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Magic Numbers

Magic Numbers is a podcast about Limited format in Magic: the Gathering. The idea is to use data to try to crack current format, or try to answer longstanding questions in Magic and by answering the questions making the listeners better at drafting, deckbuilding and general strategy. The target audience is intermediate to advanced players, but rest assured, determined beginners will also find useful information that will allow them to level up. The podcast is an audio version of my Twitch seminars, so if some parts are confusing, it was designed to be watched on YouTube or live on Twitch.

Latest Episodes:

#65 - Time to look at the very early ONE draft data from 17lands.com Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

I look at the speed of the format: is it lightning fast and what may be the reasons for it. I also look at color pair win rates and the rate they are played at. Are some color combinations hidden gems? Are the most played ones successful?

On top of that I look at best commons and uncommons in each color and in each color pair. To be able to relentlessly mock myself (with a couple of taps on the back for good measure) I compare the current top 5 cards in the format with the top 3 lists I made before the release and speculate - why was I wrong in case of some cards I picked and why some cards did perform better than I predicted.

I use the top cards so far to also try and figure out what do they have in common looking at potential mana curves you want to have in your deck and themes connecting top cards in the format.

REMINDER: Early data is not perfect. Format didn't stabilise yet, and players don't always fully know how to build decks, early day opposition can be softer than the one later in the format, good cards go later than normal. All this impacts the data and introduces biases. Use early data as a tool to ask more questions, not as a source of absolute answers. Early data can prepare you to solve the format later, but it is by far not a solution itself.

This podcast is sponsored by mtgazone.com - get your reading fix from the best and brightest Magic writers in the business.

Reminder: This podcast is a recording of a stream, which relies heavily on graphics. Check the youtube recording of it to see any graphs that are hard to imagine in the audio-only format. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM8DdVmT0Ag

Find all other things Sierkovitz here: https://linktr.ee/sierkovitz

Bonus Episode - Skeleton Crew, ONE Edition Feb 04, 2023

Show notes

This episode me, SLKerstens, JasonILTG and TaJoordan talk about our pre pre-release impressions of ONE and how we would build simple deck skeletons from each color pair.

You can find my co hosts at:

twitter.com/SLKerstens

twitter.com/JasonILTG

twitter.com/TaJoordan

This podcast is sponsored by mtgazone.com - get your reading fix from the best and brightest Magic writers in the business.

Find all other things Sierkovitz here: https://linktr.ee/sierkovitz

#63 - ONE for all Feb 04, 2023

Show notes

A deep look at the mechanics of the set. How does the card pool for each of the existing mechanics impact possible game play plans you can draft around? Should you try to kill with poison counters, or is it a pipe dream? How to maximise your proliferate and just how many ways to do it are there. I also walk you through my thought process of theory-crafting a deck, from the first idea through the core card selection, contingency planning up to building a deck archetype skeleton.

This podcast is sponsored by mtgazone.com - get your reading fix from the best and brightest Magic writers in the business.

Find all other things Sierkovitz here: https://linktr.ee/sierkovitz

#62 - Black Magic: Exploring the personal data of Sam Black Jan 28, 2023

Show notes

This week I look at the personal data of the one and only Sam Black. we look at Brother's War through his drafts. What was his approach towards the format, what cards made it possible. Sam possibly discovers a new type of deck by thinking about his BRO draft decks - mid-term. A deck that can't win early, loses longer games but is excellent in winning the games in the middle stages due to being powerful enough to deal with controls and out-resourcing aggro (which makes it different from mid-range, which can switch between aggressive and controlling strategies and has both early and late game. Tapping into Sam's expertise is a roller-coaster but with a rational train of thought. It is also a good way of reflecting on your BRO season and on what went well and maybe less well for you.

You can find Sam at: twitch.tv/samuelhblack and twitter.com/samuelhblack

This podcast is sponsored by mtgazone.com - get your reading fix from the best and brightest Magic writers in the business.

Find all other things Sierkovitz here: https://linktr.ee/sierkovitz

#61 - What makes sealed different; KHM case Jan 21, 2023

Show notes

How is sealed different from draft? Can we actually measure that difference? And what does it mean to your Arena Open attempt? I talk sealed, KHM sealed and what cards should you re-evaluate in this format compare to what you remember from drafting the set.

This podcast is sponsored by mtgazone.com - get your reading fix from the best and brightest Magic writers in the business.

Find all other things Sierkovitz here: https://linktr.ee/sierkovitz

#60 - Archetypist, BRO edition Jan 11, 2023

Show notes

This episode I look at the builds within each color pair. To do so a bit of maths was needed. I converted decks into numbers and plotted them based on what cards are inside. After that we look at the clusters of similar decks that win a bunch - this way by checking what is inside them we can figure out what makes them tick. Some color pairs have a one type of successful build, but some have multiple sub-archetypes that are very distinct from each other. Archetypist tool lets you figure that out on your own.

The tool, made by Pekka Pulli, is available here: https://archetypist.netlify.app/

This podcast is sponsored by mtgazone.com - get your reading fix from the best and brightest Magic writers in the business.

Find all other things Sierkovitz here: https://linktr.ee/sierkovitz

#58 - Navigating new format data in limited Dec 03, 2022

Show notes

Early format is the best time for hot takes and sweeping statements. Keeping that in mind I dedicate this episode to show what are the dangers of hot takes and sweeping statements and how to look at the early format in a more granular, subtle way. In the second part I look at the data from all the 10 color pairs. Which cards are the stars, which ones are traps, are there any hidden gems you should consider drafting higher. Lots of hot takes and absolute statements so you can later copy them with conviction!

Sponsored by mtgazone.com. Check out my articles at https://mtgazone.com/authors/sierkovitz

Find all other things Sierkovitz here: https://linktr.ee/sierkovitz

#57 - Draft Primer and First Look at the data Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

I take a look at removal stats of the Brothers' War set and try to convince you on how to use the self-milling cycle of creatures. On top of that, I dive into early format data: what makes each color tick and which colors do tick so far which ones still need some work from our side to be figured out.

Sponsored by mtgazone.com. Check out my articles at https://mtgazone.com/authors/sierkovitz

Find all other things Sierkovitz here: https://linktr.ee/sierkovitz

#56 - Magic: the Gatoring, Personal data of Florida Mun Nov 09, 2022

Show notes

Time to say goodbye to DMU draft data, and what better way than to look at the vast personal data of the all-time 17Lands.com trophy leader, Floridamun? We look at 175 drafts Chris played over the duration of the format in quest to find out what makes him such a good player. How does he manage to keep up such an impressive win rate across so many games. We look at his draft habits, pick preferences, card win rates and much more.

Check out Chris's Twitch (twitch.tv/FloridaMun) and podcast The Draft Lab

Sponsored by mtgazone.com. Check out my articles at https://mtgazone.com/authors/sierkovitz

Find all things Sierkovitz here: https://linktr.ee/sierkovitz

#55 - Dominaria Sealed Open Primer Nov 04, 2022

Show notes

This weekend we will have an opportunity to play for some real $$$ on Arena and the format is Dominaria Sealed. You read it well - Dominaria without United. Since the set came out in 2018 you might need a refresher or maybe you never played it before. I talk about the available data on Sealed in this format: how many colors should you try to play, what are the must-play bombs and which colors are the best. On top of that I go through top commons and uncommons in each color and look at some recent trophy decks to give you a good impression of what should you be aiming at in order to get to day 2 and give yourselves a chance of spiking some cash!

Sponsored by mtgazone.com so please give them a visit!

Find all things Sierkovitz here: https://linktr.ee/sierkovitz

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