Raise the Standard: an MTG Podcast
Raise the Standard is a Magic: the Gathering podcast hosted by local game store manager Kira and L1 judge Meia. It focuses on constructed 60-card formats, especially Standard, Modern, and 7-Point Australian Highlander. Episodes cover metagame analysis, new set previews and spoilers, tournament breakdowns, and more. The show is aimed at competitive Magic players at all levels and releases episodes under format-specific categories.
Episodes
EP. 31 - Weather Warning: Storm Sideboarding ft. Richard Owen
He's back! There are few people who have played as much storm as Richard, and few people still who have beaten storm as much as he has. While the storm archetype remains the Big Bad of the Highlander metagame as we wait to see what impact the most recent points update has on the format, Richard is here to reassure us that storm is beatable!Today, Storm expert Richard Owen is taking us through the
EP. 30 - And Now, the Weather
The day before the Highlander Committee pointed Storm, it rained for three days straight in Melbourne, Australia, where we set the scene for the latest Highlander Points Update. And who better to talk about the latest changes to Storm than the weatherman himself: Richard Owen!Richard has developed Storm as a 7PT archetype over the last four years and has earned himself some impressive pointings in
EP. 29 - Points, Points, Points
Today's episode is brought to you by Kira, who really, really wanted to talk about the merits of Underground Sea as your 8th point. Within this discussion, we debate the broader pointing philosophy, the function of good mana, and having to re-think deckbuilding decisions after a points update.Reminder: we are not committee members! The Highlander Points Committee works incredibly hard to manage th
EP. 28 - 3d6 Sneak Attack Damage (Rogue Decks in Standard)
There's a lot of churn happening in Standard post-ban, and that leaves room for a lot of innovation in the format. New sets and recent bans mean that players are going rogue--looking for new combos, synergies, and play patterns that may prove to be incredibly powerful.Today, we're taking a look at a handful of rogue decks that are or have performed well in the current metagame. What do these decks
EP. 27 - 2 Strip 2 Mine
And lo, the Committee said unto the Highlander players: Strip Mine is now 2 Points. And there came a great commotion from the masses of Land players and Weenie players, who were distraught at this news and there came upon a great relief from anyone who has had their land Strip'd. Strip Mine to 2! Bones to 1! And who in the world suggested Daze to 1?! Today, we're talking about the most recent High
EP. 26 - "Grandma" is Prohibited
Well...! Here we are again. The week after we said, "There's no way that Wizards will ban Cub and Talent if they haven't banned them yet," Wizards said, "Bet." So, at long last, the new villains of the Standard format have been ushered into an early retirement. What does this mean for Standard now? Why wait until this ban cycle (August 10, 2026) to ban these cards? How will this impact the format
![EP. 25 - Special Guest Slot: Riley Jones [Mildly Modern]](https://media.rss.com/raisemtg/ep_cover_20260820_001411_832b5cd3bc48cf126867218b799879be.png)
EP. 25 - Special Guest Slot: Riley Jones [Mildly Modern]
He's back, and he's Boros than ever...! We're kidding, of course, there is no way that Titan enthusiast Riley Jones would play Boros at the Modern Spotlight series...or is there?We're thrilled to have Riley Jones back for another episode, this time about team prep ahead of Spotlight Series Brisbane, the first Spotlight event in Australia since the retirement of the GP series. We're chatting about
EP. 24 - SuperWHOBeyond (A Universes Beyond Speculation)
As of time of recording (24/7/26), we still don't know what the Universes Beyond sets for 2027 are...so let's have a bit of a laugh and wildly speculate about what those sets could be! We're parsing this episode as part of the 'Time in the Round' series, as it's more of a bonus episode, but is content that we still found quite funny! What is your wish for a Universes Beyond set? Game of Thrones? W
EP. 22 - So No Bans?
Obviously, we're a bit late to the party here--but we're going to talk about the 'No Changes' ban announcement anyway!This announcement was published June 29th of this year and honestly, we were a bit surprised. With the way the Standard metagame has been moving (or some would say, not moving) we had anticipated at least a couple of changes to the format. So why didn't we see anything banned? Let'
EP. 23 - The Anti-Prowess Prowess Deck ft. Riley Jones
On the heels of an incredible run at the Sydney Standard Spectacular $100K, we're joined today by Riley Jones! Far from being bad at Magic, Riley placed second at the $100K on a build of Prowess that incidentally has a great track record of beating the stock Prowess deck in Standard.Today, we're chatting with Riley about how the deck was built, the conception around playing the best deck while sim
EP. 21 - We're So Back
We've been gone for a while...so what's been happening while we were away?! From no bans in Standard to ProTour Marvel Super Heroes and everything in between, there's been a lot that we've missed. So join us today as we dive straight back in and chat about what's happening in Magic and what's coming up!We sincerely appreciate your patience and support as we've had to take additional time away from
EP. 20 - Voltie's Deckbuilding Lesson
Class is now in session! Our guest lecturer today is none other than Highlander committee member and Highlander World Champion: Aunt Voltie ⚡Voltie is a seasoned deckbuilder and a competitive Magic player of remarkably high caliber. She is a content creator, tournament organiser, and community member who is well-known for her knowledge and prowess within the game of Magic. Today, we're chatting wi
EP. 19 - Aunt Voltie & 7PT Boros
After her dominating performance at Highlander Worlds, we've brought beloved Highlander committee member and friend of the show, Aunt Voltie, back to answer for her crimes: playing 7PT Boros.In her previous episode, Voltie talked about the benefits of two-colour pair decks (Dimir and Boros most notably) playing 8PT lists rather than 7PT lists. However, rather than take her own advice, she register
EP. 18 - Alchemy? Alche-You
MTG Arena's Alchemy format is truly in a league of its own. From "conjure" mechanics and "draft from spellbook" the online-only mechanics are often difficult if not impossible to replicate in paper. But there is another, more interesting use of the Alchemy format: de-powering paper cards.Cards like The One Ring, Orcish Bowmasters, Heartfire Hero, and Cori-Steel Cutter are amongst the modern paper
EP. 17 - Pre-Pro Tour Study Session
> This episode was filmed prior to Pro Tour Secrets of Strixhaven <The most important test of a Magic player's career happened this weekend! But prior to the Pro Tour, we sat down to discuss the PT in broad strokes: what we expected to see, what we hoped to see, and what we thought might be coming next for the Standard metagame.This weekend has been a showing that the Standard metagame is cu
EP. 16 - Izzet Too Good?
Folks, let's be honest with each other. The "Year of Izzet" has persisted a lot longer than any of us really expected. A majority of the current Standard banlist as of April 2026 is comprised of red and/or blue cards, yet Izzet has remained a dominant colour pair throughout these ban cycles. So...why is that?Between access to perfect mana, a suite of interactive spells and card refinement options,
EP. 15 - Supercharged Strixhaven Standard
We've seen the increased power level amongst Standard sets steadily growing over the last few months, but there's something that feels decidedly pushed about Strixhaven.From creatures with iconic Magic spells stapled on them to recursive spell effects that will dominate a game, Strixhaven is powerful in a way that feels different to other current Standard-legal sets. So let's talk about the power
EP. 14 - Class is Back in Session
Gather your scrolls, ink your quills, and make sure you have your lecture schedule handy--we're heading back to Strixhaven! As is tradition, we have gathered a handful of some of the cards we think are going to be standouts in the Standard format. From lands to sorceries, we've got a little bit of everything today! Rest assured, we did our research and took some notes, like all good students do!Wh
EP. 13 - Special Guest Slot: Ben Tudman
We would be remiss not to bring back our most-mentioned player, Ben Tudman, for another conversation on the Standard format, its quirks, how it's changed, and what comes next for players and the metagame alike.So join us for another episode with Ben Tudman, recorded shortly after his appearance at Pro Tour Lorwyn Eclipsed. Listeners beware--there is a moment during this recording where the camera
EP. 12 - Special Guest Slot: More Sam Loy!
Back on the pod today is none other than Sam Loy! In Sam's last episode, we touched on the ten-year pause he put on competitive Magic and today we're going to dive into that break, how competitive Magic has changed in that time, and how players grow and adapt in ever-changing metagames.A huge thank you to Sam for coming back for another episode and for sharing his wisdom with us! This was such a f
EP. 11 - Special Guest Slot: Michael Billinghurst
We just can't get enough of our amazing competitive players--and today, we've got return friend of the show Michael Billinghurst back for another episode!If you are playing in the competitive Melbourne scene--especially if you're playing Highlander--then you know Billinghurst's name. From the committee to judging, Billinghurst is a pinnacle of the Vic crowd, and we're thrilled to have him for anot
EP. 10 - Special Guest Slot: Sam Loy
We're on the ProTour grind! Joining us today is the eponymous leader of Team Sam Loy--it's Sam Loy!Today we're chatting about Sam's pro tour experience, being on the feature match table, and predicting the Standard metagame when the field is wide open. A huge thank you to Sam for joining us for today's episode.And we're so incredibly excited to announce that Raise the Standard is now sponsored by
EP. 09 - Special Guest Slot: Ben Tudman
Ben Tudman...Ben Tudman...Ben Tudman...! He's back! Friend of the show, the player whose name we invoke more than anyone else, and ProTour regular, Ben Tudman joins us again on the podcast to discuss his experience at ProTour Lorwyn Eclipsed!Ben had an incredible showing at PT Lorwyn Eclipsed and is re-queued for the next two PTs--so today we're discussing what the event was like, the deck he play
EP. 08 - How Many Rows of Teeth??
Today we've got a very special episode brought to you from the Raise archives: one of our very first screentests! Journey with us through the time vortex back to August 2025, when we first sat down in the studio to test our transition to video. Laugh with us as we read through Ashiok's MTG wiki page, discuss its involvement (or lackthereof) in War of the Spark, and shudder to think of the number o
EP. 07 - Oh Meia, Oh My!
Our very own Meia trucked off to Canberra for CanCon 2026 and played in the annual Highlander tournament, an event that boasted over 200 competing players. Through eight rounds of competitive play, butting heads with Grixis, Moons, and even a Zirda combo deck, she placed in the Top 8!Today, our special guest is Meia herself, as she talks about the tournament, her deck, and what it took to Thoracle
EP. 06 - Eclipsing the Competition
Oracle Text:Oh. My. Pro Tour. Seven different decks in the Top 8, brand new archetypes that dominated the competition, and Badgermole Cub getting beaten into the dirt? Yes, please! This was a heck of a ProTour to kick off 2026. On the heels of an incredibly strong set--Lorwyn Eclipsed--the chance for Standard to change on a massive scale was just on the horizon. The Pros got their hands on the car
EP. 05 - You Wouldn't Point a Dual...& Other Opinions
Oracle Text:We sat down and took it easy today--before heading off to CanCon for a weekend of Highlander excitement, we were in the studio chatting about the format, countervailing opinions within the community, and whether or not Brainstorm is worth one point.This episode was recorded before Canberra Convention 2026, where Meia placed in the Top 8 of a 200+ player tournament! We've recorded an ep
EP. 04 - Seriously Good Standard
Oracle Text:Hey guys...We don't want to jinx anything...but Standard is looking pretty good right now! From the recent Spotlight Series metagame to new cards coming into the format via Lorwyn: Eclipsed, Standard seems to be going in a really good direction.We're taking it easy and chatting about the metagame distribution, good cards, better archetypes, and what might be coming at the next Pro Tour
EP. 03 - Faeries, Goblins, & Changelings, Oh My!
Oracle Text:We've returned to Lorwyn! After nearly 20 years, we have returned to the plane of light and shadow, of brumbly boggarts and merry merfolk, and we couldn't be more excited! Today, we're going through our usual rigamarole of discussing which cards we think will see constructed play across Standard, Modern, and Highlander (with an emphasis on Standard-playable cards especially).Are you a
EP. 02 - Special Guest Slot: Luke Mulcahy
Oracle Text:From "Magic on Hard Mode" to 9 Pro Tour appearances, today's guest is a player of incredible talent and skill, and is a repository of immense Magic knowledge. Today, we're sitting down with Luke Mulcahy to discuss deckbuilding, getting roasted by LSV on Twitter, and how working within a player community to develop an archetype makes your deck stronger in the long-term. Affectionately n
EP. 01 - Badger? I Hardly Know Her!
Oracle Text: Welcome back, Standard enjoyers! For our first episode of Season 2 and our first episode of 2026, join us as we sit down and discuss Badgermole Cub: is it banworthy?From pushed design philosophy to power creep in the format, Badgermole Cub has all of the hallmarks of a card that could end up on the Standard banlist: mana acceleration, card advantage, stats that break parody, and nothi
EP. 45 - Season 1 Finale
Oracle Text:What a year it's been! From Aetherdrift to Avatar, we've seen Standard through its highs and lows of 2025, and we ourselves have grown from focusing solely on Standard to becoming a competitive-constructed podcast, expanding to include segments like Mildly Modern and Hardly Highlander.All of this is thanks to you, our listeners and our community, and we cannot thank you enough for the
EP. 44 -Lessons Learnt (MTG Worlds Recap)
Oracle Text:The World Championship tournament was an amazing show of force with a roster of new Standard decks; a byproduct of both the latest set, Avatar: the Last Airbender, as well as the most recent bannings that took place earlier in November.And let's just say...we've learned some lessons. So today, we're talking about MTG Worlds: the decks that appeared and dominated the metagame, the cards
EP. 43 - Special Guest Slot: Aunt Voltie (Let's Talk 8PT!)
Oracle Text:Back-to-back committee members! Today we brought back Aunt Voltie--committee member, content creator, and competitive player--to chat about her work in the 8-Point space of Australian Highlander.The 8-Point rule, sometimes referred to as the "Accessibility Rule", rewards players that don't play Reserve List cards with an extra point in their otherwise 7-Point restricted decks. Voltie h
EP. 42 - Special Guest Slot: Michael Billinghurst
Oracle Text:Continuing in our (new?) tradition of hosting committee members on the show, we are joined today by none other than renowned Esper enthusiast, Michael Billinghurst! With decades of competitive Magic play under his belt and several years' residence as a member of the 7-Point Highlander committee, who better to take a guest slot on the pod than a well-loved judge and community member to
EP. 41 - We Love Highlander! (and so can you)
Oracle Text:As a show that is focused on competitive play in Magic--and especially focused on competitive play here in Australia--it should come as no surprise that we've started playing more 7-Point Australian Highlander. While the Wizards-sanctioned competitive seasons alternate from Standard to Modern, one format remains steady between them: Highlander.Being a Vintage format, Highlander carries
EP. 40 - Bantastic News!
Oracle Text:Good news, everyone! Vivi Ornitier is banned in Standard!The snail's pace of a numb format took us all the way until November 10th when the inevitable announcement came: Vivi Orinitier is banned in Standard, along with Proft's Eidetic Memory and Screaming Nemesis. So...is Standard finally fixed?Let's chat today about the most recent ban announcement, what it means for the format, our t
EP. 39 - Taking the Meta by Storm
Oracle Text:We're recapping Regional Championship 10 that happened a few weeks back in October! Kira was a part of the Super Series commentary team and spent the whole weekend neck-deep in Modern and the competitive scene--so let's chat about the metagame, the plays, and all the things that make Modern great right now!If you're interested in starting your competitive journey, the ANZ Super Series
EP. 38 - Avatar: the Last Standard Set (of 2025)
Oracle Text:Water...earth...fire...air...Magic! From 2005 on Nickelodeon to 2025 as a part of Wizards' own Magic: the Gathering, the Avatar: the Last Airbender (Universes Beyond) set is lining up to be just as much of a hit as its original TV series.The nostalgia factor coupled with thoughtful card designs have fans itching for pre release, which is scheduled for this Friday, November 14th. As alw
![EP. 37 - I Know Everything [Simic Omniscience Deck Tech]](https://media.rss.com/raisemtg/ep_cover_20251102_021120_f023e3588c6514fb896aab94d67b0c92.png)
EP. 37 - I Know Everything [Simic Omniscience Deck Tech]
Oracle Text:For our next deck tech spotlight, we're going absolutely big-brained. We loved so many of the decks from our series about the underdogs of the Standard format, the decks that are just below the surface and waiting to break through--and Kira loved Simic Omniscience so much that she immediately built the deck and started playing it.So today, we're walking you through Simic Omniscience: w
EP. 36 - Special Guest Slot: Aunt Voltie
Oracle Text:Our third guest on the show is a woman who needs little introduction--but we will give her one anyway! She is a member of the Australian 7-Point Highlander Points Committee, a veteran Magic player of incredible skill, a Top 4 player at Pat's most recent CanBrawl tournament, and a pioneer of the 8-Point Archetype: today's special guest slot is taken by none other than Aunt Voltie!In the
EP. 35 - The Marit Lage of Standard Decks
Oracle Text:Standard is in...a bit of a state right now. But lurking underneath the surface of a metagame dominated by Cauldrons and Mono Red lie some interesting Standard decks that have yet to crack the ice. Today, we look at the "Marit Lage" decks (copyright Kira 2025), the decks that are hiding just below but may soon break through into the meta.Some decks that we discuss--like Simic Aggro--ha
![EP. 34 - Mildly Modern [Pro Tour EOE]](https://media.rss.com/raisemtg/ep_cover_20251005_061050_0ee043481f2a0dba04a3b9e460e146b9.png)
EP. 34 - Mildly Modern [Pro Tour EOE]
Oracle Text:Wait a second...this isn't even Standard!Welcome to our very first episode of Mildly Modern, an MTG podcast within an MTG podcast! We as Magic players are not so linear as to only play one format, and while Standard is the format that is nearest and dearest to our hearts, we realised how much we love and are invested in 60-card constructed competitive formats and decided that it is tim
EP. 33 - Your Friendly Neighbourhood Standard Set
Oracle Text:🎶 Spider-Man, Spider-Man, he's a--Legendary Creature Spider Human Hero--and he does whatever a spider can 🎶Today we bring you our Spider-Man Standard predictions, taking a dive into which cards we think are going to see play in the meta, what role they might play, and which decks we may see them played in.The second Universes Beyond set of 2025 has some unique challenges, but also pres
EP. 32 - Starting with Standard
Oracle Text:So, you want to learn how to play Magic? We've got the best thing for you! No, it's not a pre-con Commander deck...From the Arena tutorial, to Starter Kits, to playing Standard, constructed formats are a new player's best friend! (In our humble opinion.) Starting with Standard is easier and more comprehensible for players who have not played a game of Magic--with a reduced card pool, o
EP. 31 - Vivi On My Mind
Oracle Text:Hold our hands. It's going to be okay. I promise it's going to be okay. This is the inevitable Vivi episode where we commiserate about Standard's worst Black Mage.We don't need to talk about if Vivi is bad/bad for the format. We know it is, and we can see from the results that Izzet Cauldron is putting up that the deck is a real force in the format. But the way that Vivi is homogenizin
EP. 30 - In Vivi We Trust
Oracle Text:Today, we bring to you a the start of a new series within the Raise the Standard playbill: Deck Spotlight! Pulling from the Standard metagame, we will break down popular and played decks and go over their playstyles, deck construction, strengths and weaknesses, sideboard, and more!And we must, of course, start with the villain of the Standard format: Vivi Cauldron.Izzet Cauldron (large
EP. 29 - You, Me, & an RC
Oracle Text:Congratulations! You've qualified for a Regional Championship event--an RC, similar to the PTQ's of old--and now it's the night before the event. How can you best prepare? What should you be doing?We've previously touched on your first competitive event, back in Episode 17, and we're continuing to follow the thread of increasing competition, going from your RCQ (your qualifying event
EP. 28 - Post-Rotation First Impressions
Oracle Text:It's a whole new Standard format! Or...is it? What's happening in Standard now that we've completed our first rotation since the 3-year extension? Which decks have risen in popularity? Which decks have we lost to rotation? Let's discuss!| This episode of Raise the Standard is sponsored by Wizards of the Coast. You can collect your Play Season Rewards by participating in eligible events
EP. 27 - Edge of Eternities Early Access!
Oracle Text:We went to space!...And it was awesome! While we did spend some time playing draft, we're here to talk about--to nobody's surprise--Standard! This was the first chance that we had to play in a post-rotation Standard universe, and WOW! The playing field for Standard is wide-open following rotation and a sweeping set of bans in Standard.Today, we're talking about which decks we played, w
EP. 26 - One Out, One In
Oracle Text:We've completed our Standard planetary rotation! Ahem--Standard has rotated, and we leave behind several more sets for the eternal formats to make room for the latest, shiniest Magic: the Gathering set: Edge of Eternities. With rotation, we've lost some key cards that were crucial to the Standard format as we knew it; so what cards are we going to replace them with?Today, we're looking
EP. 25 - Standard...in Space!
Oracle Text:Countdown has been initiated, and the launch sequence is activated. Edge of Eternities is rocketing to your LGS today for pre release! Today, we're chatting about new EOE cards that we think are going to find their way through the galaxy and make their way into the Standard Meta. [This is not a financial advice podcast!]What cards do you have your eyes on? Which cards are going to be t
EP. 24 - Rotation, Ro-tah-shun
Oracle Text:Every three years, the Standard format goes through a spin cycle in the wash--it's rotation season! We're cleaning out our older Standard sets to usher in a new era of Standard play. Fare thee well to: Dominaria United, The Brothers' War, Phyrexia: All Will Be One, March of the Machine, and March of the Machine: Aftermath. You will be...missed? Join us today as we talk about rotation,
![EP. 23 [Part 2] - Special Guest Slot: Jennifer-Rose Holloway](https://media.rss.com/raisemtg/ep_cover_20250717_010704_61bb9de597eadc8308deafc80bc45107.png)
EP. 23 [Part 2] - Special Guest Slot: Jennifer-Rose Holloway
Oracle Text:We're picking right up where we left off on Monday and diving straight back in with Jennifer-Rose Holloway, winner of Regional Chapmionship 9 Melbourne! Join Meia and Jennifer-Rose as they continue to discuss prepping for the RC, the good matchups and the bad, and what it takes to go from playing your first RC to winning your first RC in just two days! (Results may vary.)A huge thank y
EP. 23 - Special Guest Slot: Jennifer-Rose Holloway
Oracle Text:This episode was recorded shortly after Jennifer-Rose Holloway took down the win at Regional Championship 9 - Melbourne! Shocking the then-current meta (pre-Final Fantasy) of Omniscience Combo, Izzet Prowess, and Orzhov Pixie, Jennifer-Rose won on Dimir Midrange. Today, we bring you this conversation hosted by Meia as she and Jennifer-Rose discuss prepping for the RC, choosing to play
EP. 22 - Aaand You're Banned
Oracle Text:Cori-Steel Cutter? ❌ Monstrous Rage? ❌ Heartfire Hero? ❌ Up the Beanstalk? ❌ Hopeless Nightmare? ❌ This Town Ain't Big Enough? ❌ Abuelo's Awakening? ❌It might feel like the right question to ask is: what didn't get banned?? Today, we're talking about last week's inevitable Standard bans. We're breaking down the ethos behind the bans, the benefit of "early rotation", and celebrating the
EP. 21 - Early Access! Final Fantasy Constructed
Oracle Text:A huge thank you to Wizards of the Coast for giving us special early access through the MTG Arena Client for the preview of FINAL FANTASY x Magic: the Gathering! This episode would not be possible without their support, and we are so grateful to have been invited back to participate in another Early Access event. Today we're talking about the cards we loved most from Final Fantasy and
![EP. 20 - It's Final(ly) Fantasy Time! [Part 2]](https://media.rss.com/raisemtg/ep_cover_20250612_020619_c5f9245a4a267919cb2298c282683232.png)
EP. 20 - It's Final(ly) Fantasy Time! [Part 2]
Oracle Text:Welcome back, Standard friends! Today, we resume our discussion about FINAL FANTASY x Magic: the Gathering cards that we think are going to find their place in the Standard meta. From Summon creatures to everybody's friend Bob, we're taking you through Part 2 of our FF picks! As this is Magic's first-ever Standard-legal Universes Beyond set, there was a lot of content to get through! H
![EP. 20 - It's Final(ly) Fantasy Time! [Part 1]](https://media.rss.com/raisemtg/ep_cover_20250608_040649_111b81455eb2a1bf16b7a50ed3cd9a36.png)
EP. 20 - It's Final(ly) Fantasy Time! [Part 1]
Oracle Text:The most anticipated and best-selling set in Magic: the Gathering history is finally here! Saddle up your chocobos, because today we're talking about our Standard picks for FINAL FANTASY.This is Magic's first-ever Standard-legal Universes Beyond set, so we're bound to see an impact on the format. Join us today for part one of our long discussion about what cards and archetypes we think
EP. 19 - Standard on the Fringe
Oracle Text:We've talked a lot about Tier 1 and Tier 2 decks, their place in the meta and how they define the Standard meta--but what about fringe decks? What about those strange 1- or 2-ofs in a tournament that barely see any play?Today we're talking about Fringe Decks, or more frequently understood as the "Other" category when looking at a tournament meta breakdown. What are fringe decks? Why do
EP. 18 - 'Tis the (Competitive) Season!
Oracle Text:We're smack-dab in the middle of the competitive season, so today we're talking about the innovation that we see in the format during RC/RCQs! What makes the competitive season interesting? How does the format change during this time? And why should you participate in these events?Topics Include:'Tis the season to not get copyright struckCori-Steel Cutter is a good cardMagic is an endu
EP. 17 - Standard Competition
Oracle Text:Congratulations! It's your first ever competitive REL event!...What happens now?Fresh of the heels of RC 9 in Melbourne, today we're talking through competitive MTG events: what to expect, how they differ from FNM and weekly events, and how to prepare for your first attendance. Competitive events come in all flavours, from qualifying events to regional championships and beyond!Topics i
EP. 16 - Cutting Through Standard
Oracle Text:There's been a massive shake-up in the Standard format, and it's in the form of one particular card that is absolutely cutting through the competition. We are, of course, talking today about Cori-Steel Cutter.This 2-mana equipment is a force to be reckoned with! Join us as we chat about what makes this card so powerful, which decks it's popping up in, and why we're seeing it cut and sl
EP. 15 - Early Access! Tarkir Limited
Oracle Text:Today we bring you another episode courtesy of our experience during Early Access Tarkir: Dragonstorm on the MTG Arena client! Thank you to Wizards of the Coast for inviting us to participate in the early access streamer event for Tarkir--we had an amazing time and are so grateful that we got to experience Tarkir cards first hand so that we can bring you today's episode focusing on Tar
EP. 14 - Early Access! Tarkir: Dragonstorm Limited
Oracle Text:A huge thank you to Wizards of the Coast for giving us the chance to participate in Tarkir: Dragonstorm Early Access on the MTG Arena client! This episode would not be possible without that support, and we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have streamed and played Early Access Tarkir: Dragonstorm.Today, we're bringing you a special BONUS episode! We played a bit of Tarkir:
EP. 13 - A Chat with Ben Tudman
Oracle Text:Put on a jumper, grab a cup of tea, and join us for a chat with Australian Pro Player and Melbourne Magic stalwart, Ben Tudman. After our Tarkir discussion, we settled in for a casual conversation with Ben, discussing:Orzhov Pixiethe Standard MetagamePredicting the playing field| You can find and follow Ben across social media @bentudman and you can follow Team Bus Stop's progress on
![EP. 11 - Special Guest Slot: Ben Tudman [Discussing Tarkir: Dragonstorm]](https://media.rss.com/raisemtg/ep_cover_20250330_040316_340f24b1f909190a6ea2a0b2c159d424.png)
EP. 11 - Special Guest Slot: Ben Tudman [Discussing Tarkir: Dragonstorm]
Oracle Text:Joining us in the studio today is none other than legendary and iconic Melbourne Magic player, Ben Tudman!It can be daunting when a new set releases to understand which cards are good, which ones might be good, and which ones are...well, let's say not as good. So, we've brought in Ben as our expert, as a member of Team Bus Stop and a 3-time Pro Tour player, Ben knows his Magic cards.To
EP. 10 (Part 2) - Control and Midrange | The Reactive Archetypes
Oracle Text:We're back! Today we're wrapping up our discussion on common deck archetypes and we're focusing on the reactive archetypes today, the decks that are looking to mitigate threats and "answer questions" rather than pose them.Topics Include:How many deck archetypes can you fit in a single deck?Playing in the Overlord's arenaWhat is aliens?| This episode of Raise the Standard was recorded a
EP. 10 - Aggro, Combo, Tempo | The Proactive Archetypes
Oracle Text:This is Part One of our deck archetypes duology! There are many different types of decks across all of Magic's formats--what are they, and what is the difference between them? Today, we're talking about the proactive deck archetypes, the foot-forward, asking questions decks that seek to play ahead and stay ahead.We'll dive in to the way these decks combine with one another, differentia
EP. 09 - JUDGE!
Oracle Text:Today we ask important questions: what is a judge? who are judges? why judges?We're dipping our Standard toes into the deep, deep pool of judging: what is a judge's role? how can I find a judge? what are judges? Think of this a primer to judges for those of you who may never have interacted with a judge and/or are not familiar with the role judges play in Magic. Rest assured we will be
EP. 08 - The Overlord You Know
Oracle Text:It's post-ProTour season! Domain Overlords swept the competition away and Matt Nass is your new ProTour Champion! So...now what? Today we're discussing:What did the meta look like at PT Chicago?Standout decks & familiar facesWhat will Standard look like going forward?A huge congratulations to Matt Nass and his victory at ProTour Aetherdrift! You can find Nass's list and all of the
EP. 07 - Building Standard
Oracle Text:I'm ready to start playing Standard!...Where can I find decklists? How can I buy cards for my deck? What cards are legal in the format? All of these questions and more answered in today's episode, where we dive in to building your Standard deck!Topics include:Popular places to find decklistsWhere you can buy cards (both local and online)the 7-Point Highlander Committee Foundation TM TM
EP. 06 - A Standard FNM
Oracle Text:Pack your bags and head to your local game store--it's time for FNM!* Today, we're straying a bit away from strictly Standard (shocking, we know!) and taking you through the motions of an FNM, including:What is FNM?What can I expect at FNM?Is FNM constructed, limited, or both?Grab your playmat, check the MTG Companion app for your nearest FNM, and let's go!| This episode of Raise the S
EP. 05 - Windy City Standard
Oracle Text:We bring you a special BONUS EPISODE this week as we sit down to talk about the Standard Pro Tour that's happening this weekend at MagicCon Chicago! Topics of choice include:How has Standard changed since the last Pro Tour in Vegas?What decks do we think will dominate Chicago's PT?Just exactly how good is Sheoldred, the Apocalypse?Join us as we speculate on this weekend's upcoming tour
EP. 04 - The Foundations of Standard
Oracle Text:It's been three months since the release of Magic: the Gathering Foundations, a set designed to give Standard a, well...strong foundation to stand on! Today, we're looking at some of the most impactful cards from Foundations and discussing:When will we see Foundations hit its peak?Will more Foundations cards see Standard play?Why have these cards in particular seen such success in the
EP. 03 - A Standard for All
Oracle Text:We bring you a bit of a shorter episode today, but one that is no less important! Who is Standard for? And why should you play it?The audio for this episode is a bit up and down, and we apologise for that! There was an issue with the levels in the studio that went unnoticed until it was time to edit. Bear with us as we have a quick chat about the Standard format--it's for you! It's for
EP. 02 - Racing Into Standard
Oracle Text:3...2...1...GO!It's time to Start Your Engines because today is Aetherdrift pre-release and we're here to share with you Meia's Top 5 Speculative picks for Aetherdrift Standard. This aether-boosted set has it all: new mechanics, busted card draw, and a homunculus host to boot! We'll break down the cards we think are going to have a sizeable impact on the format and reflect on the well-
EP. 01 - Setting the Standard
Oracle Text:Today, we raise our Standard flag! In this inaugural episode of Raise the Standard, Kira and Meia set out to explore the dynamic world of the Standard format. Tackling core concepts ranging from metagame diversity to dollar dollar bills, Kira and Meia seek to "Set the Standard" for their discussions going forward.Today we're untapping, moving to our main phase, and asking:What is Stand
Time in the Round - Standard Banlist Retrospective
Oracle Text: We were at PAX Australia this weekend, and as we recover from our first-ever live show and a weekend of Magic, we bring to you this incredible archival piece from our Raise the Standard catalogue. In this episode, we were discussing (at the time) what cards we believed could be banned in Standard, which decks were in strong positions, and how things might possibly change if there were
Time in the Round - Arena Lets You Cheat?!
Oracle Text:The audio lives on! Welcome to another episode of Time in the Round, where we let our clips and chats live on in a beautiful farm up north. Today, we went on a bit of a tangent about Magic: the Gathering Arena: how it can make you a better player, how it can make you a complacent player, and how sometimes it even lets you "cheat".| Music from HitsLab via Pixabay. Thumbnail
