Podcasts about premodern

The practice of history in premodern Java was profoundly influenced by precarious conditions of textual production and preservation: fragile manuscripts perished in the tropical environment, archival records were scattered far afield, and historical memories faded over many generations. InThe Precarious Past in Premodern Java, Wayan Jarrah Sastrawan examines how Javanese societies between the fifth and fifteenth centuries CE responded with distinctive strategies to record and transmit knowledge of the past. Drawing on sources in Javanese, Sanskrit, Malay, and related languages from the Indonesian archipelago, Sastrawan provides a detailed account of diverse forms of history making in premodern Java, reconstructing a dynamic culture in which written and nonwritten modes of transmission coexisted and intersected. By situating these practices within broader discussions of global historiography, this book challenges modern assumptions about what counts as “history” and illuminates how societies have developed different ways of preserving and remembering the past. A free ebook version of this title is available through Luminos, University of California Press's Open Access publishing program. Visit here to learn more. Dr Wayan Jarrah Sastrawan is a historian, lecturer and DECRA research fellow at the Australian National University, Canberra. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/southeast-asian-studies Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There has been a wave of videos telling Magic players why they should quit Magic and move to the next big CCG — most recently, discussions around Riftbound.But do you actually have to choose?Zac takes a step back from the “Magic is cooked, go play X instead” conversation and looks at the history of collectible card games, the idea of a Magic Golden Age, the explosion of products, the decline of competitive infrastructure, and the cycle that repeatedly plays out when new CCGs enter the market.The idea that everyone remembers a different “Golden Age” of Magic is more complicated than nostalgia. Zac argues that the best era of Magic is deeply personal, shaped by community, events, formats, and your own relationship with the game. We also dig into the CCG lifecycle: a new game arrives with huge prize support and hype, competitive players migrate, the company sees diminishing returns, hardcore fans remain, value-driven players move on, and eventually another game begins the cycle again. Zac argues that this pattern has happened repeatedly across the hobby. And then there's the idea of “sunk cost.”If you've spent years and thousands of dollars building a Magic collection, does that mean you're trapped? Absolutely not. You can play Magic. You can play Riftbound. You can play Sorcery. You can play Legacy, Premodern, Cube, Limited, or whatever else makes you happy.You don't have to quit one game to enjoy another.Magic itself is already dozens of different hobbies, and Zac argues that there's no reason your next CCG needs to replace the one you already love. So if you're thinking about trying Riftbound — go for it.Just don't sell your Magic cards first.00:00 — Do You Really Need to Quit Magic?02:18 — Was There Ever a Golden Age?10:34 — When Magic Became Too Much to Keep Up With15:31 — The Death of the Grand Prix System18:24 — The CCG Cycle22:14 — Is Your Magic Collection a Sunk Cost?24:07 — You Can Play Two Games26:37 — The Future of Riftbound & Other CCGs28:00 — You Don't Have to Quit Magic⏱️ Chapters

There has been a wave of videos telling Magic players why they should quit Magic and move to the next big CCG — most recently, discussions around Riftbound.But do you actually have to choose?Zac takes a step back from the “Magic is cooked, go play X instead” conversation and looks at the history of collectible card games, the idea of a Magic Golden Age, the explosion of products, the decline of competitive infrastructure, and the cycle that repeatedly plays out when new CCGs enter the market.The idea that everyone remembers a different “Golden Age” of Magic is more complicated than nostalgia. Zac argues that the best era of Magic is deeply personal, shaped by community, events, formats, and your own relationship with the game. We also dig into the CCG lifecycle: a new game arrives with huge prize support and hype, competitive players migrate, the company sees diminishing returns, hardcore fans remain, value-driven players move on, and eventually another game begins the cycle again. Zac argues that this pattern has happened repeatedly across the hobby. And then there's the idea of “sunk cost.”If you've spent years and thousands of dollars building a Magic collection, does that mean you're trapped? Absolutely not. You can play Magic. You can play Riftbound. You can play Sorcery. You can play Legacy, Premodern, Cube, Limited, or whatever else makes you happy.You don't have to quit one game to enjoy another.Magic itself is already dozens of different hobbies, and Zac argues that there's no reason your next CCG needs to replace the one you already love. So if you're thinking about trying Riftbound — go for it.Just don't sell your Magic cards first.00:00 — Do You Really Need to Quit Magic?02:18 — Was There Ever a Golden Age?10:34 — When Magic Became Too Much to Keep Up With15:31 — The Death of the Grand Prix System18:24 — The CCG Cycle22:14 — Is Your Magic Collection a Sunk Cost?24:07 — You Can Play Two Games26:37 — The Future of Riftbound & Other CCGs28:00 — You Don't Have to Quit Magic

Who is responsible for protecting the identity of a game after its original creator is gone?In this episode of Eternal Durdles, Zac and Phil dive into the idea of creative paternalism — the responsibility, care, and judgment required to preserve what makes a creative work itself.Using Magic: The Gathering as the primary example, we explore what happens when the people who originally created and loved a game are replaced by layers of corporate stewardship.What exactly is the “ethos” of Magic?Who gets to decide what belongs?And when does expanding a game into new audiences, aesthetics, and experiences stop being evolution and start becoming something fundamentally different?The conversation touches on Universes Beyond, Commander, Secret Lair, Premodern, Classic Legacy, Peak Legacy, and the changing relationship between Magic's original audience and the people discovering the game today.We also explore:What exactly creative paternalism meansRichard Garfield and the original vision of MagicWhy the original creators of a game matterThe difference between creating something new and simply repackaging an existing aestheticThe “geeks, mops, sociopaths and leeches” frameworkWhy corporations can struggle to preserve the identity of a creative propertyThe tension between growth and creative integrityWhy “more people playing Magic” isn't necessarily a sufficient design goalUniverses Beyond and whether different Magic experiences should coexist separatelyWhether older players and newer players actually need to be in the same “bucket”How this problem appears in music, using bands as an analogyWhy Premodern and Classic Legacy can feel like preserved snapshots of the gameAnd ultimately: when did Wizards jump the shark?Phil argues that the real problem may not be the existence of different audiences — but the decision to force fundamentally different experiences to collide in the same space. Zac ultimately points toward formats like Premodern and Classic Legacy as places where players can still find glimmers of the game they originally fell in love with. What do you think?Has Magic lost something important, or is this simply what happens when a game grows for 30+ years?00:00 — What Is Creative Paternalism?02:15 — Who Is Responsible for Magic's Identity?06:00 — Geeks, Mops, Sociopaths & Leeches12:00 — When Corporations Sand Away the Rough Edges18:00 — Does Magic Actually Need More Players?21:00 — Universes Beyond & Conflicting Audiences32:30 — The Band Analogy: When Your Favorite Thing Changes38:15 — When Did Wizards Jump the Shark?40:00 — Finding the Spark in Premodern⏱️ Chapters

Who is responsible for protecting the identity of a game after its original creator is gone?In this episode of Eternal Durdles, Zac and Phil dive into the idea of creative paternalism — the responsibility, care, and judgment required to preserve what makes a creative work itself.Using Magic: The Gathering as the primary example, we explore what happens when the people who originally created and loved a game are replaced by layers of corporate stewardship.What exactly is the “ethos” of Magic?Who gets to decide what belongs?And when does expanding a game into new audiences, aesthetics, and experiences stop being evolution and start becoming something fundamentally different?The conversation touches on Universes Beyond, Commander, Secret Lair, Premodern, Classic Legacy, Peak Legacy, and the changing relationship between Magic's original audience and the people discovering the game today.We also explore:What exactly creative paternalism meansRichard Garfield and the original vision of MagicWhy the original creators of a game matterThe difference between creating something new and simply repackaging an existing aestheticThe “geeks, mops, sociopaths and leeches” frameworkWhy corporations can struggle to preserve the identity of a creative propertyThe tension between growth and creative integrityWhy “more people playing Magic” isn't necessarily a sufficient design goalUniverses Beyond and whether different Magic experiences should coexist separatelyWhether older players and newer players actually need to be in the same “bucket”How this problem appears in music, using bands as an analogyWhy Premodern and Classic Legacy can feel like preserved snapshots of the gameAnd ultimately: when did Wizards jump the shark?Phil argues that the real problem may not be the existence of different audiences — but the decision to force fundamentally different experiences to collide in the same space. Zac ultimately points toward formats like Premodern and Classic Legacy as places where players can still find glimmers of the game they originally fell in love with. What do you think?Has Magic lost something important, or is this simply what happens when a game grows for 30+ years?00:00 — What Is Creative Paternalism?02:15 — Who Is Responsible for Magic's Identity?06:00 — Geeks, Mops, Sociopaths & Leeches12:00 — When Corporations Sand Away the Rough Edges18:00 — Does Magic Actually Need More Players?21:00 — Universes Beyond & Conflicting Audiences32:30 — The Band Analogy: When Your Favorite Thing Changes38:15 — When Did Wizards Jump the Shark?40:00 — Finding the Spark in Premodern⏱️ Chapters

What makes a Magic card actually unfun?In this episode of Eternal Durdles, Zac and Phil dive into one of the strangest things about Premodern: some of the cards players love the most are exactly the cards that would be considered miserable in almost any other setting.Stasis. Winter Orb. Opposition. Deranged Hermit. Survival of the Fittest. Armageddon. Sphere of Resistance. Wildfire. Web of Inertia. Mana Web.These cards don't necessarily win because they're individually powerful. Instead, they fundamentally change the rules of engagement.And that's the key distinction.Phil argues that truly unfun cards are the ones that strip you of agency — situations where there's effectively nothing meaningful you can do. Zac explores the other side: cards that force you to change how you manage your resources can actually create some of the most interesting games of Magic.That's part of what makes Premodern so compelling. The format lets you play with cards and strategies that modern Magic design would almost certainly never create today.We talk about:Why Stasis requires an entire deck to support itStasis vs. Winter OrbWhat actually makes a card “unfun”The difference between changing resource management and removing agencyParallax Tide and why it crossed the lineOath of Druids and playing around restrictive strategiesOpposition + Deranged HermitWhy Survival of the Fittest still gives opponents ways to fight backArmageddon and how to play around itSphere of Resistance and resource denialThe bizarre potential of Web of InertiaMana Web, Floodwater Dam, and other forgotten lock piecesWhy Wildfire deserves more attentionTinker, Phyrexian Devourer, Draco and Phyrexian ProcessorAnd ultimately, why the cards that look “unfun” from the outside are often what make Premodern so much funPremodern doesn't need a Rule Zero conversation.The rules of engagement are simple:Kill your opponent before they kill you.00:00 — Why 1v1 Magic Needs No Rule Zero01:05 — What Makes a Card “Unfun”?03:04 — Stasis, Winter Orb & Resource Management08:32 — When a Card Actually Removes Your Agency18:00 — Opposition, Deranged Hermit & Survival25:57 — The Most Unfun Thing in Magic: Wasting Time28:00 — Armageddon, Sphere of Resistance & Playing Around Hate36:55 — Web of Inertia & Other Horrible Ideas40:07 — Mana Web, Floodwater Dam & Wildfire42:55 — Tinker, Phyrexian Processor & Premodern's Weirdest Cards⏱️ Chapters

In this episode of Eternal Durdles, Zac and Phil dive into one of the strangest things about Premodern: some of the cards players love the most are exactly the cards that would be considered miserable in almost any other setting.Stasis. Winter Orb. Opposition. Deranged Hermit. Survival of the Fittest. Armageddon. Sphere of Resistance. Wildfire. Web of Inertia. Mana Web.These cards don't necessarily win because they're individually powerful. Instead, they fundamentally change the rules of engagement.And that's the key distinction.Phil argues that truly unfun cards are the ones that strip you of agency — situations where there's effectively nothing meaningful you can do. Zac explores the other side: cards that force you to change how you manage your resources can actually create some of the most interesting games of Magic.That's part of what makes Premodern so compelling. The format lets you play with cards and strategies that modern Magic design would almost certainly never create today.We talk about:Why Stasis requires an entire deck to support itStasis vs. Winter OrbWhat actually makes a card “unfun”The difference between changing resource management and removing agencyParallax Tide and why it crossed the lineOath of Druids and playing around restrictive strategiesOpposition + Deranged HermitWhy Survival of the Fittest still gives opponents ways to fight backArmageddon and how to play around itSphere of Resistance and resource denialThe bizarre potential of Web of InertiaMana Web, Floodwater Dam, and other forgotten lock piecesWhy Wildfire deserves more attentionTinker, Phyrexian Devourer, Draco and Phyrexian ProcessorAnd ultimately, why the cards that look “unfun” from the outside are often what make Premodern so much funPremodern doesn't need a Rule Zero conversation.The rules of engagement are simple:Kill your opponent before they kill you.00:00 — Why 1v1 Magic Needs No Rule Zero01:05 — What Makes a Card “Unfun”?03:04 — Stasis, Winter Orb & Resource Management08:32 — When a Card Actually Removes Your Agency18:00 — Opposition, Deranged Hermit & Survival25:57 — The Most Unfun Thing in Magic: Wasting Time28:00 — Armageddon, Sphere of Resistance & Playing Around Hate36:55 — Web of Inertia & Other Horrible Ideas40:07 — Mana Web, Floodwater Dam & Wildfire42:55 — Tinker, Phyrexian Processor & Premodern's Weirdest Cards⏱️ Chapters

Competitive Magic isn't dead. We just miss what it used to feel like.DuressFest is coming, and Zac and Phil are incredibly excited—not simply because it's another Magic tournament, but because it represents something that has been missing from competitive Magic:the experience.We used to have Grand Prix events with thousands of players. You'd travel with your friends, play the main event, fire off side events, buy and sell cards, meet other players, grab dinner afterward, and spend an entire weekend immersed in Magic.DuressFest feels like a return to that experience.The conversation starts with the size of modern competitive events versus the old Grand Prix era, but quickly becomes a much bigger discussion about why competitive play matters to Magic's ecosystem.We talk about:Why competitive Magic isn't necessarily deadWhy Wizards hasn't cultivated the competitive-player experienceWhat the old Grand Prix ecosystem providedWhy vendors need major eventsWhy competitive play creates demand for real cardsWhy Legacy, Premodern, Classic and Peak have their own ecosystemsWhy Magic's original premise was that you were the wizardHow Universes Beyond changes that relationshipWhy named characters can make the player feel like a spectatorThe difference between Magic and games like D&D or ZeldaWhy self-expression is so important to competitive playWhy 60-card 1v1 Magic feels like the purest version of the gameWhat DuressFest needs to becomeWhy a Friday/Saturday/Sunday Grand Prix-style event would be incredibleAnd why DuressFest could be a proof of concept for more community-run eventsThe bigger idea is simple:People don't just want to play Magic. They want somewhere to go play Magic.And DuressFest may prove that there is still a huge audience for that experience. Keeping this to 10 chapters:00:00 — DuressFest Is Bringing Back Grand Prix Magic01:24 — Competitive Magic Isn't Dead03:04 — Why Competitive Events Matter05:19 — The Magic Card Ecosystem09:03 — Why Magic Has Lasted 30+ Years12:09 — Universes Beyond & Losing Immersion14:19 — Are We Still the Wizard?19:15 — What Does DuressFest Need to Be?24:04 — Why We Miss the Grand Prix Experience26:27 — Why 60-Card Magic Is the Purest MagicTimestamps

Competitive Magic isn't dead. We just miss what it used to feel like.DuressFest is coming, and Zac and Phil are incredibly excited—not simply because it's another Magic tournament, but because it represents something that has been missing from competitive Magic:the experience.We used to have Grand Prix events with thousands of players. You'd travel with your friends, play the main event, fire off side events, buy and sell cards, meet other players, grab dinner afterward, and spend an entire weekend immersed in Magic.DuressFest feels like a return to that experience.The conversation starts with the size of modern competitive events versus the old Grand Prix era, but quickly becomes a much bigger discussion about why competitive play matters to Magic's ecosystem.We talk about:Why competitive Magic isn't necessarily deadWhy Wizards hasn't cultivated the competitive-player experienceWhat the old Grand Prix ecosystem providedWhy vendors need major eventsWhy competitive play creates demand for real cardsWhy Legacy, Premodern, Classic and Peak have their own ecosystemsWhy Magic's original premise was that you were the wizardHow Universes Beyond changes that relationshipWhy named characters can make the player feel like a spectatorThe difference between Magic and games like D&D or ZeldaWhy self-expression is so important to competitive playWhy 60-card 1v1 Magic feels like the purest version of the gameWhat DuressFest needs to becomeWhy a Friday/Saturday/Sunday Grand Prix-style event would be incredibleAnd why DuressFest could be a proof of concept for more community-run eventsThe bigger idea is simple:People don't just want to play Magic. They want somewhere to go play Magic.And DuressFest may prove that there is still a huge audience for that experience. Keeping this to 10 chapters:00:00 — DuressFest Is Bringing Back Grand Prix Magic01:24 — Competitive Magic Isn't Dead03:04 — Why Competitive Events Matter05:19 — The Magic Card Ecosystem09:03 — Why Magic Has Lasted 30+ Years12:09 — Universes Beyond & Losing Immersion14:19 — Are We Still the Wizard?19:15 — What Does DuressFest Need to Be?24:04 — Why We Miss the Grand Prix Experience26:27 — Why 60-Card Magic Is the Purest MagicTimestamps

Peak Legacy is officially a paper format.On August 16th, we held the first-ever paper Peak Legacy event, bringing together 10 players and 8 different archetypes for a tournament that was as much about exploring an old format as it was about competing.The event was won by Grixis Control, featuring Baleful Strix, Gurmag Angler, Snapcaster Mage, Kolaghan's Command, and a pile of spicy one-ofs and unusual numbers.We break down the decks that showed up, including Grixis Delver, Infect, Dark Maverick, Goblin Stompy, Lands, Death & Taxes, and Phil's Blue-White Miracles list.But the most exciting part wasn't necessarily the winner. It was seeing what happens when you take a historical Legacy format and give players the time and incentive to explore it without another set immediately changing everything.We talk about:The first Peak Legacy paper eventThe winning Grixis Control deckGoblin Stompy and Goblin CavesMulch Lands and modern deckbuilding ideasTwo very different Death & Taxes buildsPhil's Blue-White Miracles experimentUnexpectedly AbsentWhy Peak games feel so strategically deepProxy-friendly Peak LegacyBuilding decks from bulk-bin discoveriesThe future of Peak Legacy paper eventsWe're planning to keep the momentum going with more Peak Legacy events in NYC, with the goal of eventually getting close to a monthly event.If you're interested in Peak, Classic, Premodern, Pre-War, or other locked Legacy formats, subscribe to Returnal Durdles. This is where we're building that community.

Peak Legacy is officially a paper format.On August 16th, we held the first-ever paper Peak Legacy event, bringing together 10 players and 8 different archetypes for a tournament that was as much about exploring an old format as it was about competing.The event was won by Grixis Control, featuring Baleful Strix, Gurmag Angler, Snapcaster Mage, Kolaghan's Command, and a pile of spicy one-ofs and unusual numbers.We break down the decks that showed up, including Grixis Delver, Infect, Dark Maverick, Goblin Stompy, Lands, Death & Taxes, and Phil's Blue-White Miracles list.But the most exciting part wasn't necessarily the winner. It was seeing what happens when you take a historical Legacy format and give players the time and incentive to explore it without another set immediately changing everything.We talk about:The first Peak Legacy paper eventThe winning Grixis Control deckGoblin Stompy and Goblin CavesMulch Lands and modern deckbuilding ideasTwo very different Death & Taxes buildsPhil's Blue-White Miracles experimentUnexpectedly AbsentWhy Peak games feel so strategically deepProxy-friendly Peak LegacyBuilding decks from bulk-bin discoveriesThe future of Peak Legacy paper eventsWe're planning to keep the momentum going with more Peak Legacy events in NYC, with the goal of eventually getting close to a monthly event.If you're interested in Peak, Classic, Premodern, Pre-War, or other locked Legacy formats, subscribe to Returnal Durdles. This is where we're building that community.

Premodern Homepage: https://premodernmagic.com/Madness: https://moxfield.com/decks/vTcm-fMklU-p0FU9aO4TfgTinker: https://moxfield.com/decks/VMUEkg16I0SqDtcUfAEarwSligh: https://moxfield.com/decks/qx1rZmCKgEeNgUI55SzHLAReanimator: https://moxfield.com/decks/nwLmw6rf9Uep9YUbMb-EIAPhage: https://moxfield.com/decks/4QigAcO5wnGBNmcxP4cZwgIn dieser Folge meines Magic: The Gathering Podcasts geht es um das Premodern-Format – ein Format, das für viele MTG-Spieler noch ein echter Geheimtipp ist. Ich erkläre, was Premodern so besonders macht, welche Karten und Sets erlaubt sind und warum sich das Format deutlich von anderen Eternal- und Oldschool-Formaten unterscheidet.Besonders spannend ist dabei der Preis: Premodern kann überraschend günstig sein und ermöglicht es, mit relativ wenig Budget ein konkurrenzfähiges Deck zu bauen. Aber warum ist das überhaupt möglich, obwohl es sich um ein Format mit vielen älteren und teilweise sehr mächtigen Magic-Karten handelt?Ein weiterer großer Vorteil von Premodern ist der Umgang mit der Reserved List. Während andere Formate durch die Reserved List und die extrem hohen Preise bestimmter Karten schnell teuer werden können, bietet Premodern deutlich mehr Möglichkeiten, kompetitiv Magic zu spielen, ohne direkt ein Vermögen in eine einzelne Karte investieren zu müssen.Ich spreche außerdem darüber, warum Premodern gerade für Spieler interessant sein kann, die den klassischen Magic-Spielstil lieben, aber keine Lust auf ständig wechselnde Formate, hohe Kartenpreise oder moderne Powercreep-Diskussionen haben.

The Premodern Threat Levels are back, and this time we have three months of new data to dig through.Zac and Phil revisit the cards they've been tracking across the format, using the Blackman threat metric to measure both how widely cards are played and how many copies appear in those decks. The new browser extension makes it easier than ever to snapshot the format and compare how these numbers change over time. We look at Swords to Plowshares, Counterspell, Wasteland, Mishra's Factory, Mogg Fanatic, Phyrexian Dreadnought, Parallax Wave, Survival of the Fittest, Grim Lavamancer, Jackal Pup, Terravore, Exalted Angel, Wall of Roots, Wall of Blossoms, Squee, Masticore, Chain of Vapor and more.Then Phil discovers something potentially much more important:ZOMBIE TRAILBLAZER.Is this the next great Premodern brew? Probably not.But we're absolutely going to find out.00:00 — Welcome to Returnal Durdles01:36 — Premodern Threat Levels Are Back02:01 — The Cards We're Tracking03:27 — Swords to Plowshares04:27 — The Threat Level Extension05:01 — What Is a Blechman?05:36 — What Does a Threat Level Actually Mean?06:50 — Premodern Is a Healthy Format08:28 — Gush Is Everywhere09:19 — What Is Premodern's Next Most-Played Land?10:27 — Counterspell Breaks the Data11:08 — City of Brass?!11:32 — Mogg Fanatic Is Everywhere12:16 — The Goblins Math14:34 — Goblin Sharpshooter Needs More Respect16:03 — The Phyrexian Dreadnought Package17:28 — Dreadnought vs. Parallax Wave19:19 — Survival of the Fittest & Squee20:40 — Jackal Pup & Burn22:00 — Portent Is Apparently a 4-of22:21 — Terravore & Wall of Roots23:20 — Exalted Angel Falls Off24:17 — Where Is Meddling Mage?25:30 — Wall of Blossoms Is Disappearing25:54 — The Zombie Trailblazer Discovery27:06 — THIS CARD IS BUSTED28:36 — "It Dies to Swords"29:28 — How Many Blackmans Is Zombie Trailblazer?30:13 — The Deepest Part of the Data31:24 — Orcish Lumberjack Is MOVING33:09 — More Zombies?!33:55 — Zombie Trailblazer Deck Incoming34:54 — Masticore & Chain of Vapor35:52 — Dark Ritual Is a 36-Blackman Card36:03 — Stifle & Portent37:09 — Subscribe to Returnal Durdles38:46 — Why Your Subscription Matters Right Now39:14 — The Zombie Trailblazer Challenge40:11 — Final Thoughts

The Premodern Threat Levels are back, and this time we have three months of new data to dig through.Zac and Phil revisit the cards they've been tracking across the format, using the Blackman threat metric to measure both how widely cards are played and how many copies appear in those decks. The new browser extension makes it easier than ever to snapshot the format and compare how these numbers change over time. We look at Swords to Plowshares, Counterspell, Wasteland, Mishra's Factory, Mogg Fanatic, Phyrexian Dreadnought, Parallax Wave, Survival of the Fittest, Grim Lavamancer, Jackal Pup, Terravore, Exalted Angel, Wall of Roots, Wall of Blossoms, Squee, Masticore, Chain of Vapor and more.Then Phil discovers something potentially much more important:ZOMBIE TRAILBLAZER.Is this the next great Premodern brew? Probably not.But we're absolutely going to find out.00:00 — Welcome to Returnal Durdles01:36 — Premodern Threat Levels Are Back02:01 — The Cards We're Tracking03:27 — Swords to Plowshares04:27 — The Threat Level Extension05:01 — What Is a Blechman?05:36 — What Does a Threat Level Actually Mean?06:50 — Premodern Is a Healthy Format08:28 — Gush Is Everywhere09:19 — What Is Premodern's Next Most-Played Land?10:27 — Counterspell Breaks the Data11:08 — City of Brass?!11:32 — Mogg Fanatic Is Everywhere12:16 — The Goblins Math14:34 — Goblin Sharpshooter Needs More Respect16:03 — The Phyrexian Dreadnought Package17:28 — Dreadnought vs. Parallax Wave19:19 — Survival of the Fittest & Squee20:40 — Jackal Pup & Burn22:00 — Portent Is Apparently a 4-of22:21 — Terravore & Wall of Roots23:20 — Exalted Angel Falls Off24:17 — Where Is Meddling Mage?25:30 — Wall of Blossoms Is Disappearing25:54 — The Zombie Trailblazer Discovery27:06 — THIS CARD IS BUSTED28:36 — "It Dies to Swords"29:28 — How Many Blackmans Is Zombie Trailblazer?30:13 — The Deepest Part of the Data31:24 — Orcish Lumberjack Is MOVING33:09 — More Zombies?!33:55 — Zombie Trailblazer Deck Incoming34:54 — Masticore & Chain of Vapor35:52 — Dark Ritual Is a 36-Blackman Card36:03 — Stifle & Portent37:09 — Subscribe to Returnal Durdles38:46 — Why Your Subscription Matters Right Now39:14 — The Zombie Trailblazer Challenge40:11 — Final Thoughts

The Hobbits are coming to Magic, but how much are they actually going to change Legacy?Zac and Phil go through the new Hobbits from Vetter Breath cards and find something surprisingly refreshing: there aren't that many cards worth talking about for Legacy.We break down the eight cards that caught our attention, including Bilbo, Thief in the Night, The Great Goblin, Giant's Boulder, Thirandil, the Elven King, Inside Information, Bilbo's Gambit, Plunder the Trollshaws, and Riddles in the Dark.Bilbo is the clear standout, looking like a powered-up version of a card that's already on Legacy's banned list. But does that actually make him a problem?We also discuss:Why Universes Beyond sets keep feeling like Commander productsThe new Storied mechanicBilbo vs. Dreadhorde ArcanistWhether The Great Goblin can enable a comboWhy Giant's Boulder isn't the next AstrolabeCan Thirandil actually save Elves from Orcish Bowmasters?Why Inside Information probably isn't a Storm payoffBilbo's Gambit and the Legacy "Silence" problemWhy Riddles in the Dark isn't Fact or FictionAnd why we're actually happy that the set has a lower Legacy power levelIf we missed a card, let us know in the comments.And if you're done with Universes Beyond and want to play Classic, Peak, Pre-War, or Premodern, check out Returnal Durdles. 00:00 — The Hobbit Set Isn't Breaking Legacy00:57 — Flavor vs. Power Level02:37 — The Storied Mechanic Is Metalcraft+04:40 — Urza's Saga Is Already Storied?!05:56 — Why We're Building Locked Formats Instead06:48 — Peak Legacy Event Announcement07:17 — Bilbo, Thief in the Night10:02 — The Great Goblin12:55 — Giant's Boulder vs. Astrolabe16:27 — Does Giant's Boulder Work With Scry Payoffs?17:40 — Thirandil, the Elven King19:40 — Inside Information21:36 — Bilbo's Gambit24:30 — Bilbo Is an EDH All-Star26:29 — Plunder the Trollshaws27:39 — Riddles in the Dark28:48 — Riddles vs. Fact or Fiction30:14 — Just Play Three Wishes31:27 — The Eight Cards That Matter32:00 — Why We're Happy the Power Level Is Lower32:40 — Returnal Durdles & Locked Formats33:00 — Submit Your Own Legacy TakesTimestamps

The Hobbits are coming to Magic, but how much are they actually going to change Legacy?Zac and Phil go through the new Hobbits from Vetter Breath cards and find something surprisingly refreshing: there aren't that many cards worth talking about for Legacy.We break down the eight cards that caught our attention, including Bilbo, Thief in the Night, The Great Goblin, Giant's Boulder, Thirandil, the Elven King, Inside Information, Bilbo's Gambit, Plunder the Trollshaws, and Riddles in the Dark.Bilbo is the clear standout, looking like a powered-up version of a card that's already on Legacy's banned list. But does that actually make him a problem?We also discuss:Why Universes Beyond sets keep feeling like Commander productsThe new Storied mechanicBilbo vs. Dreadhorde ArcanistWhether The Great Goblin can enable a comboWhy Giant's Boulder isn't the next AstrolabeCan Thirandil actually save Elves from Orcish Bowmasters?Why Inside Information probably isn't a Storm payoffBilbo's Gambit and the Legacy "Silence" problemWhy Riddles in the Dark isn't Fact or FictionAnd why we're actually happy that the set has a lower Legacy power levelIf we missed a card, let us know in the comments.And if you're done with Universes Beyond and want to play Classic, Peak, Pre-War, or Premodern, check out Returnal Durdles. 00:00 — The Hobbit Set Isn't Breaking Legacy00:57 — Flavor vs. Power Level02:37 — The Storied Mechanic Is Metalcraft+04:40 — Urza's Saga Is Already Storied?!05:56 — Why We're Building Locked Formats Instead06:48 — Peak Legacy Event Announcement07:17 — Bilbo, Thief in the Night10:02 — The Great Goblin12:55 — Giant's Boulder vs. Astrolabe16:27 — Does Giant's Boulder Work With Scry Payoffs?17:40 — Thirandil, the Elven King19:40 — Inside Information21:36 — Bilbo's Gambit24:30 — Bilbo Is an EDH All-Star26:29 — Plunder the Trollshaws27:39 — Riddles in the Dark28:48 — Riddles vs. Fact or Fiction30:14 — Just Play Three Wishes31:27 — The Eight Cards That Matter32:00 — Why We're Happy the Power Level Is Lower32:40 — Returnal Durdles & Locked Formats33:00 — Submit Your Own Legacy TakesTimestamps

Seb and Anton are joined by Henrique Martins to talk about his Mono Red Ponza deck in Premodern.

CLASSIC LEGACY DISCORDhttps://discord.gg/Yg7UMC86mSupport us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Et ernalDurdlesUse our link for a free Month of Elite on TradeMagic.gghttps://trademagic.gg/eternaldurdlesBuilding decks for a new format doesn't have to mean spending hundreds of dollars.In this episode, Zac and Phil walk through how they're using TradeMagic.gg to turn unused cards into staples for Classic Legacy, Peak Legacy, and Premodern. From organizing collections and managing wants lists to trading for original printings and supporting emerging formats, this is a behind-the-scenes look at how they're building new decks without constantly buying singles.We also discuss:Why Classic Legacy is growingSupporting Moxfield and Scryfall integrationHow the TradeMagic credit system worksTrading into expensive staplesOriginal printings vs. reprintsBuilding collections for new Eternal formatsWhether you're a long-time collector or just getting into Classic Legacy, this episode will help you get more value out of the cards you already own.#MagicTheGathering #ClassicLegacy #TradeMagic #Premodern #MTGTimestamps00:00 Why New Formats Are Fun to Collect02:30 Supporting Classic Legacy05:55 TradeMagic Overview07:20 Building a Want List11:55 How the Trading System Works16:00 Trading With New Members18:20 Why TradeMagic Builds Community20:50 Why Eternal Staples Are Affordable Again23:20 Get Started With TradeMagicTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnJOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comRiverside Partner Link: https://riverside.sjv.io/KB0E07MOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhilChannel Art Assets by: https://www.instagram.com/jonthetallone/

CLASSIC LEGACY DISCORDhttps://discord.gg/Yg7UMC86m Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Et ernalDurdlesUse our link for a free Month of Elite on TradeMagic.gghttps://trademagic.gg/eternaldurdlesBuilding decks for a new format doesn't have to mean spending hundreds of dollars.In this episode, Zac and Phil walk through how they're using TradeMagic.gg to turn unused cards into staples for Classic Legacy, Peak Legacy, and Premodern. From organizing collections and managing wants lists to trading for original printings and supporting emerging formats, this is a behind-the-scenes look at how they're building new decks without constantly buying singles.We also discuss:Why Classic Legacy is growingSupporting Moxfield and Scryfall integrationHow the TradeMagic credit system worksTrading into expensive staplesOriginal printings vs. reprintsBuilding collections for new Eternal formatsWhether you're a long-time collector or just getting into Classic Legacy, this episode will help you get more value out of the cards you already own.#MagicTheGathering #ClassicLegacy #TradeMagic #Premodern #MTGTimestamps00:00 Why New Formats Are Fun to Collect02:30 Supporting Classic Legacy05:55 TradeMagic Overview07:20 Building a Want List11:55 How the Trading System Works16:00 Trading With New Members18:20 Why TradeMagic Builds Community20:50 Why Eternal Staples Are Affordable Again23:20 Get Started With TradeMagicTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnJOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comRiverside Partner Link: https://riverside.sjv.io/KB0E07MOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhilChannel Art Assets by: https://www.instagram.com/jonthetallone/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesMarc joins Eternal Durdles for a deep dive into one of Premodern's most powerful—and complicated—strategies: Enchantress.But this isn't stock Enchantress.Marc's build cuts the traditional Opalescence / Parallax Wave / Replenish package and instead uses Oath of Druids as additional copies of Argothian Enchantress, alongside cards like Words of War, Abeyance, Wasteland, Gaea's Blessing, Decree of Justice, and more.We break down how the deck operates from its opening turns through the combo turn, why Marc wants zero four-mana cards in his maindeck, how to sequence Exploration correctly, and how to know when it's time to go off.Then we go deep on sideboarding and matchup strategy against some of Premodern's biggest decks.If Enchantress has always looked too complicated—or you're already playing it and want to take your game to another level—this is your Masterclass.#Premodern #MagicTheGathering #Enchantress #MTG #EternalDurdlesTimestamps00:00 Why Play Enchantress?00:58 Meet Marc & Mastering the Deck03:05 Enchantress vs. Replenish04:22 Marc's Oath of Druids Enchantress06:37 How the Engine Works07:52 Why Marc Cut the 4-Drops08:50 Turning Oath Into More Enchantresses09:09 Words of War Explained12:22 Why Gaea's Blessing Matters13:50 The Infinite Game14:28 Decree of Justice15:43 How to Sequence Exploration17:22 The Ideal Early Game18:52 Mirri's Guile vs. Sylvan Library19:57 Finding Your Enchantress Engine22:59 Solitary Confinement24:42 Marc's Build vs. Stock Enchantress28:38 Attacking What Opponents ExpectSideboard Guide29:06 Sideboard Overview29:15 Decree of Justice30:46 Akroma, Angel of Wrath31:33 Aura of Silence32:24 Karmic Justice33:21 Naturalize & Ray of Revelation34:32 Replenish35:35 Swords to Plowshares36:04 Tormod's Crypt36:42 Tsabo's Web37:08 Wrath of GodMatchup Guide37:49 Replenish42:21 Enchantress Mirror49:33 Hermit FEB56:11 Mono-Blue Dreadnought01:02:56 Goblins 01:23:10 Psychatog01:25:42 BurnUse our link for a free Month of Elite on TradeMagic.gghttps://trademagic.gg/eternaldurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnJOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comRiverside Partner Link: https://riverside.sjv.io/KB0E07MOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhilChannel Art Assets by: https://www.instagram.com/jonthetallone/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesMarc joins Eternal Durdles for a deep dive into one of Premodern's most powerful—and complicated—strategies: Enchantress.But this isn't stock Enchantress.Marc's build cuts the traditional Opalescence / Parallax Wave / Replenish package and instead uses Oath of Druids as additional copies of Argothian Enchantress, alongside cards like Words of War, Abeyance, Wasteland, Gaea's Blessing, Decree of Justice, and more.We break down how the deck operates from its opening turns through the combo turn, why Marc wants zero four-mana cards in his maindeck, how to sequence Exploration correctly, and how to know when it's time to go off.Then we go deep on sideboarding and matchup strategy against some of Premodern's biggest decks.If Enchantress has always looked too complicated—or you're already playing it and want to take your game to another level—this is your Masterclass.#Premodern #MagicTheGathering #Enchantress #MTG #EternalDurdlesTimestamps00:00 Why Play Enchantress?00:58 Meet Marc & Mastering the Deck03:05 Enchantress vs. Replenish04:22 Marc's Oath of Druids Enchantress06:37 How the Engine Works07:52 Why Marc Cut the 4-Drops08:50 Turning Oath Into More Enchantresses09:09 Words of War Explained12:22 Why Gaea's Blessing Matters13:50 The Infinite Game14:28 Decree of Justice15:43 How to Sequence Exploration17:22 The Ideal Early Game18:52 Mirri's Guile vs. Sylvan Library19:57 Finding Your Enchantress Engine22:59 Solitary Confinement24:42 Marc's Build vs. Stock Enchantress28:38 Attacking What Opponents ExpectSideboard Guide29:06 Sideboard Overview29:15 Decree of Justice30:46 Akroma, Angel of Wrath31:33 Aura of Silence32:24 Karmic Justice33:21 Naturalize & Ray of Revelation34:32 Replenish35:35 Swords to Plowshares36:04 Tormod's Crypt36:42 Tsabo's Web37:08 Wrath of GodMatchup Guide37:49 Replenish42:21 Enchantress Mirror49:33 Hermit FEB56:11 Mono-Blue Dreadnought01:02:56 Goblins 01:23:10 Psychatog01:25:42 BurnUse our link for a free Month of Elite on TradeMagic.gghttps://trademagic.gg/eternaldurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnJOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comRiverside Partner Link: https://riverside.sjv.io/KB0E07MOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhilChannel Art Assets by: https://www.instagram.com/jonthetallone/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesDuressFest is coming—and it could become the biggest Premodern event ever.Www.duressfest.comZac and Phil break down the upcoming DuressFest Kickstarter, the plan for a massive Premodern National Championship, side events, and why supporting ambitious community-run tournaments like this matters for the future of the format.Could this be the closest we've come to bringing back the feeling of an old-school Magic Grand Prix? We think so.We also get into what we're considering playing at DuressFest, including Zac's Uzi / Zombie Infestation build, Squee, Intuition, Cabal Therapy, Deep Analysis, Psychatog, and plenty of brewing.Plus, we discuss the upcoming launch of Returnal Durdles, our new home for locked Eternal formats including Premodern, Classic, Pre-War Legacy, and Peak Legacy.If you've ever complained that you couldn't get into LobsterCon—this is your chance.Support DuressFest and help show what's possible when the Premodern community goes BIG.#Premodern #MagicTheGathering #DuressFest #MTG #EternalMagicTimestamps00:00 DuressFest Is Coming!00:37 The Premodern National Championship01:36 DuressFest Kickstarter02:34 Venue & Side Events03:27 The Premodern Grand Prix04:27 Supporting the Duress Crew05:36 Order of the Sacred Torch Tease05:56 Classic Legacy at DuressFest07:03 What We're Playing at DuressFest07:47 We're Playing Uzi?!08:44 Zac's Uzi Control Deck10:44 Cabal Therapy & Deck Updates11:55 Sickening Dreams13:08 Should Uzi Splash Red?14:53 Psychatog in Uzi15:54 How Many Intuitions?17:30 Gush, Foil & Mana18:16 The Problem With Wonder19:27 Improving Uzi's Consistency20:47 Portent vs. Impulse22:04 Is Uzi the DuressFest Deck?23:04 Returnal Durdles Announcement23:40 Peak Legacy NYC Event24:02 What Is Returnal Durdles?25:07 Why We're Splitting the Channels27:15 Breaking Squee in Other Formats28:09 Merfolk Traders & Uzi Tech28:38 Why You Should Support DuressFest30:00 Bringing Back Grand Prix MagicUse our link for a free Month of Elite on TradeMagic.gghttps://trademagic.gg/eternaldurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnJOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comRiverside Partner Link: https://riverside.sjv.io/KB0E07MOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhilChannel Art Assets by: https://www.instagram.com/jonthetallone/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesDuressFest is coming—and it could become the biggest Premodern event ever.Www.duressfest.comZac and Phil break down the upcoming DuressFest Kickstarter, the plan for a massive Premodern National Championship, side events, and why supporting ambitious community-run tournaments like this matters for the future of the format.Could this be the closest we've come to bringing back the feeling of an old-school Magic Grand Prix? We think so.We also get into what we're considering playing at DuressFest, including Zac's Uzi / Zombie Infestation build, Squee, Intuition, Cabal Therapy, Deep Analysis, Psychatog, and plenty of brewing.Plus, we discuss the upcoming launch of Returnal Durdles, our new home for locked Eternal formats including Premodern, Classic, Pre-War Legacy, and Peak Legacy.If you've ever complained that you couldn't get into LobsterCon—this is your chance.Support DuressFest and help show what's possible when the Premodern community goes BIG.#Premodern #MagicTheGathering #DuressFest #MTG #EternalMagicTimestamps00:00 DuressFest Is Coming!00:37 The Premodern National Championship01:36 DuressFest Kickstarter02:34 Venue & Side Events03:27 The Premodern Grand Prix04:27 Supporting the Duress Crew05:36 Order of the Sacred Torch Tease05:56 Classic Legacy at DuressFest07:03 What We're Playing at DuressFest07:47 We're Playing Uzi?!08:44 Zac's Uzi Control Deck10:44 Cabal Therapy & Deck Updates11:55 Sickening Dreams13:08 Should Uzi Splash Red?14:53 Psychatog in Uzi15:54 How Many Intuitions?17:30 Gush, Foil & Mana18:16 The Problem With Wonder19:27 Improving Uzi's Consistency20:47 Portent vs. Impulse22:04 Is Uzi the DuressFest Deck?23:04 Returnal Durdles Announcement23:40 Peak Legacy NYC Event24:02 What Is Returnal Durdles?25:07 Why We're Splitting the Channels27:15 Breaking Squee in Other Formats28:09 Merfolk Traders & Uzi Tech28:38 Why You Should Support DuressFest30:00 Bringing Back Grand Prix MagicUse our link for a free Month of Elite on TradeMagic.gghttps://trademagic.gg/eternaldurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnJOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comRiverside Partner Link: https://riverside.sjv.io/KB0E07MOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhilChannel Art Assets by: https://www.instagram.com/jonthetallone/

With Order of the Sacred Torch just around the corner, Zac and Phil sit down to talk brewing, bizarre deck ideas, and one question that refuses to go away:Can Phyrexian Portal actually win a tournament?From there, the conversation evolves into a broader discussion about the future of Magic's alternative Eternal formats—including Heritage, Classic, Peak, Pre-War, and what the vision for Returnal Durdles could become. Along the way, they react to recent polls, discuss channel direction, and share their excitement for Magic's upcoming in-universe sets. In this episode:Defending the Brewer's AwardBrewing with Phyrexian PortalPreparing for Order of the Sacred TorchHeritage vs Classic vs Peak vs Pre-WarThe future of Returnal DurdlesLiving vs locked Eternal formatsViewer poll resultsThoughts on Magic's upcoming setsWhy in-universe crossovers have us excited again Question of the Week: If you could only play one alternative Eternal format besides Legacy and Premodern, which would it be?#MagicTheGathering #Premodern #Legacy #PhyrexianPortal #OrderOfTheSacredTorch00:00 Nobody Likes Us… We Don't Care00:25 Defending the Brewer's Award02:30 Brewing for Order of the Sacred Torch03:00 Can Phyrexian Portal Work?05:52 Will Zac Actually Play It?06:40 The State of Alternative Eternal Formats07:45 Community Poll Results09:30 Heritage vs Peak vs Classic vs Pre-War12:15 What Should Returnal Durdles Cover?15:58 Living vs Locked Formats20:10 How Should We Organize the Channel?28:30 Viewer Feedback & Future Plans30:25 Thoughts on Zhalfir and Titan Breach31:55 Why In-Universe Sets Feel Different35:08 Dream Plane Crossovers36:20 Wrapping Up & Community Questions Timestamps

With Order of the Sacred Torch just around the corner, Zac and Phil sit down to talk brewing, bizarre deck ideas, and one question that refuses to go away:Can Phyrexian Portal actually win a tournament?From there, the conversation evolves into a broader discussion about the future of Magic's alternative Eternal formats—including Heritage, Classic, Peak, Pre-War, and what the vision for Returnal Durdles could become. Along the way, they react to recent polls, discuss channel direction, and share their excitement for Magic's upcoming in-universe sets. In this episode:Defending the Brewer's AwardBrewing with Phyrexian PortalPreparing for Order of the Sacred TorchHeritage vs Classic vs Peak vs Pre-WarThe future of Returnal DurdlesLiving vs locked Eternal formatsViewer poll resultsThoughts on Magic's upcoming setsWhy in-universe crossovers have us excited again Question of the Week: If you could only play one alternative Eternal format besides Legacy and Premodern, which would it be?#MagicTheGathering #Premodern #Legacy #PhyrexianPortal #OrderOfTheSacredTorch00:00 Nobody Likes Us… We Don't Care00:25 Defending the Brewer's Award02:30 Brewing for Order of the Sacred Torch03:00 Can Phyrexian Portal Work?05:52 Will Zac Actually Play It?06:40 The State of Alternative Eternal Formats07:45 Community Poll Results09:30 Heritage vs Peak vs Classic vs Pre-War12:15 What Should Returnal Durdles Cover?15:58 Living vs Locked Formats20:10 How Should We Organize the Channel?28:30 Viewer Feedback & Future Plans30:25 Thoughts on Zhalfir and Titan Breach31:55 Why In-Universe Sets Feel Different35:08 Dream Plane Crossovers36:20 Wrapping Up & Community Questions Timestamps

How did Moneyball Black go from an experimental mono-black brew to one of Premodern's defining archetypes?In this Masterclass, David Gleicher, the creator of Moneyball Black, sits down with Zac to explain the philosophy behind the deck, its evolution over time, why every card earned its place, and how to approach both deckbuilding and sideboarding. Whether you're sleeving up the deck for your next tournament or simply want to understand why it's become a format staple, this is the definitive guide. We cover:The origin of Moneyball BlackWhy mono-black works in PremodernThe "Moneyball" philosophyRavenous Rats vs. Black KnightUrza's Bauble technologyWhy Dark Ritual is still essentialCursed Scroll's role in the deckGraveborn Muse vs. Phyrexian ArenaMishra's Factory and Spawning PoolPlague Bearer and other key card choicesSideboarding philosophyMatchup guides against the format's top decks Whether you're new to the archetype or have been playing it for years, there's something here for every Moneyball Black pilot.#Premodern #MagicTheGathering #MoneyballBlack #MTG #Masterclass00:00 Introducing Moneyball Black00:22 Why David Built the Deck01:58 Early Suicide Black Lists04:40 The Birth of Moneyball Black07:15 Why Play Moneyball Black?07:53 The "Moneyball" Philosophy09:32 Ravenous Rats Explained12:55 The Evolution of the Deck14:14 Black Knight vs. Ravenous Rats16:47 Urza's Bauble Technology19:07 Why Cursed Scroll Matters23:22 Dark Ritual's Role28:06 Mishra's Factory & Spawning Pool30:05 Plague Bearer Tech31:35 Graveborn Muse vs. Phyrexian Arena34:25 Sideboarding PhilosophyTimestamps

How did Moneyball Black go from an experimental mono-black brew to one of Premodern's defining archetypes?In this Masterclass, David Gleicher, the creator of Moneyball Black, sits down with Zac to explain the philosophy behind the deck, its evolution over time, why every card earned its place, and how to approach both deckbuilding and sideboarding. Whether you're sleeving up the deck for your next tournament or simply want to understand why it's become a format staple, this is the definitive guide. We cover:The origin of Moneyball BlackWhy mono-black works in PremodernThe "Moneyball" philosophyRavenous Rats vs. Black KnightUrza's Bauble technologyWhy Dark Ritual is still essentialCursed Scroll's role in the deckGraveborn Muse vs. Phyrexian ArenaMishra's Factory and Spawning PoolPlague Bearer and other key card choicesSideboarding philosophyMatchup guides against the format's top decks Whether you're new to the archetype or have been playing it for years, there's something here for every Moneyball Black pilot.#Premodern #MagicTheGathering #MoneyballBlack #MTG #Masterclass00:00 Introducing Moneyball Black00:22 Why David Built the Deck01:58 Early Suicide Black Lists04:40 The Birth of Moneyball Black07:15 Why Play Moneyball Black?07:53 The "Moneyball" Philosophy09:32 Ravenous Rats Explained12:55 The Evolution of the Deck14:14 Black Knight vs. Ravenous Rats16:47 Urza's Bauble Technology19:07 Why Cursed Scroll Matters23:22 Dark Ritual's Role28:06 Mishra's Factory & Spawning Pool30:05 Plague Bearer Tech31:35 Graveborn Muse vs. Phyrexian Arena34:25 Sideboarding PhilosophyTimestamps

Think Hermit Full English Breakfast is just another Survival of the Fittest deck?Think again.This week we're joined by Galen LeMay, one of the premier Hermit F.E.B. pilots in Premodern, fresh off a Top 8 finish at the North American Championships. Together we break down one of the most complicated—and rewarding—combo decks in the format.In this episode we cover:Why Hermit F.E.B. is so difficult to masterThe Survival of the Fittest engineVolrath's Shapeshifter combo linesHermit Druid explainedPhyrexian Devourer + Triskelion killsPsychatog and Akroma combat killsKarmic Guide tricksAnimate Dead interactionsBattlefield Scrounger technologyWhy Palinchron is more important than it looksSideboarding philosophyHow to approach learning the deckWhy this archetype rewards hundreds of games of practiceIf you've ever wanted to understand one of Premodern's deepest combo decks, this is the episode.00:00 Introduction00:50 Why Hermit F.E.B. Is So Difficult03:03 Why Play This Deck?07:37 What Does Hermit F.E.B. Actually Do?11:20 Phyrexian Devourer Explained14:30 Triskelion Combo Kill20:10 Hermit Druid Combo25:20 Psychatog & Akroma Kill28:45 Mana Creatures Matter More Than You Think30:35 Karmic Guide Combo Lines37:50 Animate Dead Technology45:15 Battlefield Scrounger Innovation49:20 Palinchron Explained53:30 Hidden Combo Lines55:40 Patreon Matchup Guide Preview58:40 Sideboarding Philosophy1:12:45 Replenish Matchup & Sideboarding1:18:58 Goblins Matchup & Sideboarding1:27:24 Elves Matchup & Sideboarding1:34:40 Stiflenought Matchup & Sideboarding1:41:07 Mono Black Control Matchup & Sideboarding1:48:31 Burn Matchup & Sideboarding1:58:18 Landstill Matchup & Sideboarding2:06:34 The Rock Matchup & Sideboarding2:12:55 Enchantress Matchup & Sideboarding2:18:42 Survival Matchup & Sideboarding2:26:01 Closing Thoughts & Final Sideboarding Philosophy

Think Hermit Full English Breakfast is just another Survival of the Fittest deck?Think again.This week we're joined by Galen LeMay, one of the premier Hermit F.E.B. pilots in Premodern, fresh off a Top 8 finish at the North American Championships. Together we break down one of the most complicated—and rewarding—combo decks in the format.In this episode we cover:Why Hermit F.E.B. is so difficult to masterThe Survival of the Fittest engineVolrath's Shapeshifter combo linesHermit Druid explainedPhyrexian Devourer + Triskelion killsPsychatog and Akroma combat killsKarmic Guide tricksAnimate Dead interactionsBattlefield Scrounger technologyWhy Palinchron is more important than it looksSideboarding philosophyHow to approach learning the deckWhy this archetype rewards hundreds of games of practiceIf you've ever wanted to understand one of Premodern's deepest combo decks, this is the episode.00:00 Introduction00:50 Why Hermit F.E.B. Is So Difficult03:03 Why Play This Deck?07:37 What Does Hermit F.E.B. Actually Do?11:20 Phyrexian Devourer Explained14:30 Triskelion Combo Kill20:10 Hermit Druid Combo25:20 Psychatog & Akroma Kill28:45 Mana Creatures Matter More Than You Think30:35 Karmic Guide Combo Lines37:50 Animate Dead Technology45:15 Battlefield Scrounger Innovation49:20 Palinchron Explained53:30 Hidden Combo Lines55:40 Patreon Matchup Guide Preview58:40 Sideboarding Philosophy1:12:45 Replenish Matchup & Sideboarding1:18:58 Goblins Matchup & Sideboarding1:27:24 Elves Matchup & Sideboarding1:34:40 Stiflenought Matchup & Sideboarding1:41:07 Mono Black Control Matchup & Sideboarding1:48:31 Burn Matchup & Sideboarding1:58:18 Landstill Matchup & Sideboarding2:06:34 The Rock Matchup & Sideboarding2:12:55 Enchantress Matchup & Sideboarding2:18:42 Survival Matchup & Sideboarding2:26:01 Closing Thoughts & Final Sideboarding Philosophy

What if you could go back to Legacy's golden age?This week, Phil is joined by Drake Honus to explore Classic Legacy, a community-driven Eternal format spanning Alpha through Rise of the Eldrazi. By freezing the card pool before years of supplemental products and power creep, Classic Legacy captures an era many players still consider the pinnacle of competitive Magic. In this episode we discuss:What Classic Legacy isWhy so many players are embracing community formatsThe philosophy behind Classic LegacyThe resurgence of nostalgia in gamingClassic Legacy's history and growing communityTempo, aggro, midrange, combo, prison, and control archetypesWhy Tarmogoyf, CounterTop, Deathrite Shaman, and Stoneforge Mystic still matterProxy-friendly events and Battle BoxesWhy interactive gameplay keeps players coming backHow Classic Legacy compares to Premodern, Current Legacy, and 2015 Modern If you've been looking for a way to experience Legacy before years of power creep reshaped the format, Classic Legacy might be exactly what you're looking for.Would you sleeve up Classic Legacy?#MTGLegacy #ClassicLegacy #MagicTheGathering #Premodern #EternalMagic00:00 Introducing Classic Legacy00:44 Why Players Are Leaving Modern Legacy02:00 Magic's Golden Age03:43 Nostalgia in Gaming & RuneScape Comparison06:11 Why Classic Legacy Exists08:34 More Than Just Nostalgia11:01 History of Classic Legacy12:04 2015 Modern & Community Formats15:17 Why Community Formats Matter18:02 Community First Philosophy20:56 Classic Legacy Archetypes21:37 Canadian Threshold Explained24:42 Team America & New Horizons26:42 Goblins, Merfolk & Elves30:20 Bant Midrange & Tarmogoyf36:17 Midrange in Classic Legacy42:18 Combo Decks of the Era47:02 Prison Strategies & Stax48:23 Unlimited Proxies & Battle Boxes53:19 Landstill, CounterTop & Control59:10 Why Classic Legacy Keeps Growing1:02:34 Final Thoughts Timestamps

What if you could go back to Legacy's golden age?This week, Phil is joined by Drake Honus to explore Classic Legacy, a community-driven Eternal format spanning Alpha through Rise of the Eldrazi. By freezing the card pool before years of supplemental products and power creep, Classic Legacy captures an era many players still consider the pinnacle of competitive Magic. In this episode we discuss:What Classic Legacy isWhy so many players are embracing community formatsThe philosophy behind Classic LegacyThe resurgence of nostalgia in gamingClassic Legacy's history and growing communityTempo, aggro, midrange, combo, prison, and control archetypesWhy Tarmogoyf, CounterTop, Deathrite Shaman, and Stoneforge Mystic still matterProxy-friendly events and Battle BoxesWhy interactive gameplay keeps players coming backHow Classic Legacy compares to Premodern, Current Legacy, and 2015 Modern If you've been looking for a way to experience Legacy before years of power creep reshaped the format, Classic Legacy might be exactly what you're looking for.Would you sleeve up Classic Legacy?#MTGLegacy #ClassicLegacy #MagicTheGathering #Premodern #EternalMagic00:00 Introducing Classic Legacy00:44 Why Players Are Leaving Modern Legacy02:00 Magic's Golden Age03:43 Nostalgia in Gaming & RuneScape Comparison06:11 Why Classic Legacy Exists08:34 More Than Just Nostalgia11:01 History of Classic Legacy12:04 2015 Modern & Community Formats15:17 Why Community Formats Matter18:02 Community First Philosophy20:56 Classic Legacy Archetypes21:37 Canadian Threshold Explained24:42 Team America & New Horizons26:42 Goblins, Merfolk & Elves30:20 Bant Midrange & Tarmogoyf36:17 Midrange in Classic Legacy42:18 Combo Decks of the Era47:02 Prison Strategies & Stax48:23 Unlimited Proxies & Battle Boxes53:19 Landstill, CounterTop & Control59:10 Why Classic Legacy Keeps Growing1:02:34 Final Thoughts Timestamps

What if you could play Vintage... for just $30?In this episode, Zac is joined by Dan Cohen to explore Value Vintage, a community-driven Magic format that combines Vintage's enormous card pool with a simple deckbuilding restriction: your entire 75-card deck must cost $30 or less. The result is one of the most creative and affordable Eternal formats you'll find.We discuss:What Value Vintage is and how deck construction worksWhy the $30 budget creates incredible deckbuilding challengesNadu Breakfast and other top combo decksMerfolk, Fluctuator, Cloudpost, and Hogaak PoxHow card prices naturally shape the metagameWhy MTG finance matters in this formatThe community behind Value VintageWhy Legacy and Premodern players should give it a tryLooking ahead to Eternal Weekend and the future of the formatIf you've ever wanted to experience Eternal Magic without spending thousands of dollars, Value Vintage might be exactly what you've been looking for.Would you build a $30 Vintage deck?#MagicTheGathering #Vintage #LegacyMTG #ValueVintage #BudgetMagic00:00 What Is Value Vintage?01:00 How the $30 Deckbuilding Rule Works03:18 The Biggest Challenges of the Format03:57 Nadu Breakfast Explained05:27 How the Breakfast Combo Wins08:01 MTG Finance & Deck Prices10:11 Why Card Prices Shape the Meta13:21 Four Decks to Know14:30 Merfolk Deck Tech17:45 Why Merfolk Is a Top Tempo Deck22:53 Fluctuator Combo Deck26:37 Cloudpost Big Mana32:37 Hogaak Pox Aggro35:06 Final Thoughts & Eternal WeekendA full Vintage deck for just $30... would you try it?

What if you could play Vintage... for just $30?In this episode, Zac is joined by Dan Cohen to explore Value Vintage, a community-driven Magic format that combines Vintage's enormous card pool with a simple deckbuilding restriction: your entire 75-card deck must cost $30 or less. The result is one of the most creative and affordable Eternal formats you'll find.We discuss:What Value Vintage is and how deck construction worksWhy the $30 budget creates incredible deckbuilding challengesNadu Breakfast and other top combo decksMerfolk, Fluctuator, Cloudpost, and Hogaak PoxHow card prices naturally shape the metagameWhy MTG finance matters in this formatThe community behind Value VintageWhy Legacy and Premodern players should give it a tryLooking ahead to Eternal Weekend and the future of the formatIf you've ever wanted to experience Eternal Magic without spending thousands of dollars, Value Vintage might be exactly what you've been looking for.Would you build a $30 Vintage deck?#MagicTheGathering #Vintage #LegacyMTG #ValueVintage #BudgetMagic00:00 What Is Value Vintage?01:00 How the $30 Deckbuilding Rule Works03:18 The Biggest Challenges of the Format03:57 Nadu Breakfast Explained05:27 How the Breakfast Combo Wins08:01 MTG Finance & Deck Prices10:11 Why Card Prices Shape the Meta13:21 Four Decks to Know14:30 Merfolk Deck Tech17:45 Why Merfolk Is a Top Tempo Deck22:53 Fluctuator Combo Deck26:37 Cloudpost Big Mana32:37 Hogaak Pox Aggro35:06 Final Thoughts & Eternal WeekendA full Vintage deck for just $30... would you try it?

Surrender to God Across Languages: Multilingual Intellectual History of Premodern India (Oxford UP, 2026) explores the role of languages in the intellectual landscape of second-millennium India by way of six theological treatises composed between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries, each written by a key intellectual figure: Vātsya Varadaguru, Periyavāccān Pillai, Meghanādari Sūri, Pillai Lokācārya, and Vedāntadeśika. Drawing on theories of language politics and translation, Manasicha Akepiyapornchai proposes a new theoretical framework of "language sphere" to better capture the linguistic and intellectual interaction from a micro perspective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Surrender to God Across Languages: Multilingual Intellectual History of Premodern India (Oxford UP, 2026) explores the role of languages in the intellectual landscape of second-millennium India by way of six theological treatises composed between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries, each written by a key intellectual figure: Vātsya Varadaguru, Periyavāccān Pillai, Meghanādari Sūri, Pillai Lokācārya, and Vedāntadeśika. Drawing on theories of language politics and translation, Manasicha Akepiyapornchai proposes a new theoretical framework of "language sphere" to better capture the linguistic and intellectual interaction from a micro perspective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history

Surrender to God Across Languages: Multilingual Intellectual History of Premodern India (Oxford UP, 2026) explores the role of languages in the intellectual landscape of second-millennium India by way of six theological treatises composed between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries, each written by a key intellectual figure: Vātsya Varadaguru, Periyavāccān Pillai, Meghanādari Sūri, Pillai Lokācārya, and Vedāntadeśika. Drawing on theories of language politics and translation, Manasicha Akepiyapornchai proposes a new theoretical framework of "language sphere" to better capture the linguistic and intellectual interaction from a micro perspective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/south-asian-studies

Featured decks include:• Psychatog https://tinyurl.com/BUDGETPTOG• Mono Blue Control https://tinyurl.com/BUDGETUCONTROL• Black-White Control https://tinyurl.com/BUDGETUCONTROL• Goblins https://tinyurl.com/BUDGETGOBLINS• Moneyball Black https://tinyurl.com/BUDGETMONEYBALL• LANDSTILL https://tinyurl.com/BudgetUWLANDSTILL• Bonus: Budget Stasis discussion! https://tinyurl.com/BUDGETSTASISJoin Us in Support of Alkem Gear's Kickstarter ending June 19th!https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/alkemgear/alkem-gear-purpose-built-tabletop-gear?ref=249zfwChannel Art Assets by: https://www.instagram.com/jonthetallone/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesWant to get into Premodern without spending a fortune?In this episode, we break down five budget-friendly Premodern decks that offer real tournament playability while staying around the $200–$300 range. Whether you're looking to build your first deck, create a battle box, or simply explore the format, these archetypes offer powerful gameplay without requiring a massive investment.We also discuss:• Why Premodern remains fresh despite no rotation• Reprints and budget alternatives• Upgrade paths for each deck• Which staples are worth buying first• How to get the most value from your collectionIf you've been curious about Premodern, this might be the perfect place to start.Which budget deck would you build first?#PremodernMTG #MagicTheGathering #MTG #Premodern #BudgetMTGTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnJOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comRiverside Partner Link: https://riverside.sjv.io/KB0E07MOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil

How do you build a Magic collection without constantly buying cards?In this episode, we take a behind-the-scenes look at how I've been using TradeMagic to turn unused cards into Premodern staples, sideboard cards, and future deck projects—all without spending additional money. We discuss:• How the TradeMagic system works• Turning bulk and unused cards into playable staples• Building Premodern decks one card at a time• Why trading can be more efficient than selling to a store• Managing wants, haves, and long-term collection goals• The return of the classic "Pack to Power" mindset• Why getting cards back into players' hands matters for the community Whether you're trying to finish a deck, upgrade your collection, or simply find a better home for cards collecting dust, TradeMagic offers a unique way to keep cards moving through the community. How do you usually acquire cards: buying singles, trading, opening packs, or something else?#MagicTheGathering #PremodernMTG #TradeMagic #MTGFinance #MTG

How do you build a Magic collection without constantly buying cards?In this episode, we take a behind-the-scenes look at how I've been using TradeMagic to turn unused cards into Premodern staples, sideboard cards, and future deck projects—all without spending additional money. We discuss:• How the TradeMagic system works• Turning bulk and unused cards into playable staples• Building Premodern decks one card at a time• Why trading can be more efficient than selling to a store• Managing wants, haves, and long-term collection goals• The return of the classic "Pack to Power" mindset• Why getting cards back into players' hands matters for the community Whether you're trying to finish a deck, upgrade your collection, or simply find a better home for cards collecting dust, TradeMagic offers a unique way to keep cards moving through the community. How do you usually acquire cards: buying singles, trading, opening packs, or something else?#MagicTheGathering #PremodernMTG #TradeMagic #MTGFinance #MTG

Featured decks include:• Psychatog https://tinyurl.com/BUDGETPTOG• Mono Blue Control https://tinyurl.com/BUDGETUCONTROL• Black-White Control https://tinyurl.com/BUDGETUCONTROL• Goblins https://tinyurl.com/BUDGETGOBLINS• Moneyball Black https://tinyurl.com/BUDGETMONEYBALL• LANDSTILL https://tinyurl.com/BudgetUWLANDSTILL• Bonus: Budget Stasis discussion! https://tinyurl.com/BUDGETSTASISJoin Us in Support of Alkem Gear's Kickstarter ending June 19th!https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/alkemgear/alkem-gear-purpose-built-tabletop-gear?ref=249zfwChannel Art Assets by: https://www.instagram.com/jonthetallone/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesWant to get into Premodern without spending a fortune?In this episode, we break down five budget-friendly Premodern decks that offer real tournament playability while staying around the $200–$300 range. Whether you're looking to build your first deck, create a battle box, or simply explore the format, these archetypes offer powerful gameplay without requiring a massive investment.We also discuss:• Why Premodern remains fresh despite no rotation• Reprints and budget alternatives• Upgrade paths for each deck• Which staples are worth buying first• How to get the most value from your collectionIf you've been curious about Premodern, this might be the perfect place to start.Which budget deck would you build first?#PremodernMTG #MagicTheGathering #MTG #Premodern #BudgetMTG

Many Premodern players wrote off Landstill years ago.Then Andy V kept putting up results.In this episode, Andy V joins Eternal Durdles to break down one of Premodern's most iconic control decks. We discuss how Landstill wins games, why Standstill remains one of the strongest card advantage engines in the format, key deckbuilding decisions, matchup theory, and the sideboard plans Andy has refined through years of tournament play. We cover:Why Landstill is still competitiveThe role of Standstill and Mishra's FactoryCounterspell selection and deck constructionSideboard technology including Thawing GlaciersMatchup strategies against Enchantress, Replenish, Stiflenought, and moreAndy's tournament experience and approach to mastering a control deckWe also take a look at Andy's strategy game, Sigil, and discuss how its design intersects with competitive gaming and decision making. If you love Premodern, control decks, and deep strategic discussion, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Many Premodern players wrote off Landstill years ago.Then Andy V kept putting up results.In this episode, Andy V joins Eternal Durdles to break down one of Premodern's most iconic control decks. We discuss how Landstill wins games, why Standstill remains one of the strongest card advantage engines in the format, key deckbuilding decisions, matchup theory, and the sideboard plans Andy has refined through years of tournament play. We cover:Why Landstill is still competitiveThe role of Standstill and Mishra's FactoryCounterspell selection and deck constructionSideboard technology including Thawing GlaciersMatchup strategies against Enchantress, Replenish, Stiflenought, and moreAndy's tournament experience and approach to mastering a control deckWe also take a look at Andy's strategy game, Sigil, and discuss how its design intersects with competitive gaming and decision making. If you love Premodern, control decks, and deep strategic discussion, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Seb and Anton hang out with David Raczka and chat about Battle boxes in Premodern.

What are the MOST underrated sideboard cards in Premodern right now? In this episode, Zac and Phil break down 20 forgotten, overlooked, and criminally underplayed sideboard cards that deserve way more respect in the current metagame.We cover:• Why Gilded Drake is secretly busted• The return of prison cards like Peacekeeper and Ensnaring Bridge• Free enchantment hate with Reverent Silence• Why Misdirection should see more play• The power of weird hate cards like Spiritual Focus and Compost• Old-school all-stars like Winter Orb, Back to Basics, and Wasteland• Why some of these cards could completely swing popular matchups todayThis episode is full of deep-cut Premodern tech, old-school Magic stories, and the kind of spicy sideboard ideas that can steal matches at your next event.What are YOUR favorite underrated sideboard cards in Premodern right now? Let us know in the comments.

What are the MOST underrated sideboard cards in Premodern right now? In this episode, Zac and Phil break down 20 forgotten, overlooked, and criminally underplayed sideboard cards that deserve way more respect in the current metagame.We cover:• Why Gilded Drake is secretly busted• The return of prison cards like Peacekeeper and Ensnaring Bridge• Free enchantment hate with Reverent Silence• Why Misdirection should see more play• The power of weird hate cards like Spiritual Focus and Compost• Old-school all-stars like Winter Orb, Back to Basics, and Wasteland• Why some of these cards could completely swing popular matchups todayThis episode is full of deep-cut Premodern tech, old-school Magic stories, and the kind of spicy sideboard ideas that can steal matches at your next event.What are YOUR favorite underrated sideboard cards in Premodern right now? Let us know in the comments.

Meanings of Antiquity: Myth Interpretation in Premodern Japan (Harvard UP, 2023) is the first dedicated study of how the oldest Japanese myths, recorded in the eighth-century texts Kojiki and Nihon shoki, changed in meaning and significance between 800 and 1800 CE. Generations of Japanese scholars and students have turned to these two texts and their creation myths to understand what it means to be Japanese and where Japan fits into the world order. As the shape and scale of the world explained by these myths changed, these myths evolved in turn. Over the course of the millennium covered in this study, Japan transforms from the center of a proud empire to a millet seed at the edge of the Buddhist world, from the last vestige of China's glorious Zhou Dynasty to an archipelago on a spherical globe. Analyzing historical records, poetry, fiction, religious writings, military epics, political treatises, and textual commentary, Matthieu Felt identifies the geographical, cosmological, epistemological, and semiotic changes that led to new adaptations of Japanese myths. Felt demonstrates that the meanings of Japanese antiquity and of Japan's most ancient texts were—and are—a work in progress, a collective effort of writers and thinkers over the past 1,300 years. Jingyi Li is a PhD Candidate in Japanese History at the University of Arizona. She researches about early modern Japan, literati, and commercial publishing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Meanings of Antiquity: Myth Interpretation in Premodern Japan (Harvard UP, 2023) is the first dedicated study of how the oldest Japanese myths, recorded in the eighth-century texts Kojiki and Nihon shoki, changed in meaning and significance between 800 and 1800 CE. Generations of Japanese scholars and students have turned to these two texts and their creation myths to understand what it means to be Japanese and where Japan fits into the world order. As the shape and scale of the world explained by these myths changed, these myths evolved in turn. Over the course of the millennium covered in this study, Japan transforms from the center of a proud empire to a millet seed at the edge of the Buddhist world, from the last vestige of China's glorious Zhou Dynasty to an archipelago on a spherical globe. Analyzing historical records, poetry, fiction, religious writings, military epics, political treatises, and textual commentary, Matthieu Felt identifies the geographical, cosmological, epistemological, and semiotic changes that led to new adaptations of Japanese myths. Felt demonstrates that the meanings of Japanese antiquity and of Japan's most ancient texts were—and are—a work in progress, a collective effort of writers and thinkers over the past 1,300 years. Jingyi Li is a PhD Candidate in Japanese History at the University of Arizona. She researches about early modern Japan, literati, and commercial publishing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

Martin Berlin joins the cast to share all about building Mongrel Terrageddon for the inaugural UK nationals!Check out the latest on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lannynynySupport Spike Colony on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/spikecolony (donations grant access to the follower discord!)Check out the Premodern Tier List and other articles: https://spikecolony.com/

The Rhino boys are back. Exciting news in the weird world of Magic: the Gathering was all it took for Dave and Stan to reunite with D00mwake to chat about Modern bans and unbans. We pour one out for Phlage, daydream about Crashing Footfalls, scrach our head over Umezawa's Jitte, and act like we know how to talk about Lotus Field. Is Modern back, baby? Become a citizen of The Dive Down Nation!: http://www.patreon.com/thedivedown Show the world that you're a proud citizen of The Dive Down Nation with some merch from the store: https://www.thedivedown.com/store Upgrade your gameplay and your gameday with Heavy Play accessories. Use code THEDIVEDOWN for 10% off your first order at https://www.heavyplay.com Get 25% Cashback after 3 months of service with ManaTraders! https://www.manatraders.com/?medium=thedivedown and use coupon code THEDIVEDOWN And now receive 8% off your order of paper cards from Nerd Rage Gaming with code DIVE8 at https://www.nerdragegaming.com/ Timestamps: 0:01 - It's 1979 and d00mwake is back 5:15 - d00m ate Skyline and didn't tell Shane 9:17 - Modern is changed, again 16:08 - Phlage is banned 23:59 - Lotus Field is banned 30:47 - Violent Outburst is unbanned 50:46 - Umezawa's Jitte is unbanned 57:52 - Premodern fun 1:01:38 - Public comments - our favorite pieces of physical media 1:11:53 - Wrapping up Links from this week's episode: twitch.tv/d00mwake https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/banned-and-restricted-may-18-2026 Our opening music is Nowhere - You Never Knew, and our closing music is Space Blood - Goro? Is That Your Christian Name? email us: thedivedown@gmail.com

What makes a system feel trustworthy—results, lineage, or the way it brings you into the resonance of what's happening?Philip Suger didn't start with Saam acupuncture. He was in Beijing in 2010, following a thread that led him to Wang Ju-Yi and channel palpation—hands on the body, feeling where things change and where they resolve. Later, back in the States, he found himself working with patients who improved but those changes were not lasting. That got him began circling back to a method he'd once dismissed: four needles, arranged through a set of relationships rather than point functions. It didn't make a lot of sense. But people were reporting results.After some study with Toby Daly he got more curious, and that sent him searching for information in Chinese.Michael Brown, has a keen interest in tracking down old texts and translating them for the world English speaking acupuncturists. Together, they have spent the past few years working on a translation of a book that traces the history of Saam, some of the luminary practitioners along the way, and the way these pre-modern doctors used the Four-Needles.There's been more than a little development of the Saam method since that legendary monk had his cultivated insights into medicine. One thing for sure, four needles with the right diagnosis, it can make a big difference for our patients.