On this episode, Maria and Meghan go to court. Commander Court, that is. Meghan stands accused of “being mean” with her choice of Narset as her first commander. Will you vote to convict or exonerate? It’s up to you! PLUS: a look at different kinds of interactive spells in Commander and a rousing game of Flavor Text Theatre: Movie Pitches! Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Upkeep Buy Some Sweet GLHF Merch Look! It’s our Magic YouTube Channel Follow...
Jan 10, 2024•50 min•Ep 572•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan get robbed! Literally! Find out what happened when, on Christmas morning, “Santa” didn’t leave presents but instead stole them all. But your intrepid hosts will not be deterred! Thanks to generous support from the Magic community, they are up and on their feet and making content for you once again! PLUS: A Commander the Amateuring update, and a look ahead to 2024 as Maria and Meghan make some bold predictions about what’s in store for the...
Jan 04, 2024•48 min•Ep 571•Transcript available on Metacast Drumroll please! It’s time for the much anticipated 2023 Chrimby Awards! Maria and Meghan award the best of the best and the worst of the worst in Magic the Gathering for the past year. Find out what takes home the coveted Card of the Year award, Cutest Card of the Year, Best Drama and so much more. PLUS: A look back on all the sets of the year and what worked and what didn’t — and a peek ahead to 2024! Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Upkeep Buy...
Dec 26, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep 570•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan welcome back Judge Rob to the show to do a reprise of a listener-favorite segment: The Most Confusing Cards of the Year! Celebrate 2023 in all its incomprehensible glory as Judge Rob walks you through some of the most mind-bending rules scenarios — from bizarre mechanics to head-scratching rulings, you might question reality itself! PLUS: Continue the journey of Commander the Amateuring as Maria and Meghan dip their toes into the 100 card pool. Become a GL...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep 569•Transcript available on Metacast 🌟 Dive into Intrigue with Good Luck High Five: The Murders at Karlov Manor! 🌟 🔍 In this can’t-miss episode, join the dynamic duo Maria and Meghan as they unveil the mysteries of 2024’s first sensational set: Murders at Karlov Manor! Step into the shadowy corners of Ravnica where a gripping whodunnit unfolds. Our hosts will guide you through this suspenseful journey, introducing you to the latest creature type to hit the streets – detectives! 🚨 Experience the tension as these savv...
Dec 12, 2023•48 min•Ep 568•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, join hosts Maria and Meghan as they welcome the esteemed Judge Rob to unravel the mesmerizing saga behind Magic the Gathering’s juggernaut of a format: Commander. Dive into the chronicles of this beloved format, from its humble origins to its meteoric rise as a colossus in the Magic universe. Judge Rob, a pioneer from the inception of Commander, brings to life the era when your life total could be 100, “Commanders” were known as “Generals”, and the ...
Dec 05, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep 567•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan get out their wetsuits, snorkels, flippers and shark cages as they dive into the data for Lost Caverns of Ixalan draft! What monsters lurk below in the murky depths? (Spoiler alert: not many! They are mostly flying above in the skies stealing people’s french fries!) Find out how you can increase your win-rate by knowing what cards, draft strategies and colors put up the best results. Your hosts also take a look back on the draft formats of 2023 as a whole ...
Nov 28, 2023•56 min•Ep 566•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan take a deep dive into the draft archetypes of Lost Caverns of Ixalan! Get a great roadmap about how to approach this shiny, new draft format — complete with interesting facts (which uncommon appears 20% more often than the others?) and stories from the fields of battle. PLUS: Meghan gets all Shakespearean up in here and Maria says Axe-Blaster far too many times to feel good about. Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Upkeep Buy ...
Nov 22, 2023•55 min•Ep 565•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan talk the newest set on the block: Lost Caverns of Ixalan! Find out how Maria did at her prerelease and what kind of deck she built. Plus, get her thoughts on all the new mechanics and over-performing cards ahead of the Arena release this week! BONUS: What assigned reading traumatized you in high school? Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Upkeep Buy Some Sweet GLHF Merch Look! It’s our Magic YouTube Channel Follow us on Twitter Peep ...
Nov 14, 2023•45 min•Ep 564•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan welcome back Judge Rob to walk us through all of the tricky new cards and mechanics from Lost Caverns of Ixalan! Get prepped for your prerelease this weekend with the best primer in the biz! As always, you’re sure to learn something that will come in handy as Magic sets continue to increase in complexity. PLUS: Maria and Meghan scale back their yacht plans and Rob is a secret poet?? Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Upkeep Bu...
Nov 07, 2023•2 hr 32 min•Ep 563•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan celebrate Halloween by bringing you the most shocking new preview cards from Magic’s upcoming set: The Lost Caverns of Ixalan! You! Will! Be! Terrified! Hear all about some very exciting new cards that may find homes in Standard, Limited or Commander. PLUS: Meghan details a museum field trip and Maria recieves a very…interesting…gift in the mail. Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Upkeep Buy Some Sweet GLHF Merch L...
Oct 31, 2023•52 min•Ep 562•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, get a first lewk at the newest upcoming Magic the Gathering set: Lost Caverns of Ixalan! Learn about the set’s new (and complicated) mechanics, new cards (including an Elephant planeswalker!), and some pretty stunning art. PLUS: our hosts discuss Magic’s newest Universes Beyond property: MARVEL. Yep, it’s a big one! What does it mean for the game and how do we feel about it? Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Upkeep Buy Some Sweet ...
Oct 25, 2023•55 min•Ep 561•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan tackle the new type of booster rocking the Magic community: Play Boosters. What will this change mean for our favorite format (Draft?) What will it mean for Sealed? What will it mean for how players approach the game in general? Strap in for an in-depth discussion! PLUS: your intrepid hosts pitch a few genius ideas for future Universes Beyond collaborations. Manifest it, people! Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Upkeep Buy Some Swe...
Oct 17, 2023•52 min•Ep 560•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan rank things like nobody’s ranked things before! Get yourself ready for a whole slew of Top 10 (and Top 5) lists from Wilds of Eldraine! Topics include: Cutest Cards, Oops! They’re Hot!, Most Intimidating, Worst Adventure (by name alone) and more! Sit down with your hosts for an excellent hour of judging others. It’s therapeutic! Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Upkeep Buy Some Sweet GLHF Merch Look! It’s our Magi...
Oct 10, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep 559•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan give you a first look at The Lost Caverns of Ixalan! Hear about the most exciting cards from the new set that have been previewed so far — and learn what your hosts’ favorite dinosaurs are! AN IMPORTANT FACT!!! PLUS: Meghan gets spicy with an X-Files update, Maria initiates an Eldraine Pack Battle, and why you should probably never go into a mine shaft. Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Upkeep Buy Some Sweet GLHF Merch ...
Oct 03, 2023•44 min•Ep 558•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan specifically violate the sacred code of Las Vegas by spilling the beans(talk) about anything and everything that went down in Sin City for MagicCON: Vegas! Find out what the heck happened at the World Championship (including the best-performing Standard and Draft decks), what kind of partying was had, and what Meghan will now never stop bragging about. Ever. Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Upkeep Buy Some Sweet GLHF Merch Check o...
Sep 27, 2023•47 min•Ep 557•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan get you ready for World Championship 24 this weekend with a comprehensive guide to all the top decks in Standard! More than 100 players will battle it out in Las Vegas for a prize pool of $1,000,000 and the title of Champion! Find out what you can play along with the pros — there’s a deck for every play style right now! PLUS: your weekly X-Files update, a secret dragon keeps burning down parties, and why pay full price when you can Casade? Become a G...
Sep 19, 2023•45 min•Ep 556•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan do the hard work so you don’t have to! They’ll walk you through all the data about what cards you should be drafting, what colors you should prioritize, and what stinkers to throw back. PLUS: Maria shows off some of her skele collection, Meghan becomes Jean Luc Picard for a second, and more X-Files talk! 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...
Sep 12, 2023•50 min•Ep 555•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan chat about their first experiences with Wilds of Eldraine! Hear Maria’s…wild…stories from the prerelease event and get ready for the release on MTG Arena with a helpful overview of the set’s two-color draft archetypes. Get ready to battle with your brain armed with the most powerful weapon: knowledge! (Or a very big sword. Either works.) PLUS: The X-Files discussion continues and why Adventure is more exciting than ever. Become a GLH5 Pat...
Sep 05, 2023•49 min•Ep 554•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan welcome back Judge Rob to walk you through all the new and returning mechanics (as well as lots of tricky cards) for your prerelase this weekend! Get prepped for whatever might come your way after you crack those packs! PLUS: can someone please approve Maria’s voice line auditions for MTG Arena, Meghan finds true love in a very random horse shirt, and Rob eats coins. It’s all in here, folks. And you don’t want to miss it! Become a GLH5 Patron T...
Aug 30, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep 553•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan review the Magic sets for the 2023 design year — based on Head Designer Mark Rosewater’s yearly article! What mistakes were made? What lessons can Wizards of the Coast learn? What did we love and hope they bring back? Find out! PLUS: Turns out it’s not only David Duchovny’s face that Meghan doesn’t like…find out what other fictional character is in her burn book! And Maria invents a new, much worse, eating contest. Become a GL...
Aug 22, 2023•57 min•Ep 552•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan take you back…to the future! They’ll explore all the new sets announced at this year’s GenCon – from 2024 all the way into the start of 2026. From a pitstop in the Wild West to SPAAAAAACE! to creepy 80s horror, the upcoming sets do not disappoint. PLUS: Storytime with Meghan dives into Chapter 1 of the Wilds of Eldraine story and Maria becomes a Flat Plane-r. Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Upkeep Buy Some...
Aug 15, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep 551•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan look ahead to all that’s coming our way for Magic the Gathering in 2024! Find out details about the fall and winter sets: Wilds of Eldraine and Lost Caverns of Ixalan plus the new Doctor Who Commander decks! What are we most excited for? What returning mechanics will we see? What relationship does one cookie have to another cookie if they are baked on the same sheet?! The important questions are never too tough for GLHF. Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen ...
Aug 08, 2023•51 min•Ep 550•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan are fresh (??) off the plane from Barcelona, Spain and ready to spill all the hottest goss from Pro Tour The Lord of the Rings! Find out what the best strategies were in Draft and Modern as the pros battled their way to the Top 8. PLUS: What deck turned Maria’s head (and now she feels gross?), what experience in Barcelona will Meghan remember the most, and what match of Magic you should watch that may be among the best of all time. Become a GLH5 Patron Tod...
Aug 01, 2023•55 min•Ep 549•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan get you prepped for all the action at Pro Tour Lord of the Rings heading your way this weekend! Find out what the top decks are in Modern (yes, Modern! It’s not been played at the PT level since 2019!) and what exciting things you’ve got to look forward to on your screens this weekend. PLUS: the top 2 cards from the new set we expect to see on the battlefield and all the shenanigans you’ve come to expect from team GLHF. Become a GLH5 Patron Tod...
Jul 25, 2023•50 min•Ep 548•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan have a fantastic time exploring the world of Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle Earth, as Meghan tries to tell you the entire story of The Hobbit and LotR in 5 minutes or less. Can she do it?! Find out! PLUS: many questions about Gandalf’s “God Vacation” and whether or not Hobbits really do have life all figured out. Your hosts also dive into the world of Historic Brawl with some super fun new decks and Commanders courtesy of Lord of the Rings....
Jul 18, 2023•47 min•Ep 547•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan are back LIVE in the studio after a summer hiatus! They haven’t had much of an opportunity to play Lord of the Rings yet, so what are they to do?! How about cracking some Collector Boosters of the new set and guessing which cards are the best in Draft! Don’t worry, their guesses will be either validated or rejected by the cold, hard facts and data behind the best and worst draft picks. Their discussion will help kickstart your win rate in Limited pla...
Jul 12, 2023•55 min•Ep 546•Transcript available on Metacast Give this episode to your friend who you want to coerce… I mean…invite…to play Magic the Gathering! This episode covers everything about the greatest game in the world. From how set releases work to how and where to play, this podcast will start your buddies off on the right foot. Note: this episode does not teach someone how to play Magic, rather, it shows them the world of Magic – and how to best interact with everything the game has to offer. Remember: if you are alrea...
Jul 04, 2023•46 min•Ep 545•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan investigate the latest update to the Magic the Gathering Storm Scale – where lead designer Mark Rosewater tells players how likely a certain mechanic is to be reprinted. When can we expect to see Learn again? How about Adamant (remember that one?!) And how about Landfall? Find out! BONUS: you’ll leave this episode knowing exactly how much a cloud weighs. You’re welcome!!! Become a GLH5 Patron Today! Listen to Weekly Magic News with The Upkeep B...
Jun 27, 2023•59 min•Ep 544•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Maria and Meghan dive face first into a giant pile of randomized Magic cards from throughout the game’s storied history. Who will be able to guess more cards correctly based on the art alone? Find out! A big prize is on the line as well as PRIDE! And BRAGGING RIGHTS! All hail The Mighty Randomizer! 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 our Magic YouTube Channel ...
Jun 20, 2023•45 min•Ep 543•Transcript available on Metacast 
