikson, iksonmusic.com

• To You, by Ikson - Intro
• Summer, by Ikson - Outro
• Bungalo Bay, by Ikson - 2:35
• Hey, by Ikson - 48:20

Lhurgoyfs are a tribe totally unique to Magic, and they have a long and winding history. We’ll begin our journey in the depths of Magic’s Ice Age, and then take you on a weird Odyssey with a cycle of surprisingly competitive bad cards. Then of course we have Tarmo-daddy himself, and his rash of offspring right up through the present day. 

• See all the cards we reviewed today: https://scryfall.com/search?q=%28t%3Agoyf+or+o%3Agoyf%29+%28-is%3Afunny+OR+is%3Afunny%29+-t%3Atoken+prefer%3Aoldest&order=released&dir=asc
• */* creatures in Magic, in printed order: https://scryfall.com/search?q=%28o%3A%2Fpower.*equal+to%2F%29+OR+%28o%3A%2Ftoughness.*equal+to%2F%29+prefer%3Aoldest&unique=cards&as=grid&order=released&dir=asc 
• Lhurgoyf competitive history: https://mtgtop8.com/search?MD_check=1&SB_check=1&compet_check[P]=1&compet_check[M]=1&compet_check[C]=1&cards=lhurgoyf 
• Cards that count things in graveyards:
• 1 for enchantments: https://scryfall.com/search?q=%28o%3A%2Fequal.*enchantment.*graveyard%2F+OR+o%3A%2Fwhere+X.*enchantment.*graveyard%2F%29+-is%3Adigital 
• 1 for planeswalkers: https://scryfall.com/search?q=%28o%3A%2Fequal.*planeswalker.*graveyard%2F+OR+o%3A%2Fwhere+X.*planeswalker.*graveyard%2F%29+-is%3Adigital 
• ~7 for artifacts: https://scryfall.com/search?q=%28o%3A%2Fequal.*artifact.*graveyard%2F+OR+o%3A%2Fwhere+X.*artifact.*graveyard%2F%29+-is%3Adigital 
• ~11 for lands: https://scryfall.com/search?q=%28o%3A%2Fequal.*land.*graveyard%2F+OR+o%3A%2Fwhere+X.*land.*graveyard%2F%29+-is%3Adigital 
• ~25 for sorceries: https://scryfall.com/search?q=%28o%3A%2Fequal.*sorcery.*graveyard%2F+OR+o%3A%2Fwhere+X.*sorcery.*graveyard%2F%29+-is%3Adigital 
• ~25 for instants:

Today’s episode features surprise appearances by not one but two of the quirkiest black commanders ever printed! This being Kamigawa, it also features arguably the worst one-mana discard spell ever printed, and finishes on an inexplicable demon that even the most dedicated combo connivers might struggle to break. Join us for part two of our Betrayers of Kamigawa Black review.

• See all today’s cards: https://scryfall.com/search?q=c%3Db+e%3Dbok+cn%3E75 
• Mono-green splashing Okiba-Gang Shinobi in 2005 Standard: https://articles.starcitygames.com/articles/the-complete-guide-to-mono-green-4-splash-cards/ 
• All the {B} discard spells, ever: https://scryfall.com/search?q=+o%3Adiscards+m%3D%7Bb%7D+-o%3Atransform+-is%3Afunny 
• All the four-mana black 4/4s: https://scryfall.com/search?q=mv%3D4+c%3Db+t%3Dcreature+pow%3D4+tou%3D4+-is%3Afunny&order=released&dir=asc 
• Other recurrent graveyard recursion: https://scryfall.com/search?q=o%3A%2Fwhenever%20a.*your%20graveyard.*return%2F 
• Toshiro’s mechanical and genealogical descendants: https://scryfall.com/search?q=umezawa 
• Yukora EDH deck: https://jophelerx.blogspot.com/2019/11/durdling-in-edh-deck-tech-for-yukora.html 

***

• Okiba-Gang Shinobi - 02:03
• Patron of the Nezumi - 08:13
• Psychic Spear - 13:48
• Pus Kami - 20:37
• Scourge of Numai - 23:03
• Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker - 27:38
• Sickening Shoal - 32:25
• Skullmane Baku - 36:10
• Skullsnatcher - 39:03
• Stir the Grave - 42:22
• Takenuma Bleeder - 47:04
• Three Tragedies - 55:38
• Throat Slitter - 57:52
• Toshiro Umezawa - 1:01:40
• Yukora, the Prisoner - 1:10:30

***

Music by Ikson, iksonmusic.com 

• Intro - To You, by Ikson
• Outro - Summer, by Ikson
• 1:56 - Sahara, by Ikson
• 1:19:12 - Shine, by Ikson

It’s one of Magic’s most iconic cards, but has Counterspell ever had the iconic art to match? Join us as we rate every Counterspell art ever printed. 

• See all today’s cards: https://scryfall.com/search?q=counterspell+unique%3Aart+prefer%3Aoldest&order=released&dir=asc 
• DCI Legend Membership: https://www.magiclibrarities.net/23-rarities-dci-legend-membership-promos-english-cards-index.html 

***

• Mark Poole (Alpha) - 02:38
• Allen Williams (Ice Age) - 05:27
• Dom! (DCI Legend Membership) - 08:33
• Hannibal King (Fifth Edition) - 12:53
• Stephen Daniele (Tempest) - 14:33
• Gao Yan (Mercadian Masques) - 18:04
• Mark Romanoski (Seventh Edition) - 23:34
• Jason Chan (Duel Decks: Jace vs Chandra) - 27:13
• Zack Stella (Eternal Masters) - 30:31
• Chase Stone (Amonkhet Invocations) - 32:10
• Olena Richards (Strixhaven Mystical Archive - EN) - 35:13
• Rindo Karasuba (Strixhaven Mystical Archives - JP) - 38:04
• Ryan Yee (Modern Horizons 2) - 41:01
• Mateus Manhanini (Secret Lair Drop) - 44:01
• Cube choice - 47:06
• Outro - 48:06

***

Music by Ikson, iksonmusic.com 

• Intro - To You, by Ikson
• Outro - Summer, by Ikson
• 2:28 - Destination, by Ikson
• 48:05 - Hey, by Ikson

Today on Clock Spinning, we have too many underwhelming removal spells and not enough ninjas! Happily, though, the lone ninja we get is easily one of the coolest cards in the entire block. Join us as we kick off our review of Betrayers of Kamigawa’s black cards.

• See all today’s cards: https://scryfall.com/search?q=e%3Dbok+c%3Db+cn%3C76 
• Black “drain” effects across Magic history: https://scryfall.com/search?q=o%3A%2Floses.%2Alife.%2Ayou+gain.%2Alife%2F+c%3Db&order=released&dir=asc 
• “Eradicate This” decklist and article: https://articles.starcitygames.com/articles/from-right-field-eradicate-this/ 
• Goryo’s Vengeance art: https://scryfall.com/search?q=Goryo%27s+Vengeance+unique%3Aart 
• “A Servant’s Mission” story about Ink-Eyes: https://gamelore.fandom.com/wiki/A_Servant%27s_Mission 

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• Bile Urchin - 02:17
• Blessing of Leeches - 07:04
• Call for Blood - 14:17
• Crawling Filth - 17:44
• Eradicate - 22:13
• Genju of the Fens - 29:48
• Goryo's Vengeance - 33:28
• Hero's Demise - 41:40
• Hired Muscle // Scarmaker - 46:37
• Horobi's Whisper - 53:20
• Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni - 57:44
• Kyoki, Sanity's Eclipse - 1:03:42
• Mark of the Oni - 1:09:38
• Nezumi Shadow-Watcher - 1:13:42
• Ogre Marauder - 1:16:45

***

Music by Ikson, iksonmusic.com 

• Intro - To You, by Ikson
• Outro - Summer, by Ikson
• 2:03 - Waves, by Ikson
• 1:21:15 - Sunchaser, by Ikson

In this very special episode in honor of our new Phyrexian overlords, we’re going back to where it all began. Join Austin and Connor as they compleat their knowledge (and yours!) of Magic’s earliest Phyrexian cards, from Alliances to Weatherlight.

• See all today’s cards: https://scryfall.com/search?q=(phyrexia+OR+ft%3Aphyrexia+OR+t%3Dphyrexian)+is%3Afirstprinting+year%3C%3D1997+-e%3Atmp&order=released&dir=asc 
• Gates to Phyrexia zine: https://web.archive.org/web/19991115200145/http://www.phyrexia.com/magazine/issue1.shtml 
• Priest of Yawgmoth + Spine of Ish Sah + Mirran Spy combo: https://tappedout.net/mtg-combos/mirran-spy+priest-of-yawgmoth+spine-of-ish-sah/ 
• Other auras similar to Phyrexian Boon: https://scryfall.com/search?q=o%3A%2Fas+long+as+it%27s.*otherwise%2F 
• “Phyrexian” could be replaced with “useless”: https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.trading-cards.magic.misc/c/q2eEIIpAHZk/m/O1PYCkhOWgsJ  
• Hulk Flash! early primer: https://articles.starcitygames.com/articles/the-real-deal-hulk-flash-the-new-face-of-legacy-plus-more/ 
• “Canticle” reviews Phyrexian Walker: https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.trading-cards.magic.strategy/c/kwx7cFt8hR0/m/po6xvrbXKfIJ 
• Fruity Pebbles decklist: https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/feature/fruity-pebbles-2009-01-06 
• Cantripping artifacts throughout history (including “slow trips”): https://scryfall.com/search?q=o%3A%2Fsacrifice.%2Adraw+a+card%2F+t%3Aartifact+is%3Afirstprinting&order=released&dir=asc 

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• Gate to Phyrexia - 02:24
• Phyrexian Gremlins - 13:08
• Priest of Yawgmoth - 20:37
• Yawgmoth Demon - 30:10
• Phyrexian Boon - 39:44
• Phyrexian Devourer - 44:51
• Phyrexian Portal - 52:17
• Phyrexian War Beast - 58:27
• Phyrexian Tribute - 1:02:39
• Phyrexian Purge - 1:05:32
• Phyrexian Dreadnought - 1:11:10
• Phyrexian Vault - 1:20:08
• Phyrexian Marauder - 1:25:44
• Phyrexian Walker - 1:31:13
• Gallowbraid - 1:34:18
• Morinfen - 1:35:04
• Phyrexian Furnace - 1:42:47

***

Music by Ikson, iksonmusic.com 

• Intro - To You, by Ikson
• Outro - Summer, by Ikson
• 1:41 - Hey, by Ikson 
• 1:51:25 - Sahara, by Ikson

Today on Clock Spinning, we still have the blues (the blue cards of Betrayers, that is). Come for a healthy dose of strange Spirits and stay for our ongoing struggle with Arcane cards as we pull back the Veil of Secrecy on Betrayers of Kamigawa’s final 15 blue cards.

• See all today’s cards: https://scryfall.com/search?q=e%3Dbok+c%3Du+cn%3C%3D45 
• Kamigawa block creatures with tap abilities: https://scryfall.com/search?q=b%3Dchk+o%3A%7Bt%7D+t%3Dcreature&order=color 
• Owling mine guide: https://articles.starcitygames.com/articles/the-complete-owling-mine-players-guide/ 
• Tomorrow, Azami’s Familiar EDH Guide: https://www.reddit.com/r/EDH/comments/7q8dzm/entering_the_infinite_a_guide_to_tomorrow_azamis/ 
• Cards that look at an opponent’s hand: https://scryfall.com/search?q=%28o%3A%22look+at+target+player%27s+hand%22+OR+o%3A%22look+at+target+opponent%27s+hand%22+OR+o%3A%22look+at+that+player%27s+hand%22+OR+o%3A%22reveals+their+hand%22+OR+o%3A%22their+hand+revealed%22%29+is%3Afirstprinting+-is%3Afunny+-is%3Adigital&order=released&dir=asc 

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• Phantom Wings - 2:17
• Quash - 8:34
• Quillmane Baku - 13:28
• Reduce to Dreams - 19:18
• Ribbons of the Reikai  - 23:44
• Shimmering Glasskite - 30:16
• Soratami Mindsweeper - 36:21
• Stream of Consciousness - 38:55
• Sway of the Stars - 43:36
• Teardrop Kami - 46:57
• Threads of Disloyalty - 53:31
• Toils of Night and Day - 1:01:01
• Tomorrow, Azami's Familiar - 1:03:46
• Veil of Secrecy - 1:11:11
• Walker of Secret Ways - 1:17:28

***

Music by Ikson, iksonmusic.com 

• Intro - To You, by Ikson
• Outro - Summer, by Ikson
• 2:07 - Shine, by Ikson
• 1:26:43 - Destination, by Ikson

Our card-by-card review of Betrayers of Kamigawa (with an eye, as always, toward building a Kamigawa cube) continues into blue. Today’s episode may best be summarized with one word: ninjas. Okay, there’s a bit more to Betrayers blue than that, so stick with us into the Deep Hours on this one!

• See all today’s cards: https://scryfall.com/search?q=e%3Dbok+c%3Du+cn%3C%3D45 
• Cards in Kamigawa block that do something with counters: https://scryfall.com/search?q=b%3Dchk+(o%3A%2Fput.*counter%2F+OR+o%3A%2Fwith.*counter%2F)
• Floodbringer.exe: https://www.pojo.biz/board/showthread.php?t=168572 
• Legends that refer to themselves, in chronological order: https://scryfall.com/search?q=t%3Dlegendary+is%3Afirstprinting+o%3A%22%7E%22&order=released&dir=asc 
• Kaijin definition: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/海神 
• Underworld Magic Cloak Dealer: https://mtg.design/i/ggob52.jpg 
• Blue cards that ramp: https://scryfall.com/search?q=c%3Du+%28o%3A%2Fput.*land.*battlefield%2F+OR+o%3A%2Fsearch.*land%2F%29 

***

• Callow Jushi - 02:02
• Chisei, Heart of Oceans - 07:45
• Disrupting Shoal - 15:14
• Floodbringer - 19:39
• Genju of the Falls - 25:20
• Heed the Mists - 30:08
• Higure, the Still Wind - 34:48
• Jetting Glasskite - 43:27
• Kaijin of the Vanishing Touch - 49:28
• Kira, the Great Glass-Spinner - 55:03
• Minamo Sightbender - 1:01:58
• Minamo's Meddling - 1:06:21
• Mistblade Shinobi - 1:09:31
• Ninja of the Deep Hours - 1:14:04
• Patron of the Moon - 1:17:19

***

Music by Ikson, iksonmusic.com 

• Intro - To You, by Ikson
• Outro - Summer, by Ikson
• 1:54 - Hey, by Ikson
• 1:23:28 - Waves, by Ikson

Today, we finish our review of every 7+ mana enchantment in Magic. We’ll cover black, red, green, gold, and one very special colorless tribal enchantment. Amidst a startling number of overpriced auras we’ll also find unique win-cons, win-more green all-stars, and some truly gorgeous art.

• See all today’s cards: https://clock-spinning.captivate.fm/7-mana-enchantments-pt-2 
• Iname as One + Baneful Omen deck: https://archidekt.com/decks/131926#Big 
• Paintings of Salome holding the head of John the Baptist: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Paintings_of_Salome_with_the_head_of_John_the_Baptist 
• All four “Form of the…” cards: https://scryfall.com/search?q=%22form%20of%20the%22 
• Four mana red 1/1s episode: https://clockspinning.com/episode-12-four-mana-red-1-1s/ 
• Captive Audience censored mainland China art: https://i.imgur.com/aigPDGm.png 

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• Baneful Omen - 1:27
• Cruel Reality - 6:46
• Grave Betrayal - 12:37
• Hedonist's Trove - 16:27
• Price of Knowledge - 21:28
• Form of the Dragon - 25:45
• Vicious Shadows - 32:11
• Colossification - 37:13
• Mythic Proportions - 40:42
• Sandwurm Convergence - 42:19
• Spawning Grounds - 46:41
• The World Spell - 51:57
• Zendikar Resurgent - 57:20
• Captive Audience - 1:01:59
• Debtor's Knell - 1:07:19
• Cloven Casting - 1:12:25
• Yavimaya's Embrace - 1:15:57
• Eldrazi Conscription - 1:20:37

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Music by Ikson, iksonmusic.com 

• Intro - To You, by Ikson
• Outro - Summer, by Ikson
• 1:20 - Sahara, by Ikson
• 1:23:00 - Destination, by Ikson

Part two of our Betrayers of Kamigawa cube review, finishing off the White cards. Check out the development of our Kamigawa set cube from the CubeCobra link at clockspinning.com. 

See all today’s cards: https://clock-spinning.captivate.fm/bok-white-2 

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• Moonlit Strider - 01:28
• Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo - 03:51
• Oyobi, Who Split the Heavens - 11:12
• Patron of the Kitsune - 15:32
• Scour - 21:22
• Shining Shoal - 23:18
• Silverstorm Samurai - 30:14
• Split-Tail Miko - 31:34
• Takeno's Cavalry - 33:18
• Tallowisp - 36:22
• Terashi's Grasp - 39:03
• Terashi's Verdict - 43:58
• Ward of Piety - 47:49
• Waxmane Baku - 49:14
• Yomiji, Who Bars the Way - 52:35
• Outro - 57:33

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Music by Ikson, iksonmusic.com 

• Intro - To You, by Ikson
• Outro - Summer, by Ikson
• 1:19 - Hey, by Ikson
• 57:18 - Waves, by Ikson