by Johnny Cycles, October 3rd, 2025
Hello! My apologies for the delay in releasing this month’s schedule. It’s already been a busy month. First, my refrigerator leaked and caused damage to the surrounding walls and the floor. This week, we took out the moldy walls and replaced them with new sheetrock. I also had my panel interview for the fire academy. It’s the final big step of a long hiring process. All that together made this week a wash as far as content.
The next two weeks will hopefully be good, but we still have to replace the floors. If that happens next week, then I won’t have time to make any content.
Now, on to some Magic: The Gathering news!
I’m…well, usually I’d say excited, but that’s overstating things a bit. I’m curious to see how Scarlet Spider, Ben Reilly plays in a Gruul Stompy shell. My first thought was a turn 1 Ragavan, turn 2 attack and cast this guy for and get a 5/4 trampler. But I think we can do better. Warp is a great mechanic to use to abuse web-slinging. If we have 5 mana available, we can cast Nova Hellkite for its warp cost, attack, then cast this Spider Human Hero as a 9/8 trampler.
Will it be good?
Probably not as good as what else is going on in Modern, but maybe in Pioneer?
The Pro Tour just finished up and the format was Modern. I’m excited to build a hate deck looking to take advantage of this new meta.
I am excited to try this new 5-drop in a Boros Blasphemous Act shell. I’m not sure exactly how I want to abuse it other than by casting Blasphemous Act, but that doesn’t equal lethal damage the way it often does with Boros Reckoner out. I’ll see what I come up with.
Schedule
October 3rd – Off
October 10th – Zemlyanin, A Podkind Novel, Chapters 3 and 4. Ton and Salestia must escape or face death at the hands of the Church of the Dragon. Meanwhile, Sava and the others have an encounter of their own with the local authorities.
October 17th – Update: I’m switching this week to Keeping Modern Janky, featuring Magda Changeling Tribal. Stay tuned for Nova Hellkite and Borys, the Spider Rider in Pioneer!
October 24th – Off
October 31st – Keeping Modern Janky – either a hate deck looking to prey on the meta or a Boros deck built around Anti-Venom, Horrifying Healer.
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?).
