tech | Quiet Speculation

Reaper’s Auditor: Investigating Death and Taxes

David Ernenwein — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 16:00:11 +0000

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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A Positioning Gift: Metagamed Merfolk

David Ernenwein — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 16:00:24 +0000

Decks come, and decks go. The metagame has no sacred cows. A deck must find its niche and then hold it to maintain relevance. Strength in a vacuum doesn't matter, nor does the dedication of the player base. Three years ago, Grixis Death's Shadow was an absolute monster of a deck, to the point that […]

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Thawing Late: A Bant Snow World

David Ernenwein — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 16:00:47 +0000

I cannot escape. As a Denver resident, I am used to unusually unseasonal weather usurping usual undertakings. Why, as a lad I suffered snow at summer camp more than once. Even in July. And an unrelated time, it snowed in August. While thinking of snow on the pines is pleasant and all, it has little […]

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Right Tools for the Job: Top-Tier Tech

David Ernenwein — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 17:00:24 +0000

The metagame is beginning to take form, and now is the time for players to start adapting. This could mean adjusting which decks they play, how they play them, or what cards they play. Now is naturally a time for experimentation, but no such transitional period is free from common mistakes. Whether it's misunderstanding how […]

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Profile of a Thief: Oko in Modern

David Ernenwein — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 17:00:41 +0000

It's been an odd year for Magic. Modern struggled through a series of bans while Standard was doing well. Once things started looking up for Modern, Standard began its collapse under the weight of Throne of Eldraine. Some of those effects are now leaking into Modern, with uncertain implications. Urza may be the talk of […]

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Cool Stories, Bro: Testing Throne of Eldraine

David Ernenwein — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 16:00:45 +0000

Throne of Eldraine is officially out, and that means that data is slowly trickling in. Very slowly, to the point that I can't draw conclusions yet. It will take a few more weeks of events and brewing before things settle enough to get an accurate view of the new metagame. Now is the perfect time […]

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Brew Report: Perfect Pairs

Jordan Boisvert — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 17:00:32 +0000

Roses are red, violets are blue—it's time for another Report About Brews! This (day after) Valentine's Day, we'll take a look at some of the exciting developments Modern has seen this month, and present each deck alongside its significant other: another deck that's somehow related. In the words of a certain heart-shaped candy, LET'S GET BUSY! […]

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Old Dogs, New Tricks: January Tech Report, Pt. 1

Jordan Boisvert — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 17:00:19 +0000

Krark-Clan Ironworks is now banned in Modern. Despite its dominance on the tournament scene, though, the deck failed to stamp out the format's trademark diversity and innovation. Plenty of decks and deckbuilders brought exciting new tech to the tables this month, and we'll ring in the new year right by unearthing some of it today. Tempo: […]

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The Arclight Factor: Containing Velocity

David Ernenwein — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 17:00:40 +0000

Between my banlist testing series and Thanksgiving, it's been a heavy few weeks. For something lighter, this week I'm investigating the in-game mechanic known as velocity. Velocity is old news to Modern, but recently, a number of high-velocity aggro decks have gained prominence. Why is no mystery, as there is tons of red looting in […]

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Partial Resurrection: Assessing the New Dredge

David Ernenwein — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 16:00:41 +0000

As the metagame shifts, decks rise and fall. Sometimes, that churning is explosive. Such events are exciting and foster discussion and articles. However, it is important to remember to temper excitement with reason. Spikes and oscillations are just that, and only matter if they're sustained. After Golgari Grave-Troll was banned, Dredge dropped out of sight. […]

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In Questionable Company: Updating Spirits

David Ernenwein — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 16:00:07 +0000

Every player has their own biases and preferences when it comes to deck selection. There's nothing wrong with playing to strengths, and it is important to remember that Magic is a game. You have more fun playing something you enjoy. However, this goes both ways, and you can dislike a deck for less-than-rational reasons. I have […]

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Exploring Some Overlooked Modern Gems

Max Magnuson — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 15:00:10 +0000

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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Brew Report: Tweaks & Twists

Jordan Boisvert — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 16:00:46 +0000

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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Prepping for GP Detroit with Antiquities War Affinity

Max Magnuson — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 16:35:46 +0000

By Max Magnuson. In his first article for Modern Nexus, Max shares some Affinity tech that provides a massive boost to the archetype: The Antiquities War.

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Return to the PPTQ Grind: Week 3

David Ernenwein — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 16:00:41 +0000

And now, back to the grind. I skipped last week due to the travel distance involved, but I wasn't about to miss this week. That said, I want to call out that both PPTQ's last week were at stores that I didn't know existed, and one was in a town that as far as I […]

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Spirits vs. The New Hotness: Testing Perspective

David Ernenwein — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 16:00:04 +0000

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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Return to the PPTQ Grind: Week 2

David Ernenwein — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 16:00:28 +0000

After a week off, it's time to get back on the grind. While there were PPTQ's last week, they were well outside my willingness to travel. I instead used that time to refine my decks and get a feel for where the metagame was going. I intended to hit both Modern PPTQ's this weekend, but […]

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The Hidden Strength of Krark-Clan Ironworks

David Ernenwein — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 16:00:52 +0000

I've spoken about Krark-Clan Ironworks on several occasions now, but continued testing has reinforced my belief that many Modern players don't really understand how it works. The combo itself is incredibly complicated once it gets going, and as a result, players frequently misplay. But the strategy's true strength isn't its density, but how much Engineered […]

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Return to the PPTQ Grind: Week 1

David Ernenwein — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 16:00:15 +0000

Another PPTQ season, another few months trying to claw my way back to the Pro Tour. Or another opportunity to really analyze my game and try to find new areas to improve upon. I've been grinding a long time, and have come to adjust my expectations while maintaining ambition. Usually, PPTQ seasons begin in central […]

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Testing the Core: M19 Impressions

David Ernenwein — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 16:00:05 +0000

Another new set, more new cards, and more chances for hope to spring eternal. As always, players are wildly speculating on their playability and trying to fit new cards into everything. I'm not immune, and especially now that the full spoiler is out I have been looking for and testing Modern playable cards. Two in […]

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