Part 5: One Drop of Oil — Karn’s Mistake and the Birth of New Phyrexia
Part 5 of our MTG lore series: Karn unknowingly seeds his own perfect world with glistening oil, Mirrodin falls from within, and New Phyrexia is born — five colors of nightmare.
Author: Reps4Thor
Part 6: The Multiverse Fights Back — From the Mending to the Age of Omenpaths
Part 6 of our MTG lore series: the Mending makes planeswalkers mortal, New Phyrexia invades the whole Multiverse, and the Age of Omenpaths opens every world’s doors.
Standard Didn’t Get a Single Ban and I’m Weirdly Fine With It
Standard got zero bans this cycle despite Izzet Prowess dominating, and players are mad. A returning dad on why restraint might be the right call — even when it’s frustrating.
Wait, Arena Has TWO Kinds of Brawl Now? A Confused Dad Investigates
Arena’s Brawl just split into casual and Competitive versions, with six cards banned from the casual side. A confused dad explains the Great Brawl Split and why it’s actually a great idea.
Arena Is Basically Giving Away Free Marvel Cards Right Now, Go Get ‘Em
MTG Arena launched free Marvel achievements plus Sealed events for the set’s release. A budget dad breaks down what’s actually free, what costs money, and how to play it smart.
They Banned a Card Older Than My Marriage and I Have Never Felt More Seen
Lost under the Marvel ban hype: Candelabra of Tawnos, a Reserved List card from 1996, just got re-banned in Legacy after living in the format for 27 years. An old-timer gets nostalgic.
Secret Lair Landed in My Inbox Again and Now We Need to Talk
Festival in a Box: Amsterdam 2026 hit my inbox — a Mystery Booster 2 display plus the Wild in Bloom Secret Lair drop. A budget dad breaks down when Secret Lair is worth it and when it’s just pretty FOMO.
The Bans Landed: They Shot the Bow Out of Pauper’s Hands
The June 29 ban announcement landed: Seeker of Skybreak is banned in Pauper to kill the Hawkeye’s Bow infinite combo, and The Fantasticar is under fire in Vintage. A dad breaks down what it actually means.
Somebody Just Pulled Golden Chocobo #76 Live on Stream and I Need to Sit Down
Golden Traveling Chocobo #76/77 just got pulled live on stream, with a raw value floated around $80,000 — the latest find in Magic’s wildest collector chase. A returning dad reacts.
I Paid Too Much for a Box Lot and Found a Friend’s Childhood in It
A late-night box lot purchase that didn’t pay off financially but turned up a stranger’s childhood deck list — and a reminder of why the bulk dig is the best part of the hobby.