On this episode, Maria and Meghan look back at the past year of Magic design and talk about the highs, the lows, the low-lows, and the highest-highs. From Throne of Eldraine (yep, that was just a year ago!) to Jumpstart, this high-fiving dynamic duo discusses big-time mistakes like Oko and Companion and big-time successes like the number of people playing Magic, unique new mechanics, and sets with a lighter theme. Guided by a new article from the head of Magic Design, Mark Rosewater, you’l...
Aug 18, 2020•52 min•Ep 395•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan give you an all-time draft primer three-for-one: for Double Masters, Dominaria and Amonkhet! Thinking of diving into any of these formats on Arena, IRL or on Magic Online? Don’t go without this! Maria and Meghan will give you some tips from their experience drafting these sets…literally hundreds of times. PLUS: the saddest segment ever on GLHF (RIP, wet packs) and Maria has TWO of the best segues of all time. It’s really something to behold. &#...
Aug 11, 2020•52 min•Ep 394•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan talk about the jaw-dropping news that hit all of us like a ton of bricks on the day that shall now be known as “Ban Hammer Monday.” Standard gets a HUGE shakeup with four big-time bans, Historic also gets hit with impactful bans, as do other formats. Our hosts will talk about the impact and will also brew up some ideas for new decks now that the big baddies have been sent packing! Become a GLH5 Patron Today and Feel that Happy Feeling! Listen to Week...
Aug 04, 2020•49 min•Ep 393•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan have an in-depth conversation about design philosophy in Magic the Gathering. Should Wizards of the Coast change how they approach designing cards? Are they focused too much on creating “powerful” rares? Does sacrificing power mean sacrificing fun or selling fewer packs? PLUS: thoughts about everyone’s favorite topic: BANS! Should WotC ban the payoff or the enabler? How do they avoid having to ban things in the first place? Fret not, Maria and ...
Jul 29, 2020•50 min•Ep 392•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan give you all the info you’ve ever wanted to know about Historic! Arena’s new format is really starting to come into its own and a big tournament is on the horizon. Will you be ready? You will if you listen to this episode! Our hosts go over a METRIC TON of Historic decklists and let you know what they think are the best of the best, sir, with honors. PLUS: they’ll also throw in a lot of hot jank for the players that just want to have a good tim...
Jul 21, 2020•51 min•Ep 391•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan jump into their mailbag of listener questions! That’s right, it’s time to Ask Them Anything…and you certainly do! Our two hosts answer questions about everything from Magic the Gathering (duh) to who their ideal co-hosts on coverage from history would be to their favorite cheeses. Listen in and laugh along because, hey, we could all use a laugh and some levity. right about now. Oh! They’ll also talk about the new bans! Next week, our host...
Jul 14, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep 390•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan get ready to throw down with some NEW Standard decks! That’s right! Standard doesn’t have to be old and boring. Our two hosts share a variety of new decks that have hit the scene thanks to the recent release of Core Set M21. You’ll find something to love if you’re an aggro player or control player or someone who just likes to derp. PLUS: Flavor Text Theatre returns in full force with some amazing (or terrible, you decide) Movie Pitches an...
Jul 07, 2020•53 min•Ep 389•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan get you in fighting shape for M21 draft! Learn about all the different archetypes inside the color pairs and which ones are the strongest, the fastest, and the mostly likely to win. Our intrepid hosts will also point out some of the cards they think are already over-performing. If you want to get better at M21 draft, this is the episode for you! PLUS: dinosaurs live in complex societies, Meghan enjoys walking “on hard mode,” and Maria is 160 years ol...
Jun 30, 2020•49 min•Ep 388•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan welcome very special guest Judge Rob back to the show to talk Magic Core Set 2021 rules and card interactions! Get ready for the Arena prerelease this week by prepping with Rob’s notes on tricky cards, new or returning mechanics (Phasing is weird, ya’ll), and advice on in-store events. PLUS: Maria and Meghan name Cutest and Grossest Card (respectively) and fun facts about Halloween’s moon! **Please note, our new office building burned during th...
Jun 24, 2020•52 min•Ep 387•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan break down the results from the pair of Players Tour events over the past weekend. Find out what decks ruled (cough, Temur Recc, cough) and what decks drooled (basically everything else), who came out on top and what decks might take the crown this coming weekend. PLUS: Amateur Pro Greg stops by to chat about his experience playing in the Players Tour (commiserations, buddy) and our hosts get hyped for Arena Cube Draft. **Please note, our new office building bur...
Jun 17, 2020•48 min•Ep 386•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan dive into bunches of brand new preview cards from Magic Core Set 2021! It might be mostly about Teferi, but there’s lots of other super-powerful goodness packed inside as well. And, hold up, did they already preview the Cutest and the Grossest Cards?! They might have! PLUS: Our hosts look at Standard post-rules change and post-bans to see if anything new has popped up and Meghan tries to not melt inside her 95-degree apartment. **Please note, our new offic...
Jun 10, 2020•50 min•Ep 385•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan record from the epicenter of the current crisis in Minneapolis, MN — giving their white listeners tips on how to be an anti-racist, support systemic change, and raise up the voices and work of BIPOC all around the world and within the Magic community. Anything you are able to do helps! Want to know how to talk to your family about why this is important? Meghan has a letter for you to email around! Want to know where to put your dollars to do the most good?...
Jun 03, 2020•54 min•Ep 384•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan hit the Historic queues to give you some tips on sweet decks to play in Arena’s newest permanent ladder format. They’ll let you know what the best decks are as well as some fun ones to keep things interesting. PLUS: Flavor Text Theatre Movie Pitches returns for the first time in what feels like forever, Meghan watches a boat load of Disney, and Maria contemplates the nature of reality. Become a God of Theros & Donate to the New Office Fund ! Beco...
May 27, 2020•48 min•Ep 383•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan celebrate the prerelease…or is it the post-release…or is it just the release…of Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths! Delayed due to COVID-19, paper prerelease packs were released out into the wild last weekend and our hosts got their grubby little mitts on a couple of them! Listen in as the ladies crack their boosters and plan what their Sealed decks will look like — and prepare to do battle against one another on Arena! What would you build with t...
May 20, 2020•43 min•Ep 382•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan open up their Magic diaries and share what they’ve been playing in both Standard and Draft on the MTG Arena ladder. Maria has a pretty lofty goal to hit this month, so let’s cheer her on! Listen to find out what she’s playing. PLUS: Companions: hot or not? Join in on the debate about whether they’re overpowered, should have even been printed, or fine as the format adapts. What do you think? Hear our hosts’ opinions in this HOT TAKE ...
May 13, 2020•49 min•Ep 381•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan walk you through the best deck in Ikoria: Jeskai Lukka (feat. Yorion)! But if that’s not your jam (or your jelly) don’t worry – they’ll also give you tons of other fun options for decks to play that are lurking just below the surface and can still get those wins on the ladder. PLUS: find out what fun decks you can draft in this format that are a little off the beaten path but a total blast to play. And, don’t you worry, you’ll...
May 06, 2020•58 min•Ep 380•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan talk Standard! There’s tons of new decks thanks to the release of Ikoria and our hosts highlight all of the best (and why they’re the best), some of the worst, and – most importantly – some sweet, sweet spicy fun decks. Find out what you should be playing on the ladder! PLUS: Learn about holding your breath under water, how to play Bogles in Standard right now, and which decks Meghan has been using to wreck face. Become a GLH5 Patron Toda...
Apr 29, 2020•48 min•Ep 379•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan stop playing Arena for one gosh darn second to record this podcast and talk about Ikoria Limited! Whether it’s draft or sealed, these ladies LOVE the new format! …Seriously, send help – they cannot stop playing. Find out what they think the best Draft and Sealed strategies are (level up your game!) and what busted decks they’ve built since the release. PLUS: stories from inside quarantine involving puzzles, worms, and forgetting what real...
Apr 21, 2020•49 min•Ep 378•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan welcome very special guest (and friend of the show) Judge Rob to talk about Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths! Rob walks you through all the tricky new mechanics (is Mutate the most complicated mechanic ever printed?! Find out!), new cards, and strange card interactions that might come up during your prerelease on Arena, MTGO or in-person (in a socially safe way!) with special prerelease packs from your LGS. Rob will answer listener questions, argue about Maria’s ...
Apr 15, 2020•1 hr 25 min•Ep 377•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan show off their EXCLUSIVE preview cards (yes, that’s right, they’ve got TWO!) for Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths! They sure hope you like unicorns (!!) PLUS: a look at all the wild stuff that’s going on in Ikoria as our intrepid hosts sift through the best of the best of the newly previewed cards from Magic’s upcoming set. BONUS: Maria lives her Bogle dreams as Commander 2020 cards are previewed! Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Mag...
Apr 08, 2020•55 min•Ep 376•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan put on their prediction hats and try to guess what’s coming up in Magic’s newest set: Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths! Will they guess literally *any* of the 12 keyword counters correctly? How about what the mechanic “mutate” does?! Soon, we’ll all find out! PLUS: It’s AMA time as our hosts dip into the GLH5 Mailbag and answer questions from listeners. …why does everyone ask about food? Maria is hungry!! It’s Patreon Pledge Dr...
Apr 01, 2020•54 min•Ep 375•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan continue to practice social distancing & let you know about a METRIC TON of new ways to play Magic the Gathering while you aren’t gathering much of anywhere, with anyone. Wizards of the Coast and Channel Fireball have a boat load of new ways to keep you entertained while you *don’t* entertain the idea of going outside. Your intrepid, inside-loving hosts will also share their favorite ways they’ve been keeping connected during the coronaviru...
Mar 25, 2020•56 min•Ep 374•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan record remotely because they are practicing social distancing due to COVID-19 (and you should, too!) Find out how they’re doing (mentally, physically and emotionally) amid one of the strangest times our world has seen, at least in recent memory. Undeterred by the scary stuff happening around the globe, your hosts share their favorite Brawl decks on Arena (btw: Brawl is a great way to play with friends who are also self-quarantined!), give tips on working f...
Mar 18, 2020•57 min•Ep 373•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan make the best decks in Standard sit down in time out and think about what they’ve done – as they explore lots of super-fun Tier 2-Tier 100 decks that make jumping back onto the ladder a gas. Sick and tired of ramping? They’ve got a cure! Wish you could just smash face? They have decks for that! PLUS: Questions from listeners, Meghan shows off some new purple hair, and Maria has a bone to pick with the British (for once in her life). It’s Patreo...
Mar 10, 2020•53 min•Ep 372•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan welcome very special guest Amateur Pro Greg back to the show to talk about his recent big win: taking down a Pioneer PTQ! Would you believe he did it while playing Pioneer for the FIRST. TIME. EVER?! Well, he did. He’s just that good! Greg will talk about how he took down the tournament and help everyone understand how paper qualifications work in the new Magic the Gathering Organized Play system. It is super confusing, but Greg makes it easy to understand...
Mar 03, 2020•44 min•Ep 371•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan take a moment to critically review Magic and its new commitment to esports. What changes have we seen? Have they been effective? What does being an “esport” mean for the future of the game? And, most importantly, is it working? PLUS: Unsanctioned drops this Friday and our hosts take a look at their favorite cards, Meghan gives a Storytime wrap-up of the official Theros Beyond Death story and Maria limps in on 2 hours of sleep. Become a Patron Today! ...
Feb 25, 2020•48 min•Ep 370•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan are joined by very special guest and Resident Tall Guy, Marshall Sutcliffe! You might know him from his podcast Limited Resources or his work as a play-by-play commentator on coverage. Or, again, just from being quite tall. Our three hosts walk us through the recent World Championship and give us a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to put together a high-level tournament. Find out what it’s really like to cast in the booth for 2.5 hours straight or f...
Feb 19, 2020•45 min•Ep 369•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan record live from Honolulu, Hawaii ahead of the Magic the Gathering World Championship! Get all the info you’ll need before the big event ($1,000,000 is on the line, people!) including deck predictions, who our hosts think will win the whole thing, and speculation about Theros Beyond Death draft. LET YE BE WARNED: this episode was recorded on fully jet-lagged brains and there is lots of off-topic discussion about Mary Poppins. How does that happen? You know...
Feb 12, 2020•46 min•Ep 368•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan take their first deep dive into the new format of Pioneer! They’ll take a look at the top decks from this past weekend’s first EVER Players Tour events and find out what made Top 8 and what went down in flames. Did the format get broken already? It might have! PLUS: Meghan regales us with a spidery tale from Greek mythology and Super Fight hits the stage for Flavor Text Theatre! BONUS: Could Maria be any *more* in love with Ken Yukuhiro’s BW Au...
Feb 04, 2020•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan dive into Theros Beyond Death Standard! What new decks are out there? What’s exiting and fun to play and isn’t just a pile of the best cards that are legal right now?! Find out! PLUS: Meghan regales us with another Greek Mythology Storytime, Flavor Text Theatre hits FM Radio near you, and Maria can’t get enough enchantments. Become a Patron Today! http://www.patreon.com/glhfmagic Subscribe to The Upkeep: the-upkeep.blubrry.net/feed/podcast/ Che...
Jan 29, 2020•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
