Allied Strategies Magic the Gathering Podcast

This is the final episode of Allied Strategies, and we have none other than the original co-host of the show, Neal Oliver, to reminisce about the past 6 years we’ve spent together! As the primary reason the show’s ending is that Benjamin is going to work for WOTC, we’ve also picked out some of our […]

Benjamin’s competing in the upcoming Zendikar Rising Championship – learn about the decks he’s chosen for both Standard and Historic and hear some bold claims about the power level of his cards!

This week’s episode features the debut of a fun new magic-card naming game, inspired by Alex Horne’s No More Jockeys. There’s also sporadic discussion of magic strategy, but really not very much so skip this episode if that’s what you’re looking for!

This week we’re taking a look at what went down at the MOCS, both in broad terms of how the metagames looked for the constructed formats and how Vintage Cube worked as a limited format, as well as some analysis of specific moments.

This weekend is the MOCS – read about it here: https://magic.gg/news/2019-magic-online-championship-viewers-guide In this episode, we break down how Modern, Pioneer, and Cube are looking going into the weekend.

This week we’re taking a look at several of the decks that occupy the most sizeable portions of the Standard metagame. Though there are some clear pillars of the format, there’s a lot left to explore and a lot of opportunity for a savvy player to be rewarded for good deck selection, building, and tuning, […]

This week we’re busting out an old segment, Will of the Council, in which we present two options, vote on them, and then declare the loser stupid. We also discuss the new style of broadcasting for organized play, and some fun games to play during quarantine. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

This week we’re taking a strategic look at the London Mulligan and discussing how it impacts gameplay, deck selection, deck building, and mulligan decision-making. This was inspired by a blog post by Alex Majlaton, read that here: https://neverdraftingagain.blogspot.com/2020/10/we-probably-dont-understand-london.html Here’s the reference image for the end story:

This week we covered the 2020 Season Grand Finals. Topics include Benjamin’s tournament results and deck thoughts, Intentional Draws in the digital age, and the future of Standard. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

This week Benjamin is getting ready for a tournament he’s decided to refer to as Worlds! Learn all about the Standard and Historic metagames he’s expecting and the decks he’s picked for each format. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

This week we’re not going to dwell for too long on the state of standard, just for a few minutes at the start. Our main topic is a selection of cards from the new set that we think will be impactful in the Historic format. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

This week we’re honoring (and dishonoring) some of the cards exiting Standard with this rotation. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

We’re back with more Zendikar Rising individual card discussion! Join us again next week to see if we will repeat the pattern for a third time! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

This week we’ve picked out some exciting cards from Zendikar Rising to discuss, mostly in the context of constructed but with a little bit of limited discussion too! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

Learn the strategic adjustments we suggest based on the power level of the format! Tips and tricks are given for formats everywhere on the spectrum from the highest power level formats, like Masters sets, all the way down to the most basic Core Set. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

This week we’re ranking stuff! Find out our top 5 Planeswalkers, Sweepers, Draft Commons, and more! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

Here’s the B&R announcement: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/august-8-2020-banned-and-restricted-announcement This week we’re discussing these bans and the kind of cards and strategies that may be enabled by them. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

Benjamin has experienced some uncharacteristic success and will be making an appearance in the top 8 over at twitch.tv/magic this weekend as the first seed! This week we inflate his ego further by discussing this, though we make sure to keep it in check with frequent backhanded compliments. Download this episode here! (right click and […]

This week we didn’t really have anything to talk about – the PT finals are coming up this weekend and both Ben and Sam have been prepping but neither felt like talking much about it, so instead we talked about all kinds of things. We hope to be back to magic soon, but we’re all […]

As is tradition, there are some Organized Play changes that draw discussion from us as part of this week’s show. Here’s a link if you want to follow along: https://magic.gg/news/announcing-the-2020-2021-magic-esports-season After that, we transition to our main topic – Benjamin’s getting ready to play the PT finals with a deck that he neither enjoys nor […]

This week’s show goes into a few different moderately sized topics, including a discussion of Mana Advantages, the number of health that Healing Salve would need to restore to be as powerful as Ancestral Recall, and then we get to our main topic of how to save Pioneer, a format in which 3 of the […]

This week we’re joined by returning guest Sam Sherman, currently ranked #32 on the MTG Elo Project, putting him in a solid third place among members of this episode. He’s been jamming some M21 drafts and is here to educate you (and us!) about the format. He’s also just started streaming Magic at https://www.twitch.tv/samdsherman – […]

This week we’ve picked out some cards from the upcoming Core Set to talk about that we think might make waves in Standard, Historic, and Modern! Download this video here! (right click and “save as…”)

This week we have Eli back on the show, coming off of a top 8 finish at the PT! We discuss the tournament itself, the process of playing an Arena/Discord tournament, and the decks that everyone settled on. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

Ben and Sam are playing the PT this weekend! Listen in to hear all about the decks they’ve been considering and their thoughts on the metagame. Next week we’ll check back to see how they did! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

A massive rules change and banning has landed on the Standard format (in addition to all the others), and this week we’re taking a look at some of the strategies that may emerge (or have been left standing) from the destruction. Next week we’ll explore this further as the PT will be upon us. Download […]

Ben and Sam both won tournaments this weekend! Unfortunately, neither format will continue to exist for much longer, as there is an impending B&R announcement, which we discuss, along with other news about Player Bannings, the MPL, and the new Double Masters set. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

This week, Ben and Sam are practicing for a brand new format, consisting of a bunch of random sets from Magic’s history. We also cover the changes to Organized Play this year. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

We’re piling onto the discussion about companions, covering our expectations for banlists, our thoughts on the mechanic and the cards as a whole, and our take on the entire process that led us to this point. We’ll tackle such questions as “should a card that is exciting for Standard but awful for Modern/Legacy be printed?” […]

It’s time for a stroll down memory lane as we tell the tales of our favorite constructed decks of all time (along with a few dishonorable mentions!) What decks do you have the fondest memories of? Let us know on twitter @alliedstrats Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

With dozens of drafts under our belts, this week we’re breaking down the fundamentals of the Ikoria Draft format – how each Archetype works, the key cards in each strategy, and cards that have surprised us by over- or under-performing. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

Sam’s cooked up a spicy Modern Combo deck built around Zirda, with a Collected Company shell and some cards you may recognize from decks such as his beloved Birthing Pod. The inspiration for this deck comes partly from Friend of the Podcast Raymond, who submitted a Pioneer deck for discussion last week. Here’s the rough […]

This week Ben and Sam have picked out some Ikoria cards that have potential in Pioneer and Modern, and Tristan has picked bad cards that he should be ashamed for picking and will deservedly be made fun of. Check out Friend of the Podcast Raymond’s Bant Blink pioneer deck: https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/pioneering-bant-blink/ Download this episode here! (right […]

Ikoria spoilers are here, and we’re taking a look at them and discussing the mechanics of the set. Companion in particular has drawn a lot of scrutiny from the community, so we’re weighing in with our thoughts. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

We’ve created a new segment for the show! Find out what it is towards the end. For our main topic, we’re discussing new Organized Play changes in response to the changing global situation. It’s impacted the amount of Magic we’ve been playing too, but we hope to return to strategy content next week with some […]

Allen Wu (@nalkpas on Twitter) tweeted about this Standard format having the characteristics of a good one, yet not being fun. This week we’re discussing that theory, in addition to the news of Magic’s enhanced online offerings in this era of no tabletop play. Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

This week we’re taking a look at a selection of the Video Games we’ve enjoyed most. If you’re finding yourself inside more often these days, you may be interested in picking up one of these to help pass the time, and we’ve got recommendations for every type of person, including how the different games relate […]

Staring down a Dream Trawler, a Citadel Siege, or a Glorybringer can be a daunting prospect, but the best Magic players find ways to edge out a few extra percentage points in these situations and we’re going to give an overview of some of those strategies for both Draft and Sealed. Download this episode here! […]

Sam’s been messing around with a mono blue list in Pioneer – here is the list: 4 Thassa’s Oracle 4 Ashiok’s Erasure 4 Omen of the Sea 2 Thassa, Deep-Dwelling 4 Gadwick, the Wizened 2 Brazen Borrower 4 Witching Well 2 Agent of Treachery 2 Reflector Mage 2 Temple of Enlightenment 2 Thassa, God of […]

Follow along with this episode here: https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=265418 Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

We’ve been to hundreds of Magic tournaments in the real world, and there are some nuances to the process that we decided to spend an episode discussing. Learn about the process of choosing which tournaments to attend, how to get there, where to stay, what to eat, and more! Download this episode here! (right click […]

The first set of Players Tour events are now behind us, and Ben (briefly) and Sam have competed in one! We’re talking all about their experience in the new type of tournament, as well as the debut of Pioneer at this type of event. Ben also won a GP after he scrubbed out so we […]

Three mini topics make up this week’s show: Firstly, Worlds is coming and we’re previewing the tournament and the competitors. Next, Pioneer’s land imbalance has led to a suggestion of completing the cycles that only have half of their cards in the format. We’ll discuss that idea, and then finally move on toe the suggestion […]

This week we’re covering each of the two-color pairs in Theros Beyond Death. This limited format is being received quite well so far, and our hosts have already got several drafts under their belts, so we have a pretty good idea of what each of the color pairs is supposed to look like, though there […]

With the full spoiler out, we’ve each picked some commons and uncommons we think are interesting to discuss in terms of Theros Beyond Death Limited. The plan is to report back on our findings next week, with another episode focused on this new limited format. Here’s a link to this week’s show!

This week we’ve each picked out some cards we think are interesting in Constructed from the cards spoiled so far from Theros: Beyond Death. Next week we’ll probably run the same plan, so let us know which cards you’d like to hear about! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

This episode, we’re taking a look at the best things from the last decade – mostly Magic-related with a few random other topics thrown in for good measure. Next week we’ll start diving in to Theros: Beyond Death stuff! Download this episode here! (right click and “save as…”)

Let’s take a look ahead to the New Year in Magic. We’ll talk about what we know about the sets that are coming, and the structure of Organized Play in Magic, as well as our personal goals and expectations for the year. How about you? Do you have any MTG New Years Resolutions? Let us […]

This week we’re taking a retrospective look at the year in Magic the Gathering. You’ll hear about our years, and what we think of the direction the game has taken in terms of Design, Organized Play, and as a developing eSport. How was your 2019? Let us know on twitter @alliedstrats Download this episode here! […]

After several waves of bannings, we’ve finally moved into a Standard Format that our hosts find to be quite good. This week’s show, we’re taking a broader look at the characteristics of good standard formats for us, drawing from our full breadth of Magic and Game Design experience. Download this episode here! (right click and […]

This week we’re covering Red Black Fires – Ben’s been playing the deck a ton so he has a bunch of information to share! Here’s John Rolf’s list: 4 MIDNIGHT REAPER 4 CAULDRON FAMILIAR 4 CAVALIER OF FLAME 4 MAYHEM DEVIL 4 GOD-ETERNAL BONTU 4 STORMFIST CRUSADER Sorceries: 2 COVETOUS URGE (this is the most […]