Reuben | beatsandskies
@beatsandskies.bsky.social
Red deck player, co-organiser of the APAC Premodern Webcam League, MS Paint “Artist”, and writer of Precon related stuff | He/Him | Aotearoa NZ
I am to blame for all but one of these, haha. All non-American former pro-players should be shaking in your boots: you’re next! Alternatively, if you want to spare yourself some pain then feel free to send me through a good headshot: the sideboard coverage team weren’t always the best photographers!
A roundup of newly created articles from the last week, mostly concerning professional play. 🧵:
#MagicTheGathering #MTGWiki
#MagicTheGathering #MTGWiki
November 20, 2025 at 2:29 AM
I am to blame for all but one of these, haha. All non-American former pro-players should be shaking in your boots: you’re next! Alternatively, if you want to spare yourself some pain then feel free to send me through a good headshot: the sideboard coverage team weren’t always the best photographers!
@flamedash.bsky.social Kia ora Johanna. I’m currently creating pages for Nationals on the MTG Wiki (mtg.wiki/page/Finnish...) and I came across a link to your “history project” article on mtg.bore. Unfortunately this isn’t archived by Wayback. Can you help me with some Finnish information? Reuben.
Finnish National Championships
National Championship tournaments were held annually in Finland from 1995 through to 2011, then again in 2017 and 2018.[1][2] The winner of these events was named Finnish Champion and ...
mtg.wiki
November 16, 2025 at 12:14 AM
@flamedash.bsky.social Kia ora Johanna. I’m currently creating pages for Nationals on the MTG Wiki (mtg.wiki/page/Finnish...) and I came across a link to your “history project” article on mtg.bore. Unfortunately this isn’t archived by Wayback. Can you help me with some Finnish information? Reuben.
What’s the coolest Premodern era art sadly attached to a card which isn’t really good enough to play? Maybe it’s this one: it’s a pretty strong contender at the very least. Makes a pretty awesome event poster if nothing else, so that’s cool.
November 13, 2025 at 9:17 AM
What’s the coolest Premodern era art sadly attached to a card which isn’t really good enough to play? Maybe it’s this one: it’s a pretty strong contender at the very least. Makes a pretty awesome event poster if nothing else, so that’s cool.
Do this. :)
To create an account, visit mtg.wiki/page/Special.... Don't be scared by the "Personal biography" question; it's an anti-spam measure, so just tell us that you're a real human person who likes Magic. Account requests are usually approved within 1-2 days.
November 13, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Do this. :)
Posting this here so I can reference it on the wiki! :)
For context: MaRo has mentioned that there was a 1994 Belgian Nats in a few articles, but I couldn’t find anything about it. So I emailed Carl Devos who did reports on the Dojo (and is still doing OS93/94 reports on zongo.be/magic) and boom:
For context: MaRo has mentioned that there was a 1994 Belgian Nats in a few articles, but I couldn’t find anything about it. So I emailed Carl Devos who did reports on the Dojo (and is still doing OS93/94 reports on zongo.be/magic) and boom:
November 1, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Posting this here so I can reference it on the wiki! :)
For context: MaRo has mentioned that there was a 1994 Belgian Nats in a few articles, but I couldn’t find anything about it. So I emailed Carl Devos who did reports on the Dojo (and is still doing OS93/94 reports on zongo.be/magic) and boom:
For context: MaRo has mentioned that there was a 1994 Belgian Nats in a few articles, but I couldn’t find anything about it. So I emailed Carl Devos who did reports on the Dojo (and is still doing OS93/94 reports on zongo.be/magic) and boom:
Ok, this is pretty concerning. I get frustrated with the low resolution many/most older videos have for sure, but this is not the way to go about things.
Youtube has announced that all low-res videos (i.e. older ones) are to be automatically AI upscaled to HD.
Creators can opt-out on a per video basis (but the channel may be long abandoned).
When researching props or behind the scenes, old videos are useful, but not if upscaling produces artefacts.
Creators can opt-out on a per video basis (but the channel may be long abandoned).
When researching props or behind the scenes, old videos are useful, but not if upscaling produces artefacts.
October 29, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Ok, this is pretty concerning. I get frustrated with the low resolution many/most older videos have for sure, but this is not the way to go about things.
Reposted by Reuben | beatsandskies
From @jespermyrfors.bsky.social, The Dark set art director over on Facebook:
“The Magic: The Gathering release The Dark was 100% a commentary on the evils and hypocrisy of bigoted right wing Christians…”
Some cards for context and the set list:
scryfall.com/sets/drk
“The Magic: The Gathering release The Dark was 100% a commentary on the evils and hypocrisy of bigoted right wing Christians…”
Some cards for context and the set list:
scryfall.com/sets/drk
October 28, 2025 at 12:19 PM
From @jespermyrfors.bsky.social, The Dark set art director over on Facebook:
“The Magic: The Gathering release The Dark was 100% a commentary on the evils and hypocrisy of bigoted right wing Christians…”
Some cards for context and the set list:
scryfall.com/sets/drk
“The Magic: The Gathering release The Dark was 100% a commentary on the evils and hypocrisy of bigoted right wing Christians…”
Some cards for context and the set list:
scryfall.com/sets/drk
Kia ora, I’m Reuben and Hybrid is fine in monocoloured Commander decks. However I also think off-coloured activated abilities shouldn’t count towards colour identity. You could play Gruul Guildmage in your Alesha, Who Smiles at Death deck — and not Orzhov Guildmage — but couldn’t pay 3G for +2/+2.
October 26, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Kia ora, I’m Reuben and Hybrid is fine in monocoloured Commander decks. However I also think off-coloured activated abilities shouldn’t count towards colour identity. You could play Gruul Guildmage in your Alesha, Who Smiles at Death deck — and not Orzhov Guildmage — but couldn’t pay 3G for +2/+2.
Many Magic Players ask the question… what team at Worlds 2018 was the most Metal?
And the winner is…
BULGARIA!
And the winner is…
BULGARIA!
October 26, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Many Magic Players ask the question… what team at Worlds 2018 was the most Metal?
And the winner is…
BULGARIA!
And the winner is…
BULGARIA!
By dumbest they clearly mean best ever.
I read the dumbest joke today. "no matter how goth you are, Melkor is Morgoth."
October 26, 2025 at 6:14 AM
By dumbest they clearly mean best ever.
Dude is up in the New England area so even though I wouldn’t personally benefit from it, being very much not from anywhere close to there, I reckon the Lobstercon peeps should try to get him for one of their events. He’s definitely a Top 3 MTG artist for me. His Goblins in particular: amazing.
There is no old school Magic artist that I'd love to see do more new pieces than DiTerlizzi.
Seriously, my all-time favorite artist for the game. Every time I think back fondly on a card art I love, I look and it was his work. It's just him. An absolute master.
Seriously, my all-time favorite artist for the game. Every time I think back fondly on a card art I love, I look and it was his work. It's just him. An absolute master.
October 21, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Dude is up in the New England area so even though I wouldn’t personally benefit from it, being very much not from anywhere close to there, I reckon the Lobstercon peeps should try to get him for one of their events. He’s definitely a Top 3 MTG artist for me. His Goblins in particular: amazing.
Ok: next up on my @mtgwiki.bsky.social editing journey: 5 Colour. The format. Which is going to kill me being forced to misspell. Did anyone on here use to jam that format? If so some #DeckPics would be choice! With scribble ante being such a key aspect I wanna bask in the beauty and memories of it.
October 20, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Ok: next up on my @mtgwiki.bsky.social editing journey: 5 Colour. The format. Which is going to kill me being forced to misspell. Did anyone on here use to jam that format? If so some #DeckPics would be choice! With scribble ante being such a key aspect I wanna bask in the beauty and memories of it.
This post is brought to you by uk.games.trading-cards.misc and the letter Zed.
Honestly, that Usenet group is a gold mine. And is it just me, but is there a surprising lack of UK representation at the pointiest end of competitive Magic? Compared with the cultural impact the place has elsewhere.
Honestly, that Usenet group is a gold mine. And is it just me, but is there a surprising lack of UK representation at the pointiest end of competitive Magic? Compared with the cultural impact the place has elsewhere.
British National Championships
National Championship tournaments were held annually in the United Kingdom from 1996 through to 2011, then again in 2017 and 2018.[1][2] The winner of these events was named National C...
mtg.wiki
October 14, 2025 at 10:26 AM
This post is brought to you by uk.games.trading-cards.misc and the letter Zed.
Honestly, that Usenet group is a gold mine. And is it just me, but is there a surprising lack of UK representation at the pointiest end of competitive Magic? Compared with the cultural impact the place has elsewhere.
Honestly, that Usenet group is a gold mine. And is it just me, but is there a surprising lack of UK representation at the pointiest end of competitive Magic? Compared with the cultural impact the place has elsewhere.
Every found yourself awake late at night, desperately trying to remember who the third best Canadian Magic: the Gathering player was in 1999? Me too. Fortunately now there’s an easy solution to all your nocturnal Canadian Nats questions: mtg.wiki/page/Canadia.... (It was Jürgen Hahn, obviously)
Canadian National Championships
National Championship tournaments were held annually in Canada from 1995 through to 2011, then again in 2017 and 2018.[1][2] The winner of these events was named Canadian Champion. Tha...
mtg.wiki
October 5, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Every found yourself awake late at night, desperately trying to remember who the third best Canadian Magic: the Gathering player was in 1999? Me too. Fortunately now there’s an easy solution to all your nocturnal Canadian Nats questions: mtg.wiki/page/Canadia.... (It was Jürgen Hahn, obviously)
Getting a bit ahead of myself in poster stakes, but when inspiration hits… love for some more cats in Australia, Japan, Philippines etc to join us. Got a pretty cool group of people regularly jamming some premodern together!
October 4, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Getting a bit ahead of myself in poster stakes, but when inspiration hits… love for some more cats in Australia, Japan, Philippines etc to join us. Got a pretty cool group of people regularly jamming some premodern together!
Alright. I think I’ve finished* my latest project on @mtgwiki.bsky.social. Or at least, until I can track down InQuest 22 which I’m sure should have some of the decklists I couldn’t find through other sources. Next up: LA ‘97 with the infamous David Mills DQ!
1996 Pro Tour Dallas
The second Pro Tour event in the 1996-97 season was held in Dallas, Texas, from 22–24 November 1996. The main event was Standard constructed and was won by Canadian Paul McCabe in his first Masters Di...
mtg.wiki
October 4, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Alright. I think I’ve finished* my latest project on @mtgwiki.bsky.social. Or at least, until I can track down InQuest 22 which I’m sure should have some of the decklists I couldn’t find through other sources. Next up: LA ‘97 with the infamous David Mills DQ!
If anyone has enough spare pingers and can manage to get through to get one of these… maybe chuck a second copy in the cart just to make sure the Man gets one too. Xoxoxo
I’ve not seen the full Dandan Secret Lair. I don’t really care if I get credit or anything from it. Rhystic Studies and informed players know its origins. I just hope I’ll be able to own a copy of the official release and not have them sell out to scalpers and stuff like I’ve heard can be a problem.
September 27, 2025 at 5:11 AM
If anyone has enough spare pingers and can manage to get through to get one of these… maybe chuck a second copy in the cart just to make sure the Man gets one too. Xoxoxo
Because I’m a huge fan of old white bordered Magic cards, obviously I chose to recreate the 2001 Deckmasters: Finkel vs Garfield duel decks with original Ice Age and Alliances printings. Clearly Garfield, channelling his inner Olle Råde, is the pick of the two. (I think Finkel crushed him though.)
September 27, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Because I’m a huge fan of old white bordered Magic cards, obviously I chose to recreate the 2001 Deckmasters: Finkel vs Garfield duel decks with original Ice Age and Alliances printings. Clearly Garfield, channelling his inner Olle Råde, is the pick of the two. (I think Finkel crushed him though.)
I guess since I’m going hard on Bluesky posting… Back when LTR dropped I designed a bunch of thematic 60 card casual decks. Maybe by the time the newly announced Hobbit set drops I’ll have finished building them! This is “Cirith Ungol”: finally pulled the trigger on Mithril Coat. (Store credit!)
September 27, 2025 at 4:21 AM
I guess since I’m going hard on Bluesky posting… Back when LTR dropped I designed a bunch of thematic 60 card casual decks. Maybe by the time the newly announced Hobbit set drops I’ll have finished building them! This is “Cirith Ungol”: finally pulled the trigger on Mithril Coat. (Store credit!)
In other bullshit, this: I’d have thought with how WoTC had been handling more grassroots popularised formats recently with the Commander & Pauper panels — ie, better than they might otherwise — they’d actually have flown Nick in to consult. To work on a new “official” decklist together, even. Sad.
Yeah, at this point I expect they won’t even acknowledge me.
September 27, 2025 at 3:55 AM
In other bullshit, this: I’d have thought with how WoTC had been handling more grassroots popularised formats recently with the Commander & Pauper panels — ie, better than they might otherwise — they’d actually have flown Nick in to consult. To work on a new “official” decklist together, even. Sad.
This plonker doesn’t speak for Aotearoa NZ. Well, actually he does. Which is a huge fucking problem. But in reality he doesn’t. From the river to the sea, no more of this hypocrisy. Fuck Zionism, Fuck Militarism, Fuck Americanism, Fuck Nationalism, Fuck Religion. 🇵🇸✊☮️⭐️
September 27, 2025 at 3:42 AM
This plonker doesn’t speak for Aotearoa NZ. Well, actually he does. Which is a huge fucking problem. But in reality he doesn’t. From the river to the sea, no more of this hypocrisy. Fuck Zionism, Fuck Militarism, Fuck Americanism, Fuck Nationalism, Fuck Religion. 🇵🇸✊☮️⭐️
I’ve been holding out for this long rumoured deck and so it’s exciting to get a confirmation! I guess the question now is if they’ve gone for the conventional list or made any changes? I’m not sure which I’d prefer, so whatever they’ve gone for will be ok with me.
September 26, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I’ve been holding out for this long rumoured deck and so it’s exciting to get a confirmation! I guess the question now is if they’ve gone for the conventional list or made any changes? I’m not sure which I’d prefer, so whatever they’ve gone for will be ok with me.
60 card precons featuring Lorwyn’s two most iconic tribes!
Releasing at the same time as Lorwyn Eclipsed but perhaps not quite related. We are launching a series of Standard-legal 60 card theme decks that are ready to play with your friends as an entry point for new players!
September 26, 2025 at 7:34 PM
60 card precons featuring Lorwyn’s two most iconic tribes!
I would honestly be super keen on an Old School (probably Alpha to Alliances) draft focused set too. But get this: white borders, and washed out Revised style frames. Instead of foils or special frame treatments each pack has the chance for a black bordered card.
WotC should print a Premodern Masters set with old border reprints of #mtgpremodern staples. Can't believe that I have to pay 7€ for a Tempting Wurm 😂
September 24, 2025 at 10:48 PM
I would honestly be super keen on an Old School (probably Alpha to Alliances) draft focused set too. But get this: white borders, and washed out Revised style frames. Instead of foils or special frame treatments each pack has the chance for a black bordered card.