THE COOL STORY: News & Commentary by Cool Story Games — MTG, music, politics, and culture.
The Hobbit MTG Prerelease: What to Expect and What to Watch (August 2026)
|Cool Story
Everything you need for The Hobbit MTG prerelease (Aug 7–13): how sealed works, the five archetypes, the cards worth watching, and what to bring — from your local San Diego shop. Read more...
Best Standard Decks Right Now — July 2026
|Cool Story
The best Standard decks right now: Mono-Red, Boros Auras, and Mono-Black Demons — what's winning in July 2026 and the singles worth grabbing. Read more...
Real Spike or Fake-Out? A Local Shop's Guide to MTG Price Spikes (July 2026)
|Cool Story
MTG price spikes can be real or a total fake-out. Here's how to read them from behind the counter in July 2026 — starting with a $40 card that probably isn't worth $40 — plus the Marvel singles actually worth grabbing. Read more...
Bending on a Budget: The Best Cheap Avatar: The Last Airbender Commander Cards
|Cool Story
Everyone's chasing $100 Marvel mythics. Meanwhile a whole Avatar: The Last Airbender Commander toolbox is sitting at a quarter a card. Here are the best budget TLA singles to grab, sorted by the four nations. Read more...
Marvel Super Heroes Commander Cards Worth Grabbing as Singles (July 2026)
|Cool Story
The Marvel Super Heroes Commander cards worth buying as singles now that they've hit the case — Squirrel Girl, Ultron, and the MSH staples worth grabbing one at a time. Read more...
Modern Is Wide Open: What Changed After the May Bans (and What's Coming June 30)
|Cool Story
Modern got a real shakeup on May 18 — Phlage is gone, Violent Outburst is back, and the format is healthier than it's been in a while. Here's what changed, what's winning, and what to watch before the June 30 announcement. Read more...
Marvel Super Heroes Commander Decks: Which One to Buy First (June 2026)
|Cool Story
Marvel Super Heroes Commander decks are here. We rank all four precons — Avengers, Wakanda, Doom, and the Fantastic Four — and tell you which one to buy first. Read more...
Anticapitalist entrepreneurship (or) Keep those webs away from MY face!
|Simon Griffith
Starting a business with anti-capitalist values means resisting exploitation and scarcity culture. We commit to dignity, sustainability, and accessibility—one reason we won’t stock Marvel’s Spider-Man set, a cash-grab fueling hype over community. Read more...
When tariffs deal you a tough hand, you can't mulligan: Magic, collectibles, and import taxes
|Simon Griffith
New U.S. tariffs of 20% + 10¢ per pack on imported playing cards are squeezing small businesses selling sealed Magic: The Gathering products. Costs are up, margins thin, and owners must cut stock, raise prices, or adapt sourcing while awaiting court and policy decisions. Read more...
Spider-Man Meets Magic: What the New “Pick Two” Draft Format Means for MTG Players
|Simon Griffith
Magic: The Gathering’s Spider-Man set drops Sept. 26, 2025, debuting the new “Pick Two” draft format. Fans are split: some love faster synergies and stronger decks, others fear it undermines Limited’s identity. Bold experiment or gimmick, it’s reshaping draft strategy. Read more...