In this episode, Julian, Kai, and Matt take a deep dive into the early history of Legacy, back when it was still known as Type 1.5 and barely resembled the format we know today. From photocopied banlists on store pinboards to Underground Seas costing pocket change, the hosts explore how Legacy emerged out of Vintage’s shadow and slowly found its own identity in the mid-2000s.
Along the way, they revisit forgotten decks, bizarre banlist logic, and the moment the format truly began to crystallize — with Grand Prix play, growing online discourse, and eventually the arrival of format-defining cards like Tarmogoyf. It’s a mix of oral history, personal memories, and perspective on how Legacy evolved from a local playground into a globally optimized competitive format.
00:05:00 – Prehistoric Legacy (2004 – 2006)
Type 1 / 1.5 split, merged banlist chaos, photocopied rules. Threshold decks begin to emerge, Ravnica lands, and Tarmogoyf quietly starts rewriting the format.
00:22:00 – Fully Independent Meta (2006–2009)
With the return of Legacy Grand Prix events, pressure on the format ramps up significantly. The card pool deepens, archetypes solidify, and the deck list names get increasingly unhinged
00:38:00 – The Shards of Alara Shakeup (2009–2011)
Green gets everything. Everyone else copes. Reanimator wins, ANT looks unbeatable in hindsight, early Jace sightings, and the format heading toward inevitable bans.
01:08:00 – The Mental Misstep Interlude (May–Sept 2011)
A strange, hyper-defined five-month fever dream. RUG Order, BUG Landstill, Esper Stoneblade, and Hive Mind lurking.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S0QFF_m03k
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xWcWFyMAnrGu6U0vRTrE9ou_boKitFwQNV7zZoqwwwc/edit?usp=sharing
Thank you for tuning in,
Until next time!
Julian
