brewing | Quiet Speculation https://www.quietspeculation.com Play More, Win More, Pay Less Tue, 22 Mar 2022 16:08:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.quietspeculation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/favicon.png brewing | Quiet Speculation https://www.quietspeculation.com 32 32 Reaper’s Auditor: Investigating Death and Taxes https://www.quietspeculation.com/2020/10/reapers-auditor-investigating-death-and-taxes/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2020/10/reapers-auditor-investigating-death-and-taxes/#comments Tue, 13 Oct 2020 16:00:11 +0000 https://quietspeculation.com/?p=22252 I love it when a deck finally comes together. When all the faith is finally rewarded and the years of suffering and disappointment finally pay off. Mostly because it typically happens to decks that move from mediocre to barely viable. Think of Belcher, Ad Nauseam, the good stuff piles, or Ponza; decks that have been […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2020/10/reapers-auditor-investigating-death-and-taxes/feed/ 2 Investigating Confounding Conundrum https://www.quietspeculation.com/2020/09/investigating-confounding-conundrum/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2020/09/investigating-confounding-conundrum/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2020 16:00:49 +0000 https://quietspeculation.com/?p=22124

Ah, spoiler season. The time when I don't have to stretch myself doing statistical work. Just looking at the new cards, doing some basic analysis, and speculating about whether there's a place in Modern for them. Simple and low-pressure, just what this year's called for. Then, something had to come in a ruin everything: a […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2020/09/investigating-confounding-conundrum/feed/ 5 Balance and Blades: Honing Stoneforge Mystic https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/10/balance-blades-honing-stoneforge-mystic/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/10/balance-blades-honing-stoneforge-mystic/#respond Tue, 22 Oct 2019 16:00:13 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=20882

Unbannings always trigger a surge of interest, articles, and brewing. When the card's utility and thus its home is obvious, the cards is quickly adopted, as was the case for Bloodbraid Elf. For those whose power is tougher to unlock, interest and visibility wanes while the hard work is done. Such is the case for […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/10/balance-blades-honing-stoneforge-mystic/feed/ 0 Dem Boyz Is Here: Assembling Modern Goblins https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/10/dem-boyz-is-here-assembling-modern-goblins/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/10/dem-boyz-is-here-assembling-modern-goblins/#comments Tue, 01 Oct 2019 16:00:23 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=20790 There's an odd lull in Magic right before the set release. There's no point discussing spoilers anymore; the set's known and being tested. However, those testing results are questionable. There hasn't been enough time to process the new cards and produce results, nor has the metagame adjusted to reflect these new cards. This means content tends […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/10/dem-boyz-is-here-assembling-modern-goblins/feed/ 1 Goyfs That Fly: Brewing UB Trap https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/09/goyfs-that-fly-brewing-ub-trap/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/09/goyfs-that-fly-brewing-ub-trap/#comments Fri, 20 Sep 2019 16:00:15 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=20728 In his assessment of the latest spoilers, David commended Throne of Eldraine for bringing the brewing fun back to Modern with its innovative, flavorful design. Restrictions breed creativity, they say, and I agree that after the format-crushing power of Modern Horizons, it's refreshing to have a Standard-power-level set to tinker with. Today's article focuses on […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/09/goyfs-that-fly-brewing-ub-trap/feed/ 4 Bridge Collapse: Banning Reaction https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/07/bridge-collapse-banning-reaction/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/07/bridge-collapse-banning-reaction/#comments Tue, 09 Jul 2019 16:00:24 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=20375 I had planned to spend today's article discussing Hogaakvine: what it does, how it does it, how to play against it, and how I'd build decks given Hogaak's rise. However, that article was mooted this morning by Wizards. Instead, let's examine what's happened and where it leaves Modern. Also, once again, nothing got unbanned. This […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/07/bridge-collapse-banning-reaction/feed/ 5 Two Weeks In: War of the Spark Tech Review https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/05/two-weeks-war-spark-tech-review/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/05/two-weeks-war-spark-tech-review/#comments Fri, 10 May 2019 16:00:08 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=20036 It's been half a month since War of the Spark went live on Magic Online, and we're already seeing the myriad effects it's having on Modern—heck, on all non-rotating formats. But of course, being Modern Nexus, we'll focus on just the one! While I enjoy the Friday writing slot, it occasionally has its detriments. In […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/05/two-weeks-war-spark-tech-review/feed/ 4 The Time War: Teferi, Time Raveler in UW https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/04/time-war-teferi-time-raveler-uw/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/04/time-war-teferi-time-raveler-uw/#comments Tue, 09 Apr 2019 16:00:42 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=19877 A new set is on the horizon, so it's spoiler time again! War of the Spark is the first set designed as a planeswalker set, which means there are an unprecedented number about to drop. More interestingly, most of them have static abilities rather than the traditional plus, minus, and ultimate combo we've become accustomed to. […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/04/time-war-teferi-time-raveler-uw/feed/ 6 Modern Horizons: Preliminary Metagame Impacts https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/03/modern-horizons-preliminary-metagame-impacts/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/03/modern-horizons-preliminary-metagame-impacts/#comments Wed, 06 Mar 2019 17:00:36 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=19687 It's been an interesting week for Modern players. Not only has an entire supplemental product targeted at us been revealed, but there was also a Modern Grand Prix, with SCG Regionals and a three-GP  month coming up. It's a good time to be invested in and covering Magic's best format. Today, we'll see how the spoiled […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2019/03/modern-horizons-preliminary-metagame-impacts/feed/ 16 Places, Everyone: Spectacle in Hollow Phoenix https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/12/places-everyone-spectacle-hollow-phoenix/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/12/places-everyone-spectacle-hollow-phoenix/#comments Fri, 21 Dec 2018 17:00:14 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=19297 Instant/sorcery support? Cost-reduction mechanics? Cheap card draw for aggressive strategies? Light Up the Stage, a card with spectacle spoiled from Ravnica Allegiance this week, hits all my soft spots, yanking me from a haze of Inkling up-smashes and Richter side-specials to brew anew. Today, I'll share my findings on Light Up the Stage in what […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/12/places-everyone-spectacle-hollow-phoenix/feed/ 1 Exploring Some Overlooked Modern Gems https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/10/exploring-overlooked-modern-gems/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/10/exploring-overlooked-modern-gems/#comments Fri, 05 Oct 2018 15:00:10 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=18878 In the vast card pool of Modern, there are quite a few hidden gems that are either underplayed or could see play in other strategies. Decks like Death's Shadow and KCI existed for a long time before being discovered. This leads me to believe there are plenty of other undiscovered viable decks lurking in the […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/10/exploring-overlooked-modern-gems/feed/ 2 Guilds Under Surveillance: Surveil in Modern https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/09/guilds-under-surveillance-survey-modern/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/09/guilds-under-surveillance-survey-modern/#comments Tue, 25 Sep 2018 16:00:14 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=18801 Oftentimes, new mechanics are set aside, to be discussed only in terms of their impact on cards. Today, I am going to flip the script and go into detail about surveil. This mechanic is the most interesting part of Guilds of Ravnica to me, and while it may not happen immediately, I expect that it will […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/09/guilds-under-surveillance-survey-modern/feed/ 14 Spell-Based Brewing with Guilds of Ravnica https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/09/spell-based-brewing-guilds-ravnica/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/09/spell-based-brewing-guilds-ravnica/#comments Fri, 14 Sep 2018 16:00:16 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=18697

Guilds of Ravnica spoilers are underway, and the set is meeting my high expectations. It's even exceeding them thanks to a certain Golgari instant. Join me today as we discuss that card and explore some of the possibilities Guilds promises for spell-based fair decks the format over. The Trophy's Legacy Plenty has been written about […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/09/spell-based-brewing-guilds-ravnica/feed/ 10 Brew Report: Tweaks & Twists https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/09/brew-report-tweaks-twists/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/09/brew-report-tweaks-twists/#respond Fri, 07 Sep 2018 16:00:46 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=18676

Recent weeks have seen Modern continue to admit newcomers via Magic Online induction, further upholding its status as a brewer's paradise. But the metagame has also settled some, and players are discovering the most effective ways to attack a known field. If history has taught us anything, the paper metagame is sure to follow suit. […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/09/brew-report-tweaks-twists/feed/ 0 Brew Report: Further Down the Spiral https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/08/brew-report-further-down-spiral/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/08/brew-report-further-down-spiral/#comments Fri, 24 Aug 2018 16:00:21 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=18586 Now that the maniacal calls for banning Bridgevine have subsided, Modern players and observers alike are free to gaze once more at the format's incredible diversity. In this week's Brew Report, we'll take a look at novel interpretations of Jund, Delver, and Zoo from online leagues. Once You Go Jund... I know a few Jund […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/08/brew-report-further-down-spiral/feed/ 2 Spirits vs. The New Hotness: Testing Perspective https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/08/spirits-vs-new-hotness-testing-perspective/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/08/spirits-vs-new-hotness-testing-perspective/#comments Tue, 14 Aug 2018 16:00:04 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=18517 Another missed PPTQ means more time to test. In addition to refining my own decks, I've been looking into Modern's hot discussion topics. We've seen time and again that Modern's cardpool hides monstrous decks just missing a piece or two to become major players. Several such decks have recently emerged that appear to have found […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/08/spirits-vs-new-hotness-testing-perspective/feed/ 3 The New Crackback: Introducing Miracle Bo https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/08/new-crackback-introducing-miracle-bo/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/08/new-crackback-introducing-miracle-bo/#comments Fri, 03 Aug 2018 16:00:42 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=18431

There's a new Delver in town, and this one doesn't need delirium or a white splash to put the hurting on opponents as of turn one. All it requires is a single, generic mana and an appetite for attacking. Meet Bomat Courier, my latest addition to Temur Delver. Noah Walker's breakout Legacy performance with post-ban Grixis […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/08/new-crackback-introducing-miracle-bo/feed/ 3 Legendary Lovers: Brewing Naya Legends https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/06/legendary-lovers-brewing-naya-legends/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/06/legendary-lovers-brewing-naya-legends/#comments Fri, 15 Jun 2018 16:00:28 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=18184 Dominaria's been Modern-legal for almost two months, and a host of players have tried their hand at brewing with Mox Amber, including yours truly. While more aggressive lists than mine have put up 5-0s here and there, the card has mostly fallen flat, as many expected. But the few results Amber has scored inspired me to […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/06/legendary-lovers-brewing-naya-legends/feed/ 5 Jund’s Ugly Cousins: Hot Tech, Pt. 2 https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/05/junds-ugly-cousins-hot-tech-pt-2/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/05/junds-ugly-cousins-hot-tech-pt-2/#comments Fri, 11 May 2018 16:00:51 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=17978 I wasn't kidding last week when I revealed needing to halve my tech article. Modern's been a brewer's paradise ever since the Jace and Bloodbraid unbans, and the last couple weeks of 5-0s have proven especially fruitful. This past week adds another smattering of interesting candidates to the fray. A Whole New Jund(s) First, let's […]

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]]> https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/05/junds-ugly-cousins-hot-tech-pt-2/feed/ 8 Fear the Goblins: Testing Skirk Prospector https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/04/fear-the-goblins-testing-skirk-prospector/ https://www.quietspeculation.com/2018/04/fear-the-goblins-testing-skirk-prospector/#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2018 16:00:06 +0000 http://quietspeculation.com/?p=17851 Now that Dominaria's Prerelease is over, the brewing season has begun. Players are plugging in likely candidates, looking for the missing pieces in their decks. While there are plenty of interesting new cards in Dominaria, I'm still stuck on a reprint. I've been working on verifying my belief that Skirk Prospector is the real Modern standout. The […]

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