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Articles by David Royale
Wizards REVERSES Bannings on New Zeta Secret Lair Cards
Last updated on September 4, 2026 Chrome Mox | Illustration by MSCHF Earlier today, Gavin Verhey announced, on behalf of the entire Pauper format panel team, that they will be reversing a previous decision on the new Zeta Secret Lair set that resulted in cards receiving a first-time common printing not being legal in Pauper. This means that all cards printed at common in Zeta set will be treated as having an official common printing, making them legal in pauper.
Aragorn, King of Gondor Duel Commander Deck Guide
Aragorn, King of Gondor | Illustration by Yongjae Choi Duel Commander is one of my favorite formats, right alongside Brawl. I love the deckbuilding challenge, but what I enjoy most is that I get to run a commander in a more competitive one-on-one environment. One of my go-to choices, both in paper and on MTGO, is Aragorn, King of Gondor. Today, I’m breaking down a tuned list built to outpace your opponents and put you on top as the king of the hill.
The 45 Best Goblin Art Pieces in Magic Ranked
Goblin Bombardment | Illustration by Phil Foglio When it comes to Magic: The Gathering, there’s one thing every deck has, no matter the color or strategy: art. Today, our goblin crew is heading to painting class to decide which goblin art is the best ever printed. Curious to see which cards made the list? Let’s dive in.
All 8 Sarkhan Planeswalkers in Magic Ranked
Sarkhan Unbroken | Illustration by Aleksi Briclot Alara is always gonna be one of my favorite planes, mostly because that was when I started to take events more seriously. I’ve always been a dragon fan, so the moment I saw a planeswalker built around them, Sarkhan Vol, I was instantly in. His first card wasn’t really the format-breaking monster I expected, but his story hooked me right away.
All 10 Myojin in Magic Ranked
Myojin of Blooming Dawn | Illustration by Yigit Koroglu Myojin are some of the coolest big-mana haymakers in Magic, because they don’t just hit the board, they threaten a one-shot moment that can flip the whole table. The tricky part is that their best mode is locked behind a very specific rule: They want to be cast from your hand, and Commander doesn’t always play nice with that.
All 11 Swampcyclers in Magic Ranked
Malboro | Illustration by Dan Watson Sometimes you just have a bunch of gas, but none of it’s castable right away. Maybe a giant creature is stuck in your hand, or you’re missing a color, or you kept a sketchy 2-lander. That is exactly the kind of headache swampcyclers solve because they turn a clunky card into the land you actually need while still keeping the option to be a real threat later.
Spell Mastery in MTG: Rules, History, and Best Cards
Talent of the Telepath | Illustration by Peter Mohrbacher If you have ever cast a card with spell mastery and thought, “Wait, why didn't I get the bonus?” you aren’t alone. The mechanic rewards you for already having spells in your graveyard, but a few timing gotchas can make the upgrade disappear in real games. Today, we’ll cover why that happens, what spell mastery actually checks, and the major cards that use it. Intrigued? Let’s dive in.
6 Tips and Tricks for Preventing Mana Flood in MTG
Valley Floodcaller | Illustration by Victor Adame Minguez Magic: The Gathering is a game of odds, or what many players call variance, and one of the most common ways you feel that variance is through your land draws. Sometimes you draw too few lands, and sometimes you draw too many. Mana flood. If you’re wondering how to prevent it, the truth is you can’t avoid it completely, and it’ll happen once in a while. But you can reduce how often it shows up and make it less punishing when it does.
The 33 Most Iconic Cards in Magic Ranked
Shivan Dragon | Illustration by Melissa A. Benson There's a sort of “Mount Rushmore” trend in Magic that pops up from time to time, where different players pick out what they consider to be the most iconic cards in Magic: The Gathering (AKA, the four cards you'd put on an MTG Mount Rushmore). Iconic obviously means different things to different people. For some people, it's synonymous with “old” or “vintage”, and goes back to the earliest parts of the game.
Complete List of All 33 Phyrexian Language Cards in MTG, and How to Get Them
Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines | Illustration by Martina Fackova Phyrexian text cards are MTG collectibles that look insanely cool, but also raise a bunch of questions the moment you see one. Are they real cards or just a novelty print? Can you actually play them at a tournament? And are they going to cost you a fortune if you want a full set? Let’s break it all down in plain English, so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
All 26 World Enchantments in Magic Ranked
The Abyss | Illustration by Pete Venters Have you ever heard of world enchantments? Honestly, I hadn’t either. Funny enough, I’ve played with a few over the years without even realizing they were something special. If this is your first time hearing about them, don’t worry. Today we’re going to break down what world enchantments are, how the world rule works, how it compares to other rules like the legend rule, and most importantly, which world enchantments are actually worth your time.
The 25 Best Persistent Petitioner Commanders in Magic Ranked
Collecting, Commander, Deckbuilding, MTG Cards Persistent Petitioners | Illustration by Jason Rainville Mill strategies aren’t new to Commander, but they’re far from common. Today, we look at a special kind of card that lets you mill huge chunks of your opponents’ libraries just by tapping creatures. The best part is that they don’t care about summoning sickness at all. Sound interesting? Have you ever heard of Persistent Petitioners?
All 3 Kithkin Commanders in Magic Ranked
Brigid, Doun's Mind | Illustration by Jesper Ejsing Lorwyn Eclipsed promised to bring back the major creature types of the original Lorwyn block, which meant the glorious comeback of the underrepresented kithkin. Unfortuntately, the set fell kind of… short. Even so, we’ll take a look at the best kithkin commanders you can build around and what makes each one stand out. Intrigued? Let’s see the few options we have.
25 of the Coolest and Most Creative Magic: The Gathering Cosplays
Estrid, the Masked | Illustration by Johannes Voss Magic: The Gathering has always been about more than just the cards. It’s about the worlds, characters, and stories that live behind the artwork. Over the years, that passion has grown into an amazing cosplay scene, and today we’re showcasing some of the best MTG cosplays out there, highlighting the artists and makers who turn the Magic multiverse into something you can experience beyond the table. Intrigued?
The 85 Best Legendary Creatures in Magic Ranked
Heroes' Podium | Illustration by Willian Murai Legendary creatures have always been at the heart of Magic: The Gathering, shaping both its story and its gameplay. With Commander now the game’s most popular format, these cards matter more than ever, and today we break down the most powerful legendary creatures ever printed.
The 5 Best Bracket 5 Commanders in Magic Ranked
Sisay, Weatherlight Captain | Illustration by Anna Steinbauer If you’ve ever wanted to venture into the most competitive form of Commander, Bracket 5 or cEDH, but you didn’t know where to start, I have you covered. Today, we dive into five different decks drawn from some of the most powerful strategies out there. We’ll break down how they play, what makes them strong, and even what changes you can make to tone them down if you want to experiment with them in Bracket 4. Intrigued? Let’s dive in.
All 3 Sultai Lands in Magic Ranked
Opulent Palace | Illustration by Sergey Glushakov When it comes to fixing your mana base, lands that can produce or give you access to multiple colors are some of the most important cards to have across formats. Today, I’ll go over the lands that do this for Sultai colors (). While the options are limited, these are solid investments that can slot into future builds no matter the format. Let’s get into it.
All 15 Mythic Rares in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ranked
Michelangelo, Improviser | Illustration by Narendra Bintara Adi The mythic spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles dropped a little early, and as usual, we felt we had to take a closer look. We’re going to break down each card, share our first impressions, and, of course, rank them along the way. Curious what this set has to offer?
The 31 Best Rangers in Magic Ranked
Ranger of Eos | Illustration by Ryan Pancoast Ranger of Eos, Quirion Ranger, and Skyshroud Ranger are all powerful creatures that have been around for quite some time, shaping games across multiple formats. Despite their impact, rangers as a creature type have never received the spotlight or cohesive support expected for cards this strong. Today, we’re going to break down why that is the case, and rank the best ranger creatures printed so far. Intrigued? Let’s get into it.
All 11 Skip Turn Cards in Magic Ranked
Gerrard's Hourglass Pendant | Illustration by Sam Burley I've absolutely been in situation where I was playing an aggro deck and out of nowhere, I got hit with an Orim's Chant. Technically, I could still play my lands, but there was nothing meaningful left to do, so I effectively skipped my turn. It was undeniable proof that skipping a turn is one of the most backbreaking things that can happen in Magic, but how many ways can you actually make that happen?
Glarb, Calamity’s Augur Commander Deck Guide
Glarb, Calamity's Augur | Illustration by Bram Sels For a long time, the go-to Sultai commander () in competitive play was Tasigur, the Golden Fang, largely because of how well it worked with graveyard-focused cards. That synergy was so strong that it even earned Tasigur a ban in Duel Commander. But Magic never stands still. As Commander as a whole evolved, a new option has emerged that fits the modern cEDH landscape even better.
Auntie Ool, Cursewretch Commander Deck Guide
Auntie Ool, Cursewretch | Illustration by Daniel Zrom The new Jund commander (), Auntie Ool, Cursewretch from Lorwyn Eclipsed puts a fresh spin on -1/-1 counters in Commander. Instead of treating them as a downside, this deck turns every counter into value. Today, we look at a deck that totally breaks blight synergies. Intrigued by what this Auntie has to offer?
Lorwyn Eclipsed Pirates Theme Deck Upgrade Guide
Fearless Swashbuckler | Illustration by Konstantin Porubov With the release of Lorwyn Eclipsed, a new wave of themed decks has surfaced! This time, pirates are among the featured crews. Packed with evasive threats, vehicles, and a handful of shiny tricks, the big question is whether the treasure they bring is actually worth digging for. Is this deck a solid pickup, or just flashy loot? Let’s find out.
Ashling, the Limitless Commander Deck Guide
Commander, MTG Decks, Strategy Ashling, the Limitless | Illustration by Kai Carpenter When it comes to elemental decks, value usually comes from enters triggers, but Ashling, the Limitless takes that idea and pushes it much further. Today, we break down a Commander decklist built around a clear evoke theme that aims to exploit that engine while keeping the deck fairly casual. Intrigued by what the end result looks like? Let’s dive in.
The 19 Best Blue Cards in Lorwyn Eclipsed Ranked
Glen Elendra's Answer | Illustration by Sam Guay Blue has always been about playing the long game, and Lorwyn Eclipsed stays true to that identity with a clear typal subtheme in mind. As is mandatory for each set, we’ll go over the best cards of the color that are likely to make an impact across various formats. Intrigued by what ECL has to offer blue mages?
The 40 Best Cards in Lorwyn Eclipsed Ranked
Oko, Shadowmoor Scion | Illustration by Kai Carpenter Lorwyn Eclipsed brings us back to one of Magic’s most beloved planes, and with it comes a wave of cards that feel both familiar and fresh. Today, we take a closer look at the best cards from the set and rank them based on overall power and formats they may see play in. Intrigued by what this list has to offer?
The 18 Best White Cards in Lorwyn Eclipsed Ranked
Ajani, Outland Chaperone | Illustration by Greg Staples When talking about white in Lorwyn Eclipsed, there’s one creature type that immediately comes to mind: kithkin. Don’t be fooled by their size: They can pack a serious punch if you’re not careful. White has much more to offer in this set, and today we go over the standout white cards from Lorwyn Eclipsed. Curious which new staples might show up in Standard and other formats? Let’s dive in.
The Arena Limited Championship and Qualifiers - Everything You Need to Know
Last One Standing | Illustration Svetlin Velinov Over the last few years, MTG Arena has created more and more ways to bring competitive Magic into the online world. For players who prefer digital play or can’t easily attend in-person events, this has been a huge win. Now, we’re stepping into something even bigger, especially for Limited fans.
Who Are The Lorwyn Five in Magic: The Gathering?
The Lorwyn Five Planeswalkers | Illustration by Aleksi Briclot Planeswalkers have come a long way in Magic: The Gathering. Back in 2007, the Lorwyn set introduced the very first planeswalker cards, and today we explore who they are, what made them special at the time, and more importantly, whether they’re still any good now. Intrigued? Let's dive in! Table of Contents show 1 Who Are the Lorwyn Five?
Who Are the Fomori in Magic: The Gathering?
Ruhan of the Fomori | Illustration by Raymond Swanland I was joking with a friend the other day about how Magic: The Gathering always seems to bring back the same big bad guys, whether it's the Eldrazi, the Phyrexians, or Nicol Bolas. I said the only real twist left would be to add actual aliens. Turns out I wasn’t far off. My friend said “Fomori are on the rise,” and I had to ask what that even meant. So I looked into it.
All 31 White Sagas in Magic Ranked
Elspeth Conquers Death | Illustration by Ryan Yee Sagas in Magic: The Gathering have grown in popularity thanks to new support cards released throughout 2025. Today, we’re taking a close look at the white sagas worth keeping an eye on when you're building your next deck. Intrigued? Let’s dive in! Table of Contents show Bahamut, Warden of Light | Illustration by Kevin Glint White sagas are mono-white enchantments that trigger over several turns, giving you a new chapter ability each turn.
The 42 Best Esper Creatures in Magic Ranked
Raffine, Scheming Seer | Illustration by Véronique Meignaud Esper () might just be the coolest color combo in Magic: The Gathering. Mixing white, blue, and black gives you access to strong control tools, tricky value engines, and powerful artifact synergies all in one deck. And if you’re into creatures that do more than just attack and block, Esper is where they really shine.
The 28 Best Relentless Rats and Rat Colony Commanders in Magic Ranked
Collecting, Commander, Deckbuilding, MTG Cards Relentless Rats | Illustration by Mathias Kollros When it comes to building rat Commander decks, one big question always comes up: Is it better to run Relentless Rats or Rat Colony? Today, we’re putting that debate to rest. We’ll break down the best commanders for each strategy, explore what makes them shine, and see which one truly excels depending on your game plan. Intrigued?
The 36 Best Ability Copying Cards in Magic Ranked
Panharmonicon | Illustration by Volkan Baga Copying spells and permanents has become pretty common in modern Magic, but there’s a smaller group of cards that work differently — they copy abilities instead. So what does that actually mean? And does it even matter at the table? The short answer is yes… and the long answer is way more exciting. Ability copiers can turn small effects into huge plays, push value engines over the top, and even enable unexpected combos. Intrigued?
The 41 Best Selesnya Creatures in Magic Ranked
Emmara, Soul of the Accord | Illustration by Mark Winters When it comes to green and white decks, there's just something so satisfying about watching your board grow into an unstoppable force. Selesnya () creatures are all about unity, protection, and value, and today we go over the best of their kind ever printed! Intrigued?
The 34 Best Budget Red Cards in MTG Ranked
Fire Diamond | Illustration by Gaboleps Following our run through budget staples, it’s finally red’s turn in the spotlight — and this color offers far more than just wild aggression. There are plenty of cheap red cards that offer big value, utility, and real game-ending power without costing much. Ready to see which cards actually bring the heat?
The 10 Best Infinite Life Combos in Magic Ranked
Archangel of Thune | Illustration by James Ryman Lifegain is one of the oldest tricks in Magic: The Gathering, but when it goes infinite, things get wild fast. Today, we’re diving into what infinite life combos are, how they work, and highlighting some of the most broken examples you can pull off in Commander. Intrigued?
The 30 Best Budget White Cards in MTG Ranked
Unbreakable Formation | Illustration by Matt Stewart Following our budget color cycle, it’s time to shine the spotlight on white cards. Despite what you might think, there are plenty of powerful, affordable options hiding in this color’s lineup. From efficient removal to solid value engines and resilient board control, white has more depth than it gets credit for. Intrigued to see which cards made the cut?
The 36 Best Mill Payoffs in Magic Ranked
Fraying Sanity | Illustration by Ryan Alexander Lee Milling has always been one of Magic’s most intriguing strategies. Instead of burning through life points, it attacks the mind—erasing your opponent’s library one card at a time. There’s something uniquely satisfying about watching every milled card matter, transforming graveyards into engines of victory. But what are the best payoffs for milling? That’s exactly what we’re exploring today: the cards that make this strategy truly shine.
All 11 Scene Boxes in Magic, Plus Are They Worth It?
The Lord of the Rings Scene Art | Illustration by Tyler Jacobson Scene Boxes are one of the newest twists in Magic: The Gathering’s product line-up, and they’re all about capturing big story moments in a way we’ve never really seen before. Instead of just cards in a box, you get a full panoramic scene — borderless cards that come together to illustrate an iconic moment, plus a display stand so you can show it off.
The 18 Best Fish in Magic Ranked
Eluge, the Shoreless Sea | Illustration by Antonio José Manzanedo As of the release of Avatar: The Last Airbender, we’re starting to see some really cool fish creatures show up—from majestic koi to some downright unusual designs. That got me thinking: Which ones stand out as the best fish in Magic: The Gathering? Today, we cast out some lines and lures, and you’ll be surprised how many good catches are out there that can actually shake up entire boards. Intrigued? Let’s dive in and find out.
The 34 Best Secret Lair Bonus Cards in Magic Ranked
Shadowborn Apostle | Illustration art by Laynes With all the new products WotC keeps throwing at us, have you ever stopped to wonder which Secret Lair bonus cards stand out as the best, and more importantly, which one takes the crown as the most expensive? Today we dive into that very topic. I’ve picked out some of the drops that I think really deserve the spotlight, and by the end, we’ll have a clear answer to both questions. Intrigued?
The 35 Best Multicolor-Matters Cards in Magic Ranked
Iridian Maelstrom | Illustration by Justyna Gil While plenty of multicolor commanders exist, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of playing all five colors of Magic to take down a game. But have you ever wondered what the most powerful payoffs for this strategy are? Today, we diving into the best multicolor-matters cards to maximize your value. Intrigued?
Original Playtest Cards in Magic: The Gathering: What Are They, and Are They Valuable?
Jalum Tome | Illustration by Ben Hill Magic: The Gathering has printed some truly strange cards over the years, but few are as bizarre—or as valuable—as the ones that don’t even look like real Magic cards. Ever seen something that looks like a sticky note glued to cardboard and thought, there’s no way that’s worth money? Well… buckle up. Today we dive into original playtest cards, the rough, handmade prototypes that helped shape the earliest days of Magic.
The 30 Best Budget Black Cards in Magic Ranked
Gray Merchant of Asphodel | Illustration by Scott Murphy Black staples are incredibly cheap, despite how intimidating some EDH decklists look at first glance. When you dig into what actually makes those decks expensive, you realize a lot of the high-dollar cards can easily be swapped out for budget options that still get the job done. That’s what we’re looking at today—black staples that deliver plenty of power without draining your wallet. Ready to see which ones make the cut? Let’s dive in.
The 25 Weirdest and Coolest Misprints in Magic: The Gathering
Contract from Below | Illustration by Douglas Shuler Have you ever opened a booster pack and found a damaged card? Maybe it was miscut, crimped, or even printed with parts of another card. Before you toss it aside, hold up! You might be holding a cool oddity collectors are willing to pay for. Today, we’re breaking down the most common—and most surprising— misprints people have discovered. Intrigued? Let’s dive in! Table of Contents show 3 Types of Misprints Ephemerate | Illustration by Bastien L.
The 7 Best Places to Sell Your MTG Collection
Bag of Holding | Illustration by Dmitry Burmak A few days ago, I stumbled across old Magic cards I hadn’t touched in almost a decade. As much as it pains me to admit it, they’ve just been sitting there, collecting dust. That got me thinking: Would it be worth selling my precious dual lands? And if I did, would I even get a fair price for them? So, I dug in and did some research.
The 25 Best Avatar: The Last Airbender Cards for Standard
Zhao, the Moon Slayer | Illustration by Toraji Avatar: The Last Airbender just entered Standard, and while not every card is going to make waves, a handful have real potential to shape the format. From explosive ramp engines to efficient role-players and synergy pieces that slot into existing decks, there are some standouts worth paying attention to. Intrigued? Let’s dive in.
Fire Lord Zuko Commander Deck Guide
Commander, MTG Decks, Strategy Fire Lord Zuko | Illustration by Jo Cordisco The Avatar: The Last Airbender set gave us a lot of fun mechanics to explore, but the one that really has everyone excited is firebending. It’s a way to generate mana through attacking, which means you can set up some seriously explosive turns. And who better to showcase that than Fire Lord Zuko? This commander turns every combat step into fuel to let you power out spells from exile while your board keeps getting stronger.
The 28 Best Red Cards in Avatar: The Last Airbender Ranked
Firebender Ascension | Illustration by Tetsuko Avatar is just around the corner, and I’ve got you covered on the chase red cards from the set, both The Last Airbender (TLA) and The Last Airbender Eternal (TLE). These are the red cards that stand out the most, from explosive firebenders to spicy reprints that bring serious heat to the table. Intrigued about what made my list?
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