[ALA] Previews

[Barook]

The first two cards are known, so I think it's time to start the thread:

http://resources.wizards.com/Magic/Cards/DRB/EN/Card178028.jpg

Unlike Akroma, it's a 3-turn clock for Reanimation decks and the likes. Too bad it doesn't have the removal resistance and vigilance Akroma offers. Also note that this is the only card of [Ala] that is already Legacy-legal due to being in "From the Vault: Dragons".

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=77297

I dunno - looks like a "Meh"-card to me, especially for a Mythic Rare Planeswalker.

[Skeggi]

The planeswalker might be a good card to have in Armageddon Stax.

[moOnsteak]

^
Agree. .
It's already official, RW Planewalker named Ajani Vengeant (and he will be pre-release card too). .
His 1st ability is quite good to lock, beside his 2nd to helix is powerful. .

EDIT : Oopz. I didn't see the link from the first post. .

[Sanguine Voyeur]

I like Ajani, I'm going to test it with a white splash in my MWS Source Tourney deck.

[Jaynel]

Both the new Ajani and Ajani Goldmane have the subtype "Ajani" - does this mean they can't be in play at the same time? I'm a bit unfamiliar with Planeswalker rulings.

[Tenant_Tron]

Both the new Ajani and Ajani Goldmane have the subtype "Ajani" - does this mean they can't be in play at the same time? I'm a bit unfamiliar with Planeswalker rulings.

Yeah it does, thats why you cant have 2 Garruks out under todays Planewalker rules, though 2 different Kamahls can be out at the same time...how fair...

T.T

[rleader]

Unlike Akroma, it's a 3-turn clock for Reanimation decks and the likes. Too bad it doesn't have the removal resistance and vigilance Akroma offers.

It and thunder dragon almost make the dragons set attractive to me, even though I don't play with foils. Maybe if these new ones are warp proof, maybe... Most people who play reanimator have dropped Akroma for creatures you can play animate dead on: Garza Zol is a nice replacement as you swing for five and draw a card (to hell with defense). Overlord might be better: would have to test to see how often an extra 3 damage would be game ending.

No complaints about Ajani, other than I still hate mythics.

[Roman Candle]

I like the Ajani, but I don't know where it would fit. I'm pretty sure Geddon Stax won't be able to support a red splash. Maybe Rifter can make a resurgence? Meh, probably not.

The Overlord allows a Dragonstorm at three to be lethal, but I don't think that's gonna be relevant. Will be fun in my casual Sneak Attack deck though.

[raharu]

I really really really really like overlord... stupid badass uncompetitive badass cards... GAY. Anyhow, I think I'm going to have to build Dragonstorm combo now... >_> Why couldn't it be 5 or 6 mana?

Edit: Overlord lets a Dragonstorm at TWO become lethal if you have excess mana (not likely, but hay, it's worth mentioning).

[Wereodile]

There's another shards card out there, he's the R/G Planeswalker, If I can find the link to it I will post it. They showed the card minus the rules text.

[HammafistRoob]

That Dragon is fuckin ill. That is some badass art on him.

I don't think Ajani will have any affect on legacy decks, it seems a little weak and slow, but he's still pretty decent.

[Bryant Cook]

Planswalker looks incredibly fake.

[Nightmare]

Planswalker looks incredibly fake.Uh, yeah. I'm sure they'd fake it on the Wizards' website (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/arcana/1660).

[Mirrislegend]

RW Planeswalker? Plus the RG one we were shown at the introduction of Mythic says that there are gonna be 10 planeswalkers in ALA. Anyone else worried that most of them will be duds, because Wizards can't generate that many new, decent ideas?

EDIT:
It's about frickin time Wizards started exploring the design space of casting cost more. Hooray for xyyz mana symbols

[rleader]

Hooray for xyyz mana symbols

Well, besides dragon cycles and planeswalkers, alara seems to be shaping up to be as monocolored as kamigawa.

But yeah, xyzz is probably no big deal with the silly amount of duals in std now, where people can splash 1UUU for cryptic command.

[edgewalker]

In what way? Each shard is coupled with 2 other colors? I have a feeling there will be multi colored theme, or a very invasion block-esque theme. Ex, white spells that have abilities with red or black costs.

[Apex]

Based on the launch party "special" deck construction rule that I'm seeing, I'm also thinking Shards of Alara will be more multicoloured than monocoloured.

Someone at WotC finally realized that multicoloured block is good for the business ("if we make multicoloured blocks, not only will it be generally liked by the public, like Invasion or Ravnica block, but we also get to put in at least 10 $10 lands that make 2 mana, whose value will plummet when they rotate out of standard, but we don't care, score!")

[Nihil Credo]

But yeah, xyzz is probably no big deal with the silly amount of duals in std now, where people can splash 1UUU for cryptic command.

And not just in Standard: Toast decks in Block now run combined colour costs of :w::w::u::u::u::b::r::g::g::g::g: (all of them in at least 3-4 copies) with no nonland mana fixers. I think at this point it would be almost healthy to reprint Wasteland.

[rleader]

I'm also thinking Shards of Alara will be more multicoloured than monocoloured.


How does that jibe with "one world split into five distinct realms?"

http://www.wizards.com/magic/images/mtgcom/fcpics/making/mr334_6t6zuzey.jpg

The intro packs seem to incorporate the realm names, indicating that they're probably mono color. Just my take, but it seems that there's a strong mono theme, which is pretty apparent in the art they've released for the past few wallpapers on wizards'.

[Pltnmngl]

I thought it was confirmed that this block's theme was mono-colored with a splash of it's 2 allied colors.

[Tog]

The new planeswalker seems really solid! Garruk was really good because it could generate Beast tokens to protect itself. It seems the same would apply here for Ajani in the form of Lightning Helix. It can't kill Goyf but hey... I think it's first ability is incredibly strong as well being able to port down land or other annoying creatures can be very useful.

[Illissius]

Buried Alive - Living Death gets a good kill! Rejoice!

[BreathWeapon]

Buried Alive - Living Death gets a good kill! Rejoice!

That dragon that reanimates another dragon when it CIPs is now a 2 turn clock, kind of sweet for casual Reanimator, IMO.

[Nihil Credo]

Buried Alive - Living Death gets a good kill! Rejoice!
Kiki-Jiki / Sky Hussar / blank i.e. Benevolent Bodyguard seems better to me. Unless you want to run tons of (dead) fat to supplement Buried Alive with draw-discard spells.

[TheInfamousBearAssassin]

Utter Burnination just became ridiculous. [/seriousbusiness]

[Pinder]

Does this mean we're getting multicolored versions of the five original planeswalkers from Lorwyn?

If so, predictions:

Jace: :ub:
Chandra: :br:
Garruk: :rg:
Liliana: :wb:

[Roman Candle]

Does this mean we're getting multicolored versions of the five original planeswalkers from Lorwyn?

If so, predictions:

Jace: :ub:
Chandra: :br:
Garruk: :rg:
Liliana: :wb:

I think it's more likely that we'll get two multicolored versions of each planeswalker. When Wizards does cycles like these, they usually don't exclude color pairs. It would also play into the distinct color triads that they're pushing in the block. This way, you might have an Ajani VENGEFUL and an Ajani CUNNING (altho that name sucks), a Liliana Grim and a Liliana Wild, etc.

[edgewalker]

Varkon Shol or what ever the hell his name is the R/G one. I doubt they'll have the original ones since they are planeswalkers. I'd be willing to bet this is Ajani's plane so we'll be seeing 4 new multi colored walkers. The other ones might show up later down the line on other planes.

[rleader]

play into the distinct color triads that they're pushing in the block

People keep saying triad. Source?

[edgewalker]

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=121541

Look under the characteristics section.

[raharu]

I do so want a decent BW plainswalker. And I want it to not be Ajani.

[conboy31]

If the dragon does not work out in reanimator I hope they continue to print a few huge mana (9+) costing red+green creatures/spells that I can pitch to my casual jank green creatures deck with 4 surge of strength/4 blazing shoal :tongue:

I am looking forward to any planeswalkers that cost 3 as that seems to be the sweet spot for where they can become very competitive.

[raharu]

If the dragon does not work out in reanimator I hope they continue to print a few huge mana (9+) costing red+green creatures/spells that I can pitch to my casual jank green creatures deck with 4 surge of strength/4 blazing shoal :tongue:

I am looking forward to any planeswalkers that cost 3 as that seems to be the sweet spot for where they can become very competitive.
Various decks use Ajani Goldmane, actually more than use Jace : \

Also, is there any way that higher-costed cards can be played/ competitive in Legacy? Cloudpost, perhaps?? It seems as though the new dragon seriously warants a second look, but... 8 mana... fuck.

[BreathWeapon]

Various decks use Ajani Goldmane, actually more than use Jace : \

Also, is there any way that higher-costed cards can be played/ competitive in Legacy? Cloudpost, perhaps?? It seems as though the new dragon seriously warants a second look, but... 8 mana... fuck.

I just used Show and Tell on Appr. with it, but Eureka and Sneak Attack could work too.

[conboy31]

Various decks use Ajani Goldmane, actually more than use Jace : \

Also, is there any way that higher-costed cards can be played/ competitive in Legacy? Cloudpost, perhaps?? It seems as though the new dragon seriously warants a second look, but... 8 mana... fuck.

I agree with the Ajani comment, I was eluding more towards 3 being where a planeswalker could show up and kind of have an impact on a deck or strategy that may proliferate across some of the format.

[Illissius]

Holy shit, you can Natural Order for it. Best use case, right there. (Not clear how it compares to Verdant Force. And against decks with Swords, obviously you're going to get SSS.)

[Citrus-God]

Does this mean we're getting multicolored versions of the five original planeswalkers from Lorwyn?

If so, predictions:

Jace: :ub:
Chandra: :br:
Garruk: :rg:
Liliana: :wb:

I think Jace will be UW and Liliana will follow through with the color wheel and be UB.

[raharu]

So where, in this little arangment, do I get a BW plainswalker?

[Citrus-God]

So where, in this little arangment, do I get a BW plainswalker?

When they decide to make enemy colored Planeswalkers? If they make a cycle of 10 Planeswalker, I'm sure they'd do it, mainly because we saw a RW one in the preview. But seeing as Ajani is enemy colored, my predictions are

Jace is UG
Chandra is UR
Garruk is GB
Ajani is obviously RW
Liliana is WB

The rest are standard. But I hope it ends up like this.

[Jak]

I love the Plains art.

[raharu]

When they decide to make enemy colored Planeswalkers? If they make a cycle of 10 Planeswalker, I'm sure they'd do it, mainly because we saw a RW one in the preview. But seeing as Ajani is enemy colored, my predictions are

Jace is UG
Chandra is UR
Garruk is GB
Ajani is obviously RW
Liliana is WB

The rest are standard. But I hope it ends up like this.
That works.

[Illissius]

I hope if Jace adds a color, that it'll be any color but black. I'm sick of awesome blue legends going over to the dark side. (Mainly Ertai, but I'm sure there were others...). Not optimistic, though.

[TheInfamousBearAssassin]

What, did everyone skip over my announcement about Utter Burnination being back?

[raharu]

What, did everyone skip over my announcement about Utter Burnination being back?
Kinda. List plz.

[mercenarybdu]

Good in cheating the guy into play if you are running over 4 colors in the same reanimation prototype.

[raharu]

@ IBA: I said plz...

[Alfred]

The new planeswalker seems really solid! Garruk was really good because it could generate Beast tokens to protect itself. It seems the same would apply here for Ajani in the form of Lightning Helix. It can't kill Goyf but hey... I think it's first ability is incredibly strong as well being able to port down land or other annoying creatures can be very useful.

It actually can if you play it after they attack with Goyf, and lock it down with his first ability. From that point, you can probably double burn it on the next turn with the second ability.

He looks pretty cool.

[Pinder]

From that point, you can probably double burn it on the next turn with the second ability.


Except you can only use one ability, once per turn. Otherwise you could just keep all of their stuff from untapping forever while you build up a enough counters to gain infinite life while dealing them infinite damage and destroying all of their lands for good measure. It would literally be :2::r::w: for "win the game right now".

[Alfred]

Except you can only use one ability, once per turn. Otherwise you could just keep all of their stuff from untapping forever while you build up a enough counters to gain infinite life while dealing them infinite damage and destroying all of their lands for good measure. It would literally be :2::r::w: for "win the game right now".

I actually meant use burn in your hand in combination with the second ability. Should have made that more clear I guess.

[Pinder]

I actually meant use burn in your hand in combination with the second ability. Should have made that more clear I guess.

Ah. That makes much more sense.

[Alfred]

I guess the question is "is 4 mana too much for this effect in Legacy".

[TheInfamousBearAssassin]

Utter Burnination was a jokez deck slightly below the level of Food Chain Elves I made a while back, the 2.0 edit of which morphed into Thunder Bluff. The original decklist was Kokushos and dragons and shit with red mana accel and Sneak Attack and Dragonstorm. This was before Bogardan Hellkite and Rite of Flame, though, so it might actually be playable these days.

I can't find the original thread, though, I think it's died.

[Bardo]

I can't find the original thread, though, I think it's died.

Just for you, Jack:

http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3245

Edit -And that was that.

[TheInfamousBearAssassin]

Boooo.

[Xurcks]

So , has anyone seen the new rumors from MTGsalvation?

Magazine Scans :

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/5599/alara2pu8.jpg

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/9138/alara4mz0.jpg

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/7895/alara5cp5.jpg

Stoic Angel, 1GWU, Creature - Angel, Rare
Flying, Vigilance
Players can't untap more than one creature during their untap step.
3/4

Blight Lightning, 1BR, Sorcery, Common
Blight Lightning deals 3 damages to target player. That player discards two cards.

Naya Battlemage, 2G, Creature — Human Shaman, Uncommon
R, T: Target creature gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
W, T: Tap target creature.
2/2

Jund Battlemage, 2R, Creature — Human Shaman, Uncommmon
B, T: Target player loses 1 life.
G, T: Put a 1/1 Green Saproling creature token into play.
2/2

Rhox Warmonk, GWU, Creature — Rhino Monk, Uncommon
Lifelink
3/4

Goblin Assault 2R, Enchantment, Rare
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a 1/1 red Goblin creature token with haste into play.
Goblin creatures attack each turn if able.

Courier's Capsule, 1U, Artifact, Common
1U, T, Sacrifice Courier's Capsule: Draw two cards.

Tower Gargoyle, 1WUB, Artifact Creature — Gargoyle, Uncommon
Flying
4/4

Qassal Ambush Force 1GW
Creature — Cat Warrior (U)
Reach
If you control a Forest and a Plains and a creature attacks you , you may play Qassal Ambush Force without paying the mana cost and as though it had flash.
2/3

Kiss from Amisha 4UW
Sorcery (U)
target player gains 7 life and draws two cards.

Shardduster Sphinx 4UU

Artifact Creature - Sphinx (R)
Flying
Whenever an artifact creature you control deals combat damage to a player, you may put a blue 1/1 Ornithopter(?) artifact creature token with flying in play.
4/4

[morgan_coke]

I think Qassal Ambush Force has some serious potential. Fetchland->Savannah=free blocker and potentially removal. I don't know for sure what deck it would go into off the top of my head, but survival seems like a possibility as a one or two-of. provides answers to t1 lackey and hyppie on the draw if nothing else.

Stoic Angel could be a sideboard card vs. goblins for white thresh, its not any harder to cast than mystic enforcer.

[m03]

Courier's Capsule sounds too good to be true.

Also a Goblin version of Bitterblossom. Wow.

[Nihil Credo]

Guess WotC has realized that multicolour REALLY sells, huh?
Nothing wrong with that, I just wonder if
They'll print yet another set of CRDLWITY (Chase Rare Dual Lands Worthless In Two Years)
People will eventually get tired of it
That said, most of those cards are cool and balanced and I'd be happy to play them in Standard
For Legacy, Stoic Angel looks neat for some mid-range hybrid of Thresh and Angel Stompy. I wish Shardduster Sphinx could be played alongside Academy Ruins and Mishra's Factory, but it looks like a long shot. Oh, and Courier's Capsule could have some combo uses. Goblin Assault... I'm still undecided on that one. Awesome against Wrath of God; awful against Pernicious Deed.

[Mirrislegend]

Holy crap I now officially love this set!

[raharu]

Stoic Angel looks like a very strong card, and would merit testing in Threshold. Stoic Angel pretty much locks down the agro match, which isn't as easy as people make it sound. I don't know if it's better than Enforcer, but I could easily see playing an Enforcer and an Angel.

Rhox Warmonk also looks like another creature threshold could consider, as a sideboard card to burn, perhaps, or for combo (more clocks + a higher blue count for FoW + lifelink to put you outside of typical tendrils range in the long game = maybe...), or, again, in the agro match.

I predict that Goblin Assult will be stupidly expensive because of type two. Perhaps it'll be the new bitterblossom, but then again BB was good in control where Goblin Assult will be strong in RDW (which, if I remember correctly, is or was a pretty prominent type two deck. Ofc, toast may have obseleted RDW, I'm not sure as I don't play type two).

I wish Tower Gargoyle was good :frown:

[Apex]

based on some of these previews, I'm probably going to have to save up from now.

God, I hate/love multicolour blocks.

[Lifeless]

It's too bad Magus of the Moon is rotating out of Standard, as basic lands will be as unpopular as ever. Time to buy some Fulminator Mages? Time to reprint wasteland?

[deviant]

I want me a Phfjelddagriff !!!

Seriosuly, if this set fails to deliver me a Pfhjelddaggfrirff no.3 I swear I'll.. I'll.. I guess I'll just feel sad and disappointed and won't play that colour-combination then.. *sigh*

.. I so love Phjelfdaggrifrr-control <3

( well, at least there's a Rhino, it's kinda close to an elephant with wings isn't it? )

[iOWN]

The Angel is definitely strong. Your one other creature is probably 'Goyf -- enough to bring a combat standstill, while the Angel swings for 3 every turn.

Ambush Force might be potent in Survival, or even 9-land/w. It will probably turn out to be a dud in Survival considering G to fog a 'Goyf is pretty subpar, and Survival has enough tech for the aggro match-up as-is.

[Nihil Credo]

( well, at least there's a Rhino, it's kinda close to an elephant with wings isn't it? )

Well, Phelddagrif was a hippo with wings, actually. Anyway, uhm, yeah, a Rhino is indeed pretty close to that. Other than the, uh, wings part, that is.

Oh wait:

http://xs124.xs.to/xs124/08062/1202111084237318.jpg


Nevermind.

[Willoe]

Well, Phelddagrif was a hippo with wings, actually. Anyway, uhm, yeah, a Rhino is indeed pretty close to that. Other than the, uh, wings part, that is.

Oh wait:

http://xs124.xs.to/xs124/08062/1202111084237318.jpg


Nevermind.

Is it possible to sig pictures? Nihil, where in the love of god did you find that freaking awesome picture? :laugh:

Anyway, on the spoiler:
Looks like it will be fun. Especially the angel and the Warmonk looks pretty powerful. It's always nice to have four toughness as well as decreasing the opponents clock while giving you a minor one sounds doable. But it hurts to fetch tropical island, tundra and another tropical (to support more green spells).

It's like four is the magical number of toughness, and three is the magic number of casting cost. Four toughness dodges lightning bolts, blocks tarmogoyfs until a creature dies (imagine a land, an instant and a sorcery are placed in either yard). With the Winter Orb for creatures, the Angel will have some tournament potential, either as mainboarded or sideboarded material against aggro. Dueling Grounds and a recurring Lava Spike all in one card!

[raharu]

Just realized how badass Stoic Angel would be in Battletoadz wtfreshold (which is now the official name of the concept). Basically, Nantuko Monastery + Stoic Angel + Tarmogoyf/ Nimble Mongoose = Oh wow. Even without another creature, Angel + Monastery is strong, and with recurring creatures and manlands it's a strong engine/ concept/ idea. Perhaps :laugh:

EDIT: Landstill, doh. Perhaps it's the new Propaganda/ Dueling Grounds?

[georgjorge]

Ambush Force might be potent in Survival, or even 9-land/w. It will probably turn out to be a dud in Survival considering G to fog a 'Goyf is pretty subpar, and Survival has enough tech for the aggro match-up as-is.

Still, Lackey on the play is a pain for Survival...those are definitely great for the Goblin matchup, but apart from that they can only take down Mongeese as a surprise.

[raharu]

Still, Lackey on the play is a pain for Survival...those are definitely great for the Goblin matchup, but apart from that they can only take down Mongeese as a surprise.
Well, it's not good as a 4-of and impossible to tutor with SotF on the draw turn one, so I doubt they'll use it.

[Puzzle]

Rhox War Monk is the first 3-drop I can think of that actually outraces Goyf (if said Goyf was to attack) and it stops aggro dead in its tracks.
That + Bolt immunity mean that I would expect it to see play in white Thresh. At the very least, it deserves testing.

[raharu]

Well... in what slot? That's the problem: it may race 'Goyf in the apropriate situation, but guess what else matches 'Goyf always? 'Goyf :frown: I don't think threshold's creature base could expand enough for it. Stoic Angel really doesn't seem like it'd work either, but perhaps.

On a tangent, this is all just rumors, or is any of it substantiated?

[iOWN]

The cards were revealed from reliable magazines.

I like the Landstill idea. I think it's worth testing out, maybe in a creature-heavy build. Is Stoic Angel + 'Goyf + Manlands a viable alternative to board control? I think it could be, considering a deck like Goblins tries it's hardest to keep you off lands; to instead run the faster, more efficient 'Goyf (and mentioned support cards) to slow aggro and provide a clock at the same time could make for an interesting control deck. The huge downside, of course, is that you become StP-weak.

Another problem off the top of my head is that it likely worsens the Ichorid match-up.

Edit -- Realized what I'm describing is basically Threshold, please don't interpret it that way. :P The main difference being that the deck engine would base itself around Standstill and friends. Stoic Angel is a little hefty for threshold's mana base, has synergy with manlands, and could easily be fit into a Landstill shell.

[morgan_coke]

I don't get people saying Thresh's manabase can't handle the Angel. It's the same cc as Mystic Enforcer except with one of the colorless being Blue. Are you honestly going to argue that Thresh can have 2WG and neither of the 2 is going to be a U? Somehow, I doubt that.

[raharu]

The cards were revealed from reliable magazines.

I like the Landstill idea. I think it's worth testing out, maybe in a creature-heavy build. Is Stoic Angel + 'Goyf + Manlands a viable alternative to board control? I think it could be, considering a deck like Goblins tries it's hardest to keep you off lands; to instead run the faster, more efficient 'Goyf (and mentioned support cards) to slow aggro and provide a clock at the same time could make for an interesting control deck. The huge downside, of course, is that you become StP-weak.

Another problem off the top of my head is that it likely worsens the Ichorid match-up.

Edit -- Realized what I'm describing is basically Threshold, please don't interpret it that way. :P The main difference being that the deck engine would base itself around Standstill and friends. Stoic Angel is a little hefty for threshold's mana base, has synergy with manlands, and could easily be fit into a Landstill shell.
wtfresh

Hand Crafting: 7
4 Brainstorm
3 Sensei's Divining Top

Threats: 12
2 Nantuko Monastery
4 Nimble Mongoose
4 Tarmogoyf
2 Stoic Angel

Disruption: 12
4 Thoughtseize
4 Counterbalance
4 Force of Will

Creature Control: 7
4 Swords to Plowshares
3 Pernicious Deed

Recursion: 3
1 Volrath's Stronghold
2 Crucible of Worlds

Lands: 19
4 Flooded Strand
4 Polluted Delta
4 Tropical Island
3 Underground Sea
2 Tundra
2 Island

Like that? :3

It seems like it wants daze, but then again Daze eats tempo, which a slower control deck like this can't really handle, so it got Thoughtseizes.

Also note there are actually 22 lands, but 3 are colorless.

[Illissius]

Many of these cards are pretty cool. Colored artifacts is pretty gimmicky, but whatever. It really looks like they're running out of design space fast, but every time it seems that way they go and find some more, so I dunno.

The upshot is that we get cards which pitch to Chrome Mox and Force of Will and Thirst for Knowledge and are also recurred by Academy Ruins, which is pretty cool. I hope we get some which are playable.

Can anyone divine for me why the hell Rhox Warmonk is blue? Neither cheap fat nor lifelink are even remotely blue abilities.

[scrumdogg]

Many of these cards are pretty cool. Colored artifacts is pretty gimmicky, but whatever. It really looks like they're running out of design space fast, but every time it seems that way they go and find some more, so I dunno.

The upshot is that we get cards which pitch to Chrome Mox and Force of Will and Thirst for Knowledge and are also recurred by Academy Ruins, which is pretty cool. I hope we get some which are playable.

Can anyone divine for me why the hell Rhox Warmonk is blue? Neither cheap fat nor lifelink are even remotely blue abilities.

But they are green and white, the blue characteristic is the potential to be unfair, that is classic blue...

[Xurcks]

Can anyone divine for me why the hell Rhox Warmonk is blue? Neither cheap fat nor lifelink are even remotely blue abilities.

Green Color = Rhyno type
White Color = Monk
Blue Color = It's a fucking Rhyno wielding a staff and levitating thingies that look like extra large Super Mario Bros. games coins xP

[Opterown]

The upshot is that we get cards which pitch to Chrome Mox and Force of Will and Thirst for Knowledge and are also recurred by Academy Ruins, which is pretty cool. I hope we get some which are playable.

You can't pitch artifacts to Chrome Mox anyway.

[Aggro_zombies]

But they are green and white, the blue characteristic is the potential to be unfair, that is classic blue...
Somehow, at three colors, I don't think it would be tremendously unfair if it was a 4/5...

Angel looks like it has potential, though I don't know where. I guess I can proxy it and test it in Thresh, but it seems more like sideboard material than anything.

That Sphinx seems like it could be really good in Blue Stax, definitely better as a win condition than Oona because of the lighter color requirements and the interaction with Ruins. Plus, it makes dudes if you connect with Factories, which is cool.

[caiomarcos]

I don't like those colored artifacts. Being an artifact like that is just like being a Goblin or a Knight.
They don't have the defining characteristic anymore - the possibility to be played by anyone anywhere, and being colorless.

[FoolofaTook]

I like the Landstill idea. I think it's worth testing out, maybe in a creature-heavy build. Is Stoic Angel + 'Goyf + Manlands a viable alternative to board control?.

Can you do Standstill effectively in a deck that is looking to cast most of it's threats as well as most of it's solutions?

[raharu]

I like how all of the colored artifacts we've seen are blue :laugh:.

It's both in-flavor for the color and still unfair :D

[iOWN]

Can you do Standstill effectively in a deck that is looking to cast most of it's threats as well as most of it's solutions?

Typically Standstill only hits the table when you are in a neutral or advantageous position. In a neutral position (i.e., no threats on the opposite side of the table), you play through it with manlands. I don't think the effectiveness of Standstill would change, because the situations in which it's playable are identical.

There have already been Landstill variants which experiment with 4x Tarmogoyf, and I'm only suggesting Stoic Angel as a 2- or 3-of as a supplement.

[georgjorge]

The following message will apply to all future sets too.

There are going to be many creatures in the set which would be interesting if Wizards HADN'T ALREADY PRINTED A CREATURE THAT IS BETTER THAN ANY OF THEM COULD EVER BE.

It should have been 2G.

[Xurcks]

So , I took a look at the compiled Orb of Insight at MTGSalvation and one thing caught my attention :
There's one card with mana cost 20!
Now it is time for Dracoplosion to own the format.For serious , pure brokeness.

Also , 4 Planeswalkers , so no no for cycle =/
And 14 Dragon , what remind's me of Scourge a little

[Timmy, Power Gamer]

Seeing as we knew there was an allied color Planeswalker and an enemy colored one, we were either getting 10 in Shards, or 4/3/3 throughout the block.

[Skeggi]

I've been taking a look at the Orb of Insight (http://ww2.wizards.com/Magic/Orb/wCaTzQkgHVdu2NLGHHYW.aspx) as well, but I can't get it to work...

[Sanguine Voyeur]

Do you have anything that blocks web scripts? That could stop you from seeing it.

[Skeggi]

Do you have anything that blocks web scripts? That could stop you from seeing it.

I can see it, I just can't make any queries. Perhaps my flash is too old and I'll have to contact my system admin.

Anyway, I've been wondering, how can you see from this that a card has a mana cost of 20?

[Xurcks]

I don't know how they did end up with this , but i just typed 20 in there and got one result . Have no clue if it's a mana cost though. If it's not , a pretty big effect at least (Illusions of Grandeur like?).

[Skeggi]

If all, it probably isn't mana cost. More likely to be lifegain, damage or counters. My bet is on lifegain. Like Heroes Remembered (http://magiccards.info/pc/en/7.html).

[ParkerLewis]

Also , 4 Planeswalkers , so no no for cycle =/

There simply could be 3 other in each of the small sets.

Hence 10, hence a full multicolor cycle.

10 planeswalkers seems a lot, though. But that doesn't mean anything.

[georgjorge]

Now it is time for Dracoplosion to own the format.For serious , pure brokeness.

That would be awesome. I remember Top 8ing my first and only Extended PTQ with that deck...I would totally play it in Legacy,

[conboy31]

If all, it probably isn't mana cost. More likely to be lifegain, damage or counters. My bet is on lifegain. Like Heroes Remembered (http://magiccards.info/pc/en/7.html).

20 mana r/g card would mean blazing shoal and surge of strength could pull off some 1st and 2nd turn wins aggro style. That would be my wish for kitchen top casual.

[Skeggi]

20 mana r/g card would mean blazing shoal and surge of strength could pull off some 1st and 2nd turn wins aggro style. That would be my wish for kitchen top casual.

I understand it's something you want. But from this information you cannot conclude there will be a card with 20 mana cost: I don't believe that converted mana cost is queriable.

[Aggro_zombies]

http://www.wizards.com/magic/tcg/article.aspx?x=mtg/tcg/shardsofalara/spoiler

Visual spoiler is up with three new cards:

Windwright Mage :w::u::b:
Artifact Creature - Human Wizard (c)
Lifelink
Windwright Mage has flying as long as an artifact card is in your graveyard.
2/2

Tezzeret the Seeker :3::u::u:
Planeswalker - Tezzeret (MR)
+1: Untap up to two target artifacts.
-x: Search your library for an artifact with converted mana cost X or less and put it into play. Shuffle your library.
-5: Artifacts you control become 5/5 artifact creatures until end of turn.
4

Bull Cerodon :4::r::w:
Creature - Beast (U)
Vigilance, haste
5/5

The three color guy is pretty yawn, most of these three-color cards have seemed underpowered so far considering the lengths you have to go through to cast them. If there's not an assload of mana fixing in this set, playing those guys in Limited won't be worth it unless they're pretty bomby.

The planeswalker is nuts. Blue Stax, anyone?

[morgan_coke]

you know that since like half the esper creatures are artifacts that tezzeret is a mana-less rebel that grants your dudes vigilance in addition to the obvious brokenness in him, right?

God, why does wizards hate ever color besides blue so much?

[Aggro_zombies]

you know that since like half the esper creatures are artifacts that tezzeret is a mana-less rebel that grants your dudes vigilance in addition to the obvious brokenness in him, right?

God, why does wizards hate ever color besides blue so much?
Oh fuck, you're right. Ahahahahaha, way to go Wizards. Too bad it's a Mythic Rare, God Drafts (tm) with this guy aren't going to be that common.

[Di]

New Planeswalker combos quite well with Time Vault. I wonder if that has any influence on the recent banning of it.

[morgan_coke]

at least tezzeret and ajani prove that the mythic rares aren't going to be tournament viable cards with insane prices or anything. thanks for clearing that up rosewater. 'cause, like, i was worried that this whole "mythic" thing was a cheap attempt to boost sales through the secondary market.

soooo glad you wrote a column explaining that wasn't the case for me to read.

EDIT: crap, just realized he can bring lotus blooms directly into play without spending a single point. Resolve him and two turns later you get a belcher victory for zero mana. (t1 lotus, t2 belcher) How did this guy make it through playtesting? Are they doing the old "rarity is a balancer" thing again?

[raharu]

at least tezzeret and ajani prove that the mythic rares aren't going to be tournament viable cards with insane prices or anything. thanks for clearing that up rosewater. 'cause, like, i was worried that this whole "mythic" thing was a cheap attempt to boost sales through the secondary market.

soooo glad you wrote a column explaining that wasn't the case for me to read.
LOL

EDIT: also, is it just me, or did Academy Ruins, and by extension, Intuition, just get a WHOLE LOT better? Ubw with some artifact beaters, maybe some the plainswalker, and recurring EE? iDunno, but in such a deck Volrath's Stronghold just became rather obsolete.

[morgan_coke]

Goddamnit. The more I look at Tez, the more pissed off I get. Seriously?

He's better at mana than Garruk since he can untap lands (thanks Mirrodin!), or artifacts that produce more than one mana (too many to list, but candelabra of tawnos comes to mind), plus he works like a super voltaic key.

Plus he untaps artifact creatures, meaning he has Ajani's "vigilance" ability.

And instead of making tokens or 3/3's, he makes uncounterable Dreadnoughts and whatnot.

He also tutors up the suspend lotus bloom, so if you can get him into play you get a black lotus every turn in addition to a shuffle for your top.

In landstill he finds crucible for you and gives your factory's vigilance or extra pump. that's the first deck I can think of him auto-going into. thanks to Leonin Bladetrap he can also get Landstill recurrable mass removal, though that's probably going a bit too far down the "cool things" road. But he does have "overrun" for artifact creatures and moxes. And artifact lands. Which he can also get so he's Exploration too. So you know, that's all three of garruk - the GREEN planeswalker's - abilities that he trumps. Plus a bunch of other random cards that he replaces depending on situationality.

He also does card drawing better than Jace thanks the the two mana card draw artifact from Shards that we've already seen. Soooo excited about what else they might have.

[Aggro_zombies]

EDIT: also, is it just me, or did Academy Ruins, and by extension, Intuition, just get a WHOLE LOT better? Ubw with some artifact beaters, maybe some the plainswalker, and recurring EE? iDunno, but in such a deck Volrath's Stronghold just became rather obsolete.
Fu fu fu, I am already ahead of you there. Imagine:

X Island
4 Seat of the Synod
4 City of Traitors
4 Ancient Tomb
4 Wasteland
2 Ruins
4 Mox Diamond

3 Tezzeret
2 Sharding Sphinx

4 Chalice
4 3Sphere
3 Tangle Wire
4 Smokestack
3 Intuition
4 Propaganda
2 Crucible
1 EE
1 Courier's Capsule
X other artifacts

[raharu]

I was thinking of something like:

lands/ mana:
Vault of Whispers
Ancient Den
Seat of the Synod
Academy Ruins
Chrome Mox

Creatures:
Windwright Mage
Tower Gargoyles
Sharding Sphinx

other shit:
other shit


Keeping the board cleaned of everything that's not yours and still beating the piss out of OP with recurring beaters. You list would prolly be better though :3 Staxxx > Fish or whatever. Well, maybe. idk.

[m03]

Holy crap @ Tezzeret the Seeker. He takes effort to get out, but damn.

I'm starting to feel really good about what's going to be in this set. If only we had a roughly functional reprint of Mana Drain.

Can this guy be fit into CS?

[raharu]

Holy crap @ Tezzeret the Seeker. He takes effort to get out, but damn.

I'm starting to feel really good about what's going to be in this set. If only we had a roughly functional reprint of Mana Drain.

Can this guy be fit into CS?
NOSIR. Although I think there was something of the sort printed recently... gogo Magiccards.info?

Also, ROFL @ Mycosynth Latitice.

EDIT: and Epochrasite

[PunkRocker1134]

Hate to post a one liner, but how do you tell if its a mythic rare or not?

[m03]

He also tutors up the suspend lotus bloom, so if you can get him into play you get a black lotus every turn in addition to a shuffle for your top.


Seems like a waste. He costs 5 as it is, so you might as well be doing something else with that mana besides fiddling around with fetching more mana producers.

[Aggro_zombies]

Hate to post a one liner, but how do you tell if its a mythic rare or not?
Mythic Rare symbol is an ugly coppery-red color.

[rufus]

Seems like a waste. He costs 5 as it is, so you might as well be doing something else with that mana besides fiddling around with fetching more mana producers.

He can pop out:
Painter's Servant & Grindstone
Epochrasite
Ensnaring Bridge

I'm sure there's better stuff...

Clearly a strong card for Stax since it can be popped into stax, or used for a fast win condition.

[Willoe]

Tezzeret is a pretty good card, indeed. But I don't think that he is that playable. After all, planeswalkers are pretty fragile, but as a tutor to a belcher win condition, he could be used. The problem is making him survive for a turn and the hardest part, getting to UU by having 1-2 lands in the deck that don't produce blue. In another deck: You can fetch Ornithopters to protect him for a couple of turns, add 1 counter to untap some random artifacts, then next turn, swing with a couple of 5/5 dudes and win the game. But I don't think that this plan will stick. Maybe in a controllish affinity shell? The problem is still to get affinity to double blue and five lands to cast him. Okay, with assistance of Springleaf Drum, maybe 4, but that's still quite prohibitive.

Bull Cerodon: Nice card in Limited, but it sucks in eternal formats. There's so many creatures that do the same, just better and faster.

Windwright Mage: It's the first three color common ever to be printed... And it blows nut sacks. Lifelink and 2 power isn't really game-swinging, and flying... Woohoo:frown: Also flying at some weird condition. This is crap for Limited and for all constructed formats. I don't get it. When creating multicolor cards, because of the somewhat prohibitive cost, I think that they should be more mana efficent. But Lifelink, 2/2 and possibly flying for UBW. No thanks.

[Aggro_zombies]

Tezzeret is a pretty good card, indeed. But I don't think that he is that playable. After all, planeswalkers are pretty fragile, but as a tutor to a belcher win condition, he could be used. The problem is making him survive for a turn and the hardest part, getting to UU by having 1-2 lands in the deck that don't produce blue. In another deck: You can fetch Ornithopters to protect him for a couple of turns, add 1 counter to untap some random artifacts, then next turn, swing with a couple of 5/5 dudes and win the game. But I don't think that this plan will stick. Maybe in a controllish affinity shell? The problem is still to get affinity to double blue and five lands to cast him. Okay, with assistance of Springleaf Drum, maybe 4, but that's still quite prohibitive.
Or you could, you know, play him in a Stax deck where you could protect him and make use of him.


Windwright Mage: It's the first three color common ever to be printed... And it blows nut sacks. Lifelink and 2 power isn't really game-swinging, and flying... Woohoo:frown: Also flying at some weird condition. This is crap for Limited and for all constructed formats. I don't get it. When creating multicolor cards, because of the somewhat prohibitive cost, I think that they should be more mana efficent. But Lifelink, 2/2 and possibly flying for UBW. No thanks.
Glad to know someone else thinks the same way I do about this. That said, given the amount of three-color cards we know of thanks to the Orb, I'm thinking we're in for a metric fuckton of mana fixing at the common level. Hopefully. Otherwise, Limited is going to suck big hairy monkey balls.

[Willoe]

Or you could, you know, play him in a Stax deck where you could protect him and make use of him.


Glad to know someone else thinks the same way I do about this. That said, given the amount of three-color cards we know of thanks to the Orb, I'm thinking we're in for a metric fuckton of mana fixing at the common level. Hopefully. Otherwise, Limited is going to suck big hairy monkey balls.

A Stax shell? Sweet idea. Fetching Tangle Wires could be nice. Since tapping Tangle Wire and the 'Walker is pretty irrelevant and you could use his +1 ability to untap even more artifacts, the symmetry of Tangle Wire could be broken completely.

Mana fixing at common level? Oh, I want so badly a land like this:

MaincolorSubcolorSubcolor land
<t>: Add Maincolor to your mana pool.
<t>, sacrifice CARDNAME: Add subcolor1 or subcolor 2 to your mana pool.

It makes it piece of cake to splash a color. Say monoblue control in Vintage Pauper with a black splash for Mystical Teachings :wink:

[rleader]

Lifelink and 2 power isn't really game-swinging, and flying... Woohoo

Evasive life swing of 4 per turn is backbreaking for three mana in limited; it's actually a pretty good card.

I expect Lair type lands to power this nonsense, except they'll be weirder than just karooing/bouncing, of course. Not that they'll be needed in STD with reflecting pool shenanigans.

[Timmy, Power Gamer]

at least tezzeret and ajani prove that the mythic rares aren't going to be tournament viable cards with insane prices or anything. thanks for clearing that up rosewater. 'cause, like, i was worried that this whole "mythic" thing was a cheap attempt to boost sales through the secondary market.

soooo glad you wrote a column explaining that wasn't the case for me to read.



It was never said that they would not be tournament viable. It was argued it would not be something like Mutavault which is going to be played in every deck.

Edit: I was going to write about the planeswalker, but in the end, I just agree with Willoe--he's good, but being far blown out of proportion.

[Shugyosha]

EDIT: crap, just realized he can bring lotus blooms directly into play without spending a single point. Resolve him and two turns later you get a belcher victory for zero mana. (t1 lotus, t2 belcher) How did this guy make it through playtesting? Are they doing the old "rarity is a balancer" thing again?

How exactly do you cheat that Planeswalker into play when your deck plays 0-1 lands?

But Tezzeret could be le shit in Dreadnought decks as well as in MUC with Paintercombo. Tutoring up the needed artifacts for the kill, fetching Nought with stifle in hand and giving him vigilance. It's not that broken because he still costs :3::u::u: but it can make the decks more stable.

[caiomarcos]

Methinks that if you can afford to spend 3UU in stax, why not win already? By that time you probably have all the control elements (ghostly, trini, chalice etc), so just drop an angel and beat face, or geddon your opponent out of the game and get a concession. Amiwrong?
At 5 mana he's too expensive for doing shanenigans, he should win right away.

[Sanguine Voyeur]

I'm not impressed by the new planeswalker. It's not powerful card advantage like Jace and it has a hard time winning on its own unlike the rest. Kind of lack luster.

[Barook]

Tezzeret looks very strong to me - but I guess he's going to be far more popular in Vintage with all the insane artifact mana acceleration.

[Skeggi]

Tezzeret looks very strong to me - but I guess he's going to be far more popular in Vintage with all the insane artifact mana acceleration.

I beg to differ: Vintage doesn't need a 5 mana thing to accelerate; in fact, I think he'd slow them down.

[Brehn]

I can't see that planeswalker being good.

So it untaps artifacts. Is there any "realistic" artifact (i. e. with cc < 3) that has some useful tap abilities? I see Basalt Monolith, which only produces mana, and Staff of Domination, which untaps himself. Anything else? Don't think so.

"Giving a Dreadnought Vigilance". Hey, I have an idea. We could play Wonder in the same deck. How cool are flying Dreadnoughts? We could also play Akroma's Memorial. Wait...

"Tutors up uncounterable Dreadnoughts". Dreadnought is still a 2-card-combo. In this case it doesn't cost 1U, but 3UUU. And it's still counterable because you can counter the Planeswalker. I'd prefer Trinket Mage, Enlightened Tutor, Worldly Tutor and Fabricate to this guy if I wanted to increase my virtual Dreadnought count.

"Tutors up Tangle Wire". Well, a) Tangle Wire sucks, b) Tangle Wire sucks more if you're not playing it before turn 4. Sure this guy breaks its symmetry. But if you're playing Tangle Wire in a deck that doesn't break its symmetry on its own, your deck sucks.

The only good use I can see for him (in Legacy; in Vintage it's probably a one-card-combo with errata'ed Time Vault) is in tutoring up Painter+Grindstone. But here you'll have to ask: which Painter Deck wants to ramp up to 3UU and then wait another turn before winning? It has to be a blue-based control deck. MUC sure has some problems in the current meta, but "its winconditions suck" is not one of them; also it doesn't play untap-worthy artifacts. Landstill has better cards to spend 5 mana on - it could just play Jace Beleren for 1UU instead, which is also a win condition; also it doesn't have good artifacts to tutor for - EE sucks when tutored up, Disk still CIP and Oblivion Stone is still expensive.

[Nightmare]

As the resident "Blue Painter's Servant" player, I would never run this guy. Tinker he is not.

[Barook]

I beg to differ: Vintage doesn't need a 5 mana thing to accelerate; in fact, I think he'd slow them down.

I didn't say that he should be used for accel - I was more thinking about turning your Moxen, etc. into a army of 5/5s.

[BreathWeapon]

Tezzeret seems kind of insane, he could be superior to Auriok Salvagers and Trinket Mage in Vintage, but I can't see him being viable in this format tho'.

[Skeggi]

I didn't say that he should be used for accel - I was more thinking about turning your Moxen, etc. into a army of 5/5s.

Okay, but he can play that ability only the second turn he is in play; I guess in Vintage, by then, if it's relevant, he's a deadguy. But I don't know Vintage that well so I'll shut up :wink:

[TheCramp]

Qusali Ambusher 1gw
Creature - Cat Warrior Uncommon
Reach
If you control a Forest and a Plains and a creature is attacking you, you may play Qusali Ambusher without paying its mana cost and as though it has flash.
2/3

This strikes me as viable. With either a fetch or a savanna, which you might have 12 of, this Cat is free all the time. on the play this is a amazing answer to a goose or a lacky. I am a fan or wgr agro, so I think I will be fooling around here. Two of them could be silly. Rancor in whatever deck this goes in comes to mind. Not tier one, but playable. An analog to frogmite perhaps.

[quicksilver]

The blue plainswalker has obvious synergy with artifact lands. You can play him then untap two lands for extra mana (just like Garruk Wildspeaker). Then next turn turn all of your lands (plus any other artifacts you might have) into 5/5's and swing for a lot of damage. His ability to tutor for artifacts is just a bonus if you need to get something in a pinch.

[caiomarcos]

I beg to differ: Vintage doesn't need a 5 mana thing to accelerate; in fact, I think he'd slow them down.

He's also too slow for legacy. The only 5 mana cards I see being played around are MUC win conditions. Stax plays a 2WW win con.

[deviant]

He's also too slow for legacy. The only 5 mana cards I see being played around are MUC win conditions. Stax plays a 2WW win con.

FoW would like a word..

[Brehn]

FoW would like a word..

*insert facepalm pic here*

[georgjorge]

As to Tezzet, don't underestimate it - it's a five-mana wincondition that kills you on the turn after it comes down (with Painter and Stone), and is immune to about every removal there is (you can even fetch two Stones if they get rid of the first). I think not many cards can do that.


Caldera Hellion 3RR
Creature - Hellion

Devour 1 (As this creature comes into play, sacrifice any number of creatures. Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature for each creature sacrificed this way)
When Caldera Hellion comes into play, it deal 3 damage to each creature.
3/3


This is the creature where some-one (I'll play the part) says "what a great card for Dragon Stompy" before all the DS players chime in and say "you're stupid the only card for the five mana slot is Arc-Slogger you got no clue".

Done that.

[Phantom]

It might actually be worth considering if it didn't kill our Magus'(Magi?) and the burn had the ability to go to the face. Even then it would still be since it would die to Goyf unless a creature was sacced.

[rufus]

So it untaps artifacts. Is there any "realistic" artifact (i. e. with cc < 3) that has some useful tap abilities? I see Basalt Monolith, which only produces mana, and Staff of Domination, which untaps himself. Anything else? Don't think so.


Artifact Lands
Chrome Mox
Mox Diamond
Candelabra of Tawnos
Scroll Rack
Isochron Scepter

Technically:
Vial and Top - but neither of those has much chance of being useful with that ability.

[rufus]

It might actually be worth considering if it didn't kill our Magus'(Magi?) and the burn had the ability to go to the face. Even then it would still be since it would die to Goyf unless a creature was sacced.

It also kills itself unless a critter is sacced. Lame. Considering the new keyword structure, we'll probably see a land eater, an artifact eater, a card-in-hand eater and so on...

[Apex]

I'm liking the Unearth ability more than anything. It's reanimation without the need to cast some other card.

And if WotC prints an Unearth dude with a good CIPT ability (like they did with Mulldrifter and Shriekmaw), then that would be awesome.

I think Unearth has the most potential here, since it's practically Flashback for creatures, and Flashback was abused the hell out of.

[Alfred]

I'm liking the Unearth ability more than anything. It's reanimation without the need to cast some other card.

And if WotC prints an Unearth dude with a good CIPT ability (like they did with Mulldrifter and Shriekmaw), then that would be awesome.

I think Unearth has the most potential here, since it's practically Flashback for creatures, and Flashback was abused the hell out of.

Good point, I think that it has a lot of potential too. Dredge, Flashback and others have been quite potent, but I suppose that it has a lot to do with the cards the mechanic is printed on as well.

[Bigface]

I can't see that planeswalker being good.
"Tutors up Tangle Wire". Well, a) Tangle Wire sucks, b) Tangle Wire sucks more if you're not playing it before turn 4. Sure this guy breaks its symmetry. But if you're playing Tangle Wire in a deck that doesn't break its symmetry on its own, your deck sucks.


Tangle Wire sucks?

:confused:

[Brehn]

Tangle Wire sucks in Legacy Stax, the only deck in which playing it would make remotely sense. In Legacy Stax, Tangle Wire can be played on turn 1 or turn 2, but its effect is usually too symmetrical and it's underwhelming against various decks. A Tangle Wire which hits on turn 4 or later is only a minor nuisance to so many decks that it loses its right to exist. Also, if you need another tool to make Tangle Wire be not symmetrical (read: that Planeswalker), you shouldn't play it at all.


Artifact Lands
Chrome Mox
Mox Diamond

Hey, great idea. Pay 5 mana to get 4 mana out of 2 Moxen each turn.


Candelabra of Tawnos
Scroll Rack
Isochron Scepter

I guess people will try these out but I don't think it'll lead to anything.

[rufus]

Hey, great idea. Pay 5 mana to get 4 mana out of 2 Moxen each turn.

I don't think that ability is an award winner either, but moxen and arti-lands can find homes in decks on their own. I think Tezzeret has utility potential.

The casting cost probably does kill it.

[conboy31]

Tezz + Colossus of Sardia !?

I am at a loss for Tez, the potential bomb effects you can get with untapping artifacts are generally not the ones you want to be playing with in the first place because of their cost.

I guess just overrun via 5/5 creatures? Hopefully something creative gets put together but it won't be by me.

[TrialByFire]

I want the blue planeswalker for EDH. Turn he comes in, tutor for Time Vault, next turn you have infinite turns. LOL

[Nihil Credo]

*has horrible flashbacks of Urza block*

[XSivPSI]

*has gleeful flashbacks of Urza block*

fixed

[Isamaru]

Is this why the finally got around to banning Time Vault?

[m03]

*has horrible flashbacks of Urza block*


God, I hope so.

[caiomarcos]

*has horrible flashbacks of Urza block*

It won't be even close to it.

[Sek'Kuar]

This new set really has me interested. From a casual standpoint, I think it will be a lot of fun, and at my kitchen table we have all picked our shards. I'm Esper, and I fully expect to wipe the floor with the rest of the family with artifact goodness. I hope I wind up with a copy of Tezzeret, SO FRICKEN BAD, you really have no idea.

[raharu]

This new set really has me interested. From a casual standpoint, I think it will be a lot of fun, and at my kitchen table we have all picked our shards. I'm Esper, and I fully expect to wipe the floor with the rest of the family with artifact goodness. I hope I wind up with a copy of Tezzeret, SO FRICKEN BAD, you really have no idea.
Esper looks like it'll be my favorite shard.

[Elfrago]

Finally something worth playing in legacy:
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=78185&d=1220521122
And also:
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=78184&d=1220521122
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=78183&d=1220521122

[spirit of the wretch]

Finally something worth playing in legacy:
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=78185&d=1220521122


Huh? Ok, it's another Doran. As Doran sees limited play, I guess this guy will too.

A word on the planeswalker: I don't think he's good enough for Legacy. He obviously has synergie with stax.decs but he doesn't fix their main weekness: inconsistancy (mainly due to the manabase). So I think while beeing good in the vakuum, he's quite overhyped now.

[Skeggi]

Finally something worth playing in legacy:
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=78185&d=1220521122
And also:
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=78184&d=1220521122
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=78183&d=1220521122

The first and the last one are obvious. But you'll have to translate the second one please...Reveal the top 3 cards of your library, target opponent chooses one of them, that one goes into your hand...now I'm lost...something about 5 cards!? Really no clue.

[Brehn]

Free translation:

Reveal the top 3 cards of your library. Target opponent chooses one: Put the three revealed cards into your hand, or put the three revealed cards into your graveyard and draw 5 cards.

[Skeggi]

So I guess it reads: show 3 cards to your opponent, if he's not a complete moron, in most cases you can put them into your hand. Wouldn't Concentrate be better? Or Brilliant Plan if you worry about the double U ;)

[Zinch]

The exact translation is:
"Show the three top cards of your library, target opponent may chose to put those cards in your hand. If he/she doesn't, put those cards on the graveyard and draw 5 cards"
You can trust me, I'm spanish

Even now is a crap crap rare (Edit: Ignore this comment, I've missread you Behn)

[TheCramp]

Huh? Ok, it's another Doran. As Doran sees limited play, I guess this guy will too.


Save that unlike Doran, this cat can spawn the board. Two Dorans do little for your board position. Also, these colors have a more aggro feel. reds reach makes five to the dome a serious issue, plus swords as an answer nets you the life with this one, which could matter. I am liking what they are offering :r::w::g: so far in this set.

[BreathWeapon]

Black, artifact based creature removal for Trinket Mage is a damn fine addition to his toolbox, being able to kill their Tarmogoyf with out removing your Counterbalance is hot.

[Nihil Credo]

Time for Welder to make a comeback?

[caiomarcos]

I wonder where those colored artifacts are going to be in my collection - black/blue etc or artifacts section?

[morgan_coke]

black terror artifact. Sweet. Now Tezzeret can kill stuff too. The card advantage alone on this guy is so stupid.

Right now he's: Exploration, Garruk's 1st ability, Rude Awakening, Voltaic Key, Draw 2, Dark Banishing, and who knows what else?

Definitely belongs in 5c eternal garden lists.

[Skeggi]

black terror artifact.

I think it's only nonblack, so you can kill artifact creatures which aren't black...so technically it's a Dark Banishing :wink:

[Bigface]

I wonder where those colored artifacts are going to be in my collection - black/blue etc or artifacts section?

Colored artifact section obv :wink:

[Koala]

Time for Welder to make a comeback?

Welder and Trinket mage too...

[Pinder]

I think it's only nonblack, so you can kill artifact creatures which aren't black...so technically it's a Dark Banishing :wink:

Either way, it's much, much better than Seal of Removal. Not that Seal of Removal gets played, or that it's hard to be better than it, but I think Executioner's Capsule will definitely be playable. Especially since it can be Trinket Mage'd for. And recurred with Ruins.

[Peter_Rotten]

Woolly Thoctar

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/images/smilies/manar.gifhttp://forums.mtgsalvation.com/images/smilies/manag.gifhttp://forums.mtgsalvation.com/images/smilies/manaw.gifCreature - Beasthttp://mtgsalvation.com/images/spoiler/shards-of-alara-uncommon.gifThe only difference between a hockey mom and a Woolly Thoctar is lipstick.

Flavor text has been so shitty lately, I may believe that that is the ACTUAL flavor text.

[KillemallCFH]

And recurred with Ruins.Shit, I didn't even think about that. Not sure what deck could abuse this best, but I agree it is definitely playable. Maybe black splash Dreadstill? Easily supports Trinket Mage as well as Academy Ruins.

[Elfrago]

Shit, I didn't even think about that. Not sure what deck could abuse this best, but I agree it is definitely playable. Maybe black splash Dreadstill? Easily supports Trinket Mage as well as Academy Ruins.

Too bad it does'nt kill Tombstalker or it would have been THE removal for Dreadstill and UGb ThreshThreshThreshThreshThresh

[Sanguine Voyeur]

Flavor text has been so shitty lately, I may believe that that is the ACTUAL flavor text.I don't think all of the flavor text is that bad. I mean, yeah, "(Z->)90° - (E-N²W)90°t=1" is pretentious and not too comical, but "The fall of the evening star never heralds a gentle dawn." isn't bad at all.

[Koala]

Too bad it does'nt kill Tombstalker or it would have been THE removal for Dreadstill and UGb ThreshThreshThreshThreshThresh

Nothing can stop a Tombstalker...It IS the Batman...

And the artifact obv will plai in most of decks that run A.Ruins

[raharu]

Nothing can stop a Tombstalker...It IS the Batman...

And the artifact obv will plai in most of decks that run A.Ruins
SWORDS TO MOTHERFUCKING PLOWSHARES!!!

and Oblivion Ring...

and Vindicate...

and Retribution Of The Meek...

and obviously Mystic Enforcer...

and various other cards.




Also, I never got Niv-Mizzet's flavor text. (Z->)90° - (E-N²W)90°t=1? wtf is that?

[vanele]

It says Niv-mizzet = 1
Blue planeswalker ability seems like its made for a big mana deck with lotus blooms and thran dynamos. I will be testing as such.

[Lego]

Also, I never got Niv-Mizzet's flavor text. (Z->)90° - (E-N²W)90°t=1? wtf is that?

If you turn it sideways and read the letters downwards, as vanele said, it says "Niv Mizzet." It's also a mathematical formula that basically says "Turn him sideways = 1" (presumably for draw a card and do a damage).

[fourleafedmonkey]

Woolly Thoctar

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/images/smilies/manar.gifhttp://forums.mtgsalvation.com/images/smilies/manag.gifhttp://forums.mtgsalvation.com/images/smilies/manaw.gifCreature - Beasthttp://mtgsalvation.com/images/spoiler/shards-of-alara-uncommon.gifThe only difference between a hockey mom and a Woolly Thoctar is lipstick.

Flavor text has been so shitty lately, I may believe that that is the ACTUAL flavor text.

I love how the fake flavor text is a reference to the speech that was given by the vice presidential candidate.
I think it should stay like that.

[Skeggi]

Even more elaborated:

http://www.wizards.com/magic/images/mtgcom/fcpics/making/mr309_niv-mizzet_1.jpg is the flavour text.

First part: (Z->)90°: take the things between the bracket and turn them 90°: http://www.wizards.com/magic/images/mtgcom/fcpics/making/mr309_niv-mizzet_2.jpg: Niv

Then comes '-', just a dash which comes after 'Niv'.

(E – N²W)90°: N² means you need to take N twice, and then turn the whole thing 90°: http://www.wizards.com/magic/images/mtgcom/fcpics/making/mr309_niv-mizzet_3.jpg: 'Mizze'

The 't' is just a 't' as the '-' is a '-'.

= 1 could be translated to 'is the one'.

So your end-result would be: 'Niv-Mizzet is the one.' ...I guess it's one of the possible translations...

[Aggro_zombies]

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/3

He's not Legacy playable, but DAMN. Twenty evasive power is godly.

Also, thanks for lying to us by telling us that Mythic Rares wouldn't be heavily sought-after tournament utility rares, Wizards. This will see Standard play for sure. My inner Timmy just died a little thanks to your cynical ploy.

[m03]

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/3

He's not Legacy playable, but DAMN. Twenty evasive power is godly.

Also, thanks for lying to us by telling us that Mythic Rares wouldn't be heavily sought-after tournament utility rares, Wizards. This will see Standard play for sure. My inner Timmy just died a little thanks to your cynical ploy.

Sarkhan Vol is pretty kickass. I'll bet Pithing Needles are going to be even more sought-after in Standard now thanks to Vol.

For the lazy:



Sarkhan Vol
2RG
Planeswalker - Sarkhan
+1: Creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain haste until end of turn.
-2: Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn.
-6: Put five 4/4 red Dragon creature tokens with flying into play.
Loyalty: 4

This set looks awesome.

[rleader]

I'll bet Pithing Needles are going to be even more sought-after in Standard now thanks to Vol.

Yeah, green and red have a hard time against artifacts. ;)

Of course, all this four/five mana stuff is going to have a hard time against faeries. Then again, we really don't have a great picture of what STD currently looks like, since this block nonsense has been going on forever and ever.

And yep, to hell with mythics.

[Aggro_zombies]

Of course, all this four/five mana stuff is going to have a hard time against faeries. Then again, we really don't have a great picture of what STD currently looks like, since this block nonsense has been going on forever and ever.
Well, Faeries basically just loses Ancestral Vision, which is pretty big since most of the deck consists of one-for-ones. Block Faeries isn't as strong or resilient as Standard Faeries, from what I've seen. It's likely that, barring a cheap, instant-speed draw spell, Faeries won't be the dominant deck in LOR-SHM-ALA-10th Standard.

Also, if you want good pictures of STDs, Grey's probably has some.

[rleader]

It's likely that, barring a cheap, instant-speed draw spell, Faeries won't be the dominant deck in LOR-SHM-ALA-10th Standard.

Yeah, we say that, but then they just go and print more blue cards...

[m03]

Yeah, green and red have a hard time against artifacts. ;)


Yeah, but some of that fun stuff is rotating out.

Anyway, he doesn't seem all that playable in Legacy, so what do I care.

[Elfrago]

at least tezzeret and ajani prove that the mythic rares aren't going to be tournament viable cards with insane prices or anything. thanks for clearing that up rosewater. 'cause, like, i was worried that this whole "mythic" thing was a cheap attempt to boost sales through the secondary market.

soooo glad you wrote a column explaining that wasn't the case for me to read.


I had to quote this, expecially after I readed Sarkhan Vol last ability.
Oh, and Exalted sucks.

[rleader]

Oh, and Exalted sucks.

But it's like all your dudes are muscle slivers before you lose!

[Timmy, Power Gamer]

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/3
Also, thanks for lying to us by telling us that Mythic Rares wouldn't be heavily sought-after tournament utility rares, Wizards. This will see Standard play for sure. My inner Timmy just died a little thanks to your cynical ploy.



We want the flavor of mythic rare to be something that feels very special and unique. Generally speaking we expect that to mean cards like Planeswalkers, most legends, and epic-feeling creatures and spells. They will not just be a list of each set's most powerful tournament-level cards.

We've also decided that there are certain things we specifically do not want to be mythic rares. The largest category is utility cards, what I'll define as cards that fill a universal function. Some examples of this category would be cycles of dual lands and cards like Mutavault or Char. That also addresses a long-standing issue that some players have had with certain rares like dual lands. Because we're making fewer cards per set, in the new world individual rares will be easier to acquire because each rare in a large set now appears 25% more often.



Yes, the planeswalkers will see tournament play. However, they are not going to see Mutavault level of play (just about every deck wants them).

[Peter_Rotten]

Damn... so WotC expects that that :2: :g: :r: Planeswalker is NOT going to be a chase card and WON'T see heavy play? Riiiiiight. Hell, I think I could fit him into Goyf Sligh :tongue: .

They presented us with a bit of a paradox. "We're going to give print extra-rare cards, but we don't think that they will really become chase cards." :rolleyes:

[Skeggi]

They presented us with a bit of a paradox. "We're going to give print extra-rare cards, but we don't think that they will really become chase cards." :rolleyes:

I think they mean they won't be staples.

[Solpugid]

Also, if you want good pictures of STDs, Grey's probably has some.

I am a fan of textbook humor.

I don't think they ever claimed the mythics wouldn't be highly playable, as was mentioned, but rather that they wouldn't go in so many decks that obtaining them becomes problematic. Goyf, of course, falls into this category.

That said, S. Vol doesn't look like he could have much Legacy impact, mostly because his +1 ability isn't all that great.

[Barook]

WTF did they smoke when they designed Exalted? That's one hell of a bad ability.

[nastynate]

I think they mean they won't be staples.

Do you honestly buy that BS?

Constructed staples are the driving force behind the secondary market. They are the reason why stores crack packs for singles. Mythic rares have to be constructed viable cards, otherwise there is little incentive to crack the additional packs to get them.

Mythic rares are more likely to be "build around me" cards like Garruk than deck enablers like cairn lands and reflecting pool, but that doesn't mean they won't be constructed staples.


I don't think they ever claimed the mythics wouldn't be highly playable, as was mentioned, but rather that they wouldn't go in so many decks that obtaining them becomes problematic. Goyf, of course, falls into this category.

Goyf is the reason why I don't trust WotC. They had no idea how good it really was, and how many decks it would see play in. How can they expect us to trust them not to make the same mistake again...on a mythic rare?

[rufus]

Good grief... he serves double-duty as a wincon and as a booster for EtW tokens....

Edit: Honestly, is there a RG deck that does *not* want to run this?

[georgjorge]

I just hope that between the next three sets, there's going to be a card that says "Target Planeswalker gets +2 Loyalty" or something. Planeswalker madness!

[Skeggi]

Do you honestly buy that BS?

Shh, calm down mate. To answer your question: no. But I don't think I implied that I did.

[Aggro_zombies]

WTF did they smoke when they designed Exalted? That's one hell of a bad ability.
It's a bad ability in constructed formats. In Limited, where there's probably a lot less instant-speed removal, it's probably a little better.

Like Clash, in other words.

[Brehn]

WTF. Fortunately I don't play T2. And I don't play T1.x. And fortunately he doesn't seem too playable in Legacy...yet. Money rare, here we go. Also, the new T1.x will be 80% Aggro.

[Kitchen Table Hero]

I dont think they approach the mythic rare stuff in terms of power, more in terms of the "flavor" of the set. WotC seems to be getting pretty heavy on the whole "you are a planeswalker, cast your spells" BS .Im guessing its to y to attact younger players, get them to stop playing Pokemon and play magic instead (I know that a factor for me picking magic when I was 11 was how cool I thought it was to cast spells).

If the cards released in a set are meant to be prepresentative of the plane they are set in, then it makes sense that the more "unique" something is, the rarer it is meant to be. Hence - planeswalkers and legends: there is only one of each on the plane so they get the mythic rare status, whilst you would run into the all too common Eager Cadet on every corner.

The problem I see for us serious players is that it tends to be the more unique/interesting cards that define the format, so inevitably some of the mythic rares will also reach mythic prices. Im just waiting to see when the peak set by goyf gets overtaken.

[Nihil Credo]

Exalted would be cool if it granted evasion instead of a paltry +1/+1. I can see the reasoning they put behind it: you get to play weenies, then when your opponent drops a big blocker, you aren't left with an Abyss every turn because you can switch to attacking with a single fat guy.

Except that that mostly works in Limited. In Constructed, with some exceptions like the aggro mirror, how many freaking Exalted guys do you need to make Yet Another WW Bear attack into Cloudthresher or even Tarmogoyf?

[Skeggi]

http://www.wizards.com/mtg/images/daily/features/3_u9r4hhr2.jpg
Esper - Favourite new art

Can anyone link me to this Exalted stuff? I can't find it.

[rufus]

Regarding Exalted - It looks like there will be three cards that give additional 'attacks alone' bonuses. One of them grants lifelink. It would be amusing to see one that grants pro green.

I also think that a non-cipt land with exalted would probably be playable in constructed -- especially if it carries a basic land type.

[rufus]

Can anyone link me to this Exalted stuff? I can't find it.

Exalted is - if a creature you control attacks alone, it gets +1/+1 until the end of the turn.

Example creatures were a WW 2/2 creature with Exalted and First Strike and
3WW 4/4 Flyer with Exalted and "if a creature attacks alone, it gets lifelink until the end of the turn".

Orb shows 12 occurances of Exalted, and 15 of alone.

[Raider Bob]

Exaulted seems like it would be good in limited, or if there is an amazing Exaulted creature in a deck that runs Goyf to break the goyf stand off.

[Raider Bob]

http://www.wizards.com/mtg/images/daily/features/3_u9r4hhr2.jpg
Esper - Favourite new art

Can anyone link me to this Exalted stuff? I can't find it.

Doesn't this look like Serra Sactum? Maybe it is Academy Ruins for Enchantments.

[Barook]

Doesn't this look like Serra Sactum? Maybe it is Academy Ruins for Enchantments.
The Esper realm is based around artifacts, so no.

About Exalted: I guess that's what they meant with a realm of honory duels. :rolleyes:

[morgan_coke]

first "leak" is up.

Relic of Progenitus
1
T: target player removes a card in their graveyard from the game.
1: remove ~this~ from the game: remove all graveyards from the game: draw a card

Turns 'Goyf into a 0/1, nukes Ichy for 2, cantrips, works with Trinket Mage, but not Academy Ruins. Seems like a solid alternative to Crypt if you don't care about your own yard. Increasing the cost by 2 adds cantripping to the mix.

EDIT: it's common

[Maagler]

I was tinkering with a fires of yavamya deck the other day, looks like I have another toy to play with!

[Skeggi]

I like the Exalted ability: for instance, you have 3 creatures in play with Exalted; say, the two Knights and the Angel. You keep the knights at home, because there's enough ground defense, and you could use your own defense. But you chose to let the Angel attack: the Angel then is the only attacking creature, Exalted triggers 3 times, so you attack with a 7/7 lifelink flyer. That's pretty sweet.

Flavourwise it's pretty stupid Exalted Angel isn't Exalted...

[Sanguine Voyeur]

So, you intend to put out three creatures so you can attack with one? Seems needlessly card and mana intensive.

[Aggro_zombies]

first "leak" is up.

Relic of Progenitus
1
T: Target player removes a card in their graveyard from the game.
1, remove ~this~ from the game: Remove all cards in all graveyards from the game. Draw a card.

Turns 'Goyf into a 0/1, nukes Ichy for 2, cantrips, works with Trinket Mage, but not Academy Ruins. Seems like a solid alternative to Crypt if you don't care about your own yard. Increasing the cost by 2 adds cantripping to the mix.

EDIT: it's common
Fixed the templating.

Not bad, but not ZoMg WtF H4x either. Depending on whether you have access to black, Leyline, Planar Void, and Extirpate are better in many respects. Also, Tormod's Crypt is better than this for just about all applications, since Crypt is free.

Also, if you have two mana against Ichorid and the opponent hasn't killed you yet, he's either slow-playing you, suffering from a bad draw, staring down a Leyline or other hate, or a terrible Ichorid player. This doesn't do anything for you that Crypt couldn't do better on turn one, for free, in that matchup.

Could see play in something blue-based as a way to hate and filter cards, though. Still seems worse than most available options, at least in Legacy.

[Apex]

I don't think that's for legacy, it's probably to give more grave hate to standard, considering kithkin players are now playing Reveillark :rolleyes: and crypt is rotating.

Also, we are getting a glimpse into limited colourfixing here with that Lush Growth card. Too bad it blows.

[Aggro_zombies]

Also, we are getting a glimpse into limited colourfixing here with that Lush Growth card. Too bad it blows.
It's actually quite good in Limited Naya decks, since you'll probably be playing primarily Forests and it's a decent turn-one play that gives you a lot of options later on. I doubt it's part of a cycle, but I expect each of the other Shards to have something similar. Otherwise, all of these three-color wedge cards we've been seeing are nigh unplayable.

[scrumdogg]

Assuming you don't have (or care about your own) Goyfs, this does a much more effective job of dealing with the green beastie than Crypt. It also allows for a double barreled, colorless approach to graveyard management in all formats between this & Crypt. Yes, we get to use cards like Phyrexian Furnace (which this resembles) but not so for Extended and Standard. Not a bad power level for a common either.

[morgan_coke]

I think in Legacy Crypt will probably still be the main artifact GY hate card, but this does have two relevant advantages over crypt.

1) it cantrips.
2) it makes 'goyfs 0/1

Crypt doesn't do either of those, but crypt also doesn't nuke your own yard too.

[spirit of the wretch]

This Relic is until now by far the card I like best from the set. I think this could be really good in a blue based Control.dec as it shines against Grow and Loam, two important MUs. It gives you a fighting chance against Ichorid and can be randomly useful against Landstill, Survival and IGG and it's never dead because in the worst case it cycles for two which makes it maindeckable!
I definitly will test this card. Looks very promising.

[Frenger]

I also really like the relic. The cantrip is really nice and the goyf hate is good to. I only wish it was usable with academy ruins.

[Nihil Credo]

My take on Relic: infinitely more maindeckable than Crypt (because of the cantrip, anti-Goyf utility, and possibly permanent Threshold denial), significantly less sideboardable than Crypt (because it only hits Ichorid on turn 2+), more or less better overall.

[Frenger]

Hindering Light
WU
Instant
Common

Counter target spell that targets you or a permanent you control.
Draw a card.

Another neat cantrip, not good enough for legacy i think, but it's a neat card nonetheless.

[Shugyosha]

The Relic not only makes Goyf 0/1 for some time but will instantly kill Terravores and Jotun Grunts won't be able to live through it next upkeep. Especially the Terravore part is interesting as Loam is a meta factor now and most decks cannot deal with it efficiently.

[Mayk0l]

Damn, on the Relic, when are they going to stop printing insane Ichorid hate :( It might not be better than Crypt against Ichorid, but it sure as hell is maindeck material, so it actually becomes really dangerous in game 1 which, normally, you should win with Ichorid.
It's the perfect Rattlesnake (is that the correct term?) against Goyf, you can attack with your 2/2 or 1/2 anytime you want, and when you don't, they can't attack with their Goyf. Good stuff.

[Pinder]

I like the Exalted ability: for instance, you have 3 creatures in play with Exalted; say, the two Knights and the Angel. You keep the knights at home, because there's enough ground defense, and you could use your own defense. But you chose to let the Angel attack: the Angel then is the only attacking creature, Exalted triggers 3 times, so you attack with a 7/7 lifelink flyer. That's pretty sweet.


Erm, I don't think that's what Exalted is all about, really. It's pretty much tailor-made for slow control decks with one huge finisher. I doubt White Weenie or any other deck with lots of small dudes will have much use for Exalted creatures at all.

And that said, having essentially a 5/5 flying lifelink for :3::w::w: is cool, but is it really better than the actual Exalted Angel? I doubt it. It's sort of cool that it can just sit back and give your other dudes lifelink, though, I guess. It'll definitely get played in Standard, methinks.

edit - To be fair, it's not having 3 creatures just so you can attack with one, not exactly. It's having 3 creatures so you can attack with one really neato one and have 2 to block with. But still, meh.

[Apex]

Hindering Light is like Confound with an added part, so they made it cost WU instead of 1U. Agree that it probably won't see play here. Though it might serve as a cool board tech against RDW or Cryptic Command in standard.

[Wallace]

This set has some really good art work, I think my fav. so far are Goblin Assault and Blightning.



http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj319/Wally891/a9hs7k1jx8_EN.jpghttp://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj319/Wally891/btx85amiqa_EN.jpghttp://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj319/Wally891/onkqw7vry2_EN.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj319/Wally891/dprqh4exm9_EN.jpghttp://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj319/Wally891/x3t7zg4o55_EN.jpghttp://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj319/Wally891/10elega47o_EN.jpg

[Pltnmngl]

first "leak" is up.

Relic of Progenitus
1
T: target player removes a card in their graveyard from the game.
1: remove ~this~ from the game: remove all graveyards from the game: draw a card

Turns 'Goyf into a 0/1, nukes Ichy for 2, cantrips, works with Trinket Mage, but not Academy Ruins. Seems like a solid alternative to Crypt if you don't care about your own yard. Increasing the cost by 2 adds cantripping to the mix.

EDIT: it's common

How well would this work in affinity?

[scrumdogg]

Hindering Light
WU
Instant
Common

Counter target spell that targets you or a permanent you control.
Draw a card.

Another neat cantrip, not good enough for legacy i think, but it's a neat card nonetheless.

In the right deck, a UW Fish-y type aggro control deck for example, this could be just fine. Not for every deck, even every deck with UW, but a nice tempo counterspell.

[AngryTroll]

Hindering Light
WU
Instant
Common

Counter target spell that targets you or a permanent you control.
Draw a card.


How does this compare to Confound, a card that sees no play at all?

1U
Instant
Counter target spell that targets one or more creatures.
Draw a card.

Hindering Light lets you counter Sinkhole, Thoughtseize, etc. but with a trickier mana cost. I've felt like Confound was almost playable for a while, but isn't quite versatile enough to be better than Daze or even Mana Leak. Might this new counter be versatile enough to see play?

[Pinder]

In the right deck, a UW Fish-y type aggro control deck for example, this could be just fine. Not for every deck, even every deck with UW, but a nice tempo counterspell.

For Legacy, though? I mean, sure it cantrips, but it has some pretty stiff competition from
":u::u:: Counter target spell that does anything, even if it doesn't target or is a creature maybe". I don't think the cantrip is enough to outweigh the loss of versatility, especially in Legacy where :u::u: is just as easy to get as :u::w: by turn 2 in a deck that runs both colors.

[Aggro_zombies]

Hindering Light
WU
Instant
Common

Counter target spell that targets you or a permanent you control.
Draw a card.

Another neat cantrip, not good enough for legacy i think, but it's a neat card nonetheless.
Before anyone asks, this counters:

Not Stifle
Targeted Removal (StP, burn, black creature kill, bounce)
Discard (Therapy, Thoughtseize, Duress)
Orim's Chant

...and probably a few other barely played things I can't think of.

Also, mana fixing cards just spoiled. Unplayable in Legacy, but at least we know that Limited won't be such a headache now.

EDIT: Yeah, I'm a tard, Stifle targets the ability and not the permanent. Hurr Durr, fixed that.

[Volt]

.

[Pinder]

Before anyone asks, this counters:

NOT Stifle
Targeted Removal (StP, burn, black creature kill, bounce)
Discard (Therapy, Thoughtseize, Duress)
Orim's Chant

...and probably a few other barely played things I can't think of.


For the sake of balanced argument, it should be noted that Counterspell counters:


Every spell


edit - Outside of specific examples like uncounterable spells and cards with Split Second, I suppose.

[iOWN]

Savage Nacatl g
Creature - Cat (warrior?) (C)
Savage Nacatl gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Plains.
Savage Nacatl gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Mountain.
1/1

A 2/2 with Taiga/Savannah on turn one, possibly a 3/3 on turn 2. Solid-ish. 9-land has been getting more contenders recently. (Not like it matters or anything.)

[Maagler]

Savage Nacatl g
Creature - Cat (warrior?) (C)
Savage Nacatl gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Plains.
Savage Nacatl gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Mountain.
1/1

A 2/2 with Taiga/Savannah on turn one, possibly a 3/3 on turn 2. Solid-ish. 9-land has been getting more contenders recently. (Not like it matters or anything.)

Might be what zoo was looking for! I love zoo.:tongue:

This set really makes me want to build a standard zoo deck.

[kicks_422]

Yeah, that with the 5/4 for RGW would be hot.

[Wallace]

Huge update, 66 cards now!

[Pinder]

Master of Etherium - 2U
Artifact Creature - Vedalken Wizard
Master of Etherium's power and toughness are each equal to the number of artifacts you control.
Other artifact creatures you control get +1/+1.
*/*


Oh god, an artifact Lord? I wonder if he could see any play in Affinity at all? He's basically a cheap-ass Broodstar that makes your other dudes bigger. Not sure Affinity's game plan would benefit from that, but I could definitely see this guy being good in a deck where even your lands are artifacts.

edit - And for some reason I'm like 99% sure Cavius is going to use Lich's Mirror as a draw-seven in some crazy fragile combo deck that no one likes.

edit 2 -


Branching Bolt 1RG
Instant Common
Choose one or both - Branching Bolt deals 3 damage to target creature with flying or 3 damage to target creature without flying.


This isn't really Legacy playable, but looks like the sheer hotness in Limited or Standard, and possibly Extended too.

[Wallace]

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj319/Wally891/111111111112.jpg

Wow, I really like the lands in this set. Pinder beat me to the Artifact Lord observation, I totally agree with him!

[SilverGreen]

This Relic is until now by far the card I like best from the set. I think this could be really good in a blue based Control.dec as it shines against Grow and Loam, two important MUs. It gives you a fighting chance against Ichorid and can be randomly useful against Landstill, Survival and IGG and it's never dead because in the worst case it cycles for two which makes it maindeckable!
I definitly will test this card. Looks very promising.It also pitches to Thirst for Knowledge.

Speaking on TfK, I guess they print a good 2U artifact flyer in ALA, it would be very useful in Faerie Stompy (a multitask beater and FoW/TfK fueler would be very nice).

[Sek'Kuar]

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj319/Wally891/111111111112.jpg

Wow, I really like the lands in this set. Pinder beat me to the Artifact Lord observation, I totally agree with him!

(In hushed tones)Are...Are those...tri-color Fetchlands?
*creams pants in excitement*

Edit: Wait, just noticed...you gotta pay 1 mana to activate. meh...

[Aggro_zombies]

(In hushed tones)Are...Are those...tri-color Fetchlands?
*creams pants in excitement*

Edit: Wait, just noticed...you gotta pay 1 mana to activate. meh...
Yeah, for basic lands.

EDIT: The :w::w::g::g::g::r::r: spell is up, and boy is it *yawn*. Hopefully the other ones are less lame...though I suppose they won't be, given this is Wizards and all.

EDIT 2: Guys, these fetchlands are bad outside of Limited. They only get basic lands. There are a million better options in Standard right now, especially now that Magus of the Moon is rotating and therefore there's not much incentive not to run an all-nonbasics mana base. Hell, even Terramorphic Expanse is better than these.

Also, does the Lich's Mirror shuffle back suspended cards? Just trying to justify it being the most gawdawful card ever printed this side of Sorrow's Path.

[raharu]

Well, the tri-fetchies will make it a bit easier for new players to get into Legacy (to an extent) after they rotate out of standard. It'd be nice if they were just a *hair* better, like not requiring mana to use and not coming into play tapped.

Also, wtf with all the recent mana fixing lands requiring mana to activate? That seems like a really poor design choice on Wizards' part. ofc maybe it's an attempt to curb power creep or slow down standard. iDunno. It's just reallyyyyyyy agrivating.

On the note of those fetchlands, I strongly doubt that we'll see enemy colored fetchlands for a longgg time on account of those.

[scrumdogg]

Oh god, an artifact Lord? I wonder if he could see any play in Affinity at all? He's basically a cheap-ass Broodstar that makes your other dudes bigger. Not sure Affinity's game plan would benefit from that, but I could definitely see this guy being good in a deck where even your lands are artifacts.

An AFFOWnity build perhaps? It works with your artifact guys, builds affinity AND pitches to FOW...this card has definite potential :cool:

[The_Red_Panda]

I hope Crumbling necropolis is a cycle. My EDH decks need more cheap color fixing. 'Specially the three and four color ones.

[Alfred]

Lich's Mirror
5
Artifact
Mythic

If you would lose the game, instead shuffle your hand, your graveyard and all permanents you own into your library, then draw seven cards and your life total becomes 20.

[rufus]

Also, does the Lich's Mirror shuffle back suspended cards? Just trying to justify it being the most gawdawful card ever printed this side of Sorrow's Path.

They're only permanents while they're in play, so the stack, RFG (including suspended) and phased stuff stays where it is.

Since it's a replacement effect, there may be some whacky interaction with Forbidden Crypt. Everything else uses the 'when a player would get prioty' timing for losses. Otherwise maybe as a desperation dig with Tezzeret or Tinker target in Vintage? ... Perhaps in Belcher?

[The Rack]

I think mirror is badass, that is all.

[Mister Agent]

I want to get some Relic of Progenitus they are just freaking hot. It's good to know that I might just go back and play UW landstill now with having them in the board. Although having more efficient graveyard hate for UWG landstill seems pretty sexy as well.

[Xero]

I think Lich's mirror could be good in Stax against aggro decks. Obviously you can't loose while it's in play, and many aggro decks have trouble dealing 40 damage. Hell, you could even commit Ancient Tomb seppuku if you fear artifact destruction.

[Lego]

I think Lich's mirror could be good in Stax against aggro decks. Obviously you can't loose while it's in play, and many aggro decks have trouble dealing 40 damage. Hell, you could even commit Ancient Tomb seppuku if you fear artifact destruction.

Not to mention that if you're playing 4, the 20 life gives you a bit more time to find another, for an additional 20 life. Although each time it gets successively more difficult, as your opponent floods the board.

[Illissius]

Losing all your permanents may as well equal losing the game, except in maybe Storm combo, and I doubt they want to use this card -- especially as it mainly helps against aggro, and they don't need help against aggro.

Also, holy unholy power creep. They just (will have) printed a more-or-less-vanilla 3/3 for one (though granted, only in Legacy and Extended). It's like there's this huge chasm of creatures' power level between Future Sight and everything before it. Only two years ago, Watchwolf was really pushing the envelope...

[Skeggi]

Also, holy unholy power creep. They just (will have) printed a more-or-less-vanilla 3/3 for one (though granted, only in Legacy and Extended). It's like there's this huge chasm of creatures' power level between Future Sight and everything before it. Only two years ago, Watchwolf was really pushing the envelope...

It's going to be pretty sweet to play RGW Zoo. Watchwolf, Savanah Lions, Jungle Lion, Kird Ape, Skyshroud Elite, Goyf, all the new fancy stuff from ALA, including the RG and the RW planeswalkers...this could really go somewhere.

[Illissius]

And because I'm like this, I've ranked the interesting cards from Shards so far according to "will see play".

yes

Relic of Progenitus
Wild Nacatl

probably

Tezzeret the Seeker
Rhox War Monk

maybe

Woolly Thoctar
Stoic Angel
Executioner's Capsule
Qasali Ambusher
Hellkite Overlord

possibly

Jund Charm
Battlegrace Angel
Hindering Light
Master of Etherium

probably not

Courier's Capsule
Blightning
Ajani Vengeant
Sarkhan Vol

no

everything else

EDIT -- By my count, RGW aggro now has 6 excellent one drops:

Mogg Fanatic
Grim Lavamancer
Figure of Destiny
Kird Ape
Wild Nacatl
Hidden Herd*

* yes, I still like this card; no, let's not discuss it here

And then Tarmogoyf as the excellent two drop. And because I'm pretty sure you don't want to play 28 creatures, you get to pick and choose.

[Mirrislegend]

Goddamnit I love this set. I'm now very seriously considering buying 3 boxes just for the hell of it. This set has to be the best thing to EVER happen to budget players. And green mages.

[Kitchen Table Hero]

I guess they print a good 2U artifact flyer in ALA, it would be very useful in Faerie Stompy (a multitask beater and FoW/TfK fueler would be very nice).


So coloured articacts count both artifacts and a card of whatever colour to be able to pitch to FoW? Im pretty excited about this.

I want to see of the white cards that deal with enchantments, since they announced that that will be a major theme for white in the set.

[Spectör]

Goddamnit I love this set. I'm now very seriously considering buying 3 boxes just for the hell of it. This set has to be the best thing to EVER happen to budget players. And green mages.
Does anyone see the irony, too?


So coloured articacts count both artifacts and a card of whatever colour to be able to pitch to FoW? Im pretty excited about this.
Yeah, but they still don't go into Chrome Mox :(

[rleader]

Goddamnit I love this set. I'm now very seriously considering buying 3 boxes just for the hell of it. This set has to be the best thing to EVER happen to budget players. And green mages.

Huh? I'm not following your reasoning here at all.