We Have Ancestral Recall at Home | Brainstorm Brewery #694 | Magic Finance
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In this episode of Brainstorm Brewery #694, Corbin, DJ, Liz, and special guest JJ dive into the upcoming Strixhaven set, celebrating its fresh take on two-color pairings and nostalgic design elements like the return of Mystical Archives and the serialized Emeritus of Ideation card featuring Ancestral Recall. The hosts discuss the card Math and Magics, the whimsical nature of decks like Battle of Wits, and the cultural significance of reimagining classic mechanics. They also explore the broader implications of game design, using Riftbound’s recent card bans as a case study to argue that banning cards is a healthy, necessary part of evolving a game. The episode features a lively 'Breaking Bulk' segment where they identify undervalued cards like Sprout Swarm and Call of the Ring, and ends with a humorous digression on renting tables from Costco as a side hustle—complete with a satirical pitch that underscores the absurdity of passive income schemes. Throughout, the tone remains playful, insightful, and deeply engaged with Magic: The Gathering’s evolving ecosystem.
The return of Mystical Archives with etched foil treatments and serialized cards like the Emeritus of Ideation offers strong collector appeal and potential price appreciation.
Card games like Riftbound demonstrate that banning overpowered cards is a normal, healthy part of game development—not a failure.
Cards like Sprout Swarm and Call of the Ring are undervalued and poised for price spikes due to synergy with new sets and nostalgic mechanics.
The 'Breaking Bulk' segment proves that scanning and uploading bulk cards to platforms like MTGband.com can turn low-value cards into meaningful profit.
Riftbound’s design philosophy—prioritizing player fun over short-term profits—reflects a mature, responsive approach to game balance.
The Rise of Strixhaven and Nostalgic Design
“The serialized Emeritus of Ideation is going to be two thousand dollars plus for the serialized.”
Math and Magics: The Card That Defines Strixhaven
The hosts analyze the card Math and Magics, praising its whimsical, math-heavy gameplay and the fun of needing a calculator to determine card draw. They debate whether the card appeals to 'fun people' or those who enjoy novelty decks like Battle of Wits, highlighting the balance between strategy and whimsy in Magic design.
Riftbound’s Card Bans and the Evolution of Game Design
“Banning cards is bad for the bottom line. But they're committed to Riffound being the best game it can be.”
Breaking Bulk: Turning Trash into Cash
“You can make them return the table infinite times.”
The Absurdity of Passive Income: Table Rentals
A satirical tangent on renting Costco tables as a side hustle, complete with a mock Twitter thread and humorous commentary on the logistics of 'bounce houses' and 'slip and slide' metaphors. The segment critiques the myth of passive income while poking fun at the podcast’s own financial advice.
“Banning cards is bad for the bottom line. But they're committed to Riffound being the best game it can be.”
“The serialized Emeritus of Ideation is going to be two thousand dollars plus for the serialized.”
“It's not a fail. The company line is very clear. We are interested in people playing this game.”
Host
Guest
Corbin
person
DJ
person
Liz
person
JJ
person
Strixhaven
other
Ancestral Recall
other
Riftbound
media
Emeritus of Ideation
other
MTGband.com
product
Call of the Ring
other
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