Roman and Mike go over Mike’s classic article, “Demanding Relevance in the Face of Superior Forces,” and how to sculpt the perfect gameplan in the face of adversity.
In a refreshing return to Ancestral Recall, Roman and Mike discuss Roman’s 34th place performance with Jeskai Control at the Minneapolis Standard Regional Championship. Roman’s decklist: https://x.com/roman_fusco/status/1919215038218256438?s=46
In preparation for his upcoming Pre-Modern tournament, Mike and Roman go back to Mike's first ever article for StarCityGames.com, and read an entertaining yet informative tournament report. Original article: https://articles.starcitygames.com/articles/sullivan-nimble-mongoose-and-sullivan/
Mike and Roman read Dan Paskins' 2004 article on sideboarding, and learn how to escape the fear of losing to sideboard threats that may not be as terrifying as they seem. Original article: https://articles.starcitygames.com/articles/whos-afraid-of-the-big-bad-circle/
Mike and Roman read Jon Becker's article on confidence, or in this case, "Tomfidence." The article focuses on PTQ player Tom Kelleher and why he had such outstanding confidence in competitive Magic tournaments. Mike and Roman examine the question of not why should you have confidence, but rather why shouldn't you? Original article: https://articles.starcitygames.com/articles/tomfidence/ https://articles.starcitygames.com/articles/tomfidence/...
Following their back to back RCQ wins with Azorius Control, Mike and Roman take a look at how to maximize your sideboard decisions. Original article: https://articles.starcitygames.com/articles/flores-friday-seven-techniques-for-unbeatable-sideboarding-3/
Mike and Roman visit Pat Chapin's The Prime Directive, and learn how to avoid playing worse versions of decks that already exist. Original article: https://articles.starcitygames.com/articles/innovations-winning-a-ptq-not-violating-the-prime-directive/ Your hosts: @Roman_Fusco @fivewithflores...
On this episode Mike and Roman read "Picture This" from Mike's SCG writing days and focus on how to better sculpt your gameplan in games of Magic. Original article: https://articles.starcitygames.com/articles/flores-friday-picture-this/ Your hosts: @Roman_Fusco @fivewithflores...
Mike and Roman make their triumphant return to the Ancestral Recall podcast highlighting one of Patrick Chapin's all-time great articles - Information Cascades. Original article: https://articles.starcitygames.com/articles/information-cascades-in-magic/
Mike discusses the top 8 reasons why you should be playing Bant in standard, and after Roman and Mike discuss Roman's 6-0 list from the first week of MagicFest Online qualifiers and what changes they would make for the Grand Prix this weekend. Mike's original article: The Top 8 Reasons to Play Bant in Standard Your hosts: Roman Fusco - @Roman_Fusco Mike Flores - @fivewithflores Subscribe to Ancestral Recall at iTunes! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1213552541#...
Roman and Mike go back in time to 2005, after Mike wins a Kamigawa block constructed PTQ at Neutral Ground, to look at lessons learned while brewing a rogue deck for an established metagame.
Roman and Mike go back in time to 2002, as Mike Flores of 2002 takes his own trip back in time to tell the stories of the ten most memorable matches of Magic that he had ever seen.
Roman and Mike go back in time to 2004, to look at one of the most important lessons a Magic player can learn: to see ones own mistakes.
Roman and Mike go back in time to 2005, to learn how intangible skill can add up over a game to make a player seem lucky.
Roman and Mike get together to pore over a 2010 article by Mike Flores about lessons learned from Hall of Famer Zvi Mowshowitz on how to think about the game of Magic.
Roman and michaelj are relegated to wandering the streets of Manhattan like a pair of recording vagabonds, so they talk about Roman's recent successes... All of which occurred as a result of the lessons taught by Ancestral Recall.
Roman and Mike learn ancient deck design wisdom from Mike Flores' 2007 article, "Bits and Pieces — The Traits of a Great Deck Designer".
Roman and Mike take a look at Nick Spagnolo's treatise on how to win at Magic by playing the colour Blue.
Roman and Mike take a look at Brian Hacker's hugely influential article on gambling and Magic, "The New Pool Halls"
Mike and Roman take a look at one of Mike's favourite Pro Tour Hall of Fame ballot articles, from the second year of the Hall of Fame, 11 years ago.
Mike and Roman take a look at the classic strategy of siding in an unexpected permanent type for The Old Switcheroo.
Mike and Roman discuss the dangers and advantages of switching to a new deck for a tournament at the last minute.
Mike introduces Roman to the concept of virtual card advantage.
Mike and Roman talk about how preparing a deck to beat the best deck can be the right strategy to take down a tournament.
Mike and Roman talk about the theory of how to trade cards for your opponent's Life, or as it is called: The Philosophy of Fire!
Mike and Roman talk about Chad Ellis's article on the tendency Magic players have to lose games because they are too fixated on doing something cool.
“Asking Better Questions” provides a model to improve your own quality of information in Magic by… Well… Asking better questions.
What does it mean to be "results focused" and why does Mike thing we all should be (in the face of common, poker-descended, gamer wisdom)?
Is Rogue deck building still relevant? Or at least Mike's take from nearly two decades ago? As usual, the Regional Champ weighs in with a modern perspective.
This time around Mike and Roman opt for a short article that you may have heard of - Who's the Beatdown?
