iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 26/09/2026

Ok maybe my September article wasn't about #MTG / #EDH: witchphd.substack.com/p/internet-s... This is not a sponsored post / ad. Just someone who writes EDH articles on #substack giving unsolicited life advice.

witchphd.substack.com

Internet Security Hygiene

Why YOU Should Use a Password Manager

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 24/09/2026

How to avoid getting sick, in order of importance: • Get good sleep • Wash hands + Avoid direct exposure (viral load has direct correlation with illness severity) • Stay up to date on vaccines • Get a lot of NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis) • Exercise Regularly • Daily Multivitamin

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 23/09/2026

If you want to change your behaviour, you have to change how you feel — it can help to turn it into an act of rebellion! Addicts oft describe "rock bottom" as the turning point where they see the drug as ruining their life and they feel righteous indignation to fight back at every turn.

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 09/09/2026

@defcat.bsky.social Great new video! And also demons are a great kindred (my demon deck is dimir tho)

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 06/09/2026

Might be a hot take but... beverages taste better out of metal cans. Even water tastes better out of a metal can than a plastic or glass cup / bottle.

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 05/09/2026

@defcat.bsky.social Can't agree more with latest VOD IMHO media makes tradeoffs between depth & width — appeal to a niche audience OR broaden the appeal — doing one more means sacrifice the other I write articles "for the love of the game" (you can tell; I keep writing them when no one reads them)

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 31/08/2026

Feel like you’ve built a strong #EDH #commander deck, but you’re not winning your fair share of games? Well my latest #substack article has tips for exactly that. All advice is my opinion of course! witchphd.substack.com/p/the-witchp...

witchphd.substack.com

Winning More Games

The WitchPHD guide

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Reposted by WitchPHD

YANCY GAME @yancygame.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

THE TRAILER IS FINALLY DONE !!! Sound ON. @deadi.bsky.social wrote a custom medley for this and it sounds KILLER, it's not nearly as good without it. Do not deny your ears this music.

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 17/08/2026

Parable — After her son died, a woman asks the Buddha for help. He tells her to bring a mustard seed from a house that’s not known death. She looks, but… What she wanted: a magic cure What she got: the power of knowing she’s not alone Remember, no matter what you’re dealing with… you’re not alone

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 14/08/2026

Another revamp of one of my older #MTG #EDH #Commander articles: This is one where I recount all of the currently banned cards I've played with or against! I updated it to add the bans that ultimately dissolved the RC. witchphd.substack.com/p/cards-ive-seen-banned

witchphd.substack.com

Cards I’ve Seen Banned

And Signpost Bans

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 10/08/2026

Did you know I originally joined Bluesky to advertise my #edh #commander #mtg articles that I write on #substack ? Apparently I forgot. This one posted last month but I forgot to share it here: witchphd.substack.com/p/total-mana...

witchphd.substack.com

Total Mana Value

The Crude Oil of Deckbuilding

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 28/07/2026

I came to bluesky to advertise my #MTG #EDH #Commander deckbuilding articles. Got a new one coming out thursday, and revamped an old one today: witchphd.substack.com/p/the-three-...

witchphd.substack.com

The Three Pillars of EDH

Mana, Draw, and Interaction

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 16/07/2026

I wish #bsky let you edit posts. I’m always finding typos and then deleting / reposting. Also today I had a situation where using an ellipses counted as a . and created an unintentional link to a “connection insecure” page. I don’t want to link people to some random site.

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 16/07/2026

You don’t make a good cEDH deck by throwing a random deck together & asking “is this cEDH?” You don’t make a pleasant Bracket 2 experience by throwing a random deck together & asking “is this B2?” No matter the bracket — you have to read the guidelines and build towards them! #edh #mtg #commander

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 09/07/2026

I don't usually post #EDH card recommendations, but Unearth is my (phyrexian) sleeper pick. IMHO 90% of "3MV or under, black+" commanders want this... and yet it has <4% inclusion on #EDHREC (<20% on many relevant decks). Wake up, (phyrexian) sleepers! #mtg #mtgcommander #commander #mtgedh

The MTG card called "Unearth", which only costs only 1 mana to return any creature with Mana Value 3 or less from the graveyard to the battlefield. It also as cycling, which allows you discard it away to draw a replacement card for only 2 mana, in case you are in a game where it's not useful.

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 03/07/2026

It irks me when people think about anime/game/etc characters like real people and worry about "are they good people are not?" Characters are plot devices, and only the writer has real agency. The best characters are NOT "well adjusted people you'd want to be roomies with" (but, the best PEOPLE are)

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 26/06/2026

My newest #mtg #edh #commander article is here: witchphd.substack.com/p/the-myth-o... This time it's vaguely about the Bracket system and playing in #bracket2 / #b2 (my preferred bracket, btw!) — and more broadly it's about any lower power bracket and life itself.

witchphd.substack.com

The Myth of "De-optimization"

A Crash Course in Multi-objective Optimization

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 23/06/2026

My last #leagueoflegends game was 01/07/25 (1 year 5 months ago). My last #dota / #dota2 game was 11/10/23 (2 years y months ago). I've been really tempted to play dota2 again, though, so I downloaded it. Might play a game soon.

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 22/06/2026

Cool vid: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgHv... I like games that focus mostly on macro + meso. I view micro like salt: a little can be nice seasoning, but a lot is overpowering. Similar, but distinct, is my 4-axis theory: substack.com/home/post/p-... (here I lean towards strategy-tactics games)

youtube.com

Once you see this, You’ll see Competitive Games Differently

YouTube video by Surnex

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 19/06/2026

One thing that makes me excited is when socialist systems of collective ownership and responsibility function well inside of capitalism: - credit unions - worker co-ops - vanguard funds - etc All else being equal, people should use / support services like these more.

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 18/06/2026

Every once in a while I dream about moving to an immutable #linux distro like #silverblue or #bluefin If I could get any of them to work with displayport, and get #flatpak support for one small-time app I use... I might finally make the jump from #archlinux Or maybe I should just switch to #nixos

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 18/06/2026

After being self-assured that my finance article was a success, I wanna write about more life-topics on my #MTG #EDH substack. I want to write one about #linux & #foss but I oft run out of words: "linux good" @diinki.me did a good job so I'll just share their video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4iS...

youtube.com

The Art of using Linux, and why YOU should too.

YouTube video by diinki

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 02/06/2026

I have an #edh #mtg #commander article scheduled for every month until the end of the year, and have been using the downtime to remaster some of my older ones — This one I am proud of the pithiness of (usually I’m way too verbose): witchphd.substack.com/p/understand...

witchphd.substack.com

Understanding Chance

A Simple Solution

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 25/05/2026

Since I've got a few #MTG #EDH #Commander articles in the chamber, I’m revamping some older articles. Today, I updated the two that started it all, which were originally written for #Reddit (and moved to #Substack later): witchphd.substack.com/p/so-i-want-... witchphd.substack.com/p/so-i-want-...

witchphd.substack.com

So I want to brew a deck, now what?

(A WitchPHD guide to introductory-level deck building)

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 22/05/2026

#rant I hate the trend of dropping overnight email/secure-messaging customer support for live chats/calls I work during “office hours” and am customer-facing. I can find a window to send a message, but oft can’t commit to live chat/call I’ve never had an issue overnight support couldn’t fix

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 22/05/2026

I've actually got new #MTG #Commander articles scheduled every month the rest of the year (and unlike what my investment and balatro articles would have you believe, these ones are actually about #EDH ) This month I updated an old article, as a softball: witchphd.substack.com/p/how-i-mana...

witchphd.substack.com

How I Manage Tokens

Battlefield Aesthetics

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 20/05/2026

If it wasn’t clear from my article where I try to make investing simple to get into… Jack Bogle is like… totally my hero or w/e… If you like history, this podcast episode detailing how his company came to be is great: www.acquired.fm/episodes/van... #personalfinance #investing #vanguard #boglehead

acquired.fm

Vanguard | Acquired

Jack Bogle invented the index fund, gave the company away to its customers, and built Vanguard into the world's largest fund manager — saving everyday investors over $1 trillion in fees.

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 06/05/2026

Consider the following: - The Buddhist idea of Śūnyatā - The Boltzmann Brain - The Simulation Hypothesis These ideas aren’t synonymous but they do have overlap.

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 04/05/2026

"Evil" is what happens when you choose yourself every time, no matter the cost to anyone else. youtu.be/pCRt9q4PUJo

youtu.be

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Problem of Complicit Evil

YouTube video by ScriblyScribe

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 17/04/2026

This week, instead of talking about #EDH like normal, I try my hand at being a #personalfinance educator. A crash course in #boglehead style investing. The places I normally advertise are all #MTG focused though, so spare a like and share if you dare! witchphd.substack.com/p/whyhow-you...

witchphd.substack.com

Why/how you should Invest

Tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 26/03/2026

(in the context of software) I understand why backwards compatibility is important for many applications, but I often feel like it’s “ why we can’t have nice things”. If you need it, you NEED it. If you don’t, it’s just holding back progress.

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 26/02/2026

The fact that Spelltable quit @spellbot.io is a blessing in disguise; I tried @convoke.games's product and was extremely surprised with just how much better it is than spelltable: more features & stuff actually working. Try it out for your next #EDH #Commander game: convoke.games/en

convoke.games

Convoke - Play MTG with your Webcam

Convoke is a modern webcam Magic: The Gathering platform with a focus on community.

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 04/02/2026

Out of pocket post but… I highly recommend hang drying clothes if you have space: - rack costs like $20 on amazon - save $$ on electricity - clothes last longer - stains get “baked in” when you machine dry Also most peeps can def get away with washing on “cold” and one of the lighter settings

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 02/02/2026

Dear ALL #mtg #commander #edh content creators. Especially @33elk.bsky.social & @edhrecast.bsky.social !! This is a public plea to STOP raising awareness about Thraben Charm! That card is straight fire and I want to keep it to myself. Thanks!! /s

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 24/01/2026

I came to Bluesky to advertise my #mtg #edh #commander articles. This article is sort of about games as a whole! (and yes, “axes” here is meant to be the plural of “axis” — not the plural of “axe”) open.substack.com/pub/witchphd...

open.substack.com

Skill, Strategy, and Tactics

How Games Test Us

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 22/01/2026

When it comes to movies && TV shows, I believe in Horseshoe Theory: If a show is a 10/10 or a 1/10 I'll usually find it to be memorable and have a good time watching it. The worst thing a show can be is 5/10: unmemorable, not challenging the viewer in any way, not trying anything, safe

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 15/01/2026

My New Year's resolution is to use more em-dashes — It's a cool punctuation and it looks good; I will not let AI take this from me.

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 10/01/2026

PSA: The #mtg #edh #commander bracket system is NOT designed to fit every deck that exists. It is designed to create 5 centralizing points people will build their deck towards. BUILD TOWARDS YOUR INTENDED BRACKET This bird explains it well: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdIc...

youtube.com

We Are Using Brackets Wrong

YouTube video by Wise Hoopoe MTG

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 07/01/2026

I recently downsized my #Commander #EDH collection, and plan to do a lot less buying of #MTG product going forward. I'm in "maintenance mode." My latest article, where I set a goal for the next year and talk briefly about my current decks: witchphd.substack.com/p/my-no-buy-...

witchphd.substack.com

$$ My No-Buy Year $$

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 25/12/2025

TIL: You can use moderation lists to block groups of accounts from interacting with you or showing up on your feed. Once you find a list you trust, click: subscribe > block accounts bsky.app/profile/did:...

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 25/12/2025

Been on #cosmic #cosmic_de for a few days now & love it; strong recommend. Easy to use tiling window management with sensible floating window management. The best of both worlds. Good default look. Good application runner. Minimal and efficient. #foss #linux #arch #archlinux #wayland #opensource

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 19/12/2025

I came to BlueSky to share my #MTG #EDH articles, but today’s article is actually about #balatro and my journey to getting C++ witchphd.substack.com/p/balala

witchphd.substack.com

Balala

EDH, casual mindset, and deckbuilding.

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 05/12/2025

IMHO an important part of strategy in games is facing consequences for decisions. If you get any "get out of jail free cards" that say "if your reaction test is good enough, you can win despite making bad choices" strategic choices cease to have meaning; strategic thought is outmoded by dexterity.

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 25/11/2025

@josephmschultz.bsky.social Just listened to most recent ep Wanted to support your “removing shuffling”!! I run very little shuffling (usually just Demolition Field and maybe a high MV card like Burning Rune Demon) and games are def better I also run very little green, so YMMV

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 05/11/2025

@josephmschultz.bsky.social Hey. [b2] player and longtime data recorder here. Recently I’ve been recording fractional turn counts for “game end” and “first KO” and I wanted to field your opinion. Basically “if the player whose current turn it is ended, what % through the turn would we be?” I.e.

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 25/10/2025

The Golden Fool is me. C++ was my destiny. And now, see: #balatro #c++

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 22/10/2025

Finally! What I’ve been preaching this whole time. #edh #commander #brackets

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 09/10/2025

@josephmschultz.bsky.social Hey. Long time listener and on/off patron here. Just listened to ep 386 and wanted to share data about turn order. I’m part of a [B2] only server that has recorded match data since 2022. Still not a large sample size but more than an individual.

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 13/09/2025

Latest #mtg #commander article is here: witchphd.substack.com/p/retrofutur... Speaking about too many things at once, of course! A bit of a read!

witchphd.substack.com

Retrofuture Commander

[The Bracket System]

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WitchPHD @witchphd.com · 26/08/2025

I don’t plan to build any #universesBeyond #MTG #EDH decks Maybe I’d change my mind if they did an IP I cared about. But… For the most part, Magic IS the IP I care about. I don’t play many games. Never played FF7. Played like 1 game of warhammer but never got into it. MTG is what I grew up with

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