Pretend there is an intro here. On to the tribal review!
We’ll start with Humans, being as ever the big kahunas. I’ll be stealing text descriptions for easy reference straight from The Gatherer. Thanks, Wizards!
Augur il-Vec
1W
Creature – Human Cleric
Shadow (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow). Sacrifice Augur il-Vec: You gain 4 life. Play this ability only during your upkeep.
1/3
So it’s uhm… a cheap blocker, except it can’t block most creatures, and as a Sorcery it can cast Sacred Nectar. I guess in Standard Boros might side it in for dealing with Soltari Priests… wait, they get Ghostfire for that. Heck, even in a straight Cleric deck there’s better options than this for anything you could hope to gain. Sun’s Bounty comes to mind.
Baru, Fist of Krosa
3GG
Legendary Creature – Human Druid
Whenever a Forest comes into play, green creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain trample until end of turn. Grandeur – Discard another card named Baru, Fist of Krosa: Put an X/X green Wurm creature token into play, where X is the number of lands you control.
4/4
What a bullseye this poor guy has on his head. I think you might be better off slipping him into a Druid deck where he’s less likely to be expected. I wouldn’t play him until turn 6, either. Make sure you drop a Forest right after playing him without passing priority. Also might do as an off-tribal in a Fungus (Thallid) deck. The Grandeur ability is… meh. I’d rather be holding the spare copy in case he gets killed than pitch it for a token unless my opponent had shown an inability to kill him for a few turns and end-stepping the Wurm token into play might win me the game. I mean, he’s still pretty good – only his and Korlash’s Grandeur have any lasting effect on the game state but… let’s just say this guy is on his knees waiting for Char to rotate out. But why does the art look halfway like a Zombie? Ew.
Bogardan Lancer
1R
Creature – Human Knight
Bloodthirst 1 (If an opponent was dealt damage this turn, this creature comes into play with a +1/+1 counter on it). Flanking (Whenever a creature without flanking blocks this creature, the blocking creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn).
1/1
That’s pretty strong for a Red two-drop. It’s no Blood Knight, but then what is, aside from Blood Knight? I think overall, though, I’d rather have Suq’ata Lancer. It’s always 2/2, still has Flanking, and attacks the same turn anyhow. I suppose if you’re already running Suq’ata Lancer and Blood Knight and if you’re playing a Haakon deck and if the Black Knight array isn’t doing it for you then… no, sorry. I don’t play a card that makes me say "if" three times before I consider playing it. Pass. Beautiful art though, just fantastic.
Cutthroat il-Dal
3B
Creature – Human Rogue
Hellbent – Cutthroat il-Dal has shadow as long as you have no cards in hand. (It can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow).
4/1
Wow, that’s a nasty lass. Tiny little bum, nasty right hook. She’s a glass cannon, no doubt about it. Very aggressive critter especially if you can clear the board out so she doesn’t need to worry about getting Hellbent to be good. Potentially useful in either of her tribes. True, it’s slightly bothersome that minus Hellbent she’s actually worse than Giant Cockroach, but even having the option of getting her Shadow makes her better overall. Plays nicely with Grave Peril. Give Vance a cookie for that art, too. Giant Cockroach will never look half as bad-ass.
Gathan Raiders
3RR
Creature – Human Warrior
Hellbent – Gathan Raiders gets +2/+2 if you have no cards in hand. Morph – Discard a card. (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for 3. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)
3/3
This guy and Deepcavern Imp are going to have fun together in some kind of Hellbent/Madness deck. Too bad Teferi hoses Madness, eh? Sigh. I understand Teferi needed to be awesome and all, but did he have to hose half the block single-handedly? I still can’t fathom the logic under which Teferi was okay to let into the block, but Meddling Mage wasn’t. Teferi does things the Mage couldn’t dream of doing. I hope he gets banned in Block just so people can at least try out a deck based on Suspend or Madness. More on this rant later.
Jhoira of the Ghitu
1UR
Legendary Creature – Human Wizard
2, Remove a nonland card in your hand from the game: Put four time counters on the removed card. If it doesn’t have suspend, it gains suspend. (At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter from that card. When the last is removed, play it without paying its mana cost. If it’s a creature, it has haste).
2/2
Phew, she’s nowhere near as nasty as she was rumored originally ("suspend any card in play"). The good news is that she’s got some rather interesting potential herself. Drop her turn 3, turn 4 suspend a couple of fat things, then use things like Fury Charm, Timecrafting, Dust of Moments and whatnot to yank time counters until there is no tomorrow. But no, there was a meeting at Wizards…
Somewhere in a poorly lit room in R&D, there is a gathering. Three figures sit at a table, and a man stands in shadows in the corner, smoking. Beer bottles dot the table and a mist of exhaled tobacco hangs in the air. Dozens of cards sit at all angles on the table.
Mark Rosewater: Hmmm. (stroking his chin thoughtfully) You know, Teferi is pretty awesome. We did well with him.
Aaron Forsythe: (leans forward on the table) Yes, yes… but there is a problem.
Randy Buehler: He’s right. People are still managing to resolve Suspend cards, especially before turn 5. Something must be done about this.
The smoking man nods, barely seen, and gives a grunt of approval.
MaRo: I see… and the same problem surely exists for Madness cards as well. This simply cannot be allowed to continue. People might think we want them to play with the cards we design. That is unacceptable.
AaFo: Correct. (Scratches his head a few seconds longer than is dramatically necessary) Randy, you’re the resident Blue mage, what do you suggest?
RaBu: (fumbles with a small satchel, drawing out a handful of playtest cards – camera zooms in, revealing playtest versions of Nix, Venser’s Diffusion, and Venser, Shaper Savant) No worries, men. I’ve come prepared. Woe be to the fools who try to play cards as they are seemingly intended! (He places the playtest cards on the table for all to see) Behold, I shall ensure no Suspend card shall ever again resolve with proper sideboarding tactics! Unless, of course, one is playing Teferi themselves. Blue achieves total dominance of another block mechanic… mission complete, men!
A round of hearty laughter erupts around the table as the smoking man gives a slow, dramatic golf clap of approval. The lights fade out to dramatic, dire music.
Yep, a 2/2 naming one card would certainly have hosed Suspend far worse than Remand and four cards pretty much specifically made to hose the mechanic would. What a crock. Cute girl, if rather useless. If only they’d put this much effort into hosing, say, Affinity for Artifacts.
Knight of Sursi
3W
Creature – Human Knight
Flying, flanking. Suspend 3 – W (Rather than play this card from your hand, you may pay W and remove it from the game with three time counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter. When the last is removed, play it without paying its mana cost. It has haste).
2/2
This didn’t work when it was Bushido instead of Flanking and it won’t work now. White has Leonin Skyhunter, it doesn’t need this.
Linessa, Zephyr Mage
3U
Legendary Creature – Human Wizard
XUU, T: Return target creature with converted mana cost X to its owner’s hand. Grandeur – Discard another card named Linessa, Zephyr Mage: Target player returns a creature he or she controls to its owner’s hand, then repeats this process for an artifact, an enchantment, and a land.
3/3
I’m not sure who Jim Murray is, but his art keeps impressing me. Man, Linessa just looks awesome. I do hope she’s wearing knickers, though, or whatever is in front of her is getting a nice view. She’s actually rather beefy for her casting cost in Blue, but I’m not sure what to think of her abilities. The Grandeur has the potential to flat out wreck someone, provided they’re actually playing all four kinds of permanents, but I’m not sure the bounce ability that costs mana is all that good. Temporal Adept seems to get the job done cheaper most of the time, although he requires even more Blue commitment and doesn’t survive Pyroclasm.
I hope she ends up being good, I want an excuse to play her so I can stare at a Blue-haired bird for a while. Seems like a neat Wizardcycling target, especially if you’re already holding one.
Lost Auramancers
2WW
Creature – Human Wizard
Vanishing 3 (This permanent comes into play with three time counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter from it. When the last is removed, sacrifice it). When Lost Auramancers is put into a graveyard from play, if it had no time counters on it, you may search your library for an enchantment card and put it into play. If you do, shuffle your library.
3/3
Academy Rector made much less scary might still be a force to be reckoned with, especially as in Standard it’s most likely going to go fetch Debtors’ Knell, which has proven now and again to be annoying to deal with when it’s played fairly. Although I might posit that they wouldn’t get lost if they didn’t tend towards headgear which covered their eyes in the first place. Just a thought.
Magus of the Abyss
3B
Creature – Human Wizard
At the beginning of each player’s upkeep, destroy target nonartifact creature that player controls of his or her choice. It can’t be regenerated.
4/3
I expect to see a lot of this guy. He’s brutal, easily backed with tokens from almost any other color, and might even play nicely with old Endrek Sahr. I’m not even sure why I like him so much more than Woebringer Demon, although I suspect it has to do with the flavor text and the splashable cost. I note the entire Magus cycle is Human Wizards this time. Three cheers for Wizardcycling, no?
Magus of the Future
2UUU
Creature – Human Wizard
Play with the top card of your library revealed. You may play the top card of your library.
2/3
I’m glad Sensei’s Divining Top is gone, otherwise this guy, that, and Cloud Key… ick. Three-card combo, sure. But the end result is "draw your library." I am so glad he’s in Rift Bolt range.
Magus of the Moat
2WW
Creature – Human Wizard
Creatures without flying can’t attack.
0/3
See previous comment about Rift Bolt. I predict Mono-Green Aggro will not like this guy, however. Misewell Cloak the Scryb, amiright?
Magus of the Moon
2R
Creature – Human Wizard
Nonbasic lands are Mountains.
2/2
This is not the card you think it is. See, one of the benefits of Blood Moon is that you’re forcing the opponent into Red mana sources, and Red can’t deal with Enchantments. This, as you may have noticed, is not precisely an Enchantment. It is, in fact, something dealt with easily with Red mana. Plus, uh… what was the point of making a Magus of a card already in Standard? I’ll be especially confused if Blood Moon is also in Tenth Edition, although this might be our clue that it won’t be. I was rather hoping for Magus of Bedlam (3/1, heh), or Magus of the (Captive) Flame. Heck, even Magus of the Onslaught (with Haste) would have been more interesting.
Magus of the Vineyard
G
Creature – Human Wizard
At the beginning of each player’s precombat main phase, add GG to that player’s mana pool.
1/1
But can he get me drunk? Sharing is for Sissies. There’s your namedrop, Talen. I trust the payment is in the mail.
Oriss, Samite Guardian
1WW
Legendary Creature – Human Cleric
T: Prevent all damage that would be dealt to target creature this turn. Grandeur – Discard another card named Oriss, Samite Guardian: Target player can’t play spells this turn, and creatures that player controls can’t attack this turn.
1/3
Seems rather goodish with, oh, I don’t know… Undertaker? Oversold Cemetery? Geesh. Bit cuter than ol’ mum, too. It’s probably a good thing that her tap ability doesn’t mention players, although that would have been fun against Dragonstorm. I suppose we’ll just have to leave that fun to another creature further down the list (insert dramatic foreshadowing noise here).
Ramosian Revivalist
3W
Creature – Human Rebel Cleric
6, T Return target Rebel permanent card with converted mana cost 5 or less from your graveyard to play.
2/2
Obviously better in a Rebel deck than a Human deck, I still don’t think it’s good enough. If you need its ability, it’s because the opponent has been killing your creatures, ergo this will probably not live long enough to tap. And even if it does, is returning the old copy to play really much better than just fetching a new copy?
Samite Censer-Bearer
W
Creature – Human Rebel Cleric
W, Sacrifice Samite Censer-Bearer: Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to each creature you control this turn.
1/1
After all these years, White Weenie might finally survive a Pyroclasm? ‘Bout time.
Venser, Shaper Savant
2UU
Legendary Creature – Human Wizard
Flash (You may play this spell any time you could play an instant). When Venser, Shaper Savant comes into play, return target spell or permanent to its owner’s hand.
2/2
And you thought Remand was rotating in six months, didn’t you? Joke’s on you, chap.
Humans look pretty strong and diverse, although most of them also chain into the next largest tribe, Wizard. You could probably build a tribe for one or the other at this point and do both on accident. In fact, let’s take a look at the non-Human Wizards…
Augur of Skulls
1B
Creature – Skeleton Wizard
1B: Regenerate Augur of Skulls. Sacrifice Augur of Skulls: Target player discards two cards. Play this ability only during your upkeep.
1/1
So, it’s a bad Drudge Skeleton, or a cheap Mind Rot if it can live a turn. I dunno, turn 1 The Rack, turn 2 this, turn 3 Stupor? Seems kind of goodish. Probably scoop-worthy. Packing removal for X/1s is luckily a habit of mine, and this gives good reason to continue the trend.
Aven Augur
3U
Creature – Bird Wizard
Flying Sacrifice Aven Augur: Return up to two target creatures to their owners’ hands. Play this ability only during your upkeep.
2/2
Me, I’d be looking to slip this into the Tribal Standard Illusion deck, as suspending a Riftwing turn 2 and dropping this guy turn 4 just seems like a setup for disappointment for your opponent. He’s not bad for swinging with, either. I’ll bet he proves annoying in Draft.
Aven Mindcensor
2W
Creature – Bird Wizard
Flash (You may play this spell any time you could play an instant). Flying. If an opponent would search a library, that player searches the top four cards of that library instead.
2/1
Neither Dralnu nor Dragonstorm is going to like this, and Terramorphic Expanse might end up a wasted land drop. Now I’m starting to like the look of White Weenie in block. Not so much a Tribal card, though.
Vedalken Aethermage
1U
Creature – Vedalken Wizard
Flash (You may play this spell any time you could play an instant). When Vedalken Aethermage comes into play, return target Sliver to its owner’s hand. Wizardcycling 3 (3, Discard this card: Search your library for a Wizard card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library).
1/2
Obviously the draw here is to drop this guy and go fetch a better one, but barring the card above this, that’s a pretty splendid use of the little bugger, especially with so many juicy targets. Like, oh, I dunno. Teferi? Ugh.
Yixlid Jailer
1B
Creature – Zombie Wizard
Cards in graveyards lose all abilities.
2/1
Well, it puts the "lid" on the bin, that’s for sure. No idea what a Yix is, though. He’s going to do something somewhere, although I’m not sure it’ll be against Dredge. They tend to pack Darkblast, yanno. Although I imagine Tribally speaking we can expect this guy to be playing alongside Undead Warchief and Lord of the Undead, so hey.
Yeah, that went a lot quicker… next up, our lone spirit. But what a doozy.
Spirit en-Dal
2W
Creature – Spirit
Shadow (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow). Forecast – 1W, Reveal Spirit en-Dal from your hand: Target creature gains shadow until end of turn. (Play this ability only during your upkeep and only once each turn.)
2/1
Please don’t ever actually cast this. Shame it can’t be used on Calciderm, but I could see splashing for White just to use this in a deck with stuff like Imperiosaur, Greater Gargadon, or other non-evasive lumps of muscle. I predict this card will be very hated in the Casual Room.
Now we’re go check up on Lovisa’s boys, the Warrior crowd. They didn’t do too badly, truth be told.
Bloodshot Trainee
3R
Creature – Goblin Warrior
T: Bloodshot Trainee deals 4 damage to target creature. Play this ability only if Bloodshot Trainee’s power is 4 or greater.
2/3
I feel sorry for this little guy. I mean, left to his own devices, he’s never going to get to use his ability. That said, I think he’s a bit overcosted. Why could he not have cost three? I mean, unassisted, he’s a friggin’ Hurloon Minotaur. Maybe if Bonesplitter were in the format, I’d understand. He looks nice, but he’s just junky. For less mana and far less effort, you can have Char.
Boldwyr Intimidator
5RR
Creature – Giant Warrior
Cowards can’t block Warriors. R: Target creature’s type becomes Coward until end of turn. 2R: Target creature’s type becomes Warrior until end of turn.
5/5
Note, also, that this is a subtle Tribal hoser. He isn’t making things gain the Coward type, they become Cowards. I mean, never mind this guy oozes flavor, or that he can make Lovisa into a Warrior herself, but also hosing Slivers or Illusions on top of it all… just fun, man. Yes, my Keldon Marauder will be getting through unblocked, thankyouverymuch.
Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
2BB
Legendary Creature – Zombie Warrior
Korlash, Heir to Blackblade’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of Swamps you control. 1B: Regenerate Korlash. Grandeur – Discard another card named Korlash, Heir to Blackblade: Search your library for up to two Swamp cards, put them into play tapped, then shuffle your library.
*/*
Who’s the black private d*ck that’s a sex machine to all the chicks?
Korlash!
Damn right.
Who is the man that would risk his neck for his brother man?
Korlash!
Can you dig it?
Who’s the cat that won’t cop out when there’s danger all about?
Korlash!
Right on.
They say this cat Korlash is a bad mutha…
Shut yo’ mouth!
But I’m talkin’ about Korlash…
And we can dig it.
He’s a complicated man, but no one understands him but his woman.
But we understand that he can beat face, eat souls, and keep comin’ back for more. And that’s enough for us, so he can keep his woman.
Mass of Ghouls
3BB
Creature – Zombie Warrior
5/3
Obviously the next step in the Giant Cockroach mana curve, except with two good creature types and wow, what fantastic art. Tribally speaking, this is probably a 2BB 7/4, or a 3BB hasty 7/5. Pretty scary stuff.
Nacatl War-Pride
3GGG
Creature – Cat Warrior
Nacatl War-Pride must be blocked by exactly one creature if able. Whenever Nacatl War-Pride attacks, put X tokens into play tapped and attacking that are copies of Nacatl War-Pride, where X is the number of creatures defending player controls. Remove the tokens from the game at end of turn.
3/3
I don’t know how good it is, but I definitely want to try it and find out. Okay, it dies to a lot of commonly played removal spells, but not only will this guy ensure all your other critters get through, but the tokens will probably be killing utility dorks like Yixlid Jailer or Augurs and such. Assuming, you know, he lives to swing. I want this card to be good, oh yes I do.
Nessian Courser
2G
Creature – Centaur Warrior
3/3
Great, now Trained Armodon is splashable. That’s just what Green needed, more sharing.
Strangely, we have no Soldiers, which seems an odd follow-up to that Benalish Commander guy… so on to Elementals. Or perhaps Smellementals, since most of them stink…
Char-Rumbler
2RR
Creature – Elemental
Double strike R: Char-Rumbler gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
-1/3
Cute. Too bad you need RRRR for this to be better than Sandstone Warrior in any significant way, and he doesn’t see play either.
Force of Savagery
2G
Creature – Elemental
Trample
8/0
For GGG, you can play Groundbreaker and get mostly the same creature. If you really like, you can tap or activate a Wall of Roots to cast Gather Courage and have a better creature that has Haste and doesn’t force you to play with otherwise awful cards. I imagine someone will use this with Pandemonium to cave my skull in, all the same.
Grinning Ignus
2R
Creature – Elemental
R, Return Grinning Ignus to its owner’s hand: Add 2R to your mana pool. Play this ability only any time you could play a sorcery.
2/2
So… barring some kind of Red Edgewalker effect, this guy can’t do anything Seething Song can’t do? Reusable, sure, if it isn’t killed, but I think I’m missing the point.
Lucent Liminid
3WW
Enchantment Creature – Elemental
Flying
3/3
Or I could just put a Cloak on my Birds (also good for a turn 2 Enchantress), end up with a 3/4 Flier for less mana, stick with Green being my main color, and not waste a slot on this in my Enchantress deck? Done.
Rift Elemental
R
Creature – Elemental
1R, Remove a time counter from a permanent you control or suspended card you own: Rift Elemental gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
1/1
This goes in that Jhoira deck that won’t exist unless Teferi is banned in block.
Skizzik Surger
4RR
Creature – Elemental
Haste. Echo – Sacrifice two lands. (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay its echo cost.)
6/4
Skarrg loves this guy. Just sayin’. Probably the best Elemental in the set.
Sparkspitter
2R
Creature – Elemental Shapeshifter
R, T, Discard a card: Put a 3/1 red Elemental creature token named Spark Elemental into play with trample, haste, and "At end of turn, sacrifice Spark Elemental."
1/3
Primal Forcemage has a new best friend. R, T, Discard a card: Ball Lightning with +0/+3.
Storm Entity
1R
Creature – Elemental
Haste. Storm Entity comes into play with a +1/+1 counter on it for each other spell played this turn.
1/1
If you can get this big enough to matter, you could have played a better Storm card.
Yep, they stunk. So badly, in fact, that now the Zombies are jealous and want attention…
Grave Scrabbler
3B
Creature – Zombie
Madness 1B (If you discard this card, you may play it for its madness cost instead of putting it into your graveyard). When Grave Scrabbler comes into play, if its madness cost was paid, you may return target creature card in a graveyard to its owner’s hand.
2/2
So… it’s a cheap Gravedigger, or it’s utterly craptastic without Madness. Hmm. Well, hey, with the Gathan Raiders and Deepcavern Imps of the world…
Putrid Cyclops
2B
Creature – Zombie Cyclops
When Putrid Cyclops comes into play, scry 1, then reveal the top card of your library. Putrid Cyclops gets –X/-X until end of turn, where X is that card’s converted mana cost. (To scry 1, look at the top card of your library, then you may put that card on the bottom of your library.)
3/3
So… Borborgymos isn’t a Cyclops, but this is? Please tell me there will be errata. That aside, I like this guy. Much more playable 3/3 for 3 than Serpent Warrior (outside of a Magus of the Mirror deck…) and you’re probably happy if the next card is a land, too. Zombies get some nutty creature lords too, as previously mentioned.
Skirk Ridge Exhumer
1B
Creature – Zombie Spellshaper
B, T, Discard a card: Put a 1/1 black Zombie Goblin creature token named Festering Goblin into play with "When Festering Goblin is put into a graveyard from play, target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn."
1/1
Probably not as much fun as it seems like. The words "chain reaction" come to mind, offhand. But again, see aforementioned Zombie Lords.
Next up, the Tribe You Can’t Get Away From Online, Slivers.
Frenzy Sliver
1B
Creature – Sliver
All Sliver creatures have frenzy 1. (Whenever a Sliver attacks and isn’t blocked, it gets +1/+0 until end of turn).
1/1
Shouldn’t this be Red?
Homing Sliver
2R
Creature – Sliver
Each Sliver card in each player’s hand has slivercycling 3. Slivercycling 3 (3, Discard this card: Search your library for a Sliver card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library).
2/2
Shouldn’t this be Black?
Lymph Sliver
4W
Creature – Sliver
All Sliver creatures have absorb 1. (If a source would deal damage to a Sliver, prevent 1 of that damage.)
3/3
Isn’t Pulmonic Sliver pretty much better?
Mesmeric Sliver
3U
Creature – Sliver
All Slivers have "When this permanent comes into play, you may fateseal 1." (Its controller looks at the top card of an opponent’s library, then he or she may put that card on the bottom of that library).
2/2
Now we’re getting somewhere. "Whenever a Sliver comes into play, you may check to make sure the opponent’s top card is not mass removal. If it is, put it on the bottom of their library." Just what Slivers always wanted.
Sliver Legion
WUBRG
Legendary Creature – Sliver
All Sliver creatures get +1/+1 for each other Sliver in play.
7/7
All hail 8Coat.dek!
Virulent Sliver
G
Creature – Sliver
All Sliver creatures have poisonous 1. (Whenever a Sliver deals combat damage to a player, that player gets a poison counter. A player with ten or more poison counters loses the game).
1/1
And finally, Green gets a one – drop Sliver. Sure, the ability is more than likely useless, but at least it’s a one drop.
So… Blue gets the best creature in a cycle. That’s news, no doubt. Ah, well. On to greener pastures. Well, forests.
Llanowar Augur
G
Creature – Elf Shaman
Sacrifice Llanowar Augur: Target creature gets +3/+3 and gains trample until end of turn. Play this ability only during your upkeep.
0/3
Let’s have a look – see at this guy’s flavor text, shall we? "I am irrelevant." Yeah, pretty much. Don’t bother reading the rest.
Llanowar Empath
3G
Creature – Elf Shaman
When Llanowar Empath comes into play, scry 2, then reveal the top card of your library. If it’s a creature card, put it into your hand. (To scry 2, look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them on the bottom of your library and the rest on top in any order.)
2/2
Or I could, you know, just draw three for the same converted mana cost. Let’s go with that.
Llanowar Mentor
G
Creature – Elf Shaman
G, T, Discard a card: Put a 1/1 green Elf Druid creature token named Llanowar Elves into play with "T Add G to your mana pool."
1/1
And the Dredge / Reanimator decks did praise Wizards. And lo, it was good.
Riftsweeper
1G
Creature – Elf Shaman
When Riftsweeper comes into play, choose target face – up card that’s removed from the game. Its owner shuffles it into his or her library.
2/2
You might think it screws Suspend. Sure, it could. I think it’s a bear in Prismatic who get me back a used All Suns’ Dawn, or a Genesis that’s been removed from game, or let me re-use a Wish in Extended. Just sayin’.
Thornweald Archer
1G
Creature – Elf Archer
Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying). Deathtouch (Whenever this creature deals damage to a creature, destroy that creature).
2/1
Read Deathtouch. Carefully. Now read Fire Whip. Now wait for Wizards to put Deathtouch on something that doesn’t die to Fire Whip. Heh.
We also just covered most of the Shamen, but we did leave two out, so…
Centaur Omenreader
3G
Snow Creature – Centaur Shaman
As long as Centaur Omenreader is tapped, creature spells you play cost 2 less to play.
3/3
I want to do something with this, that I know. Centaurs could certainly benefit from the cost reduction, tribally speaking, but moreover, I think this will be fun with some Flash critters. Which, yeah, means he probably works best alongside Teferi. Die, Teferi, die.
Emberwilde Augur
1R
Creature – Goblin Shaman
Sacrifice Emberwilde Augur: Emberwilde Augur deals 3 damage to target player. Play this ability only during your upkeep.
2/1
At least you know when to sacrifice this one. As soon as they play a blocker you can’t burn out, namely.
Shivan Sand – Mage
2RR
Creature – Viashino Shaman
When Shivan Sand – Mage comes into play, choose one – Remove two time counters from target permanent or suspended card; or put two time counters on target permanent with a time counter on it or suspended card. Suspend 4 – R
3/2
Does nothing for either of his tribes in particular. Joy? Also a perfect card for the Jhoira deck that won’t exist. Thanks again, Teferi.
And now for the last of the Mohicans… I mean Goblins.
Steamflogger Boss
3R
Creature – Goblin Rigger
Other Rigger creatures you control get +1/+0 and have haste. If a Rigger you control would assemble a Contraption, it assembles two Contraptions instead.
3/3
YES! A RARE AUROCHS! THANK YOU, WIZARDS! Maybe some day, if and when we know what a Contraption is, this card will matter. Or this is a giant red herring and waste of set space. You decide!
Next up, Beasts. Except singular. Because there’s only one. The other is mostly a spell.
Cryptic Annelid
3U
Creature – Beast
When Cryptic Annelid comes into play, scry 1, then scry 2, then scry 3. (To scry X, look at the top X cards of your library, then put any number of them on the bottom of your library and the rest on top in any order).
1/4
Not much a fan of the creature, being an overcosted Turtle, but the effect… yeah, I think that’s pretty neat. But doesn’t this logically support that if the effect were a spell, it would cost 1? Hmm.
Quagnoth
5G
Creature – Beast
Split second (As long as this spell is on the stack, players can’t play spells or activated abilities that aren’t mana abilities). Shroud (This permanent can’t be the target of spells or abilities). When a spell or ability an opponent controls causes you to discard Quagnoth, return it to your hand.
4/5
Too bad Damnation, Grave Peril, and Vesuvan Shapeshifter were also printed in this block, mm? He’s probably still good, just not so much as the colors he was obviously designed to be good against. Sigh.
All the Clerics, Knights, and Birds have been covered, so we skip down to the Illusion of the set.
Blind Phantasm
2U
Creature – Illusion
2/3
Looks cool, no?
Narcomoeba
1U
Creature – Illusion
Flying. When Narcomoeba is put into your graveyard from your library, you may put it into play.
1/1
Shouldn’t this be Green, or Black…? I mean, it’s basically a Dredge card… ugh. We don’t know where to put it? We’ll put it in Blue!
Unblinking Bleb
3U
Creature – Illusion
Morph 2U (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for 3. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost). Whenever Unblinking Bleb or another permanent is turned face up, you may scry 2. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them on the bottom of your library and the rest on top in any order.)
1/3
I want to like this card, but I know deep down it’s pretty awful. The effect isn’t bad or anything, it’s just going to die quickly against anyone who understands how much it’s improving your draw quality, assuming either player is playing any significant number of morphs. Especially Shapeshifters.
Partners in crime?
Infiltrator il-Kor
4U
Creature – Kor Rogue
Shadow (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow). Suspend 2 – 1U (Rather than play this card from your hand, you may pay 1U and remove it from the game with two time counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter. When you remove the last, play it without paying its mana cost. It has haste).
3/1
For one, this guy is a bargain if suspended. For two, the use of color in that art is friggin’ fantastic. Someone give this guy more cards to do. That’s just a feast for the eyes. Trippy.
Mistmeadow Skulk
1W
Creature – Kithkin Rogue
Protection from converted mana cost 3 or greater. Lifelink (Whenever this creature deals damage, you gain that much life).
1/1
I want to Cloak this so badly, but I can’t. Maybe with Vulshok Morningstar in Bloodshot Trainee.dek? I feel like a worse player just for communicating that though.
Last Giant Standing…
Fomori Nomad
4R
Creature – Nomad Giant
4/4
Yep. Although that looks more like a Beast than a Nomad to me, but hey.
Terrible Two? Nah. Horrible Two.
Fleshwrither
2BB
Creature – Horror
Transfigure 1BB (1BB, Sacrifice this creature: Search your library for a creature card with the same converted mana cost as this creature and put that card into play. Then shuffle your library. Play only as a sorcery).
3/3
1BB, Sacrifice this: Put Korlash into play with regeneration mana open turn 5. You’re welcome.
Nihilith
4BB
Creature – Horror
Fear Suspend 7 – 1B Whenever a card is put into an opponent’s graveyard from anywhere, if Nihilith is suspended, you may remove a time counter from Nihilith.
4/4
Seems to work well in discard decks, or as everyone else has already mentioned, giving Glimpse the Unplayable some actual teeth and a secondary win condition. Be very glad they didn’t make this Suspend 8 – B.
And now for the art showcase known as the creature type Dragon.
Scourge of Kher Ridges
6RR
Creature – Dragon
Flying 1R: Scourge of Kher Ridges deals 2 damage to each creature without flying. 5R: Scourge of Kher Ridges deals 6 damage to each other creature with flying.
6/6
How can you not love this guy? Sure, you probably have to cheat him into play (or be playing ‘Tron) to get any use out of him, but how awesome is he as a control critter? Good laud, man. Looks like he could stand to eat a bit more, but I guess it’s not his fault he reduces everything in a one-mile radius to ash.
Tarox Bladewing
2RRR
Legendary Creature – Dragon
Flying, haste Grandeur – Discard another card named Tarox Bladewing: Tarox Bladewing gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X is its power.
4/3
+ Brute Force = embarrass daddy Rorix for the same mana cost. Let’s merrily ignore the possibility of Grandeur on top of that, no?
And the last two Rebels we didn’t catch elsewhere…
Blade of the Sixth Pride
1W
Creature – Cat Rebel
3/1
Nice follow-up to Savannah Lions, you think?
Deepcavern Imp
2B
Creature – Imp Rebel
Flying, haste. Echo – Discard a card. (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay its echo cost.)
2/2
Flying? Haste? Echo – Play a Madness card? Why is this a Rebel? It does just about everything you don’t want in a Rebel. What good is Haste if your play is to pop him out during end step? Don’t let his type fool you, he’s a Madness / Dredge / Hellbent / Reanimator enabler, not a Rebel.
I should stop doing these introductions, this thing is getting long. How’d I get myself into this? Oh, well. The early bird gets the Wurm.
Ravaging Riftwurm
1GG
Creature – Wurm
Kicker 4 (You may pay an additional 4 as you play this spell). Vanishing 2 (This permanent comes into play with two time counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter from it. When the last is removed, sacrifice it). If the kicker cost was paid, Ravaging Riftwurm comes into play with three additional time counters on it.
6/6
This must be for that Pandemonium deck, because it sucks otherwise. You may pay 1GG and get a crappy, non-haste, non-trampling Groundbreaker, or you can pay 5GG and get a temporary, non-trampling Rootbreaker Wurm. Either way you slice it, this thing is terrible on its own.
Saltskitter
3W
Creature – Wurm
Whenever another creature comes into play, remove Saltskitter from the game. Return Saltskitter to play under its owner’s control at end of turn.
3/4
Yet another component in Three-Color Pandemonium. Apparently Wurms and Pandemonium have some connection I’m just not seeing…
More Creatureshapers for your liking… wait, why aren’t they called Creatureshapers? Ugh.
Cloudseeder
1U
Creature – Faerie Spellshaper
Flying U, T, Discard a card: Put a 1/1 blue Faerie creature token named Cloud Sprite into play with flying and "Cloud Sprite can block only creatures with flying."
1/1
Wow, but that’s pretty. Not very useful, I am thinking, but pretty.
Goldmeadow Lookout
3W
Creature – Kithkin Spellshaper
W, T, Discard a card: Put a 1/1 white Kithkin Soldier creature token named Goldmeadow Harrier into play with "W, T Tap target creature."
2/2
And this is the opposite end of the spectrum; ugly as sin, but useful.
Sliversmith
2
Artifact Creature – Spellshaper
1, T, Discard a card: Put a 1/1 Sliver artifact creature token named Metallic Sliver into play.
1/1
I mean, what else were they going to do, Hoptermaker?
Show me on the doll where the Angel touched you.
Angel of Salvation
6WW
Creature – Angel
Flash; convoke (Each creature you tap while playing this spell reduces its cost by 1 or by one mana of that creature’s color). Flying. When Angel of Salvation comes into play, prevent the next 5 damage that would be dealt this turn to any number of target creatures and / or players, divided as you choose.
5/5
Of course, the problem being there’s no Instant speed Angelstorm, you can’t get more than one of these out at the time your opponent is dropping four Hellkites into play…
Please fire the next artist who puts a crown on an animal. Thanks.
Seht’s Tiger
2WW
Creature – Cat
Flash (You may play this spell any time you could play an instant). When Seht’s Tiger comes into play, you gain protection from the color of your choice until end of turn. (You can’t be targeted, dealt damage, or enchanted by anything of the chosen color.)
3/3
The downside being that instead, the Hellkites will merely Wrath you. The upside being you won’t lose anything to your own Wrath which you will then need to stay in the game.
Let’s hope this is the last we need to endure of Thallids for awhile. Thanks again for giving Green this instead of a good mechanic for the block, guys.
Sporoloth Ancient
3GG
Creature – Fungus
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a spore counter on Sporoloth Ancient. Creatures you control have "Remove two spore counters from this creature: Put a 1/1 green Saproling creature token into play."
4/4
Step 1: Make a Thallid enabler (but put it at the top of the curve, guys)
Step 2: ???
Step 3: Profit!
Utopia Mycon
G
Creature – Fungus
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a spore counter on Utopia Mycon. Remove three spore counters from Utopia Mycon: Put a 1/1 green Saproling creature token into play. Sacrifice a Saproling: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
0/2
Because the first thing I want to do with a token I had to make an 0/2 survive three turns for is pop it for more mana. Instead of, you know, playing an Elf or something.
And now to wrap up all the little singletons lying around, most of which will displease me. Ready?
Bonded Fetch
2U
Creature – Homunculus
Defender, haste T: Draw a card, then discard a card.
0/2
Why would you ever want this over Thought Courier or Looter il-Kor? It has the same ability, becomes active the same turn, and never has the option of doing damage. This is crap. Anything it could block is also a potential Pendelhaven target.
Dryad Arbor
Land Creature – Forest Dryad
(Dryad Arbor isn’t a spell, it’s affected by summoning sickness, and it has "T: Add G to your mana pool.") Dryad Arbor is green.
1/1
This is immune to Repeal (and other cards which specify "non-land"). I’m trying to think of another strong use for it, but nothing’s coming. I guess it makes for a neat token to use for Llanowar Mentor tokens. Maybe it’s because I think of it as a free 1/1 rather than a land that can swing.
Epochrasite
2
Artifact Creature – Construct
Epochrasite comes into play with three +1/+1 counters on it if you didn’t play it from your hand. When Epochrasite is put into a graveyard from play, remove it from the game with three time counters on it and it gains suspend.
1/1
Question #1: Why isn’t this Green? It supports growth, is eventually an undercosted fattie, and has that unsolvability that we were told Green would be getting.
Question #2: Why isn’t this an Insect? That’s pretty much what it looks like, and it might then have synergy with Swarmyard. Would that have made it too good?
Heartwood Storyteller
1GG
Creature – Treefolk
Whenever a player plays a noncreature spell, each of that player’s opponents may draw a card.
2/3
I think this guy may be a little better than Ohran Viper for actually drawing card. He dies to all the same stuff, but swings harder. I think I like him.
Henchfiend of Ukor
3R
Creature – Ogre
Haste. Echo 1B (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, sacrifice this permanent unless you pay its echo cost). B/R: Henchfiend of Ukor gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
3/2
You know, I’m pretty sure he’s not very good, but still, I think he’s pretty cool. I may just like hybrid mana. I’m surprised this guy is common, though, with two keywords and hybrid mana.
Imperiosaur
2GG
Creature – Lizard
Spend only mana produced by basic lands to play Imperiosaur.
5/5
First off, that’s a Dinosaur, not a Lizard. At the very least, make it a Giant Lizard. Secondly, why is it every single Green creature with 5+ power this set has a drawback? I hope that’s not a glimpse into the future, Wizards.
Kavu Primarch
3G
Creature – Kavu
Convoke (Each creature you tap while playing this spell reduces its total cost by 1 or by one mana of that creature’s color). Kicker 4 (You may pay an additional 4 as you play this spell). If the kicker cost was paid, Kavu Primarch comes into play with four +1/+1 counters on it.
3/3
Yet another creature pre-emptively obsoleted by Rootbreaker Wurm.
Maelstrom Djinn
7U
Creature – Djinn
Flying. Morph 2U. When Maelstrom Djinn is turned face up, put two time counters on it and it gains vanishing. (At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter from it. When the last is removed, sacrifice it.)
5/6
Because Mahamoti Djinn was wrecking the tournament scene.
Sarcomite Myr
2U
Artifact Creature – Myr
2: Sarcomite Myr gains flying until end of turn. 2, Sacrifice Sarcomite Myr: Draw a card.
2/1
So… overpriced Roofstalker Wight or five mana to draw a card? I’ll pass. Wait, he’s immune to Magus of the Abyss! I’ll still pass.
Shah of Naar Isle
3R
Creature – Efreet
Trample. Echo 0 (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay its echo cost). When Shah of Naar Isle’s echo cost is paid, each opponent may draw up to three cards.
6/6
I am going to find a deck for this guy. It will probably suck and I’ll hate myself for ever having built it, but first off, Efreeti are cool, and second, every time this works, I am going to be called a lucksack, and I will laugh the entire time.
Shimian Specter
2BB
Creature – Specter
Flying. Whenever Shimian Specter deals combat damage to a player, that player reveals his or her hand. Choose a nonland card from it. Search that player’s graveyard, hand, and library for all cards with the same name as that card and remove them from the game. Then that player shuffles his or her library.
2/2
Would 2/3 has been so bad? He’s not going to resolve against control, the least you could have done was let him block a weenie once without dying, or maybe require more than a Shock to kill. This is going to be a very overrated, overhyped card.
Soultether Golem
2
Artifact Creature – Golem
Vanishing 1 (This permanent comes into play with a time counter on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter from it. When the last is removed, sacrifice it). Whenever another creature comes into play under your control, put a time counter on Soultether Golem.
3/3
So… it’s an undercosted beater than works best when you can produce a bunch of tokens to keep it in play? Wow, what a great Green creature! Oh, wait…
Spellwild Ouphe
1G
Creature – Ouphe
Spells that target Spellwild Ouphe cost 2 less to play.
1/3
Good, my opponent can kill it more easily than usual. Just what Green always needed.
Street Wraith
3BB
Creature – Wraith
Swampwalk. Cycling – Pay 2 life. (Pay 2 life, Discard this card: Draw a card).
3/4
So this + Mishra’s Bauble = 52 card deck? Great! Now we just need a combo deck which wants to be down to 52 cards. Dragonstorm? Great! Wait, it needs all 60 cards. Ah, well. Someone will find a home for this guy.
Stronghold Rats
2B
Creature – Rat
Shadow (This creature can block or be blocked by only creatures with shadow). Whenever Stronghold Rats deals combat damage to a player, each player discards a card.
2/1
Blah blah Hellbent blah blah Dredge blah blah Madness blah blah Reanimator. Could it be they’re pushing this deck just a little too hard here? Just sayin’.
Tarmogoyf
1G
Creature – Lhurgoyf
Tarmogoyf’s power is equal to the number of card types among cards in all graveyards and its toughness is equal to that number plus 1. (The card types are artifact, creature, enchantment, instant, land, planeswalker, sorcery, and tribal).
*/1+*
So… Planeswalker, eh? Inter-block design… Future Sight… Lorwyn is supposed to be the Rule-Breaking Block. Obviously, this is a red herring. Wouldn’t anything else be too obvious? I suppose we’ll see. Anyhow, neat little card, very creative.
Tombstalker
6BB
Creature – Demon
Flying. Delve (You may remove any number of cards in your graveyard from the game as you play this spell. It costs 1 less to play for each card removed this way).
5/5
Okay, so in Dredge, I can manage a turn 3 five-power flier that survives Char. But I have to give up my bin. But I still have a Grave-Troll in my hand? Okay, I can work with that. I only wish he’d had Dredge himself in case he does manage to get cacked. Oh, well. Can’t have everything.
Whip-Spine Drake
3UU
Creature – Drake
Flying. Morph 2W (You may play this face down as a 2/2 creature for 3. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost).
3/3
I hate to end this on a down note, but who is this for? Five or six mana for a 3/3 flier? Surely this could have used another ability somewhere along the line. Especially the in two best flying colors.
No, no decklist this week. I built one, but seeing the monster size of this article, I’ll be shocked if Craig doesn’t split it over two weeks already. I’m afraid you’ll be going without the decklist this week, sorry.
Signing off,
Rivien Swanson
flawedparadigm a(aye Carumba!)t gmaSPAMSUCKSil d(.)ot co[I spent eight hours of my one day off a week on this. I suck.]m
Flawed Paradigm on MTGO (when I actually log in)