Usman The Rad
@usmantherad.bsky.social
I've been writing and podcasting about cube content. I'm one of the people involved with developing the MTGO cubes and the one at thepaupercube.com.
Check out my writing on Substack. :) https://usmantherad.substack.com/
Check out my writing on Substack. :) https://usmantherad.substack.com/
usmantherad.substack.com/p/follow-up-...
I linked to my follow-up post about Avatar that I did for Hipsters of the Coast, along with some thoughts on the other recent previews.
Actual 60th theory article to come... eventually. When I'm less tired from after the Thanksgiving holiday. :)
I linked to my follow-up post about Avatar that I did for Hipsters of the Coast, along with some thoughts on the other recent previews.
Actual 60th theory article to come... eventually. When I'm less tired from after the Thanksgiving holiday. :)
Follow-Up Avatar Article on Hipsters of the Coast, thoughts on Lessons/Learn, other recent previews.
This links to my follow-up Avatar cube article on Hipsters, as well as some thoughts on Learn/Lesson and the TMNT and Lorwyn Eclipsed previews for cube.
usmantherad.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:00 PM
usmantherad.substack.com/p/follow-up-...
I linked to my follow-up post about Avatar that I did for Hipsters of the Coast, along with some thoughts on the other recent previews.
Actual 60th theory article to come... eventually. When I'm less tired from after the Thanksgiving holiday. :)
I linked to my follow-up post about Avatar that I did for Hipsters of the Coast, along with some thoughts on the other recent previews.
Actual 60th theory article to come... eventually. When I'm less tired from after the Thanksgiving holiday. :)
Reposted by Usman The Rad
Something to keep in mind with The Unagi of Kyoshi Island ward trigger, if they need to tap permanents, you can destroy them in response and the ward will counter the spell/ability.
November 28, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Something to keep in mind with The Unagi of Kyoshi Island ward trigger, if they need to tap permanents, you can destroy them in response and the ward will counter the spell/ability.
Reposted by Usman The Rad
Instead of doing a consumerism on "Black" Friday, consider supporting small businesses, dropping a few coins in someone's ko-fi or go fund me, sign up for their patreon instead.
Life is expensive, things are hard. Drop coins to humans, not AI, or big corporations today.
QRP with your links!
Life is expensive, things are hard. Drop coins to humans, not AI, or big corporations today.
QRP with your links!
November 28, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Instead of doing a consumerism on "Black" Friday, consider supporting small businesses, dropping a few coins in someone's ko-fi or go fund me, sign up for their patreon instead.
Life is expensive, things are hard. Drop coins to humans, not AI, or big corporations today.
QRP with your links!
Life is expensive, things are hard. Drop coins to humans, not AI, or big corporations today.
QRP with your links!
Breakfast Demon was a great blast from the past. :)
We had 15 (13 drafters) for our #mtgcube Cubesgiving Stone Soup Potluck!
I went 2-1 with this Dimir tempo/control deck (took out Teferi), ate SO much good food, messed up both pies I baked, and had just a wonderful time with the best folks in STL 💜
I went 2-1 with this Dimir tempo/control deck (took out Teferi), ate SO much good food, messed up both pies I baked, and had just a wonderful time with the best folks in STL 💜
November 26, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Breakfast Demon was a great blast from the past. :)
Reposted by Usman The Rad
I spent lots of time chatting with the Nazi bot on Nazi dot com and giving ad revenue to the world’s richest Nazi in order to create these screenshots that you’ll hate. Enjoy
November 20, 2025 at 9:53 PM
I spent lots of time chatting with the Nazi bot on Nazi dot com and giving ad revenue to the world’s richest Nazi in order to create these screenshots that you’ll hate. Enjoy
ooooh
Earthbending seems kind of cracked, but there are ways to eke out advantage against it. This morning, during a game of Brawl on Arena, I found out that you can respond to an earthbended land trying to come back into play from the graveyard with an exile effect like the one on Ghost Vacuum.
November 20, 2025 at 7:04 PM
ooooh
I can't take this because I'm happy with my current writing setup via @hipstersofthecoast.com and my self-published site, but signal boosting for everyone else. :)
November 20, 2025 at 4:25 PM
I can't take this because I'm happy with my current writing setup via @hipstersofthecoast.com and my self-published site, but signal boosting for everyone else. :)
Reposted by Usman The Rad
Got a real fun article this week building Eddie, Ghost of the Navigator!
Come for the Commander deck, stay for me gushing about heavy metal and Iron Maiden.
Check it out now over at @coolstuffinc.com!
www.coolstuffinc.com/a/paigesmith...
Come for the Commander deck, stay for me gushing about heavy metal and Iron Maiden.
Check it out now over at @coolstuffinc.com!
www.coolstuffinc.com/a/paigesmith...
November 19, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Got a real fun article this week building Eddie, Ghost of the Navigator!
Come for the Commander deck, stay for me gushing about heavy metal and Iron Maiden.
Check it out now over at @coolstuffinc.com!
www.coolstuffinc.com/a/paigesmith...
Come for the Commander deck, stay for me gushing about heavy metal and Iron Maiden.
Check it out now over at @coolstuffinc.com!
www.coolstuffinc.com/a/paigesmith...
Reposted by Usman The Rad
Free pet on MTGArea?! What a cool Easter Cabbage.
November 18, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Free pet on MTGArea?! What a cool Easter Cabbage.
Reposted by Usman The Rad
Reposted by Usman The Rad
I decided to write up some of my thoughts on arena powered cube / vintagecube (i'm around top 200 mythic at the moment, but I've played this since ~2012 when it was introduced to MTGO):
cc @fireshoes.bsky.social
Check it out and feel free to ask questions!
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
cc @fireshoes.bsky.social
Check it out and feel free to ask questions!
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Drafting Vintage / Arena Powered Cube
Hi all, It’s been a while since I’ve written anything, but with the introduction of Powered Cube to MTG Arena, I had some thoughts I wanted to get down with regards to how I approach / view drafting t...
docs.google.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:40 PM
I decided to write up some of my thoughts on arena powered cube / vintagecube (i'm around top 200 mythic at the moment, but I've played this since ~2012 when it was introduced to MTGO):
cc @fireshoes.bsky.social
Check it out and feel free to ask questions!
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
cc @fireshoes.bsky.social
Check it out and feel free to ask questions!
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Reposted by Usman The Rad
Join Team Uber Cube as we chat on the Arena Vintage Cube & how we apply our design context to the experience.
Thanks for listening, subscribing, 5-stars and as always happy cubing!
ubercube.buzzsprout.com/1989337/epis...
Thanks for listening, subscribing, 5-stars and as always happy cubing!
ubercube.buzzsprout.com/1989337/epis...
Discussing the Arena Vintage Cube - Uber Cube
During this episode Team Uber Cube chats on the current state of the Arena Vintage Cube. We draw comparisons to our Powered Vintages Cube and the deck performance of the Arena version as noted on 17la...
ubercube.buzzsprout.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Join Team Uber Cube as we chat on the Arena Vintage Cube & how we apply our design context to the experience.
Thanks for listening, subscribing, 5-stars and as always happy cubing!
ubercube.buzzsprout.com/1989337/epis...
Thanks for listening, subscribing, 5-stars and as always happy cubing!
ubercube.buzzsprout.com/1989337/epis...
Reposted by Usman The Rad
November 17, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Reposted by Usman The Rad
I made a joke in my main Discord server about DOOM E1M1 being in a major key and @abigbagofkeys.sickonedude.com actually made it. Jesus fucking Christ listen to this hahahaha
November 14, 2025 at 1:47 PM
I made a joke in my main Discord server about DOOM E1M1 being in a major key and @abigbagofkeys.sickonedude.com actually made it. Jesus fucking Christ listen to this hahahaha
Earlier this week in a cube draft when trying new cards out, I was the 7th drafter, so I sat in and intentionally didn't take Avatar/TMNT/new Lorwyn cards out so others could have more reps with the nstuf stuff.
So I assembled this combo. It was great. :)
(Also Wilderness Rec slaps in cube.)
So I assembled this combo. It was great. :)
(Also Wilderness Rec slaps in cube.)
November 14, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Earlier this week in a cube draft when trying new cards out, I was the 7th drafter, so I sat in and intentionally didn't take Avatar/TMNT/new Lorwyn cards out so others could have more reps with the nstuf stuff.
So I assembled this combo. It was great. :)
(Also Wilderness Rec slaps in cube.)
So I assembled this combo. It was great. :)
(Also Wilderness Rec slaps in cube.)
Reposted by Usman The Rad
The wiki has a Bluesky account now! Make sure you’re using mtg.wiki and not Fandom ad machine.
Welcome to mtg.wiki, the unofficial #MagicTheGathering encyclopedia that anyone can edit. Read from among thousands of articles, or create an account and start contributing!
MTG Wiki is now ad-free and independently hosted by @scryfall.com.
MTG Wiki is now ad-free and independently hosted by @scryfall.com.
Magic: The Gathering Wiki
The new home of Magic: The Gathering's unofficial encyclopedia. Explore the cards, story, rules, and history of the world's first collectable trading card game.
mtg.wiki
November 13, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The wiki has a Bluesky account now! Make sure you’re using mtg.wiki and not Fandom ad machine.
usmantherad.substack.com/p/pack-one-s...
We talk about creature sizing and how that can impact various things in a cube. :)
We talk about creature sizing and how that can impact various things in a cube. :)
Pack One Slick Ones - Episode #21 - Creature Size and How It Impacts Cube
In this episode of Pack One Slick Ones, Arlo, Jane, TrainmasterGT and Usman talk about creature sizing and how that can impact various things in a cube.
usmantherad.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM
usmantherad.substack.com/p/pack-one-s...
We talk about creature sizing and how that can impact various things in a cube. :)
We talk about creature sizing and how that can impact various things in a cube. :)
Reposted by Usman The Rad
Worth Wollpert coming back to Wizards. The community needs Matty Studios back.
November 13, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Worth Wollpert coming back to Wizards. The community needs Matty Studios back.
Reposted by Usman The Rad
Added some Artist Proof booster packs to my shop. 5 aps and art cards. All are signed and there 6 booster packs of the 100 that contain APs with art on them. www.bad-king.com/artist-proof...
October 28, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Added some Artist Proof booster packs to my shop. 5 aps and art cards. All are signed and there 6 booster packs of the 100 that contain APs with art on them. www.bad-king.com/artist-proof...
Reposted by Usman The Rad
first EA trophy! Firebending feels goooooood
November 13, 2025 at 12:18 AM
first EA trophy! Firebending feels goooooood
Reposted by Usman The Rad
November 11, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Reposted by Usman The Rad
My cube goes live for a week starting tomorrow, but if you want to learn about it ahead of time you can check out this article. Hope to see you in the queues.
A Study in Harmony
The final entry in our Season of the Cube comes from Matt Grenier, victor of the vote among CubeCon attendees! Play after Wednesday's downtime until next Tuesday, November 18 at 10 a.m. PT
www.mtgo.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:34 PM
My cube goes live for a week starting tomorrow, but if you want to learn about it ahead of time you can check out this article. Hope to see you in the queues.
garf
November 11, 2025 at 1:55 PM
garf
Reposted by Usman The Rad
At risk of flogging a dead horse: this whole letter is a reminder that the creative process is an end in and of itself, and vital to self-actualisation. You can’t experience BECOMING, as he puts it, by outsourcing it to ChatGPT.
In 2006 a high school English teacher asked students to write to a famous author & ask for advice.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
November 11, 2025 at 10:44 AM
At risk of flogging a dead horse: this whole letter is a reminder that the creative process is an end in and of itself, and vital to self-actualisation. You can’t experience BECOMING, as he puts it, by outsourcing it to ChatGPT.