Dear Sylvan Library,

<3

You are such a good Magic card. You’ve been in my Peasant Cube since day one. And since day one, I’ve been doubting if you are too good for that Cube. 17 years of playing that Cube, a lot, and I still don’t have an answer. I’ve rotisserie drafted this Cube a couple of times, and you are always among my top 8 cards to pick. And I’ve always been sad that I was never the one getting you first pick (but then again I do prefer the 8th seat in a rotisserie).

You’ve got your history. You’ve put up good results in Standard, Extended, Legacy and PreModern. I’ve admired you in those Legacy days. That a hyper aggressive deck as Zoo would actually take the time to cast you because you are so strong. Strong in card selection together with Fetch lands, strong in card advantage for a green deck in certain matchups. Strong.

My history with you is Cube. Other than my Peasant Cube I run you in all my 3 versions of Powered Cube. I think you still have a place there, because I think Power Cube can use cards that power up consistent decks instead of just jamming high variance combos (and you are even good at gathering those pieces). But the reason I love you in those cubes is not that you are strong, no. The reason I love you is your gameplay, the puzzle you offer me each and every turn. Which order is the correct order, should I draw an extra card, should I draw 2 extra cards. I think it is extremely difficult to play you correctly and I love cards like you. You make the game I love so much so much more fun and give it so much more depth. Sometimes you offer unsolvable puzzles, in those moments I wish I could just gather all my friends and discuss for like half an hour trying to solve them. Because that is what Magic is about for me.

With love,

Hanjo