Stephen Konefal

Based on your criteria, Fallen Empires might beat it.

Acquiring scans of very old Magic:The Gathering art in preparation for an in depth presentation.
My first 4 commissions from Wizards of the Coast, in 1996. No art larger than 400% of printed size, oil paintings of ~ 7" x 9"!
All oil on panel.
Amber Prison
Moss Diamond
Village Elder
Grinning Totem

Last year, we finally made enemy Odyssey filterlands. That went well - and other land cycles still need finishing up...

So starting with #MTGEternities we're gradually rolling out enemy cycling+tango lands in precons! (Just shown on
@commandcast.bsky.social!) Commanders and Cubers rejoice!

There’s no way the name isn’t somehow an homage to Salusa Secundus, the Lansraad prison planet and training ground for the emperor’s Sardukar military in Dune.

I used them as tokens for a brief while. It was a little too disorienting on the battlefield.

I did a thing yesterday and it was pure magic.

Thanks!…or you’re welcome?

Funny thing: every time I see a creature that costs 1W or has 1/2 stats I’ll always ask “is this better than squire?” 😛 That post was charming.

For perspective: the skyfolk was a great pick up 20 years ago. Not something you would see and was valuable. Now it’s printed with various upsides, and a dime a dozen.

First, that was well played 👏😉

Second: yeah I have to imagine if I was playing draft or sealed bloomburrow these would be dope in all combinations. Even the fella that puts stun counters on your own guy for card draw.
But my ignorance is age related. I’m the old man that shakes his fist to the sky.

I kinda checked out of magic after new Eldraine/Karlov Manor era. I did look at the cards but have never played them. Pond Prophet is cute but kind of underwhelming. I’d rather play Elvish Visionary. I want to put the Mentor in a deck or cube tho! Great rate for cost and had blink potential!

😂😂😂

Thanks for reading 😊

And that’s it. I fucking love blue green spells and decks. The best colors to cast spells, disrupt the game, and get in the red zone. Very base level magic. What’s not to love?

Best land art for simic? Yavimaya Coast from Apocalypse is such a great piece. Old art was just different, and I love the action here if the waves crashing into the forest. Although I am also a fan of Mark Poole’s revision and it’s worth showcasing.

CORRECTION: I don’t think anyone knew how much better surveil lands were compared to scry lands at first blush. Hedge Maze (and friends) were def under hyped.

The simic card that has won my heart? Mystic Snake. Even as a naive young magician forever ago I knew the value of a solid counterspell and this just feels like that in the most simic way. This could have been an instant that creates a token, but this version is better and makes a great story 💚💙

Most under hyped simic card? I feel like aside from the Gargantuan all the cards I’ve seen feel properly rated historically; but a part of me vaguely recalls folk not realizing how powerful Oko was until it was put to action. I could be wrong.

Most overhyped simic card? I def remember looking at spoilers and folk thinking this was going to be fucking awesome setting up with a turn one breeding pool and an elf or a bird or hierarch. But it never worked that way. A tarmogoyf this never was.

Best commander card? Edric full stop. Get him in the field and watch everyone else tear each other apart for card advantage. Great design with the spirit of multiplayer in mind.

Best card in limited? I looooooove River Hoopoe! Probably my favorite repeatable effect on a flier. But it’s a tough call. I have some other gems that I’ve drafted and cube drafted with that also did their fair share of work.

Best vintage cube card? As of late I think it has to be Nadu. It’s a serendib Efreet with all upside. Once it’s on the field it’s pretty miserable for your opp to deal with. Uro is otherwise my next choice. So much value for a generic a green and a blue.

The fun-of-one-of? The Skyswallower comes to mind immediately! Just a huge threat on the high end of the curve, can’t be dealt with and puts a clock on the game. Lately though I’ve enjoyed a surprise Sagu Mauler if it’s ever blocked pre-morph. Good luck!

Best non rare? Trygon Predator does the job. Evasive and has a solid combat trigger your opponent gets to work around and think about. Was definitely a role player back in the day.

Worst simic card? I hate to shit on a Mirage card but magic design 30 years ago was def like the Wild West. A card that basically doesn’t do shit turn 4, doesn’t justify the cost until turn 8, and has a permanent echo cost once it’s big enough. Hard pass on this one.

The best card? Probably Oko. Banned in everything. A limited bomb. In fair magic, this card is the least fair. This card was trouble from the get go. Hard to look past this as a pack one pick one. Unless there’s a Tropical Island in the pack.

As time went on and game design “improved” so has the blue green pair. Hasn’t always been a banger. It had its work cut out. But good things were in their way. We’re living in the glory days of Simic, baby! 😛💚💙

My ode to green-blue / Simic. I still remember getting back into MTG around Dissension and Breeding Pool was the first playset of shocks I completed. The rest feels like history.

There are two kinds of people: people who pick yavimaya coast and LOSERS!

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Hi friend. Thinking of you ❤️‍🩹