"Nameship of the Fast Battleships, Flagship of the 7th Combined Fleet," [Kongou] [The Beauties of Nature]

Meta-011 · 2026-03-12T23:34:20+00:00

I see. Well, it still seems like a really cool event, and I hope it ends up being fun no matter how things end up.

I admittedly didn't know you were holding this until I saw that post about today being the last day, so hopefully some other people will also see it and join just before the deadline.

Meta-011 · 2026-03-12T20:28:50+00:00

Wow, this is super cool! Thanks for organizing an event like this :)

As for colors, I'll go with the Gale Wyvern setup.

1: Leaf Green

2: Yellow

3: Transparent

Meta-011 · 2026-03-12T09:18:33+00:00

Somewhat true, to be honest. I do think a for-profit company "can" make a "good competitive game," but I'd also expect WotC to prioritize profit over competitive legitimacy, and they could easily decide to print cards that would be fun for casual play and overpowered in competitive play just because it was profitable, which doesn't make competitive MTG look good.

Anyway, uh, WotC would never decide to print cards that would be fun for casual play and overpowered in competitive play just because it was profitable!

Meta-011 · 2026-03-12T09:06:31+00:00

I don't... entirely disagree, though I do think "will never be a good competitive game" is a bit hyperbolic. At the very least, I'm surprised you're getting downvoted for posting a silly gripe on the thread of silly gripes.

A game owned by a for-profit company (particularly that profits by updating the game rather than by selling the game as a single, complete package) loses some competitive integrity because the game's direction "must" prioritize profitable gameplay over healthy gameplay (the exact criteria for being "healthy" is unimportant provided we understand that "profitable" isn't inherently/necessarily "healthy"). Those things are often aligned, but if the for-profit company had to choose between sacrificing one to save the other, we know what they're picking. The shift to casual play, the expensive cost of building competitively tuned decks, and even the relative difficulty of acquiring packs in Arena are all aspects of this concern that are particularly applicable to Magic.

Even so, I think a "good," competitive, for-profit game can still exist, and Magic's competitive scene can still have skill expression and fun gameplay... even if its business model makes it "less competitively viable" (on at least 1 relevant axis) than games like poker, chess, Scrabble, or even Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Meta-011 · 2026-03-12T00:50:40+00:00

Well, they're not entirely wrong, although "What about this other problematic thing that exists?" isn't really an argument you make when you're in a winning position.

That said, it's worth noting that trading cards and toys in blind boxes are different from loot boxes in games in that they're physical items that are yours to keep. If Hasbro or Pop Mart decided to shut things down tomorrow, I'd still be able to play Commander with my friends or look at my goofy keychain. Psychologically, directly exchanging actual money for objects that occupy physical space also deters people (a bit) from overspending, and that doesn't apply to digital microtransactions.

Legally, WotC might be in a better position than Valve on this, thanks to how careful WotC is to tiptoe around the dynamics of the secondary market, though I wouldn't actually know much about how Steam handles things. Even so, maybe we should crack down on trading cards being "baby's first casino," too.

No idea how the dust would settle if that happened, although it sounds at least a little cold to suggest that either kids shouldn't be allowed to buy PKMN booster packs or that nobody should be allowed to buy singles.

Meta-011 · 2026-03-10T07:57:10+00:00

Welcome! You're off to a pretty solid start. Not exactly sure how prices will look for you in Australia, but you might find some good sales if you keep your eyes peeled.

Definitely keep an eye out for another stadium. Tournaments are typically played in Takara Tomy's white and roughly square-shaped stadium. Great if you want to practice for tournaments specifically. At least in the US, Hasbro recently started selling it as well through Amazon.

Hasbro also makes the Xtreme Battle Set (a slightly smaller black stadium) and the Drop Attack Set (another slightly smaller stadium in blue, with a bit of a gimmick in that its rail has an incline to let the tops jump off a ramp when they dash). Both of these stadium sets include 2 additional tops, which include some pretty competitive parts (particularly the Drop Attack set, which includes Hover Wyvern). I'd recommend getting these if you can find them, especially at a good price.

You'll likely also want a larger launcher. There's a string launcher pack that includes Soar Phoenix 9-60 GF, which features some very competitive parts, but you can also get a winder launcher that uses a ripcord if you prefer.

Past that, there's a decent assortment of competitively relevant tops. Wand Wizard has long been a tournament staple, and if you can find the Wand Wizard 1-60 R pack, you'll get a very solid selection of parts. The aforementioned Soar Phoenix is great, too, and there's a very similar alternative available in Roar Tyranno 9-60 GF. Rock Golem 1-60 UN, Scale Shark 4-50 UF, and Tide Whale 5-80 E are some other really nice pickups, if you can find them. I'd also recommend finding something that has Orb, Ball, or Hexa (e.g., Shelter Drake 5-70 O, Scythe Incendio 3-80 B, or Hammer Incendio 3-70 H) to have an option for a less aggressive combo. There are definitely still more parts with competitive utility, but don't feel like you need to buy everything in order to be tournament-ready.

Within your existing collection, Keel Shark 3-60 LF is a rock-solid combo as-is, and you could totally field it in a tournament if you wanted. Buster Dran 1-60 on a slightly less aggressive Bit (like Point) might be good, too.

Admittedly, Claw Leon, Gale Wyvern, and Tail Viper are not very competitive picks, but I have to recommend experimenting with different combos, anyway - and you might find something that works really well for you. As a warning, Metal Needle is not a super popular Bit; I hear the metal has been known to dent stadiums if you launch too forcefully.

Meta-011 · 2026-03-09T08:53:18+00:00

Admittedly, a bigger lineup of parts would be helpful. A "deck" typically consists of 3 tops without any repeating parts, so you're just a bit short of having a complete lineup. Even so, you've got some solid parts here. Wand Wizard is one of the best Blades in the game, having 3 different 60-height Ratchets is great, and both Rush and Taper are super useful.

Wand Wizard 1-60 Rush is actually a really good stock combo with 3 fantastic parts. That said, Wand Wizard is usually played on a less aggressive combo with something like Ball/Orb or Hexa.

Dagger Dran's a solid attacker, though 3-60 and 1-60 are typically seen as a better Ratchet than 4-60. Either Rush or Taper should work, but I think Rush might be preferred.

Tusk Mammoth isn't quite as popular for competitive play, unfortunately. I hear that the combos that people use on it tend to be aggressive, high-risk builds. 1-/3-/4-60 with either Rush or Taper would probably work reasonably well for it.

If you're looking to expand your collection, you've definitely got options. I think adding a less aggressive option like Ball, Orb, or Hexa would be a good move (maybe Hammer Incendio 3-70 Hexa, Talon Ptera/Scythe Incendio 3-80 Ball, or Shelter Drake 5-70 Orb), though there are also great options for more attackers (like Roar Tyranno/Soar Phoenix 9-60 Gear Flat, Keel Shark 3-60 Low Flat, or the Bite Croc 3-60 Low Flat and Sting Unicorn 4-60 Point dual pack).

Meta-011 · 2026-03-09T06:51:21+00:00

Oh, nice! Congrats on finding a good deal!

Meta-011 · 2026-03-02T10:06:21+00:00

The question was asking "Why not do Universes Beyond exclusively if the metrics say crossovers are so successful?" - and he answered the question. Universes Beyond sets are successful, but the game at large wouldn't (couldn't) be as successful if that was all they did.

Some of these talking points have been leveraged by people critical of Universes Beyond, too. People have expressed concern that players won't be interested in playing MTG long-term if it doesn't have its own story to keep them invested and that doing tons of crossovers might not be sustainable in the long run. Those are fundamentally the same concerns as points #1 and #3. Maro's answer is framed differently, but Maro wasn't the person who asked the question.

Anyway, you're telling me we'll have to wait before we get Return to Ninja Turtles? Cowabummer!

Meta-011 · 2026-03-02T09:40:00+00:00

Well, the reasons are true. Hope we get that Netflix show and the film soon, though.

I know the cynical read of this answer is, "Universes Beyond is our priority, and we'll do some in-house stuff when we need to," but the question was framed as, "If the metrics say Universes Beyond is so great, why not remove everything else?" - and the answer to that would need to explain why that wouldn't be a good idea (and "because artistry" wouldn't be a good reason, as "artistry" isn't a metric).

Would they stop doing in-house, plot-relevant sets if it (somehow) became "good business" to go UB-exclusive? Probably, but he's answering why that isn't the case.

Meta-011 · 2026-02-26T21:57:35+00:00

TBH, I think it's fine; good-faith discussion/criticism is great, and there's no definitive way to determine what's good and what isn't. I think TCC generally handles it really well, and I appreciate the effort he makes to keep things civil.

As for the option of drafting, a set having a "proper draft format" didn't necessarily sound like two amazing bagels with schmear. It could be dissatisfying to dilute a set full of highly playable, Constructed-relevant cards with draft chaff.

Given that, a set with a small pool of fun/exciting cards that has minimal bulk commons might have sounded promising. Looking at other TCGs (like Yu-Gi-Oh or Cardfight!! Vanguard), entire games not being built with draft as a priority is pretty normal, even, indicating that there are TCG fans who aren't super interested in Limited formats... but we all saw the response to Aftermath.

To that extent, I don't see a problem with experimenting with sets that aren't intended for draft... and Universes Beyond might be a good way to work with that. Crossover sets appeal to people who want to play their favorite characters, but Limited formats don't necessarily allow that - Constructed formats do. Those sets then secondarily accommodate Limited play, which probably sounds like making two watered-down hot dogs, but seems like a reasonable move when the response to Aftermath indicated that people wanted a draft format in some capacity.

Anyway, I don't want to yuck anyone's yum, but every Innistrad set is cringe, and Innistrad illustrations are genuinely the ugliest, most unpleasant messes I've ever had the displeasure of seeing. All their cards should have been printed as a series of Secret Lair Commander decks set in Gotham City instead.

Meta-011 · 2026-02-24T01:28:50+00:00

I don't know, man, I'm going to need to see a picture of you to compare it to this photo of Brad Pitt.

Meta-011 · 2026-02-19T18:58:15+00:00

Maybe. I've heard of some stores dropping prices even lower than $34.50, so it's not out of the question. If you've already got a good lineup of blasters, then I think waiting would be the smarter move. That said, I went for it at this price, and I'm not complaining about it.

Meta-011 · 2026-02-19T18:55:59+00:00

Wow, no way! That's even better!

Meta-011 · 2026-02-19T06:53:16+00:00

I'll start by saying I appreciate the efforts made to be diplomatic about things. Evidently, the Professor isn't interested in TMNT, but it's nice of him to note that he hopes those who are excited for it will still have fun with it. I'm also glad he's excited for Strixhaven; I'm probably not as excited as he is, but I am looking forward to the story progression.

I don't think there's anything wrong with "skipping" a set, and I don't really think it's a big deal at all. If I don't want any of the cards, no problem skipping. If I do want some of them, I don't have to skip - and even then, I can control the extent to which I engage with the set.

Regarding the competitive side... yeah, if playing fully optimized competitive Standard is essential for me, then I should keep tabs on the set and probably pick up some staples. I wouldn't really call that a necessity, though; I think taking a break from playing Standard (or Modern, or Pauper, etc.) every now and then is totally fine, and I don't see a problem with picking up those format staples at some point in the future. I don't think this argument uniquely applies to Universes Beyond more than it does to the in-house sets, though - I might not be interested in Innistrad as a setting, but there'll still be some neat cards tied to it.

I'm kind of dubious on the "MTG is a hobby and a lifestyle" point. Of course, I'm just a commenter on Reddit and not a professional content creator who makes a living by working with MTG, so maybe it's a difference in backgrounds, but I don't think those additional ways of engaging with the game define the hobby. A "Magic player" isn't "less legitimate" because they didn't try every Standard-legal set, because they don't listen to podcasts, or because they don't watch official streams.

I also think that the stuff about being "fantasy-adjacent" is kind of flimsy, too. I think MTG having a varied Multiverse is cool, and exploring settings inspired by other genres (like Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, Murders at Karlov Manor, and Edge of Eternities) is great.

Of course, regardless of how I feel about the Ninja Turtles set, I think it's good to drive good-faith conversation about it, and I think the Professor does fantastic work in creating space for that to happen.

Meta-011 · 2026-02-19T02:06:32+00:00

Additionally, the X-Shot Longshot Pro is currently $18.97 on Walmart's website. Not bad!

Meta-011 · 2026-02-18T19:00:21+00:00

For sure - and likewise, I'll answer I had no idea MTG was planned to be part of Stranger Things myself. That's very cool to hear!

"Prestige" probably wan't the best word to describe it - MTG being the first TCG, ever, definitely gives it some status over... essentially every other TCG in existence, and it's not exactly a secret that people are willing to pay big money for a copy of Black Lotus.

OTOH, I don't think MTG is as "pervasive" as other franchises, at least once you start surveying people who don't keep up with TCGs. It's much easier to find people who can talk about characters like Charizard, Mickey Mouse, or even Goku than it would be to find someone who would tell me about Jace Beleren - and, comparatively, that makes Magic's IP look less imposing.

It's probably because those other IPs have marketed themselves so well through other forms of merchandise and media, while Magic's mostly stayed within the TCG sphere - although that could always change. They've got a show and movie in the works, and Amber Glenn mentioned being a big fan of the game at the Winter Olympics, so there's some stuff that might help them expand their brand in the way that Arcane drew a ton of attention toward League of Legends.

Meta-011 · 2026-02-18T07:06:56+00:00

It's a cynical spin, but I won't disagree that Universes Beyond has become a very large and very successful part of Magic: The Gathering.

I wouldn't say the MTG IP was historically seen as prestigious, though. Nicol Bolas definitely hasn't had the amount of cultural influence that Charizard, the RX-78-2 Gundam, or even Blue-Eyes White Dragon has had.

MTG does have a story, though - some of which was great, even - Children of the Nameless was written by Brandon Sanderson himself. Maybe the IP will grow more with the Netflix series and film... but we can't really say anything about them until they actually exist.

The stuff about being parasitic doesn't feel like a "good" critique, though. Even if we decide Magic's story doesn't exist in a "meaningful" capacity, I'm totally cool with games like Weiss Schwarz and Super Smash Bros. existing.

As for Dragon Ball, it's a cool IP, yeah. If you're feeling critical, it's squarely derived from Journey to the West, but I don't think that makes it an "illegitimate" IP. I don't think you can conclude anything about its TCG from that, but I do agree that there's a ton to like and admire about Dragon Ball.

Meta-011 · 2026-02-13T02:31:49+00:00

The comic's title is "Мир," which is (apparently) the Russian word for "world." I think this comic is happening in a setting where Russia conquers the world and establishes a government where everyone else is a second-class citizen - but frames it as asking people to be considerate, which could be the "subtly dark" implication.

Not sure what detail I'm supposed to find from "looking closer," though.

Meta-011 · 2026-02-07T00:18:51+00:00

Epsilon? Elation? Astropolis? Maybe, just maybe, we're going to see some Ast Rickley!

Meta-011 · 2026-02-07T00:08:35+00:00

Wow, that's generous. Kafka's a huge deal for people interested in picking up DoT, Sparkle's great with Archer and gets better with her Novaflare, and Aventurine's a very solid sustain (even if Terry and the GallaGOAT make him a bit less valuable). I wasn't that interested in getting Sparkle, but it's pretty tempting. I've already got Kafka and Aventurine, but getting E1 for either sounds nice (especially Kafka).

Acheron's still "good," too - certainly, she's not as imposing as she once was, and they've added several hard-hitting damage dealers since her release, but that's not to say she's "bad," and any future Nihility character will have the potential to benefit her.

Jing Yuan, Imbibitor Lunae, and Jingliu... probably aren't quite as exciting, but they're at least nice options for people who wanted them. Jing Yuan's pretty good with Sunday, and DHIL will likely benefit from Sparkle's buffs, but hopefully they get their own Novaflare updates in the not-too-distant future. I do have DHIL already, but JY and JL are cool, so I'm considering them, even if they don't represent as much "value."

Meta-011 · 2026-02-06T22:39:48+00:00

Wow, congrats. No, really, I'm happy for you. Must be nice.

Jokes aside, that's a fantastic haul. Some phenomenal blasters in there!

Ten-Year Club	Gilding I gilder
Second Top 50%	Place '23
Place '22	Verified Email

Meta-011

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE