Attention Khalni Gardeners

THESE ARE NOW SOLD OUT, but you can still download and print your own here.

I had these plant tokens done up by a professional printer. Bright color, heavy paper, rounded corners ... the works. They're real nice. I gave a bunch away at GP Portland but have leftovers. So I'm selling them here while the gang is still Khalni gardening and avenging Zendikar.

The meta-game

How many will you spot at your next major Magic event?



... but seriously, I had a fantastic time at GP Portland, playing cards and meeting people. I was going to write up a comprehensive report laden with wit and misplays but it's a week after the fact and Scars of Mirodin is breathing down my neck and I'm going to let a snide bingo card be the statement.

Dream big, little Jace.

Even the mightiest of planeswalkers has to start somewhere. Based on Ryan Pancoast's original Mind Control card art.

And in unrelated news, I got a bunch of these plant token business cards printed up real nice:

The worst day skyfishing is better than the best day working

Kor Skyfisher (original card art by Dan Scott here)

Some days you wake up, look in the mirror and realize that you're down a deep well of late-blooming Kor Skyfisher infatuation.

I've been wanting to post decklists because everyone loves decklists and I love these particular deckslists -- and they both have 4 Kor Skyfisher. I'm sorry. It's a sickness, but I like it.

You know the feeling. Blissed-out comfort with a deck, the nuances that materialize through familiarity, little surges of love each time you cast a faithful old spell. Maybe it's not the most powerful list or the best overall choice, but you know what it takes to pilot it to a win. You've got one-ofs that make no sense to anyone else yet you know in your bones that it's right. And you just like to listen to the engine hum. That's where I'm at in Pauper and Standard. The pauper deck is actually very good against the relevant matchups with a well-tuned sideboard and a lot of maindeck catch-all cards to mop up the randoms. The standard deck, well, it's a tier down, but it's been excellent in the uneven landscape of MTGO's tournament practice room. I know, weak, but hey, that's love!

PAUPER:

4 Kor Skyfisher
4 Aven Riftwatcher
4 Guardian of the Guildpact
4 Wall of Hope
2 Blind Hunter
1 Dimir House Guard
1 Twisted Abomination
4 Pestilence
4 Castigate
4 Unmake
3 Wrench Mind
1 Grim Harvest
4 Kabira Crossroads
4 Terramorphic Expanse
3 Orzhov Basilica
2 Bojuka Bog
6 Swamp
5 Plains
Sideboard:
4 Duress
4 Echoing Decay
3 Prismatic Strands
2 Benevolent Unicorn
2 Leave No Trace

STANDARD:

4 Kor Skyfisher
4 Emeria Angel
4 Steppe Lynx
4 Student of Warfare
4 Pilgrim's Eye
2 Sun Titan
1 Baneslayer Angel (exactly how many I own)
4 Oblivion Ring
4 Path to Exile
2 Adventuring Gear
2 Brave the Elements
1 Journey to Nowhere
4 Arid Mesa
4 Marsh Flats
4 Tectonic Edge
2 Gargoyle Castle
10 Plains
Sideboard:
Leyline of Sanctity plus a fluctuating bunch of situational removal

Let's split!

Just a quick custom ooze token update here. The idea originated with some Comic-con nachos.

Get the printable PDF, make like an ooze and split.

... and her sister, Shauna Farman.

Fauna Shaman

Not much to say on this one. When the card was first spoiled my first thought was, "Awesome." My next thought was, "She seems like a classic pet hoarder."

See Steve Prescott's original card art here. Or see a bigger, differently-cropped version at the end of this Mike Flores article.

Indestructible gold star

The latest kerosene poured on the community bonfire: emblems. It's a new thingie to clutter up the command zone representing an in-game rules change. The only card that produces an emblem is Elspeth, Knight Errant. But ... what does an emblem look like? An emblem must have a visible, physical representation. What happens the next time I ultimate my Elspeth? Do I add a penny, a peanut, a scrap of paper with emblem scrawled on it, to my command zone? I have no frickin' idea how I will remember that my stuff is indestructible! AAaaaaaahhhh!!!!

Hush. The Looter has it covered:



You did it, buddy! Thumbs up!



Here's a high-resolution PDF, so that you can print a big, gaudy emblem for all of your Elspeth-maxing needs. And if you ever slap this thing down in a game, please take a photo of your opponent's bewildered expression and send it to me.

Otherwise, I had the opportunity to be breathed upon by 150,000 fellow nerds ...er, popular arts enthusiasts ... at this year's San Diego Comic-con, and particularly enjoyed the Magic panel. Alex Shearer posted an excellent summary (with photos) of the numerous announcements and spoilers. On the qualitative beat, I was impressed by the enthusiasm of the Wizards guys. It should come as no surprise that they love the game but to see their excitement about upcoming products and their obvious concern for the player experience in person reinforced my feeling that this game is in good hands. And I was similarly impressed by the players who asked reasonable questions throughout the audience Q&A, traditionally a brutal, unbearable, awkward component to panel presentations. Shearer noted the support group confessional way that all of the questioners introduced themselves, giving their names and personal Magic histories up front. This was hilarious but also somewhat heart-warming. Everyone there had a lot invested in Magic and great respect for the guys on stage. Except for all of the bored significant others fiddling with their smartphones. And those of us seething with EMBLEM RAGE.