The Princes of Pauper

Mike takes a victory lap after his first-place finish at The NYCIS Heavy Play Championship (which, was, in fact, one-third Pauper; Mike played Dimir Terror).

This episode scratches the surface of the Pauper Elves experience from both Mike's perspective and Rich's, updates and innovations to decksandthecity.org (shout out to Mike Evans) and is mostly an avalanche of love and admiration for the NYC Pauper community. Did we mention Mike won the big one though?

In the vein of Ancestral Recall Mike starts out with the ancient mother ship article "UB Trippin'" and then challenges Rich to apply it to contemporary Pauper.

How does the 1997 "Xerox" strategy innovated by Hall of Famer Alan Comer inform not just Dimir Terror... But so many great decks in Pauper? Find out, and how not to cast an Arms of Hadar in our latest podcast.

So Rich lent Mike his Mono-Blue Terror deck for a recent League tournament... To great result.

Mike is hooked on playing Brainstorm and Counterspell again (not to mention casting "cantrip Black Lotuses") in one of the Pauper format's most popular decks. Check out this deep dive, Rich's recent innovations (goodbye Delver of Secrets) and Mike's unhinged plan for the mirror match.

Sometimes-professional Magic: The Gathering player Mike Flores joins professional game designer Rich Bucey on an adventure into "the people's format" ... Pauper! Join Mike and Rich as they battle week in and week out in one of Magic's best formats, armed with commons.

What makes people love Pauper? We think this episode might tell you. Or at least why we love it!

Mike wins a Premodern meetup with the popular Control strategy. Learn all about this important deck, from Magic's bestest format.