What the Premodern Data Actually Says

We finally have real Premodern data — and it’s shaping what LobsterCon is going to look like.

In this episode of Eternal Durdles, Zac Clark and Phil (ForceofPhil) break down Cyrus Bales’ Premodern metagame data, compiled from Magic Online Challenges and other events. Using Top 8 appearances, win rates, and overperformance metrics, we analyze which decks are actually converting — and which ones just feel powerful.

This is a numbers-first discussion, not vibes.

We cover:

• Why SLIGH remains the most-played deck in Premodern

• Why Mono-Blue Stiflenought is the best-performing deck

• What overrepresentation actually means (and what it doesn’t)

• Whether Phyrexian Dreadnought is the real problem

• Why Parallax Tide may be the true pressure point

• Aggro vs combo vs control in the current metagame

• What you actually need to prepare for heading into LobsterCon

• Sideboard implications in a red-heavy field

• Why banning decks doesn’t “fix” Premodern

• And why the format still has massive brewing space

We also touch on:

• The Professor’s comments on Premodern bans

• Land Tax, Tide, and historical format shifts

• Psychatog’s resurgence

• Why some decks feel worse to play against than the math suggests

• The emotionally devastating potential of Extract Control

If you’re tuning a list, building a sideboard, or preparing for LobsterCon, this episode gives you the clearest picture yet of where Premodern actually stands.