Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 6m

The hardest part of Commander night is figuring out which decks to bring.

Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 8m

Countless friendships of mine have been bolstered by social media. I have learned so many wonderful things about amazing people I would have otherwise never met.

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 8m

Not sure if a dating site counts...but I met my wife online (okcupid).

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 12h

Has anything great happened in your life because of social media?

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Reposted by Alex Ullman

Micah @rincewind.run · 57m

keep calling and telling them to stand strong

the difference between last time (when they got yelled at incessantly for caving) and this time needs to be a chasm in terms of the feedback they're getting from constituents

we can get them to hold

Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · 1h

Tina Smith says Democrats are digging in: “If anything, we’re feeling more strong.”

“I think we've tapped into something that's really important to Americans.”

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Reposted by Alex Ullman

Just Rebell @rebell.bsky.social · 27m

A few weeks ago I got glazed by The Mike Flores because he convinced me to come out to play pauper, and I went undefeated with a broken deck:
www.coolstuffinc.com/a/michaelflo...

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Reposted by Alex Ullman

Paige, TheMaverickGirl @themaverickgirl.bsky.social · 20m

You might've seen last week that I joined @tolariancommunitycollege.com for Shuffle Up and Play. In that episode, most Pauper decks featured were mine!

This week's article talks about all of them - including the ones you didn't see on camera!

Check it out now!

www.coolstuffinc.com/a/paigesmith...

A screenshot of the article linked in this post.

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Reposted by Alex Ullman

Nate Schenkkan @nateschenkkan.bsky.social · 3h

I wasn’t aware of all the ballot measures coming up in NYC—important to catch up before the vote

Rachel Holliday Smith @rachelholliday.bsky.social · 21h

yes, us! here you go:

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 2h

Yes

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 2h

Wednesday Bump: Spider-UK and Spider-Man Noir deserve more love. Here's my take:

youtu.be/h5Lu38CTaEI

Getting More out of Your Cards

YouTube video by Alexander Ullman

youtu.be

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 2h

Wednesday Bump: Check out my latest #MTGPauper Power Rankings here: nerdtothecore.com/2025/10/07/o...

October 3-5 Pauper Weekend Recap

Want to learn more about the metrics I use in tracking the metagame? You can find an explainer here. Two weeks into the Spider-Man/Through the Omenpaths season and things are starting to take shape…

nerdtothecore.com

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Reposted by Alex Ullman

Commander Mechanic @cmdrmechanic.bsky.social · 1d

For significantly less than the cost of a single Spider-man Collector Booster, how about you build a WHOLE DECK?

Let's look at an uncommon legend and an uncommon theme - mono black counters?

Big thanks to my sponsors @moxfield.com @cardtrader.bsky.social and CardConduit

youtu.be/loywfUQZFJM?...

Can We Build MONO BLACK COUNTERS with POCKET CHANGE?

YouTube video by Commander Mechanic

youtu.be

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Reposted by Alex Ullman

Andrea Pitzer @andreapitzer.bsky.social · 3h

Still true.

Andrea Pitzer @andreapitzer.bsky.social · Apr 25

They're making big mistakes, moving too quickly and burning bridges before they're capable of shutting down the opposition.

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 3h

I tagged one Manhattan resource before so hopefully they can do you a solid.

But if you make your way to Brooklyn I know a few spots.

Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 3h

Anything specific in mind?

Also, paging @andrewmagrini.bsky.social

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Reposted by Alex Ullman

emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 3h

This is an important point.

Everyone one of these people has been asked to leave their home, their family, and their job to work without pay bc of the shutdown. We're better off thinking of ways to make this backfire on Abbott than to treat them poorly.

Ben Raderstorf @raders.bsky.social · 12h

Texas National Guard troops arriving in Chicago (via ABC News)

Remember: These are not MAGA stormtroopers. These are everyday teachers and accountants who signed up to serve their country with their spare time. They're being used as political pawns by venal, un-American, draft-dodging president

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 4h

This is several shades of effed up.

Dave Jorgenson @davejorgenson.bsky.social · 4h

The Post laid off seemingly the remaining of their liberal-leaning staff members on Opinion last Thursday, when some of them were observing Yom Kippur.

from @oliverdarcy.bsky.social for Status
status.news/p/washington-post-opinion-cuts-adam-oneal

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 4h

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVIA!

THERE'S A SEAT ON THE PIZZA FORMAT PANEL JUST FOR YOU!

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 4h

I mean just this week we watched Pacific Rim together, and I remember seeing that movie in the theater with my dad (granted I was almost 30 at the time).

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 4h

I think my answer is the Superman movie. Got to take our son to see it and being able to share that depiction of Superman with him was delightful.

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 4h

Good morning Trick and pals. Safe journey!

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 5h

Finally, you can just share your love of creature tokens with the rest of the table. I'm sure it'll be fine:

Grismold, the Dreadsower {1}{B}{G}

Legendary Creature — Troll Shaman

Trample

At the beginning of your end step, each player creates a 1/1 green Plant creature token.

Whenever a creature token dies, put a +1/+1 counter on Grismold.
3/3

Illustrated by Filip Burburan

Illness in the Ranks {B}

Enchantment

Creature tokens get -1/-1.

“Selesnya denied us tribute. Let’s show them the error of their ways.”
—Milana, Orzhov prelate

Illustrated by Nils Hamm

Virulent Plague {2}{B}

Enchantment

Creature tokens get -2/-2.

“This pestilence robs us of glorious death in battle. We starve to death with full bellies and drown trying to slake our unnatural thirst.”
—Kerai Hatesinger, Kolaghan warrior

Illustrated by Johann Bodin

Sadistic Glee {B}

Enchantment — Aura

Enchant creature

Whenever a creature dies, put a +1/+1 counter on enchanted creature.

“First blood isn’t as important as last blood.”
—Gerrard of the Weatherlight

Illustrated by Pete Venters

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 5h

Okay, next up: all those Trolls have a solid power stat and I hear you might just like +1/+1 counters. Bonus points since you get to run some other Troll friends that fit the bill:

Varolz, the Scar-Striped {1}{B}{G}

Legendary Creature — Troll Warrior

Each creature card in your graveyard has scavenge. The scavenge cost is equal to its mana cost. (Exile a creature card from your graveyard and pay its mana cost: Put a number of +1/+1 counters equal to that card’s power on target creature. Scavenge only as a sorcery.)

Sacrifice another creature: Regenerate Varolz.
2/2

Watermark: Golgari

Illustrated by Adam Paquette

Hunted Troll {2}{G}{G}

Creature — Troll Warrior

When this creature enters, target opponent creates four 1/1 blue Faerie creature tokens with flying.

{G}: Regenerate this creature.
8/4

Illustrated by Greg Staples

Albino Troll {1}{G}

Creature — Troll

Echo {1}{G} (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay its echo cost.)

{1}{G}: Regenerate this creature.
3/3

Illustrated by Paolo Parente

Sporeback Troll {3}{G}

Creature — Troll Mutant

Graft 2 (This creature enters with two +1/+1 counters on it. Whenever another creature enters, you may move a +1/+1 counter from this creature onto it.)

{1}{G}: Regenerate target creature with a +1/+1 counter on it.
0/0

Watermark: Simic

Illustrated by Dan Murayama Scott

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 5h

Okay @shivambhatt.bsky.social - I finally got to the end of the Throne of Eldraine episode. I hope you're happy with yourself because I have two (actually three) different thoughts for your Troll deck.

First is the actual Troll, Bortuk Bonerattle. Are they good? Not even close! But...

Bortuk Bonerattle {4}{B}{G}

Legendary Creature — Troll Shaman

Domain — When Bortuk Bonerattle enters, if you cast it, choose target creature card in your graveyard. Return that card to the battlefield if its mana value is less than or equal to the number of basic land types among lands you control. Otherwise, put it into your hand.
4/4

Illustrated by Wayne Reynolds

Dryad of the Ilysian Grove {2}{G}

Enchantment Creature — Nymph Dryad

You may play an additional land on each of your turns.

Lands you control are every basic land type in addition to their other types.

“Vine-wreathed, he nurtures life among the dead.”
—Psemilla, Meletian poet
2/4

Illustrated by Scott Murphy

Prismatic Omen {1}{G}

Enchantment

Lands you control are every basic land type in addition to their other types.

In times of portent, the land sculpts itself in accordance with the sigils burned on the sky.

Illustrated by John Avon

Nylea's Presence {1}{G}

Enchantment — Aura

Enchant land

When this Aura enters, draw a card.

Enchanted land is every basic land type in addition to its other types.

Illustrated by Ralph Horsley

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Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 15h

It's a clown quote, bro.

Alex Ullman @nerdtothecore.com · 15h

Clearly I am unaware. Did I just fall for the internet?

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