Lords of Limited

The ring has been destroyed and the journey has come to a close, so Ethan and Ben are here to send off LTR: Tales of Middle Earth with 50 Takes in 50 Minutes. We're summarizing our favorite summer set with discussions on ring tempting, color imbalance, card advantage, The Golden Egg Award, sweet combos, and more! Sponsored by BetterHelp Use Code "LOL" at CoolStuffInc for 5% off!

Following up last week's discussion, Ethan and Ben review the two featured drafters from day 1 and day 2, highlighting both the picks that impressed them and those where they felt the pro made a misstep. Plus, Ethan makes a desperate plea for improvements to PT limited coverage! Use Code "LOL" at CoolStuffInc for 5% off!

With Pro Tour Barcelona next weekend, your hosts thought it would be fun to have a limited testing meeting live on air! We've both come to the episode with a theoretical plan for drafting LTR at the highest level, what colors and decks we want to navigate towards, and what our top commons, uncommons, and rares are based on what we expect the competition to be doing!Content referenced in the episode:Sierkovitz's Magic NumbersMystical Dispute's Article on URLOL Draft Battle for LTRSponsored by Factor MealsUse Code "LOL" at CoolStuffInc for 5% off!

This week, we're taking a quick look at some underappreciated cards in LTR limited before diving in to a full draft log review from Ben that can only be described with one word: trainwreck!Draft LogSponsored by BetterHelpUse Code "LOL" at CoolStuffInc for 5% off!

It's a dangerous road, Frodo, firing up a draft...But luckily your hosts are here to help guide the way! This week we're looking not so much at "what's the pick?" but instead at "what's the path?" There are many roads to go down in LTR draft, and it's important to know which cards are sending you in which direction.Draft LogsSponsored by MintMobileUse Code "LOL" at CoolStuffInc for 5% off!

For the first time since their "Live from Las Vegas" episode, your hosts are recording in the same room! Ben joined Ethan in Pittsburgh this week for a ton of drafting action, and they're here to report on all things lancyclers, ring tempting, 5 Color Legends, and why control is so darn strong in LTR Limited.Roundtable Draft LogSponsored by BetterHelpUse Code "LOL" at CoolStuffInc for 5% off!

Tales of Middle Earth is finally here and Ben has not been as pumped to talk about a format in quite some time! Both your hosts have reached high mythic rank in the first week and here to report on what has been winning for them, some individual movers up and down, and Ben outlines his favorite deck you're not drafting yet: UW Bath Salts!Roundtable Draft LogUse code "LOL" at CoolStuffInc for 5% off!

Fresh off the heels of the streamer early access event and a 1st and 2nd place at their pre-releases, Ben and Ethan are here to tell you everything they've learned about LTR so far. How has the Ring Tempted mechanic worked out? Which colors are performing better than others? And how exactly did Ent-Draught Basin play out? All this and more packed into this week's episode! Sponsored by BetterHelp Use Code "LOL" at CoolStuffInc for 5% off!

Ethan and Ben set out on the journey of a lifetime to get you as prepared as possible for the Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle Earth limited format! We've got our usual big picture breakdown of the format looking at archetypes and keyword support, creatures vs removal sizing, card disagreements, and top commons and uncommons ranked!Grading SpreadsheetSponsored by Factor MealsUse Code "LOL" at CoolStuffInc for 5% off!

The summer set is nearly upon us! About half of the cards for LTR: Tales of Middle Earth have been previewed and we're here to chat about as many commons and uncommons as we can get our hands on. We're looking at new and returning mechanics, color pair themes, possible combos, and our favorite segment: Great or Garbage! Use Code "LOL" at CoolStuffInc and get 5% off! Sponsored by BetterHelp

We're sad to say goodbye to one of the (greatest of) all-time limited formats, but it's time to send off March of the Machine the only way we know how: with 50 takes in 50 minutes! Start the clock because we've got official LOL power rankings, interactions to look out for, how battles artificially inflated or deflated your life total, the Golden Egg Award Winner and much, much more!Sponsored by BetterHelpUse code "LOL" at CoolStuffInc for 5% off!

Ethan and Ben are back with more tenacity, more initiative, more #GUMPTION! This time we're taking a look at green decks and what makes them successful in our minds, what cards to look out for, and why green decks thrive in no-mans-land. Plus, we'll take a look at our draft logs from Day 2 of the Arena Open! UG Draft Log Ethan's Day 2 Draft 1 Ben's Day 2 Draft 1 Use Code "LOL" At CoolStuffInc for 5% off! Sponsored by BetterHelp

Have the Lords finally cracked the code for MOM?! Well, they've certainly hit on a strategy that works for them which involves a lot of format knowledge and a little bit of #gumption. Listen along as they talk big picture ideas as well as outline the four archetypes they've got their eyes on: RB Treasures, UW Knights, BW Incubate, and UR Artifacts. Sponsored by Factor Meals Use Code "LOL" at CoolStuffInc. to get 5% off!

Ethan's got the low-down on the secret tech for the format: #Gumption Rakdos! After outlining that deck and following up on a couple cards from last week, he and Ben dive in to both featured drafts from Pro Tour Minneapolis! Use Code "LOL" at CoolStuffInc for 5% off!

We've got a mid-format grab bag kind of episode for you with tons to discuss including the XIV LOL vs LR Showdown, The Arena Open, our updated thoughts and approaches for the format, 17lands data, what to do when the best decks are cut in your draft, and much more! Roundtable Draft Log LOL vs LR Showdown Draft Logs Use Code 'LOL" for 5% off at CoolStuffInc Sponsored by BetterHelp and MintMobile

March of the Machine is finally live for everyone and there is so much to unpack about this cube-like format! Ethan's talks about his current approach revolving around the importance of two-drops, while Ben gives us the tools to maximize our drafts for power! Ethan's Rakdos Deck Roundtable Draft Log Use Code LOL at CoolStuffInc for 5% off! Sponsored by BetterHelp

March of the Machine will be available to draft online tomorrow, which means we've got to get our listeners ready! We're updating our assumptions from the crash course after getting our hands on the cards during Early Access and pre-release weekend. Ben breaks down where he thinks Battles go best, why non-green fixing doesn't cut it, and the reason MOM may be the most cube-like set we've ever seen!Roundtable DraftUse Code LOL for 5% off at CoolStuffIncSponsored by Athletic Greens

The full card image gallery for March of the Machine is here which means it's time for another Crash Course! Join us as we attempt some big picture assumptions for this format as well dive deep into card grade differences and one of the most contentious top 3 common rankings in the history of the podcast!Grading SpreadsheetEpisode Sponsored by MintMobile and Factor Meals

It's time to BATTLE! And we're not only talking about recapping the Lords vs. Resources showdown from this past weekend or the Arena Open, but the incredible new card type debuting in March of the Machine. There is a ton to talk about while preview season is in full swing and we do just that this week, so strap in and get your takes hot off the presses!Sponsored by BetterHelp

The first week of Shadows Over Innistrad Remastered has come and gone and both Ben and Ethan can't get enough! They've been drafting a ton and are here with lots of big picture thoughts, cards that have impressed and underwhelmed, and a look at what archetypes are gaining and losing with the rotation of the Shadows of the Past slot.Draft Roundtable

Shadows Over Innistrad Remastered drops tomorrow, so Ethan and Ben take a hazy trop down memory lane in order to give you the tools you need to trophy your first drafts. We're looking at all of the returning mechanics, going through each color's themes, shouting out the cards we remember overperforming, and ranking some top commons and uncommons!Sponsored by BetterHelpSupport us on TCGPlayer

With Shadows Over Innistrad Remastered around the corner and March of the Machines coming not long after that, it is time to say goodbye to one of the more controversial formats in our podcast's lifetime. Set the timer for 50 minutes as we go through what made this a Naya format, how the mechanics stacked up, why blue was so misunderstood, and of course, the crowning of the newest Golden Egg Award winner! Support us on TCGPlayer!

The Lords begin this week by reflecting on their victory in the LOL vs LR Showdown and hyping themselves up for their day 2 drafts in the Arena Open. Then it's time for a look at tons of gameplay decisions in ONE from the macro to the micro with deckbuilding considerations, card sequencing, mulligans, and more!Sponsored by BetterHelpSupport us on TCGPlayer!

There are a lot of secrets in ONE limited...secret GOLD cards that is! This week we chat a bit about sealed in preparation for the Arena Open, take a look at a few updated card evaluations, and then dive into the main topic: how to evaluate cards under the rules of engagement for each color and color pair in this strict limited format!Support us on TCGPlayer!

The paper Pro Tour is back and with it comes our armchair quarterbacking of the two featured drafters on day 1 and day 2! We also check in on what we've been drafting, some cards that have impressed, and some misinterpreted data floating around twitter. Sponsored by BetterHelp Support us on TCGPlayer!

ONE has been available to draft online for almost a week, and it will go down as one of the worst draft formats of all time! At least according to some loud voices, but your hosts have a more nuanced take. After some revisions to their initial evaluations of colors and cards, they put ONE on trial with Ethan representing the people as the prosecution and Ben rushing to its defense. Roundtable: https://www.17lands.com/draft/ddc01ed2a290468f98f147a09dfd094e Support us on TCGPlayer!

Fresh off of his 21st placement and first MTG Tourney Cash, Ben gives us a full tournament report for SCGCon Indy! Then, it's time for the lords to share what they've learned from the Early Access Event and sealed play over the weekend. Tune in for their thoughts on the rules of engagement, color and archetype rankings, individual card surprises, and big shifts for the top commons! Sponsored by BetterHelp Support us on TCGPlayer!

The full visual spoiler has dropped for Phyrexia: All Will Be One, and with it comes our patented Crash Course style episode! This week, we go deep on creatures vs removal, proliferate, oil counters, toxic, card grade differences, and give you our top commons and uncommons to prepare you for your weekend pre-release!ONE Grading SpreadsheetSupport us on TCGPlayer!

This week Ben is joined by Alex Nikolic aka Chord_O_Calls to dive head first into previews from Phyrexia: All Will Be One! You'll get to hear their takes on the new mechanics and cards, in addition to everyone's favorite preview game: Great or Garbage! Support us on TCGPlayer!

With BRO firmly in the rearview mirror and ONE preview season not yet upon us, the lords take this week to look at 10 life lessons that magic has taught and instilled in them as a kind of message-in-a-bottle style episode for Ethan's newborn son Jonah.Sponsored by BetterHelpSupport us on TCGPlayer!

We're sending BRO off the only way we know how: with our 50 takes! Say goodbye to the land of prototypes and powerstones with our takes on format speed, retro artifacts, self-mill creatures, The Golden Egg Award, and much, much more! Support us on TCGPlayer!

Happy New Year! This week, Ethan and Ben chat a bit about the return of the Arena Decathlon and then dive into an all-new retrospective look back at Limited 2022. Both hosts come to the show with their own separate best/worst answers to 12 different categories!Sponsored by BetterHelpSupport us on TCGPlayer!

Ethan and Ben return to The Brothers' War to discuss the state of the format and the three pillars of decks: streamlined two-color, aggro, and the chain reaction of unearth cards. Plus, a deep-dive on Rectangle Theory and how it applies to BRO!Draft RoundtableSupport us on TCGPlayer!

In the midst of a day 2 run in the Arena Open, Ethan joins Ben to discuss their experiences with the newest iteration of the Arena Cube before reviewing his draft log and general strategy for getting some $$$ this weekend! Day 2 Draft 1 Log Day 2 Draft 2 Log Support us on TCGPlayer!

It's a huge milestone for the Lords of Limited as they celebrate their 300th episode! After catching up on the latest in BRO and a chat about the upcoming Arena Cube Arena Open, they welcome on some very special and influential guests that helped them become the magic players they are today!Arena Cube Open DetailsSupport us on TCGPlayer!

Team Lords is fresh off of a much-needed victory against Team Resources in their eleventh Team Draft Showdown. Ethan and Ben review all 6 drafts and decks to see what decisions (and lucky breaks) led them to a resounding 7-2 finish!Draft Logs and DecksSupport us on TCGPlayer!

This week your hosts are zeroing in on optimizing deckbuilding in BRO. Continuing the conversation from last week, they use the rules of engagement (SLICED) to look at how their favorite Jund archetypes tic: what each deck's plan is, the pros, the cons, and its key cards! For merch, tier-lists, the Limited Digest Newsletter, and more, visit https://www.lordsoflimited.com/ Support us on TCGPlayer!

The lords think they've cracked the code on The Brothers' War and are bringing their findings to you this week. After a discussion on the rules of engagement and some commons worth revisiting, they've got a new acronym for the limited community to wrap their head around with SLICED BREAD!Roundtable Draft!Support us on TCGPlayer!

With the Streamer Early Access Event and prerelease weekend under their belts, your hosts are here to give as many updates to their predictions about BRO as possible. We've got new thoughts on Prototypes, Powerstones, Unearth, and more, plus newly-minted top commons for each color. And find out exactly why Ben is so skeptical about the longevity of this format while being only four drafts deep!For Tier Lists, Merch, and more, check out our website!Support us on TCGPlayer!This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp

Another new set is upon us which means another Crash Course episode jam packed with as much information as possible to get you ready for your first events of The Brothers War. Join us as we look at creatures vs. removal, keyword and archetype support, sweepers, mana sinks, card grading differences, and rank our top commons and uncommons for each color! Brothers War Grading Spreadsheet! New M.A.D. T-shirts! Support us on TCGPlayer!

Preview season is in full swing and there are a TON of commons and uncommons from The Brothers War to talk about! Your hosts go through the new and returning mechanics, archetype signposts, and another installment of "Great or Garbage?" All while asking themselves, "Powerstone tokens can't be this busted, can they!?"Support us on TCGPlayer!

We're sad to see Dominaria United go, but excited to send it off in classic LOL fashion with our 50 takes episode! The common cost reduction creatures, all of the 2-for-1's, Shield-Wall Sentinel's sins, love for Karn and hate for Vineshaper Prodigy, and much more are all topics for discussion as we summarize this all-timer format!

With Dominaria United coming to a close, we thought there was no better way to put into practice all of the concepts we've been outlining over the past few weeks than in a full draft review!Draft LogIf you'd like to support the show:patreon.com/lordsoflimitedlordsoflimited.com/tcgplayer

We're taking a fast and loose grab bag approach this week on the podcast to touch on a number of DMU specific topics: kicker-card tiers, domain mana bases, the wheel, and drafting with the end in mind!Roundtable DraftSupport us via TCGPlayer!

All format long, we've been talking about the context of cards in DMU and the need to constantly adjust your pick orders. Well, this week we're diving into exactly why that is and when to do it! Roundtable Draft Log Draft Example 1 Draft Example 2 Draft Example 3 Draft Example 4 Support us via TCGPlayer!

There's lots of high-stakes limited MTG to unpack and prep for this week! First up, it's a a quick debrief of the LoL vs LR showdown, then a roundtable draft review from the Arena Championships Day 1, and then on to the Main Event: getting you all prepped and ready to go for DMU Sealed for Day 1 of the Arena Open!Roundtable: https://www.17lands.com/draft/79af3d0e0a92469090f046a9fbb10379

We're returning to a LoL-favorite episode template in Commons in Context this week, but with a twist! DMU is a format all about uncommons, so we're here to highlight the ones to look out for, the ones best supported by their respective colors, and how each color's core of commons plays out. Plus, a roundtable draft leading to an unlikely deck! Roundtable: https://www.17lands.com/draft/09f15687ab9647be8e5992fcf7f14eda

As a way to illustrate the different paths you can take through each DMU draft, we've got a number of logs to review and discuss the implications that stem from each potential pick! Draft 1: https://www.17lands.com/draft/f1743154607e41f69b199a5608c9f018 Draft 2: https://www.17lands.com/draft/a3a6a604b188480aac4d9542d0540b45 Draft 3: https://www.17lands.com/draft/3f59ae43edb34d309f83958a73c1c324

Dominaria United is finally here and what a breath of fresh limited air it is! This format has thrown its hat in the ring as an all-timer mere days into its lifetime and we are incredibly excited to bring you our initial thoughts after diving in head first to this format. We've got broad strokes concepts, color and common re-rankings, and a pledge that we are up to the task of not only giving you plenty of fish for this format but teaching you how to catch them, too!

We have high hopes for Dominaria United and couldn't be more excited to get you ready for your first drafts of the format with our patented Crash Course! This episode is chock full of stats about creatures vs removal, archetype and keyword support, sweepers, fixing, lifegain, and much more. Plus, we've got our card disagreements and top 3 commons and top 2 uncommons ranked in each color!Grading Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRt7aYz1jCqBw8X7utJvNFBUlqrBN_aETq7TqA252zCUFAuAJoz-8uWHTMs9D9KexToRgw94Sp-1Nbc/pubhtml