Every year, my expectations for Lobstercon grow and yet it continues to deliver. 2026 marked my eighth trip up to Boston for Lobstercon, each year better than the last. If you haven’t been, I couldn’t recommend it more highly. Compulsively check FB/discord/The Sentinel, mark your calendar, set alarms, do whatever you need to make sure you can attend. Trust me, it’s worth it.
At this point, the trip up to Lobstercon has become a religious experience for me. Each year I eagerly await the weekend when I will make my pilgrimage up to Boston for Lobstercon. I’m a creature of habit. When I find something that I enjoy I want to keep doing it over and over; it is safe to say that I enjoy Lobstercon. What’s not to like? For me the weekend looks pretty similar each time: drive up with friends on Thursday, stay near the venue, get dinner with friends, sleep, play in Lobstercon, sleep, hang out on Saturday with Lucy and others, sleep, go to the Gardner museum on Sunday, and drive home.
I quite like this setup. Sleep gets sacrificed regularly throughout the weekend, but as a dumb man once said, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead”.
As most people who know me would attest, I’m a planner. I like to make a plan and follow through with it where possible. Lobstercon is no different. At this point I’ve been making the drive up for three straight years and so there isn’t much planning needed to make the whole thing work, which is just how I like it.
Trip up was a piece of cake. Picked up Mike in Hamilton, Paul at Newark Penn Station, and one rest stop later we were cruising into Boston. The ride skipped by in a blink, one meandering conversation about everything and nothing all at once. We met up with some friends for a bite, I got a couple of Ante 40k games in and notably I won a Serra Angel from Mase and missed an Orb flip in another. The Orb flip probably cost me a Bird which is fine, I have plenty of spare Birds. What I didn’t like though was that I missed a flip.
I long ago abandoned the old “50 push-ups and 50 orb flips” mantra that Mano and I espoused on an early ATC, but I still make a point to spend some time practicing before a big event. I’ve found that I can do 100 flips in 5 minutes which is usually enough to recalibrate the muscle memory. Still though, I shanked one on Thursday night and felt bad about it. I have plenty of excuses that I could make about it, but nobody cares. It sucks to suck.
Back at the Airbnb the conversation was a mix of nonsense and high level Magic theory, two of my favorite topics. I got Paul to alter a Fireball for me that I’d won off of him in an Ante game at the first Spike Summit in 2023 which he’d declined to alter. In the time since, I realized I wanted to play it but wished that it had a bit more pizzazz to it so that it could match the energy of the other cards in my deck. As per usual he killed it.
After slightly less sleep than I would’ve liked, I was up and running on Friday morning. I mentally prepared myself for the day ahead, ate an apple, stretched, and made my way over to the Dante. I handed off some cards for my buddy Bogdon who I was excited to catch up with, but unfortunately couldn’t make it. Mule obligations satisfied, it was time to jump into the fray.
My weapon of choice was a knife I’ve been sharpening for several years now. I’ve made lots of little tweaks around the margins over the years, but it feels silly to give away my secrets and explain the rationale for everything. If you’re curious and looking for a long conversation, you probably already know where to find me.
Round 1 started off inauspiciously. I mulled to 4 and quickly fell behind vs Tax Tower Control. My opponent’s life total steadily rose, but I didn’t feel like I was fully out of the game until a Recall for 3 hit the stack; I’d probably let too much time elapse, but oh well. I quickly sideboarded and went to work. The clock was ticking down, but when I resolved a Shivan I knew I had a good chance if he didn’t plow immediately. He dropped a Serra, but I was able to Time Walk to swing the race. Soon enough he was chump blocking and then dead. There was barely any time left. I offered to just go to Orb flips, but he wanted to try. I boarded in all my Plows and the game didn’t get very far. I was in an advantaged position on turn 5, but rules are rules. We went to flips, I hit mine and he called himself on a miss where it didn’t rotate fully, so I got the win.
Round 2 saw me face off against my good friend, confidant, and testing partner Noah. It always sucks to play a friend so early in the event, especially in a 75 card mirror. Game 1 I twisted Noah’s hand away only for him to rip Ancestral into two Books to run away with it. Game 2 he baited out my Counterspell with a Regrowth on Library, Tutored for Mind Twist, and passed without the mana to cast it. I ripped a Mind Twist with a ton of mana at my disposal and a REB in hand while he only had one Counterspell up. The game ended shortly thereafter. Game 3 was a great back and forth affair. Noah got a turn 3 or 4 Library that caused him to pause and draw up to 7. Meanwhile, I dropped a Serra and got aggressive with my Serra and Factory. Noah removed my Serra and played a Shivan to stymie my attacks and was about to turn the tides, but I dropped a second Serra and my hand lined up perfectly. His mana was just bottlenecked enough. He was at 2 and I swung in with Serra and Factory into his Shivan and unanimated Factory. I countered his Disenchant and Disenchanted his Factory to push through the final two points and squeak out a win.
From there, the day was a bit of a blur. I beat Andy on LDB with Vises on the back of a game 3 Shivan, got my lobster roll, took a 30 minute walk to digest where I got to catch up with my Mom who was on the beach in New Jersey, then went back to the grindstone.
In round 4 I won 2-0 over Gerrod due to a combo of good draws for me and color screw for him. Round 5 saw me face Joshua from Canada. I managed to win Game 1 on a Mull to 4 by going Lotus, Tutor for Pearl, Balance to 1 card and follow it up with a Factory. He also played Factory Mox T1, but I drew running Factories and ran away with the game. In Game 2 he almost got me by Recalling back 2 Bolts and going for the face, but I had a Swords on my Factory to stay alive long enough that my Shivan could finish him off. In Round 6 against Gregg my Library showed up in Games 1 and 2, paving the way for a win despite me losing Game 2 to a Blood Lusted Erhnam. In Round 7 I faced Ryan in a Deck mirror. I was on the back foot from the get go in Game 1 after Ryan’s naked Mind Twist crippled my hand and I never was able to claw my way back in. Game 2 was looking grim for me despite an active Book as I faced down a pair of Mahamoti Djinns on 8 life. With my last draw I hit a Swords to remove one, fell to 3, then hit another Swords to stabilize and eventually comeback to win. We didn’t have enough time to finish Game 3 and so we went to Orb flips. I remained calm and hit my flips, I think we went about 10 deep before Ryan’s Orb bounced off target, giving me the win.
Round 8 saw me face off with Michael in a feature match. I opened with Library, he Ancestraled and then played a Lion, Time Walk, and Dib. I Ancestraled and was getting beaten down, but I got a Swords for Lion and REB for the Dib to stop the onslaught. Michael got me down to 2, but the game turned when he tapped out going down to 14 for a Serra Angel which I hit with a Mana Drain. I dropped a second Factory, Fireballed him for 10, cast Time Walk, and swung for 4 to seal the game. In game 2 Michael started with Library while I had an Ancestral into an EOT Swords for his Turn 2 Lion, then I Stripped his Library the following turn. Michael dealt himself a lot of damage this game with 3 Cities of Brass. I was able to answer everything he threw down with him taking damage every spell he cast. Eventually I ran him out of cards and was able to Fireball for lethal for the second game in a row, locking up 8-0.
For Round 9 I faced off against my friend Thomas at Table 1 as pictured above. I knew Thomas was on The Deck, we’d talked a bit about our lists in the weeks leading up to the event. In game 1 Thomas had a weird hand with no colored mana which baited me into trying to attack his mana to cheese out a win. This plan fell flat when he drew multiple colored sources in a row, unlocking his stacked hand.
WHAT HAPPENED IN g2?
With one more game to close out the day I was feeling the cumulative effects of the day and also pressure to perform; I was one game win away from a perfect day and a crowd had gathered around to watch us play. As fate would have it, I got the goods in game 3. With Mind Twist and Ancestral in hand and Thomas holding up just enough colored mana for REB or Counter I fired off an end of turn Ancestral hoping to bait out a counter paving the way for my Mind Twist. Thomas didnt take the bait but I drew into Mox Lotus REB and was able to Mind Twist for hand with REB backup to seal the match and cement my spot as the 1 seed in the playoffs.
From there I hung around a bit, witnessed the drama as Dave Williams was announced as the 16 seed only to get bounced when a Tolaria glitch was discovered. Instead of David Williams in a The Deck mirror I was slated to face Sam Black on a UWG Midrange Control deck that could morph into The Deck and sported 3 Sylvan in the SB. I walked over to the after party spot with Noah, Levi, and Mike, talking mostly about my boarding vs Sam on Saturday before turning around and heading back to my car so I could pick up Lucy at the train station as her Amtrak was arriving shortly. On my way to my car I passed the Dante once again and took a “last man standing” photo because, why not?
After picking up Lucy I got ready for bed. I talked sideboarding with Svante (who was home in Linköping) Paul, and Mike via messenger as well as Paul and Mike (who was in the kitchen). I tried to go to sleep, but my mind was not ready for that. I told Lucy I was nervous and she suggested that I journal — a wise suggestion. I got back to bed and expressed to her that I was pressuring myself and worried that I would make a costly mistake and embarrass myself. With a clear head, I quickly fell asleep.
On Saturday I got up and walked with Paul, Mike, and Lucy to a coffee shop so that Lucy could get some coffee — a necessity for Lucy and my well-being. I was still nervous, but glad to have Lucy with me. The temperature in Boston had changed dramatically overnight, and I decided to wear pants but bring shorts to change into if needed. I arrived at the venue, received my bib, and posed for the Top16 photo.
I was glad I brought a pair of shorts with me as the Dante was an inferno despite the weather outside. When I went down to change into shorts I misplaced my pen and life sheet — something I didn’t realize until I sat down to play. Having just left to go to the bathroom I felt it impolite to ask to leave the table again and in that moment I felt the ground changing beneath my feet. The day before I felt unstoppable, but that was the day before.
I made a quip about how Sam had regretted choosing to draw against me in the Old School Showdown at Eternal Weekend in 2024 and announce my intention to go first. My first hand is a Book, Sapphire, and 5 non-Library lands — mulligan. Second hand is Ancestral, Balance, and DT, but no mana — mulligan. Third hand is Mind Twist, Strip Mine, Plains, Ruby, Pearl, and Mana Drain — mulligan. Fourth hand is Counterspell, City of Brass, two Factories — mulligan. Fifth hand is Counterspell, City of Brass, and Library — keep. I don’t feel like any of these hands were mistakes to mulligan in retrospect. I have in the past been guilty of being too picky in hunting for strong hands, but I don’t think that was the case here. Sometimes you just can’t get a hand and mulligan to oblivion.
Game 1 is quick and painless. Sam opens with a Library into a Pixie. Goes to Orb my Library which I Disenchant, but on an active Library with pressure while I stumble and quickly succumb.
I sideboard in accordance with the plan I’d mapped out with the help of my friends before shuffling up for game 2. I get a solid hand with turn 1 DT for Ancestral, while Sam starts with Lotus, Sol Ring, Sylvan, Pixie. I Ancestral and DO his Sol Ring to avoid discarding to hand size. Sam proceeds to pay 8 life and go land Ancestral. Suddenly I’m behind the 8 ball. I play a Fellwar and pass, setting up a Mind Twist for the following turn. Sam passes with Counterspell mana up, I cast Mind Twist for 4 of 6 with REB up. Sam declined the Counterspell into my REB and I later found out kept DO and DT which are probably the two Sam would’ve chosen to keep it given the choice. I follow up with a Book a turn later which eats a DO and dreams an extra Sylvan card. I land a Book, but my life total is dwindling. Sam casts a Timetwister as his last card and I impulsively REB it, having had the REB burning a hole in my hand all game. In hindsight I probably should’ve let this resolve, but I’m not going to ask for a take back in the Top16 of Lobstercon. I draw 3 more cards with Book digging for an answer but find no answers to it and succumb.
Just like that my luck ran out and the run was over. It didn’t matter that I had gone 9-0 the day before while Sam had snuck in at 7-2. I lost and it sucks to suck.
Still in shock after a disheartening loss, I got my Top16 prize card from DFB and I ran into Mase who was spectating. I asked him if we could play a game of Ante40k as a palette cleanser. Mase obliged and so we sat down to play in the feature match area.
With that decision to play ante as a palette cleanser the scales of variance seemed to tip back in my favor. I won the die roll, we both kept 7 and I opened with Black Vise. Mase was played a land and passed. When I dropped an Ankh on turn 2 Mase told me he was in trouble. He played a turn 2 DT and from there I knew to hold up a Shatter in case he got a Bird. The Bird came down, I kept my mana untapped so I could Shatter and when he went to crack it I blew it up to stop the swap and that was that. Mase flipped over his ante card to reveal… a Library of Alexandria.
Massive kudos to Mase for taking the loss like an absolute G. In the aftermath, someone asked him why he would play a Library in ante and his response was, “Well, you have to get to 40k somehow”. So true. I offered Mase a drink, lunch, or anything else but he graciously declined.
With a newfound pep in my step, Lucy, Mibe, and I went off to get lunch. We found a relatively close by health food restaurant where I got a falafel bowl which was tasty, but my second forkful of food inexplicably had a screw in it. I showed a restaurant employee who showed the chef, who rushed out to apologize profusely. He comped us our meal and offered to remake my bowl for me which I accepted. I told him I didn’t fault him for it, something probably fell off of something in the kitchen and happened to land in my bowl. Round 2 was delicious and thankfully screw-free. Back at the Dante the finals were finishing up and everyone was getting geared up for Team Trios. Lucy and I stayed to socialize for a bit before heading off to enjoy a beautiful Saturday in Boston.
Lucy and I walked along the Charles River and soaked up the sunny day. We stopped for a pastry and cup of tea before we resumed meandering along the river, talking in great depth about Lobstercon, how Lucy’s field trip the day before had gone (best trip ever!), and what our plans were for the rest of the trip.
We later met up with our friend Lauren who Lucy knew from undergrad for dinner at India Pavilion which has become a Lobstercon tradition. On our walk back towards the Dante I spotted Tim, Don, Doug, Brett, Jay, and many others at Tasty Burger and popped in to regale my story of the weekend. How I kicked butt on Friday, ran out of luck in the Top16, and then found some more in my ante game with Mase. On our journey we also ran into Mark and Andrew near our Airbnb who we stopped to chat with them and hear about their Lobstercon experiences.
By the time we made it back to the Dante everyone had abandoned ship, except for our fearless captain DFB who was standing outside the venue. Our impeccable timing rewarded us with the chance to take a stroll with him on the Longfellow Bridge before heading to Flat Top Johnny’s for the after party.
Despite never being to Flat Top Johnny’s before I felt at home as soon as I walked in the door. I was surrounded by friends, new and old. People were playing ante, stories were being told, I was where I needed to be at that moment. One of the first people I saw was Mase who hand delivered my new Library to me after altering it to fittingly add a book to it. Receiving the Library from Mase reminded me that I had sold him a Library almost exactly a year ago, turns out it was the exact one that I won from him!
The best story of the weekend without a doubt came when Larson gifted Mase a Library that he had been gifted years ago from David Chambers. The generosity of the community never ceases to amaze me. To make that Library even more special, Paul added a sick “little free library” alter onto the card and the plan is for Mase to pass it on to a friend in need of a Library after he acquires a new one at some point in the future.
At the bar I had some good conversations, played ante with Rob and Andres, winning and losing some birds. Overall, it was a great time and a perfect opportunity to catch up with people I had barely seen all weekend and squeeze a bit more juice out of the lemon that was Lobstercon weekend.
While I was playing ante, Lucy was hanging out with Björn, shooting pool, and making new friends. I am incredibly grateful that my wife wants to not only come with me to these events, but really to experience them and make her own memories. I am also so happy that my friends in the Old School community have greeted her with open arms and made her feel welcome at events like this one.
When the bar shut down at 2am a few games were still ongoing. Very little will stand in the way of a Magic player and the game they love. In this case, a few of the games continued outside. After seeing the end of the games it was time to say goodbyes and head back to our airbnb.
On Sunday we packed up and drove to the Gardner museum for another Lobstercon tradition. We ate brunch at the museum, soaked in as much art as we could, got some supplies for the trip home and off we went.
The drive home was long, but a lot of fun. We were all fried from the weekend and so at one point the conversation devolved into lewd word association for what might’ve been 2+ hours? All I know for sure is that we made it home safely, with Lucy beasting the last hour and a half through pouring rain.
Two days later I was still residually tired from the weekend, but thankfully didn’t get properly sick which I will count as a win. I decided to add to the alter on the Library I won from Mase with the intention of playing it going forward in my deck. I have since sold my Garfield doodled Library, committing to the path.
Not totally sure how to wrap this up. I guess I’ll just make some true statements and end there. The Deck is very good. Lobstercon was amazing. I am so lucky to have as many great friends as I do. The Old School community is great. Magic is awesome. It sucks to suck.
