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About Author: Mike Lanigan

Mike Lanigan
Description
My name is Mike Lanigan and I love this game. Standard is my focus, Limited is my love, Finance is my survival, Legacy/Modern are my new ventures, and Commander is my joy. I am typically not the one to play whatever the best deck is. I am determined to build and play the deck that beats the best deck. My journey started with the arrival of Scourge and has led to years of fun playing Magic. Striving for success has led to afew minor accomplishments such as a PTQ top 8, States 2009 top 8, and a Star City Games top 8 along with many close calls. 2010 was the first year that I really devoted to competitive play and I look forward to more achievements in the future.

Posts by Mike Lanigan

  • Mike Lanigan unveils a recent build of BWR Midrange, a well-positioned in the Standard metagame, and compares it with some other similar builds.

    A New Take on Midrange

    By
    June 13, 2013     3 Comments
    Mike Lanigan unveils a recent build of BWR Midrange, a well-positioned in the Standard metagame, and compares it with some other similar builds.
  • With Standard in a state of constant flux, powerful cards are sometimes lost in the mix and forgotten. Mike Lanigan looks at ten underplayed cards that you should consider in your next 75.

    Ten Cards You Should Be Playing

    By
    June 6, 2013     6 Comments
    With Standard in a state of constant flux, powerful cards are sometimes lost in the mix and forgotten. Mike Lanigan looks at ten underplayed cards that you should consider in your next 75.
  • Mike Lanigan weighs in on availability of <em>Modern Master's</em> and the recently-announced rule changes, then provides an update of his B/W Zombies list.

    Modern, Legends, and Zombies… Watch Out!

    By
    May 30, 2013     2 Comments
    Mike Lanigan weighs in on availability of Modern Master's and the recently-announced rule changes, then provides an update of his B/W Zombies list.
  • Thragtusk is yet again dominating Standard. Mike Lanigan attempts to solve the format with a series of decks well-positioned against the card.

    Beating Thragtusk Standard

    By
    May 23, 2013     3 Comments
    Thragtusk is yet again dominating Standard. Mike Lanigan attempts to solve the format with a series of decks well-positioned against the card.
  • Mike Lanigan takes two popular Standard decks and mashes them together, peanut-butter-and-chocolate-like. Read on for the resulting brew.

    Mixing It Up

    By
    May 16, 2013     2 Comments
    Mike Lanigan takes two popular Standard decks and mashes them together, peanut-butter-and-chocolate-like. Read on for the resulting brew.
  • Mike Lanigan brews up a Varolz Jund deck that aims to take advantage of the new legendary scavenger. With cards like Vexing Devil and Diregraf Ghoul, it doesn't take much to make him a monster.

    Rolled by Varolz

    By
    May 9, 2013     3 Comments
    Mike Lanigan brews up a Varolz Jund deck that aims to take advantage of the new legendary scavenger. With cards like Vexing Devil and Diregraf Ghoul, it doesn't take much to make him a monster.
  • Mike Lanigan brings us his regularly scheduled top ten article with his pick for Constructed hits out of <em>Dragon's Maze</em>.

    Dragon’s Maze Top 10!

    By
    May 2, 2013     10 Comments
    Mike Lanigan brings us his regularly scheduled top ten article with his pick for Constructed hits out of Dragon's Maze.
  • Mike Lanigan surveys <em>Dragon's Maze</em> for some notable cards and offers his thoughts on their possibilities in Standard.

    Dragon’s Maze: First Look

    By
    April 25, 2013     3 Comments
    Mike Lanigan surveys Dragon's Maze for some notable cards and offers his thoughts on their possibilities in Standard.
  • Mike Lanigan analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of a version of The Aristocrats he played at a recent PTQ, and suggests a few alterations.

    So You Want to Beat Junk?

    By
    April 18, 2013     0 Comments
    Mike Lanigan analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of a version of The Aristocrats he played at a recent PTQ, and suggests a few alterations.
  • When we're in a Magic slump, it can be helpful to go back to the drawing board. Mike Lanigan explains how to challenge your own assumptions about a metagame or deck.

    Does Your Game Need a Tune-up?

    By
    April 11, 2013     1 Comments
    When we're in a Magic slump, it can be helpful to go back to the drawing board. Mike Lanigan explains how to challenge your own assumptions about a metagame or deck.
  • Mike Lanigan surveys the recent field of tier-one Standard decks and suggests Gruul Midrange as a possible contender.

    A Gruuling Standard

    By
    April 4, 2013     0 Comments
    Mike Lanigan surveys the recent field of tier-one Standard decks and suggests Gruul Midrange as a possible contender.
  • Mike Lanigan reports on his day-two tournament finish last weekend at the GP in his hometown of Pittsburgh, covering both <em>Gatecrash</em> Sealed and Draft.

    Gatecrashing Grand Prix Pittsburgh

    By
    March 28, 2013     4 Comments
    Mike Lanigan reports on his day-two tournament finish last weekend at the GP in his hometown of Pittsburgh, covering both Gatecrash Sealed and Draft.
  • This year's Modern season departs with one last huzzah, GP San Diego. Mike Lanigan looks over decklists and discusses the last-minute developments.

    Jund: the New Jund

    By
    March 21, 2013     2 Comments
    This year's Modern season departs with one last huzzah, GP San Diego. Mike Lanigan looks over decklists and discusses the last-minute developments.
  • Mike Lanigan brought Grixis to a Modern PTQ last weekend. Today's article describes his matches and the take-away.

    Adventures in Qualifying — Modern PTQ #2

    By
    March 14, 2013     6 Comments
    Mike Lanigan brought Grixis to a Modern PTQ last weekend. Today's article describes his matches and the take-away.
  • Mike Lanigan relates his tournament experience last weekend at a Modern PTQ, and examines what we can take away from his matches.

    Adventures in Qualifying: Modern PTQ #1

    By
    March 7, 2013     0 Comments
    Mike Lanigan relates his tournament experience last weekend at a Modern PTQ, and examines what we can take away from his matches.
  • Mike Lanigan examines some interesting tweaks of Standard decks built to attack the metagame from a different position.

    Fresh Decks from Friends

    By
    March 1, 2013     0 Comments
    Mike Lanigan examines some interesting tweaks of Standard decks built to attack the metagame from a different position.
  • Mike took Standard Zoo out for a spin at SCG Cincinnati, incorporating the by-now ubiquitous Boros Reckoner. Read on for his tournament report.

    SCG Cincinnati Topics

    By
    February 22, 2013     4 Comments
    Mike took Standard Zoo out for a spin at SCG Cincinnati, incorporating the by-now ubiquitous Boros Reckoner. Read on for his tournament report.
  • Mike Lanigan offers some poignant (and all-too-necessary) advice about reading cards, and presents an update of Standard Zoo.

    Tournament Tips #1

    By
    February 14, 2013     5 Comments
    Mike Lanigan offers some poignant (and all-too-necessary) advice about reading cards, and presents an update of Standard Zoo.
  • Mike Lanigan believes the inclusion of <em>Gatecrash's</em> Duskmantle Seer solves some major problems facing the Zombies deck. Read on to learn how to sing the Zombie Blues.

    Fixing What Ain’t Broke

    By
    February 8, 2013     7 Comments
    Mike Lanigan believes the inclusion of Gatecrash's Duskmantle Seer solves some major problems facing the Zombies deck. Read on to learn how to sing the Zombie Blues.
  • Efficient creatures are everywhere in Standard, and <em>Gatecrash</em> brings even more to the party. Mike Lanigan believe now may be the time for a visit to the Ravnica Standard Zoo.

    Welcome to the Ravnica City Zoo

    By
    January 31, 2013     7 Comments
    Efficient creatures are everywhere in Standard, and Gatecrash brings even more to the party. Mike Lanigan believe now may be the time for a visit to the Ravnica Standard Zoo.
  • Mike Lanigan ranks the top ten cards to come out of Gatecrash, to see how the set will impact Constructed formats.

    Top Ten Constructed Gatecrash Cards

    By
    January 24, 2013     21 Comments
    Mike Lanigan ranks the top ten cards to come out of Gatecrash, to see how the set will impact Constructed formats.
  • Obzedat, Ghost Council is a newcomer to the scene, ready to take on all challengers. Is there anyone out there who can defeat him?

    The Fight You Don’t Want to Miss

    By
    January 18, 2013     5 Comments
    Obzedat, Ghost Council is a newcomer to the scene, ready to take on all challengers. Is there anyone out there who can defeat him?
  • Mike Lanigan discusses the failings of the current Standard environment, and provides a primer on his innovative port of G/W Auras to Standard.

    Auras and Car Wrecks

    By
    January 10, 2013     0 Comments
    Mike Lanigan discusses the failings of the current Standard environment, and provides a primer on his innovative port of G/W Auras to Standard.
  • Mike Lanigan looks back at the year to analyze his tournament experience as a whole, ultimately emerging better prepared for the coming year. An excellent article for anyone looking to up their game.

    Reviewing the Year in Magic

    By
    January 3, 2013     1 Comments
    Mike Lanigan looks back at the year to analyze his tournament experience as a whole, ultimately emerging better prepared for the coming year. An excellent article for anyone looking to up their game.
  • Mike Lanigan responds to a friend in need who's trying to build a Standard deck around Pack Rat. Operating under the specified restrictions, he sets out to make the most competitive deck possible.

    Rats, I Need a Deck!

    By
    December 20, 2012     2 Comments
    Mike Lanigan responds to a friend in need who's trying to build a Standard deck around Pack Rat. Operating under the specified restrictions, he sets out to make the most competitive deck possible.
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