For my birthday, Noah got me a Kaalia of the Vast and the mission to get a new Commander deck built around her.

I’ve been slowly but surely adding cards, primarily from my collection. It looks like it will primarily be an Angel and Dragons deck. But as is often the case, I was looking at some random cards and came across Dragon Tempest. I decided on the spot that it needed to go into the deck.

Unfortunately, I don’t have one. Unlike most times when Noah’s asking for cards I have, it was my turn to ask if he had the card. “Yes, I do,” he answered without hesitation. Not only that, but he knew exactly what deck it was in and had it in his hand in minutes.

Memory. Not only did he know what the card did but also where it was. I barely remember what the cards I have in my hand do let alone what deck they might be in. Many times, the boys will know better what cards are in my decks! Both Noah’s and Christian’s ability to remember so many Magic cards give them an impressive edge. They see a card land and they already know what potential combos or supporting cards might be coming next. Meanwhile, I have to ask to see the card to understand what it does.

Suffice it to say, I hate getting old and I’m envious of their superpower to not on remember nearly every Magic card in existence but if they have it and where.

For the record, I ended up trading a Pest Infestation for the Dragon Tempest as well as a Radiant Destiny. Hopefully it works out better than the time I traded for a Hullbreacher only to watch it get banned a few weeks later.

I was playing Arena tonight. A mono-white deck B01 Standard deck. Noah pops in and watches me play for a few minutes. Needless to say, he also provides his input and suggests a play. Whereas I would have chump-blocked and taken 8, leaving me with 4, he suggests a double block that leaves me with 8 but also loses me my Blade Historian. My opponent holds one card in hand and has 3 open mana. Definitely room for a combat trick of some kind.

I decide to go with Noah’s advice. Down to 8, I win on my next turn. We chat about the play he suggested and I tell him that keeping my Blade Historian would have led to the same outcome.

“Well, if you want to play sub-optimally,” he says.

Everyone’s a critic!