iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 8h

Thinking about them this morning...

Dusk Legion Zealot {1}{B}

Creature — Vampire Soldier

When this creature enters, you draw a card and you lose 1 life.

Once they reached Orazca, the Legion’s explorers ransacked tombs and temples, hunting for the Immortal Sun.
1/1

Illustrated by Winona Nelson

Ichor Wellspring {2}

Artifact

When this artifact enters or is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, draw a card.

“Our glorious infection has taken hold.”
—Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite

Watermark: Phyrexian

Illustrated by Steven Belledin

Spirited Companion {1}{W}

Enchantment Creature — Dog

When this creature enters, draw a card.

She formed a friendship with several playful spirits, and soon “the pack” was known as the source of much mischief in Eiganjo.
1/1

Illustrated by Ilse Gort

Add to Deck
Elvish Visionary {1}{G}

Creature — Elf Shaman

When this creature enters, draw a card.

Before any major undertaking, a Cylian elf seeks the guidance of a visionary to learn the will of the gargantuan ancients.
1/1

Illustrated by D. Alexander Gregory

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 29/09/2026

It's the MLB Postseason and the Mets aren't in it (again). So I'm rooting for one of these two to win (their presentations of who they are is delightful):

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 28/09/2026

Reality Fracture is quietly filled with a ton of really powerful cards for #MTGPauper, in part because the format has never had to deal with a Planeswalker before. +1/+1, vigilance, and you draw a card at the very least?

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 28/09/2026

Still trying to find a Zombie deck that scratches the itch. Might have settled on a weird Token/Enchantment hybrid?

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 26/09/2026

Getting ready to pre-release with the kiddo

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 26/09/2026

Rainy day pre-Prerelease card sort.

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 26/09/2026

Calm before the storm Set it off And the sun burnt out tonight

030

Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 24/09/2026

If only every instance of this errata was as strong...

Discordant Spirit {2}{B}{R}

Creature — Spirit

At the beginning of each end step, if it’s an opponent’s turn, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature for each 1 damage dealt to you this turn.

At the beginning of your end step, remove all +1/+1 counters from this creature.
2/2

Illustrated by Alan Rabinowitz

Part of the Reserved List

110

Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 24/09/2026

I have four cards I am eyeing to slot into decks immediately. Forest stuff for Baru, Marwyn and Cultivator for Lluwen.

Add to Deck
Roiling Canopy

Land

This land enters tapped.

Whenever a Forest you control enters, if you control at least five other Forests, target creature you control gets +3/+3 until end of turn.

{T}: Add {G}.

Jace left slices of his personality trapped in his strongest memories.

Illustrated by Titus Lunter

Verdant Kraken {4}{G}{G}{G}

Creature — Plant Kraken

At the beginning of each player’s upkeep, you create a 3/3 green Forest Tentacle land creature token. (It has “{T}: Add {G}.” It’s affected by summoning sickness until your next turn.)

It specializes in natural disorder.
6/6

Illustrated by Wayne Reynolds

Carnivorous Cultivator {1}{G}

Creature — Elf Warlock

Deathtouch

This creature enters prepared.

Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, return target land card from your graveyard to your hand.
2/3
Enroot {G}

Sorcery

Search your library for a land card, put it into your graveyard, then shuffle.

Illustrated by Martina Fačková

Marwyn, the Preserver {1}{G}

Legendary Creature — Elf Druid

Lands you control have hexproof. (They can’t be the targets of spells or abilities your opponents control.)

{2}: Return target land card from your graveyard to your hand.

“We are Llanowar’s children, but also its protectors. Our destinies are one.”
3/2

Illustrated by Quintin Gleim

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 24/09/2026

Balthor is one of my forever almost decks but I cannot be trusted.

Abhorrent Overlord {5}{B}{B}

Creature — Demon

Flying

When this creature enters, create a number of 1/1 black Harpy creature tokens with flying equal to your devotion to black. (Each {B} in the mana costs of permanents you control counts toward your devotion to black.)

At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice a creature.
6/6

Illustrated by Slawomir Maniak

Add to Deck
Pitiless Plunderer {3}{B}

Creature — Human Pirate

Whenever another creature you control dies, create a Treasure token. (It’s an artifact with “{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.”)

“Shame to let good gold go to the grave.”
1/4

Illustrated by David Palumbo

Add to Deck
Carrion Feeder {B}

Creature — Zombie

This creature can’t block.

Sacrifice a creature: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.

Stinking of rot, it leaps between gravestones in search of its next meal.
1/1

Illustrated by Brian Snõddy

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 24/09/2026

Today I learned how this works. You end up making an Eidolon copy for each creature you control, and that copy is a creature. NEAT.

Add to Deck
Three Dog, Galaxy News DJ {1}{R}{W}

Legendary Creature — Human Bard

Whenever you attack, you may pay {2} and sacrifice an Aura attached to Three Dog. When you sacrifice an Aura this way, for each other attacking creature you control, create a token that’s a copy of that Aura attached to that creature.

“You’re listening to Galaxy News Radio, bringing you the truth, no matter how bad it hurts.”
1/5

Illustrated by Elizabeth Peiró

Eidolon of Countless Battles {1}{W}{W}

Enchantment Creature — Spirit

Bestow {2}{W}{W} (If you cast this card for its bestow cost, it’s an Aura spell with enchant creature. It becomes a creature again if it’s not attached.)

This creature and enchanted creature each get +1/+1 for each creature you control and +1/+1 for each Aura you control.
0/0

Illustrated by Raymond Swanland

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 24/09/2026

I mean they even gave me the perfect card a few years ago.

Defiled Crypt {3}{B}

Enchantment — Room

Whenever one or more cards leave your graveyard, create a 2/2 black Horror enchantment creature token. This ability triggers only once each turn.

(You may cast either half. That door unlocks on the battlefield. As a sorcery, you may pay the mana cost of a locked door to unlock it.)
Cadaver Lab {B}

Enchantment — Room

When you unlock this door, return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.

(You may cast either half. That door unlocks on the battlefield. As a sorcery, you may pay the mana cost of a locked door to unlock it.)

Illustrated by Martin de Diego Sádaba

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 24/09/2026

This is like, top 10 most obvious card to bait me into building it, considering how much I love Goblin Welder and Hell's Caretaker.

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Goblin Welder {R}

Creature — Goblin Artificer

{T}: Choose target artifact a player controls and target artifact card in that player’s graveyard. If both targets are still legal as this ability resolves, that player simultaneously sacrifices the artifact and returns the artifact card to the battlefield.

“I wrecked your metal guy, boss. But look! I made you an ashtray.”
1/1

Illustrated by Scott M. Fischer

Add to Deck
Hell's Caretaker {3}{B}

Creature — Horror

{T}, Sacrifice a creature: Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. Activate only during your upkeep.

You might leave here, Chenndra, should another take your place … .
1/1

Illustrated by Sandra Everingham

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 24/09/2026

You ever see a card and know it was bade for you? Guess I'm finally building Ghen.

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Ghen, Arcanum Weaver {R}{W}{B}

Legendary Creature — Human Wizard

{R}{W}{B}, {T}, Sacrifice an enchantment: Return target enchantment card from your graveyard to the battlefield.

“Any apprentice with a spellbook and two sticks can churn out a fireball. This is different. This is art.”
2/3

Illustrated by Kieran Yanner

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 19/09/2026

Is Braids, Cabal Minion too mean in this hypothetical Athreos deck?

Braids, Cabal Minion {2}{B}{B}

Legendary Creature — Human Minion

At the beginning of each player’s upkeep, that player sacrifices an artifact, creature, or land of their choice.

“Home is where you can find a decent graveyard and strangers can disappear without awkward questions.”
2/2

Illustrated by Eric Peterson

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 17/09/2026

Here is where I left things off back in 2015...

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 17/09/2026

Finally, it's time to bring back whatever the hell this monstrosity was. Not a Shadowborn Apostle in sight.

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Athreos, God of Passage {1}{W}{B}

Legendary Enchantment Creature — God

Indestructible

As long as your devotion to white and black is less than seven, Athreos isn’t a creature.

Whenever another creature you own dies, return it to your hand unless target opponent pays 3 life.
5/4

Illustrated by Ryan Barger

Endless Whispers {2}{B}{B}

Enchantment

Each creature has “When this creature dies, choose target opponent. That player puts this card from its owner’s graveyard onto the battlefield under their control at the beginning of the next end step.”

Those who find death under the black sun’s shadow cannot escape its pull.

Illustrated by Carl Critchlow

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 17/09/2026

One of my first decks was a Rakdos Flayer of the Hatebound deck. I keep trying to recapture that feeling, so I'm just going to rebuild it. Excited to see what the new cards give it...

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 17/09/2026

I have three builds planned and all three are rebuilds of old decks I've had at various points. I'm on a real "reverence for my past while acknowledging the present" when it comes to my decks these days. Anax and Cymede is going to be a rebuild of my old Tianna, Ship's Caretaker deck.

Anax and Cymede {1}{R}{W}

Legendary Creature — Human Soldier

First strike, vigilance

Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Anax and Cymede, creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain trample until end of turn.

Akros’s greatest heroes are also its royalty.
3/2

Illustrated by Willian Murai

Add to Deck
Tiana, Ship's Caretaker {3}{R}{W}

Legendary Creature — Angel Artificer

Flying, first strike

Whenever an Aura or Equipment you control is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, you may return that card to its owner’s hand at the beginning of the next end step.

“Nothing is too broken to mend.”
3/3

Illustrated by Eric Deschamps

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 16/09/2026

Switching gears just a tad. I think I'm going to be a problem on purpose...

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 16/09/2026

Here's a thing: moxfield.com/decks/YCKWwF...

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 15/09/2026

Here's a thing: moxfield.com/decks/RIWWCg...

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 14/09/2026

They really knew I'd rebuild Baru, Fist of Krosan, eh?

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 14/09/2026

I got to pull this off in a game a few weeks back and it filled me with glee.

Thawing Glaciers

Land

This land enters tapped.

{1}, {T}: Search your library for a basic land card, put that card onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle. Return this land to its owner’s hand at the beginning of the next cleanup step.

Illustrated by Jeff A. Menges

Part of the Reserved List

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 14/09/2026

Here's a thing: moxfield.com/decks/05BY8A...

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 11/09/2026

This is where I am with my Pia, Consul of Revival deck. What I love most in that build is winning with small creatures thanks to Cavalcade of Calamity and Raid Bombardment. But I think I settled on this old school friend (and tricks to trigger Heroic after combat starts):

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 10/09/2026

Thinking about Orzhov Zombies again...

Zahur, Glory's Past {W}{B}

Legendary Creature — Zombie Cat Warrior

Start your engines! (If you have no speed, it starts at 1. It increases once on each of your turns when an opponent loses life. Max speed is 4.)

Sacrifice another creature: Surveil 1. Activate only once each turn.

Max speed — Whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, create a tapped 2/2 black Zombie creature token.
3/2

Illustrated by Alex Stone

Binding Mummy {1}{W}

Creature — Zombie

Whenever another Zombie you control enters, you may tap target artifact or creature.

What the gods decree, the mummies enforce.
2/2

Illustrated by Shreya Shetty

Add to Deck
Wayward Servant {W}{B}

Creature — Zombie

Whenever another Zombie you control enters, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.

If one of the anointed fails to serve with perfect obedience, the desert is always ready to receive it.
2/2

Illustrated by Anthony Palumbo

Add to Deck
Tombstone Stairwell {2}{B}{B}

World Enchantment

Cumulative upkeep {1}{B} (At the beginning of your upkeep, put an age counter on this permanent, then sacrifice it unless you pay its upkeep cost for each age counter on it.)

At the beginning of each upkeep, if this enchantment is on the battlefield, each player creates a 2/2 black Zombie creature token with haste named Tombspawn for each creature card in their graveyard.

At the beginning of each end step and when this enchantment leaves the battlefield, destroy all tokens created with this enchantment. They can’t be regenerated.

Illustrated by Dom!

Part of the Reserved List

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 10/09/2026

Ich-Tekik/Malcolm did work. Made a giant Golem and Ich, had a Canoptek Scarab Swarm with Junk Winder to lock down the table. Took out the Terra player only to die to a KCI fueled Exsanguinate. moxfield.com/decks/IbGeAc...

Canoptek Scarab Swarm {4}

Artifact Creature — Insect

Flying

Feeder Mandibles — When this creature enters, exile target player’s graveyard. For each artifact or land card exiled this way, create a 1/1 colorless Insect artifact creature token with flying.
1/1

Illustrated by Alexey Kruglov

Junk Winder {5}{U}{U}

Creature — Serpent

Affinity for tokens (This spell costs {1} less to cast for each token you control.)

Whenever a token you control enters, tap target nonland permanent an opponent controls. It doesn’t untap during its controller’s next untap step.
5/6

Illustrated by Campbell White

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 10/09/2026

Baru is a delight. I resolved an Avenger of Zendikar for 17 plants and survived to my turn w/Baru in play. I cast Boundless Realms for 7 Forests. If not for sending one plant at the wrong player (to be fair they were at effectively 176 life), I win. It still ruled. moxfield.com/decks/7C4-4v...

Baru, Fist of Krosa {3}{G}{G}

Legendary Creature — Human Druid

Whenever a Forest enters, green creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain trample until end of turn.

Grandeur — Discard another card named Baru, Fist of Krosa: Create an X/X green Wurm creature token, where X is the number of lands you control.
4/4

Illustrated by Lucio Parrillo

Add to Deck
Avenger of Zendikar {5}{G}{G}

Creature — Elemental

When this creature enters, create a 0/1 green Plant creature token for each land you control.

Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, you may put a +1/+1 counter on each Plant creature you control.
5/5

Illustrated by Aleksi Briclot

Boundless Realms {6}{G}

Sorcery

Search your library for up to X basic land cards, where X is the number of lands you control, put them onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.

“Planeswalking cannot be taught. Either you see the doors or you do not.”
—Nissa Revane

Illustrated by Cliff Childs

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 09/09/2026

This feels like a solid card in #MTGPauper. 3/3 Vigilance is a reasonable body and the upside of taking out a Myr Enforcer, Utrom Monitor, or Makeshift Munitions matters.

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 09/09/2026

So where do writers apply? mcdetroit.mtgfestivals.com/en-us/applic...

A list of various "content" forms that does not include written articles.

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 08/09/2026

Getting to the point in my Commander deck life cycle where I'm starting to get the itch to pare down again and hone in on cards that keep scratching at the back of my brain: