James Ball
@jamesball.bsky.social
Magic the Gathering, Pokémon TCG and Edison/Genesys format Yu-Gi-Oh player.
Chartered Accountant.
He/Him
Chartered Accountant.
He/Him
Reposted by James Ball
Best TikTok thing going is the two dudes trying food from every country without leaving NYC. If you haven’t seen them yet, it’s incredible. My favorite so far is last week’s. Legit got me emotional.
January 9, 2026 at 1:50 AM
Best TikTok thing going is the two dudes trying food from every country without leaving NYC. If you haven’t seen them yet, it’s incredible. My favorite so far is last week’s. Legit got me emotional.
Reposted by James Ball
Seeing the end of the year MTG Japan X Account Set summary fan illustration is always a delight.
December 31, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Seeing the end of the year MTG Japan X Account Set summary fan illustration is always a delight.
Reposted by James Ball
It's that time of the year.
MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄
art by Jamer Turner
thanks to @mimiri.bsky.social for helping with voice lines.
#kirby #animation
MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄
art by Jamer Turner
thanks to @mimiri.bsky.social for helping with voice lines.
#kirby #animation
December 24, 2025 at 7:45 PM
It's that time of the year.
MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄
art by Jamer Turner
thanks to @mimiri.bsky.social for helping with voice lines.
#kirby #animation
MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄
art by Jamer Turner
thanks to @mimiri.bsky.social for helping with voice lines.
#kirby #animation
Reposted by James Ball
if u lived in downtown montreal at the time (2016? iirc) this shit was like actual christmas it was so funny to see the city go viral for the thing that's been happening every 2 years at the minimum
if tumblr dies I need this video to make it's seasonal rotation here instead just in case, Happy holidays 🎄
December 18, 2025 at 8:13 PM
if u lived in downtown montreal at the time (2016? iirc) this shit was like actual christmas it was so funny to see the city go viral for the thing that's been happening every 2 years at the minimum
Reposted by James Ball
Reading @metallicaisrad.bsky.social's new book about Guitar Hero and Rock Band and apparently the games "doubled the world's need for drumsticks"
December 18, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Reading @metallicaisrad.bsky.social's new book about Guitar Hero and Rock Band and apparently the games "doubled the world's need for drumsticks"
Reposted by James Ball
I'm often asked by prospective Cube designers about how many archetypes should be featured in a Cube, and it's a very common topic of Cube breakdowns, but I personally don't think about that much at all! This piece does a great job of highlighting how archetypes will sort themselves out.
usmantherad.substack.com/p/paving-des...
For my 60th article about cube design, I talked about the concept of desire paths and how they manifest in cube design and cube drafting. This article links to a 2015 Third Power cube podcast episode, featuring Marshall Sutcliffe as a guest. 🙂
For my 60th article about cube design, I talked about the concept of desire paths and how they manifest in cube design and cube drafting. This article links to a 2015 Third Power cube podcast episode, featuring Marshall Sutcliffe as a guest. 🙂
Paving Desire Paths in Cube Design and Cube Drafting
This article discusses the concept of Desire Paths & how understanding them is useful for Magic: The Gathering's cube format for cube drafting and cube design.
usmantherad.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:08 PM
I'm often asked by prospective Cube designers about how many archetypes should be featured in a Cube, and it's a very common topic of Cube breakdowns, but I personally don't think about that much at all! This piece does a great job of highlighting how archetypes will sort themselves out.
Reposted by James Ball
Reposted by James Ball
I was bored so I wrote a thing. It's very stream of consciousness and maybe not that good content idk.
Also I'm having some technical difficulties updating my website so I instead copied it to a gdoc for now. Much jank, have fun.
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Also I'm having some technical difficulties updating my website so I instead copied it to a gdoc for now. Much jank, have fun.
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
How to Play Chant Control vs Every Matchup
How to Play Chant Control vs Every Matchup 10/14/2025 JasonILTG I've been in a writing slump for the past 6 months or so, lacking the motivation to write articles even though I've had some ideas, so...
docs.google.com
October 15, 2025 at 5:39 PM
I was bored so I wrote a thing. It's very stream of consciousness and maybe not that good content idk.
Also I'm having some technical difficulties updating my website so I instead copied it to a gdoc for now. Much jank, have fun.
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Also I'm having some technical difficulties updating my website so I instead copied it to a gdoc for now. Much jank, have fun.
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Reposted by James Ball
Here it is: 18K words on how to win with Sanctum Amulet at upcoming RCs.
It's the best deck to play in modern - even if you're just okay at it.
Put a ton of work into this one, so it's $15 or a $5 sub (comes with all my other articles).
@fireshoes.bsky.social
www.patreon.com/posts/140190...
It's the best deck to play in modern - even if you're just okay at it.
Put a ton of work into this one, so it's $15 or a $5 sub (comes with all my other articles).
@fireshoes.bsky.social
www.patreon.com/posts/140190...
October 3, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Here it is: 18K words on how to win with Sanctum Amulet at upcoming RCs.
It's the best deck to play in modern - even if you're just okay at it.
Put a ton of work into this one, so it's $15 or a $5 sub (comes with all my other articles).
@fireshoes.bsky.social
www.patreon.com/posts/140190...
It's the best deck to play in modern - even if you're just okay at it.
Put a ton of work into this one, so it's $15 or a $5 sub (comes with all my other articles).
@fireshoes.bsky.social
www.patreon.com/posts/140190...
Reposted by James Ball
October 3, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by James Ball
Final Fantasy Tactics The Ivalice Chronicles illustration by Ryoko Kui (Delicious in Dungeon) for Weekly Famitsu No. 1915:
October 3, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Final Fantasy Tactics The Ivalice Chronicles illustration by Ryoko Kui (Delicious in Dungeon) for Weekly Famitsu No. 1915:
Reposted by James Ball
I have codes for free gems on @mtgarena.com! Retweet this post for a chance at one of them! It could be 200 gems or even 10,000 gems. Picking from here, Twitter, and Midwest Tournament Updater on FB.💎💎💎
And check out the other creators below for their giveaway too! #mtg
And check out the other creators below for their giveaway too! #mtg
Standard Metagame for the @mtgarena.com x Alienware Content Creator Tournament (16 players with 2 decks each) #mtg #mtgStandard
Additional bans in effect. Individuals will be streaming starting at 10am PT today! Gem code giveaways and custom Alienware Aurora Gaming Desktop grand prize giveaway!
Additional bans in effect. Individuals will be streaming starting at 10am PT today! Gem code giveaways and custom Alienware Aurora Gaming Desktop grand prize giveaway!
October 1, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I have codes for free gems on @mtgarena.com! Retweet this post for a chance at one of them! It could be 200 gems or even 10,000 gems. Picking from here, Twitter, and Midwest Tournament Updater on FB.💎💎💎
And check out the other creators below for their giveaway too! #mtg
And check out the other creators below for their giveaway too! #mtg
Reposted by James Ball
Timeline cleanser 🐈
September 26, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Timeline cleanser 🐈
Reposted by James Ball
Yeah, thanks to the new Pick-Two Draft format, my first picks from this second pack were pretty obvious: Burst Lightning for my deck and a foil Tarmogoyf I can sell later
September 22, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Yeah, thanks to the new Pick-Two Draft format, my first picks from this second pack were pretty obvious: Burst Lightning for my deck and a foil Tarmogoyf I can sell later
Reposted by James Ball
Expanded Deck of the Week #45 : Jellicent ex / Gardevoir ex
(Threads on Expanded decks, when I feel like it!)
With Worlds approaching, my focus is on Standard, but that doesn't mean I can't talk about what White Flare and Black Bolt bring to Expanded. Today: Jellicent ex!
Thread ⬇️
(1/12)
(Threads on Expanded decks, when I feel like it!)
With Worlds approaching, my focus is on Standard, but that doesn't mean I can't talk about what White Flare and Black Bolt bring to Expanded. Today: Jellicent ex!
Thread ⬇️
(1/12)
August 3, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Expanded Deck of the Week #45 : Jellicent ex / Gardevoir ex
(Threads on Expanded decks, when I feel like it!)
With Worlds approaching, my focus is on Standard, but that doesn't mean I can't talk about what White Flare and Black Bolt bring to Expanded. Today: Jellicent ex!
Thread ⬇️
(1/12)
(Threads on Expanded decks, when I feel like it!)
With Worlds approaching, my focus is on Standard, but that doesn't mean I can't talk about what White Flare and Black Bolt bring to Expanded. Today: Jellicent ex!
Thread ⬇️
(1/12)
Reposted by James Ball
Gardy players each time a new Dark archetype gets revealed
August 29, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Gardy players each time a new Dark archetype gets revealed
Reposted by James Ball
Reposted by James Ball
Modern challenge top 4 with my current obsession 🦖
Undefeated in swiss, lost to Belcher in the semis!
I've been trying a lot of different sideboard config to beat blue decks (Murktide, Rakshasa's Bargain, stock up). W splash for Teferi felt like a solid option today 🫡
@fireshoes.bsky.social
Undefeated in swiss, lost to Belcher in the semis!
I've been trying a lot of different sideboard config to beat blue decks (Murktide, Rakshasa's Bargain, stock up). W splash for Teferi felt like a solid option today 🫡
@fireshoes.bsky.social
August 23, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Modern challenge top 4 with my current obsession 🦖
Undefeated in swiss, lost to Belcher in the semis!
I've been trying a lot of different sideboard config to beat blue decks (Murktide, Rakshasa's Bargain, stock up). W splash for Teferi felt like a solid option today 🫡
@fireshoes.bsky.social
Undefeated in swiss, lost to Belcher in the semis!
I've been trying a lot of different sideboard config to beat blue decks (Murktide, Rakshasa's Bargain, stock up). W splash for Teferi felt like a solid option today 🫡
@fireshoes.bsky.social
Reposted by James Ball
CAUSE HATE IS ALL THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN LATELY
August 24, 2025 at 6:08 PM
CAUSE HATE IS ALL THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN LATELY
Reposted by James Ball
My family has a thing where we make each other increasingly over-the-top themed birthday cakes, and my mom and sister really pulled out the stops this year.
August 21, 2025 at 1:46 PM
My family has a thing where we make each other increasingly over-the-top themed birthday cakes, and my mom and sister really pulled out the stops this year.
Reposted by James Ball
probably one of the funniest tiktoks of all time
August 13, 2025 at 5:08 PM
probably one of the funniest tiktoks of all time
Hit Mythic with Mono-White Tokens in Standard. Went 14-0 from Plat 1 all the way to Mythic.
This deck is decent against Vivi and UW Control, so felt smooth.
Might tweak the SB a bit (Starcage felt medium), but unsure what I would replace them with.
Importable list below.
@fireshoes.bsky.social
This deck is decent against Vivi and UW Control, so felt smooth.
Might tweak the SB a bit (Starcage felt medium), but unsure what I would replace them with.
Importable list below.
@fireshoes.bsky.social
August 13, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Hit Mythic with Mono-White Tokens in Standard. Went 14-0 from Plat 1 all the way to Mythic.
This deck is decent against Vivi and UW Control, so felt smooth.
Might tweak the SB a bit (Starcage felt medium), but unsure what I would replace them with.
Importable list below.
@fireshoes.bsky.social
This deck is decent against Vivi and UW Control, so felt smooth.
Might tweak the SB a bit (Starcage felt medium), but unsure what I would replace them with.
Importable list below.
@fireshoes.bsky.social
Reposted by James Ball
I felt Final Fantasy in Magic was always going to represent more than just another UB set. For a lot of people, there is a deep love and history in both games. This is my attempt to coalesce that dynamic across our community in a fantasy of my own.
Please enjoy, The Unending Journey
bit.ly/45EdwBk
Please enjoy, The Unending Journey
bit.ly/45EdwBk
The Unending Journey
Art, like games, binds together communities of inspiration. For a lot of Magic players, Final Fantasy is one of those games baked into the foundations of our personalities.
bit.ly
August 7, 2025 at 5:59 PM
I felt Final Fantasy in Magic was always going to represent more than just another UB set. For a lot of people, there is a deep love and history in both games. This is my attempt to coalesce that dynamic across our community in a fantasy of my own.
Please enjoy, The Unending Journey
bit.ly/45EdwBk
Please enjoy, The Unending Journey
bit.ly/45EdwBk
Reposted by James Ball
