Commander Legends Is Everything No One Wished For | Dies To Removal 31 | Magic: The Gathering 

Missed the chance to say "Your wish is my Commander."

Really glad that I can blame Vince for everything that went wrong with MTG over the last 2 years.

"Wait, it's all commander?" "Always has been." *pulls trigger*

I dislike generic Partner, but I LOVE Partner With. PW has so much flavor, and works if the card isn't your Commander.

They only put Genie of the pack in VIP boosters these days

I watch Dies to Removal for the plot

"In the future, everything in Standard will be Banned" One of the funniest things besides, the entire commander is now commander......lolol

"Oh...you're a bad genie" I died lol

"Much like WotC, I don't give a damn what this does to legacy" This is why I watch his content

That's one of the funniest opening bits I've ever seen you guys do. Keep it up, you two

Vince: “Oh ... you’re a Bad Genie! Should’ve realized that before I got to the last wish.” XD I love it!

Commander doesn't need more power, it needs more creativity. If anything, it needs partially powered down to promote creativity.

You get extra extra credit for the intro. Final grade: A+++

"What's Tiny Leaders? Oh, never mind..." BIG OOF

y'all remember when Thragtusk was strong in Standard? Good times.

I like how Vince never swears when he's guesting on Tolarian.

"promissory estoppel" is the best interjection.

Me: commander in standard? They’re joking about brawl yeah? Companions? My therapist worked hard to get me to forget that time period...

That intro skit was everything I needed! 😂 Also, that bit about standard commanders in commander being your commander caused me to realize you CAN have three commanders (basically). 😅

Just add "If you control your commander" to all reserve list cards, and then you can reprint them. Lmao

~Stops video at 5:50. You heard that everyone? All of MTG's problems are from Pleasantkenobi. We heard it here. Thanks professor!

You can't fail to find with Opposition Agent because the Agent's controller controls your search. You can choose not to search with Ghost Quarter but you have to do it with Field of Ruin.

Color pie, oohhh boy. So I definitely agree with Kenobi about white gets screwed, so does red. The 2 most fundamental actions in magic are getting mana to play spells and drawing your spells. Every color needs to be able to do these things to some extent. When thinking about card draw who should be the two best colors? Blue is number one but is number 2 supposed to be green? If you are supposed to be the best at ramp are you supposed to be the second best at draw? I think not. What is white the best at? What is red? I haven't seen anything that makes me think Wizards has asked the question. That is a major problem

This set is giving us "L'il Kobold Buddy." I am satisfied.

“Maybe white dosent do that” hahaha killed me

"My commander's name is Archelos, who is a TURTLE SHAMAN! And the name of my deck is- IT DOESN'T MATTER 'cause my commander is a TURTLE that's also a SHAMAN!"

"So now there is commanders for your commander." LMAO that opening scene was gold! You and Vince have a great sense of humor that works well together.

"What's tiny leaders?" is the question my play group or lgs will never answer. 🤣

I lost it at " You're tearing me apart Liesa!" Awesome reference

Just a point of clarification on something Vince said: declining to search your library is not the same as failing to find. Failing to find means that you're searching the deck but can't (or don't want to) find the card or cards that meet the specific criteria of the search. (Side note -- you can't fail to find on something like Demonic Tutor because it's not specific on what you're allowed to find. If there's at least one card in the deck you have to pick one. By contrast, tricky people realized you could use Gifts Ungiven to find fewer than four cards with it even though the original printing didn't say that, because you can always fail to find specific categories of cards.) So Vince conflated the terminology a bit, but otherwise he's correct. If you're under an Opposition Agent and a search happens you can choose not to search if the card allows you to decline. But once the search begins, the player with the Agent now has control of you and it's too late to fail to find because you can't do anything. The controlling player now has to option to find or not find whatever the effect would have allowed you to search for.

I don't think I've ever laughed quite as hard as I did at PK's line delivery of "Ohhhhh.... you're a bad Genie." Excellent job on the opening skit, you two.

Jeweled lotus: finally my dream of swinging with etali on turn 1 isn't so unlikely

This intro joke is really well done. A great take on a classic tale. 10/10

Everybody talking about Jeweled Lotus. Ain't no body talkin' about the Scroll Rack reprint.

Yurlok + Seedborn Muse = "Eat bolt every turn~!"

I really like how honest these two are but still respect each other

I'm still mostly okay personally with everything being commander because that's all I play, but I also agree with the main message, it's a little much for sure

"Ohhhh, you're a bad genie!" Killed me ahaha 😂

What happened to this podcast? Can't seem to find any more of these than the ones on RU-vid

Imagine flashing in agent when your opponent casts doomsday exile all but 5 lands from their deck

Is Genie of the Pack possibly pauper playable?

I don't care what is discussed anymore, you get a like for that opening skit. Goddamn that's good.

Your restraint in making none of the wishes related to The Walking Dead Secret Lair is admirable.

This was an uncomfortably tense episode at times

For the sultai turtle "how is this effect in these colors?" discussion, I direct you to "Root Maze," "Manglehorn," "Roots of Life," and "Frozen Aether." Heck, even red has that praetor.

I know that the turtle doesn't feel like "sultai" but it is neat to note that blue usually has a bunch of tap creature effects and green has a bunch of untapping effects for creatures and black has this kind of "let's make a bargain" flavor on it. In that light tapping a creature to make sure things don't untapped or keeping it untapped so you get the untap effect seems kind of like a fusion of those? Idk, maybe it's a reach but I think the color pie sort of has to be elastic, if only because the ideas, concepts, and themes that define each color are so broad that having them step on each other's toes is inevitable given enough permutations.

"is magic inherently broken?" Episode finishes hahahaaha

Love how informative this podcast is. Whenever they talk about a card they bring it on the screen for your reference. Helps me follow the conversation. Instead of never heard of that let me google it. I appreciate that more than you realize.

I'm always excited for Dies to Removal :) Keep up the good work guys!

PK: Look, just some commander please oh wise genie The Genie Professor: YO DAWG, I-

I love the flavor text on Jeweled Lotus, it does encapsulate pretty much my response when it was spoiled. I also love how, after all the begging for fetch reprints, Wizards' answer was to print a reason not to play fetches anymore in Opposition Agent :P

I really enjoy this podcast! Are we ever getting more of these!? I sure hope so.

pleasantkenobi? More like "UN"-pleasantkenobi!! BOOM GOT'EM.

Notion thief is on theme for black. Black does everything and does it better. Period.

Everyone: I hate standard. There's too much power creep, and wizards is only focusing on making money. The Professor: Because of Obi-Wan?

Can we get a video of all the dies to removal skits 🤤

Vince: "Blue doesn't directly kill stuff." Pongify and Rapid Hybridization would like to have a word with you.

Really like this episode! I like the concept of "I like cards that make players want to search for ways to play around with its effect to find out what works and what doesn't, and not a card that Wizards hands me and says 'Oh, this would go great in your Muldrotha deck!'" That's a stance I can get behind, and it really formulates my thoughts on commander over the past few years. Higher power levels? Sure, why not! Having WotC directly print cards we *need* to get for our commander decks or we'll suffer the consequences, especially if someone in our group got a copy of that card that we now need to deal with? Not so much.

I really hope you'll be able to make a second part for the next cards, I love this podcast. 🥰

Knowing how PK and the Prof feel about reprints, I’m surprised there was no mention of scroll rack and vampiric tutor etc. Good reprints, right?

I mean, Vincent should have realized they where a bad genie by the fact that it was a genie

What an awesome take! I’ve really been enjoying Dies to Removal, and appreciate how much time and effort you put into making this! Thank you! I agree with Vince when it comes to new cards in play groups: give them a shot! Many groups ban things like mass land destruction or even infinite combos, so I think it’s at least fair to give cards like Tavesh Szat and Opposition Agent deserve a shot. Also, I’ve seen many players get frustrated when someone at the table plays a land, into Sol Ring, into a Signet on Turn 1, and the table collectively groans, because they know that Brago or Kaalia or The Scarab God come out on Turn 2. It’s hard for me to see how Jeweled Lotus will be much different, especially considering the fact that the Sol Ring and Signet stick around after using them!

Absolutely loved that intro well done! Personally, for me, part of the joy of Commander is exactly because it ISN'T designed for. It's about finding fun and weird interactions, rather than pushing for a T3 win. It's taking cards from across the history that may have never been played together, and seeing how they interact.

Jeweled Lotus, just give rise to other Lotus's. Don't be surprised when WOTC prints a Rose Lotus that only gives you 3 R or Moss Lotus for 3G and a Magnolia Lotus for 3W, A Delphinium Lotus for 3U and a Hellebore Lotus for 3B in future sets to sell packs

Prof: *Jeweled Lotus* is not an 'I Win' card. Me: Agreed, but, it *IS* an 'I am going to Win UNLESS you all stop me' card.

23:50 Honestly, I think Yurlok's going to be unfun to play *with* more than anything else. Because your deck super duper mega relies on keeping your commander around. When your commander is around, it'll be enough of an irritation that people will want to kill it. When it's not around, you're giving your opponents oceans of free mana.

at 22:30: so true... I love it, to have cards to "figure out" what to do with them...

The main reason for how many partners there are in this set is due to the draft angle. It allows for color fixing. On the flip side, it is a bit much for the format.

I feel like many people don’t know but TableTop Simulator on Steam has an excellent way to play MTG and has a decent commander community. Definitely check it out if you’re looking for a new way to play MTG online. Edit: It's also a great way to playtest any decks or ideas that you have for an existing commander deck. There are plenty of RU-vid videos showing you how to make your decks and import them into the game. Hope to see some of you there!

hey! i used to play gemstone three for YEARS back in the day. i haven't played in close to 20 years now, but i still have very fond memories of that game.

Seen your comment over at the Some More News channel. Good shit man. Stay groovy.

You guys remember 2014 when Jace the mind sculptor was the boogeyman of mtg. Now it's twink who makes elks. Look how far we've come

Hey Professor, maybe I missed a post about this somewhere but is this series postponed due to covid?

Thank you for this video. I’ve been waiting for a new Dies to Removal and I really enjoyed how this was executed.

I loved that opening gag, it really “Commanded” my attention...

Missing these right now...why did the series stop?

I need more of this kind of conversation. DTR is great.

That was the best intro yall have done together! 10/10

as for the final question: yes. its by design broken, the term for this is perfect imbalances, as each has strengths and weaknesses depending upon specialization... this is why the color pie is important

Trail to exile: W instant. Exile target creature unless it's controller pays 1

Hey Prof, When is the next one??, I'm waiting for your talk on Strixheaven and Mystical Archive

OMG the classes as flavors argument from the Professor, FANTASTIC! TOtally in accord with you. The same plague is ravaging WOW as well among many other games.

Always happy to see a new episode show up on my feed.

38:27 on Jeweled Lotus, Prof finds just the right words to the reaction of the community "[Jeweled Lotus] represents what people do NOT want in Commander... *This card intensifies negative feelings about both commander gameplay and WotC stewardship of the Commander format*... I don't think it's the end of Commander, I don't think it's broken, I don't think this is an 'I win' card... but even that small percent of the time that this let's you jam a Commander turn one or two creates such bad feels that it astonishes me that any need [on WotC's part] was felt for this... It's bringing us closer to that powered up competitive cliff, and I don't think Commander as a format wants to go in that direction."

You know what would be hilarious? If they never printed any Jeweled Lotuses.

3:32 I love Prof. almost breaking on that joke!

Am I the only person who is completely surprised that this series has just stopped? It was one of my favorites.

Everyone's flipping out about the Jeweled Lotus and I'm over here thinking about quitting CMD because of Opposition Agent...

Your first wish on a genie should always be “ I wish that you can’t use my wish against me a in any way.”

Your guy's opening bits are always great, but this one just takes it to a whole other level!! Freaking hilarious!!! 😂

3:32 This nod to Xzibit in pimp my ride has officially made my day.

Everybody freaking out for Jeweled Lotus, and here I am, worried for pauper. The 3 mana blue monarch card might be too good, and now tron has a colorless monarch card

You can say "don't let one card ruin your experience about the whole set", and that's fine and all in theory. But that one card just increased the cost of a boxes and packs significantly overnight. Where I was planning on getting some sealed product from CL, I'm likely passing it over now aside from the commander decks. And I don't even want that card.

Looking at the actual set, I'm super excited. There is a lot of very neat design space they are exploring with the new cards :)

Hey! I learned about Belbe and have now read Nemesis because of it! I blame having Sisay as my favorite commander. I filled the deck with Weatherlight flavor either in the text or the art! Weatherlight Tribal :)

Commander is too big to be falling back on "just house rule it" Here in our area there are (or was before lockdown) several shops that have different playgroups that would be great if they can come together but couldnt agree on what should and should not be allowed. On top of that there was major events in "magic fests" now that is centered in commander and meeting people from different playgroups and such. I still dont agree with bs like sending death threats to the committee but they do need to more often put their foot down on certain things

I really liked this episode, but I’m not sure I liked how the professor kept talking over his cohost during the part about policing groups. I get why he did it, but it seemed to really upset him for a moment. Even if I didn’t agree with it either I would have liked to hear his side of it. I just feel like he got shot down. Nothing against the professor but he should have at least heard him out.

I appreciate the banter in this video. You both have differing opinions and you stand by them, and I think that overall brings a lot of perspective to the topic as a viewer.

I always love these, I ended the episode wishing it would be longer. I was thinking about what Vince said in "having to play with the cards before deciding". I actually think it is a great policy for a parent feeding their toddlers, but it doesn't always translate well. I know sometimes it is hard to discern the screeches we hear about MTG from a toddler that can't make a circle fit into a square hole, but I'll try my best at illustrating here: Imagine that you go somewhere to eat (restaurant, friend's house, whatever) and they put a plate with a completely raw chicken breast in front of you, no seasoning. Would you try it? No, right? Putting all health concerns aside, say it's a 100% healthy chicken, for the sake of the argument, would you eat it before deciding it is bad? I know I wouldn't. Why, don't you have to try it before deciding? To that, I'd say I've had underseasoned chicken in the past, and I've taken a bite of undercooked chicken here and there, too. From those points of experience, I can extrapolate and I'd be pretty comfortable in saying I would not enjoy raw chicken at all. I could go to more extreme examples, but the point is just that there are reasons to dislike something before you try it, even magic cards. As there are valid reasons to try it before deciding if you're on the fence. For some people it can actually be a knee jerk reaction to say the card is bad and "banned" in their playgroup, but if there was an honest discussion about it, chances are that it is not the case. At least that's what I like to think. Just my two cents.

fully agree with Prof. : partner defeats the purpose of commander.