Welcome to September, Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts! With a new MTG set just around the corner, excitement is brewing within the community. Each new release brings fresh mechanics, innovative card designs, and the potential for game-changing strategies. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer eager to dive into the world of Magic, preparing for a new set can significantly enhance your experience and performance. In this blog post, we’ll explore the best practices to get ready for the latest MTG release, ensuring you’re well-prepared to hit the ground running.

1. Stay Informed: Research and Spoilers

One of the most exciting aspects of a new MTG set is discovering the new cards and mechanics. Wizards of the Coast typically releases spoilers leading up to the official release date. To stay ahead of the curve:

• Follow Official Spoilers: Keep an eye on official channels such as the Magic: The Gathering website, social media, and YouTube for daily spoiler updates. Websites like MythicSpoiler or MTGGoldfish also compile all revealed cards in one place.
• Join Discussions: Engage in community discussions on platforms like Reddit, Twitter, or MTG-specific forums. Sharing and reading different perspectives on new cards can give you deeper insights into their potential uses.

2. Evaluate the Meta: What Could Change?

Each new set can shift the meta, affecting which decks are most viable in different formats. To anticipate these changes:

• Analyze Potential Meta Shifts: Consider how the new set’s mechanics and powerful cards might impact existing strategies. Will control decks dominate, or will aggressive strategies gain an edge?
• Check Existing Decks: Look at top-performing decks from recent tournaments to see how they might adapt. You can find this information on sites like MTGTop8 or through content creators who specialize in meta-analysis.

3. Deck Building and Brewing

Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the new cards, it’s time to start brewing:

• Identify Synergies: Look for new card combinations and synergies within the set. Building around these interactions can lead to powerful and innovative decks.
• Test in Simulations: Use platforms like MTG Arena or Magic Online to simulate games with your deck ideas. Early testing can help refine your strategies before the official release.

4. Financial Preparation: Managing Your Budget

MTG can be an investment, so it’s wise to manage your budget effectively when a new set releases:

• Pre-Orders and Singles: Consider pre-ordering products or purchasing singles you think will be in high demand. However, be cautious, as prices can fluctuate.
• Prioritize Purchases: Focus on acquiring cards that will enhance your existing decks or that fit into your preferred playstyle. This way, you get the most value from your spending.

5. Plan for Events: Prereleases and Launch Parties

Participating in prerelease events is one of the most thrilling ways to experience a new set:

• Register Early: Sign up for local prerelease events at your favorite game store as they can fill up quickly.
• Familiarize Yourself with Limited Play: Prerelease events usually feature sealed or draft formats. Brush up on your limited deck-building skills to make the most of the cards you pull.

6. Stay Organized: Collection Management

With new cards incoming, it’s a good time to organize your existing collection:

• Sort and Store: Take inventory of your collection, sort through your cards, and store them properly. This not only keeps your collection tidy but also helps you quickly find what you need when building new decks.
• Trade Smart: Use this opportunity to trade cards you no longer need for new ones that fit into your strategies.

Conclusion

Preparing for a new Magic: The Gathering set release is an exciting journey that enhances your experience of the game. By staying informed, analyzing the meta, brewing decks, managing your budget, and participating in events, you’ll be well-equipped to embrace the new set and all the challenges it brings. As we step into September, let’s gear up for an unforgettable season of Magic: The Gathering!

Happy playing, and may your draws be ever in your favor!

Whew, it is two weeks late but nevertheless I’d like to post this tournament recap of the Amonkhet Prerelease here in the Iloilo community. It was a full packed Saturday at the activity area of Robinsons Place Jaro as 36 players were present & ready to experience the Amonkhet set.

I assisted Rei in setting up the additional tables as well as the player registration and the distribution of the Prerelease packs.

The tournament started at around 1 pm which is somewhat short of our scheduled time of 12:30. As I have observed from the floor as players build their decks, Red, White, and Green White are the most preferred deck builds because of the Exert mechanic. When combined with the right Untap spells and abilities, these creatures can be very aggressive early on.

The best pull that time was from the last Prerelease pack wherein Greg opened a foil Gideon along with Nissa and Rhonas. That is already twice the value of the entry fee.

Here are a few of the pics I took during the course of the Amonkhet Prerelease. Click Here.

It was a fun-filled Saturday as the Magic the Gathering Iloilo community welcomed the newest set Kaladesh via the Prerelease tournament. Thirty six participants composed of old and new players gathered at the venue in Robinsons Place Jaro, the latest Mall here in Iloilo City. I decided to be a facilitator this time and helped Rei in assisting the players with the Kaladesh card rules and stuff. I also took pics during the course of the event and here they are below:

Yesterday’s Eldritch Moon Prerelease here in Iloilo City, specifically at Rei’s Place, was quite jam packed as 36 players attended to experience firsthand the cards from the newest Magic: the Gathering set. Here are the pics I took during the course of the event (as I did not play to give way to the new players).

Click here to go to my FB profile page for the EMN PR pics.

This Saturday will held the scheduled Eldritch Moon Prerelease of the Magic: the Gathering Iloilo Community. It will be a special Sealed format as Prerelease kits will be provided and from the opened cards will provide the components for the construction the decks. The event will have 36 participants, ready to battle and experience the gameplay of the cards from this latest MtG set.

Below is the tournament info:

Eldritch Moon Iloilo Prerelease
July 16, 2016
Format: Sealed (Prerelease kit)
Entry Fee: P1,300php
Venue: Rei’s Place, near Robinsons Iloilo
Time: 1:00pm

*please bring your basic lands and card sleeves.

Quick update: Tournament venue changed to Rei’s Place due to budget constraints.