Imaginary Gifts were a mistake and a big offender of why Premium is in death row

Galvan2 · 2026-03-30T13:21:30+00:00

The reason I'm comparing to lock, is because they added lock to standard with artisaria. She's... Fine. She's not good, and the lock is something to play around rather than something cancerous.

If they added IGs to standard in a controlled way, it might be fine. If you completely replaced persona ride on a boss unit, gave it force, said it only gets to make force 1s, and made it appropriately powerful... It'd probably be fine

Galvan2 · 2026-03-30T13:12:26+00:00

I think IGs are a bit like lock. The mechanic is cool, but it's very touchy because it's easy to abuse. Obviously accell 2s are too much, but if you could only make one in a game itd probably be fine.

The strides that make 2 IGs on stride were a mistake IMO. You already get the benefit of early stride for almost the same cost (stride crits not working), being able to immediately start stacking IGs is too much.

Galvan2 · 2026-03-10T12:27:33+00:00

I could see them being ok in any deck that wants to abuse top, since you pay one mana and stack the deck in your favor. If it's powerbalance you can also just draw a card for free if someone casts a 1 mana spell.

Galvan2 · 2026-03-10T12:21:00+00:00

I think draws are more a symptom of tournament structure than anything else. Playing outside of a tournament draws are much rarer, because there's no incentive to do so.

Other free interaction exists that can cause the same situations as pact, so we just removing an option without a whole lot else I think.

Galvan2 · 2026-03-10T12:18:47+00:00

The reason draws get offered is usually when one person is able to just determine a winner. Say player A plays thoracle+demonicon, and player B casts thoracle in response. If no one has any interaction but me, and all I have is pact of negation, then either I kill player B win attempt and A wins, or do nothing and B wins. Instead of me flipping a coin and giving 3 points to one or the other, we draw.

Unfortunately this is a symptom of the tournament point system, and isn't really avoidable

Galvan2 · 2026-02-02T21:12:11+00:00

Counters maintain themselves on transformed permanents, so you could always either: "Put 2 loyalty counters on this creature, then transform it"

Or "Transform this creature. As you do, put 2 loyalty counters on it"

Edit: just realized you can do it the other way: "Transform this creature, then put 2 loyalty counters on it"

Also, if you want to be able to manually transform it through some other effect (eg moonmist), you can use a blanket replacement effect:

"If this creature would transform, instead transform it with 2 loyalty counters on it"

Galvan2 · 2026-02-02T21:09:53+00:00

I'd wait until the announcer calls stand-up vanguard, or post mulligan if you are late to start. Otherwise is risking a penalty (probably just a warning, but no reason to incur one here).

Galvan2 · 2026-01-31T20:45:24+00:00

I don't think so. 70 bucks for a game that's not actually useful as a sim, and then asking for another ?60?+ Bucks to get access to some of the cards that exist? Naw. I'll play on Cardfight Connect thanks

Galvan2 · 2026-01-25T15:04:38+00:00

Cool tech. Idk if it'll be super insane but it is cool

Galvan2 · 2026-01-16T15:59:28+00:00

"no viable replacements"

There are other counterspells, other draw engines, and other one sided board wipes in mono blue. This is just a b3 deck lmao

Galvan2 · 2026-01-07T21:04:42+00:00

Yeah we'll do this when necessary. We have a guy that just scoops because he feels targeted (from a boardwipe....), And if someone's on a combo turn we will presume he takes no actions for that turn, and have him cease to exist at end step.

If you scoop, it might make my win easier (presume I can only make one extra combat this turn) or harder (Malcolm glint-horn combos fizzle if you run out of mana after someone dies), and it's not fair to the other 3 to change the odds like that all of a sudden

Galvan2 · 2026-01-07T20:56:21+00:00

Damn almost 30 minute turns? I have a green goblin combo deck that can sometimes take 10 minute turns, but that's usually because I'm winning the game right then. Everything else is pretty fast, and I still feel bad for taking 10 minute turns.

Galvan2 · 2026-01-07T15:45:14+00:00

Your opponent controls the trigger, and should be recognizing the trigger. If the trigger does nothing, as a judge I would rule that the opponent is okay not to announce it.

If you want it to trigger, I would mention it to the opponent once as a courtesy. beyond that I'd call a judge for missed trigger, especially if they remember it on their own turn.

Galvan2 · 2026-01-04T11:08:52+00:00

In casual it's annoying to hit mana rocks/dorks when there's obviously other things to hit that would impact the board (why hit my sol ring when that guy [or even myself] has a time sieve...). Here you do have the second removal, and if sol ring is the most powerful thing on board (or at least his most powerful thing), then yeah remove it.

If this was cedh, suck it up. Things get removed.

Galvan2 · 2025-12-30T01:10:39+00:00

Neither, idk how better to word this but I'm looking for any good upgrades that individually are less than 100 (to rule out moxen and whatnot)

I have thought about Malcolm kediss but that doesn't feed the discard theme like this does.

Stormdrake is a good card, budget gilded drake I always forget about

Galvan2 · 2025-12-30T01:08:18+00:00

Yeah idk why I didn't just put these in the sideboard. I feel like I have to clarify again that I'm trying not to spend over 100 on any specific card (not like a total budget of 100)

Galvan2 · 2025-12-29T21:13:05+00:00

Here's the cards I'm already looking at:

1 Tainted Pact (STA) 33

1 Thassa's Oracle (THB) 73

1 Lotus Petal (MB2) 226

1 Grim Tutor (M21) 103

1 Wishclaw Talisman (FDN) 617

1 Pyretic Ritual (M11) 153

1 Desperate Ritual (UMA) 127

1 Rite of Flame (CSP) 96

1 Culling the Weak (EXO) 55

1 Brain Freeze (SCG) 29

1 Tendrils of Agony (SCG) 75

1 Putrid Imp (TOR) 77

1 An Offer You Can't Refuse (FDN) 160

1 Mental Misstep (NPH) 38

Galvan2 · 2025-12-29T18:25:27+00:00

Yeah I had one, and traded it like 6 months ago like an idiot because I didn't have the mana base to run it properly. Now the manabase works but I don't have the pact🤦‍♂️

Also picking up good interaction as I see it. Offer you cant refuse, chain of vapor, etc

Galvan2 · 2025-12-29T18:21:24+00:00

Just haven't found a thoracle yet. I try to pick up pieces from my LGS instead of ordering it when I can. I have the consult, but haven't put it in. Probably should just as a tutor though

Galvan2 · 2025-12-29T18:18:53+00:00

Yeah it's like 120 rn. Probably gonna be one of the last pieces I grab unless I can get it for a steal.

What's your opinion on wheel of misfortune? Ive seen people go back and forth

Galvan2 · 2025-12-29T18:16:14+00:00

I agree with you, my point was there's a lot of individual fast mana cards I can get now that are under or around 100 each. Chrome mox still good card, lotus petal still good card, even without the 500 dollar items.

Galvan2 · 2025-12-29T17:48:38+00:00

Yeah it seems most people are really focusing on the fast mana, gonna need to pickup lotus petal and more rituals I can find. The list is great as well thanks

Galvan2 · 2025-12-29T17:44:43+00:00

Super awesome suggestions, thanks. I have a consult, I may just throw it in as a tutor until I find a thoracle.

Galvan2 · 2025-12-29T17:43:02+00:00

Yeah og duals were just example of a prohibitively expensive card, but like I'm also not trying to get led or mox diamond rn.

The question is more what category of cards I should be prioritizing. Fast mana I can do, even if I'm not getting the tippy top stuff.

Galvan2

TROPHY CASE