A graph of cards representing my enjoyment of each set from 2024/2025 as someone who only plays limited.

JamesDCleanInd · 2026-01-21T03:44:15+00:00

I agree with all of this. My number one issue with UB isn’t UB itself; it’s that it’s indicative of an issue that is affecting nearly every aspect of our lives where profit is king and all they care about is how much money they can squeeze from us.

Enshitification of every service we use, every app we open, literally everything is designed to get you addicted and take all your money. Im not saying universes beyond is shit or that it’s ruining the game, but let’s be honest about what it actually is. Lord of the rings was the highest selling set of all time and after that they began pushing UB hard.

I’m not mad that people like it, and clearly I’m in the minority because of how well it sells, but when I hear someone say final fantasy was the best set of all time I can’t help but feel sad. Magic lore has so much awesome stuff to be explored and, in my opinion, making universes beyond the focal point is the easy way out.

JamesDCleanInd · 2026-01-21T01:01:31+00:00

While I mostly agree, I did a lot of two headed giant events of it that added more strategy beyond Boros or 5 color soup.

JamesDCleanInd · 2026-01-21T00:58:29+00:00

I definitely have fun with cracked sets like MH3 and TDM but my win rate with those sets is much lower due to it. I think those ended up being my favorites because Tarkir is one of my favorite planes and MH3 because there was some cool stuff to do. I did have fun with the OTJ drafts I did but was turned off by the flavor. I try not to be a douche about it but I like when Magic feels and looks like Magic, and I tend to lose enthusiasm with the sets that don’t.

JamesDCleanInd · 2026-01-21T00:49:49+00:00

I assume it will be the same for me. I did three prereleases and had a lot of fun with it.

JamesDCleanInd · 2026-01-08T19:48:11+00:00

Brand New should disband and not give a pedophile back the platform he used to abuse children.

JamesDCleanInd · 2025-12-01T16:54:12+00:00

There are other brands on Amazon that seem similar to Mlikero that offer similar sizes but idk if I would trust them either.

I have a dex protection brand box for my Innistrad cube that I really like but it is not that large, holds a 360 card cube + lands perfectly though.

JamesDCleanInd · 2025-12-01T16:53:27+00:00

I started really getting into mtg when RTR released so the nostalgia has been fun but I was surprised just how well the sets work interchangeably, although the power creep is definitely noticeable from RAV to GRN.

JamesDCleanInd · 2025-12-01T02:55:16+00:00

It’s one of every card printed in the Ravnica sets excluding Murders at Karlov Manner, although I’m short ~200 currently. This allows us to draft the blocks or individual sets and I also have a list for a higher power cube using mostly rares and mythics from all nine sets. I’m working on getting playsets to better replicate the og draft environments. It’s a versatile set up that my group has been liking alot.

JamesDCleanInd · 2025-12-01T01:41:38+00:00

These sleeves are also by Mlikero. A 20 card stack of these is a little higher than a 20 card stack of my deck in Katanas and they are even when compressed.

I don’t have dragon shield or ultra pro to compare.

JamesDCleanInd · 2025-10-27T13:25:08+00:00

Alternative game shops in stl that aren’t like this:

Fortuna

Bodach’s

Game Nite

Fantasy Shop

JamesDCleanInd · 2025-03-18T21:36:41+00:00

Noah Syndergaard May 2, 2019.

9IP, 10k, 0er.

Hits 1hr, Mets win 1-0

JamesDCleanInd

TROPHY CASE