What the Premodern Data Actually Says

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnLegacy is in a quiet moment — and that makes it the perfect time to ask an uncomfortable question:What if some cards came off the Legacy ban list?With the February B&R announcement approaching, Zac and Phil go card-by-card through Legacy’s banned list to separate relics of another era from cards that still absolutely belong in exile. This isn’t about unbanning monsters to fight monsters — it’s about context, play patterns, and whether certain bans still make sense in today’s Legacy.We talk:Why some cards aren’t even worth discussingThe difference between format homogeny and homogenized play patternsWhy some bans are about experience, not powerCards that might be safe today — and why others never will beWhether Legacy should loosen up… or stay locked downThis isn’t a wishlist episode. It’s a reality check.👇 Let us know in the comments:Which card would you unban first — and why?If you enjoy long-form Legacy discussions about why cards matter, not just what’s winning, make sure you’re subscribed.Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/eternaldurdlesJOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil

Lorwyn Eclipsed is finally a real Magic set again — and that matters more than you think.In this episode of the Eternal Durdles Cast, Phil and Zac break down Lorwyn Eclipsed through a Legacy lens, card by card, while also tackling the bigger question:👉 Can Magic still be Magic in a world dominated by Modern Horizons design and Universes Beyond?We cover:Why Lorwyn Eclipsed feels like “actual Magic cards”How Orcish Bowmasters and Tamiyo quietly invalidate huge swaths of designWhy many cards look playable but fail Legacy’s current power barWhich cards might actually matter (Deceit, Moon Shadow, Merfolk)Goblins quietly getting meaningful role-player upgradesWhy wrath effects disappearing changes tribal decks foreverThe problem with “no interaction” hatebear designWhat Legacy could look like if the format weren’t so homogenizedThis isn’t a hype video — it’s a reality check.Some of these cards are interesting. Some are dead on arrival. And a few reveal just how warped Legacy has become.If you care about:Legacy as a formatThoughtful card designMagic that isn’t just IP soup…this one’s for you.📌 Card images & list: Eternal Durdles Moxfield🎙️ Eternal Durdles Podcast — weekly Legacy & Premodern discussion💬 Let us know in the comments: Is Lorwyn Eclipsed a turning point, or just a speed bump?

There are powerful cards in Legacy.There are cards that define decks.And then there are cards that shape the entire format.In this episode of Eternal Durdles, we break down Orcish Bowmasters — not as just another strong card, but as a format-defining force that dictates how Legacy decks are built, sequenced, and played.Bowmasters doesn’t counter spells.It doesn’t tax mana.Instead, it punishes one of Legacy’s most fundamental behaviors: drawing cards.We explore:Why draw effects become liabilities in a Bowmasters formatHow Brainstorm, Ponder, and card selection are fundamentally alteredWhy Bowmasters doesn’t actually check the best Brainstorm decksHow asymmetrical hate narrows deck diversity instead of broadening itWhy slower blue and midrange decks are squeezed outHow Bowmasters incentivizes speed, redundancy, and linear strategiesWhy even decks not playing Bowmasters must still play around itThe difference between a strong card and a format dictatorWhether Bowmasters is a necessary correction — or a step toward homogenizationWhether you love Orcish Bowmasters or hate it, one thing is clear:Legacy revolves around it.Let us know in the comments — does Orcish Bowmasters improve Legacy, or make it worse?🔔 Subscribe for more breakdowns on why cards matter — not just what’s winning.💬 Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/eternaldurdles

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnParallax Tide is banned — and Premodern will never look the same.In this episode of Eternal Durdles, Zac Clark and Phil (ForceofPhil) react to the Parallax Tide ban, unpacking why it happened, what it says about Premodern as a format, and what comes next.This isn’t just about power level.We break down:Why Parallax Tide wasn’t just strong, but suppressiveHow Tide became a universal plan across multiple archetypesWhy the card constrained brewing and deck diversityThe difference between raw win rates and player experienceWhy “just play answers” failed against Tide’s rules interactionsWhich decks are most affected (Replenish, Mono-Blue, Stiflenought)Who benefits in the short termThe financial and emotional reality of bansWhy decisive action is better than format stagnationWhat Premodern curation gets right — and what WotC could learn from itWe also reflect on what this ban signals:Premodern is willing to protect gameplay quality, even when it’s uncomfortable.Whether you loved Parallax Tide or hated it, this episode is about format health, identity, and the future of Premodern.JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil

We finally have real Premodern data — and it’s shaping what LobsterCon is going to look like.In this episode of Eternal Durdles, Zac Clark and Phil (ForceofPhil) break down Cyrus Bales’ Premodern metagame data, compiled from Magic Online Challenges and other events. Using Top 8 appearances, win rates, and overperformance metrics, we analyze which decks are actually converting — and which ones just feel powerful.This is a numbers-first discussion, not vibes.We cover:Why SLIGH remains the most-played deck in PremodernWhy Mono-Blue Stiflenought is the best-performing deckWhat overrepresentation actually means (and what it doesn’t)Whether Phyrexian Dreadnought is the real problemWhy Parallax Tide may be the true pressure pointAggro vs combo vs control in the current metagameWhat you actually need to prepare for heading into LobsterConSideboard implications in a red-heavy fieldWhy banning decks doesn’t “fix” PremodernAnd why the format still has massive brewing spaceWe also touch on:The Professor’s comments on Premodern bansLand Tax, Tide, and historical format shiftsPsychatog’s resurgenceWhy some decks feel worse to play against than the math suggestsThe emotionally devastating potential of Extract ControlIf you’re tuning a list, building a sideboard, or preparing for LobsterCon, this episode gives you the clearest picture yet of where Premodern actually stands.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAn“Deck loyalty is dead.”In this episode of Eternal Durdles, Zac Clark and Phil (ForceofPhil) take on one of the most sacred cows in Legacy: the idea that you should pick one deck, master it forever, and ride it through every metagame.That advice used to work. It doesn’t anymore.Power creep, rotating threats, and shifting answers mean Legacy now punishes rigid deck identity. Being “the Miracles guy” or “the Reanimator player” might feel comfortable — but it can actively cost you matches, especially when you don’t understand how opposing decks actually function.We dig into:Why deck loyalty no longer works in modern LegacyThe difference between deck identity vs. archetype identityHow power creep and new printings force constant adaptationWhy playing decks you hate makes you better at beating themLearning play patterns vs. just knowing card textA painful Eternal Weekend Painter loss — and what it revealedGoblin Engineer, Goblin Welder, and “hidden Demonic Tutors”Why “knowing your enemy” matters most for control playersThe danger of being too precious with your play experienceHow touching your deck (tutors, cantrips) defines archetype powerThe takeaway is simple but uncomfortable:If your goal is to be a better Legacy player, you need to stop being loyal to a single deck and start being loyal to improvement.Deck loyalty is dead.Adapt — or keep losing to play patterns you don’t understand.JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnWhat if the way you play Magic is really a philosophy?In this episode of Eternal Durdles, Zac Clark and Phil (ForceofPhil) step away from metagame charts and decklists to explore something deeper: how Magic playstyles map onto superhero archetypes and philosophical worldviews.Inspired by a video on Batman and the “archetype of the shadow,” https://youtu.be/mV_LG51IT9k?si=WpqKV3LF71vtOjfN the conversation ranges from comics to Kant to Star Wars — and lands squarely back in Magic: the Gathering.We explore:Why control players resemble Batman and operate under a self-imposed moral codeThe idea of the categorical imperative and how it applies to deck choiceWhat it means to “nerf yourself” for an ideal — and why some players doThe Knight of Faith and playing control even when it costs winsOpportunist players as Green Arrow / Hitman types — tools over principlesAggro as inevitability and momentumTempo as The Flash — thinking and acting faster than your opponentWhy combo decks resemble supervillains (and why that’s not a bad thing)How philosophy, storytelling, and archetypes help explain player identityWhy some decks feel wrong to certain players even when they winThis isn’t a deck tech or a tier list. It’s a conversation about why you play the way you do, what you value when you sit down at a table, and how those values show up in your deck choices.If you’ve ever said “this deck just doesn’t feel like me,” this episode is for you.JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnIn this Eternal Durdles episode, we take a deep dive into the current Legacy MTG metagame by asking a simple but powerful question:What are the actual threats in Legacy right now?Using data from recent tournament results, we break down the most played threats in the format and introduce a new concept — the Threat Number — a way to quantify how much a card truly impacts Legacy by combining play rate and copies per deck. From format-defining creatures to lands and artifacts that quietly warp games around them, this episode becomes a real-time exploration of how Legacy is actually played today.We discuss major Legacy pillars like Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student, Murktide Regent, Orcish Bowmasters, Urza’s Saga, Wasteland, and the Reanimate package, and explore why many of these cards function as secondary win conditions or “B-plans” that demand respect even when they aren’t the primary strategy of a deck.Along the way, we examine:How Threat Density shapes deckbuilding and sideboard choicesWhy some cards feel oppressive while others fly under the radarHow homogenization happens in Legacy — and when it becomes a problemWhat historical ban data can teach us about today’s metagameWhy certain “answers” like graveyard hate often aren’t good enough anymoreThis episode is also meant to be a time capsule — something Legacy players can revisit each quarter to track how the format evolves, what’s changed, and what threats you should be preparing for if you’re picking up the format or tuning a control deck.If you play Legacy MTG, love metagame analysis, or want to understand why certain cards dominate tournaments, this one’s for you.JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil

Pre-Modern is exploding in popularity — but not everyone wants to sleeve up Tide, Stiflenought, or Devourer combo.In this episode of Eternal Durdles, Phil and Zach dig into underplayed and underrepresented Pre-Modern combo decks that still have real game — or at least real nostalgia. We break down how these decks work, why they fell out of favor, and whether any of them still have the legs to compete in today’s Pre-Modern metagame.We start with Cadaverous Bloom / Squandered Resources (Prosperous Bloom) — one of Magic’s earliest true combo decks — and walk through turn-by-turn lines, Natural Balance interactions, Meditate chains, and why the deck is both terrifying and deeply flawed in a world full of blue decks and Naturalize effects.From there, we move into Iggy Pop (Ill-Gotten Gains Storm), discussing:Intuition pilesLion’s Eye Diamond sequencingThreshold mana loopsWhy this version cuts discardHow fast the deck can realistically killWhen Storm is better off racing instead of interactingFinally, we break down the most viable of the bunch: Pre-Modern Doomsday.We cover:Future Sight + Doomsday pilesLED / Lotus Petal requirementsEbony Charm loopsWhy Mog Fanatic is secretly terrifyingSideboard flexibility with singletonsThe Hunting Pack + Concordant Crossroads pivot planWhy this deck actually 5–0’d a leagueThis episode is part strategy, part history lesson, and part reality check. Some of these decks are pure nostalgia. Some are secretly competitive. All of them are fascinating.Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking these decks through Pre-Modern leagues to see what still holds up — and what belongs in the museum.👇 Let us know which deck you want to see run first.

It’s that time of year again: predictions season.Phil and Zach kick off the new year by planting flags for Legacy and Pre-Modern Magic — calling their shots on what decks will rise, what cards are on borrowed time, and how the Eternal formats are going to evolve over the next year.We dig into:Legacy ban predictions (Bowmasters, Tamiyo, Beanstalk, and more)Whether Ancient Tomb and Urza’s Saga decks are about to get even strongerThe impact of Universes Beyond sets on Legacy and Eternal formatsIs Affinity a real contender or just a metagame flash?Why Storm, Doomsday, and combo decks might be positioned to dominateControl’s return and whether Beanstalk control is actually healthyThe future of Pre-Modern on Magic Online and what might get banned (or unbanned)Will Legacy attendance drop, and are players migrating to Pre-Modern or Vintage?We also make predictions for Eternal Weekend, LobsterCon, and even call our shot on how many subscribers Eternal Durdles will hit by the end of the year — receipts will be checked.If you play Legacy, Pre-Modern, Vintage, or Eternal Magic, this is the episode to bookmark and revisit in December.👇 Drop your own predictions in the comments and we’ll see who was right.