On this episode, Maria and Meghan welcome Judge Rob back to the show to talk about this weekend’s Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth prerelease! Rob will prepare you with all the knowledge you’ll need to walk confidently into your local game store (or Mount Doom)! Covering new cards, returning mechanics, NEW mechanic (singular) and tricky cards – with Rob’s preparations you won’t need second breakfast, but you’ll have one anyway. Just in case. Become a G...
Jun 13, 2023•58 min•Ep 542•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan catch up on all the Magic the Gathering story — from the very end of Phyrexia: All Will Be One to the end of March of the Machine (and a bit of Aftermath) — they’ll get you caught up on all of the happenings in the multiverse. So sit back, relax, and enjoy a good old fashioned storytime! PLUS: A GLHF exclusive preview card from Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle Earth! Thanks to Wizards Magic for the free preview! Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Li...
Jun 06, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep 541•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan take a first look at Magic’s newest upcoming set Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle Earth! Hear all about the new mechanics, cards and magnificent art that graces this Modern-legal offering. PLUS: Meghan has a soapbox moment, Maria reads some Watto fan fiction, and which phase of the moon is the most hot? Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Upkeep Buy Some Sweet GLHF Merch Check out our Board Games YouTube Channel Look! It’s ou...
May 31, 2023•51 min•Ep 540•Transcript available on Metacast Have you ever wondered what goes on behind-the-scenes of a big Magic the Gathering tournament? Wonder no more with Desk After Dark ! Your hosts Maria Bartholdi and Mani Davoudi want to shed some light on what it’s like to actually produce a Magic tournament, from start to finish. With a combined decade+ of experience covering the best game in the world, Maria and Mani are here to answer your questions about everything Magic coverage. This episode, your hosts focus on Pro Tour March of the Machin...
May 25, 2023•43 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan get ready for a brand new world of Standard ahead of Banned & Restricted announcement next week. What will get the hammer? What will be spared? And what will the world look like afterwards? PLUS: Lord of the Rings is nearly upon us and your intrepid hosts are ready with their predictions of mechanics and card designs for the new set. (Spoiler: some of these ideas are, like, really good!) And, tell me honestly, who doesn’t want to see a TNT-made feature...
May 23, 2023•46 min•Ep 539•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan take you an a magical journey through everything new that’s coming up this summer and fall for Magic the Gathering. From big changes to Standard, to Lord of the Rings, to the Wilds of Eldraine – your hosts guide you as they explore brave new worlds for the first time and peek at what’s ahead. PLUS: shouldn’t there be a downside for being the ring bearer? Just what exactly is Maria registered for at Williams and Sonoma? And which Doctor ar...
May 16, 2023•48 min•Ep 538•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, coverage legend and Pro Tour Historian Brian David Marshall visits the GLHF crew to tell one of his favorite Magic stories and to make you a delicious cocktail! PLUS: All the tea from MagicCON Minneapolis and Pro Tour March of the Machine! Find out what decks destroyed in Standard and in Draft — and why the winner is such a big deal. PLUS: Maria doesn’t understand The Lion King. Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Upkeep Buy Some Sweet GL...
May 09, 2023•52 min•Ep 537•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria welcomes very special guest host Carolyn Pardee to the show to talk Pro Tour March of the Machine! Carolyn (3-time VML champion and excellent Magic the Gathering player) helps get you prepped for what to look out for on coverage this weekend. Between a super-cool (but weird!) Draft format and a Standard format that may welcome some exciting changes to popular decks, Carolyn has got you covered! PLUS: A special announcement about Season 10 of the VML and what pro players re...
May 02, 2023•58 min•Ep 536•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan dive deep into the draft data of March of the Machine to find out what cards to pick, what cards to pass, and which colors make everyone the most sad. The best color may surprise you! PLUS: a look at the best commons in each color as well as the Top 5 Best Cards overall which are truly something special to behold. This draft format is a dream, get out there and play! And win! With the help of this episode! Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News ...
Apr 25, 2023•53 min•Ep 535•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan relive Maria’s exciting prerelease experience playing March of the Machine for the very first time! Find out what kind of deck Maria built – including what cards majorly over-performed. Hear how you should approach attacking battles, whether or not to Backup and more! PLUS: Storytime with Meghan continues and Maria enjoys (?) it with a new cocktail you might just want to never try at home. Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with ...
Apr 18, 2023•47 min•Ep 534•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan welcome Judge Rob to the show to explain all of the tricky new & returning mechanics as well as cards that might trip you up at this weekend’s March of the Machine prerelease! This set features brand new card types as well as a BIG rules change involving tokens — so you’d better tune in before you throw down. PLUS: Cutest and Grossest card of the set are crowned and Maria scares some highly intelligent wildlife. Become a GLH5 Patron Today! ...
Apr 11, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Ep 533•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan get pumped for March of the Machine with a look at the exciting new cards and mechanics of the upcoming set! See their ridiculously good preview card, find out what they think might be the best art of the YEAR, and learn how to properly Battle (with a capital “B”) your opponent. PLUS: A haunted Randomizer and chapter 2 of Phyrexia: All Will Be One Storytime where our planeswalker friends learn the power of walkie-talkies. Become a GLH5 Patron Today! ...
Apr 04, 2023•45 min•Ep 532•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan celebrate the newest official Magic the Gathering format: Oathbreaker! Join Judge Rob as he walks our hosts through some amazing listener-submitted Oathbreaker decks and crafts decks specifically for Meghan and Maria. Want to guess which planeswalkers they chose? Find out – and get inspiration for your own spicy builds. PLUS: The first episode of New Phyrexia Storytime and a taste test that pits cookies against each other in an epic cookie war. Become a GL...
Mar 28, 2023•54 min•Ep 531•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan dig into second breakfast as they explore the upcoming Lord of the Rings Magic set! Some really exciting cards have already been previewed and let’s just say we’re dancing around the Party Tree. PLUS: Tips on drafting Shadows Over Innistrad which drops on MTG Arena this week, Meghan wraps up The Brothers’ War Storytime and Maria asks “which Magic creature would you most want to ride like a horse?” Only the most important topics on t...
Mar 21, 2023•55 min•Ep 530•Transcript available on Metacast Have you ever wondered what goes on behind-the-scenes of a big Magic the Gathering tournament? Wonder no more with Desk After Dark ! Your hosts Maria Bartholdi and Mani Davoudi want to shed some light on what it’s like to actually produce a Magic tournament, from start to finish. With a combined decade+ of experience covering the best game in the world, Maria and Mani are here to answer your questions about everything Magic coverage. This episode, your hosts focus on Pro Tour Phyrexia in Philade...
Mar 16, 2023•59 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan take a break from the 8th snowiest Minneapolis winter of all time to go on Spring Break! …Well, not really. They’re still in their studio. But they can pretend (*tears*)! Come hang out as they play tons of games to celebrate the lighthearted side of Magic the Gathering including an extended Randomizer, Flavor Text Theatre: MadLibs, and Cast, Reanimate or Kill. There’s also a storytime with Meghan and plenty of sunscreen and ear daiquiris to go ...
Mar 14, 2023•52 min•Ep 529•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan take a trip back to their favorite old Standard Corner…it’s just your average, everyday corner…for the first time in months! Find out why Standard is hot right now and what the most fun decks in the format are to play! (Spoiler: there are lots of good options! I know! We’re surprised, too!) PLUS: Meghan discovers clouds, and Flavor Text Theatre pitches a movie so good, no studio could possibly ignore it. Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen...
Mar 07, 2023•57 min•Ep 528•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan talk about all the new newness coming to Magic the Gathering in the coming months. And, spoiler alert: there’s a lot of new new. Hear about the new Lord of the Rings set (and what cards our two hosts would design), March of the Machine and just, where, exactly – we might be marching — as well as Commander Masters, Alchemy: Phyrexia, and Innistrad Remastered. And what about product burnout? Is it coming for you, too? PLUS: Brothers’ War St...
Feb 28, 2023•50 min•Ep 527•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan recap the first paper Pro Tour since November of 2019 — Pro Tour Phyrexia! Hear what it was like to be back in person playing real life Magic cards with the pros — and what the top memories of the big event were. PLUS: How to level up your Phyrexia: All Will be One Draft with data-backed science from 17 Lands. Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Upkeep Buy Some Sweet GLHF Merch Check out our Board Games YouTube Channel Lo...
Feb 21, 2023•55 min•Ep 526•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan get you prepped for Pro Tour Phyrexia: All Will Be One this weekend! It’s the first paper Pro Tour since November of 2019 and the best-of-the-best will be back to battle with actual, physical, paper cards IN THE SAME ROOM! It is very exciting. Get caught up with the best strategies (backed up by lots of data!) on All Will Be One Draft as well as the constructed format for the tournament: Pioneer. PLUS: A Horse-themed Randomizer and love to our little green...
Feb 14, 2023•49 min•Ep 525•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan regale you with stories from their Phyrexia: All Will Be One prerelease last weekend! Find out what cards they believe over-performed and what the keys to this brand new Limited format may be. PLUS: Judge Rob stops by to talk MagicCon Philly next week and what the new planeswalkers mean for Oathbreaker (a super-fun quick multiplayer format!) – including a new Oathbreaker precon you can pick up at the fest with a charity donation. Become a GLH5 Patron Today...
Feb 07, 2023•53 min•Ep 524•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Judge Rob stops by to set us straight on all the rules and tricky new card interactions from Phyrexia: All Will Be One! Don’t head into your prerelease this weekend without it! PLUS: Cutest and Grossest (so many contenders!) cards are crowned — and an update on the 7 Layer Bar conspiracy we accidentally uncovered on this week’s episode of The Upkeep. Warning: what you hear may shock you. Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Upkeep Bu...
Jan 31, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep 523•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan jump face-first into a pile of brand new Phyrexia: All Will Be One mechanics and cards! Find out all about the new and returning mechanics and how they work and which new cards our hosts are most excited about. It looks like White might finally have its day in the sun! PLUS: Just what, exactly, does Phyrexian oil taste like and how do YOU feel about the one-and-only Jace being compleated?! Thanks to Wizards Magic for the free preview content! Become a GLH5 Patro...
Jan 24, 2023•51 min•Ep 522•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan say a fond farewell to the planeswalkers that have officially been compleated in Phyrexia: All Will Be One. Which of the 10 showing up in this set are safe — and which are on their way to a more perfect state? Let’s just say: Maria is SHOOK. Plus: Storytime with Meghan continues as we venture into time time following the The Brothers’ War, and is Sixth Sense still a good movie? Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Up...
Jan 17, 2023•59 min•Ep 521•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan get you prepped for Dominaria Remastered – dropping this week! Learn how to approach the draft environment — from the top-tier commons you won’t want to pass, to the synergies in different color pairs, you’ll hit your LGS feeling ready to rock and ready to thrown down with 30 years of Magic history. PLUS: it’s Storytime with Meghan as we move on to Chapter 1 of The Brothers’ War and Maria finds a new love in a Cutest Card prin...
Jan 10, 2023•57 min•Ep 520•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan kick of 2023 in style — by deciding not to compete in a decathlon. A sports decathlon, that is. A Magic decathlon — well, now that’s another story. Right now on MTG Arena, you can compete in a decathlon spanning 10 different ways to play Magic — culminating in a Finals event at the end of the month. Your hosts will let you know what events are on the proverbial table and what strategies might get you across the finish line. PLUS: Setting ...
Jan 03, 2023•48 min•Ep 519•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan hand out the extremely coveted Chrimby Awards! They celebrate the best and worst of Magic the Gathering in 2022 — from Best Art to Most Drama — it’s a walk down memory lane (what does your memory lane look like?) as the trophies are handed out. What will win Best Card Name? Best New Mechanic? Best New Deck? Grab a hot toddy or a glass of egg nog (barf) and curl up under a blankie by the fire for this episode that’s sure to keep you warm a...
Dec 27, 2022•58 min•Ep 518•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan look back on the year that was 2022 in Magic the Gathering. Relive the best and brightest moments as well as the game’s lowest lows. What were the best new mechanics and sets? Top decks and cards? Biggest mistakes? Find out! PLUS: Judge Rob stops by to share his Top 5 Most Confusing Cards of 2022 — with some excellent stories about each. Thanks for being our listeners this year! You’re all the best of the best, sir. With honors. Become a GLH5 P...
Dec 20, 2022•58 min•Ep 517•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan take a first look at Phyrexia: All Will Be One! We know you’re all spoiler’d out by now, but there is some gorgeous new artwork coming at you for January’s release of Magic’s newest set. We’ll show off new art treatments, new cards (hello, new Elesh Norn!) and new shiny lands that have Maria drooling. PLUS: the thrilling conclusion of the Dominaria story, and would YOU go backwards or forwards in time if it means you would be stuck ...
Dec 14, 2022•54 min•Ep 516•Transcript available on Metacast Have you ever wondered what goes on behind-the-scenes of a big Magic the Gathering tournament? Wonder no more with Desk After Dark ! Your hosts Maria Bartholdi and Mani Davoudi want to shed some light on what it’s like to actually produce a Magic tournament, from start to finish. With a combined decade+ of experience covering the best game in the world, Maria and Mani are here to answer your questions about everything Magic coverage. From who they’d kill first in a game of Coverage C...
Dec 07, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast 
