Ken Baumann @kenlikescarbs Twitter profile | Pikagi

Pikagi

Ken Baumann

@kenlikescarbs

4,866

Followers

548

Following

2,637

Media

27,236

Statuses

writer | cEDH player | ex-pro liar |

Santa Fe, NM

https://t.co/IOP4OMMcPp

Joined September 2020

Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.

Pinned Tweet

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

24 days

I've been signing more clients for ! It's been fun to help people improve their manuscripts, feel more confident in their writing routines, and get close to the finish line. If you want help getting your book into the world, let me know!

Tweet card media

Write Your Book in Six Months

You want to write a book. I can help. We can bring your book to life in six months. Coaching, book design, cover design, and publishing: don't wait to share your ideas with the world.

www.bookinsix.com

1

4

19

Last Seen Profiles

@Looloo_Ahmed0

@Matheus_gk01

@ahmedhusseinham

@najenis

@Lagalatzia

@Lolaa_babyyy

@CREEZLAMOUR

@simpingforseb

@RubenHssd

@CarcamoErv33088

@JossArgueta3

@Mat_dbs_

@SakhrilMarat

@eckelcc

@sora_koukan

@cn63692116

@summer_love311

@AytekinPASA07

@bennysmallzzzz

@Shemika98425261

@Avaxsaurs

@q_wadley

@ArielKabus18

@elyannaalas

@actsupport

@realbon_i

@robhahn

@lzpf1

@summer_love311

@sutemgngi

@hunterscyarika

@papmantan69_

@pasurtihot

@Arafatalzo

@VaZ63lIVqK55585

@liixxxxiii

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

If we're playing Magic at a kitchen table or at a sanctioned tournament of any scale and you play a proxy of any quality or condition, I will simply accept that it's the card you say it is and continue to play the game. Because—and this is very simple: I am not a cop.

85

501

5K

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Am I doing this? I'm doing this.

Tweet media one

Tweet media two

Tweet media three

Tweet media four

96

103

2K

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

It is my well-researched scientific conclusion that this is one fucked up Magic card

Tweet media one

63

34

1K

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

I dream of a world in which you can buy a simple, mechanically-identical version of every Magic card for $5 or less. This would mean the maximum price to own any Commander deck conceivable would be $500. Reserved List? Nah. Please tank my collection's value! I'm asking nicely!

51

79

1K

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

And yes, I'm aware that by not reporting another player using a proxy in a sanctioned tournament I might risk getting disqualified for Unsporting Conduct — Cheating. I'll say it again. I'm not afraid of this because—and this is very simple: I am not a cop.

15

39

1K

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 year

🧵 Over 23,000 cards are legal in Commander. About 2000 of them are played in cEDH. And cEDH games end in just 4 ways. Here are cEDH's essential patterns.

12

114

1K

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

This is the most powerful and beautiful Magic: The Gathering card ever printed

@Fenix15__

Fenix

2 years

Tweet media one

20

10

226

55

52

1K

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

The great Rocky takes on Krarkashima…

Tweet media one

25

63

1K

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

I'm the cEDH World Champion, apparently?

87

34

715

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

5 months

Sam's new video thoroughly details the history of foil Magic cards. Near the end, he dispassionately lists all the "special" treatments in the Lord of the Rings set. It's brutal. A sad litany of capital hedging its bets. That moment crystallized some thoughts on the game…

14

40

709

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

You buy a Commander precon. On the back of the box and in a foldout inside you see this:

Tweet media one

38

40

658

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Hmm… it'd be a shame if a deck were able to copy and counter its own spells a bunch, wouldn't it? But who would do *that* at the Commander table?

Tweet media one

32

18

633

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 year

A rarely-spoken truth about Commander is how often players check out when it isn't their turn. This is caused in part by neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD, phone addiction, the beer & pretzel nature of the format, and low tolerances for boredom. That invites a question…

79

36

632

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

A meme for the all the homies who love Commander:

Tweet media one

12

89

556

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

9 months

I found it. I found the best duo in all of Madison, Wisconsin—if not in the United States of America.

Tweet media one

21

23

559

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

12 days

I really hope American cEDH tournament organizers give this Japanese system a try.

Tweet media one

47

45

556

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Having looked a bit into the economics of Magic: The Gathering and those who benefit most from its profitability, my official stance on reprints is: YES PLZ PRINT IT INTO THE FUCKING GROUND BUT ALSO YOU YES YOU RIGHT THERE PROXY WHATEVER YOU WANT

9

43

539

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

I'm calling it now: Krark's getting compleated. And he's getting his damned thumbs back. 😤

43

15

534

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

A cEDH player resolved Chromatic Orrery and Expropriate in a non-Narset deck and those plays won him a Black Lotus. Time is a flat circle. I love cEDH so much.

8

12

525

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Magic was a game with ≤$75 loot boxes. Now Magic is a game with $250 to $1000 loot boxes. Think what you will about it, but that's a fact.

16

21

517

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

"Swords, targeting Krark." "Would you like to pay 9 mana for that?"

Tweet media one

Tweet media two

17

16

502

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Looks fun!

Tweet media one

Tweet media two

29

19

490

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Ahhhh shit. They got me.

Tweet media one

23

13

490

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

10 months

Magic nerds: You time travel back to 1994 to compete in the first big Magic tournament. You've got your 2023 knowledge of the game, but can only use the 1994 card pool. You want to win. What deck do you build?

146

7

472

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

11 months

Hmm. HMMM.

Tweet media one

51

17

474

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Excuse me?

Tweet media one

32

11

458

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

I played against a staxy cEDH version of this deck at #Magic30 , and good LORD does that deck have legs. Legs with which it kicks you. Hard. Over and over again.

Tweet media one

34

12

463

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

8 months

An exhaustive list of Magic cards I name with Demonic Consultation in order to exile my whole library: • Sloppity Bilepiper • Go Hog Wild • Steamflogger of the Month • Hot Soup • Flumph • Rocket-Powered Turbo Slug • Goblin Bookie • Walking Sponge

60

25

467

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

I respect the card designers at Wizards for making a card that is simply: Big Monke

Tweet media one

23

25

455

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Gold-bordered cards aren't a compromise. They're a flex.

36

15

433

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

I'm slowly converging to the opinion that Commander games are best for me when they're either out-of-the-box precon level or cEDH. Getting four players to find balanced games in between is tough—even in known playgroups with good pregame conversations.

42

9

438

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

At #Magic30 there are like four people watching the Arena World Championship games and ≥600 watching—and cheering on—Game Knights live. Called it.

16

1

437

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

"What is the most ANNOYING Commander deck you HATE to play against?" I'm so tired of these questions. My brother in Christ: if I was consistently annoyed by any aspect of this card game, I'd stop playing it.

30

17

434

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

It's painful to hear a word used strategically by contemporary fascists (those who violently maintain beliefs in hierarchy) in the LGS to describe fantasy card game pieces. Folks: please reconsider using "degenerate" as Magic lingo.

166

53

426

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

The @playtowinmtg boys have the ideal cEDH mindset.

9

46

399

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

this card's sweet

Tweet media one

27

8

390

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Look at this. The gold makes so much sense! Excited to play this stylish, WotC-produced, and perfectly-legible Magic card in my Commander deck tonight. 😘

Tweet media one

30

3

394

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Today I'm wondering about selling all the Magic cards I'm not playing in decks, then replacing all my super fancy cards with their simplest, most accessible equivalents. I love the game very much. But I'd also love to not feel FOMO re: ≥20 expensive cards every month.

54

11

387

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 year

Word has it that this cEDH tournament is over. Word has it that this is the Commander who won (👀!!!):

Tweet media one

@BufftownBullies

BufftownBullies

@BufftownBullies

1 year

Collectively the Bullies did not do well today! 1-13-2 with Dio having the only win! And still didn't top 16. We had a BLAST! 36 total people and KOLL WAS the ONLY UNDEFEATED going into top 16. Top 16 is a GO.

2

1

29

24

16

385

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 year

A reminder: If you buy cool Magic card alters and put them in your deck, you will win more games. It's just science.

18

27

374

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 year

On the one hand, Sheoldred, the Apocalypse is a $60+ Magic: The Gathering card. On the other hand… 🤔

Tweet media one

21

2

375

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

If a Magic: The Gathering card says "draw" and "card" on it, it is my favorite Magic: The Gathering card

42

12

362

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Your friendly reminder: Foil Secret Lair cards will likely be VERY curled. Might be best to buy the non-foils, which are both cheaper and better quality!

31

18

355

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

LOLOLOLOL

Tweet media one

Tweet media two

Tweet media three

15

7

333

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

6 months

Here's a 2U enchantment that says "whenever" and "draw a card" but that is entirely fair, probably. Unless… 😈

Tweet media one

24

4

335

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 months

Just found a new beautiful piece of Magic art. So I search the artist's name, find his Twitter—and am quickly met with COVID, climate change, and antisemitic conspiracy theories. I'm so tired…

44

4

330

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 year

me: "I'm not the biggest fan of Magic lore, to be honest…" them: "So this little guy Skrelv is a bug deemed defective and worthless by his huge pitiless empire, but he's also really clever and lucky and has outwitted them to live a good tiny bug's life." me:

9

26

326

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

The year is 2025. cEDH players worldwide beg the Rules Committee to "BAN THE CAT." The Displacer Kitten Meta has broken hundreds of tournament organizers' spirits. A package of ham costs $48, I'm made entirely of microplastics, and I'm still playing Commander.

11

15

320

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 year

cEDH players who play white decks: PLAY PATH TO EXILE. Y'all are snoozing on that card. It's very often better than Swords! Get into it!

51

2

318

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

3 years

Imagine you're playing pickup basketball. Your opponents win the game. You immediately and loudly exclaim, "WELL IF I HAD JUST MADE THAT THREE WE WOULD'VE WON." Weird and off-putting, right? This is what Magic players do. All The. Time.

42

25

303

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

7 months

Let's imagine the best possible commander in cEDH. It would cost 0 mana, have the keyword Split Second, and say "When you cast this spell, win the game." Okay. Now let's use this concept to examine some popular cEDH commanders.

12

13

299

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

BREAKING NEWS: @wizards_magic heard about the Krark problem at @MonarchMediaTW 's Marchesa tournament. They now must legally print this warning on new copies of the card:

Tweet media one

14

21

296

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

I read Reid Duke's article about Commander. It's full of reasonable advice written in plain, humble, and focused language. I hope he continues to think and write about my favorite format of my favorite game. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

16

5

296

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 month

Today I went 6-0 on Krark Sakashima. The deck feels incredible right now. I'm still gathering data and impressions on the Powerbalance package, but otherwise it hums. This is the deck's best new card, and it's not even close:

Tweet media one

20

10

300

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 months

Fill in the blank: the cEDH meta in Santa Fe is ______.

Tweet media one

96

7

299

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

10 days

Who will do it? Who will be the first to live out my dream?

Tweet media one

Tweet media two

Tweet media three

27

2

299

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

I'm beginning to believe that triggered abilities are the most powerful effects in Commander.

40

5

284

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 year

Tapping a land for mana resets priority. That's a rule of the game that can be leveraged in tournament cEDH. That said, I have also said in a cEDH tournament: "If you pass priority to me expecting me to tap out, I will pass priority and we will lose." Tactics cut both ways.

20

10

288

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

6 months

Casual Commander enjoyers: I want to build a new $50 deck that: a) does Group Hug; b) has one absurd restriction; c) can win the game if needed. Pitch me!

84

3

281

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

3 years

my desires are… unconventional

Tweet media one

Tweet media two

15

17

274

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

I don't know how long in advance Wizards folks work on sets, so keep that in mind as you read what's below. It seems plausible to me that Dominaria Remastered is WotC's most serious attempt to address the widespread acceptance of playtest cards/proxies among the cEDH community.

22

3

272

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

My friends @sluglordcyrus and @ModeratelyMtg asked for a centralized online resource for cEDH stuff, so I made that. Presenting !

Tweet media one

24

56

273

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

them: "Do you win?" me, a storm player: "What do I look like, Nostradamus?"

13

18

263

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

3 years

I have too many Magic: The Gathering cards.

48

26

262

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 year

I'm watching Neon Genesis Evangelion for the first time—properly, all the way through—and the fourth episode is not only one of the best episodes of TV I've seen… it's one of the best pieces of media I've seen. Period.

27

7

265

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

After talking with @SheldonMenery and thinking about the @mtgcommander Philosophy document for years, here's my attempt at a good revision.

Tweet media one

32

37

260

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Seems good!

Tweet media one

Tweet media two

12

16

258

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Incredible. by

Tweet media one

9

19

255

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 months

cEDH is for people who enjoy Magic's verticality.

Tweet media one

12

6

255

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

3 years

I want to talk about shame and fascism in the context of Magic: The Gathering.

26

42

244

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

tired: pretending that the Reserved List is a legal obligation rather than an implicit justification for the logic of artificial scarcity wired: making Underground Sea cost $5

1

12

242

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 year

Commander is touted as a format meant to encourage self-expression in the world of Magic. Yet it doesn't feel great to express yourself in a social setting to people who aren't paying attention. And this, funnily enough, is why cEDH feels so nice for some folks!

3

4

244

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

I fucking love modular EDH decks.

47

4

243

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Here's what I think about Commander: 1. cEDH is EDH is fun. 2. Do what you want and be kind. 3. Rule 0 is the heart of the format. 4. Casual and competitive are mindsets. 5. Proxies are good. (Cat's out of the bag.) 6. Precise pregame conversations make good games.

8

18

233

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

3 months

Last night I got to do this—a lot—in a game of cEDH. I now want to do only this—a lot—in a game of cEDH.

Tweet media one

Tweet media two

12

4

242

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Deciding at this very moment that the only 60-card Magic format I'm interested in playing in competitive settings is Pauper. ≤$100 decks? A diverse metagame? Utterly based. What's the best deck right now? (I now the format's just now getting shaken up.)

37

5

225

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 year

Group A claims Group B did wrong. Group A provides good evidence. Group B claims Group A is lying. Behind the scenes, B threatens to sue A. Group B claims they have evidence, but provide none. Maybe I'm dumb, but I wouldn't yet call Group B a trustworthy organization.

16

15

229

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 year

On the one hand, money is fake. On the other hand, I just paid $50 for an Oboro, Palace in the Clouds and my soul left my body.

17

1

219

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

10 months

I'm so sad that Sheldon is gone. What a generous spirit. He helped Magic come into its own. He shepherded a global community into fun, enriching experiences. We were lucky to have him. Rest in peace, my friend.

1

9

221

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 year

Brewing $50 decks Commander decks that are consistent and efficient has never been easier—and that's cool as hell! This is a big upside of Wizards' decision to flood the market with reprints and new art/frame treatments. (The biggest benefit imo: more artists get paid!)

8

10

218

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

I present a $50 Commander deck helmed by Krark, the Thumbless and Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa. It's called 🐜Token Goblin Deck🐜

Tweet media one

21

10

215

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

🕵️ Cool rares and mythics and planeswalkers you got there, new Magic set. 👉 NOW SHOW ME THE ONE MANA INSTANTS AND SORCERIES

18

11

213

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

10 months

@_NoUhs Kool-Aid Man'ing your way thru spacetime into retirement

1

1

209

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

A Thumbless homie got a Rocky alter of Krark. Holy Grail status, imo.

Tweet media one

9

11

203

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

3 months

A brief review of Izzet decks in cEDH: 1. Stella Lee The most efficient combo commander in the color pair. Likely to suffer from its efficiency (cf. Winota), but will be a tournament staple for a long time.

9

6

208

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

"Maybe play more lands in your Commander decks!" said math, wisdom, and rationality. "I'M NOT A COP AND I'D RATHER EAT DIRT!" said goopy goblin gamer brain, Major Depressive Disorder, and aesthetics.

9

13

198

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 year

Oathbreaker fans: Tyvar / Vampiric Tutor for Hermit Druid into Necrotic Ooze combo seems like a VERY consistent T3 win. Is there a more efficient and linear combo deck out there?

41

5

199

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Still dazed at @con_tier1 . So many kind, supportive, & skillful players. So many cool Krark players. So many good games. Such great judges & tournament staff. Very grateful and VERY very lucky. Krark did me right (and snagged me a Timetwister, my first piece of the Power Nine)!

8

0

195

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 year

Paid for this session with an Underground Sea.

Tweet media one

9

2

197

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

@wachelreeks Commander is first and foremost a spectator sport. Just realizing how much time players spend not playing—and how that's an invitation to pay *more* attention, not less.

9

11

200

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

@JaeBe87 usually cops don't get arrested for protesting cop violence, but ya know. maybe i've been undercover this whole time and am in too deep

4

0

191

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Oh good, it had been a whole 24 hours since a card that I like got spoiled!

Tweet media one

13

4

193

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 year

cEDH encourages attention to game actions and pieces. This makes cEDH players *more* receptive to others' self-expression (in many instances). Yet the cEDH metagame pressures folks into narrowing their decks' card pools. This narrows the range of game-mechanical self-expression.

5

1

190

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

oh my god

Tweet media one

Tweet media two

15

16

191

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

As a writer and publisher, I had to figure out—and very early one—some principles for navigating the strange relationship between art and artist. As a sick person, I learned the hard way how to identify ableism and cruelty. Fucking bummer about Seb. Ideology is a helluva drug.

1

21

190

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

1 year

I mean........

Tweet media one

Tweet media two

Tweet media three

24

2

191

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Woah. We're closing on a house! My parents will live in the main house (we'll take care of 'em as needed). My wife and I will live in the studio—which we're calling The Goblin Church. It's 800 sq. ft. with a super high pitched roof. I'm so excited to have a blank living space!

19

0

187

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

3 years

I want you to beat me in Commander with Vampires. I want you to beat me in Commander with Myr tribal. I want you to beat me in Commander after making 30 Treasures with Smothering Tithe. I want you to beat me in Commander with Ad Nauseam. * Do what you want. Have fun.

17

15

189

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

2 years

Magic: The Gathering cards I am too dumb to play well: • Sanctum Prelate • Chalice of the Void • Archon of Emeria / Rule of Law / Eidolon of Rhetoric • Intuition Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

25

1

187

@kenlikescarbs

Ken Baumann

11 months

I finally muted the word "Lorcana" on here. I worked for Disney for five years. I can't pay that corporation any more attention.

14

2

188