#Gitaxian Probe

[incorrect-mtg]

The Argent Etchings teach no fear

Fez Xa'ktiz knew no fear as he stepped through the omenpath, even though it was the first time he would be in a world not his own. He was the First Vanguard of the Choir within the Seven Hundred and Forty Eighth Expedition Force of the Alabaster Host and through his lips the song of the Mother of Machines would be spread, her presence was always with — within — him.

Fear was a weakness of the incompleat, of those not yet blessed by the light of Phyrexia, not yet held in the sweet embrace of the Mother of Machines, not yet baptized in ichor. It was the inevitable result of imperfection and lack of unity, something that would soon be eradicated through their work, where the entire multiverse would find purpose and belonging.

Fez Xa'ktiz was not born to feel fear, he was born to sing. He was not born to be alone, he forever heard the whispers of the Mother of Machines, the guiding force of his own voice.

"In the Argent Etchings we each learn our appointed duties and so we understand our purpose" he heard the Mother whisper within him, and so it was with delight that he fully crossed the boundary into a nameless world.

As the rest of the Expedition Force stepped through the omenpath behind him — alongside a number of members of the Chrome Host — he did a first survey of the site of their arrival. Although the Machine Orthodoxy held knowledge of countless worlds, eagerly gathered in preparation of the events now unfolding, there were countless more about which they had known little to nothing. He had been trusted with charting one such world, hence the presence of the Chrome Host, and so any insight would be beneficial.

The most noticeable aspect was the material of the walls that surrounded him — organic, disgusting wood — and then the realization that they had, indeed, arrived in a room. A large hall, rectangular in shape, its dark and stained walls covered by peeling and roting paper and littered with assorted objects that might have long ago implied a living presence. At the each of the most distant ends of the hall, flimsy doors hid the rest of the world from sight.

Curious... although the Mother of Machines guaranteed that their feet would find stable ground to cross on arrival, he thought it unlikely for said ground to be in a building, much less an abandoned one.

His duty was not to ask questions, however, unlike the members of the Chrome Host that had immediately set upon their given task of setting up observation devices, scanners and other such contraptions. Typical of apostates who saw observation of their surroundings as a better path to perfection than the much more enlightened learning through the Argent Etchings themselves.

"In the Argent Etchings we see the world as it should be, and so they light the path towards perfection" whispered the voice of the Mother of Machines again as he turned towards his fellows in the Alabaster Host. Unlike their Gitaxian counterparts, they had organized themselves single file, silent and waiting for orders. Sixteen divisions of sixteen soldiers, each led by another Vanguard of the Choir, the perfect ordination for the forces of Phyrexia.

Fez Xa'ktiz opened his mouth and let ring the song to which he had been entrusted, its metallic shrieking and undulating depths shaking the walls around them at the same time it gave the soldiers purpose. As each member of the Choir echoed in delightfully rending harmony, they set out to do their work. The forces split in two and moved towards each door, followed by quickly assembled Gitaxian probes. As both doors opened into new halls, each splitting off into different directions, the Host split up further into smaller forces, until finally each division pressed on individually, mapping out the path that they took and noting all other paths they missed, which would likely be explored by the drones the Chrome Host was sending off.

Although not able to see through their eyes, the resonance of their singing allowed Fez Xa'ktiz a measure of understanding of the surroundings each division passed through, which let him see that whatever building had been unwittingly chosen as the landing spot of their invasion was still large enough that none of their forces had arrived at an outside. Odd, although not beyond the realm of possibility — perhaps this place was a crude and disgustingly organic facsimile of the Fair Basilica, an entire world brought within a greater structure — and something that would definitely be worth noting.

Of perhaps equal note was the first living being found within the plane: a moth, its gray fluttering wings carrying it through the doors and right by him. Perhaps it had sat in a hidden alcove, and the passing forces had awoken it? How serendipitous, then, that it had been drawn by the light of the omenpath right towards them.

Bringing forth a hand towards the insect, Fez Xa'ktiz was delighted to see it land upon his claw, its wings closing and antennae fluttering as they regarded each other, black eyes meeting perfectly polished ivory... This creature, insignificant as it might be, would be fitting first initiate for this world. A moth reaching for the light and finding its own perfection upon arrival.

Extending his tongue, he let it be cut by one of his sharp fangs, black ichor dripping through the wound. Leaning his head down, he let it drip directly onto the moth until its gray wings turned black. Surprisingly it had no reaction to such a treatment, even though he knew compleation was supposed to be — meant to be — a painful process.

"Weakness burrows deep in the flesh of the incompleat. It bites down and refuses to let go. Their first step towards perfection is to extricate it and bleed out its rot" taught the Mother of Machines, even though the vermin on his claw seemed to defy such clear teachings... Until the entire thing came undone, breaking apart like petals falling off a dead flower.

Perhaps... Perhaps it was simply too weak. If someone — something — was wholly comprised of weakness, how could they remove it without ceasing to exist entirely? Yes, that made sense. To react in pain, to shake and twist and cry, one would need parts of themselves to remain, the parts that weren't corrupted by weakness. The insect likely had nothing to offer and so could not even muster a reaction.

He put the moth out of his mind, focusing on more important matters: one division had finally met living beings to oppose its passage. Not insignificant vermin, but actual fighters charging directly at them.

The walls rumbled and shook as Fez Xa'ktiz increased the volume of his song, the lessons and tactics etched in his mind echoing towards the legions of soldiers now finally seeing battle. Like the beasts of the Hunter Maze, warriors seemed to come out of the woodwork, their rusty and jagged weapons doing little and nothing against perfect phyrexian soldiers-

No, that wasn't right... The walls, they had not shaken due to his song, had they? Or had they? He didn't understand why it mattered, but he would swear that they shook first, then he had intensified his singing...

"The enem- even some of our al- see meri- ception- crush- overwhel-" murmured... The Mother of Machines? Why could he not hear her clearly?

He sang louder still, certain his voice would reach all members of their force — be it Alabaster or Chrome — and through the omenpath itself to the Mother of Machines. In the echo of his song, he would find stable ground-

His next step — had it been a step forward, towards his soldiers, or backwards, towards the omenpath? — found nothing but empty air, the wood underneath him rotting and opening into an abyss.

He quickly spread his wings, trying to stabilize and go back to where he had been even as he was spun around by gravity and air resistance, until his body met the ground with a loud crack and roaring pain and his consciousness left him.

When he woke up, one of his wings broken after taking most of the force of his fall, he did not know how long he had laid there. It could not have been long, certainly, for the Chrome Host would have certainly sent a drone to retrieve him given enough time — shameful as it might have been — and yet he laid alone, the silence of the room cut only by a dripping sound.

(Why was he alone? Why could he not hear the voice of the Mother of Machines)

He looked around, taking stock of the room and how its smooth white walls were almost as beautiful as those of the Fair Basilica, except instead of being made of ivory they seemed covered by... Wax?

His gaze finally fell upon his remaining wing. Rather than being bent out of shape like its counterpart, the limb has been spread behind and to the side of him, and was covered in the same material that covered the rest of the room, already in the process of solidifying. Another drip, directly onto it, served as confirmation.

To fly back with a single wing would prove a challenge, but with two wings damaged it would be impossible. Furthermore, if he was to be forced to drag himself up the hole he had fallen through, the weight of the wax would simply make things harder. Without hesitation, he pushed his claws under the material, right where feathers met wax: Even if some of it had dried already, the ichor that would pour through the wounds would close them quickly, he was certain-

That certainty lasted only until the pain — beyond what he had ever felt, ever knew could be felt — spread from his wing as he pulled the wax off. This- this wasn't normal. He-

The liquid that poured out of his wounds, where wax had pulled feathers and skin and bones alongside it, was not ichor.

It was red... Why was it red?

"What foolish prey, that wanders into an open maw thinking themselves the predators" whispered the Mother- no, this was not her voice. These were not her words.

The walls surrounding him rumbled once again, so hard it seemed the entire world was shaking, before stopping. Then again, before stopping, repeating, stopping, and on and on and on.

As Fez Xa'ktiz laid alone, his wounds bleeding a liquid that should not be there, he knew that the rumbling was certainly the consequences of battle: the Mother of Machines must have heard his last cries and sent forth more soldiers to tame this accursed world.

And yet a small part of him couldn't help but fear that the rumbling felt like a delighted and cruel laughter.

[abelzumi]

Magic: the Crypticing

So I may have been turned on to Cryptic Crosswords by an old friend of mine. And I may or may not have gotten a bit obsessed with making them. It takes a certain angle of brainerating, but for those who are curious (or already initiated), here's a general rundown of how these things work.

I also love puzzle engagement which is why I've foisted this upon everyone I can at my LGS to little to no avail. Hopefully the internet fares better. Reminder that (X, Y) means two words, the first of which is X letters long and the second of which is Y letters long.

This puzzle requires both constructing and deconstructing MTG lingo, jargon, and card history, as well as a general knowledge of Cryptic clues, acronyms, abbreviations, etc. Enjoy!

ACROSS

1. Promo for Kamigawa set: heretical sorcerer controls direction of plane. (3-4)

5. Change your mana after topping Wickerfolk's surveil. (7)

9. When mechanics first arrive, they appear to raise ethical question left unknown? (15)

10. Lands untapping cinches two points for Elves? (7)

11. Bottom-up sets anger rock singer. (5)

13. Belligerent takes arose? (6, 3)

16. Wildfire land sweep allows +2 from Chandra. (4)

17. Number after declaring Ascend could be zero? (2, 2)

18. Check legality of pitch sequence because fourth Force of Will could partner with Twin. (6, 4)

21. Landcycle Mardu finisher before Final Revels (5)

23. Toothed hunters sound doubly fishy? (7)

26. Only designer quality silver & diamonds top gown and royal handle. (7, 8)

27. Target changes east after red energy sweeper. (7)

28. Grounded still on a flyer? Victor wouldn't have... (4, 3)

DOWN

1. By the way, I'm piloting Rakdos Tokens. (4)

2. Auras make draw power sound mid; brew with one who shuffles. (3, 12)

3. Odd Commander goal after long set-up, say. (7)

4. Glimmerwasp heresy within the bounds of New Phyrexia. (7)

5. Shreds of Sanity doesn't use any P1P1 Wandering Mind effects. (4)

6. Large birds supposedly equip tokens. (5)

7. Where there's time to study erotica, many a lad exploded. (8, 7)

8. How to (historically) empower a deer/pony hybrid? (3, 3, 3)

12. Some of these indicators take a second—left stranded? (4)

13. Big rogue belly-up wearing some hat and risque clothing backwards. (9)

14. Powerless power for brewing black? (4)

15. Cut when head replaces knight. (3) 

19. Valakut makes this Eldraine legend from OTJ take the resolution. (7)

20. Elenda fears dance moves while firing. (7)

23. Salty beginner affirms combo with a second-turn Plains after initial misplay. (5)

24. "Gitaxian Probe, Putrid Leech...no attacks?" (4)

25. Even Hatebears beginner uses 3/2 Mindsparker to sideboard. (4)

[favoritemtgcard]

Submission: Gitaxian Probe

Gitaxian Probe

[raakdos-battlemap]

New Phyrexia#002 Gitaxian Probe 32x56

Jin-Gitaxias is the blue-aligned praetor of New Phyrexia.

When the Phyrexians infected Mirrodin, it was a world of five suns. The five praetors each rose under the influence of each sun. Jin-Gitaxias was influenced by blue mana, so he looked for things with knowledge. He grabs everything he can and improves on it.He is cold, brutal, and believes he is the smartest of the praetors.

Jin-Gitaxias' enormous body is made of chrome, with clawed arms and a curved spine. Exposed ribs and pointed vertebrae are displayed like metalwork. His face and mouth are monstrous and bird-like, with too many sharp points and long, flat teeth. His voice sounds like metal grating against metal.

He hates Vorinclex and considered Karn too incompetent to rule. He once captured Tezzeret, and brought him before Karn. Although Elesh Norn is aware of his machinations, Jin-Gitaxias appears to keep at least a neutral relationship towards her for the moment.

More variations of this map:

[dollpiles]

Chippy paints such good spindly arms and limbs. probably one of my favorite artists for eldrazi

(Gomazoa, Consume the Meek, Harmless Assault, Bonehoard, Gitaxian Probe, Spellskite, Order of Yawgmoth, Curtain of Light, Greel's Caress)

[whatsthatmagiccard]

I've made you a puzzle! I think I narrowed it down to exactly one card

Transcript just in case Tumblr compresses it:

As it turns out, your friend's cube constructed deck is much harder to beat than expected. They've used Waste Land and Crucible of Worlds to decimate your mana base. Your creatures have been obliterated by fireball after fireball, and you're staring down 14 Rukh tokens. Your modern food combo deck looks like chump change at this point. Luckily, you've found a way out with a card that you stole off your opponent a while back in the game. The board state is thus: Your opponent has an empty graveyard, after abusing You're In Command and mutate shenanigans to put pretty much everything into their command zone just to flex on your sorry ass, aside from a Gitaxian Probe on top of their library. They still control an island, 14 tapped Rukh tokens, an Ali from Cairo, a Laboratory Maniac, and 3 life. They resolved a blossoming calm last turn. Your hand is empty and your library is just basic lands at this point, and you've already made your land drop this turn. You have in play 4 food tokens, one Rat token (WOE), 3 wastes, and a mv 1 artifact that'll win you the game this turn. What is it?

(This some kind of trick question or what?)

[bayesic-bitch]

I think the fact that I started playing mtg seriously during the scars block really messed up my ability to evaluate cards, because it was just such a ludicrously overpowered standard. Amulet of Vigor, Primeval Titan, Green Sun's Zenith, Valakut, and the fetchlands were all in the same standard. And somehow this wasnt even the best deck in the format, because Jace the Mindsculptor, Stoneforge mystic, gitaxian probe, and mental mistep were also all standard legal.

[healthylevelsofmagicthegathering]

My go to example of this phenomenon:

This is Velomachus Lorehold.

He's an ancient and powerful dragon wizard, he's got a mess of combat keywords, he casts spells on his own for free whenever he attacks, he does it all.

He's mid. A very casual card, and not a great one even in that context.

This is Gitaxian Probe.

You look at someone's hand and draw a new card. That's it.

Probe is banned in three formats and restricted in Vintage, the most powerful format of them all.

Learning Magic the Gathering from my partner has been kinda hilarious cuz I find a lot of the cards will be either:

Treznor, the Eternal Flame: *3 paragraphs of text* -> Widely maligned, considered basically useless

Grey Rock: adds 2 mana -> $14,000 per copy, outlawed in 12 countries

[aria-herself]

in my newest mtg microformat, each player starts with five islands and a rule of law in play. all other rules are normal except there's a shared deck which contains 20 gitaxian probe, 20 divination, 20 concentrate.

[favoritemtgcard-supplemental]

Every Nomination In Alphabetical Order

Aether Vial

Aetherflux Reservoir

Agatha's Soul Cauldron

Akroma, Vision of Ixidor

Alesha, Who Smiles at Death

Altered Ego

Aragorn, Company Leader

Arcades, the Strategist

Arcane Denial

Arcbond

Arcbound Crusher

Archangel Avacyn

Archive Trap

Arclight Phoenix

Armored Armadillo

Ashiok, Dream Render

Ashling the Pilgrim

Ashnod, Flesh Mechanist

Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar

Astarion's Thirst

Athreos, God of Passage

Atraxa, Grand Unifier

Augur of Autumn

Auramancer

Avatar of Me

Bakersbane Duo

Baleful Strix

Ball Lightning

Bane Alley Broker

Baylen, the Haymaker

Bearscape

Bioshift

Biovisionary

Bitterblossom

Black Lotus

Blasphemous Act

Blazing Archon

Boldwyr Intimidator

Bonecrusher Giant

Bovine Intervention

Brainstorm

Brash Taunter

Breach the Multiverse

Breaker of Armies

Brilliant Restoration

Brute Suit

Cadira, Caller of the Small

Canyon Minotaur

Capashen Knight

Captain N'ghathrod

Captivating Crew

Carnivorous Plant

Chainsaw

Chandra, Dressed to Kill

Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh

Chandra, Torch of Defiance

Chandra's Regulator

Chaos Warp

Chatter of the Squirrel

Chatterfang, Squirrel General

Cheatyface

Chub Toad

Collected Company

Colossal Dreadmaw

Colossification

Colossus Hammer

Comet, Stellar Pup

Conjurer's Closet

Conqueror's Galleon

Consecrated Sphinx

Consuming Aberration

Corpsejack Menace

Counterspell

Crackle with Power

Craterhoof Behemoth

Cruel Ultimatum

Cryptic Command

Cryptid Inspector

Cut Your Losses

Damnation

Dance of the Manse

Dapper Shieldmate

Daretti, Scrap Savant

Dark Depths

Dark Ritual

Darksteel Colossus

Darksteel Myr

Darksteel Relic

Dawnfluke

Daze

Death's Shadow

Deathbonnet Sprout

Delver of Secrets

Demand Answers

Diplomatic Escort

Dollmaker's Shop/Porcelain Gallery

Doom Blade

Doomsday

Doubling Season

Dragon's Rage Channeler

Drakuseth, Maw of Flames

Dryad of the Ilysian Grove

Dueling Rapier

Dutiful Thrull

Earl of Squirrel

Earthbind

Ebon Praetor

Echo of Eons

Edge of Autumn

Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim

Elderscale Wurm

Electrickery

Elesh Norn

Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite

Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines

Elspeth, Sun's Champion

Elvish Visionary

Emrakul, the Aeons Torn

Emrakul, the Promised End

Enchanted Evening

Enormous Baloth

Enter the Dungeon

Enthralling Victor

Etali, Primal Conqueror

Etali, Primal Storm

Eternal Dominion

Exterminatus

Extremely Slow Zombie

Ezuri, Claw of Progress

Faithless Looting

Fiery Emancipation

Firestorm

Flameborn Viron

Flickerwisp

Floral Spuzzem

Flubs, the Fool

Fog Bank

Forest

Fortress Crab

Fumiko the Lowblood

Gallia of the Endless Dance

Galvanic Blast

Generous Gift

Ghalta, Primal Hunger

Ghired, Conclave Exile

Ghoulcaller Gisa

Giant Growth

Gift of Orzhova

Gifts Ungiven

Gigantosaurus

Gisa, Glorious Resurrector

Gisela, the Broken Blade

Gitaxian Probe

Glimmerpost

Gnat Miser

Goblin Chainwhirler

God-Pharaoh's Statue

Godo's Irregulars

Goldberry, River-Daughter

Golgothian Sylex

Gonti, Lord of Luxury

Grand Arbiter Augustin IV

Greasefang, Okiba Boss

Greta, Sweettooth Scourge

Grindclock

Grist, the Hunger Tide

Grusilda, Monster Masher

Gush

Gut Shot

Halana and Alena, Partners

Halcyon Glaze

Half-Kitten, Half-

Hamlet Glutton

Heartbeat of Spring

Heliod, Sun-Crowned

Hellkite Tyrant

Hero of Goma Fada

Hexdrinker

Hibernation's End

Holy Cow

Homicidal Seclusion

Hot Soup

How To Keep An Izzet Mage Busy

Ilharg, the Raze-Boar

Indestructible Aura

Inflation Station

Inkmoth Nexus

Introduction to Prophecy

Invoke the Firemind

Irencrag Pyromancer

Island

It That Betrays

Ixhel, Scion of Atraxa

Jace, the Mind Sculptor

Jaya Ballard, Task Mage

Jeska's Will

Jetmir, Nexus of Revels

Jhoira of the Ghitu

Jon Irenicus, Shattered One

Kangee, Aerie Keeper

Karn, Silver Golem

Karn, the Great Creator

Karn's Temporal Sundering

Killer Bees

Kiln Fiend

Kodama of the East Tree

Kor Skyfisher

Koth of the Hammer

Krenko, Mob Boss

Kruphix, God of Horizons

Kuldotha Phoenix

Lich's Mastery

Lightning Bolt

Liliana Vess

Liliana, Heretical Healer

Llanowar Elves

Loam Larva

Long-Term Plans

Looter il-Kor

Lord of the Void

Lord of Tresserhorn

Lotleth Troll

Loxodon Warhammer

Luminous Broodmoth

Lux Cannon

Lyra Dawnbringer

Maarika, Brutal Gladiator

Mabel, Heir to Cragflame

Madcap Skills

Magus of the Moon

Mana Tithe

Mantis Rider

March of the Multitudes

Massacre Girl

Master Biomancer

Maze of Ith

Maze's End

Mechanized Production

Megatog

Mindbreak Trap

Mishra, Lost to Phyrexia

Mishra's War Machine

Mogg Sentry

Moltensteel Dragon

Monastery Swiftspear

Mother of Goons

Mountain

Mulldrifter

Murder

Murmuring Mystic

Mycoloth

Myr Superion

Myrel, Shield of Argive

Mysterious Egg

Nahiri, the Harbinger

Narset, Enlightened Master

Nethroi, Apex of Death

Nimbus Swimmer

Niv-Mizzet, Parun

Nyx-Fleece Ram

Obeka, Splitter of Seconds

Obsidian Fireheart

Okiba Reckoner Raid

Oko, Thief of Crowns

Olivia Voldaren

Omnath, Locus of All

Omnath, Locus of Creation

Omnath, Locus of Mana

Omnath, Locus of Rage

Omnath, Locus of the Roil

Omnivorous Flytrap

Oni-Cult Anvil

Oona, Queen of the Fae

Oracle of the Alpha

Panglacial Wurm

Panharmonicon

Perplexing Chimera

Phage the Untouchable

Phalanx Leader

Phyrexian Dreadnought

Phyrexian Gargantua

Phyrexian Unlife

Plague Myr

Plague Rats

Plains

Planar Portal

Ponder

Pontiff of Blight

Possibility Storm

Pouncing Shoreshark

Price of Progress

Prime Speaker Vannifar

Primeval Titan

Primordial Hydra

Prismari Command

Prodigal Sorcerer

Progenitus

Pyromancer Ascension

Queza, Augur of Agonies

Rage Forger

Raging Goblin

Ral, Crackling Wit

Rancor

Raugrin Triome

Renegade Rallier

Reprisal

Repudiate/Replicate

Rhys the Redeemed

Riku of Two Reflections

Rin and Seri, Inseparable

Rise of the Hobgoblins

Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh

Rona, Herald of Invasion

Rowan, Scion of War

Run Away Together

Ruthless Negotiation

Ruthless Technomancer

Ryusei, the Falling Star

Sakura-Tribe Elder

Satoru Umezawa

Savor the Moment

Scragnoth

Scute Mob

Secret Rendezvous

Seedtime

Selesnya Evangel

Shabraz, the Skyshark

Shadow of Doubt

Sharktocrab

Shock

Slickshot Show-Off

Slime Against Humanity

Sliver Legion

Smothering Tithe

Snapcaster Mage

Sol Ring

Solemn Simulacrum

Soraya the Falconer

Soul-Guide Lantern

Soulmates

Spike Breeder

Spined Fluke

Spy Kit

Star of Extinction

Stasis

Stifle

Stoneforge Mystic

Storm Crow

Stormtide Leviathan

Storybook Ride

Stuffy Doll

Sun Titan

Supreme Verdict

Surgical Extraction

Swamp

Swirling Sandstorm

Swords to Plowshares

Takklemaggot

Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student

Tamiyo, the Moon Sage

Tarmogoyf

Tempt with Bunnies

Tendershoot Dryad

Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle

Thalia, Guardian of Thraben

Thalia, Heretic Cathar

Thallid

Thassa, Deep-Dwelling

Thassa's Oracle

The Cheese Stands Alone

The Gitrog Monster

The Infamous Cruelclaw

The One Ring

Thoughtseize

Thragtusk

Thrashing Brontodon

Thrill of Possibility

Throes of Chaos

Tibalt, the Fiend-Blooded

Time Stop

Titanic Ultimatum

Toby, Beastie Befriender

Topplegeist

Tormented Soul

Totally Lost

Tough Cookie

Trading Post

Tragic Slip

Triumph of the Hordes

Trueheart Duelist

Typhoid Rats

Unable to Scream

Underrealm Lich

Unexpected Results

Unlicensed Disintegration

Unsummon

Urabrask

Urza, Academy Headmaster

Urza, Lord High Artificer

Urza's Ruinous Blast

Utopia Mycon

Vengeful Dead

Vexing Devil

Veyran, Voice of Duality

Vile Aggregate

Village Rites

Vizzerdrix

Vorinclex

Vraska, Betrayal's Sting

Vraska, Relic Seeker

Vraska, Scheming Gorgon

Warleader's Call

Waste Not

Wedding Announcement

Wedding Invitation

Weight Advantage

Westvale Abbey

Whirler Rogue

Will-o'-the-Wisp

Witness Protection

Wood Elves

Wordmail

Wurmcoil Engine

Xira, the Golden Sting

Yargle, Glutton of Urborg

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician

Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign

Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful

Zhur-Taa Goblin

Zoetic Cavern

[mtgvintage]

Proxy Decklists

MERFOLK:

1 Mana Crypt 1 Sol Ring 1 Mox Jet 1 Mox Pearl 1 Mox Emerald 1 Black Lotus 1 Mental Misstep 1 Grafdigger's Cage 1 Mox Sapphire 1 Time Walk 1 Ancestral Recall 1 Mox Ruby 2 Lorien Revealed 3 Vexing Bauble 4 Force of Will 1 True-Name Nemesis 3 Vodalian Hexcatcher 4 Tishana's Tidebinder 4 Thieving Skydiver 4 Tide Shaper 4 Hullbreacher 1 Strip Mine 2 Otawara, Soaring City 4 Urza's Saga 4 Cavern of Souls 4 Island 4 Wasteland Sideboard 2 Null Rod 1 Pithing Needle 1 Karakas 2 Dismember 3 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale 3 Grafdigger's Cage 3 True-Name Nemesis

DIMIR CONTROL

2 Orcish Bowmasters 4 Psychic Frog 1 Time Vault 1 Manifold Key 1 Mox Emerald 1 Mox Ruby 1 Black Lotus 1 Mox Jet 1 Mox Sapphire 1 Mox Pearl 1 Vexing Bauble 1 Sol Ring 4 Force of Will 3 Force of Negation 1 Ancestral Recall 1 Flusterstorm 1 Sink into Stupor 1 Mental Misstep 2 Spell Pierce 1 Dig Through Time 1 Vampiric Tutor 1 Repeal 1 Brainstorm 4 Lorien Revealed 1 Timetwister 1 Merchant Scroll 1 Time Walk 1 Gitaxian Probe 1 Treasure Cruise 1 Demonic Tutor 4 Urza's Saga 1 Dress Down 4 Wasteland 1 Strip Mine 4 Underground Sea 2 Polluted Delta 1 Island Sideboard 2 Flusterstorm 1 Lurrus of the Dream-Den 1 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale 1 Soul-Guide Lantern 1 Pithing Needle 2 Soul Rend 1 Fatal Push 1 Annul 1 Grafdigger's Cage 1 Null Rod 2 Steel Sabotage 1 Hurkyl's Recall

MUD:

4 Sphere of Resistance 1 Black Lotus 1 Chalice of the Void 2 Crucible of Worlds 1 Mana Crypt 4 Mishra's Workshop 1 Mox Emerald 1 Mox Jet 1 Mox Pearl 1 Mox Ruby 1 Mox Sapphire 4 Nettlecyst 2 Null Rod 4 Patchwork Automaton 3 Phyrexian Metamorph 4 Phyrexian Revoker 1 Pithing Needle 4 Stonecoil Serpent 1 Strip Mine 1 Thorn of Amethyst 1 Tolarian Academy 1 Trinisphere 4 Urza's Saga 3 Vexing Bauble 1 Sol Ring 4 Wasteland 4 Ancient Tomb Sideboard 2 Null Rod 2 Dismember 3 Grafdigger's Cage 3 Mindbreak Trap 1 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale 4 Leyline of the Void

HATEBEAR:

1 Black Lotus 1 Mox Ruby 1 Mox Sapphire 1 Mox Emerald 1 Mox Pearl 1 Mox Jet 1 Sol Ring 1 Mana Crypt 1 Trinisphere 1 Chalice of the Void 1 March of Otherworldly Light 1 Lotus Petal 3 Chrome Mox 1 Solitude 1 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben 2 Anointed Peacekeeper 2 Boromir, Warden of the Tower 3 Dauntless Dismantler 4 White Plume Adventurer 4 Seasoned Dungeoneer 4 Witch Enchanter 4 Chancellor of the Annex 4 Archon of Emeria 1 Strip Mine 1 Karakas 2 Plains 4 Cavern of Souls 4 Wasteland 4 Ancient Tomb Sideboard 1 Kataki, War's Wage 4 Containment Priest 4 Null Rod 2 Mindbreak Trap 3 Swords to Plowshares 1 March of Otherworldly Light

OATH:

4 Atraxa, Grand Unifier 1 Black Lotus 1 Bolas's Citadel 1 Mana Crypt 1 Mox Emerald 1 Mox Jet 1 Mox Pearl 1 Mox Ruby 1 Mox Sapphire 1 Null Rod 1 Sensei's Divining Top 1 Ancestral Recall 1 Brainstorm 1 Flash 1 Spell Pierce 1 Force of Negation 4 Force of Will 1 Mental Misstep 1 Mystical Tutor 1 Vampiric Tutor 1 Demonic Tutor 1 Gitaxian Probe 4 Show and Tell 2 Thoughtseize 1 Time Walk 1 Tinker 4 Oath of Druids 2 Oko, Thief of Crowns 1 Bayou 2 Boseiju, Who Endures 4 Forbidden Orchard 1 Island 3 Misty Rainforest 2 Polluted Delta 1 Strip Mine 2 Tropical Island 2 Underground Sea Sideboard 1 Null Rod 1 Force of Negation 1 Oko, Thief of Crowns 2 Abrupt Decay 1 Force of Vigor 1 Long Goodbye 1 Mindbreak Trap 1 Nature's Claim 1 Portal to Phyrexia 2 Serra's Emissary 1 Sphinx of the Steel Wind 1 Steel Sabotage 1 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale

DOOMSDAY:

1 Ancestral Recall 1 Black Lotus 1 Vampiric Tutor 1 Demonic Consultation 1 Mystical Tutor 4 Force of Will 4 Doomsday 2 Flooded Strand 2 Polluted Delta 1 Dig Through Time 1 Gitaxian Probe 1 Gush 1 Mental Misstep 2 Misty Rainforest 1 Mox Jet 1 Mox Sapphire 1 Demonic Tutor 1 Necropotence 4 Street Wraith 4 Preordain 4 Dark Ritual 1 Island 2 Thassa's Oracle 1 Time Walk 1 Treasure Cruise 1 Undercity Sewers 4 Underground Sea 1 Brainstorm 4 Ponder 1 Force of Negation 3 Flusterstorm 2 Scalding Tarn Sideboard 2 Force of Negation 3 Leyline of the Void 2 Mindbreak Trap 1 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale 2 Psychic Frog 3 Steel Sabotage 2 Fatal Push

BESEECH THE STORM

1 Sheoldred, the Apocalypse 1 Mana Crypt 1 Mox Jet 1 Mox Pearl 1 Black Lotus 1 Mox Sapphire 1 Mox Ruby 1 Mox Emerald 1 Sol Ring 1 Manifold Key 1 The One Ring 1 Lotus Petal 1 Bolas's Citadel 1 Sensei's Divining Top 1 Time Vault 1 Mental Misstep 1 Ancestral Recall 4 Force of Will 1 Chain of Vapor 1 Mystical Tutor 1 Vampiric Tutor 1 Brainstorm 2 Flusterstorm 4 Dark Ritual 1 Time Walk 4 Lorien Revealed 1 Tinker 1 Timetwister 1 Gitaxian Probe 1 Tendrils of Agony 1 Yawgmoth's Will 1 Demonic Tutor 4 Beseech the Mirror 4 Urza's Saga 1 Dress Down 1 Necropotence 1 Marsh Flats 1 Verdant Catacombs 1 Swamp 4 Underground Sea 1 Tolarian Academy Sideboard 1 Flusterstorm 1 Pithing Needle 1 Dismember 2 Grafdigger's Cage 2 Cut Down 2 Force of Negation 1 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale 1 Portal to Phyrexia 1 Opposition Agent 2 Hurkyl's Recall 1 Long Goodbye

PARADOXICAL OUTCOME:

4 Phyrexian Metamorph 1 Black Lotus 4 Coveted Jewel 3 Grim Monolith 1 Mana Crypt 1 Mana Vault 1 Manifold Key 1 Mox Emerald 1 Mox Jet 1 Mox Opal 1 Mox Pearl 1 Mox Ruby 1 Mox Sapphire 1 Mystic Forge 1 Sol Ring 4 The One Ring 1 Time Vault 1 Trinisphere 3 Vexing Bauble 1 Ancestral Recall 4 Force of Will 4 Paradoxical Outcome 2 Sink into Stupor 1 Time Walk 1 Tinker 4 Urza's Saga 1 Karn, the Great Creator 4 Ancient Tomb 1 Island 4 Mishra's Workshop 1 Tolarian Academy Sideboard 4 Argentum Masticore 2 Dismember 2 Force of Negation 1 Grafdigger's Cage 1 Mindbreak Trap 1 Mycosynth Lattice 1 Pithing Needle 3 Wurmcoil Engine

[steps-untraced]

this is exactly why Gitaxian Probe is broken

Magic the Gathering tip: there is no such thing as a “free spell”, every spell you cast costs 1 card from your hand that could have been used for bluffing counterspells

[mtgbirthdays]

Happy birthday to Gitaxian Probe (PRM), who's turning 11 years old today! Fun fact: MTGO is twice as old as this MTGO promo is.

[zoydraft]

Approachable Hand Disruption

Hand disruption can be intimidating but if you're thoughtful it can enrich gameplay, even for novice players. I'm going to look at a handful of cards, and use them to illustrate some of the impact they can have on an environment, and new players specifically.

Thoughtseize is elegant (almost Pilfer level), but it's not the friendliest to casual players. Hand disruption is a skill-intensive mechanic. It tilts games away from players who don't know how to make the most of it, or who run weaker cards instead, aware of their inability to maximize the card. That 2 life cost can also scare folks away. That's not even getting into the modality of targeting yourself. Yet, I run it anyway. I'll come back to why later.

Full post also available on CubeCobra

Hymn to Tourach was one of the first cards in the Cube Tutor (RIP) Top Cards list that really rubbed me the wrong way as a new player. It wasn't the potential for land denial and subsequent non-games. Cube designers understand that aspect of the card.

I doubt this is a common reaction, but when I saw the word random I asked, "how?" It's a really simple thing, but suddenly I was distracted by the logistics of executing the spell, instead of focusing on the game. It's worse than that, because you aren't the one doing it, you're compelling your opponent to discard. As an enfranchised player it's trivial but when you're still learning you have enough on your mind. Under-defined procedures can add to mental load.

On the other hand, I love Zyym. He's a nightmare for the same reason that I don't like Hymn to Tourach, but there's one huge advantage: he's fun and engaging for both players. I don't believe accessibility needs to be a set of rules, it's more about being tactful in where you make allowances.

Let's compare Kitesail Freebooter, Duress, Virus Beetle, and Mind Rot, ignoring power level. The sorceries make the disruption the entirety of the effect which doubles down on the skill-intensive nature. New players will not play these or will play them poorly. In contrast, the creatures could fit in an environment where having a 1/2 flyer or an artifact that can chump block adds value. These cards offer a gentle on-ramp to hand disruption, where it's not completely boom-or-bust based on your skill level.

The other axis here is that Kitesail Freebooter and Duress are opt-in mechanics. You are deciding to play them and take on the challenge of disrupting your opponents card. Virus Beetle and Mind Rot work the other way, where it's being forced on your opponent. Being hit with a Mind Rot is not nearly as skill-testing as casting Duress, but it's still an effect that players are not electing to try, which can make it less enjoyable.

Where Kitesail Freebooter doesn't shine is the possibility of revealing a hand with all creatures. In a perfect world there would be a variant I could point to that hit any non-land. Mesmeric Fiend and Brain Maggot suffer from having all but useless bodies, and you need to protect them for the effect to persist.

If you're going to miss, you might be happier with Inquisition of Kozilek. I would run this over Duress if I only had one. I don't have a strong sense of why, but I suspect it leads to less feel-bads, maybe related to the expectation that you aren't getting something huge.

After all that you may be surprised that I run Thoughtseize and a whole suite of other hand disruption effects. Partly I'm just rationalizing including cards I like, but I think these cards are important to include because they offer players the opportunity to get better in two specific ways.

The obvious one first: how are you going to get better at hand disruption if you never play hand disruption?

More importantly, I think these cards invite you to learn to play around opponents. You're not obligated to think about the cards that were revealed, but you probably will. The same is true for Gitaxian Probe, and Urza and Mishra's Baubles. Thinking about playing around known information is a good first step towards playing around unknown information. It also pushes players towards trying to understand their opponent's gameplan, and how they can best attack it.

Hand disruption can play an vital role even in beginner-friendly cubes, but it will work better with thoughtful inclusions. It's an important part of Black's colour pie, it's an interesting mechanic, and maybe most importantly: it encourages richer gameplay.

Card of the day? Kitesail Freebooter, no doubt.

[afro-dave]

Vintage tomorrow morning (15 proxy). I’m nowhere near as versed in the format but I’m gonna try this out and play some cards that I own but aren’t allowed in legacy.

1 Gitaxian Probe

1 Mental Misstep

1 Ancestral Recall

1 Brainstorm

1 Ponder

1 Mystical Tutor

1 Time Walk

1 Timetwister

1 Tinker

2 Spell Pierce

2 Force of Negation

4 Force of Will

1 Vampiric Tutor

1 Demonic Tutor

1 Yawgmoth's Will

1 Bolas's Citadel

1 Wheel of Fortune

1 Black Lotus

1 Mox Pearl

1 Mox Sapphire

1 Mox Jet

1 Mox Ruby

1 Mox Emerald

1 Mana Crypt

1 Manifold Key

1 Pithing Needle

1 Sensei's Divining Top

1 Sol Ring

1 Time Vault

1 Narset, Parter of Veils

2 Dack Fayden

3 Hullbreacher

4 Orcish Bowmasters

1 Tolarian Academy

3 Urza's Saga

3 Underground Sea

2 Volcanic Island

2 Flooded Strand

1 Polluted Delta

1 Misty Rainforest

2 Scalding Tarn

1 Island

Sideboard

1 Blue Elemental Blast

3 Flusterstorm

1 Hurkyl's Recall

1 Fatal Push

1 Virtue's Ruin

1 Alpine Moon

1 Pyroblast

1 Red Elemental Blast

1 Abrade

2 Grafdigger's Cage

1 Portal to Phyrexia

1 The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale