Eternal Durdles

Pre-Modern is exploding in popularity — but not everyone wants to sleeve up Tide, Stiflenought, or Devourer combo.In this episode of Eternal Durdles, Phil and Zach dig into underplayed and underrepresented Pre-Modern combo decks that still have real game — or at least real nostalgia. We break down how these decks work, why they fell out of favor, and whether any of them still have the legs to compete in today’s Pre-Modern metagame.We start with Cadaverous Bloom / Squandered Resources (Prosperous Bloom) — one of Magic’s earliest true combo decks — and walk through turn-by-turn lines, Natural Balance interactions, Meditate chains, and why the deck is both terrifying and deeply flawed in a world full of blue decks and Naturalize effects.From there, we move into Iggy Pop (Ill-Gotten Gains Storm), discussing:Intuition pilesLion’s Eye Diamond sequencingThreshold mana loopsWhy this version cuts discardHow fast the deck can realistically killWhen Storm is better off racing instead of interactingFinally, we break down the most viable of the bunch: Pre-Modern Doomsday.We cover:Future Sight + Doomsday pilesLED / Lotus Petal requirementsEbony Charm loopsWhy Mog Fanatic is secretly terrifyingSideboard flexibility with singletonsThe Hunting Pack + Concordant Crossroads pivot planWhy this deck actually 5–0’d a leagueThis episode is part strategy, part history lesson, and part reality check. Some of these decks are pure nostalgia. Some are secretly competitive. All of them are fascinating.Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking these decks through Pre-Modern leagues to see what still holds up — and what belongs in the museum.👇 Let us know which deck you want to see run first.

It’s that time of year again: predictions season.Phil and Zach kick off the new year by planting flags for Legacy and Pre-Modern Magic — calling their shots on what decks will rise, what cards are on borrowed time, and how the Eternal formats are going to evolve over the next year.We dig into:Legacy ban predictions (Bowmasters, Tamiyo, Beanstalk, and more)Whether Ancient Tomb and Urza’s Saga decks are about to get even strongerThe impact of Universes Beyond sets on Legacy and Eternal formatsIs Affinity a real contender or just a metagame flash?Why Storm, Doomsday, and combo decks might be positioned to dominateControl’s return and whether Beanstalk control is actually healthyThe future of Pre-Modern on Magic Online and what might get banned (or unbanned)Will Legacy attendance drop, and are players migrating to Pre-Modern or Vintage?We also make predictions for Eternal Weekend, LobsterCon, and even call our shot on how many subscribers Eternal Durdles will hit by the end of the year — receipts will be checked.If you play Legacy, Pre-Modern, Vintage, or Eternal Magic, this is the episode to bookmark and revisit in December.👇 Drop your own predictions in the comments and we’ll see who was right.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnJOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEWe’re doing something a little different this time: looking back before looking forward.In this episode, Zac and Phil revisit their New Year’s resolutions from last year, grade themselves honestly, and talk through how much Eternal Durdles has changed in just twelve months. From daily podcasting and written content to Eternal Weekends, Sorcery growth, website expansion, and life hitting hard, this is a candid reflection on what worked, what didn’t, and why some goals changed along the way.Then, they set new resolutions for the year ahead, including:Upgrading the show’s production and equipmentExpanding eternaldurdles.com and launching a weekly newsletterMore Pre-Modern deck techs and specialist interviewsGameplay recap videos with live commentaryTraveling to more non-local eventsTaking Vintage more seriouslyFeaturing more friends, creators, and voices in the communityPersonal goals around health, balance, and sustainabilityStaying curious and choosing to “be the student”This episode is about growth, honesty, missed goals, unexpected wins, and why consistency matters more than perfection.If you enjoy behind-the-scenes conversations about content creation, Magic formats, Sorcery, and building something long-term — this one’s for you.Proudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnJOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil

It’s the annual Christmas episode, and that means one thing: MTGRemy is back.Zac and Remy sit down for their yearly catch-up to talk about everything from Magic travel slowing down, why MagicCons stopped making sense, and discovering new games like Sorcery: Contested Realm, to childhood Christmas memories, toy commercials, stop-motion specials, sitcom nostalgia, and the weird cultural moments that shaped a generation.Along the way, they cover:Why MagicCons stopped being worth itPlaying Pre-Modern in hotel rooms instead of convention hallsLou Malnati’s pizza (twice, in one night)He-Man toys, Moss Man, and Cabbage Patch insanityTurboGrafx-16, Super Nintendo, and peak Christmas morningsWaiting all year for Rudolph to air one night onlyStop-motion specials, sitcom Christmas episodes, and Nick at Nite nostalgiaSiblings, gym class trauma, and fiercely loyal sistersFirst Magic: The Gathering gifts and early card discoveryComic shops, mall kiosks, Chick Tracts, and growing up between worlds90s comics, Starman, Why the Last Man, and finding joy in long-form storytellingIt’s funny, meandering, heartfelt, and deeply nostalgic — exactly what a Christmas episode should be.If you like long conversations about Magic, games, comics, pop culture, and growing up, this one’s for you.🎄 Happy Holidays from Eternal Durdles👍 Like, subscribe, and comment to support the show

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnAll three Eternal Weekends are in the books — and with Entomb and Nadu gone, Legacy has officially entered a new phase.In this episode of Eternal Durdles, Zac and Phil break down what the Legacy metagame actually looks like right now:• Why Aggro exploded overnight• How Delver, Demir Tempo, Affinity, and Eldrazi absorbed combo’s share• Why Orcish Bowmasters still quietly defines deckbuilding• What the rise of Chalice decks tells us about Tamiyo and The One Ring• And whether this “new” Legacy is genuinely healthier — or just temporarily freshUsing real metagame data from the weeks following Eternal Weekend Europe and Asia, this episode digs into play patterns, incentives, and pressure points that will shape Legacy heading into the next few months.If you care about where Legacy is actually going — not just what won last weekend — this one’s for you.👉 Support the show on Patreon👉 Submit written content to eternaldurdles.com👉 Follow Phil: @ForceofPhil👉 Follow Zac: @ZacClarkMTGJOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil

In this episode, Zac interviews European Vintage Champion Franco Chicchini, fresh off his win at the largest Vintage event ever held in Europe! We dive deep into Franco’s run with Esper Lurrus, his experience at Eternal Weekend Italy, the state of the Vintage format, and the key decisions that led him to victory.Franco shares:How he got into VintageWhy he switched from Dimir to EsperWhy Lavinia, Containment Priest, and Swords to Plowshares matter right nowHis thoughts on Lurrus decks, Vintage balance, and potential B&R changesHis most memorable plays (including a clutch Spell Pierce in the finals!)The importance of having a plan — and sticking to itA heartfelt shout-out to Gary Campbell for lending power and supporting the sceneIf you love Vintage, deck techs, and high-level tournament insight, this is the interview for you.👉 Follow for more Eternal Weekend interviews and deck breakdowns!

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnIn this episode, Zac is joined by Legacy legend and coverage icon Julian Knab to break down Eternal Weekend Europe — not from the player’s perspective, but from the streamers, commentators, and production team who made the event happen.Julian pulls back the curtain on how the Four Seasons and Impact Returns crews completely reinvented European coverage this year: early planning, two-team commentary rotation, time-shifted matches, and the massive amount of scouting, research, and coordination required to put on a world-class broadcast.We talk through:• What went wrong at past Eternal Weekends — and how Italy fixed it• How European organizers built a production that rivals (and surpasses) WotC• The secret tech behind time-shifted matches and near-zero downtime• How commentary teams avoid spoilers while scouting the floor• Why Legacy culture in Italy is unmatched• The rise of regional teams & deck identities across Europe• Julian’s stories from early coverage days, including 1-square-meter setups• The Ultimate Guard “Superhero Game” and the worst (…and real!) heroes ever printed• Phil’s GP mix-up, legendary sideboard accidents, and 23 different sideboard cards• Reflections on podcasting, recognition, and 10+ years of Everyday Eternal• The joy of meeting online friends in person for the first timeThis is one of the warmest, funniest, and most insightful Legacy conversations we've had — equal parts coverage archaeology, European Magic culture, and event storytelling.And yes, we will fix America and Germany on our trip to Munich.JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil

Phil sits down with Tall Eric — Eternal Weekend North America Top 8 competitor and one of the most committed Doomsday pilots in the format — to break down post-Entomb-ban Doomsday heading into Luca / Eternal Weekend Europe.Eric explains how the deck has evolved now that hybrid Entomb/Doomsday shells are gone, what Turbo vs Tempo Doomsday actually looks like in today’s meta, and why some pivots are traps even if top players can win with them.We cover:• Why Turbo Doomsday remains the real deck• Personal Tutor vs Tamiyo — which is correct now?• Why splashing a 3rd color is almost always a trap• Why two Thassa’s Oracle is still essential• Laboratory Maniac vs Jace in the sideboard• How Doomsday actually lines up into Delver, UB Tempo, Reanimator, Breakfast, and Depths• Why Cavern of Souls is secretly one of the deck’s most important cards• How to evaluate “pile structure” and redundancy post-ban• What (if anything) Doomsday cares about from the new sets (Avatar, Spider-Man, etc.)• Eric’s honest thoughts on Doomsday’s position for Europe — and why he never feels confident in a deck choice• The importance of aesthetics, card loans, and Moxfield equity (joking… but also not joking)This is an extremely deep dive into how the deck works, where it stands now, and how a Doomsday specialist evaluates the format heading into one of the biggest Legacy events of the year.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EternalDurdlesTCGPLAYER AFFILIATE LINK:https://partner.tcgplayer.com/OexAAnInfect is BACK — and Sam “FenrusCloud” Dams joins Zac to explain exactly why the archetype is suddenly one of the scariest and most explosive choices for Eternal Weekend 2025.We break down the real reasons Infect is better positioned now than at any point in the last several years:• Reanimator finally pushed out of its aggro-removal hybrid shell• Massive upgrades like Legolas’s Quick Reflexes and Inbiggen• Meta shifts toward decks Infect preys on — Cloudpost, Show & Tell, Doomsday, Painter, Mystic Forge• Why Spell Pierce matters again• Why Dimir Tempo and Red Stompy are the real predators• Sam’s real league stats and matchup breakdowns• The fear Infect puts into opponents & the skill ceiling behind “when do I go for it?”• Sideboard philosophy, Endurance tech, and why consistency matters more than cute one-ofsIf you’re considering Infect for Eternal Weekend — or you haven’t played against it in years — this episode is the complete deep dive. Sam breaks down matchups, deck construction, pump math, Legolas trick lines, and why opponents misplay constantly into split second.Whether you're a returning Infect sicko or format veteran curious about the deck's comeback, this is your essential primer for the post-ban Legacy metagame.JOIN US ON DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hrC7PxQZTEProudly supported by Three For One Trading: shop.threeforonetrading.comCardmillhttps://cardmill.com/EternalDurdlesMOXFIELDEternal Durdles Moxfield: https://www.moxfield.com/users/EternalDurdleshttps://www.moxfield.com/users/Durdlemagushttps://www.moxfield.com/users/ForceofPhil