Double-faced cards, eh? Apparently, those words are all it takes to bring out the Chicken Little in all of us. A quick search of some random
MTG-related message boards and some Facebook posts yields dire warnings:
“I don’t like it.”
They are “the definition of clunky.”
“One of the worst mechanics in MTG history.”
“Most epic fail since Jace 2.0.”
“Top-down design is the ruination of the game.”
“I almost wonder if these cards will end up banned…for logistics reasons.”
If I had a dollar for every time the sky actually has fallen, I’d have three dollars… but only because that money was already in my pocket. What’s
interesting, though, is that this is the first time in recent memory that there has been such a community backlash regarding an issue of logistics rather than one of appearance or mechanics.
For example, when 8th Edition was announced, many players were dissatisfied with the new card face — and especially with the artifact
border, which was a light gray rather than the solid brown used in prior sets (an issue of appearance). When Blightsteel Colossus was spoiled, it was
nicknamed “One-Shot the Robot” because it could kill a player with a single attack, and many players were unhappy with the card’s perceived power level
(an issue with mechanics, and loosely an issue with the usurpation of Darksteel Colossus’ place of honor).
Somehow, we have survived both tragedies and continue to play Magic.
If I were to hazard a guess, I’d say that the “Diffusion of Innovation” theory, often encountered in healthcare, is highly relevant to how the Magic
community reacts to each new set. According to the theory, the general population approaches new ideas as follows:
The proportions of the pie graph above represent the general theoretical estimate of how a random population approaches innovative concepts. If we take
the Wizards of the Coast R&D members and others involved in the set’s creation to be the Innovators (those who first propose new mechanics
and ideas), we can see that those who “glom” on to the ideas as soon as the spoilers are out (Early Adopters) are a much smaller proportion of
the population than those who identify with the innovations later (but resist at first).
In his “Making Magic” column this week, Mark Rosewater acknowledged
that the primary opposition and issue with the double-faced cards is one of logistics, especially in terms of Limited. That said, I’ve seen little
argument that the flavor of these cards is poor. On the contrary, this is shaping up to be one of the most flavorful sets in quite some time —
and the Day / Night mechanic, as Mark points out, is evocative of the morality tale that structurally is embedded in most horror stories.
Therefore, if we can get past the logistics, then we should be satisfied with the set. I suspect that a small proportion of us will enjoy the
double-faced cards immediately… but for the rest of us, they may take some getting used to.
The primary logistical issues that I have seen thus far are:
Concern: If there is a financially expensive double-faced card, it likely will experience more wear and tear than a normal card.
While might be a reasonable concern, the impact of this mechanic on card value would only be significant if one of the transforming creatures
were a tournament staple to the extent that the difference between a NM and SP price for the card become meaningful.
As flavorful as the mechanic is, I see this as being unlikely — and, if it occurs, 75% of packs will have a proxy card. The additional effort required
to use a proxy is minimal, meaning that you can preserve you value if you want to.
Concern: Drafting this set will be less skillful because cards with two faces will be known information.
In a way, this reminds me of the many debates that arose when Wizards announced the removal of damage going on the stack. At first, it was thought that
it would make the game easier to play. (At least in the Internet Magic community, that was seen as a bad thing because it allowed those who’ve invested
less time in the game to succeed at higher levels.)
However, it turns out that combat damage without the stack prompts an equal number of decisions — but the decisions are made on different levels than
before.
In the same way, I think that having small amounts of known information in a draft may seem degenerate (i.e., “everyone will know I passed a green
card”), but the impact is limited to a few cards, and there are separate strategic decisions involved because everyone can see the cards.
Concern: The use of proxy cards, especially in Limited events, will pose a challenge to judges and may enable cheating.
Of the three concerns, this feels the most troublesome to me. While judges already have a difficult job, I don’t think that this mechanic makes it more
difficult for them to perform their necessary duties (they’re skilled enough that this probably constitutes a small hurdle).
But at the same time, the more frequently cards are moved between different zones (especially proxy cards) within the context of a game, the easier it
will be for a skilled cheater to alter what card has been drawn, etc.
Putting logistics aside, this set looks very interesting so far. While it’s difficult to assess cards outside of their context until the full spoiler
is up, we do have the opportunity to briefly examine some of the new cards. Many of the cards that have been spoiled so far are vanilla or French
vanilla… but there are some interesting diamonds hidden amongst them. Let’s get to it!
White Cards
Elite Inquisitor
The premier aggressive decks right now seem to be Mono-Red Aggro and Tempered Steel. While Tempered Steel likely will persist through the upcoming
rotation, Mono-Red will take a few hits — most notably the losses of Goblin Guide and Lightning Bolt, both of which perform extremely important
functions at low costs.
So where might a card like this fit in? There are three possible scenarios: In the first, there will be a powerful “human”-themed deck in which this
functions as an aggressive presence. In the second, there will be a deck with Vampires, Werewolves, or Zombies against which white-based control will
need a trump card (much as Kor Firewalker plays the trump for red), in which case this may see reasonable sideboard play. In the third, it doesn’t see
play at all.
Mikaeus, the Lunarch
While I’ve seen this card compared to Ajani Goldmane, I see it as being closer to Steel Overseer, but without the card-type restriction. While it has
the opportunity to hit the battlefield as a larger creature than Steel Overseer, it shrinks itself to grow other creatures — this has the opportunity
to be a role-player in an aggressive white deck (tautologically), but the single white mana in the cost means that it might see play in Tempered Steel
as well (though I’m not sure that it the redundancy in Glorious Anthem effects is needed).
Blue Cards
Ludevic’s Test Subject | Ludevic’s Abomination
I actually like this card a lot in the sideboard of control decks that struggle with the mirror match. While black-based control decks easily can
answer an 0/3, it seems as though U/W decks might struggle to answer this card outside of countermagic (since Into the Roil will have rotated, removing
“bounce for value” from the table). Plus, the fact that the 0/3 has Defender gives it protection from Gideon Jura.
Black Cards
Diregraf Ghoul
The Vampire Lacerator of the block. We’re well past the time when a 2/2 creature for a single mana should raise eyebrows (remember how amazing we
thought Isamaru, Hound of Konda was?), but we should expect this card to be a role-player in aggressive black decks, should one emerge. (This is
relevant because Diregraf Ghoul is an uncommon, unlike Vampire Lacerator, and therefore might have a heightened monetary cost.)
Red Cards
Bloodcrazed Neonate
I’ve seen some positive reviews of this card so far, and I’m somewhat confused by them. While Slith Firewalker saw play as a 1/1 “back in the day,” it
had haste and was played in a format with Chrome Mox, meaning that it could begin attacking on the first turn.
But there were also several other “Slith” creatures in the format at the time, each with a similar ability but without haste, and none of them saw
competitive play. As such, I don’t expect Bloodcrazed Neonate to see Constructed play.
Green Cards
Boneyard Wurm
If the text on this card were slightly different (as in “each graveyard”), I’d almost guarantee that this card would see play. As it is, there isn’t a
significant advantage to playing it on turn 2 — and unlike its much more powerful cousin Tarmogoyf, it isn’t powered by fetchlands or early cantrips.
However, if a deck emerges that dumps an inordinate number of creatures into the graveyard, then I can see this as a more efficient Lord of Extinction
— though in an extremely limited niche archetype.
Mayor of Avabruck | Howlpack Alpha
I wish I knew how difficult it will be to flip these cards, but the average spell density per turn is something that will only be fully understood once
the metagame begins to develop.
However, this card is a “lord” for two mana, which means that it will see play somehow, somewhere. Its “transform” ability, while not as linear as
something as giving Merfolk islandwalk (Lord of Atlantis) or giving illusions hexproof (Lord of the Unreal), may be a viable path to victory because
neither side of the card is legendary.
Multicolor Cards
Olivia Voldaren
Even at a cost of seven mana, repeatable Control Magic effects usually wind up seeing play. Untapping with this card also seems incredible against
aggressive decks — and a single activation moves Olivia out of Incinerate range, while three activations move her out of Dismember range. If I had to
sum her potential in a sentence, I’d say “Marginal Standard use with the potential for more, but very possibly a Block Constructed powerhouse.”
Lands
Dual Lands
These lands are done in the style of the M10 dual lands (like Glacial Fortress), but are set up to support enemy colors (e.g., U/G, R/W, U/R, W/B, and
B/G). Though these may see print in a core set some time in the future, they currently serve to supplant the enemy color fetchlands — and almost
certainly will debut at costs much higher than their non-enemy-color compatriots.
While many of us have been focusing on Modern and the ever-evolving Standard format, Innistrad has crept up on us like a thief in the night — which is
appropriate, given its theme.