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Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

690 followers 290 following 2.7K posts

My task is to document the collective tales of the multiverse, be they what they are; I suggest taking a breathe, you may need it for later.

Friendly neighborhood "Lore-Whore"
https://www.linktr.ee/trapswdoore

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Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

Five-drop Friday? *ahem*
WHO ELSE WAS I GONNA POST-

The BEST guy AROUUUUND

Xenagos, God of Revels 3RG
Legendary Enchantment Creature — God

Indestructible

As long as your devotion to red and green is less than seven, Xenagos isn't a creature.

At the beginning of combat on your turn, another target creature you control gains haste and gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is that creature's power.

6 / 5

November 15, 2025 at 12:45 AM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

Angron is built!

Now, filling in the cracks.

November 14, 2025 at 10:45 PM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

I dont think enough people are talking about it for Wizards to recognize it as an issue to address.

The portfolio submission page is pretty clear on AI use, I see it as a conflict of interest considering the artist is seemingly an AI startup co-founder. It does not inspire confidence.

YOUR WORK MUST BE YOUR OWN. You, as the submitter of the work in the portfolio, are representing that you alone are the creator and owner of each piece of submitted work in the portfolio (unless your portfolio clearly indicates those pieces that are the product of multiple artists; see #4 below) and that you have not infringed on any other creator’s work. You are also representing that you did not use AI tools in the creation of any of the submitted work. Wizards will not consider any portfolio that contains work created with generative AI.

November 12, 2025 at 11:56 PM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

AI art of any variety SHOULDNT have a place in this game. Idk if this is AI or not but that implication doesnt inspire confidence it isnt.

I dont want AI-anything in the game, much less AI-based startups.

Toph, Hardheaded Teacher 2RG
Legendary Creature — Human Warrior Ally

When Toph enters, you may discard a card. If you do, return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand.

Whenever you cast a spell, earthbend 1. If that spell is a Lesson, put an additional +1/+1 counter on that land. (Target land you control becomes a 0/0 creature with haste that’s still a land. Put a +1/+1 counter on it. When it dies or is exiled, return it to the battlefield tapped.)

3/4
Watermark: Earth Kingdom

Illustrated by Ruwen Liu

Ruwen Liu is the cofounder of Spellbrush, a startup focused on building the next-generation of AI-powered games.

November 12, 2025 at 11:06 PM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

Post you from a different era:

2020:

November 7, 2025 at 9:42 PM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

This box is gonna be gas. Arguably the easiest means to get into the TCG atm.

For $40 you get three structure decks with every viable non-engine piece in the game.

November 7, 2025 at 7:41 PM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

I prefer these goobers

Neos, Aqua Dolphin, Grand Mole, Molten Scarab and Dark Panther

November 6, 2025 at 10:11 PM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

November 6, 2025 at 6:16 PM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

I have arrived in a new location.

Aliens are invading, they look like moldy earwax. I overheard they were called "Worms" although "disgusting" is also apt.

I was taken in by a group wearing snow gear and golden necklaces, we are heading north to a place they call "The Ice Barrier"

November 4, 2025 at 11:32 PM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

Part of me scoffs at the notion, as far as im aware the only item he would be remotely interested in being part of is a three peice sectional from Costco, conviently enough also named Erica.

October 30, 2025 at 11:53 PM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

@hobbesq.bolasgang.com, I FOUND MORE GOBLINS

October 30, 2025 at 2:04 AM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

1 & 2 respectively, the rest of the set can fight over 3, 4 and 5

Gogo, Mysterious Mime
Legendary Creature — Wizard

At the beginning of combat on your turn, you may have Gogo become a copy of another target creature you control until end of turn, except its name is Gogo, Mysterious Mime. If you do, Gogo and that creature each get +2/+0 and gain haste until end of turn and attack this turn if able.

2 / 2

October 30, 2025 at 1:32 AM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

Your time to shine, buddy.

Neheb, the Eternal
Legendary Creature — Zombie Minotaur Warrior

Afflict 3 (Whenever this creature becomes blocked, defending player loses 3 life.)

At the beginning of each of your postcombat main phases, add for each 1 life your opponents have lost this turn.

"This is what glory looks like." —Nicol Bolas

4 / 6

October 30, 2025 at 12:32 AM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

This is feeling increasingly more like a screendoor on a submarine situation.

October 29, 2025 at 10:56 PM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

So like...Bumi is interesting.

Because he is an extra combat step, but he is lands specific.

Not usable in Xenagos, however... Borb and Fblthp CAN use this.

Bumi, Unleashed
Trample
When Bumi enters, earthbend 4.
Whenever Bumi deals combat damage to a player, untap all lands you control. After this phase, there is an additional combat phase. Only land creatures can attack during that combat phase.
Rarity:M
#:211
Card Type:Legendary Creature — Human Noble Ally
P / T:5 / 4
Artist:Toni Infante

October 29, 2025 at 5:40 PM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

I never claimed to be a saint, Bea.

Stangg, Echo Warrior
{2}{R}{G}
Legendary Creature — Human Warrior

Whenever Stangg attacks, create Stangg Twin, a legendary 3/4 red and green Human Warrior creature token. It enters tapped and attacking. For each Aura and Equipment attached to Stangg, create a token that’s a copy of it attached to Stangg Twin. Sacrifice all tokens created this way at the beginning of the next end step.

3/4
Illustrated by Randy Vargas

Raised by Giants
{5}{G}
Legendary Enchantment — Background

Commander creatures you own have base power and toughness 10/10 and are Giants in addition to their other types.

Your parents taught you that strength can be nurtured and honed, no matter one’s size.

Illustrated by Kai Carpenter

October 28, 2025 at 5:13 PM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

On all levels, including physical i am this:

October 28, 2025 at 1:05 AM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

You dont know? Hm, well you *could* always write about this year old project and what made you choose to undertake it.

October 27, 2025 at 10:37 PM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

How you summon, read the field and take a turn.

UNDERSTANDING THE
FIELD
•Monster Zones- These five zones are where you put your monsters
•Spell & Trap Zones- These five zones are where you put your Spells
and Traps
•Field Zone- This zone can only be occupied by Field Spell Cards.
•Graveyard- Where destroyed, discard, sacrificed or cards used as
material go once used. Its contents are public knowledge, these
cards normally cannot be used anymore unless recovered.
•Banished Zone- These cards have been removed from play, they
cannot be used anymore unless an effect specified. (This zone isn't
official and isn't displayed on official playmats but it is still best to
keep these cards separated)
•Extra Monster Zone- Two Monster zones in the center of the field,
thisis an extra zone for monst

EXTRA DECK SUMMONING
Extra Deck Summons:
• Fusion Summon (Purple Cards)- Fusion Monsters are created through the use of Spell cards or
Monster effects the "fuse" them two or more monsters together. Typically through the use of
the card 'Polymerization' or personalized Fusion cards.
• Synchro Summon (White Cards)- Synchro Monsters are created through the addition of
Star Levels and a Monster Card called a 'Tuner.' For example; One 4- Star Level + One 3-Star
Level tuner created one Star Level 7 Synchro Monster.
• XYZ Summon (Black Cards)- XYZ Monsters (Pronounced Ex-Cee) are created through the use
of monsters with the same Star Level. The monsters become material to activate
the Monster's effects and are placed under the Monster. XYZ Monsters do not have Star
Levels, they have Ranks.
• Link Summon (Blue Cards)- Link monsters are created through the sacrifice of monsters
(This sacrifice isn't a tribute) but the distinction is the number of monsters sacrificed. Link
monsters have a Link Rating dictating how many monsters it needs but can also require
specific materials to be Summoned. Link monsters do not have defense points and can NEVER
be put in defense position. Each Link monster has directional arrows that point to a specific
zone on the field relative to the Extra Monster Zone that their effects will target.
THE HELL IS THIS GAME?? 4/3/2025 14

ARCHETYPES- WHAT ARE THEY?
• Archetypes are groups of cards that work well together. Typically these
cards share a common name and have similar art styles to link them
together. Often these cards have synergies between them that play well
together,
• Archetypes generally share attributes or types, sometimes both.
• A very common tell something is an archetype is there is one field spell
cards that supports all the monsters with increases and other various
bonuses.
• Some Archetypes are meant to support other archetypes, to take the idea
a step further; some archetypes are RELATED like Branded with TriBrigade and Spellbook with Prophecy

STEPS OF A TURN! ITS LIKE A DANCE

Draw Phase (DP)- Draw a card, Traps, Quick-Play
Spells and Monster Effects can be activated in this
phase, after the turn player has drawn. (If you are
going first you don’t draw on Turn 1)
Standby Phase (SP)- Nothing happens here unless a
card effect says so.
Main Phase 1 (MP)- This is where you do stuff like
Summon Monsters, Change Battle Positions, Flip
Summon Monsters, set/activate Monster Effects and
Set Spell/Trap cards.
Battle Phase (BP)- This phase is broken into steps,
Start Step, Battle Step, Damage Step and End Step.
Start and End steps always happen. Battle and
Damage Steps only take place if a successful attack
has taken happened. Damage Calculation will always
happen during Damage Step. You do not need to
control any monsters or have valid attack targets in
order to enter battle phase, it is completely optional
once you end MP unless something is going to make
you attack. If you choose not to enter BP, you must
immediately end your turn.
Main Phase 2 (MP2)- An additional main phase for
post battle moves, acts exactly like MP
End Phase (EP)- The last phase of the turn has the
player clear all maintenance costs or other activated
effects. Following this you must discard down to hand
size (6) and lastly all effects that stipulate "End of
turn" expire.

October 24, 2025 at 8:25 PM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

So how do you play? Heheh Well,

SPELL...SPEED!?
No, this isn't just about Spells, think instant and sorcery. The
speed of which cards in general resolve, everything has a spell
speed typically numbered 1-3.
• KEY THING: When a card effect is put on the chain (Stack) for
resolution, only things with a greater or equal spell speed can
respond with the caveat Spell Speed 1 cannot interact with
itself (because it is the slowest) unless they go off at the same
time.
• Spell Speed 1 effects are: Normal Spell Cards, Field
Spells, Continuous Spells, Equip Spells, Ritual Spells, Ignition
Effects, Trigger Effects or any effect that has similar Ignition or
Trigger conditions.
• Spell Speed 2 effects are: Quick-Play Spells, Normal Trap
Cards, Continuous Trap Cards or any Quick Effect
• Spell Speed 3 Effects are: Counter Traps.

WINDOWS AND TIMING:
So you have activated an ability and your opponent had a response, how does the Chain (Stack) resolve that? It Depends,
on summon and entry checks will take place that create the "Window" to interact with the card and another on the
effects activation: Summon Response, Fast Effect Negation and Summon Negation.
• Summon Negate Window- The timing to stop it from being summoned. This will make it so the card was never summoned
so no entry or effect will happen. If the card was normal summoned, no refunds.
• Summon Response Window- The timing to stop the card from entering the field. It was summoned, but it did not enter the
field and its effect did not go off. You would still get the effects from things like continuous spells.
• Fast Effect Negation- The timing to use an effect in response to an Ignition or Trigger effect after the card has been
summoned and entered the field. The Monster was summoned and entered the field, the effects of other cards activated
but the card's effect activation was responded to and was negated.
• Key Note regarding the Chain (Stack): You can ONLY respond to the last activated effect on the Chain (Stack.)
• If two effects would happen at the same time, the turn player has priority and gets to activate their effect first. Turn
player also has say over which effect activates first before the opponent responds.
• You cannot activate another effect on the chain until the opponent doesn’t respond or runs out of responses. You must
wait for the opponent to respond or deny responding to continue resolving the chain. The system is designed to resolve
the chain and bring the game back to an "Open" field.

The chain system requires all mandatory effects (ones already on
the chain) to be resolved in order to bring the game back to the as
for mentioned "Open" state. What happens if an effect ISNT
mandatory and how are certain cards not required to resolve the
chain?
Certain cards (In particular ones with the word 'When') are liable to
miss the timing to activate their effects due to the stated rule that
you can only respond to the last activated effect on the chain and
you cannot create another chain until the current chain is resolved
so these effects simply do not go off because they have nothing to
respond to, missing the timing and thus not getting through the
window.
This happens because there is a distinction in the game about when
things happen and if things happen.
Simply put; If something happens, you cannot activate a card effect
that stipulates when things would happen.

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE:
• I have Peten The Dark Clown, his ability states "When this card is sent to your
graveyard: You can banish this card from your graveyard; Special Summon 1 "Peten
the Dark Clown" from your hand or deck."
• My opponent has activated the card Soul Taker which says "Target 1 face-up
monster your opponent controls; destroy that target then your opponent gains
1000 lp."
• Since I gained Life Points right after Peten was destroyed, the card does not have
the opportunity to activate an effect, and since effects cannot be activated in
response to the monster's destruction because when Peten was destroyed his
ability didn't respond to the chain, it does not go off.
• Notice how the word 'When' immediately indicates the physical act of it going to
the graveyard instead of IF it is sent there, it cannot be used to respond to an effect,
it must be the last thing to happen. If the card was destroyed in battle, Peten's
effect would've gone off.
• Cards that read 'If' still activate their effects even when they are destroyed by a card
like Soul Taker. Because if implies it's going to happen, not that it may happen,
making cards with When an optional effect, not mandatory to the chains resolution.

October 24, 2025 at 8:10 PM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

Gather round Planeswalkers and Wizards.

I present you the Planeswalkers guide to Dueling.

HOW YU-GI-OH! DIFFERS FROM
MAGIC: THE GATHERING
• Yu-Gi-Oh! is much more comparable to a format like Legacy in Magic: The Gathering terms, it’s a 60 card deck (40 card minimum) with a 15 card side
board (with an additional 15 card deck accessible during the game referred to as an Extra Deck for additional summoning mechanics.)
• Yu-Gi-Oh! decks are limited to three (3) copies of a card. There are no cards that stipulate otherwise.
• There is a limit to what can be in play. There are dedicated zones for you to place monsters and spells/traps in, both get five but once all five zones
are occupied you cannot use them until the zone no longer has a spell, monster or trap card in them. Therefore, if there are no open zones on your
board, you cannot play anymore cards. No, the zones cannot be used interchangeably, spells/traps must stay in the bottom row and monsters at the
top.
• There is an additional zone for both players (two in total) between zones for players to utilize for another summoning mechanic.
• Opening hand is five cards, maximum hand size is 6.
• Your health is referred to as 'Life points', each player starts with 8,000.
• Monsters in this game do not have keywords.
• In this game, your only resources are your cards in hand, graveyard, deck, extra deck and your life points.
• Cards have what are called Battle Positions which determine what it can do in battle, Defense position Monsters (Cards placed horizontally) and
Attack Position Monsters (Cards placed vertically)
• This game does not have infinite combos, there are only repeatable loops.

TYPES OF CARDS- MAIN DECK
• Spell Cards (Green cards)- Spell cards are cards that often enable or allow you to do certain things. There are a
few different types of Spell Cards that include: Continuous, Equipment, Quick-Play, Field Spells and Ritual spells.
These cards more often than not will enhance your strategy and enable you to further your board state and can
be activated either from being set or activated from your hand. Notable examples include: Monster Reborn, Pot
of Greed or Seal of Orichelchos.
• Trap Cards (Purple cards)- Trap cards are similar except with the caveat that these cards cannot be activated
from the hand (In most circumstances) most trap cards can only be activated after being set on your turn. (You
must end your turn and meet its activation conditions in order to activate the trap card.) Much like spells there
are subtypes of traps; Normal, Continuous and Counter. Notable examples include: Mirror Force, Magic Cylinder
or Solemn Judgement
• Monster Cards (Yellow cards)- These monster cards are usually referred to as "Generic" as Yellow Cards do not
have abilities, these are the only cards in the game that have flavor text. For obvious reasons, these cards are
not generally used unless absolutely required. Notable examples include: Dark Magician, Blue-Eyes White
Dragon and Baby Dragon.
• Effect Monsters(Orange cards)- These monsters are more of what you will run into. These monsters usually
have some form of ability that lets them do something in addition to attacking. Some monsters are only used for
their effect and are used to fulfill a summoning condition. Notable examples include: Buster Blader, Aleister the
Invoker and Man-Eater Bug
The Hell is this Game?? 4

SUMMONING- NORMAL, TRIBUTING AND SPECIAL...FLIP!?
Normal Summon- You get the opportunity during your main phase to summon one (1) star level
4 or lower monster from your hand per turn. This summon can occur during either main phase
and yes there are ways to obtain more of them.
• Tribute Summon- In order to do this you need a creature in-play and a level five or higher
monster in your hand that you intend to summon. Monsters with levels 5 or 6 need a sacrifice
of one of your Monsters in order to be put in play. Anything seven or higher requires two.
(Tribute summoning counts as a normal summon, you can only do it once per turn.)
• Special Summon- Anything that isn't using your normal summon is considered a Special
Summon . Typically, a Special Summon uses a card effect (Trap, Spell or another Monster) that
stipulates you can do so if a condition is fulfilled. Anything summoned from the Extra deck is
also a Special Summon. For example, the card Cyber Dragon requires your opponent to control
a Monster in order for it to be Special Summoned.
• Flip Summon- Flip a face-down monster manually into face up attack position (yes, attack it
cannot go into face up defense) This is the only summoning to be both a Summon and a Battle
Position Change. Flip monsters are not considered "In-Play" during responses to effects.

MAIN DECK SUMMONING STYLES:
Pendulum Summon (Green Gradient Cards)- Pendulum Monsters are also spell cards that can
be placed in the opposing ends of the Spell/Trap Zone and have different abilities depending
whether or not they are a monster or a spell. Pendulum Monsters have what are called a
Pendulum Scale that can be a number from 1-13. When you have two Pendulum cards in
opposing ends of the Spell/Trap Zone you can perform a Pendulum Summon. Pendulum
Summons can only occur once per turn but the player can summon any number of Monsters if
their Star Level falls between the numbers of the Pendulum Scale. If one Monster has a 1 and
the other has a 8, the player can summon any number of Monsters between with Star Levels
2-7 from their hand and only one from their Extra Deck. If a Pendulum monster is destroyed
on the field it goes to the Extra Deck Face-Up.
• Ritual Summon (Blue Cards)- Ritual Monsters Require a Monster and a specific Spell Card and
the requisite monsters with the proper amount of Star- Level in order to be summoned.
The sacrificed Monsters can be on the field or in your hand and as long as the star
level either exceeds that of the monster you are summoning or equal the level exactly the
material is fair game. For example, if I try to summon 'Black Luster Soldier' using 'Black Luster
Ritual' who is a level 8 Ritual Monster I would either need a Monster with the Star Levels to
equal a Level 8 or exceed Level 8.
SPELL....SPEED???
• No, this isn't just about Spells, think

October 24, 2025 at 8:10 PM

Trap S.W. Doore

@trapswdoore.bsky.social

Tearlament has been dead for..2-3 years at this point, banned out of existence in the TCG. Even in the new canlander format where all cards are legal it is severely cost restrictive to play.