by Johnny Cycles, June 1st, 2025
Summer is upon us here in Virginia, which means my kids will be home from school…at least for awhile. Thus, my mornings of playtesting and writing are done for a bit. Still, I am an Eagle Scout, so I’ve prepared for this moment (Be prepared!). I’ve been testing a new, janky, and powerful deck and I can’t wait to show it off!
That’s right! Who said a 6-mana enchantment was unplayable in today’s Modern? So far the deck has played about as I expected: it can struggle against the fastest and most efficient Modern Horizons decks out there, but its top end is super busted.
Otherwise, summer also means some traveling for me and my family. I’m going to leave one week off for that, but I’m still planning on using that time to update at least one of my Commander decks.
On the fiction front, The Podkind is coming to an end. I’m finishing the novel up with a double post, since we’re at the climax of all the action and plotlines.
Finally, I’ll save my last article of the month for Final Fantasy. I’ve already spotted some interesting cards I want to test out, so expect a Keeping Modern Janky article then.
A note on Final Fantasy in Magic: I hate that the game seems to be moving away from original content to taking from other IPs. I sincerely hope Wizards resists the urge to go too far down this path, lest they kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. That being said, not playing these cards in 60-card formats can needlessly hinder our already janky chances of being competitive. Thus, I’ll approach Final Fantasy the same as any other set and play what appeals to me and what slots in to the decks I enjoy playing.
In Commander, however, I’m leaning towards ignoring the set. I’m sure some number of cards will leap out at me as perfect for certain decks I play, but I’m currently uninterested in building any Commander decks with Final Fantasy commanders.
For the record, I think Wizards has done a good job of making the art (not the alternate art/anime cards) and mechanics blend in with what I consider Magic’s look and feel. The set is certainly more Magic feeling than Duskmourn: House of Horrors with its televisions, cheerleaders, and phones.
For those of us who don’t like Final Fantasy or haven’t ever played it, think about The Lord of the Rings set. I love those books and movies, so it was awesome to see them brought to a new life in Magic. Final Fantasy fans surely feel the same way. I’m happy for them, while I myself am mostly uninterested in the set beyond its playability for me and the decks I enjoy.
Schedule
June 6th – Dragons in Modern – Dragonback Assault and Breaching Dragonstorm
June 13th – Off – I’ll give an updated decklist for at least one Commander deck – Mono Red Dragon Tribal!
June 20th – The Podkind, the final chapters. Charleston and his shipmates rush to save Gala, as Jedidiah leads a massive attack against New Washington. The city’s secrets will finally come to light as Charleston confronts the people he trusted the most.
June 27th – Keeping Modern Janky – Final Fantasy time!
The Usual Blurb
My goal is to publish an article between Wednesday and Friday every week. I am a stay-at-home dad of three with a part-time job, though, so there may be weeks that life gets in the way. Whenever possible, I’ll publish articles and videos when they’re ready. Published articles with edited game play are pretty time-intensive, hence the once-a-week-schedule. However, I’ll publish videos of unedited practice matches to my YouTube channel when I can and when it makes sense. Be sure to check there if you’re looking for a match but it isn’t yet on the site.
If there is a topic you want me to write about, a deck you want me to try out, or if you want less of one thing and more of another, let me know in the comments or email me: johnnycycles16@gmail.com. If you enjoy the site, please let your friends know via word of mouth or social media or messenger pigeon, if that’s your preference. This is a relatively new site that needs all the clicks it can get!
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About Me
I’m a former Russian literature professor who specialized in 19th-century Russian literature. I love Dostoevsky more than Tolstoy, but both will change your life. I’m currently a stay-at-home dad of three with a part-time job. I love fantasy fiction, mysteries, and horror movies. If you’re surprised at the length of my articles, hopefully my history as an academic plus my love of fantasy help explain it…
Thanks for reading! I look forward to reading your comments on my articles, Russian literature, or the best fantasy series ever written (Tolkien, Jordan, Sanderson?).
