I know, you’re probably burnt out with set reviews for Alara Reborn, but I hope you’ll stick with me for one more. Before almost every set’s release, we see a predictable pattern of extreme hype (wow, this is the best set ever!) followed by over-stated backlash (man, worst set ever!), when the reality tends to fall somewhere in the middle. Personally, I think this is a solid set with plenty of role-players for all the formats of Constructed Magic.
I’ve always found it is most useful to try to predict card power and to guess at final price determinations after this initial hype has tapered off. What I’ve attempted to do below is to discuss not just the cards in relation to the format they’re legal in now, but also looking ahead to where they’re likely to go over the course of the year, given the upcoming rotations for Standard and Extended. I’ve also taken a look at any potential applications in Eternal formats.
Let me get this out of the way first: I don’t think this card is going to have an immediate impact on Standard. It’s already legal in Vintage and Legacy, and Extended isn’t relevant again for over six months, so for the time being, its use in Standard will determine its value. Therefore, it is highly likely that we’ll see the price come down on this card, especially given the number that are already in circulation. We also need to be cognizant of the fact that competing with Meddling Mage in Extended (and currently in Standard, even) are Gaddock Teeg, Tidehollow Sculler, and Ethersworn Canonist. The fact that Meddling Mage is an iconic card should help keep its value somewhat steady, or at least prevent it from dropping below the $10 plateau, but I just can’t see this card slotting into any existing decks (outside of Esperlark, which is of debatable strength and already has a card with similar utility) and it isn’t powerful enough in and of itself to necessitate the creation of a new deck.
Having said that… Meddling Mage may still have the power to shape the upcoming metagame once Zendicar is released. At that time, we’ll have seen M10 replace 10th Edition (with a net loss of around 100 cards), and Zendicar rotate in to replace Lorwyn, Morningtide, Shadowmoor, and Eventide, which is an enormous loss. This smaller card pool should create an environment for Meddling Mage to shine. Although I haven’t had the chance to play much (read: any) Shards Constructed, from what I understand it revolves around a few key cards in each match-up, and this is the type of environment where Meddling Mage really does become a chase rare. I think the right play on Meddling Mage is to wait until Regionals and the PTQ season are over, and then pick them up before the release of Zendicar. In terms of applications for older formats, well – they already have Meddling Mage, so nothing new to report.
This card deserves to be a chase rare, because it really is quite good. I’m particularly excited to have access to it in a deck like B/G Elves. One of the issues with that deck right now is how you respond to a turn 3 Jace. If the Elves player attacks it with two creatures, then they haven’t dealt critical early damage; unchecked, however, Jace tends to win games for the control player. Maelstrom Pulse is a perfect compromise card in that it trades with Jace for equal mana and allows the aggro deck to continue doing what it wants to do: attacking the opposing player. Pulse is also quite flexible in ways we don’t have in Standard right now, equally adept at blowing up Bitterblossom or its detestable Faerie Rogue tokens. Although Elves will be rotating out of Standard shortly, it sounds like Garruk is going to be in M10, so between Garruk, Maelstrom Pulse, Putrid Leech, and Lord of Extinction, the cards we already know about provide a potentially strong base for a Black/Green deck.
It is also easy to see this card finding a home in Extended. Last season, we saw Zoo decks were willing to run the weaker Oblivion Ring to have a flexible answer (albeit one originally played so that the deck had a potential out to Blood Moon). It isn’t a stretch to see any Doran aggro or mid-range Rock-style decks running this card as well. As we push back into Legacy, there are two decks I can see wanting this card. The first is Eva-Green style decks, which Doug Linn covered recently. The issue there is that this card can’t hit lands, costs three mana (which isn’t insignificant in that style of deck), and isn’t an Instant. The other place I could see this card is as a flexible removal spell in Natural Order Rock, in the sideboard or in the main depending on the meta at the time. I don’t see this card seeing any play in Vintage.
All told, I think this card will settle in the $10-15 range as time goes on. The fact that it doesn’t hit lands does come into play when trying to determine its long-term value, but it is very playable for casual and EDH players. It will also be interesting to see what happens if a deck running Maelstrom Pulse becomes popular. The mirror match could give players some pretty awkward choices with their Pulse targets.
Grossly offensive German translation aside, I am in the camp that believes this card has quite a bit of promise. The fact that this is hands-down the largest creature to ever rumble through casual and EDH multi-player games, AND the fact that it is a Mythic rare from the third set in Shards, should help this card maintain its value for quite a long time. It is both easy to cast and immune to Terror and Terror-derivatives. Just imagine playing this guy in an EDH game with five players after someone has cracked a Memory Jar. While admittedly in the same block as Path to Exile, when played as a late threat combined with early pressure to draw out removal, this guy has potential in Standard. Furthermore, if Extended has taught us anything, it’s that Extended players love The Rock. They just love it. Can’t get enough. People love The Rock almost as much as the ladies in my office enjoy whipping themselves into a frenzy of concern over the swine flu.
If Duress is actually in M10, then Extended players will have access to Thoughtseize, Duress, and Raven’s Crime (which is admittedly weaker without a true Loam engine fueled by cycling lands) along with their shiny new Maelstrom Pulses. The Lord would make an excellent finisher in this kind of deck. In fact, if Duress is in M10, then for a brief period this summer Standard players will have access to the same combination of discard. While the existence of various “token” decks are a problem for the Lord, the fact that Warhammer, Sledge, and Profane Command are in Standard provide potential answers. Because of this card’s potential to be that rare card with applications in both the casual and tournament world, I think this guy has potential and his price might sneak up on people six months from now.
I think most people are underestimating how good this creature really is, mostly because he just doesn’t have a home right now. The Tribal synergy offered by Elves means that this guy is trumped to some extent, although I think he makes a pretty impressive front-line offense when paired with a 3/3 Vanquisher. This creature can live through Infest, Volcanic Fallout, Nameless Inversion, Magma Spray, and Incinerate, can’t be hit by Terror, and can rumble with Kitchen Finks, Knight of Meadowgrain, Knight of the White Orchid, Ranger of Eos, and so on. While obviously not on the level of elite two-drops like Tarmogoyf or Dark Confidant, this is one of the better two-drops we’ve seen recently, and makes a great pairing with those same creatures in an aggressive black/green deck. It should find a home in Standard post-rotation and in Extended, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it sees some play in Legacy.
What is there to say about this card that hasn’t already been said? This guy is something of a dream card for aggro players, and I know I can’t wait to start slinging free Incinerates and Boggart Ram-Gangs with Cascade. However, I am of the opinion that some people have gotten a little bit too excited about Bloodbraid Elf. I’d be very surprised if we ever actually see a control deck running this card. The idea of flipping Jace off Bloodbraid Elf seems far-fetched to me. Regardless, expect this to be the chase uncommon from this set.
I also think Bloodbraid Elf should have decent staying power into Extended. For example, in Extended Zoo, is this guy better than Ranger of Eos? Possibly, in that playing a free Woolly Thoctar is pretty ridiculous. In fact, running this card in combination with Dark Confidant is something that has me very excited for the next Extended season, as going up to a full eight cards that provide card advantage sounds incredible. When we move back to Legacy, though, I don’t think this card is strong enough. There isn’t really an existing deck we can fit it into, and four mana is a lot to ask for most aggro decks in Legacy. Similarly, he is way too expensive for Vintage play.
Decent card, but overpriced right now. The fact that it is two colors actually makes it considerably worse in Extended, where Cranial Extraction already is only seeing play in rare cases, and it is basically unplayable in Eternal formats. Four mana is a lot to ask of an aggro deck, and the potential to deal a few points of damage isn’t that relevant for mid-range decks. This card would be most useful if there were any combo decks in Standard, but that isn’t the case. I would be highly surprised if this card doesn’t drop off quickly as the summer goes on. See Earwig Squad for a similar card that received unanimous praise during set reviews but quickly faded into irrelevance and the dollar bin.
This card actually looks under-valued to me, based on the power it brings to Standard. I would definitely suggest picking these up at their current value. As we have four months of Standard being the most relevant format, this card is likely to see an increase in value. I can see all kinds of applications…
Save the team in G/W Tokens or G/W “Little Kid”
Save the team in Dark Bant
Save the team in Doran
Save the team in Bant Aggro
Beat face as a 3/3 for 3 that becomes a 5/5 if Wilt-Leaf Liege is in play
Okay, so in reality most of his applications involve throwing himself on the grenade to save his squad mates, but the fact that a Bant, Elves, or Doran deck can reasonably expect him to be in play on turn 2 makes this is an exciting card. Consider the opening of a first turn Noble Hierarch into a second turn Escort followed by another threat or a Qasali Pridemage.
Unfortunately, as we move through older formats, saving the team because considerably less important. It is quite possible he could see play in Extended (remembering that cards like Tallowisp have seen successful play in that format), but beyond that I don’t really see much potential.
Pridemage is one heck of a creature, and I think it will see considerable play in Standard and Extended. Creatures with this type of flexibility are rarely printed, especially as commons. I know I’m happy that this is a common, because if it was uncommon it would be in the $4-5 range, and I think it would be $10+ as a rare. I could actually see this card seeing play in Legacy as it destroys Aether Vial, Counterbalance, Threads of Disloyalty, Trinisphere, and so on, but most creature-heavy decks in that format are tribal-centered, and Green/White is not an optimal color combination for Legacy.
I discussed this card in a previous article, and my thoughts haven’t changed all that much. I think it has quite a bit of potential in Standard, but it also has the ability to trick players into running suboptimal cards without enough pay-off. Its staying power in Standard is also a concern, as Figure of Destiny and Tattermunge Maniac will be rotating out, taking away our ability to pump this guy on turn 2 outside of Borderposts. I can’t see this card seeing any serious play outside of Standard.
Seems okay, but I think it’s a little over-rated right now. The fact that his unearth cost is so high is problematic, as Red aggro decks are moving away from the 25-land Demigod model from last year into faster, leaner Sligh-style mana-curve decks. For the periods this summer that Faeries and Five Color Control are very popular, this will be an excellent sideboard card. It has limited applications outside of Standard, since Price of Progress is legal in Vintage and Legacy (and, at two mana, two damage, and instant speed, is considerably better), and Extended Zoo has better options.
Admittedly this card is mostly already legal in Standard, but Sister Sledge is VERY good in G/W Tokens or Bant Aggro. In decks that are on-color, this card probably is better than Loxodon Warhammer, and that’s saying something. Warhammer has seen some play in Extended, so this may pass through to that format as well, but I expect this will mostly just see limited (but effective) play in some Standard decks.
Good creature, but Legendary status is a big blow, and there is a considerable glut of playable creatures at this cost and color combination in Standard. Another creature likely to see more play post-rotation, and given this fact I just don’t see this card holding its current value. Jenara is strong enough to see play in Extended, but the tri-color requirement (of those specific colors) probably kills its chances in Legacy.
Absolutely the sleeper card of the set thus far, especially in regard to Eternal formats. Foils of this card are going to be in high demand. However, I do think this card has the potential to see play in Standard as well. Playing Lorescale turn 2 using Noble Hierarch, he already swings as a 4/4 on turn 3 and will continue to grow from there. In Extended, cards like Thirst for Knowledge and Ancestral Visions can quickly grow Lorescale, and he shows promise in that format as well.
In Legacy, though, this creature can truly shine, as that format is the lone bastion of unrestricted Brainstorm, and has access to Sylvan Library, Ancestral Visions, Thirst for Knowledge, and Sensei’s Divining Top as well. Although three mana is slightly above the traditional cut-off for Threshold-type decks, GP: Chicago showed us that there was room in the format for four-cost creatures like Sower of Temptation. I definitely think this card will see play. Furthermore, he even has Vintage applications, as a sideboard threat similar to Tarmogoyf, or an alternate win condition in Mystic Remora control as a replacement for Psychatog (as suggested by Stephen Menendian in the forums). Meditate and Remora along with this guy? Pretty savage.
Quick Hits
Colossal Might: Pump spells rarely see play. Even in Standard, players have access to both Terror and Path to Exile. I think this will see some play early, but not much.
Blitz Hellion: Overrated card with no home right now.
Bituminous Blast: Cute, probably good enough for Block, but unlikely to see much play this summer. Possibly gets better after rotation.
Nulltread Gargantuan: I want to like this guy, as a 5/6 for three is ridiculous, but the potential for being blown out is much too high.
Sen Triplets: Nice card, but unlikely to see much play in Eternal formats. The ability to play this card using Goblin Welder is cute, but actually playing him is far too difficult.
Spellbreaker Behemoth: There were Standard formats where this card would’ve been terrific, but I don’t think this is one of them. The current format is marked not by tremendous counterspells, but rather by excellent removal.
Sphinx of the Steel Wind: I think this is sitting at around the right price point. Actually a surprisingly solid card when you consider it has immunity to all Red and Green artifact destruction.
Vithian Renegades: Awesome card. Except for a few corner cases (basically dedicated Elves decks), this is a better Viridian Shaman. Playable in all formats, really.
Zealous Persecution: Should Black/White Tokens grow in popularity, this could be a potential blowout card from the sideboard.
This weekend is a combination Standard / Vintage event in Philadelphia, so next week I should be able to bring the goods with a pre-Regionals metagame update for the northeast, along with a Vintage tournament report and/or match coverage.
Matt Elias
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Voltron00x on Xbox Live and SCG forums