The King | The Story of Tarmogoyf

This video is about the rise and fall of Tarmogoyf, and with it, the golden era of Modern Magic.
Support the Foglio Portfoglio 2 Kickstarter here:
www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
Watch Footnotes here:
www.tiktok.com/@cardkingdommt...
🎥 Support:
Become a Patron:
/ rhysticstudies
Buy shirts at Coalesce (use code STUDIES for 10% off):
www.coalesceapparel.shop/coll...
Buy cards at Card Kingdom:
www.cardkingdom.com/studies
📎 Connect:
Visit my website:
www.rhysticstudies.com
Twitter:
/ rhysticstudies
Linktree:
linktr.ee/rhysticstudies
🦉 Guests:
Cedric Phillips
/ cedricaphillips
🎵 Music:
121211 - Enigmanic
www.epidemicsound.com/track/4...
When to Stop - Lofive
www.epidemicsound.com/track/o...
Spore Titan - ELFL
www.epidemicsound.com/track/a...
1983 - Ben Elson
www.epidemicsound.com/track/b...
Arcaders - Ben Elson
www.epidemicsound.com/track/m...
Orthosie - Ben Elson
www.epidemicsound.com/track/6...
Voyager X - Ben Elson
www.epidemicsound.com/track/N...
📘 Chapters:
0:00 Card Kingdom
0:19 Coalesce Apparel & Design
0:37 Tarmo-Goyf
2:52 Misreading the Future
5:47 Extended: The Next Level
9:42 The Modern Master
16:56 Pay to Win
26:30 The Golden Era
31:15 Heavy is the Crown
34:41 The Anomaly
37:45 The Foglio Portfoglio 2
38:32 Credits
📓 Sources:
www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/sea... - Tarmogoyf search on MTG Reddit
mtgrock.com/2018/06/01/histor... - History of Tarmogoyf
magic.wizards.com/en/articles... - The Card that Changed the World (Gavin Verhey)
magic.wizards.com/en/articles... - Skeletons in R&D’s Closet
www.polygon.com/2015/6/10/875... - Polygon article on Pascal’s Goyf
PascalMaynard/sta... - Pascal Maynard Tweet
magic.wizards.com/en/articles... - MaRo on Goyf’s creation
magic.wizards.com/en/articles... - Putting the Tarmo in your Goyf
articles.starcitygames.com/ar... - Patrick Chapin Next Level Blue
magic.wizards.com/en/articles... - Frank Karsten Time Spiral Block Constructed
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_... - Pro Tour 2007 season
magic.wizards.com/en/content/... - Top 8 Decklists - Pro Tour Philadelphia 2011
magic.wizards.com/en/events/c... - Top 8 Decklists - Pro Tour Fate Reforged
magic.wizards.com/en/events/c... - Top 8 Decklists - Pro Tour Rivals of Ixalan
mtgtop8.com/event?e=21752&f=MO - Top 8 Decklists - Mythic Championship II - London
www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/m... - Open Goyf…Do You Drop?
/ pascal_maynard_foilgoy... - Foil Goyf sells for $15k
• All About Tarmogoyf - ... - Judge’s Corner - Tarmogoyf
• Pro Tour-Berlin Deck T... - PT Berlin - Patrick Chapin 5C Control
• The Magic Show #39 - F... - The Magic Show 39 - Futureshifted
• The Magic Show #41 - F... - The Magic Show 41 - Future Sight Prerelease
• That Time Steve Mariuc... - Rich Eisen Show - Mariucci Interview
• Magic Pro Tour Valenci... - Pro Tour Valencia 2007 Finals
• The First Modern Pro T... - A Look at the First Modern Pro Tour in Philadelphia - Inside the Deck
• Grand Prix Las Vegas T... - GP Vegas Top 8 Draft - Pascal Maynard
• Grand Prix Las Vegas 2... - GP Vegas 2015 - Draft Semifinals
• Playing Updated Jund i... - Jund in Modern with Reid Duke (2022)
#mtg #magicthegathering #tarmogoyf

[@jesselatvala]

In Finland we used to call Tarmogoyf centric decks ”Tarmon valinta” (meaning Tarmo’s pick/choice) based on an old Finnish food market franchise with the same name. The idea being, like a shopkeeper retails a bunch of stuff just to grow the business, you’d slap a bunch of cards in to play just to grow the goyf.

[@Rewwgh]

Ahh I remember this, man that brings back memories!

[@Thoughtmage100]

That's some pretty cool trivia. I bet some of my friends would love to hear that story.

[@professormancaptain4210]

I'm so happy you made this comment. love the enormous amount of cultures on this planet. There's just new information literally everywhere.

[@mastertonberry9224]

I love this

[@Haurent]

I love this concept

[@SamHuggins]

I will always adore the whole "3 Toughness Goyf dosen't die to Bolt" thing

[@noneofyourbusiness4133]

Wouldn’t it die if it already has an instant in the graveyard?

[@Tryex818]

Yeah, but you may not realize when you cast it.

[@Aedi]

@@noneofyourbusiness4133 it would, but then you can get the opposite trick, where a newer playsr may try to kill a 3 toughness Goyf that *doesn't* have an instant feeding it, a more experienced player may not realise that the Goyf *does* have an instant already feeding it as they're used to the idea that a 3 toughness Goyf is safe

[@kaiseroblivious9270]

@@Tryex818 I

[@eruantien9932]

T3 Goyf not dying to Bolt is, imo, one of the best teaching tools that MtG's ever had when it comes to how the stack actually works.

[@PascalMaynard]

A few fun facts: Fun facts: - My first ever GP was Montreal TS block constructed where Tarmogoyf got its first result. - Your footage of PT Philadelphia (first Modern PT) shows me when I was 19 (grey shirt, white collar no beard). - The pro tour you reference as PT eldrazi is where I made my first PT Top 8. The plot thickens.

[@dankmtg]

Thickens it did, but you're always gonna be an icon, Pascal.

[@seeker296]

super cool to see you in the comments you made the right choice. Sad that the cards played with are more valuable than the prizes played for, but I think you chose right!

[@loop4x454]

id have kept the goyf too my man

[@davidhameliii2259]

I love how you kinda turned it over and examined it hastily as yet saying "is this real"? 😂😂 The magic gods put that p1p1 fate in your hands and for auctioning it off and making a donation, that made it one of the coolest and sincerest moments in the history of the game we all love!

[@WomenRespecter9000]

I would have taken the Goyf. Everyone, even your holier-than-thou detractors, would've done the same.

[@andrewhoward6946]

It never really clicked for me to compare Tarmogoyf and Lightning Bolt. But they both fit nicely into that slot of "elegant simplicity" where they are clearly the strongest at what they do, but what they do is so baseline to the game it's hard to be mad at it for being good at it.

[@Hrizons]

I usually learn about magic's history throughout these episodes, but Tarmagoyf's been relevant for so long that I've actually experienced about half of it. It's a strange feeling to say the least.

[@YourPalJamieEllis]

The weirdest part for me was realizing that Modern's debut was only 4 years after Tarmogoyf was made. It feels like twice that to me.

[@aliertufekci1993]

Checkout Nizzahon Magic for histories of decks and ban list.

[@thraxus6661]

Yeah, there's some I've learned but it didn't take long for me to start being like "oh yeah I remember that". Maybe we're just old 🙃

[@davidolinger3948]

lol me too, its fun being able to look back on my own history with the game now

[@0xGRIDRUNR]

started playing with the release of theros, stopped playing right about the release of ixalan. crazy to see my entire timeline with the game detailed in this video in the context of one creature

[@ianhusseyanimation]

When you first put in clips of people saying, "wait how big is the Goyf", I felt like it unlocked a core memory for me saying that exact line and carefully counting all the graveyards

[@pester2191]

Fuck me, I was not ready for a MtG video to make me this upset. I never cast Goyf, but played against it countless times with Twin, Scapeshift, Humans and it's truly an icon. These times were the times I was most invested in playing, watching pro tournaments etc... To think that is all gone and changed now is just so sad.

[@lukew9396]

This made me nostalgic for an era I hadn’t yet accepted was over. Long live tarmogoyf.

[@gene_eggman]

Same as me :*)

[@slackwellman5499]

Hahaha well put

[@dsargus3]

I wasn't playing in that era of Magic. 40 Minutes ago i didn't even know what Tarmogoyf is or what it means. But this video made me nostalgic somehow xD

[@NucleoTheNucleo]

@@dsargus3 tarmygofy is a trash eating Enthusiast it eats the garbage and Gets More Biggar (lol)

[@ProfDragonite]

"It's Goyfin' Time." Then it proceeded to Goyf all over the metagame.

[@motorwheeler]

I Goyf my family

[@MrAskmannen]

ONE GOYFBILLION BOX OFFICE

[@TheCrewExpendable]

I always loved Tarmogoyf’s classic catch phrase “It’s Goyfin’ Time.”

[@nyxknight7555]

😓 this meme needs to die

[@atlys258]

Certainly one of the creatures of all time. 🙏🏼

[@travistomblin2144]

As someone that has been in Magic during this entire timeline, thank you so much for a walk down memory lane. I actually remember getting my first Tarmogoyf shortly after the set was released for giving a guy a ride home after FNM. It was even on my way.

[@Netro1992]

Personally, these are your best videos. A single card explored through its history, mechanics, and the impact it had on the people who intersected with it.

[@leebard9335]

Yeah, I adore the One with Nothing and Rancor videos.

[@furonet138]

I personally prefer his videos analyzing planes and lore, but these are compelling too

[@Netro1992]

@@leebard9335 My favourite video he has made is Black Lotus by far, but that Rancor one and its exploration of magic as short narrative is definitely a highlight.

[@Netro1992]

@@furonet138 No yeah, I am sure, he gets a tons of views and likes on them as well. I just find them a bit too open a scope while these are far more focused on a subject which you could still literally write a book about. Plus, I do love a good story to go with it.

[@Romashka_Sov]

@@Netro1992 my fav are Red deck wins, 1995 and Gonti. Gonti video about our personal stories made with beloved cards is inspiring

[@natahliazaring5291]

I think one of the most interesting things about tarmogoyf is that it could legitimately be printed into a standard set without worry about warping standard around it (given just how good creatures on average are nowadays). Like, sure, it would likely end up seeing play if they did that, but unless the enablers of goyf were completely free, chances are most decks would just have better things to do. Goyf largely scales with a format, almost always "one of the best 2 drop creatures" but rarely more than just an efficient beatstick.

[@sallomon2357]

It was put on Arena by the most recent Historic Anthology and tbh I don't really follow the new "pro scene" they try to build around Arena so I dunno if the goyf has seen any success in Historic, but if it did, it would be the closest we would get to it being put into Standard, at least for now.

[@tonysmith9905]

@@sallomon2357 It's had success, but it's not an all star. Just good.

[@natahliazaring5291]

@@tonysmith9905 yup, exactly this

[@EmperorPylades]

True, its not like the Fetchlands, which I honestly agree are far too strong and format warping to print into standard - lets not forget that KTK standard degenerated into "4 colour goodstuff" when Failure of Zendikar launched, after already being one of the most expensive standards ever.

[@scotbush4338]

@@EmperorPylades ehh, that format degenerated into 4 and 5 color soup decks because there were fetchable duals to get, even ones that must enter tapped. If fetches can only grab basics, they're honestly pretty bad mana fixers. If you can't grab duals and aren't taking advantage of landfall or the shuffling with something like brainstorm or sensei's top, they're fine for standard. Not great honestly lol.

[@jonathanymusic]

LONG LIVE THE KING 👑

[@idlemindedmage6925]

Fun to see you here! Still loving Starship Velociraptor!

[@soup8786]

The king is dead

[@codycantfocus]

THIS… IS… SPARTA.

[@alejandrorivas4585]

You play magic?

[@idlemindedmage6925]

@@alejandrorivas4585 check out his new capenna songs!

[@nickagentblue]

You really captured the feel of what it was like to be playing magic in the shadow of Tarmogoyf

[@antischtick3502]

33:56 Man, you made me cry. I mourn the loss of Pro Magic everyday. I mourn the loss of rich history in favour of quick monetary gain. I mourn the loss of live coverage in favour of subpar streams from a spectatorless game client.

[@spinakker14]

I haven't been following the tournament world for a while. What happened to pro magic? And what's the state of things now?

[@LakeVermilionDreams]

remember waking up after any given fnm and being able to put some wotc or scg tournament stream on while sorting out the packs you won or bought the night before? just me? I hope not.

[@LN_997]

@@spinakker14 There is no tournament world anymore, that's the state of things now

[@spinakker14]

@@LN_997 what? Then where could I compete then? Are there still fnm-s? Online tournaments?

[@LN_997]

@@spinakker14 Of course there's still organised play. My mistake I thought you were solely talking about pro magic

[@20x20]

I will never forget the time that I, a lowly EDH player, opened a goyf in one of my modern masters packs and was sad to see it because I had no idea the value it had. I held on to that card for a bit and ended up selling it for a cool hundred.

[@jennietsai1260]

I love cards like Goyf and Delver of Secrets, creatures that on the surface look simple and kinda boring, but become fascinating and staples of the game when you see how decks built around them work

[@voidpunkprincess]

Delver is my boy. I played some pauper games before where turn one dover, turn to Blind flip play and attach artifact, swing unturned too with a flying 5/3 backed by a counter spell I could play by returning one of my Islands. The thing about Delver of Secrets is, when you see it played against you and it's a 1/1 for one, it's hard to gauge what's going to happen to it, what sort of threat it actually represents. It could not flip for five turns in a row and you wasted your premium removal for a one one for one Mana. Some games, it flips on turn two and someone throws a curiosity style effect on it and it hits you for at least three every turn in the air and draws your opponent a card. It's just bad enough to avoid a ban, but it's just good enough to be terrifying.

[@sparkgold3852]

I love Goyf but not Delver of Secrets

[@jennietsai1260]

@@sparkgold3852 Why? I think it’s pretty well designed. It requires building your deck a certain way, and even then it requires work/luck to flip it. And even then it’s still just a vanilla creature

[@birdman22b]

That's why I love Querion Dryad or Death's Shadow. It's fun to watch an opponent bolt a Death's Shadow with a fetchland in play. Dryad just look up Alan Comers Miracle Gro. It's an outdated decklist but still mean.

[@clockworkkid99]

I pulled a foil Goyf from a 2015 Modern Masters set, I had no idea how good it was, but the guy at the counter said he'd trade a box of Modern Masters for it. Opened the box with some buddies for a couple small drafts. No more Tarmogoyf, but one of the best $10 I've ever spent

[@cruinard3710]

My friend raves about picking up Goyf shortly after Future Sight came out in buckets because he thought it would hit like a brick in green decks. Goyf is the line where surpassing the vanilla test hits hard enough to keep seeing play. It still has such a cool mystique for me as “the” creature.

[@VaraNiN]

I haven't played Magic long enough to have ever held a Tarmogoyf in my hand or even faced one in a game. Yet I still legit teared up at 37:18. One of your best videos to date, I am just in awe

[@soup8786]

Its not good anymore

[@atlys258]

You're not alone, it got me tearing up too. Pretty much anytime a new vid drops I'm basically guessing and waiting the whole time to find out what random or innocuous element he's going to use to bring me to tears 😂

[@tsuki7064]

Ithink the best thing about goyf is that.... it hasnt actually been printed. Its printed in future sight as a future sight print (a preprint, if you will) and a bunch of printings in reprint sets. I mean I know technically future sight printing is a printing, but theme-vise, it hasnt been printed yet. Just reprints of a preprint

[@noesunyoutuber7680]

Eventually R&D has to print Tarmogoyf in a standard set or they'll have created a paradox.

[@piperisanerd5912]

I really want a promo card, or an un-set card, or something similar that reads: "at the beginning of your end step, If you own and control a creature named Stoneforge Mystic, Snapcaster Mage, Dark Confidant, Young Pyromancer, and Tarmogoyf, You win the game". Great video, as always

[@noesunyoutuber7680]

WUBRG enchantment called "Modernism."

[@piperisanerd5912]

@@noesunyoutuber7680 you *get it*

[@Nysonin609]

It's so nice getting to see my boy on the big screen. As a kid I always dreamed of owning Tarmogoyfs I just loved it so much. Now as an adult I don't know what is harder to believe, that I own 4 or that they are now somewhat mediocre cards. I'd love to see a return to Goyf, maybe in pioneer one day. That being said I always smile when I cast it.

[@vecvecvec]

goyf in pioneer would honestly be so sick. graveyard based decks in fetchless formats are really cool and a lot more balanced--even deathrite shaman is just decent

[@MegaMadman50]

The idea sounds neat, but I just feel it would lead to a slippery slope of pioneer turning into old modern, which isn't exactly bad, but not really what I want to see with the format.

[@dontstealmydiamondsv3156]

no fetches makes goyf worse in pioneer too

[@JudoMoniz]

The consensus in my LGS is that as soon as there is a "Pioneer Horizons" set Tarmogoyf is gonna be the first card included in the set

[@albertsuchan9366]

The downfall of Goyf is literally so sad to me. I vividly remember buying the playset back in early 2018 for like 200 pounds thinking it was a great deal and felt so good about it. And now it sits in my folder and is not even good for the format anymore.

[@JakeandJoelareMagic]

These are always top tier videos; thanks for the work you put in.

[@nbnerd2283]

ayee didnt expect to see you here!

[@int3r4ct]

16:45 I remember cracking a box of Modern Masters the night it came out and getting a Goyf and a Foil Goyf on top of a bunch of other decently priced cards. Needless to say I was quite happy I had made the choice to buy a box and open it against my better judgement.

[@MagiconTap]

I started playing just before Modern became a format. I didn't understand why Tarmogoyf was so popular, or even what it was for a long time. The more I play Magic though, the more I feel like Tarmogoyf embodies what drew me to Magic in the first place. It's a potentially big body, sure, but it has interaction with other cards and the graveyard, and that's what makes Magic great to me. That makes it more interesting than just a 4/5 for 2. Or wait, is it a 5/6?

[@ProtomanBlues87]

I remember the whole "state based action" of goyf when it was in standard. Many people at my store learned the hard way to never cast nameless inversion targeting an opponent's tarmogoyf, especially while it's attacking.

[@HKLives]

Love your videos! Between Siege Rhino and Tarmogoyf now, you've covered 2/3 of my favorite creatures, all that's left is Kitchen FInks.

[@lucasbakeforero426]

Abzan, Selesnya and Mono green? I sense a pattern here.

[@Arbitation]

Pod my finks in to avalanche riders

[@noesunyoutuber7680]

​@@Arbitation Pod my Finks into Siege Rhino was the play pattern at the time Pod ate a ban in Modern. That was _also_ a Tarmogoyf deck.

[@mapthemultiverse]

Sam, your videos always make me feel the game so much more emotionally, but that ending was something else. That collage of so many great Modern players isn't just a snapshot; like Tarmagoyf, it's a piece Magic's history. Thank you for illustrating that.

[@G0Ri11a]

I never once casted a Tarmogofy in my life but damn do I miss him. It’s wild what Modern/MtG have become and has led me to not play as much anymore. I find it so strange now we live in a world where Liliana of the Veil isn’t good enough for Modern anymore.

[@gymbr0]

I miss old modern. Twin v Jund/Abzan with affinity and burn around was such a fun time. New power crept modern sucks.

[@Hunted0LessShirt]

I've rarely cast the king myself also but have VERY fond memories of casting Threads of Disloyalty in 2012 Modern :D It was a simpler time and why I'm such a big proponent nowadays for Pauper and 7 point Highlander; they have that honest feel and those unique moments of interaction that I find modern Modern is missing.

[@kaitlyn__L]

I didn't with real cards, but I did plenty of times in some of the PC games. Which had much more limited deck-building but since they had online play you could at least play against real opponents. Also of course proxies down the pub.

[@iamtib]

What a blast from the past. This modern format was the peak of MTG imo and the better years I had with this game. I remember watching Modern streams in my old apartment and meeting with friends at the LGS for the weekly Modern tournament. I strongly relate to what you say at 34:11 and this is what ultimately drove me away from MTG.

[@Nullzeros]

It’s cool to come back to this video after Modern Horizons 3 where they just printed Tarmogoyf tokens and more goyf creatures.

[@maccally1]

Love this video! Seeing the old Pro Tour coverage makes me miss how professional Magic used to feel.

[@obadijahparks]

On top of everything his smile is precious.

[@Naustrix]

The modern scene in 2011-2015 is so nostalgic for me like seeing that fulminater mage and the pyromasters accention storm decks I used to play and watch modern religiously back when goblin guides and lightning helix’s were being throw around like crazy truly the best time of modern :)❤

[@polsenOO7]

Yea, that was peak Modern. I would extend that to 2018. Now Wizards has shown they will not keep established archetypes forever due to the fact they will ban format staples if it makes a new card break.

[@soarel325]

It really is a damn shame what's happened to Modern as a format and competitive Magic as a whole. Between MH2, the end of general support for the competitive game, and Pioneer, WotC has really kneecapped what used to be an iconic format. Legacy's even deader in the water. I have hope that Modern can rise from the ashes, but with the general direction of the game I fear that's not possible.

[@AIMLESS-NAMELESS]

I’ve never felt emotional over someone reading card types, how do you do it Sam, great work

[@CyberBuster93]

They way you tell stories is just absolutely astounding. They way you cast a spell on all of the long time players, new players, and people who don't even play this game. Whether it be nostalgia of the love, fear, or perhaps both, for this card can be felt here. I too dream of days of the king. I have 4 foil's sitting in my binder just waiting for the day. What doesn't grow, dies right? Same can be said for us as people. I hope that we all keep growing like Tarmogoyf. I hope that we all never stop playing this game, smiling as we cast our favorite spells, and laugh with friends as we steal wins out of nowhere. What is Magic if not for the gathering? Each one of your videos remind us of that. And this one is no exception. Long live the King. ♥

[@jordanlarson8310]

I come back to this video now after looking through my old binders and finding my playsets of Goyf, Thoughtsieze,and other modern staples...it brings a smile to my face and a bit of sadness to my soul thinking about how magic Magic was 10 years ago

[@GoodMorningMagic]

When Future Sight came out, my testing team cracked the Dredge deck right away. Keep in mind, dredge was legal in STANDARD here - this was the first time anybody was seeing Narcomoeba and Bridge from Below here. Anyway, we were trying to figure out how to beat targeted graveyard hard. And that's when someone suggested... What about Tarmogoyf? I tried 4 copies in my sideboard - "Wow, this is such a good beater!" I ended up trading various random cards for a grand total of 16 copies of Tarmogoyf - I'd get them as throw-ins. I figured my future sideboards might need them. Over the years, I've traded some away. A couple friends still have some of mine. A few were even swiped, cards I lent someone and never returned. But I still keep my playset of four Future Sight, slightly chipped at the corners from play Tarmogoyfs. It's a card synonymous with competitive Magic to me. Thank you for making a video about it. Excellent stuff.

[@passedjudgements4729]

Hey can anyone from wotc explain the justification of selling proxies for $999? Would greatly appreciate a better reason than hasbro wants more money and they told wotc to go whale hunting with middle fingers raised high

[@thecmoose4754]

Thanks for dropping some lore Gavin. Appreciate you

[@kraxosOBK]

I feel like I'm full of something good every time I watch one of your videos

[@paperwatt]

Great video as always! Learning that Tarmogoyf made it to big events alongside Siege Rhino is like finding out that Samurai in history were still around when guns were being used.

[@okashiromi5541]

Your ability to communicate the feeling of nostalgia and the sense of the past is truly amazing, I started magic in the tarkir block, and by the time I reached out from my small group of highschool friends and no format, table magic modern was already a sea of hyper tuned cheap cmc decks whose average game turn count kept going down. I never experienced the time of the goyf, but I still felt like I was watching someone talk about the first time I zerod a life total with a burn spell. The first a deck clicked.

[@ashrog82]

I once lost a tourney game of modern to a Jund player who got stuck on 2 lands and literally played nothing all game except for all 4 Tarmos. Felt bad.

[@EmmettMcMullan]

Me when I saw this: "Rhystic studies did a forty minute video on goyf? Fuck yeah!" Casts to TV while taking apart two commander decks to make a third

[@coolsodapop12]

the final listing of all of goyf's graveyard triggers somehow brought me to tears, rhystic studies you are a genius beyond comparison

[@Lornext]

First Ravnica to Ravnica was the golden age of magic. Im happy to have experienced that age and wish it was always as good as that... The game has gone down so much since then.

[@obadijahparks]

I came into the game way... after his debut. But he is king! They should have made him into a godzilla secret lair.

[@redpandaplush5980]

Excellent video as always. You give me the feeling of longing and nostalgia for an era of Magic that I wasn't even a part of and was probably too young to be anyway. As sad as it is to feel like I only joined the game once it had already hit its decline, videos like yours give me hope that we can recapture the magic of Magic again...

[@Edwin-zk1en]

…so how big is the goyf?

[@MrPuzzoncello]

I'm glad you talked about the Pascal Maynard story. Nikachu featured once in his videos already, but it's such an iconic moment that it had to be told.

[@cameroncorrado3935]

Videos like these really capture the nostalgia I feel for the time period in which I heavily played Magic. The game just doesn't feel the same anymore. 😢

[@Ossum123]

I got into Magic around the height of Tarmagoyf’s popularity when I was in high school around 2015. I never thought I would feel so emotional and touched walking through memory lane about a card I never owned. Thank you for this. Keep up the phenomenal work. ❤

[@TNTturtle5]

I don't know what it is, if it's the delivery, the editing, the clips you choose, or just the memories your videos invoke, but every single video just gives me the chills. Keep it up.

[@smokelingers9857]

I simply can't get enough of your content. These video essays are always so well-written and insightful.

[@PauperPrincex]

Awesome video man, you killed it. A honorary video well fitting of The King's legacy.

[@ayyohwinning]

Amazing vid as always - been watching since the Modern Master days and I love how much your vids have grown since then, just great stuff, always look forward to seeing the notification when they drop :))

[@fireemblemistrash75]

I gave up magic in 2018 when me and my play group dispersed, and coming back to see all the classic modern staples truly die takes my breath away. I never would have though I’d see the spinach monster himself truly die But seeing all my old decks in tapped out become suddenly cheap definitely made me splurge on some decks I had been meaning to make for a long time lol

[@chester1882]

The ending is a mix of nostalgia and sadness. No king rules forever

[@dragonsjet2]

Sad that Goyf is unplayable now due to how weak it is compared to all the new overpowered cards wotc prints

[@rara2ra2yrra3racjj2]

Another incredible video by Sam. There's no magic related content online that makes me feel quite the way that your videos do. Elegance is oftentimes disguised as simplicity.

[@kingredstoneandfriends4924]

Please keep doing video like these, they are my favorite videos on youtube!

[@shenGaoren177]

Thank you for documenting these historical moments in magic. These videos always makes my day.

[@mindlessfool42]

I really love these deep dives, and deeply appreciate how it feels like a serial history of the game itself - from all angles.

[@Gothstana]

I LOVE your editing and use of the music when introducing state-based actions.

[@zeez145]

Dude I love your "deep dives on one card" videos, the story you tell is always so fantastic. S+ sir.

[@SirGeoGio13]

I adore this video. You have managed to somehow encapsulate the feeling of this iconic and format defining card.

[@kazen16]

love this stuff man, coming home from work, mega tired, a cup of coffee and this! thanks!

[@Friedensp4nzer]

You are one of these very few creators, who, after I watched a new video by them, I always have the urge to re-watch an 'old' one. Cheers.

[@callusklaus2413]

Your essays are my favorite to listen to. Your word work is consistently elegant and evocative. Congratulations, I hope I can write with clarity like this one day.

[@graefx]

I had already drifted away from mtg when future sight dropped but I still remember the mad frenzy of people try to get goyf and how dominant a card it was. It'll remain one of my iconic era defining cards.

[@Villain.van.Bobbov]

Wonderful video! The last words were delivered with such gravitas - combined with the imagery connecting all the people highlighted in the video that contributed to the King's fame - it was deeply moving

[@bch9124]

The end of this video game me chills. Thank you for that, Sam.

[@jasons3734]

Thanks Sam!! I got into Magic much more seriously with Future Sight and was one of those crazy drafters at GP Vegas 2015. I have only been speechless when opening a pack foil twice in my life and both times were Goyfs. This brought back those beautiful memories. I needed this. Thank you!!

[@brainbenderNo1]

Idk if you'll see this Sam since it's been a year since this came out. But I love these videos of yours going over historical moments in pro MTG history and around how sets impacted the game because it lets me vicariously live those moments since I only got into the game a few years ago.

[@scottyates3307]

Probably the best video you've ever done Sam. Well done. Brilliant work as always

[@StackedEDH]

Great video. I particularly love that repeated line at the end and that slow desaturation. Magic *is* changing; what doesn't grow dies.

[@jpricej10]

Even compared to past videos, the ending of this one was a masterstroke. Beautiful. Made me feel things.

[@kr3wski]

I met you in Vegas 2019 an you were by far the coolest most down to earth creator I met! Please keep these videos coming asap!

[@demolisherman1763]

I just wanted to comment because I greatly enjoy your videos and I want to show engagement, you are truly a gift

[@Travis-no3wh]

Thanks for all the work you put into, crafting this superb video.

[@Roflstrike]

MASTERCLASS video essay as always. Thank you!

[@zipz5057]

34:33 Took me a bit to realize what this saying is - it's the flavor text. This is amazing

[@YaleStewartArt]

Your videos are always amazing, but this was next-level. Absolutely incredible work.

[@skysub1]

🎉 new video! And about goyf. Iconic indeed with many different cards.

[@antoniomendes7171]

The best video to watch. currently on my bed just chilling and enjoying this piece of art.

[@bobbyjbarron]

Well written as always, thanks for taking the time to polish

[@TuberTugger]

This all happened around the height of my love of MTG. I followed all these tournaments and knew all the players. You've hit me right in the nostalgia feels and I thank you whole heartedly!

[@sfeldman231]

I love this video, even though it makes me feel completely ancient. I remember all of this and I remember how exciting time spiral was.

[@pabloacedologrono5003]

It´s so weird the extend to which I find these videos beautiful and poetic. I love this channel

[@s.a.hellenbrand8450]

This was quite a ride to watch. I am feeling a lot of emotions, and also wondering if my days of Magic are fading into obscurity as well. I still have my OG 4 goyfs I acquired to play TarmoRack in Standard back in 2007. Those 4 pieces of cardstock have played so many games. Thank you for your deft touch. I am almost tearing up.

[@rajburtonpatel6702]

Phenomenal vid. One of my new favorite mini-docs. Please make more.

[@jaimeabengoechea8463]

These long form videos coming from you are absolutely awesome

[@astanix]

This is a very well done video, first I've seen from you and am looking forward to watching more!

[@benryder2537]

The best MTG video I've ever seen - and on my favourite card of all time, one that is very important to me. Thank you for making this, I enjoyed every second.

[@RhysticStudies]

thank you so much. i'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@nickbrydels1894]

Incredible episode. Great work and thanks!

[@TastySnackies]

Yeah, this is definitely the best video you’ve made so far. Props for hard work and great presentation. Solid documentary vibes.

[@TheMaskedHero]

I still remember the first time I saw a Tarmogoyf previewed, and I was only smitten with the card because it said "Planeswalker" on it. Little did I know that later, it would be the most expensive Magic card I can name off the top of my head. Now, I'm just happy to own a playset of history, even if it's from a bygone era.

[@bookofjulio]

as a jund/rock player pre horizons this one really hit home. Thank you man, brought back so many great memories!

[@waves-]

Great storytelling. Relaxing voice. Rewatch value is high as well. I can’t complain.