iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Don’t worry; all that free Russian diesel will fix everything

Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Correct. In fact if you’re on the same system and they can look up your availability I’m wondering why they called at all. Just research and send invite.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Ironically for me it was the melting faces in the first one. Being super old and all. :)

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

So Capsize is a common but I would only allow myself to do this without resorting to 40 conventional 1-mana draw spells. As for WB, I’d try bats if there are enough commons. No one gives bats the love they deserve in our ecosystems

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Would love to be wrong. But I traveled too far down this road. Without real and measurable consequences, Wizards will not change their overall approach.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I think it’s disingenuous and intended to get everyone back on track chasing the shiny. Bookmark this moment. They will absolutely show contempt again for their most invested customers. It’s great press!

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

They’ve got a regular version that lots of users swear by and seems to be stable - so if you’re on Google or other non-Apple device, I think it’s a clean recommend. For Apple device…well, message me and we’ll talk.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Mono blue illusion deck with the two-draw commander (forget the name but it’s on Archideckt somewhere ;) ).

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I’ll bet you could do your whole collection. The key is to start shedding large swathes of duplicate cards you’re not using.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I update regularly now. Love it. Archidekt works well. I use Delver to scan and the export the files. Delver for Apple is in annoying beta stage but works…ok. Highly recommend scanning and cataloguing. It has made deck edits WAY easier.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Soon to be repeated each week. :-/

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I politely disagree. There are already too many good colorless cards that end up in every deck. I’d like to see fewer of them, honestly. I believe in you. You’ve got this.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Slice the cucumbers to flavor pitchers of filtered water in your fridge. Presto! You live in a spa.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I’d like to see him do this but replace “bananas” with “oil”

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

BUT BENNIE IF YOU GET THAT NEW SAMUT EVERYTHING HAS SPLIT SECOND AND YOU CAN COMBO OFF WHY NOT COMBO OFF BENNIE

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Before I was a content creator, I didn’t have Instagram. Now I still don’t. ;)

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

(Seriously though that’s great advice)

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

This is the only bird account I need

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Come to Minnesota and I’ll hire you. Not sure how/for what, but I shall start with the power of belief and make it happen

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I shall take your assumptions as a lack of curiosity. Fair enough. Take care; I’m muting the thread.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

This would be a devastating riposte if I had claimed the color pie had stopped working. We’re all friends here in the Magic community and social media is not a terrific place for nuanced analysis. I’ll get deeper into my point if you’re truly interested. If not, let’s let it go.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Sorry Shivam no commenting allowed while this is on the stack

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

THANK YOU I wish more people understood, remembered, and promoted the original purpose of Commander. Too many people swallow the false logic of “format has evolved, what are you gonna do, gotta play the same 27 cards as everyone else” and it’s utterly wild.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Well I can’t argue v that airtight logic; I guess we’re done here. Peace.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

(I’m not demanding you answer. Just posing the question rhetorically.)

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

So I get this won’t happen every set but the math is problematic: in almost every UB, there’s been a 5c legend (often fairly reflective of that character’s identity). After a few years of this pace, what interesting design space actually exists there? What makes 5c special anymore?

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Also, five minutes after I wrote this, I saw the second (Codie) 5c commander in the same set. Gosh, is there a third? A fourth? How many can we cram in there? What ARE colors, really? Just tap any land for anything. Also when you tap a land for mana, draw a card and place a +1 counter and win. Wheee

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I like it on theme, for a reason (you say this elsewhere). It puts a necessary clock on 5c decks that metastasize board states over eight turns using a billion triggered abilities. It’s not as prevalent at my LGS as it appears to be in YouTube videos. YMMV.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Every 5c commander they make takes another nibble out of the color pie. Why make choices w fewer colors when I can play an increasing pool of mana fixing and have it all w no drawbacks? I won’t yuck a newer player’s yum at the table. But it IS boring to play v more and more 5c decks.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Loved the first few pairs I saw. Appreciate some people wanted different things from this set. Would’ve loved a few more subtle changes - same color different vocation, or same vocation different abilities, etc. With a two-set block, there’d be more space to breathe. MTG doesn’t breathe anymore.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Define “unplayable?” It’s a Fog variant during combat, or pushes goaded creatures in another direction pre combat, or lets you play politics if you’re strong enough to extend a shield. Yeah, it’ll likely be a $0.75 rare. But stuff like this gets played all the time by some people in LGS’s.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Now if only we can get more “staples” with landfall, treasure tokens, and/or +1/+1 counters, I’ll be able to create a self-automated deck by spilling my entire collection on the floor and then picking up 100 cards randomly

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

FINALLY a five-color commander

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

You’d better let a data center in your backyard or we’ll fall behind China in the race to create more slop!

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

If players hate that the mechanics they like might also benefit their opponents and make them think more carefully, my sympathy level is low. Every game degenerates into “draw a card to gain a life to play a land to draw a card.” It’s unsustainable. Brakes required.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I’m sure those basic, ten second designs have flaws. I’m less interested in refining them here than I am in pointing out they can be refined. They made this hole. They have the skill to dig out. I don’t buy that it’s that tall an order.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Whenever an opponent places one or more +1/+1 counters on a creature they control, they may pay 2. If they don’t, you may create that many 1/1 fish tokens. Whenever a land comes into play under an opponent’s control, if they control more lands than you, create a lander token. Season to taste.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I’m glad to see it on something new.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

They did at least one (the elf in black that causes life loss). I’ve played it and it makes players think. I encourage more game pieces that make players think.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Not “hosers”. Evening agents. You get a +1 counter. I get something. Or I get a way to limit the amount yet still give you something. There are tons of elegant solutions available. Right now, too many boards go way over the top into 13,000 triggered abilities.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Cute card. I’ll play it. Wizards needs to stop making treasures, landfall, and +1 counters better, and start making more cards that your opponents can play to offset the ridiculous. Whenever your opponent plays a land or makes a token or places a counter, what benefit might you get? Get creative.

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Finally, elves get a way to make landfall and draw cards; now four-year olds can win more often by turn five

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I’m somewhat of an expert on this phenomenon, let me explain why it happens… *sigh*

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Maybe they don’t intend you to DATE him…? More like a mercenary assignment ;)

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Anthony Alongi @aalongi.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

This is wonderful. I also likely would have quit Magic some years ago, had it not been for our own LGS. The store does have events it runs, mixed with things individual players set up (e.g., random sealed box event w donated cards). Online community, even here, can’t represent the best of MTG.

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