Barbarian Class

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Make your own luck Cowards can't block Warriors faster Faster FASTER

Michael Flores


    • Apr 25, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 25m AVG DURATION
    • 42 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Barbarian Class

    Premodern Landstill

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 17:59


    Mike wins a Premodern meetup with the popular Control strategy. Learn all about this important deck, from Magic's bestest format.

    Ambitious Farmhand

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2023 16:44


    Sam Black's new white control deck splashing red has taken Mike's heart! Learn all about the best grinding deck in Standard.

    The Top 8 Tips and Tricks to Crushing Ladder with CGB's Red Deck

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2023 16:55


    It's a Red Deck. Mike makes Mythic! RCQ preparation. Who is the best deck designer in the world? The answer may surprise you.

    Patience is the Anti-Curve

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 22:23


    Examples of how patient play can help win more games; and how impatient play is disproportionately punished and predictable.

    Finding the Three Gears

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2023 28:25


    Mostly about Modern Burn. Probably the best Magic: The Gathering article I've written in 15 years.

    Astral Slide: The Redemption Arc Begins

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2022 25:25


    Mike recounts his sad story (so far!) with RW Astral Slide in Premodern. But like the title says... The Redeption Arc is about to begin! Victory! #spoilers

    Roman Wins 2 RCQs

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2022 22:36


    The ACTUAL title of this underlying article is "The Top 8 Questions (and Answers!) with Two-Time RCQ-winner, Roman Fusco" but try fitting that in anything reasonable. Roman won! The second one with Rakdos Midrange in Standard. Mike grills him about it. You'll love it.

    One Week Three Decks Two Hundred Dollars

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2022 23:17


    Mike had quite the week in Premodern! He played Fluctuator at a local meetup on Tuesday, battled in his first match of #PSS4 on Thursday, and managed to win $200 with Survival Elves on Sunday. Probably you will love this so probably you should go listen RN tks.

    Bigger Than Sheoldred

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2022 12:05


    What's "big"? What constitutes "Control"? What does all this have to do with winning in Dominaria United Standard?

    You Can Play Any Liliana of the Veil Deck That You Want

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2022 13:47


    Like the title says... With Dominaria United entering Standard, you can play ANY Liliana of the Veil deck that you want! From Mono-Black to Mardu, Mike talks about the new trends and specific decks out of the gate.

    Slow Playing the Beatdown

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2022 16:45


    Mike talks about how not tapping out offensively sometimes makes for the fastest route to victory; how un-learning the general rules can be the best way to advance. And, of course, leaving up mana for Pyroblast or Snakeskin Veil.

    North American Premodern Championship - 3d Place

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2022 26:48


    Mike's first foray into Premodern is the largest tournament on record! He does pretty well, with a third place finish. But if ever there was a case where journey went before destination, this is it. We really hope you enjoy the adventures.

    The Four Things You Are Getting Wrong About the Best Deck in Standard

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2022 18:48


    Mike thinks Rakdos Ob Anvil is the best deck in Standard. Mike KNOWS many players are getting some big things wrong with, and about, it.

    Breakpoints in Magic: The Gathering

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2022 16:53


    Only listen if you want to get better at winning close races! MIke borrows tech and terminology from some other popular games to illustrate how to win more / closer races in Magic.

    Streets of New Capenna Official Preview: Fatal Grudge

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2022 15:14


    In the tradition of Deadly Dispute and Rite of Oblivion comes a new way to blow up your own stuff... To blow up their stuff.

    Attacking Companions and Other Topics

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2022 21:04


    Den of the Bugbear and Kumano Faces Kakkazan in Standard and Pioneer! How to play your first turn depending on what Companion the opponent presents (in Modern) A novel way to approach attrition

    The Five Stages of Izzet Mill

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2022 17:25


    Denial Anger Bargaining Depression Acceptance ... and Tasha's Uncontrollable Laughter

    Esper Violates the Prime Directive

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2022 25:54


    The Top 8 Reasons Esper kind of sucks... Plus! The secret best card in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty.

    Unlikely Hero

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 20:46


    Take a trip down memory lane as Mike somehow crushes casting various Boomerang and / or Unsummon effects for 1U. Who is the Unlikely Hero at that casting cost in Standard right now?

    The Mana Base Implications of Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2022 17:24


    The most immediate impact to deck construction coming out of new set Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty is at Magic's most fundamental point... The mana base.

    Reckless, Ronin, Rabbit, and Roil

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2022 14:03


    It's a new set! It's a Red Deck! Join Mike for adventures with Reckless Stormseeker, Reinforced Ronin, Rabbit Battery, Roil Eruption, and more!

    The Chained to the Rocks Dilemma

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2022 54:49


    Roman and Flores visit a modern -- and Modern -- classic from Mike's CoolStuffInc era. One of Mike's favorite articles, with this revisit coming on the heel's of Roman's success at MTG Las Vegas.

    Why I'm Excited About Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 16:31


    Mike revisits some favorite memories from Champions of Kamigawa, Ravnica Block, and their "Tier Two" metagame. Plus some failed art and a story or two... All with an eye towards the hot pink new set.

    Paleolithic Burn in Modern

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2022 16:31


    What exactly is "Paleolithic" Burn? Whether you want to call it Boomer Burn or just plain Boros Burn, the classic r-w deck might be one of the best options despite encroachment from so many Modern Horizons II options at R. Find. Out. Why!

    The Limit of Almost Every Deck

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2022 14:58


    What is the Limit of Almost Every Deck? Why is that a super cool thing to talk about in 2022? And what does Halana and Elena, Partners have to do with Chaplain of Alms and Legion Angel, anyway?

    PRESENT and FUTURE Black Decks

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2021 14:15


    What do the current Blood Money (and surprisingly successful non-Blood on the Snow) black decks look like? How might they look with some additions from Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty?

    The Case for Azorius Control in Standard

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2021 13:43


    If Mike had to play one game of Standard for his life, he'd pick Izzet Dragons. Still, Hullbreaker Horror and Cemetery Protector make a strong case for Number Two

    number two azorius
    Novel Approaches to Icing Izzet

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2021 12:11


    Everybody hates Izzet! Or, at least most people have to have a plan for Prismari. This week Mike looks at an emerging Dimir discard deck, comments a little on what makes Izzet so hard for control to compete with, and reveals a weird new solution from -- gasp -- Mono-White!

    The Barbarian's Guide to Innovation

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2021 12:27


    A secret sideboard in Venice. The principles of Barbarian Class. Making your own luck, making your reputation, and making it go faster, Faster, FASTER at the Innistrad Championships

    Practical Conservation of Willpower

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2021 89:54


    Mike and Roman revisit a classic article about decision fatigue, an Israeli parole board, and eating snacks during a tournament... Because of course young Roman did just that to break through to Top 8 of MTGVegas! This podcast celebrates his amazing accomplishment and sets up lessons as we return to "The Gathering" half of Magic.

    Let's Get Edges in Paper!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 19:24


    With MTGVegas in the books, Mike addresses tips for long paper tournaments, presumably for a public increasingly interested in "The Gathering" half of Magic

    Thalia, Who Ruins Everything

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2021 14:16


    Mostly about the early popularity of White Weenie in Crimson Vow Standard

    ruins white weenie
    The Little Lies We Tell Ourselves - 2.0

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2021 95:12


    Roman joins Mike in a redux of his best article in years! Plus, the onetime Ancestral Recall duo starts off on some honest to gosh BARBARIAN chats! Fewer lies (hopefully) more steel mace swinging? Stay savage

    The Cheat Codes to the Universe

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2021 17:49


    About half fun old stories. About half secret meanings and play patterns to new Innistrad: Crimson Vow cards, like... By Invitation Only Cemetery Protector Old Rutstein Manaform Hellkite

    Six Standard Stumbles

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2021 14:10


    Don't make any of these all-too-common mistakes! From Izzet grabbing the wrong land to StOmPy playing the wrong land, these are errors even MC Champions make... Learn them, avoid them, and make your own luck!

    Variations on Snow Control

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2021 18:51


    Four different looks at Blood on the Snow-based Control decks for Standard! A lot has changed since Mike made Mythic with Golgari Snow... #4Blood4Meathook4Life

    The Top 8 Card Changes from Worlds and Beyond! - 2.0

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2021 72:18


    Roman joins MichaelJ to discuss his Magic: The Gathering World Championships 2021 article... And really talk all things Standard and even Limited on Arena. Will Mike get to Mythic in Limited? And when?

    The Little Lies we Tell Ourselves

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2021 16:54


    Mike describes three little lies he tells himself... That maybe you tell yourself, too. He bets if you reflect on them, that might be the first step in getting past them; to, you know, improve at Magic: The Gathering.

    The Top 8 Card Changes from Worlds (and beyond!)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2021 17:41


    There was some real and true deck design innovation at this year's World Championships. In this audio article, check out some of the top ins, outs, and play patterns so you know how to counter with Lier in play; or when not to try to buff your Stonebinder's Familiar!

    The Top 8 Rules for Control Players Going on a Midnight Hunt

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2021 18:52


    How has Midnight Hunt changed the rules for Control players in Standard? Why would you move from threats to answers, and what are the incentives to each Control color combination?

    Golgari Snow Primer 2.0

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2021 72:39


    Ancestral Recall podcast fans rejoice! Roman Fusco joins MichaelJ for the expanded version of the Golgari Snow Primer. We talk everything from optimal Arena to what deck to pick on a go-forward for the next big Standard events.

    snow primer arena michael j golgari ancestral recall
    Golgari Snow Primer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2021 17:35


    With the addition of Wrenn and Seven from Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, Mike was able to "effortlessly" grind to Mythic on MTGA! How does this deck work, and why should you try it?

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