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Spike Archive

  • 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

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    May 23, 2013     0 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

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    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

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    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!

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    May 2, 2013     6 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

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    April 25, 2013     2 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?

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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.
  • From Door to Nothingness to the return of a familiar UW strategy, Standard is full of innovation right now. Mike Lanigan surveys the new decks that have surfaced recently.

    Getting Creative in Standard

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    December 13, 2012     0 Comments
    From Door to Nothingness to the return of a familiar UW strategy, Standard is full of innovation right now. Mike Lanigan surveys the new decks that have surfaced recently.
  • Mike Lanigan reports on the TCG Invitational in Indianapolis. After several days of battling against infinite Rakdos decks, he provides an updated version to combat the mirror.

    Two Events, Two Decks

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    December 6, 2012     1 Comments
    Mike Lanigan reports on the TCG Invitational in Indianapolis. After several days of battling against infinite Rakdos decks, he provides an updated version to combat the mirror.
  • Mike has stumbled upon an unlikely card for Constructed, which he uses as the centerpiece for a new Standard deck with some explosive synergies.

    Extreme Tokens

    By
    November 29, 2012     6 Comments
    Mike has stumbled upon an unlikely card for Constructed, which he uses as the centerpiece for a new Standard deck with some explosive synergies.
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