MTG Articles

Pattern Recognition #188 - Set Design Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2021 March 18 by berryjon

What does it take a make a set of cards. A lot, actually. berryjon takes a look at the process Wizards uses to do just that.

Pattern Recognition #187 - Tuck Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2021 March 11 by berryjon

Teferi can go Tuck himself, did you know? And why is this important? Today, berryjon looks at putting cards back into the library.

Pattern Recognition #186 - Planar Chaos Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2021 March 04 by berryjon

The second set of Time Spiral, in time for Time Spiral Remastered. berryjon looks at the set and what made it work - and didn't.

Pattern Recognition #185 - Walls Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2021 February 25 by berryjon

More than just blockers, Walls have had a good run through the history of Magic, a run that goes to this day.

Pattern Recognition #184 - Jace, Part 2 Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2021 February 18 by berryjon

Time for the back half of my review of Jace Beleren and his follow-up cards. Will I finally find something that I like, or will I just be led down the road to crushing disappointment and defeat?

(spoilers: Yes)

Pattern Recognition #183 - Jace (Part 1) Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2021 February 11 by berryjon

Jace Beleren. Love him, hate him. But what does he actually do on the board? Today, berryjon starts a running commentary on the various Jace's throughout the game and see if he really deserves the hate he's gotten.

(spoilers: yes)

Pattern Recognition #182 - Flicker Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2021 February 04 by berryjon

What once was here, now is gone! And right back again! Let's talk Flicker this week.

Pattern Recognition #181 - Land Destruction Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2021 January 28 by berryjon

Today, berryjon tackles a very divisive subject matter, one that has seen its ups and downs. What does it mean to destroy lands, and where can it go from here?

Pattern Recognition #180 - Saga Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2021 January 21 by berryjon

A portent of the future, the Saga cardtype is relatively new, but has proven its worth. Today, berryjon takes a look at these cards, and why that is.

Pattern Recognition #179 - Copy Protection Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2021 January 14 by berryjon

Not something applied to software, no, today berryjon looks at the mechanics behind making a copy of something to help explain what goes on when such a thing happens. Because sometimes, people get it wrong.

Pattern Recognition #178 - Sing to Rest, Chose the Slain Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2021 January 07 by berryjon

From Christianity to the Norse, the Angels have always been in Magic. Today, berryjon starts off 2021 by looking at their history in the game, and some of their aspects that make them worthwhile.

Pattern Recognition #177 - Landwalk Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2020 November 26 by berryjon

When is a creature being unblockable a bad thing? When it's dependent on the opponent, and misses four times out of five, that's why. Let's take a look at Landwalk!

Pattern Recognition #176 - Artifact Filling Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2020 November 19 by berryjon

Today, berryjon finishes his discussion of the place of Artifacts in the history of Magic, and how they interact with everyone else. There's a lot to cover!

Pattern Recognition #175 - Artifact Crust Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2020 November 12 by berryjon

Today and next week, berryjon looks at the place of Artifacts and other colourless cards in the game, and how they interact with cards with actual colour in them. It's time for the last slices of the Colour Pie!

Pattern Recognition #174 - The First Planeswalker Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2020 November 05 by berryjon

Who was the first? Not Urza, not Nicky B. and his sibling. No, there was a Planeswalker in the game before anyone else. What is their story? Read inside to find out.

Pattern Recognition #173 - Who Knows What Evil Lurks Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2020 October 29 by berryjon

Not what you're thinking, this is one of the failed Mechanic's of Magic's history, and why it failed.

Pattern Recognition #172 - Moving from Competitive to Casual Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2020 October 22 by berryjon

cEDH and Casual EDH are two different things entirely, as many people can attest. While there are many guides about going from one to the other, a lack of the other leads berryjon to talk about how to become Casual without losing what it means to be Competitive.

Pattern Recognition #171 - Bring a Friend to Commander Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2020 October 08 by berryjon

Let's be friends with another Legend, shall we? And when we do that, we can bring a Partner to the whole deal!

Pattern Recognition #170 - Kobolds Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2020 October 01 by berryjon

Today, berryjon looks at one of the absolute failures of a creature type. Kobolds! They're bad!

Pattern Recognition #169 - Orcs Features Opinion Pattern Recognition

2020 September 24 by berryjon

An old Tribe gets a new lease on life, and it seems to have stuck! Today, berryjon looks at a Tribe that has made it from Alpha all the way through to Core 2021 and beyond - with a rather large gap in the middle. The one, the only, the Orc!