Yoni Skolnik
@yoniskolnik.bsky.social
MTG Principle Game Designer. Game design lead on M20, STX, BRO, DFT. Lead vision designer for #MTGxFINALFANTASY
It was incredible. The escalation made me think of the puzzle game Baba Is You.
July 4, 2025 at 5:18 PM
It was incredible. The escalation made me think of the puzzle game Baba Is You.
I love bringing her back immediately when she dies so she gets her own counters again. Remember, if Aerith dies you can always bring her back with a Phoenix Down! #wotcstaff
June 14, 2025 at 3:51 AM
I love bringing her back immediately when she dies so she gets her own counters again. Remember, if Aerith dies you can always bring her back with a Phoenix Down! #wotcstaff
Thanks for the shout out!
June 11, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Thanks for the shout out!
Not having worked on the set much I wanted to try a challenge run mostly for Bluesky content purposes. Was a lot of fun!
I love how this draft environment allocates power between mono and multicolor cards. It makes for many approaches and speeds to be viable.
Thanks for reading!
12/12 #WotCStaff
I love how this draft environment allocates power between mono and multicolor cards. It makes for many approaches and speeds to be viable.
Thanks for reading!
12/12 #WotCStaff
April 19, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Not having worked on the set much I wanted to try a challenge run mostly for Bluesky content purposes. Was a lot of fun!
I love how this draft environment allocates power between mono and multicolor cards. It makes for many approaches and speeds to be viable.
Thanks for reading!
12/12 #WotCStaff
I love how this draft environment allocates power between mono and multicolor cards. It makes for many approaches and speeds to be viable.
Thanks for reading!
12/12 #WotCStaff
WU aggro worked when I started with early Sibsig Appraisers, and then see Stormbeacon Blade and Sunpearl Kirins late.
Appraiser smooths out the white based aggro plan. Humbling Elder and Ringing Strike Mastery are valuable as 1 mana tempo plays which white otherwise lacks.
11/12 #WotCStaff
Appraiser smooths out the white based aggro plan. Humbling Elder and Ringing Strike Mastery are valuable as 1 mana tempo plays which white otherwise lacks.
11/12 #WotCStaff
April 19, 2025 at 8:45 PM
WU aggro worked when I started with early Sibsig Appraisers, and then see Stormbeacon Blade and Sunpearl Kirins late.
Appraiser smooths out the white based aggro plan. Humbling Elder and Ringing Strike Mastery are valuable as 1 mana tempo plays which white otherwise lacks.
11/12 #WotCStaff
Appraiser smooths out the white based aggro plan. Humbling Elder and Ringing Strike Mastery are valuable as 1 mana tempo plays which white otherwise lacks.
11/12 #WotCStaff
This deck had solid rares. But it was less streamlined than the 5x Champ masterpiece, and often didn't compete with the power of 3+ color decks.
Going forward if I start drafts with Champion of Dusans I’ll keep an eye open for if white or red happen to be the right support color.
10/12 #WotCStaff
Going forward if I start drafts with Champion of Dusans I’ll keep an eye open for if white or red happen to be the right support color.
10/12 #WotCStaff
April 19, 2025 at 8:43 PM
This deck had solid rares. But it was less streamlined than the 5x Champ masterpiece, and often didn't compete with the power of 3+ color decks.
Going forward if I start drafts with Champion of Dusans I’ll keep an eye open for if white or red happen to be the right support color.
10/12 #WotCStaff
Going forward if I start drafts with Champion of Dusans I’ll keep an eye open for if white or red happen to be the right support color.
10/12 #WotCStaff
Now for the aggro portion. Coming into the format I was very excited to build decks around Champion of Dusan. Wow did it deliver with 5x Champion leading to a mono green 7-0.
I first picked a Synch Charge hoping to wheel a Champ in the pack, when I did I knew it was on!
9/12 #WotCStaff
I first picked a Synch Charge hoping to wheel a Champ in the pack, when I did I knew it was on!
9/12 #WotCStaff
April 19, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Now for the aggro portion. Coming into the format I was very excited to build decks around Champion of Dusan. Wow did it deliver with 5x Champion leading to a mono green 7-0.
I first picked a Synch Charge hoping to wheel a Champ in the pack, when I did I knew it was on!
9/12 #WotCStaff
I first picked a Synch Charge hoping to wheel a Champ in the pack, when I did I knew it was on!
9/12 #WotCStaff
I was excited about Smile at Death on Appraisers and Stags as a finisher, but in practice it was usually too slow to catch up as opposed to bombs with more immediate impact.
8/12 #WotCStaff
8/12 #WotCStaff
April 19, 2025 at 8:41 PM
I was excited about Smile at Death on Appraisers and Stags as a finisher, but in practice it was usually too slow to catch up as opposed to bombs with more immediate impact.
8/12 #WotCStaff
8/12 #WotCStaff
Here are a couple non-trophy decks that followed this theory.
Fortress Kin-guard does a nice job of setting up Trade Route Envoy to draw to find Craterhoof or Nature’s Rhythm (to find Craterhoof).
7/12 #WotCStaff
Fortress Kin-guard does a nice job of setting up Trade Route Envoy to draw to find Craterhoof or Nature’s Rhythm (to find Craterhoof).
7/12 #WotCStaff
April 19, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Here are a couple non-trophy decks that followed this theory.
Fortress Kin-guard does a nice job of setting up Trade Route Envoy to draw to find Craterhoof or Nature’s Rhythm (to find Craterhoof).
7/12 #WotCStaff
Fortress Kin-guard does a nice job of setting up Trade Route Envoy to draw to find Craterhoof or Nature’s Rhythm (to find Craterhoof).
7/12 #WotCStaff
I also had a couple nonblue decks that aren’t controlling, but follow the same principle.
The many Equilibrium Adept and Stormshriek Feral give card flow to find the black bombs, giving you power to compete with 3 color decks after your aggro start gets stymied.
6/12 #WotCStaff
The many Equilibrium Adept and Stormshriek Feral give card flow to find the black bombs, giving you power to compete with 3 color decks after your aggro start gets stymied.
6/12 #WotCStaff
April 19, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I also had a couple nonblue decks that aren’t controlling, but follow the same principle.
The many Equilibrium Adept and Stormshriek Feral give card flow to find the black bombs, giving you power to compete with 3 color decks after your aggro start gets stymied.
6/12 #WotCStaff
The many Equilibrium Adept and Stormshriek Feral give card flow to find the black bombs, giving you power to compete with 3 color decks after your aggro start gets stymied.
6/12 #WotCStaff
This deck has two Marang River Regents. You definitely don’t need a third color when you have that.
Otherwise the deck has many shortcomings, but I just tried to build it with a balanced gameplan to try and not fall too far behind before I find the River Regents.
5/12 #WotCStaff
Otherwise the deck has many shortcomings, but I just tried to build it with a balanced gameplan to try and not fall too far behind before I find the River Regents.
5/12 #WotCStaff
April 19, 2025 at 8:39 PM
This deck has two Marang River Regents. You definitely don’t need a third color when you have that.
Otherwise the deck has many shortcomings, but I just tried to build it with a balanced gameplan to try and not fall too far behind before I find the River Regents.
5/12 #WotCStaff
Otherwise the deck has many shortcomings, but I just tried to build it with a balanced gameplan to try and not fall too far behind before I find the River Regents.
5/12 #WotCStaff
Without much removal, this deck uses cheap white creatures to play defense until it finds Elspeth or Naga Fleshcrafter’s rewew ability on a dragon.
Fortress Kin-Guard does good work both controlling the board, and then being the finisher empowered by either of those bombs.
4/12 #WotCStaff
Fortress Kin-Guard does good work both controlling the board, and then being the finisher empowered by either of those bombs.
4/12 #WotCStaff
April 19, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Without much removal, this deck uses cheap white creatures to play defense until it finds Elspeth or Naga Fleshcrafter’s rewew ability on a dragon.
Fortress Kin-Guard does good work both controlling the board, and then being the finisher empowered by either of those bombs.
4/12 #WotCStaff
Fortress Kin-Guard does good work both controlling the board, and then being the finisher empowered by either of those bombs.
4/12 #WotCStaff
1st up is blue controlling decks. Step 1 to success here is game winning bombs.
No need for a 3rd color when you have bombs like Ugin and Scavenger Regent. If you have those and black removal, then the best color to add might be U for card draw to find the bombs reliably.
3/12 #WotCStaff
No need for a 3rd color when you have bombs like Ugin and Scavenger Regent. If you have those and black removal, then the best color to add might be U for card draw to find the bombs reliably.
3/12 #WotCStaff
April 19, 2025 at 8:38 PM
1st up is blue controlling decks. Step 1 to success here is game winning bombs.
No need for a 3rd color when you have bombs like Ugin and Scavenger Regent. If you have those and black removal, then the best color to add might be U for card draw to find the bombs reliably.
3/12 #WotCStaff
No need for a 3rd color when you have bombs like Ugin and Scavenger Regent. If you have those and black removal, then the best color to add might be U for card draw to find the bombs reliably.
3/12 #WotCStaff
Forcing these color pairs like I did is not optimal, but there are examples in my decklists of why ending up WU/UB/BR/RG/GW can be correct.
Playing 2 color decks can ensure smoother games, at the cost of impact and power. So step 1 is identifying how your deck competes with power.
2/12 #WotCStaff
Playing 2 color decks can ensure smoother games, at the cost of impact and power. So step 1 is identifying how your deck competes with power.
2/12 #WotCStaff
April 19, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Forcing these color pairs like I did is not optimal, but there are examples in my decklists of why ending up WU/UB/BR/RG/GW can be correct.
Playing 2 color decks can ensure smoother games, at the cost of impact and power. So step 1 is identifying how your deck competes with power.
2/12 #WotCStaff
Playing 2 color decks can ensure smoother games, at the cost of impact and power. So step 1 is identifying how your deck competes with power.
2/12 #WotCStaff
Makes me nostalgic for the old slop.
“You won’t believe how this Topeka mom purees tomatoes. Cookbook writers HATE her.”
“You won’t believe how this Topeka mom purees tomatoes. Cookbook writers HATE her.”
March 9, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Makes me nostalgic for the old slop.
“You won’t believe how this Topeka mom purees tomatoes. Cookbook writers HATE her.”
“You won’t believe how this Topeka mom purees tomatoes. Cookbook writers HATE her.”
Fun fact, the art for them originally had them facing the same direction, but we mirrored one so they’d be easier to distinguish. #WotCStaff
March 9, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Fun fact, the art for them originally had them facing the same direction, but we mirrored one so they’d be easier to distinguish. #WotCStaff
Good thoughts, but I decided to go with resonance since it’s the word Rosewater uses most often and I want my writing to resonate with the mothership’s core audience.
March 8, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Good thoughts, but I decided to go with resonance since it’s the word Rosewater uses most often and I want my writing to resonate with the mothership’s core audience.