Magic Data Science
@mtgds.bsky.social
Doing math with Magic; doing Magic with math.
(Chromatic Lantern; Julie Dillon)
(Chromatic Lantern; Julie Dillon)
Pinned
Magic Data Science
@mtgds.bsky.social
· Jul 28
A thread that serves as a directory for articles I've written, links to things I've created, and recurring themes.
This is a good place to start if you're new to Magic Data Science.
This is a good place to start if you're new to Magic Data Science.
Reposted by Magic Data Science
With all of the Treefolk and -1/-1 counters running around ECL, folks have been talking about how high-toughness the creatures in this set are.
But, are they? 🤔
I went to make this graph, expecting ECL to be an obvious outlier, and it's... just not!
As you can see... 👇
But, are they? 🤔
I went to make this graph, expecting ECL to be an obvious outlier, and it's... just not!
As you can see... 👇
January 24, 2026 at 8:17 PM
With all of the Treefolk and -1/-1 counters running around ECL, folks have been talking about how high-toughness the creatures in this set are.
But, are they? 🤔
I went to make this graph, expecting ECL to be an obvious outlier, and it's... just not!
As you can see... 👇
But, are they? 🤔
I went to make this graph, expecting ECL to be an obvious outlier, and it's... just not!
As you can see... 👇
With all of the Treefolk and -1/-1 counters running around ECL, folks have been talking about how high-toughness the creatures in this set are.
But, are they? 🤔
I went to make this graph, expecting ECL to be an obvious outlier, and it's... just not!
As you can see... 👇
But, are they? 🤔
I went to make this graph, expecting ECL to be an obvious outlier, and it's... just not!
As you can see... 👇
January 24, 2026 at 8:17 PM
With all of the Treefolk and -1/-1 counters running around ECL, folks have been talking about how high-toughness the creatures in this set are.
But, are they? 🤔
I went to make this graph, expecting ECL to be an obvious outlier, and it's... just not!
As you can see... 👇
But, are they? 🤔
I went to make this graph, expecting ECL to be an obvious outlier, and it's... just not!
As you can see... 👇
What does it say about a format if this is the highest GIHWR blue common?
January 23, 2026 at 1:33 PM
What does it say about a format if this is the highest GIHWR blue common?
Reposted by Magic Data Science
Several folks on @maro254.bsky.social's Blogatog reported that players at prerelease were confused by the official 5-pair archetype guide, hesitating to explore the other five pairs, despite some support for them.
So I made an unofficial guide to those secondary archetypes!
So I made an unofficial guide to those secondary archetypes!
January 22, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Several folks on @maro254.bsky.social's Blogatog reported that players at prerelease were confused by the official 5-pair archetype guide, hesitating to explore the other five pairs, despite some support for them.
So I made an unofficial guide to those secondary archetypes!
So I made an unofficial guide to those secondary archetypes!
Several folks on @maro254.bsky.social's Blogatog reported that players at prerelease were confused by the official 5-pair archetype guide, hesitating to explore the other five pairs, despite some support for them.
So I made an unofficial guide to those secondary archetypes!
So I made an unofficial guide to those secondary archetypes!
January 22, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Several folks on @maro254.bsky.social's Blogatog reported that players at prerelease were confused by the official 5-pair archetype guide, hesitating to explore the other five pairs, despite some support for them.
So I made an unofficial guide to those secondary archetypes!
So I made an unofficial guide to those secondary archetypes!
Highest GIHWR red common after day one (57.6%), just saying.
January 21, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Highest GIHWR red common after day one (57.6%), just saying.
Reposted by Magic Data Science
A thread of cards and artists for which the same artist has illustrated the same card multiple times.
1) This has happened for a million basic lands; they're not included
2) This has happened trivially in many, many cases -- Spectacular Spider-Man, Cavern of Souls, Traveling...
1) This has happened for a million basic lands; they're not included
2) This has happened trivially in many, many cases -- Spectacular Spider-Man, Cavern of Souls, Traveling...
January 21, 2026 at 12:06 AM
A thread of cards and artists for which the same artist has illustrated the same card multiple times.
1) This has happened for a million basic lands; they're not included
2) This has happened trivially in many, many cases -- Spectacular Spider-Man, Cavern of Souls, Traveling...
1) This has happened for a million basic lands; they're not included
2) This has happened trivially in many, many cases -- Spectacular Spider-Man, Cavern of Souls, Traveling...
I love that Magic is so far from being "solved."
Here are your day-one top GIHWR commons.
Here are your day-one top GIHWR commons.
January 21, 2026 at 11:00 AM
I love that Magic is so far from being "solved."
Here are your day-one top GIHWR commons.
Here are your day-one top GIHWR commons.
A thread of cards and artists for which the same artist has illustrated the same card multiple times.
1) This has happened for a million basic lands; they're not included
2) This has happened trivially in many, many cases -- Spectacular Spider-Man, Cavern of Souls, Traveling...
1) This has happened for a million basic lands; they're not included
2) This has happened trivially in many, many cases -- Spectacular Spider-Man, Cavern of Souls, Traveling...
January 21, 2026 at 12:06 AM
A thread of cards and artists for which the same artist has illustrated the same card multiple times.
1) This has happened for a million basic lands; they're not included
2) This has happened trivially in many, many cases -- Spectacular Spider-Man, Cavern of Souls, Traveling...
1) This has happened for a million basic lands; they're not included
2) This has happened trivially in many, many cases -- Spectacular Spider-Man, Cavern of Souls, Traveling...
Some wisdom of the crowds, accumulated from the #P0P1 entries. Highly picked cards have historically been winning cards, so here are the commons and #2CUDS to look for before the @17lands.bsky.social data comes out.
January 20, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Some wisdom of the crowds, accumulated from the #P0P1 entries. Highly picked cards have historically been winning cards, so here are the commons and #2CUDS to look for before the @17lands.bsky.social data comes out.
We've got about... 4 hours until kick-off. Get your entries in!
January 20, 2026 at 11:59 AM
We've got about... 4 hours until kick-off. Get your entries in!
Reposted by Magic Data Science
Here's a novel way to think about the text on Magic cards: What proportion of the words* on a given card, or in a given set, also appeared in 𝐴𝑙𝑝ℎ𝑎?
The answer, in general, is -- almost all! But with some interesting variation, and a clear trend.
The y-axis here only...
The answer, in general, is -- almost all! But with some interesting variation, and a clear trend.
The y-axis here only...
January 19, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Here's a novel way to think about the text on Magic cards: What proportion of the words* on a given card, or in a given set, also appeared in 𝐴𝑙𝑝ℎ𝑎?
The answer, in general, is -- almost all! But with some interesting variation, and a clear trend.
The y-axis here only...
The answer, in general, is -- almost all! But with some interesting variation, and a clear trend.
The y-axis here only...
Literal hours until #P0P1 kicks off -- this is a great opportunity to get some last-minute insight before you make your selections 👇
Join the Skeleton Crew and see our vision for the Lorwyn eclipsed draft decks. Live now at
twitch.tv/sierkovitz
with DDVAP, @sampratt.bsky.social
twitch.tv/sierkovitz
with DDVAP, @sampratt.bsky.social
January 19, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Literal hours until #P0P1 kicks off -- this is a great opportunity to get some last-minute insight before you make your selections 👇
Here's a novel way to think about the text on Magic cards: What proportion of the words* on a given card, or in a given set, also appeared in 𝐴𝑙𝑝ℎ𝑎?
The answer, in general, is -- almost all! But with some interesting variation, and a clear trend.
The y-axis here only...
The answer, in general, is -- almost all! But with some interesting variation, and a clear trend.
The y-axis here only...
January 19, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Here's a novel way to think about the text on Magic cards: What proportion of the words* on a given card, or in a given set, also appeared in 𝐴𝑙𝑝ℎ𝑎?
The answer, in general, is -- almost all! But with some interesting variation, and a clear trend.
The y-axis here only...
The answer, in general, is -- almost all! But with some interesting variation, and a clear trend.
The y-axis here only...
Power 9 is no more. It is power 11. Here is how i found it:
So.... It was put to my attention that Arena powered cube never has packs with 2 pieces of power 9 in them.
I was sceptical, but turns out it is true.
I looked at ~18000 drafts and results are striking.
1/5
So.... It was put to my attention that Arena powered cube never has packs with 2 pieces of power 9 in them.
I was sceptical, but turns out it is true.
I looked at ~18000 drafts and results are striking.
1/5
January 19, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Here's the answer: Zombie × Spirit.
Lot's of Zombies, lots of Spirits. Just one Zombie Spirit
Lot's of Zombies, lots of Spirits. Just one Zombie Spirit
January 19, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Here's the answer: Zombie × Spirit.
Lot's of Zombies, lots of Spirits. Just one Zombie Spirit
Lot's of Zombies, lots of Spirits. Just one Zombie Spirit
Reposted by Magic Data Science
This was a fun and edifying exercise as I feel my way around drafting and learning new sets. Kind of like a fantasy league for draft formats -- an idea that's crossed my mind, and I suspect I'm not alone there. Looking forward to seeing how my picks do.
January 19, 2026 at 2:28 PM
This was a fun and edifying exercise as I feel my way around drafting and learning new sets. Kind of like a fantasy league for draft formats -- an idea that's crossed my mind, and I suspect I'm not alone there. Looking forward to seeing how my picks do.
Reposted by Magic Data Science
One very cool thing they did in ECL is take things that are usually costs/downsides -- like putting -1/-1 counters on your own creatures, tapping permanents to cast things (convoke), and upping your color count (costly in a deckbuilding sense), and... finding ways to turn all...
January 18, 2026 at 7:50 PM
One very cool thing they did in ECL is take things that are usually costs/downsides -- like putting -1/-1 counters on your own creatures, tapping permanents to cast things (convoke), and upping your color count (costly in a deckbuilding sense), and... finding ways to turn all...
Reposted by Magic Data Science
I just entered my selections for the ECL #P0P1 Challenge! You can participate too; read more here: t.co/xNvJij51ms
Feeling good about my selections this time -- I usually end up middle of the pack. Hoping to break that streak!!
Feeling good about my selections this time -- I usually end up middle of the pack. Hoping to break that streak!!
January 18, 2026 at 11:31 PM
I just entered my selections for the ECL #P0P1 Challenge! You can participate too; read more here: t.co/xNvJij51ms
Feeling good about my selections this time -- I usually end up middle of the pack. Hoping to break that streak!!
Feeling good about my selections this time -- I usually end up middle of the pack. Hoping to break that streak!!
One very cool thing they did in ECL is take things that are usually costs/downsides -- like putting -1/-1 counters on your own creatures, tapping permanents to cast things (convoke), and upping your color count (costly in a deckbuilding sense), and... finding ways to turn all...
January 18, 2026 at 7:50 PM
One very cool thing they did in ECL is take things that are usually costs/downsides -- like putting -1/-1 counters on your own creatures, tapping permanents to cast things (convoke), and upping your color count (costly in a deckbuilding sense), and... finding ways to turn all...
Reposted by Magic Data Science
I feel really bad for the designers at WotC. This leak sucks for them.
January 17, 2026 at 8:11 PM
I feel really bad for the designers at WotC. This leak sucks for them.
If you could build a typal EDH deck, using only creatures of a specific type with illustrations taken from a single plane, which combination would provide a base for the strongest deck?
Dominarian Wizards?
Spirits from Kamigawa?
Eldrazi from Zendikar?
Vampires from Innistrad?
?
Dominarian Wizards?
Spirits from Kamigawa?
Eldrazi from Zendikar?
Vampires from Innistrad?
?
January 17, 2026 at 2:02 AM
If you could build a typal EDH deck, using only creatures of a specific type with illustrations taken from a single plane, which combination would provide a base for the strongest deck?
Dominarian Wizards?
Spirits from Kamigawa?
Eldrazi from Zendikar?
Vampires from Innistrad?
?
Dominarian Wizards?
Spirits from Kamigawa?
Eldrazi from Zendikar?
Vampires from Innistrad?
?
Reposted by Magic Data Science
Follow-up #mtgtrivia question:
There are two creature types that have each appeared on over 600 unique creature cards, but only appear together once on a specific card's typeline. What are the creature types, and what is the card?
Hint: Qrohgrq va Yrtvbaf
There are two creature types that have each appeared on over 600 unique creature cards, but only appear together once on a specific card's typeline. What are the creature types, and what is the card?
Hint: Qrohgrq va Yrtvbaf
January 16, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Follow-up #mtgtrivia question:
There are two creature types that have each appeared on over 600 unique creature cards, but only appear together once on a specific card's typeline. What are the creature types, and what is the card?
Hint: Qrohgrq va Yrtvbaf
There are two creature types that have each appeared on over 600 unique creature cards, but only appear together once on a specific card's typeline. What are the creature types, and what is the card?
Hint: Qrohgrq va Yrtvbaf