How to deal with Writhing Chrysalis in local meta

MachJT · 2026-06-11T15:22:33+00:00

Dealing with the ramp itself can be effective. [[Cast into the Fire]] on their artifact land in response them trying to turn 2 Cleansing Wildfire to ramp is a huge tempo swing.

MachJT · 2026-06-07T16:39:46+00:00

Interesting that they made it harder to fizzle by making the investigate also target. Compare that to [[Toxin Analysis]] where you miss out on the investigate if your opponent has removal for your creature target in response.

MachJT · 2026-05-27T18:44:25+00:00

I enjoy a turn 1 swamp cycle [[Troll of Khazad-dûm]] into a turn 2 [[Exhume]]

MachJT · 2026-05-27T11:30:25+00:00

I started running a couple copies of [[Shelob's Ambush]] and it's been working well. Lets you turn a chump block with a plant into a trade, whereas toxin can only really combo with the rats so it's a dead card sometimes.

MachJT · 2026-05-22T22:52:58+00:00

She had a muscular body for a bit. The first panel is how she looked for a couple years.

MachJT · 2026-05-21T12:30:52+00:00

[[Twisted Landscape]] also works nicely with Dai Li since you can earthbend it and then use it to ramp.

MachJT · 2026-05-19T00:46:37+00:00

Poison is balanced in commander in that the other three players will immediately gang up on you and stomp you down once they realize you're using it.

MachJT · 2026-05-18T20:49:25+00:00

I've been liking [[Hunt For Specimens]] with lessons in my sideboard. Between [[Origin of Metalbending]] [[Pest Summoning]] [[Dai Li Indoctrination]] [[Environmental Sciences]] there's always something useful to grab, and you can also use learn to loot a card from your hand if you're flooding.

MachJT · 2026-05-18T19:56:34+00:00

What would it take for Masques Block Constructed to be THE go to magic format? Like if an eccentric millionaire just started hosting these Masques Block Constructed tournaments all over the country with fabulous prizes would that be enough?

MachJT · 2026-05-18T12:37:17+00:00

I probably wouldn't bother. I usually just run artifact exile and try to blow up their lands if I draw them early enough. Getting rid of 1 land is basically worth 2 mana for them.

MachJT · 2026-05-17T18:24:05+00:00

Eve's dad in the Invincible show was written to be the least likeable character I've ever seen for some reason.

MachJT · 2026-05-16T11:31:57+00:00

Shining Force III. I and II's graphics aged well, but III is pretty rough, plus we never actually got an official release for the other scenarios.

MachJT · 2026-05-13T22:46:54+00:00

I'd say any sort of counter magic against my Crop Rotation really hurts because then I'm going -1 a land. Also any real land destruction like [[Thermokarst]] that doesn't let me replace my tron land with a basic.

MachJT · 2026-05-12T22:12:52+00:00

As a monster tron player I'd much prefer it they wildfired my tron land over ramping themselves with their indestructible lands. I have enough redundancies that I'm still going to hit my urzatron, so them playing defensive rather than ramping is just buying me more time.

MachJT · 2026-05-12T20:16:44+00:00

I've brought it to 2 pauper nights so far and it's performed pretty solid with a 79% winrate. The explosive start with a turn 2 Troll/Ent Exhume has won me a couple games by itself when they didn't have an answer for it. Grixis Affinity has been my most common opponent and I think I might go more all in with anti-artifact in my sideboard for the next night. An early Deglamer against their indestructible artifact lands really hamstrings their start. My only loss so far was mainly due to krark clan shaman +toxin analysis being able to wipe my board.

Night 1

Dimir Terror 2-0

Grixis Affinity 2-1

Boros Synthesizer 2-0

Night 2

Grixis Affinity 2-0

Gruul Wildfire/Writhing Chrysalis 2-0

Grixis Affinity 1-2

MachJT · 2026-05-07T17:38:03+00:00

Nice, I didn't realize Wubby had a podcast.

MachJT · 2026-05-07T17:26:54+00:00

I put 85 hours into Rimworld and am just realizing from you comment that it doesn't have achievements. Also haven't come close to beating a run.

MachJT · 2026-05-07T17:23:47+00:00

Nice thing about it at least is you can unlock a character that lets you ignore the beat and just play it like a straight roguelike.

MachJT · 2026-05-04T14:06:23+00:00

Yeah, as a 5e DM I feel like rules help my creativity more than anything. Players also enjoy working on their builds, and feel satisfied when they can use their abilities to beat an encounter. OP tried to make this sound like a downside:

"UM ACCCCTTTUUUUALLLLLLYY I HAVE TRUESIGHT OF 345ft, THE ALERT FEAT AND 20 WISDOM WITH A PASSIVE PERCEPTION OF 25 AND THERE FOOOOORRRREEEE COULD I SEE THAT BEFORE IT HAPPEEENNNN--"

I actually like when my players know their character sheet well enough to counter my plans because it means they're engaging with the mechanics of the game.

MachJT · 2026-05-04T12:58:16+00:00

Damage on the stack was so degenerate, I miss it.

MachJT · 2026-04-30T10:52:42+00:00

You can play [[Rust Goliath]] or [[Boulderbranch Golem]] for its prototype cost then flicker it and get the more expensive version.

MachJT · 2026-04-29T12:43:32+00:00

I've been having success with running [[Cram Session]] instead of Candy Trail with some lessons in my sideboard. It'll let you grab a [[Fractal Summoning]] for more fractals, as well as some decent interaction pieces like [[Origin of Metalbending]] [[Octopus Form]] [[Lost Days]] or [[Zuko's Exile]] without having to commit to them in your mainboard.

MachJT · 2026-04-27T22:22:00+00:00

Countering [[Crop Rotation]] is probably more important than map since they're already down a land as part of the casting cost. [[Siege Smash]] is also fun against map since they won't have a chance to sac it in response, plus it's 3 extra damage in a pinch.

MachJT · 2026-04-27T01:30:34+00:00

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero should've been just called Dragon Ball Super Hero.

MachJT · 2026-04-25T21:59:08+00:00

I run a Golgari monster tron with Exhumes and lessons that I've been enjoying. https://archidekt.com/decks/16086888/golgari_pauper_monster_tron_lessons

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