Speedrunners of Strixhaven | Brainstorm Brewery #696 | Magic Finance
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In this episode of Brainstorm Brewery, the hosts dive into a playful yet insightful exploration of speedrunning culture, drawing parallels between video game speedruns and real-life challenges like the viral 'Scientology run' trend in Los Angeles. They humorously debate the merits of various speedrun categories, including Super Mario 64's 70-star run and the absurdly literal 'run into Scientology buildings' challenge, using it as a metaphor for the chaotic, rule-bending nature of competitive Magic: The Gathering. The conversation then shifts to Magic's current state, with a focus on format health, the decline of deep strategic theory, and the rise of 'play the best deck' mentality. The hosts express cautious optimism about recent Pro Tours sparking innovation again, while critiquing the overreliance on direct-to-modern sets like Modern Horizons 3. They also discuss the financial side of Magic, highlighting the explosive value of aura cards in the upcoming Secrets of Strixhaven set and analyzing the potential price drops of cards like Lotus Field after pre-con reprints. The episode closes with a mix of nostalgia for past formats and excitement for the upcoming Strixhaven pre-release, emphasizing the importance of 'aura farming' and strategic card collecting. Key takeaways include: 1) The 'play the best deck' mindset has stifled innovation in competitive Magic, making Pro Tours crucial for breaking formats; 2) Aura cards in Secrets of Strixhaven are poised for massive price spikes, making early acquisition a smart financial move; 3) Pre-con reprints of powerful cards like Lotus Field may cause short-term price drops, but long-term value remains strong; 4) The decline of in-depth Magic theory and the rise of quick, low-effort content have weakened the learning ecosystem; 5) Vintage and Modern are in surprisingly good health despite their perceived issues, with diverse and fun deck options available.
Pro Tours are now essential for format innovation because the 'play the best deck' mentality has suppressed grassroots innovation.
Aura cards in Secrets of Strixhaven are set to explode in value—start 'aura farming' immediately.
Lotus Field may drop to $2–$3 after pre-con reprints, but its long-term value in Commander and 60-card formats remains strong.
The decline of deep Magic theory and strategic writing has weakened the game's educational pipeline.
Pre-con reprints of powerful cards like Lotus Field and Spire Garden may depress prices short-term, but the long-term impact is uncertain.
Speedrunning the Absurd: From Mario 64 to Scientology Runs
“You gotta go down. They built that tower to think you make you think you got to go up, but you got to go down.”
Magic's Competitive Health: Innovation vs. The 'Best Deck' Mentality
“There's not enough people out there actually grinding to find the new best deck. And that's why, to your point, when we get to the Pro Tour and you have 50 of the world's best players, there's new decks to find.”
The Decline of Magic Theory and the Rise of Quick Content
The hosts lament the loss of the old Magic learning ecosystem—where dedicated websites and authors taught deep theory. Now, they argue, most content is just sideboard lists or post-PT commentary, with no one writing long-form theory articles. This has led to a stagnation in deck innovation.
Modern Horizons 3: A Set Without a Clear Purpose
The hosts critique Modern Horizons 3 for lacking the clear design goals of its predecessors. They argue it was created to 'juice' existing archetypes rather than solve format problems, resulting in overpowered cards and a lack of balance. The energy deck, in particular, is seen as an unnecessary addition.
The Financial Side: Aura Cards, Pre-Cons, and Price Predictions
“Lotus Field is not a $2 to $3 card. I think it is roughly an $8 to $10 card and you will see it ride that roller coaster after the pre-cons come out.”
“There's not enough people out there actually grinding to find the new best deck. And that's why, to your point, when we get to the Pro Tour and you have 50 of the world's best players, there's new decks to find.”
“Lotus Field is not a $2 to $3 card. I think it is roughly an $8 to $10 card and you will see it ride that roller coaster after the pre-cons come out.”
“You gotta go down. They built that tower to think you make you think you got to go up, but you got to go down.”
Hosts
DJ
person
Scientology
organization
Modern Horizons 3
other
Secrets of Strixhaven
other
Corbin Hosmer
person
Lotus Field
other
Liz
person
Jason
person
MTG Band
product
Super Mario 64
other
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