Alpha Beta Limited

We're back from our time vault (the voltaic key went missing) just in time to get excited for the upcoming set, Throne of Eldraine. In this episode, we talk about the set's new mechanics and some of the cards revealed so far.  Come hungry, but stay away from the oven! Enjoy!

  When we heard the Pro Tour Cube would be hitting MTGO this week, Joe and I were excited for a new, unique draft format to try out. In our curiosity to know more about it, we thought we'd ask the person most qualified to tell us about it-- the creator of the Pro Tour Cube himself, Eric Klug! Eric is known in the Magic community primarily for his legendary card alters, and I think it's really cool that he's getting to showcase another awesome project in this way.  I highly recommend that you also check out Eric's article featured on the mothership, which gives some more details on this exciting cube: https://goo.gl/XXpWxy   Thanks for listening!   Connect with us on Twitter! Eric Klug - @klug_alters James - @ablmtg Joe - @Joe_ABL   Send any questions to ablimitedmtg@gmail.com . We'd love to answer them on an upcoming episode!   

Turns out that Michael DePiazza never hung up the call since the last time he was our guest, so it was our good fortune to have him back on to talk Rivals of Ixalan. We spend this episode going a bit deeper into specific cards, interactions, and a few draft archetypes. If you're still getting a feel for this new side of the island (ixland?) then tune in, and allow our genius/folly to light your way.  Put on those headphones, and get some laundry done!   If you have any questions for James or Joe, send them to: ablimitedmtg@gmail.com   Connect with us on Twitter! Michael - @Suroboro James - @ablmtg Joe - @Joe_ABL

Did you draft a lot of Ixalan and wish to yourself "I'd love to play more of this but with different pictures."? Have you forgotten that there is such thing as a Declare Blockers step? Is your cat making TOO MUCH NOISE all the time?  If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, pull up an overturned milk crate and give this episode a listen, as we dive teeth-first into Rivals of Ixalan.  We talk prerelease experience, initial impressions, and why you should first-pick Alexander Hamilton over Aaron Burr every time. Enjoy!   If you have any questions for James or Joe, send them to: ablimitedmtg@gmail.com   Connect with us on Twitter! James - @ablmtg Joe - @Joe_ABL

What are you doing listening to podcasts when there's Vintage Cube on Magic Online?!? In this episode, we discuss some of our favorite Vintage Cube archetypes and give our thoughts on the changes to this year's cube list. Whether you're a cube veteran or you've never first-picked a Library of Alexandria, this episode will still be the same number of minutes.  Enjoy!   If you have any questions for James or Joe, send them to: ablimitedmtg@gmail.com   Connect with us on Twitter! James - @ablmtg Joe - @Joe_ABL

We were able to amass enough components for an Iconic Masters discussion, outlining a few of our favorite draft archetypes as well as one card interaction Joe uses that is so crazy, YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT HASN'T BEEN BANNED YET! (DECKBUILDERS HATE HIM!).  After Channeling our enthusiasm for a sweet draft format, (SIT DOWN, IXALAN, NOT YOU!), we boom-flingered our way into an Unstable conversation on which of these wacky/sweet cards we'd like to see show up in black-border cube. (YOU WON'T BELIEVE #31!) So please, cuddle up with your half-kitten, half-jellyfish and enjoy this gluten-free episode of Alpha Beta Limited!   If you have any questions for James or Joe, send them to: ablimitedmtg@gmail.com   Connect with us on Twitter! James - @ablmtg Joe - @Joe_ABL

We lost Joe somewhere deep in the MTGO Pauper Leagues, so I met up with Max Mick, a young but highly skilled Magic the Gathering player with a pedigree uniquely related to this great game. Max has already made a name for himself by Top 8'ing a Grand Prix last just year, and you can check out a brief article about him at the event here: https://goo.gl/QoRhdw In this episode we discuss the current state of Ixalan limited, known around my treehouse as Attaxalan, and share a longing for the days when it wasn't insane to put a 6 or 7-drop in your deck. There is fun to be had though, and Max gives us his evaluations of the Ixalan archetypes along with some specific cards that have changed in his estimation since the set's release. When in doubt, grab the cutlass!   If you have any questions for James or Joe, (or Max!) send them to: ablimitedmtg@gmail.com   Connect with us on Twitter! James - @ablmtg Joe - @Joe_ABL      

No need to be the judge of this episode because we brought our own, thanks! Coming to us from Greeneville, Tennessee, Derrik "Smitty" Smith is a Level 2 Judge for Magic the Gathering and a multi-format menace (though a friendly one). We discuss Ixalan mechanics both new and old, while trying to brace ourselves for the pirate invasion of Dinotopia. And also vampires.  Join us as Smitty shares on his experience with the Judge Program, hints at which new merfolk might make a splash in Modern, and explains why the FTV: Dryad Arbor is the only time you should ever play "lands in front" (JK, Depiazza).      Smitty at GP Charlotte 2016 Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers. - Voltaire     Send us questions and we'll answer them on an upcoming episode! ablimitedmtg@gmail.com   Connect with us! Twitter: James - @ablmtg Joe - @Joe_ABL    

  This episode ain't for squares, because we decided to talk Cube this week. Not only will you get insight into our misguided pick orders, you'll have no way to immediately tell us we're wrong! Our Cube opinion echo chamber is QUITE COMFY. Join us as we go through a couple of highly randomized Legacy Cube packs, and please try not to slam your fists in outrage or confusion. Could it really be that bad? Only one way to find out!     The Cube is an imitation of life itself - or even an improvement on life. - Erno Rubik     Send us email questions and we'll answer them on an upcoming episode!  --> ablimitedmtg@gmail.com   Connect with us! Twitter:              James - @ablmtg              Joe - @Joe_ABL      

  This week, we managed to talk James Steele into joining us for another round. How, you ask?  -- With a stack of Glassdust Hulks and a well-placed tripwire. We go around the table for some insight into Standard brews that we played in the past (all to varying degrees of victory, grief, and shouting). You'll learn secret tech against Haunting Echoes, what Steele is hiding in his vaults, why vampires don't make very good guards, and much more!     “Hulkamania is running wild, Brother!” - Glassdust Hulk Hogan       Send us email questions and we'll answer them on an upcoming episode! ablimitedmtg@gmail.com     Connect with us! Twitter:              James - @ablmtg              Joe - @Joe_ABL      

  This week, the Durham brothers grapple with the pros and cons of both Magic Online and playing with physical "real cards" in-person. Having experience with both allows you to appreciate each form for the role that it can play in increasing your overall enjoyment and understanding of this great game. Whether you've played Magic in paper, online, both, or neither, listen in and maybe you'll be inspired to get shufflin'.    [Real photo taken at the Mirrodin prerelease at my LGS]   "No choice is the wrong choice as long as you make a choice. The only wrong choice is choosing not to [play Magic]." - Jake Abel     This week's... "Busted Booster"     Send us email questions and we'll answer them on an upcoming episode! ablimitedmtg@gmail.com     Connect with us! Twitter:              James - @ablmtg              Joe - @Joe_ABL  

After weeks of wandering the Gnarlwood Forest, Michael DePiazza of Antioch, CA, finally finds his way home and joins us to discuss Limited Magic. We learn how Michael got started slinging spells, what his all-time favorite draft set is (and how to go about it the RIGHT way), and why you just might be underrating Inferno Jet. Enjoy!   Michael "Ticketmaster" DePiazza     "Every [creature] dies, but not every [creature] really lives."  -Braveheart     Connect with us! Twitter:  Michael - @Suroboro              James - @ablmtg              Joe - @Joe_ABL Email: ablimitedmtg@gmail.com

We convinced local end boss James Steele from Greeneville, Tennessee to put down his 60-card Standard build and talk Limited. Steele gives us some insight into his approach to drafting and shares some memories of our early misguided forays into Magic. We jump into an Hour of Devastation crack-a-pack, provide a cautionary tale about buying Commander 2013 decks from a big-box retailer, and explain why the phrase "everything in moderation" applies to casting burn spells.    Today's guest, James Steele!   "If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble [winning games of Magic], you wouldn't sit for a month." - Theodore Roosevelt   Connect with us! Twitter: James - @ablmtg             Joe - @Joe_ABL Email: ablimitedmtg@gmail.com

In this episode, we lay out the Magic R&D "psychographic profiles" for Magic players and discuss where we fall on this scale. We then dive into our general approaches to drafting, and conclude the episode with some acknowledgment of the content creators that have helped fuel our passion for this great game.    Connect with us! Twitter: James - @ablmtg             Joe - @Joe_ABL Email: ablimitedmtg@gmail.com

This week, the Durham brothers kick off a new beginning in the content world of Magic: The Gathering with their first podcast episode of Alpha Beta Limited. Join James and Joe for a round of introductions and whet your appetite for a TON of great content in the coming weeks focused on the Limited format of Magic: The Gathering. Enjoy the listen, and stay tuned for more to come!