Hogaak Is Back: New Legacy Deck Innovations | Episode 120

Innovation in Legacy — What's Flying Under the Radar?Hogaak is back, and Legacy players are getting creative!This week we're digging into some of the most interesting new deck ideas in Legacy. From Dimir Hogaak and Blue Lands to Bant Depths, Beanstalk-powered Phelia decks, and even the return of Blue-Black Reanimator, there's plenty of innovation to explore.Which of these decks could be the next big thing, and what should you prepare for before Eternal Weekend?Your hosts,Daniel, Peter, and Philipp

Reality Fracture is here — so which new cards actually matter for Legacy?In Episode 119 of In Response – A Legacy Podcast, we take a deep dive into Magic: The Gathering’s newest set, Reality Fracture.We start with something we haven’t talked about much lately: Magic’s actual story. Reality Fracture brings us back to the MTG Multiverse with Jace, the Echoverse, alternate versions of familiar characters and plenty of callbacks to Magic’s past.Then we get to the important part:What can we actually play in Legacy?We go through the cards that caught our attention, rate their Legacy potential and, naturally, start brewing increasingly questionable decks along the way.Among the cards and ideas we discuss:• Karn, Argent Defender and Stiflenought shells• Solitary Cell in artifact strategies• Samut, Tyrant of Naktamun and what giving your spells split second could mean for combo decks• High Tide possibilities• Craterclaw Colossus• Jace’s Machinations and Empower Jace• Multiply by Zero as Legacy removal• Carnivorous Cultivator and land-based strategies• Dark Matter Manipulator as additional Stitcher’s Supplier effects• Could Reality Fracture help bring old-school Hogaak back?• The Echoverse Fulcrum as a new Karn wish-board option• Theorist’s Sanctum and our increasingly ridiculous Turbo Jace idea• Darklight Phoenix• Hogaak + Phoenix• Goblin Bombardment + Phoenix• Phoenix Pox?!• And, most importantly, can we somehow play EIGHT Phoenixes?Reality Fracture doesn’t necessarily look like a set full of obvious Legacy staples.But it does contain exactly the kind of cards we love: strange effects that might revive old archetypes, create new shells or lead us down a completely unnecessary deckbuilding rabbit hole.Now we want to see what you can come up with.What Reality Fracture card are you most excited to test in Legacy?And if you already have a ridiculous brew for Darklight Phoenix, Dark Matter Manipulator or any of the other cards we discussed, drop the list in the comments.🎧 Listen to In Response – A Legacy Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major podcast platforms.👍 Subscribe for weekly Legacy metagame analysis, deck discussions, tournament coverage, brewing and Magic: The Gathering strategy.#MTGLegacy #MagicTheGathering #RealityFracture #LegacyMTG #MTG #LegacyPodcastYours⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Daniel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Peter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philipp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Has Legacy finally become fair again?After months of Fantasticar combos, bans, explosive strategies and constant metagame upheaval, the Legacy format suddenly feels very different.In Episode 118 of In Response – A Legacy Podcast, Philipp, Daniel and Peter discuss why Legacy seems to have finally put on the brakes — and whether the format is beginning to feel like Legacy again.“Fair” obviously means something very different in Legacy than it does in Standard or Modern. Legacy is still an incredibly powerful format. But right now, creature combat, interaction, card advantage and games played over multiple turns are becoming increasingly important again.And more importantly: players appear to have meaningful choices.We discuss:Why Legacy currently feels slowerThe impact of the Fantasticar banThe rise of fair blue strategiesBlue-Black’s position in the metagameBilbo as an important new fair threat/value engineFlow State and modern card advantageWhether Tamiyo is still an automatic inclusionDifferent ways to build Blue-Black Tempo and midrangeThe relationship between tempo, card advantage and pressureBilbo compared to old Legacy threats like Dreadhorde ArcanistWhy fair cards can still be incredibly powerful in LegacyThe return of control and larger fair strategiesWhether combo can exploit the current metagameNew experimentation in Storm and other combo decksWhy having several viable strategic directions mattersWhether Legacy is actually healthier — or simply feels more like Legacy againOne of the most interesting developments is that there no longer appears to be one obvious way to build every blue deck.Do you want maximum pressure?Do you want Flow State and card advantage?Do you want a larger control strategy?Do you want to attack those fair decks with combo?Those decisions — and the metagame cycles they create — are a big part of what has historically made Legacy interesting.So our real question isn't simply:“Is Legacy fair?”It's:“Does Legacy finally feel like Legacy again?”And right now, our answer might actually be yes.💬 What do you think? Is the current Legacy metagame genuinely healthier, or are we just between broken decks?00:00 – Has Legacy Finally Put on the Brakes?01:50 – Why Blue-Black Feels Different Now02:41 – What “Fair” Actually Means in Legacy04:27 – Bilbo and the New Fair Power Level07:49 – Tempo, Flow State & Card Advantage11:32 – Is Tamiyo Still an Auto-Include?12:32 – Different Ways to Build Blue-Black14:27 – Bilbo vs Dreadhorde Arcanist16:19 – Could Bilbo Become Oppressive?22:10 – Is There Room for Fast Combo Again?24:08 – New Storm Experiments30:33 – Fair Blue Is Rising, But Combo Still Exists30:45 – Is Legacy Actually Better Now?31:19 – Why the Format Feels Like Legacy Again32:35 – Choosing the Deck That Fits Your Style🎧 Listen to In Response – A Legacy Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major podcast platforms.👍 Subscribe for weekly Legacy metagame analysis, deck discussions, tournament coverage and Magic: The Gathering strategy.#MTGLegacy #LegacyMTG #MagicTheGathering #LegacyMeta #MTGPodcast #LegacyPodcast #FlowState

Modern Legacy Is Too Powerful — We Went Back to 2019 | Episode 117What happens when you take modern Legacy players and put them back into 2019-era Legacy?We found out.In Episode 117 of In Response – A Legacy Podcast, we briefly discuss the latest Fantasticar ban and what the post-Fantasticar Legacy metagame could look like. But the real focus of this episode is a trip back to 2019-era Legacy through our PreFire tournament.And the difference was striking.Older Legacy had weaker individual threats, longer games and more time to develop a strategy. Modern Legacy is filled with cards that generate enormous amounts of value immediately—and that can fundamentally change how games are played.We discuss what that difference actually feels like at the table.

Is Fantasticar Already Too Good for Legacy? | Episode 116Legacy has a brand-new engine card—and it's showing up everywhere.In Episode 116 of In Response – A Legacy Podcast, we take a deep dive into Fantasticar, the newest card that's rapidly reshaping the Legacy metagame.Unlike previous format-defining threats, Fantasticar isn't locked into a single archetype. Instead, it's powering multiple combo and tempo strategies, forcing players to rethink both deckbuilding and sideboarding.So the big question is:Is Fantasticar simply powerful... or already too powerful?In this episode we discuss:What Fantasticar actually doesWhy it has become one of the most played cards in LegacyWhich archetypes use it bestDoomsday and FantasticarBlue-Black Fantasticar shellsTES and other Storm strategiesWhich decks are the biggest losersHow to beat FantasticarStifle, Sphere of Resistance and other answersIs Legacy becoming too fast again?Should Wizards consider action?Early Hobbit spoilers, including Bilbo and other cards that could impact LegacyOne of the biggest discussions in Legacy today isn't about a single deck.It's about a single card that suddenly appears across the entire format.Is this healthy diversity—or the beginning of another format-defining engine?Let us know what you think in the comments.🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major podcast platforms.👍 If you enjoy Legacy strategy, metagame analysis, tournament preparation and competitive Magic, subscribe for new episodes every week.

Did Wizards Finally Get Legacy Bans Right? | Episode 115The Legacy format has changed once again.With Candelabra of Tawnos leaving the format, Tron takes a significant hit—but the bigger conversation isn't about one deck.It's about how Legacy should be managed moving forward.In Episode 115 of In Response – A Legacy Podcast, we discuss the latest Banned & Restricted announcement, whether Wizards of the Coast is becoming more proactive with Legacy, and if frequent ban announcements are ultimately good for the format.We also dive into one of the hottest new topics in Legacy: Fantasticar.Already appearing across multiple archetypes and mentioned on the Legacy watch list, the card is creating heated discussions throughout the community.Legacy has rarely evolved this quickly.The question is:Are players adapting fast enough—and is Wizards making the right decisions?

Is the Legacy metagame you're seeing online actually the metagame you'll face at your next tournament?In Episode 114 of In Response – A Legacy Podcast, we dive into one of the biggest challenges facing competitive Legacy players today: the growing disconnect between MTGO results and paper tournament reality.Following the ban of Undercity Informer, we discuss why Oops All Spells was targeted, whether Wizards of the Coast made the right call, and how the ban reshaped the format in unexpected ways.The biggest winner? It might not be the deck you think.We break down:Why Tron emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Oops banThe impact of Flow State on the current Legacy metagameWhy Blue-Black Tempo suddenly disappeared from online resultsThe rise of Blue-Red Tempo, Doomsday, and Sneak & ShowWhy MTGO and paper Legacy are drifting further apartThe real impact of card availability on tournament resultsWhether Legacy Tron is actually the best deck in the formatFour Seasons Bologna predictions and expected Top 8 decksWhat we are planning to register for one of Europe's biggest Legacy eventsOne of the most interesting questions in Legacy right now is simple:How much should tournament players trust online data?A deck can dominate MTGO challenges while barely existing in paper events. Meanwhile, decks that seem absent online may be far better choices for large European tournaments.If you're preparing for Four Seasons Bologna, Eternal Weekend, Austrian Legacy Masters, local RCQs, or any major Legacy event, this episode will help you understand the difference between the online winners' metagame and the real-world paper metagame.Legacy Banned & Restricted DiscussionUndercity Informer BanOops All SpellsLegacy TronFlow StateBlue-Black TempoBlue-Red TempoDoomsdaySneak & ShowFour Seasons BolognaLegacy Metagame AnalysisMTGO vs Paper LegacyCompetitive Legacy Strategy

Flow State has arrived — and Legacy players are already comparing it to Expressive Iteration.In Episode 113 of In Response – A Legacy Podcast, we break down the hottest new card in the format and discuss whether it’s simply strong… or potentially format-warping.Why Flow State immediately slotted into Blue Red and Blue BlackComparisons to Expressive IterationThe instant/sorcery deckbuilding requirementsWhy Doomsday may be one of the biggest winnersNew tempo shells with Delver, DRC, and Stormchaser’s TalentMystic Sanctuary discussions returning to LegacyHow the format may adapt to the new card advantage engine“Flow State into Flow State decides games.”“Every deck that doesn’t play Flow State has to find a way to beat it.”“This could become Expressive Iteration 2.0.”If you want to stay ahead of the Legacy metagame, this episode is essential. We explore not only where Flow State fits today — but how it could reshape the format moving forward.👉 Is Flow State healthy for Legacy?👉 Which shell is best?👉 Subscribe for weekly Legacy content and tournament coverage.#MTGLegacy #MagicTheGathering #LegacyFormat #FlowStateKey TopicsMemorable MomentsWhy Watch This EpisodeCalls to Action

Episode 112 dives into one of the most exciting new developments in Legacy: a Goblin Welder combo shell that may have completely replaced Painter.How the new combo works (Surveillance Cam + Welder)Infinite mana and win conditions explainedWhy Painter might no longer be optimalDifferent shells: Mono Red, Blue, and Hybrid buildsPlan B strategies with Urza’s Saga and Cori-Steel CutterStrengths, weaknesses, and matchupsIf you’re a combo player, a former Painter pilot, or just want to stay ahead of the Legacy meta, this episode breaks down a deck that might redefine artifact strategies.Yours⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Daniel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Peter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philipp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In Episode 111, we go deep on Legacy Elves with a dedicated specialist, Christian Noitz ( @OnlyElves on X) and answer the big question: is the deck still viable in today’s meta?Why Elves fell off in recent yearsThe impact of Bowmasters and modern card designCombo vs “Value Elves” buildsHow to adapt your list for today’s metaMatchups vs Blue-Black Tempo, Control, and ComboSideboarding strategies and card choicesIf you’ve ever played Elves, or thought about picking it up, this episode gives you a real, honest look at where the deck stands today and how to approach it in the current meta.👉 What’s your experience with Elves right now?👉 Drop your list in the comments👉 Subscribe for weekly Legacy insightsYours⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Daniel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Peter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philipp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠