iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

7-2ed Day 1 qualifier Worst 5 Cards: Political Triumph,frozen in ice, trickster's stratagem, White Widow, Viv Vision Best 5: Civil War, Captain America, T'Challa, Hulk Smash, Kang. Honorable Mention, Land cyclers were all amazing. Mana screwed one time in 25 games.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

My 3rd collector's box is with this masterpiece. Nick fury is so good, well worth being 5 color for it.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Got there 8th try with a double paradigm deck in the qualifier play-in sealed. Had second blue paradigm that I'm pretty sure I wasnt supposed to play? Counterspells overperformed, this was the most I've played in a UR deck.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Collector's Box #1 with GW Kithkin! Best cards: Eclipsed kithkin, moonlit lamenter, formidable speaker, dundoolin weaver, spiral into solitude Even got to backdoor UU off formidable speaker and great forest druid to cast wistfulness

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Finished out the day with ANOTHER 5-0, bringing me up to 18-0 in last 4 sealed events, including 2 preliminary events. Deck is in replies if you want to see pool. Worst 3 cards were the changelings, frequently boarded them out for unnerving aim or perfect intimidation

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Another 5-0 trophy in ECL sealed, I believe people are limiting themselves to two colors when there really isnt a need to. Replied to this post is the sealeddeck to play with the build on your own

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

4-0ed a sealed prelim with this, feeling more confident in Lorwyn Eclipsed sealed. Play naturalize effects main deck, tons of busted uncommon/rare targets 3-4 color is normal, games are slow and ham sandwiches can block 3/1s people have that are "aggro" decks.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

AC10 is tomorrow and Dimir Reanimator was my choice for the event! Looking to be a field full of Energy decks, which I believe to be a good matchup. Went 12-1 in tonight's testing at rank 14 mythic, so feeling as prepared as I've ever been. #AC10

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

7-1 for first box in Arena Direct Rares + Jelly is a consistent combination

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Something to keep in mind with The Unagi of Kyoshi Island ward trigger, if they need to tap permanents, you can destroy them in response and the ward will counter the spell/ability.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Split finals of limited challenge with 4 color. Indoctrination and Cruelty overperformed, second metalbending and toph were awful. Boarded in the cards on the right for those two depending on what I saw g1. @fireshoes.bsky.social

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Any knowers out there know whether deathrite works with badgermole cub? I suspect not.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 12/10/2025

Got there 7th try in arena qualifier. Almost every pool from me and opponents was 4 color soup (not red, lol).

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 24/08/2025

Got there day 2 in the Arena Qualifier! No info up on when or where or what format it is, but it looks like I'm playing in Arena Championship 10!

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 24/08/2025

7-2 to make day 2 of the Arena Qualifier! Combo killed with Harmonizer a couple of times, Haliya valued the other ones out.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

Got the easiest 7-0 for two boxes in Arena direct with this 4 color rare masterpiece. Won most matches by milling half their deck, then using requiem on their flier and then cut propulsion them, forcing them to draw 8 and deck out.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Two busted sealeds to win day 1 arena open and arena qualifier!

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

Been testing a lot of sealed in prep for the collector's boxes this weekend, this is the weirdest one yet. All fates scroll saved for 5 and 6, and each of the planets picked up wins. I think sealed is about going as big as possible with a bunch of removal and 18 lands.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

Took the Nautilus, ended up very open and easily 7-1ed! I think the 3 drop I already have is so good with it (t3, t4 lander, turn 5 play it) that it makes sense. I think all are good choices though!

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

Still early in the format for me, what is the pick? First pack was bad, so no info there.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

Got 4 boxes today in arena direct with these two decks. Should give some good ideas to those looking to play on what your decks should look like. Qiqirn merchant was the best card in the UB deck, Sin was the best in the other.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

On the eighth try, got there with UB splashing jenova. Had some really tight plays and also topdecked venos vs crystal's chosen in the final game.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

Did a morning Sealed Qualifier, prepping for this weekend. 4-0 against stiff competition. Pupu into Mountain Chocobo won some games, and Shattoto also did heavy lifting.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Latest update on Arena was incredibly important! First picture is what is on Arena. Second picture is as its printed in real life. If you know, you know.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Huh. Did not know Quina worked like that with Zanarkand

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Favorite deck I've drafted of the format, every card was excellent. Squall remains undefeated, not come close to losing a game when he connects (because of blitzball wombo combo)

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Something I DID NOT know, was that you can return Cie'th to your hand if you sacrifice it to Vayne's Treachery.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

Someone won first bullet after splitting pioneer showcase. Today is just my day to win. (This deck is horrible)

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Total domination in the Pioneer Showcase Challenge by mcwinsauce and I playing mono white tokens, losing only one time total until we split in finals. @fireshoes.bsky.social Decklist in ALT

4 Enduring Innocence
1 High Noon
1 The Wandering Emperor
1 Builder's Talent
2 Authority of the Consuls
3 Seal from Existence
2 The Restoration of Eiganjo
3 Elspeth, Storm Slayer
4 Carrot Cake
4 Caretaker's Talent
4 Ossification
4 Portable Hole
4 United Battlefront
3 Wedding Announcement
4 The Birth of Meletis
1 Beza, the Bounding Spring
1 Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire
1 Mirrex
3 Sunken Citadel
3 Fountainport
3 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
3 Field of Ruin
1 Blast Zone
1 Castle Ardenvale
2 Day of Judgment
1 Runed Halo
16 Plains

3 Voice of Victory
2 Day of Judgment
1 Collector's Cage
2 Heliod's Intervention
2 Rest in Peace
2 High Noon
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Perilous Snare
1 Yorion, Sky Nomad

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Top 8 Pioneer qualifier with Mono White mid twitch.tv/darkest_mage

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Who do we gotta talk to at WOTC to get this centered like it is in profile?

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Best deck I've drafted so far, there really isnt a limit to how many mardu devotee/Salt Road Packbeast you'll play. Cards on right were replaceable do nothings.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Went 5-1 in the MTGO creator showdown, beating mono red twice and mono black once, with a brand new archetype, united battlefront! Token makers let you transmogrify atraxa. The mono-white version I think are both great decks for Pioneer, competitive in the meta #MTGOPioneer #CreatorShowdown

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Ugin has to be the best card in the set, I somehow got him 3 times today and never came close to losing a game in 3 drafts with him, something like 16-0 record. Jeskai was fun otherwise. Overperformed: Glacial Dragonhunt, Zurgo's Vanguard Underperformed: Jeskai Brushmaster, Sibsig Appraiser

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Found what is probably the best card, Ugin, Eye of the Storm. Can even use Ureni's rebuff to rebuy 1/5 and get more vindicate. Overperformed: Ugin, Traveling Botanist, Encroaching Dragonstorm, Eshki Dragonstorm Underperformed: Hundred-Battle Veteran, Mammoth Bellow

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

First trophy in new set, Abzan. Don't really need removal with all the deathtouch creatures. Overperformers: Formation Breaker, Traveling Botanist, Aggressive Negotiation, Rot-Curse Rakshasa Underperformer: Wail of War, Abzan Devotee

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

This "April fools" card style on Arena can't be turned off. It is distracting and made me turn off the stream early, who on earth did they think this was a good idea?

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

I'm guessing Mobilize does not interact with any of these cards?

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

So... what actually beats mono-red in pioneer?

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Got there in the qualifier with UB splashing 2 debris beetle. Remember this for splashing in sealed: 1 Card -> 2.5 sources 2 Cards -> 4 sources 3 Cards -> 5.5 sources Half sources are like evolving wilds or stock up+wreckage wickerfolk

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Aetherdrift Arena Direct, first try! Not doing any more of these, pretty low EV. Fortune weirdly didnt win games, was mostly demonic junker and apocalypse runner.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Needed QPs so a limited prelim was had. 4-0ed with the most mid deck. Mostly won with bestow greatness on 9/7. Night Markets were key to cycle away to not be flooded. Raceway let me get max speed so necrogent could spew out zombies.

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Worst deck I've trophied with, going 7-2. Mostly carried by gonti + fliers or using intimidation tactics on the only card that mattered. Spectacular pileup did not kill an enemy permanent the whole draft

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

3-0ed a Bo3 draft testing for day 2 of arena open. The island was only for pathcruiser and won multiple games allowing me to exhaust. Mana was perfect, but always could have used a night market

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Got there third try in Arena Open Bo1 with RG rares, hopefully day 2 draft goes well for me

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

Did you know Sky Sovereign is in the format? Well, it leads to free wins. 3-0 with GBw in Bo3 (Caradora can tutor for it) Feeling good about arena open tomorrow

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

7-1 in mythic Bo1 Drafting 4 color. Got Fearless Swashbuckler P3P8 and slotted it right in with my P1P1 engine. Mana was perfect, got to exhaust pathcruiser in several games to win with night market/treasure

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Darkest_Mage @darkestmage.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

3-0 in Bo3 draft with BW vehicles. Props: Canyon Vaulter, Pathcruiser, Cloudspire Captain Never drafted BW before, but this was almost mono white, not sure it counts.

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