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Alchemy: Strixhaven Release Date, Cards, and Covercast Explained
Alchemy: Strixhaven is the next MTG Arena digital-only release, dropping May 19, 2026 with 30 new designed-for-digital cards set on Arcavios. The set introduces the new Covercast keyword and reuses Conjure, Intensity, Perpetually, Seek, and Spellbook, along with Opus and Prepare from Secrets of Strixhaven. We break down the release date, every spoiled card so far including Ursine Guide, Rebounding Phoenix, and Paradigm Shifter, how Covercast actually works, and which cards ar

Greg Montique
11 hours ago7 min read
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Mega Greninja ex in Chaos Rising: Why This Card Is Breaking Wallets
A deep look at the Mega Greninja ex from Chaos Rising, why the pull rates are punishing, what the card actually does competitively, and whether sealed boxes are worth chasing at MSRP before the global launch on May 22, 2026.

Greg Montique
1 day ago6 min read
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TCGplayer's Rob Bigler on Commander, Pokemon, and Why Your LGS Isn't Going Anywhere
An exclusive interview with TCGplayer's Rob Bigler unpacking the real sales data behind Magic, Pokemon, and the rising TCG stars, plus a look at the new tools helping local game stores compete in 2025 and beyond.

Greg Montique
2 days ago7 min read
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Secret Lair Goblin Storm Commander Deck: Decklist, Price, and Strategy
Secret Lair Goblin Storm is the newest preconstructed Commander deck from Wizards of the Coast, launching May 18, 2026 at $149.99 exclusively through MagicSecretLair.com. Built around Zada, Hedron Grinder and powered by a Storm-style swarm plan, the deck packs heavyweight reprints including Roaming Throne, Goblin Lackey, and Empty the Warrens. We break down the full decklist, the secondary market value, why this release matters for the Secret Lair Commander product line, and

Greg Montique
3 days ago6 min read
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UWOTC Union Update: Wizards Hires Union-Busters, Misses May 1
The MTG Arena developers behind United Wizards of the Coast asked Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast to voluntarily recognize their union by May 1, 2026. The deadline came and went with no direct response, and the case is now headed to the National Labor Relations Board. Wizards has retained Fisher Phillips, a firm with a reputation for fighting unionization efforts. More than 30,000 fans have signed a public petition. We break down where things actually stand, what happens next

Greg Montique
6 days ago7 min read
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The Dan Frazier One Ring Debacle: MTG's Hobbit Art Scandal Explained
A new One Ring card revealed at MagicCon Las Vegas 2026 for the upcoming Magic: The Gathering Hobbit set has erupted into a full plagiarism scandal after fans caught the artwork by veteran MTG illustrator Dan Frazier matching a 2023 piece by Marta Nael almost line for line. Wizards of the Coast and Frazier issued a joint apology, but the response has split the community. We break down exactly what happened, why this case is different from previous Magic art controversies, wha

Greg Montique
May 77 min read
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How to Play The Mood Swings Card Game | The Complete Beginner's Guide
Mood Swings is Mark Rosewater's new trading card game where every card is a mood or emotion. It is designed to be playable straight out of the box with no prior card game experience required. This complete beginner's guide covers how the game works, what every card element means, how scoring works, how rounds are won, and what some of the cards actually do so you know exactly what you are getting into before your first game.

Greg Montique
May 511 min read
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MTG Reality Fracture | The Echoverse, Hexhaven, & Everything Confirmed
MTG Reality Fracture is the climactic conclusion to Magic's Metronome Arc and the what-if set players have been asked for years. Jace Beleren has constructed the Echoverse, an alternate version of the entire multiverse centered on Hexhaven, a twisted allied-color version of Strixhaven. Boosters contains two versions of the same character in different colors. Prerelease September 25, full release October 2, 2026. Here is everything confirmed at the first look.

Greg Montique
May 110 min read
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MTG The Hobbit First Look | Every Card Revealed & Why We Are Already Excited
Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit has officially been previewed for the first time at MagicCon Las Vegas. Smaug the Magnificent is the headliner, a 4-mana 4/3 with flying, haste, and Treasure synergies in a gold foil frame. Adventure returns as the set's central mechanic. Bilbo has multiple cards at different rarities and his mythic is described as very very strong. Prerelease August 7, full release August 14, 2026. Here is everything revealed at today's first look.

Greg Montique
May 113 min read
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What Is Mood Swings? Mark Rosewater's New Trading Card Game Explained
Mood Swings is a standalone trading card game designed by Magic: The Gathering head designer Mark Rosewater. He first came up with the concept in 1998 and spent 28 years trying to get it made. It finally debuted at MagicCon Las Vegas in May 2026 and goes on sale June 1 exclusively through Secret Lair for $25. Here is everything you need to know about what Mood Swings is, how it plays, and why it took nearly three decades to get here.

Greg Montique
Apr 309 min read
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The Best Secrets of Strixhaven Cards Worth Picking Up Right Now
Secrets of Strixhaven is out and the set is loaded. Between the Mystical Archive, the Emeritus cycle, and a main set full of new mechanics, there is a lot to dig through. So we did the digging. These are the best new Secrets of Strixhaven cards worth picking up right now, broken down by what they do, which decks want them, and why they are worth your time and money.

Greg Montique
Apr 2811 min read
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Pro Tour Secrets of Strixhaven | The Best Standard Decks in the Metagame
Pro Tour Secrets of Strixhaven takes place May 1 to 3 at MagicCon: Las Vegas with a $500,000 prize pool and the world's best players competing in Standard and Limited. Izzet Prowess owns nearly a quarter of the winner's metagame. Mono-Green Landfall is right behind it. Izzet Lessons wants to get Monument to Endurance online and end the game with it. And Dimir Excruciator is here to ruin everyone's afternoon with a combo the format was not prepared for. Here is the full breakd

Greg Montique
Apr 2711 min read
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Chip Off the Old Blex | Building Your Blech, Loafing Pest Commander Deck
Blech, Loafing Pest is a three-mana black-green legendary Pest from Secrets of Strixhaven that turns every life gain trigger into a board-wide counter pump for five creature types simultaneously. Gain life constantly, grow your creatures into a threatening wide board, and win through combat before your opponents figure out that the dopey-looking Pest in your command zone has been quietly making everything else enormous. This guide covers the full strategy and five must-includ

Greg Montique
Apr 2313 min read
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MTG Singles Price Spikes April 2026 | Some of the Biggest Market Movers
The biggest MTG singles price spikes of April 2026 came from three different parts of the market simultaneously. Budget cards tripled in price because of a Commander precon. Mid-range staples spiked on combo hype before Secrets of Strixhaven even launched. And the high-end Reserved List kept doing what it always does. Here is every major April 2026 MTG market mover organized by price tier with the story behind each one.

Greg Montique
Apr 229 min read
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MTG Historic Pre-Bans | Secrets of Strixhaven Mystical Archive Bans Explained
Wizards announced five MTG Historic pre-bans tied to the Secrets of Strixhaven Mystical Archive arriving on MTG Arena today. Armageddon, Daze, Force of Will, Vampiric Tutor, and Library of Alexandria are all out of Historic before a single game was played. This is the full breakdown of every card that got banned, the official reasoning from Wizards, and an honest take on the one decision that has the community scratching its head.

Greg Montique
Apr 218 min read
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Secrets of Strixhaven Mystical Archive | Top 10 Ranked by Playability and Art
The Secrets of Strixhaven Mystical Archive brings back 65 classic instants and sorceries with stunning new artwork across English and Japanese treatments. Some of these cards are worth cracking packs for on playability alone. Others have received artwork so good that they deserve a spot in your deck on aesthetic merit. This list ranks the top 10 by both criteria combined, because a great card that also looks incredible is worth talking about twice.

Greg Montique
Apr 2014 min read
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Sac Up | Building Your Silverquill, the Disputant Commander Deck
Silverquill, the Disputant is a four-mana Elder Dragon from Secrets of Strixhaven that gives every instant and sorcery you cast Casualty 1, meaning every spell becomes two spells if you have a creature to spare. Build a wide token board, copy your removal, double your card draw, and win by making every spell count twice. This guide covers the full strategy and five must-include cards with direct TCGPlayer buy links.

Greg Montique
Apr 1612 min read
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Which Secrets of Strixhaven College Should You Pick at Prerelease?
Picking your Secrets of Strixhaven college at prerelease is the first decision you make before a single card hits the table. Each of the five colleges plays differently, rewards a different kind of player, and comes with a different mechanic that either clicks immediately or makes your brain hurt for three rounds. This is the honest, playstyle-first guide to which college you should actually pick, from someone who has made the wrong call at enough prereleases to know what all

Greg Montique
Apr 1410 min read
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Secrets of Strixhaven | The Emeritus Cycle Ranked from Worst to Best
The Secrets of Strixhaven Emeritus cycle puts five of Magic's most iconic spells onto mythic rare creatures, one per color. Each creature has a different way to become prepared and a different spell waiting on the right side of the card. Some of them are genuinely broken. Some of them are disappointingly conditional. Here is every Emeritus card ranked from worst to best, with an honest breakdown of what each one does, how easy it is to use, and which formats it actually belon

Greg Montique
Apr 139 min read
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So What's The Problem with Pokemon TCG's Mega Evolution: Perfect Order?
Mega Evolution: Perfect Order is sitting on store shelves at near-MSRP prices, and the Pokemon TCG community has largely moved on. The set's small 124-card list, below-average ex pull rates, and lack of iconic fan-favorite Pokemon have kept scalpers away and demand low. Compared to Ascended Heroes, Perfect Order struggles to generate collector excitement. That said, competitive players will find real value in staples like Meowth ex and Rosa's Encouragement. A solid set in the

Greg Montique
Apr 97 min read
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