Viewing 1 - 7 out of 7 Blogs.

What's happening?
So I fell off the map in the last few weeks. I really wanted to test for States, but school and work kept me away from such pleasures. Sadly enough I do not think I will be able to finish my huge tasks I was hoping to accomplish (Lorwyn set review was so close, and I don't think all the extensive testing really matters at this point,) but regardless I do want to recap what I have learned about the new format. Yes, I know we need to be gearing up for the PTQ season with limited and all but. . .

[insert lengthy side story here]

Sadly I have been gone from the world of Magic in the last few years. Rewind back to Mirrodin Standard. I have happily been playing Ravager for about a year or so, and amassed much prize with it to boot. Sadly I did not invest too much in other newer cards (including the soon-to-be ridiculous Jitte) and squandered my winnings on whim. Then the bannings finally came. I understand it needed to be done, but man that was my deck! That was my style of play (read: broken cards win.) Ironically enough, after the bannings I ended up as little Johnny Scrubsville without the funds for a $80 set of Jitte, Meloku and friends. After Ravinica things anly got worse and I was all but dead to the Magic world. I sold off a bunch of cards and gave more away, not caring much. Then a few months ago, I got talked into playing Regionals this year by a friend. He gave me Dredge and I had a good day going 3-3 drop. Sadly at the end of the day I had to part with the borrowed deck and suffered even more as it rotated soon, but the spark was still there. Next thing you know I am playing the Lorwyn pre-release and getting some swag to work with. I decide to play States and trade in the last of my cards for a Pickles deck. Bad idea considering I may have played about 20 games going into the competition. Needless to say I went 0-2 drop. It's not that I am a bad player (certainly not the best, but I have performed above-average at large-scale PTQs and such, just never in the top,) it's just I don't play. So I think I am going to come back to stay; to see if I still got it in me. So I'll be at the FMN's in Orlando for the next few weeks, hell I may even start drafting a bit at CoolStuff, you never know.

[end lengthy side story]

Anyways I didn't win, but I have been learning about the format. For starters here is a breakdown of what's been doing well over at Magic-League:

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Pickles 8
Kithkin 5
Blink 4
BGRack 4
UWControl 3
RGAggro 3
Goblins 3
Predator 3
Elves! 2
UWPickles 2
Mannequin.dec 2
MWC 2
RGRamp 2
Teachings 2
AngelFire 2
DoranDoran 1
Fish 1
Husk 1
MBC 1

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Yeah I knew Kithkin was going to be good, and you can tell where I got my inspiration on Pickles. Sadly I think Saturday was all about Garruk Wildspeaker. Have you checked the price on that guy? He's already at about $20! I should've snagged them when they were cheap. So here is my impression of the tiers:

Tier 1:

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Pickles (UW seems stronger but I'm not 100%)
Kithkin (GW)
Blink (UW is faring well at the moment, but watch out for GUW and RUW builds!)
BGRack

Tier 2:

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UW Control (And Mono White)
Elves!
Predator (And plain RG)
Mannequin.dec
Goblins
Teachings
G/x Ramp

Tier 3:

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Fish
Faeries
MBC
AngelFire
Doran.dec
And many more. . .

Of course as the States results keep rolling in I may be proved wrong, after all this is older information. I am really liking the Stuffy Red decks, the mannequin decks, and surprisingly enough, the fish builds popping up. Another note is I haven't seen Pickles winning any Champs much. I may have the wrong deck. I guess I can always trade in for Elves or maybe Kithkin, but as the format slows down I expect to see some Teachings decks coming up in a big way, only yo lose to Faeries. Tsk tsk. Well I just wanted to drop in and share that. Stay tuned for the next episode where I delve into the madness that is Pickles.

Until next time,
-Jorge

Breaking Standard II – 36 Decks! In a row?.
GeorgeJung2006
10/03/2007 - 11:00 PM
my.TCGplayer.com

Hello again,
Looks like States are just around the corner, so I'm getting to testing. With any luck, I will finish my Lorwyn set review, just not right now, there is too much going on in Standard at the moment. So I just finished compiling some results from a recent play-testing session. Note that this many games required some serious time to play out on Apprentice. Regardless I got it done in about three days and learned a few things about the format at the moment. Given there is some slight error, what with free will and all. Still I'm sure you can find the results useful. I'll start with the deck-lists and short description of them, the mock tournament results I compiled, and finally revise the lists and explain my choices as well as give some match-up information regarding the build come States. There are still a few decks I'm missing (Charles Overy had an interesting design with a Neo-dredge Reanimator strategy, various UW builds, and so on,) but maybe I will get to them next time. So let's get on to the decks:


Creatures: 3 Boreal Druid 4 Llanowar Elves 4 Wren's Run Vanquisher 4 Thornweald Archer 3 Elvish Harbinger 3 Elvish Champion 1 Wren's Run Packmaster 1 Masked Admirers Spells: 1 Loxodon Warhammer 4 Thoughtseize 4 Prowess of the Fair 3 Terror 1 Eyeblight's Ending 1 Elvish Promenade Lands: 4 Forest 4 Gemstone Mine 4 Gilt-Leaf Palace 2 Llanowar Reborn 3 Llanowar Wastes 4 Treetop Village 2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth Sideboard: 1 Nath of the Gilt-Leaf 1 Riftsweeper 1 Viridian Shaman 2 Masked Admirers 1 Loxodon Warhammer 3 Eyeblight's Ending 3 Eyes of the Wisent 3 Gilt-Leaf Ambush

Yes this is a really bad list. I made it and added it to the gauntlet in about ten minutes. The deck does sport some 'Goyf hate with 8 deathtouch guys as well as some anti-Damnation tech in Prowess of the Fair. With some revision this deck may but up better numbers (see below.)


Creatures: 4 Augur of Skulls 4 Doran, the Siege Tower 2 Mystic Enforcer 4 Tarmogoyf Spells: 4 Chromatic Sphere 4 The Rack 4 Slaughter Pact 4 Thoughtseize 4 Smallpox 4 Griffin Guide Lands: 2 Caves of Koilos 4 Flagstones of Trokair 1 Forest 4 Gemstone Mine 4 Horizon Canopy 3 Llanowar Wastes 2 Plains 2 Swamp Sideboard: 2 Mystic Enforcer 3 Pithing Needle 2 Extirpate 4 Terror 4 Distress

This is an interesting adaption from the BG GoyfRack builds that are rather popular as of late. The deck supports Doran, the Siege Tower as it primary beater, but can also fall back on Tarmogoyf and Mystic Enforcer if necessary. Griffin Guide helps break ground stalled aggro matches and Thoughtseize is an obvious inclusion in the deck, although the life loss does hurt in the R/x match-ups (but is invaluable if it can grab a Siege-Gang Commander.)


Creatures: 4 Riftwing Cloudskate 4 Lightning Angel 3 Avalanche Riders 2 Akroma, Angel of Fury 3 Galepowder Mage Spells: 4 Ponder 4 Rune Snag 2 Boom // Bust 4 Momentary Blink 4 Oblivion Ring Lands: 4 Battlefield Forge 4 Flagstones of Trokair 3 Island 2 Mountain 2 Nimbus Maze 4 Plains 4 Shivan Reef 2 Tolaria West 1 Urza's Factory Sideboard: 1 Aeon Chronicler 1 Detritivore 4 Calciderm 3 Incinerate 2 Boom // Bust 4 Condemn

A generic UWr Blink deck. I chose to run splash red to kills lands, as well as nifty Akroma interactions. I'm still not sure if it should be Ponder or Ancestral Vision. Less cards now vs. more cards later. A UWg or UW build is also possible (and also more consistent) but I decided to start with this one. I was also testing out Galepowder Mage.


Creatures: 4 Stromgald Crusader 4 Haakon, Stromgald Scourge 3 Knight of Meadowgrain 3 Leonin Skyhunter 2 Mirror Entity 2 Paladin en-Vec Spells: 4 Funeral Charm 4 Nameless Inversion 4 Smallpox 4 Rain of Tears 3 Crib Swap Lands: 4 Caves of Koilos 4 Flagstones of Trokair 1 Howltooth Hollow 4 Plains 8 Swamp 1 Urza's Factory 1 Windbrisk Heights Sideboard: 3 Pithing Needle 4 Thoughtseize 4 Terror 4 Griffin Guide

In idea I have been hearing flung about. Yes the mana-base is horrid, as I soon found out. Also the creatures need some work and this deck looks like it will have problems with fast aggro decks. Control decks should be a breeze with the land destruction and discard package and Hakkon may have some game against slower aggro decks. At this point it seems weak, but we'll see what we can do.


Creatures: 4 Mogg Fanatic 2 Emberwilde Augur 4 Keldon Marauders 4 Mogg War Marshal 2 Blood Knight 3 Gathan Raiders 4 Greater Gargadon Spells: 2 Brute Force 3 Shock 4 Incinerate 2 Heatshimmer 4 Rift Bolt Lands: 3 Ghitu Encampment 2 Keldon Megaliths 14 Mountain 3 Zoetic Cavern Sideboard: 4 Martyr of Ashes 4 Magus of the Moon 3 Siege-Gang Commander 4 Threaten

My pet Deadguy deck. If I manage to make it to States, this is what I will play. Sadly it's not my choice, but more my wallet's. I still need to get the curve and creatures figured out, but as-is the deck provides a great clock killing as early as turn five with a decent draw and minimal opponent interaction. I've been messing with Heatshimmer over Fatal Frenzy as you can copy an opponent's tapped fatty if you have none of your own and swing FTW. The downside is no trample but we'll see how it goes.


Creatures: 2 Saffi Eriksdotter 3 Doran, the Siege Tower 4 Birds of Paradise 3 Treefolk Harbinger 4 Tarmogoyf 1 Deadwood Treefolk Spells: 4 The Rack 4 Thoughtseize 4 Terror 4 Glittering Wish 3 Griffin Guide 2 Oblivion Ring Lands: 2 Brushland 4 Caves of Koilos 2 Forbidding Watchtower 4 Gemstone Mine 4 Horizon Canopy 4 Llanowar Wastes 2 Treetop Village Sideboard: 4 Gaddock Teeg 2 Saffi Eriksdotter 1 Doran, the Siege Tower 1 Harmonic Sliver 3 Mystic Enforcer 2 Pithing Needle 2 Oblivion Ring

Very similar to my BGw Rack deck, this build packs 7 tutors to get the job done. Note the Griffin Guide and Rack main. This is to give the deck some game against Aggro. The control hate is in the board and consists of extra Saffis and Gaddock Teeg, with Mystic Enforcer and Oblivion Ring to help in the Aggro matchups.


Creatures: 4 Knucklebone Witch 3 Mad Auntie 2 Boggart Mob 3 Wort, Boggart Auntie 4 Mogg Fanatic 4 Mogg War Marshal 3 Siege-Gang Commander 4 Greater Gargadon Spells: 4 Tarfire 4 Incinerate 2 Heatshimmer Lands: 4 Auntie's Hovel 3 Graven Cairns 5 Mountain 4 Sulfurous Springs 7 Swamp Sideboard: 4 Pithing Needle 4 Thoughtseize 4 Terror 3 Boggart Shenanigans

This deck is getting some buzz here and there. My build forgoes the Harbringers to speed it up a bit. Again I am using the Heatshimmer tech to mess around with. Shenenigans out the board is also testing for combo/anti-Damnation tech. With a Knucklebone Witch, Gargadon and a Shenanigans or two out, you can do some absurd things.


Creatures: 4 Mogg Fanatic 4 Mogg War Marshal 4 Greater Gargadon 4 Kavu Predator 4 Tarmogoyf Spells: 2 Fatal Frenzy 4 Incinerate 4 Tarfire 4 Rift Bolt 4 Call of the Herd Lands: 2 Pendelhaven 4 Grove of the Burnwillows 6 Mountain 4 Treetop Village 2 Kher Keep 4 Karplusan Forest Sideboard: 4 Threaten 4 Pithing Needle 3 Stormbind 4 Martyr of Ashes

Going into this round of testing I was sure that this was the deck to beat. With a fast clock, efficent burn, WAY undercosted creatures and general resilency against burn I knew I had a contender in GR Aggro. I went ahead and used Fatal Frenzy in this deck to gauge it's effectiveness. Note the two Kher Keep in the deck as well, providing chumps and fodder for Gargadon in the late game, assuming there is one. Also I included the Kavu Predator/Grove of the Burnwillows in the main for extra fatness.


Creatures: 2 Gaddock Teeg 3 Saffi Eriksdotter 4 Tarmogoyf 4 Goldmeadow Stalwart 4 Knight of Meadowgrain 4 Wizened Cenn Spells: 1 Loxodon Warhammer 4 Mana Tithe 4 Griffin Guide 4 Oblivion Ring 3 Glorious Anthem Lands: 4 Brushland 4 Flagstones of Trokair 4 Horizon Canopy 7 Plains 4 Treetop Village Sideboard: 3 Mystic Enforcer 3 Pithing Needle 1 Loxodon Warhammer 4 Militia's Pride 4 Temporal Isolation

Don't ask me why I am such a fan of Griffin Guide and Loxodon Warhammer. I guess I am inbreeding a bit for Aggro matchups, but that is what I expect everyone else to do as well. Other notes are 3 Saffi Eriksdotter over 2 Gaddock Teeg, again I think these two are interchangeable depending on what the field is going to be (Aggro v. Control.) Finally, I also wanted to test out Mana Tithe to see how good it is currently, with curve-tight aggro running rampant.


Creatures: 4 Phyrexian Ironfoot 2 Graveborn Muse 4 Korlash, Heir to Blackblade 3 Tombstalker Spells: 4 Coldsteel Heart 4 Thoughtseize 4 Cruel Edict 4 Terror 4 Damnation 2 Tendrils of Corruption 2 Slaughter Pact Lands: 1 Mouth of Ronom 4 Scrying Sheets 16 Snow-Covered Swamp 1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth 1 Urza's Factory Sideboard: 3 Pithing Needle 2 Slaughter Pact 4 Distress 4 Hypnotic Specter 2 Tendrils of Corruption

A homebrew deck of mine, MBC again shows some metagame hate towards aggro, but can still hold its own against control with 13 must-deal-with threats. Note the cute Graveborn-Korlash synergy. Other than that I have a simple board to go with that is subject to change after some testing. I wouldn’t mind playing this if I had the cash for it.


Creatures: 4 Boreal Druid 4 Llanowar Elves 4 Uktabi Drake 4 Scryb Ranger 4 Troll Ascetic 4 Groundbreaker 4 Timbermare 3 Spectral Force Spells: 4 Might of Old Krosa 3 Stonewood Invocation Lands: 16 Forest 2 Pendelhaven 4 Treetop Village Sideboard: 4 Thornweald Archer 3 Pithing Needle 3 Serrated Arrows 3 Eyes of the Wisent 2 Garruk Wildspeaker

A fast (Read: smash you in a few turns no problem!) aggro deck is a good clock to have thrown in the testing. I’m not sold on the side or the Spectral Force, yet. . .


Creatures: 4 Gaddock Teeg 3 Mystic Enforcer 4 Kavu Predator 4 Tarmogoyf 4 Mogg Fanatic 3 Greater Gargadon Spells: 4 Chromatic Star 4 Fiery Justice 4 Incinerate 4 Griffin Guide Lands: 4 Battlefield Forge 4 Gemstone Mine 4 Grove of the Burnwillows 4 Horizon Canopy 2 Mountain 4 Treetop Village Sideboard: 2 Saffi Eriksdotter 1 Loxodon Warhammer 3 Stormbind 3 Call of the Herd 3 Pyroclasm 3 Sunlance

This deck was piloted to some success in block constructed, so I had to test it out here. Last week this build of Predator was tearing up the playtest sessions. Again with the Griffin Guide, I know I’m a bad Magic player, but I love the card. Something about a 7/8 ‘Goyf flying over their measly 5/6 makes me smile. Yes I know Slaughter Pact loves this card, but we are getting ahead of ourselves, aren’t we? Not sold on the Chromatic Sphere yet also, but it really helps get you out of land screw. And the interactions with Greater Gargadon and Tarmogoyf are stupid.


Creatures: 4 Cloudseeder 4 Looter il-Kor 4 Magus of the Bazaar 4 Merfolk Looter 3 Vexing Sphinx Spells: 4 Unstable Mutation 3 Protective Bubble 4 Auramancer's Guise 4 Epic Proportions 4 Retether Lands: 4 Adarkar Wastes 2 Forbidding Watchtower 4 Nimbus Maze 8 Snow-Covered Island 4 Snow-Covered Plains Sideboard: 4 Faerie Trickery 4 Wrath of God 4 Temporal Isolation 3 Oblivion Ring

Don’t take this one seriously. At the time I needed a filler deck and giving out byes were no fun. So we played this as well. The deck does make for some “funny” plays every once in a while but loses 90% of the time.


Creatures: 1 Triskelavus 1 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir 1 Draining Whelk 4 Shadowmage Infiltrator Spells: 4 Prismatic Lens 2 Coalition Relic 1 Slaughter Pact 1 Tendrils of Corruption 4 Damnation 1 Haunting Hymn 1 Pact of Negation 4 Ponder 4 Rune Snag 3 Faerie Trickery 3 Mystical Teachings 1 Cryptic Command Lands: 1 Academy Ruins 3 Dreadship Reef 4 Island 4 River of Tears 3 Swamp 2 Tolaria West 4 Underground River 2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth 1 Urza's Factory Sideboard: 1 Aeon Chronicler 1 Vesuvan Shapeshifter 1 Brine Elemental 1 Dralnu, Lich Lord 1 Detritivore 4 Thoughtseize 4 Terror 1 Flashfreeze 1 Pull from Eternity

This is a pretty typical UB teachings build. The sideboard is a mess at the moment, especially with barely any way to generate WR for Detrivore and Pull from Eternity. I still expect this deck to be strong.


Creatures: 4 Birds of Paradise 4 Llanowar Elves 4 Tarmogoyf 4 Yavimaya Dryad 4 Mogg War Marshal 3 Siege-Gang Commander 3 Greater Gargadon Spells: 4 Chromatic Star 4 Gaea's Anthem 4 Overrun Lands: 1 Dryad Arbor 8 Forest 4 Grove of the Burnwillows 4 Karplusan Forest 4 Mountain 1 Pendelhaven Sideboard: 4 Ohran Viper 3 Call of the Herd 4 Cryoclasm 4 Threaten

C Phil has already covered this deck a little bit at this moment. I think that it may shift back to a token-happy build, but I cannot tell at this point. Not sure why I got Chromatic Sphere in here, as well as those Cryoclasms in the board. I must’ve been drunk. Sadly that is what I had to play with for three days as to not mess up the results. Note the lack of Riftsweeper as well? Sleep, make sure you get it!


Creatures: 4 Nightshade Stinger 4 Oona's Prowler 4 Spellstutter Sprite 3 Scion of Oona 3 Mistblind Clique 2 Wydwen, the Biting Gale Spells: 4 Thoughtseize 4 Terror 3 Delay 2 Familiar's Ruse 4 Psionic Blast Lands: 3 Faerie Conclave 4 Island 4 River of Tears 4 Secluded Glen 4 Swamp 4 Underground River Sideboard: 1 Wydwen, the Biting Gale 4 Pithing Needle 3 Slaughter Pact 4 Nameless Inversion 1 Delay 2 Familiar's Ruse


Creatures: 3 Mystic Snake 4 Llanowar Elves 4 Scryb Ranger 4 Tarmogoyf 4 Ohran Viper 3 Yavimaya Dryad 3 Spectral Force Spells: 4 Ponder 4 Rune Snag 2 Familiar's Ruse 2 Garruk Wildspeaker Lands: 1 Academy Ruins 5 Forest 4 Island 4 Terramorphic Expanse 3 Tolaria West 2 Urza's Factory 4 Yavimaya Coast Sideboard: 2 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir 4 Serrated Arrows 1 Familiar's Ruse 3 Faerie Trickery 1 Pact of Negation 4 Call of the Herd

Here’s another generic UG Aggro list. I do not have too much experience with this archetype, so I just went with what felt good here. I really ponder on Ponder. Will it be all that great? My current experience with it is pretty good, but if you want crazy card advantage, you may have to look somewhere else. I like Ohran Viper because he trades with ‘Goyf and draws cards against control, he is never dead in any match up (that’s in relative terms and not Slaughter Pact ones).


Creatures: 4 Vesuvan Shapeshifter 3 Brine Elemental 4 Mystic Snake 4 Tarmogoyf 4 Wall of Roots Spells: 4 Ponder 4 Rune Snag 1 Pact of Negation 4 Edge of Autumn 2 Harmonize 4 Momentary Blink Lands: 3 Calciform Pools 3 Forest 3 Island 1 Nimbus Maze 3 Horizon Canopy 1 Plains 2 Tolaria West 1 Urza's Factory 4 Yavimaya Coast Sideboard: 3 Saffi Eriksdotter 3 Ohran Viper 1 Pact of Negation 4 Condemn 4 Temporal Isolation

Finally the Pickles build that preformed well in last weeks testing. I couldn’t think of much to do with it. I know I need to tweak some numbers and really put work in on the board, but that’s about it. As a matter of fact, all the decks need some work on the board. It’s pretty bad in there.

Now I get to the results I compiled. I am really bad with pairings and just decided to do them alphabetically, as it is kind of random that way. Why didn’t I notice that means a lot of similar colors would play against each other?!?! It still churned out some decent results I think. At least I hope so after three days of testing almost straight.

Round 1 Pairings:

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Deck: BGElves BGwRack Blink BWHakkon DeadguyRed DoranDoran Goblins GRAggro GWKithkin MBC MGA Predator Retether Teachings Titanic UBFaeries UGAggro UGWPickles W-L: 1-2 2-1 2-1 1-2 2-1 1-2 0-2 2-0 2-0 0-2 1-2 2-1 0-2 2-0 2-0 0-2 2-0 0-2

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Round 2 Pairings/Standings:

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Deck: GRAggro GWKithkin Teachings Titanic UGAggro BGwRack Blink DeadguyRed Predator BGElves BWHakkon DoranDoran MGA Goblins MBC Retether UBFaeries UGWPickles Match: 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 Game: 2-0 2-0 2-0 2-0 2-0 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-1 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 0-2 0-2 0-2 0-2 0-2 Win%: 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 067% 067% 067% 067% 033% 033% 033% 033% 000% 000% 000% 000% 000% OppWin%: 000% 000% 000% 000% 000% 033% 033% 033% 033% 067% 067% 067% 067% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Current: 0-2 2-0 2-1 1-2 2-0 0-2 0-2 2-0 2-0 0-2 0-2 2-0 1-2 2-1 2-0 0-2 2-0 0-2

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Round 3 Pairings/Standings:

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Deck: GWKithkin UGAggro DeadguyRed Teachings Predator Titanic DoranDoran GRAggro MBC UBFaeries BGwRack Blink Goblins BGElves MGA BWHakkon UGWPickles Retether Match: 2-0 2-0 2-0 2-0 2-0 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-1 1-1 0-2 0-2 0-2 0-2 0-2 Game: 4-0 4-0 4-1 4-1 4-1 3-2 3-2 2-2 2-2 2-2 2-3 2-3 2-3 1-4 2-4 1-4 0-4 0-4 Win%: 100% 100% 080% 080% 080% 060% 060% 050% 050% 050% 040% 040% 040% 020% 033% 020% 000% 000% OppWin%: 050% 020% 050% 030% 027% 065% 050% 070% 050% 030% 060% 050% 042% 060% 060% 050% 075% 065% Current: 2-1 1-2 1-2 2-1 1-2 2-1 1-2 2-1 0-2 2-0 0-2 2-0 2-0 0-2 2-1 1-2 2-1 1-2

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Round 4 Pairings/Standings:

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Deck: GWKithkin Teachings UGAggro UBFaeries Titanic DeadguyRed Predator GRAggro Blink Goblins DoranDoran MGA MBC UGWPickles BGwRack BWHakkon BGElves Retether Match: 3-0 3-0 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-1 2-1 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 0-3 0-3 0-3 Game: 6-1 6-2 5-2 4-2 5-3 5-3 5-3 4-3 4-3 4-3 4-4 3-5 2-4 2-5 2-5 2-6 1-6 1-6 Win%: 086% 075% 071% 067% 063% 063% 063% 057% 057% 057% 050% 038% 033% 029% 029% 025% 014% 014% OppWin%: 054% 047% 048% 042% 068% 061% 038% 064% 039% 036% 048% 048% 056% 051% 047% 048% 050% 046% Current: 2-0 0-2 2-0 0-2 1-2 2-1 1-2 2-1 2-0 0-2 0-2 2-0 2-0 0-2 2-1 1-2 0-2 2-0

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Final Standings:

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Deck: GWKithkin UGAggro Blink Teachings GRAggro DeadguyRed Titanic Predator UBFaeries MBC MGA Goblins BGwRack DoranDoran UGWPickles Retether BWHakkon BGElves Match: 4-0 3-1 3-1 3-1 3-1 3-1 2-2 2-2 2-2 2-2 2-2 2-2 2-2 1-3 1-3 1-3 0-4 0-4 Game: 8-1 7-2 6-3 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-5 4-4 4-4 5-5 4-5 4-6 4-6 2-7 3-6 3-8 1-8 Win%: 089% 078% 067% 060% 060% 060% 055% 055% 050% 050% 050% 045% 040% 040% 022% 033% 027% 011% OppWin%: 062% 050% 043% 059% 057% 056% 056% 044% 051% 048% 041% 047% 038% 049% 053% 033% 049% 043%

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Well I think this will wrap it up for now. I had no clue writing the code for these tables would suck so bad, but after 28 pages and 3451 words, I got it done. Stay tuned for the breakdown of results posted and upgraded versions of the deck as soon as I am done writing them.
Until next time,
-Jorge

Lorwyn Impressions IV - Red
JorgeJung2006
10/01/2007 8:00 PM
my.TCGplayer.com

Hey all,
After a short hiatus (the prerelease and work kind of mess things up for Magic time) I am back to finish up my Lorwyn review. Given that the prerelease event is over I will try to shift my focus over to constructed choices mostly, but will still chime in with my limited experiences as well. Also, the disclaimer gets smaller:

1. All set reviews are wrong. . . Period. You know the phrase. That is why I am calling this review Impressions.

No banter, more cards!

Common (22):

Adder-Staff Boggart
I saw a few folks playing this guy at the prerelease. He’s a decent beater for 1R, and sometimes he is better. Scry 1 is decent as well. I generally prefer fatter guys but if you need him. . .

Axegrinder Giant
Craw Wurm is back baby! Axegrinder is a good fatty in red. I played him in my sealed deck and usually bashed face or had him eat removal, like every other guy out there. Seriously, he’s not that bad!

Blades of Velis Vel
Another card I saw players running in sealed. Can put four to the dome easy, but doesn’t do much on its own. I’d pass.

Blind-Spot Giant
Another card I have issues with. Blind-Spot doesn’t play well unless you have others. I want guys that don’t play well with others (ala Tar Pitcher.) Still beats for four in a giant deck, and will never get removed (as you would just kill the other giant, making him useless.) Don’t even think about this guy in constructed.

Boggart Sprite-Chaser
Works okay with faeries, doesn’t do much else but die some horrible deaths way too often.

Caterwauling Boggart
A 2/2 with psuedo-evasion isn’t too bad and he works even better in a tribe. Caterwauling Boggart is a limited consideration for sure.

Consuming Bonfire
For some reason, the terrified treefolk running all over the place in the picture cracks me up. I normally don’t care for Magic art in any sense, but this is just hilarious. It is removal in limited, albeit a little pricey.

Faultgrinder
Say “whazzap!” to the 4/4 trampling elemental that blows up a land to boot! Faultgrinder is a decent power player in limited if you got some elementals or a lack of fat. Just too slow for constructed I think. The original evoke of 3R would’ve been nice.

Firebelly Changeling
I saw some folks using him to apply early pressure in a draft. As a bonus, he’s a changeling!

Flamekin Brawler
A card that might go unnoticed, the Brawler can deliver some nasty beats if you are heavy red. He can also block the numerous 1/x’s running around in Lorwyn limited. Elemental status gets the nod from Flamekin Bladewhirl, who is too busy busting skulls to comment more.

Giant’s Ire
This is why you read the cards people! At the prerelease I was dumb enough to let this card kill one of my guys! Luckily I still took the game I believe. Still provides a cantrip and reach for you if you are considering going with some big red guys.

Hurly-Burly
This card completely wrecked my UW merfolk deck in a draft and cost me six packs pretty much. If you run red, you will sweep boards with this guy. Great pick in draft, but maybe not first.

Ingot Chewer
Wizards, please print some broken artifacts so I can use this guy to blow them up. Other than that if Deathrender takes off, this may be good. I just don’t see it.

Inner-Flame Acolyte
The Acolyte is a 2/2 beater for heavy red that can sometimes just throw your damage production into overdrive. Another interesting limited consideration, as he is as elemental, and he can make your guys a little bit faster or just make himself faster and bash for four. The downsides are the double-red and the fact he doesn’t work all that great if you do not have some good beefy guys for him, but that problem is mitigated by the fact he can just come in and swing for an unexpected four damage.

Lash Out
Lash Out removes creatures. Lash Out scrys for 1. Lash Out occasionally deals six damage for 1R. Lash Out goes in your limited deck.

Lowland Oaf
A 3/3 giant is good in limited. A 3/3 giant that can fling Goblins is even better. Lowland Oaf should take some spots in sealed decks.

Mudbutton Torchrunner
A fun and very splashable card, Torchrunner works great with the numerous “sacrifice a Goblin” effects in Lorwyn. Not very fun or splashable in constructed sadly.

Needle Drop
Anti-Tarmogoyf tech! The ‘Goyfs bump into each other and then you kill theirs, netting you a card. Problem is it sucks without your own ‘Goyf, but can sometimes kill a creature your opponent thought would live, all this while netting you a card! Other than that the Drop can get you some good combat interactions in limited. At worst it is an instant-speed cantrip for red. Note you do have to have a target for the cantripping, so that sucks.

Smokebraider
Didn’t I see this somewhere before? Oh yeah, its Vedalken Engineer! If I recall, that card didn’t get too much play, and that mana was for artifacts. I have this strange feeling Smokebraider will suffer the same fate unless you ABSOLUTLEY have to get out your big elemental monster early in limited. Yeah, that’s what I thought too.

Soulbright Flamekin
Trample is good. Mana is good too. Trample and extra mana is good to put out big guys you want to give trample but please remember not to build around this guy alone. No real use at the moment in constructed unless you are really needing and extra RR when you have six out already somewhere.

Stinkdrinker Daredevil
Who drinks stink? This guy got some real issues, man. Other than that I did see an opponent put out a Sunrise Sovreign relatively quickly. Too bad it ate Weed Strangle. I guess the Daredevil can stop some early bleeding as well as help accelerate into some big dudes later on, just not as badly as Smokebraider does.

Tarfire
Yes, this guy is going into a Goblins and G/x Aggro, just be careful when using it lest you pump your opponents Tarmogoyf for him. Tarfire is also a limited staple.

Uncommon (16):

Boggart Shenanigans
Why couldn’t this guy hit creatures, cost one less, or both! Other than that look for the Shenanigans to pop up in Goblin sideboards as Wrath-tech or combo kill. Cute in limited, but not all that efficient.

Ceaseless Searblades
Ceaseless can get stupid with a few of those “three activations” elementals in your draft deck. A decent defensive guy for red as well. If you give him trample, he will be dumb.

Changeling Berserker
I loved this card in my sealed deck. I hated losing to this card with my draft deck. A great card for limited as long as some removal isn’t being used on the championed creature, as you already know.

Crush Underfoot
This stupid piece of cardboard killed my Brion Soutarm twice at the prerelease! Another good removal spell, given that you need some big guys to play with.

Flamekin Bladewhirl
Here is a 2/1 beater for R if you got some Elementals. This guy might show up in block and maybe even standard if we can find some good support for him.

Flamekin Harbringer
C’mon elemental deck! I really wish the harbringers put the card in hand, but I supposed Magic R&D knows best and that adjustment was necessary to keep the new tribal decks from being degenerate.

Flamekin Spitfire
Even if he is a weak 1/1 with a relatively expensive ability, Flamekin Spitfire can still end some games in limited. Rather crappy in constructed.

Giant Harbringer
Uh, play him if you have some giants I suppose.

Glarewielder
Can end some games with his evoke effect alone, also comes in to deal some hasty beats later on. A great limited pick.

Goatnapper
I really want some of what R&D has been on lately. Seriously who is coming up with the names and flavor for some of these cards? You got some aunties, spells that get all hurly burly, and WTF if an Aquitect? If he someone that spends years constructing a building only to find it wash away every time he tried to build it? Note the ‘napper grabs changelings.

Hearthcage Giant
Slightly expensive at 8RR but he can crank out 11 damage the turn after he comes into play. In limited that is no laughing matter, in constructed, it is.

Heat Shimmer
This card may replace Fatal Frenzy in Gargadon-based decks, as it can copy the opponent’s tapped ’Goyf and smash face if you have an empty or weak board where the Frenzy cannot. Decent card in limited as well as it can break the game every once in a while.

Inner-Flame Igniter
Can get crazy with enough guys and mana in play, besides that Inner-Flame Igniter is usually a 3/2 beater that gives your guys +1/+0. Plays well with Flamekin Spitfire. Way too slow and weak for constructed, even in a elemental deck.

Rebellion of the Flamekin
C’mon clash deck. I know you will probably never be an archetype, but if you do end up as one, I know you will sport this card. The rebellion is a great source of damage and card advantage in limited.

Tar Pitcher
Another card I abused often in sealed. Funny thing is I thought this guy was absurdly broken at first. When I read it, I didn’t notice the whole “sacrifice a Goblin” clause, and was very sad when I tried to nuke my opponents Avian Changeling, but then I just sacrificed my Hornet Harasser and killed another one of his guys as well, so ha. I don’t really see a place for the ‘Pitcher outside of limited.

Thundercloud Shaman
Usually sweeping the opponents board when he comes out, your Thundercloud Shaman also bashes for four. A great pickup in limited with or without extra giants.

Rare (9):

Ashling the Pilgrim
Ashling is a complete bomb in limited. This guy completely raped my UW Merfolk draft that had bombs such as Summon the School and two Oblivion Rings. Looks like I didn’t draw the Ring in time! He can pump up with two counters every turn, or sweep the board and possibly kill the opponent. This guy may find a place in constructed in a control-ish or aggro-control-ish deck with some red in it.

Ashling's Prerogative
This guy screams “build around me!” It can provide a great tempo advantage at a cost to your mana curve. I cannot find an application for the Prerogative it this time.

Chandra Nalaar
Here is a great guy in limited. Deals damage, soaks up damage, kills people and sweeps boards. A auto include in limited. I think Chandra will be too slow or weak for serious constructed use.

Hamletback Goliath
Slightly overkill-ish as a 6/6 should end the game pretty quick already, the Goliath will show up in a casual deck or two and some limited decks that pull him. The goliath is still waiting for Social Services to give him trample, we tried to contact them and received no reply.

Hostility
I’m still trying to find a home for this guy, as well as all the cards in this cycle. If you run Greater Gargadon you wouldn’t want to run this guy as you are sacrificing your extra lands. A slower Big Red variant or a Counter-Burn strategy doesn’t exist at this time, but if it does, I would expect this guy to find a decent home in it, although if we are talking Counter-Burn you may want to run Guile instead.

Incandescent Soulstoke
Sadly I had to pop this guy in some of my prize packs. Woo, no money for me there! This guy will only be good with enough elementals to support him and a giant fat one that can end some games. Wait, there are Evoke creatures that are elementals? Yes, yes I see you do some crazy tricks Soulstoke, crazy ones. Nova Chaser sits back, hoping he can get off the benches and join the team.

Incendiary Command
I popped this guy at the midnight flight, and actually used him to put some damage in AND blow up my opponent’s only source of white mana, winning me the game. Good in limited if you can support the 3RR cost.

Nova Chaser
Someone will try to play this in constructed. Someone will cry everytime the opponent Slaughter Pacts in response. Can steal a game in limited, I reckon.

Wild Ricochet
No real use for this guy at the moment, but can do silly things out the board against the right type of spells. I just don’t know what yet.

That wraps up red for my reviews; I only have Green, Artifacts, Gold, and Land cards to finish up now. At this point I have written 13,363 words on Lorwyn. That’s it, I should be getting paid! But it looks like red will get a good goblin instant to play with, and maybe some sideboard cards as we gear up for states. Constructed-wise, it seems like red really got the short end of the stick, but I’m sure some cards I overlooked at this moment. It is late, and I am tired. In other news, my Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 3-1 right now, so I am stoked. Next week they have to play against the Indianapolis Colts so it seems they may be down to 3-2, especially with Cadillac Williams injured. With any luck he should be good for Sunday and if Galloway and Garcia can put up a good offense combined with good defense from out line, we may be able to squeak out a win. I’m not holding my breath though. As for States I am currently testing a small gauntlet, and I still need my missing archetypes and better decklists. I cannot test in a bubble, and the sooner I get some good data the sooner I can bring the results to you all. Just drop me a line so I can get tot it. Here is what I got so far:

BGw TarmoRack (will run better as a metagame deck, not good for States, I think)
Deadguy (mono) Red (a budget deck I am testing at the moment)
BR Goblins (stronger than I thought, but not Tier 1 yet)
RG Aggro (strong contender for Tier 1)
Mono Black Control (pretty strong against aggro)
Predator (strong contender for Tier 1)
Teachings (seems kind of weak, but I probably have a bad build.
Titanic (As Cedric Phillips said, this will shift to more of a Scryb & Force build, but may stay the same after the rotation, as Angelfire loses some punch)
UGWPickles (Maybe not this build, but pickles is still strong, possible Tier 1-2)

Send in some lists and I will post my results after a few days of testing. I usually run a small tournament with all the decks and then test the top four further. Then I upgrade the lists and start all over, adjusting for new decks and meta-game shifts. Aside from that, I just hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Until next time,
-Jorge

Champs Testing I - A stepping stone.
9/28/07 9:44 AM
Jorge Jung
my.TCGplayer.com

Hey all,
I've taken a break from the "Lorwyn Impressions" series until next week. While I am sitting here waiting for the clock to tick down to go to the prerelease (yes, I'm catching a midnight flight, that's how I roll.) I figured I'd finish up some Lorwyn Standard testing while I wait. Here's what I did -I created eight random decks that would work as a standard sample for the new format (yes I am missing some, but this is only the first round of testing.) The sideboards are underdeveloped and there are numerous other issues, I just want something to start with. Needless to say, I wen't 'Goyf-happy. To top that off, I feel that the Teachings deck is horrible, but then again so are it's R/x Aggro matchups. MBC, UGW Pickles, and WGB Aggro are kind of home brewed, so they probably caused a little inbreeding. Then there is the Goblin list, which is just all-around strange, bear with me here. Here are the lists in the order they were paired for the first round:

//NAME: UGW Pickles; GeorgeJung2006
// Creatures:
4 Vesuvan Shapeshifter
3 Brine Elemental
4 Mystic Snake
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Wall of Roots
// Spells:
4 Ponder
4 Rune Snag
1 Pact of Negation
4 Edge of Autumn
2 Harmonize
4 Momentary Blink
// Lands:
3 Calciform Pools
3 Forest
3 Island
4 Nimbus Maze
2 Plains
2 Tolaria West
1 Urza's Factory
4 Yavimaya Coast
// Sideboard:
SB: 3 Saffi Eriksdotter
SB: 3 Ohran Viper
SB: 1 Pact of Negation
SB: 4 Condemn
SB: 4 Temporal Isolation

//NAME: GR Aggro; GeorgeJung2006
// Creatures:
4 Mogg Fanatic
4 Mogg War Marshal
4 Greater Gargadon
4 Kavu Predator
4 Tarmogoyf
// Spells:
2 Fatal Frenzy
4 Incinerate
4 Tarfire
4 Rift Bolt
4 Call of the Herd
// Lands:
2 Pendelhaven
4 Grove of the Burnwillows
6 Mountain
4 Treetop Village
2 Kher Keep
4 Karplusan Forest
// Sideboard:
SB: 4 Threaten
SB: 4 Pithing Needle
SB: 3 Stormbind
SB: 4 Martyr of Ashes

//NAME: Predator; GeorgeJung2006
// Creatures:
4 Mogg Fanatic
4 Kavu Predator
4 Tarmogoyf
3 Mystic Enforcer
4 Gaddock Teeg
3 Greater Gargadon
// Spells:
4 Chromatic Star
4 Incinerate
4 Griffin Guide
4 Fiery Justice
// Lands:
2 Mountain
4 Gemstone Mine
4 Treetop Village
4 Horizon Canopy
4 Battlefield Forge
4 Grove of the Burnwillows
// Sideboard:
SB: 2 Saffi Eriksdotter
SB: 3 Stormbind
SB: 3 Sunlance
SB: 3 Pyroclasm
SB: 1 Loxodon Warhammer
SB: 3 Call of the Herd

//NAME: Teachings; GeorgeJung2006
// Creatures:
4 Shadowmage Infiltrator
1 Triskelavus
1 Draining Whelk
1 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
// Spells:
2 Void
1 Slaughter Pact
4 Thoughtseize
1 Remove Soul
1 Pact of Negation
1 Tendrils of Corruption
4 Damnation
4 Prismatic Lens
3 Mystical Teachings
3 Coalition Relic
1 Haunting Hymn
4 Ponder
// Lands:
4 Terramorphic Expanse
2 Tolaria West
1 Academy Ruins
2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
3 Dreadship Reef
1 Mountain
1 Plains
1 Urza's Factory
2 Swamp
3 Island
4 River of Tears
// Sideboard:
SB: 1 Flashfreeze
SB: 1 Dralnu, Lich Lord
SB: 4 Condemn
SB: 1 Pull from Eternity
SB: 3 Porphyry Nodes
SB: 1 Detritivore
SB: 1 Aeon Chronicler
SB: 1 Vesuvan Shapeshifter
SB: 1 Brine Elemental

//NAME: Goblins; GeorgeJung2006
// Creatures:
1 Mad Auntie
4 Knucklebone Witch
3 Facevaulter
3 Greater Gargadon
1 Siege-Gang Commander
4 Mogg War Marshal
4 Mogg Fanatic
1 Boggart Mob
4 Boggart Harbringer
2 Wort, Boggart Auntie
// Spells:
4 Thoughtseize
2 Fatal Frenzy
4 Tarfire
// Lands:
4 Sulfurous Springs
7 Swamp
5 Mountain
3 Graven Cairns
4 Auntie's Hovel
// Sideboard:
SB: 4 Distress
SB: 3 Slaughter Pact
SB: 2 Terror
SB: 3 Pithing Needle
SB: 3 Fodder Launch

//NAME: BGW Aggro; GeorgeJung2006
// Creatures:
4 Llanowar Elves
3 Gaddok Teeg
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Troll Ascetic
3 Doran, the Siege Tower
2 Magus of the Tabernacle
4 Birds of Paradise
// Spells:
4 Slaughter Pact
4 Call of the Herd
4 Griffin Guide
4 Thoughtseize
// Lands:
2 Plains
1 Caves of Koilos
2 Swamp
3 Forest
4 Llanowar Wastes
4 Horizon Canopy
4 Gemstone Mine
// Sideboard:
SB: 2 Mystic Enforcer
SB: 4 Hypnotic Specter
SB: 3 Terror
SB: 3 Ohran Viper
SB: 3 Sunlance

//NAME: MBC; GeorgeJung2006
// Creatures:
1 Graveborn Muse
4 Phyrexian Ironfoot
3 Tombstalker
4 Korlash, Heir to Blackblade
// Spells:
4 Damnation
4 Coldsteel Heart
4 Thoughtseize
1 Tendrils of Corruption
1 Gaea's Blessing
2 Coalition Relic
3 Slaughter Pact
4 Cruel Edict
2 Diabolic Tutor
// Lands:
1 Urza's Factory
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1 Mouth of Ronom
4 Scrying Sheets
16 Snow-Covered Swamp
// Sideboard:
SB: 1 Detritivore
SB: 1 Aeon Chronicler
SB: 2 Dread Return
SB: 4 Pyroclasm
SB: 4 Hypnotic Specter
SB: 3 Tendrils of Corruption

//NAME: Titanic; GeorgeJung2006
// Creatures:
4 Llanowar Elves
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Birds of Paradise
3 Greater Gargadon
3 Siege-Gang Commander
4 Yavimaya Dryad
4 Mogg War Marshal
// Spells:
4 Chromatic Star
4 Gaea's Anthem
4 Overrun
// Lands:
1 Pendelhaven
1 Dryad Arbor
4 Grove of the Burnwillows
4 Karplusan Forest
4 Mountain
8 Forest
// Sideboard:
SB: 4 Cryoclasm
SB: 4 Ohran Viper
SB: 3 Call of the Herd
SB: 4 Threaten


Here is how it went (with sideboarded games, for what its worth):

Round 2 / Standings:
=================================
Deck:............Match:.Game:.Win%:..OppWin%:
---------------------------------------------
GRAggro........1-0.....2-0.....100%....000%
Predator..........1-0....2-0.....100%....000%
MBC..............1-0.....2-0.....100%....000%
Goblins...........1-0.....2-1.....067%....033%
WGBAggro.....0-1....1-2.....033%....033%
UGWPickles...0-1.....0-2.....000%....100%
Teachings........0-1.....0-2.....000%....100%
Titanic.............0-1.....0-2.....000%....100%
---------------------------------------------
=================================

Round 3 / Standings:
=================================
Deck:............Match:..Game:..Win%:..OppWin%:
---------------------------------------------
Predator.........2-0......4-0......100%....025%
MBC..............2-0......4-1......080%....050%
Goblins...........1-1......3-3......050%....070%
GRAggro........1-1......2-2......050%....050%
WGBAggro....1-1......3-2......060%....025%
Titanic.............1-1......2-2......050%....040%
UGWPickles...0-2......0-4......000%....055%
Teachings........0-2......0-4......000%....075%
---------------------------------------------
=================================

Final Standings:
=================================
Deck:..........Match:..Game:..Win%:..OppWin%:
---------------------------------------------
Predator........3-0.....6-0.....100%.....030%
Titanic...........2-1.....4-2.....067%.....033%
Goblins..........2-1.....5-3.....063%.....044%
MBC.............2-1.....4-3.....057%.....077%
GRAggro.......1-2.....2-4.....033%.....065%
WGBAggro...1-2.....3-4.....043%.....054%
UGWPickles.1-2.....2-4.....033%......025%
Teachings......0-3.....0-6.....000%......067%
---------------------------------------------
=================================

Here is what played what for your convenience:
===================================================
Deck:................Round 3:..............Round 2:....................Round 1:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
Predator:..........MBC(2-0)..............GRAggro(2-0)........Teachings(2-0)
Titanic:.............WGBAggro(2-0).....Teachings(2-0)........MBC(0-2)
Gobllins:..........GRAggro(2-0).........MBC(1-2)...............WBGAggro(2-1)
MBC:..............Predator(0-2)..........Goblins(2-1)............Titanic(2-0)
GRAggro:........Goblins(0-2)............Predator(0-2)..........UGWPickles(2-0)
WGBAggro:.....Titanic(0-2).............UGWPickles(2-0)...Goblins(1-2)
UGWPickles:...Teachings(2-0)........WGBAggro(0-2).....GRAggro(0-2)
Teachings:........UGWPickles(0-2)...Titanic(0-2)..............Predator(0-2)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
===================================================


So it looks like Predator is going to be a deck you may want to test against, just a little bit. Goblins looks to be pretty good once someome comes out with a good build (mine uses Facevaulter/Gargadon/Knucklebone Witch to do some crazy things.) My homebrew MBC shows some promise against a aggro-dominated field, but note the loss to Predator (Damn you Mystic Enforcer! Seriously that and Edict are the only ways I can handle them,) so there is more work to do there as well. I need to do a bigger test with some more decks (Rack, Blink, Elves, U/x, and some mono-color aggro,) and improve/update the ones I have to get some better results. Hopefully I can get to it soo, States is right around the corner, but so are midterms. . . Please respond with some better lists or decks I have missed, as well as general feedback. As for me, well I'm off to go catch the midnight flight, so If you are at the Orlando Lorwyn prerlease, hit me up. I'll be the skinny cracker hoplessly scrambling about the event in a blue collared shirt with brown pants and a gold cuban-linked chain. Good luck to all, get some packs!
Until next time,
-Jorge

Lorwyn Impressions III - Black
JorgeJung2006
9/26/2007 3:47 PM
my.TCGplayer.com

Hey all,
Time for the review of black Lorwyn cards and of course, the hype card and chase rare of the set: Thoughtseize. I actually think Lorwyn does offer some decent cards in this color besides the aforementioned Duress. The usual disclaimer, as always:

1. The information from the folks over at www.mtgpleasedontsueus.com is still classified as rumor, although many cards do have some sort of valid proof backing them up, they very well may be completely fictitious. Don’t go crying to me if your broken draft pick wasn’t there Saturday because it is imaginary.
2. All set reviews are wrong. . . Period. You know the phrase. That is why I am calling this review Impressions. I may or may not have tested these cards in real-world scenarios, these are just the ramblings of a madman. Still the new set (and more importantly the standard rotation) should be thoroughly examined if you want to perform well in the coming months.

Enough with the banter already, let’s get to the cards!

Common (18):

Boggart Birth Rite - B
Tribal Sorcery - Goblin (Common)
Return target Goblin card from your graveyard to your hand.
#101/301

Nice recursion that can grab tribal cards and shapeshifters. I decent grab in limited, but strictly inferior to Wort, Boggart Auntie for constructed.

Boggart Loggers - 2B
Creature - Goblin Rogue (Common)
Forestwalk
2B, Sacrifice Boggart Loggers: Destroy target Treefolk or Forest.
2/1
#103/301

Boggart Loggers is too narrow to see any play outside of a sideboard (and a limited one at that.) They stop Doran but are too slow.

Dreamspoiler Witches - 3B
Creature - Faerie Wizard (Common)
Flying
Whenever you play a spell during an opponent's turn, you may have target creature get -1/-1 until end of turn.
2/2
#108/301

The Witches are another consideration for faerie decks. A 2/2 flyer in limited that may turn other spells into weenie removal is not too bad. I’ll take it.

Eyeblight's Ending - 2B
Tribal Instant - Elf (Common)
Destroy target non-Elf creature.

Solid removal in black here. Note that Ending cannot target changeling creatures, remember this when you can change creature types at the prerelease! Other than that I’m sure we will see this card again.

Facevaulter - B
Creature - Goblin Warrior (Common)
B, Sacrifice a Goblin: Facevaulter gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
1/1
#111/301

I like this card as well. Facevaulter may be able to push through some critical damage at the right time, and in my opinion a solid one drop. Also puts guys in the yard, if you need to.

Footbottom Feast - 2B
Instant (Common)
Put any number of target creature cards from your graveyard on top of your library.
Draw a card.
#115/301

Nice card in limited, as you will get a creature back immediately, and you guarantee that you next few draws will be GAS.

Hornet Harasser - 2BB
Creature - Goblin Shaman (Common)
When Hornet Harasser is put into a graveyard from play, target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn.
2/2
#118/301

Let me get a woot woot for good limited cards. Basically a larger Festering Goblin. Too expensive for outside play, but can throw a wrench against smaller guys attacking. Sadly in the world of Tarmogoyf this guy will never see the light of day.

Moonglove Winnower - 3B
Creature - Elf Rogue (Common)
Deathtouch (Whenever this creature deals damage to a creature, destroy that creature.)
2/3
#126/301

A vanilla overcosted limited guy, the Winnower can create some nice ground stall scenarios.

Mournwhelk - 6B
Creature - Elemental (Common)
When Mournwhelk comes into play, target player discards two cards.
Evoke 3B (You may play this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it's sacrificed when it comes into play)
3/3
#127/301

Why couldn’t the Evoke on this guy cost one less? Still I could see this guy doing Very Bad ThingsTM in the control mirror: Evoke and reanimate to get a 4-5 for 2 advantage. Outside of that he’s too slow for most limited (I could be wrong!) builds and horrible against aggro in constructed. All in all you should probably pass on this guy, but remember him if you need a tool for control mirrors in the future. Remember he is splashable!

Nameless Inversion - 1B
Tribal Instant - Shapeshifter (Common)
Changeling (This card is every creature type even if this card isn't in play.)
Target creature gets +3/-3 and loses all creature types until end of turn.
#128/301

What’s good in the hood new Last Gasp? This card is going to be a staple in constructed and limited, and may even wreak some tribal havoc as well. Great card in my opinion, start playing with it, you’ll like it. Did I also mention that it can randomly let you win a game with a 6/1 Teferi?

Nightshade Stinger - B
Creature - Faerie Rogue (Common)
Flying
Nightshade Stinger can't block.
1/1
#132/301

Look at you little Nightshade Stinger. . .You are such a cute little flyer. . . You are going to help jumpstart a horribly annoying archtype that counters/bounces/otherwise disrupts my stuff while putting down cheap beaters at end of my turn that I can’t even block aren’t you? I think a properly designed faerue deck would play out kind of like countersliver, but will not be good immediately, as States has a lot of aggro, and control decks have yet to establish themselves yet. But beware this little baby in a few months when things start to settle down. . . You heard it here first!

Peppersmoke - B
Tribal Instant - Faerie (Common)
Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
If you control a Faerie, draw a card.
#134/301

A excellent cantrip for faerie decks. Not as good against control decks or when there are no guys out you want to hit with this. Still, Peppersmoke is a solid card.

Quill-Slinger Boggart - 3B
Creature - Goblin Warrior (Common)
Whenever a player plays a Kithkin spell, you may have target player lose 1 life.
3/2
#137/301

This Goblin is a vanilla 3/2 beater that some players will pick later on in a draft if they are light on guys. Remember the life loss will trigger on shapeshifters too.

Scarred Vinebreeder - 1B
Creature - Elf Shaman (Common)
2B, Remove an Elf card in your graveyard from the game: Scarred Vinebreeder gets +3/+3 until end of turn.
1/1
#138/301

Kinda Rootwalla-ish don’t you think? The removing a dead elf drawbach is kind of harsh, but will still probably be a decent limited card.

Skeletal Changeling - 1B
Creature - Shapeshifter (Common)
Changeling (This card is every creature type even if this card isn't in play.)
1B: Regenerate Skeletal Changeling.
1/1
#140/301

Stop making Drudge Skeletons! It can regenerate and it fits for whatever tribe you want. Think, a shapeshifter is over 200 creature types, when I think of that, my head hurts. . . And they just wiped out a bunch of old creature types now! All in all I still can’t name off all the advantages of changeling, as well as disadvantages.

Spiderwig Boggart - 2B
Creature - Goblin Shaman (Common)
When Spiderwig Boggart comes into play, target creature gains fear until end of turn.
2/2
#141/301

Spiderwig here is a 2/2 beater that can nab a turn of tempo, he is also a Goblin. This may be a limited card to consider.

Thieving Sprite - 2B
Creature - Faerie Rogue (Common)
Flying
When Thieving Sprite comes into play, target player reveals X cards from his or her hand, where X is the number of Faeries you control. Choose one of those cards. That player discards that card.
1/1
#143/301

Kinda cool, but the Sprite presents a conundrum, an inverse relationship of effectiveness, if you will. . . See you want to play him early, to get the best cards out of the opponent’s hand but also you want to have a few faeries in play, as to maximize how deep you can Blackmail you opponent. Still, Thieving Sprite still has an abuseable come into play effect. . .

Weed Strangle - 3BB
Sorcery (Common)
Destroy target creature. Clash with an opponent. If you win, gain life equal to that creature's toughness.
#147/301
Removal = Limited goodness. . . Desperate players trying to play some clash stuff might run this.


Uncommon (14):

Boggart Harbinger - 2B
Creature - Goblin Shaman (Uncommon)
When Boggart Harbinger comes into play, you may search your library for a Goblin card, reveal it, then shuffle your library and put that card on top of it.
2/1
#102/301

We know the Harbringers are going to be good, they are very flexible (grab the new shock or Wort, maybe Siege-Gang Commander.) This guy is an auto-include in a Goblin deck.

Faerie Tauntings - 2B
Enchantment (Uncommon)
Whenever you play a spell during an opponent's turn, you may have each opponent lose 1 life.
#112/301

I like the card but I think the effect is too weak. Time will tell if somebody can break this card. It does get better in multiples. I may be able to see this in a Teachings-style deck.

Final Revels - 4B
Sorcery (Uncommon)
Choose one - All creatures get +2/+0 until end of turn; or all creatures get -0/-2 until end of turn.
#113/301

Final Revels has very little good going for it, outside of catching your opponent off guard in limited by either killing a few of their dudes, or setting up a large alpha strike.

Fodder Launch - 3B
Tribal Sorcery - Goblin (Uncommon)
As an additional cost to play Fodder Launch, sacrifice a Goblin.
Target creature gets -5/-5 until end of turn. Fodder Launch deals 5 damage to that creature's controller.
Leave it to a boggart to come up with a projectile as disgusting as it is deadly.
Illus. Nils Hamm
#114/301

I’m not too sure on this one, in one hand it seems to be excellent removal and burn in one, and then it seems to slow or clunky at four mana. Still, things can get crazy with Wort, of course. Sorcery speed hurts a bit, as it would be pretty damned good at an instant.

Ghostly Changeling - 2B
Creature - Shapeshifter (Uncommon)
Changeling (This card is every creature type even if this card isn't in play.)
1B: Ghostly Changeling gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
2/2
#116/301

Shade cards are always good in limited, and Ghostly Changeling has the whole shapeshifter thing going for it. This card is no Nantuko Shade though.

Hoarder's Greed - 3B
Sorcery (Uncommon)
Draw two cards and lose 2 life. Clash with an opponent. If you win, repeat this process. (Each clashing player reveals the top card of his or her library then puts that card on the top or bottom. A player wins if his or her card had a higher converted mana cost)
#117/301

I like this guy in MBC-esque decks. Also good in limited. I can see the nonoptional clash effect ending up hurting pretty bad every once in a while. Another option for a clash deck, as Hoarder’s Greed can trigger multiple times, especially with an expensive card (like Dread) on top, but you can choose to put that card on the bottom when the time comes. Wow, come to think of it, I like this guy with Ponder and a fatty on the top three quite a bit.

Hunter of Eyeblights - 3BB
Creature - Elf Assassin (Uncommon)
When Hunter of Eyeblights comes into play, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you don't control.
2B, T: Destroy target creature with a counter on it.
3/3
#119/301

With a nice ability on a decent body this card is a good limited pick. Unless someone can exploit the Hunter is block constructed, I expect it to stay that way.

Lys Alana Scarblade - 2B
Creature - Elf Assassin (Uncommon)
T, Discard an Elf card: Target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn, where X is the number of Elves you control.
1/1
#122/301

A reverse, spellshaping Timberwatch Elf. Applications in limited nonwithstanding, I just don’t think this guy packs the punch needed to thrive in constructed. Note: The Scarblade is an elven discard outlet, whatever good that will do you. Oh, and by the way. Yes this guy is good in limited if you have a few elves and shapeshifters to go with him. (read: a bunch.)

Makeshift Mannequin - 3B
Instant (Uncommon)
Return target creature from your graveyard to play with a mannequin counter on it. As long as that creature has a mannequin counter on it, it has "When this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it."
#124/301

Cool combat trix in limited, but don’t play it otherwise.

Marsh Flitter - 3B
Creature - Faerie Rogue (Uncommon)
Flying
When Marsh Flitter comes into play, put two 1/1 black Goblin Rogue creature tokens into play.
Sacrifice a Goblin: Marsh Flitter becomes 3/3 until end of turn.
1/1
#125/301

I don’t see you using the second ability unless you are trying to squeeze the last six points of damage in. Other than that, Marsh Flitter is a fine addition to a draft deck, providing three threats for one card. Ancestral Recall, eat your heart out.

Nectar Faerie - 1B
Creature - Faerie Wizard (Uncommon)
Flying
T: Target Faerie or Elf gains lifelink until end of turn.
1/1
#130/301

Nectar Faerie is a nifty card and a useful ability all in a cheap 1/1 flyer. Will see some use in limited, maybe even in a few faerie decks.

Prowess of the Fair - 1B
Tribal Enchantment - Elf (Uncommon)
Whenever another nontoken Elf is put into your graveyard from play, you may put a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token into play.
An elvish duel is a thing of beauty: the warriors' grace, the crash of steel, then the artful spray of blood.
Illus. Jeremy Jarvis
#136/301

Prowess of the Fair is some good anti-Wrath tech that can’t be killed as easy as the elves themselves. Its an auto-include in any elf deck.

Shriekmaw - 4B
Creature - Elemental (Uncommon)
Fear
When Shriekmaw comes into play, destroy target nonartifact, nonblack creature.
Evoke 1B (You may play this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it's sacrificed when it comes into play.)
3/2
Illus. Steve Prescott
#139/301

The preview card we’ve known about for ages. Now that I am starting to get a feel for the set, I think these guys would best be used in a reanimator strategy. Evoke, kill a guy, bring back, kill a guy, Momentary Blink, kill a guy. Shreikmaw could have some fun with those cards and Mournwhelk. Nice pick in limited.

Squeaking Pie Sneak - 1B
Creature - Goblin Rogue (Uncommon)
As an additional cost to play Squeaking Pie Sneak, reveal a Goblin card from your hand or pay 3.
Fear
2/2
#142/301

What a strange name. R&D has to be messing with me. Just look at it. . . No keep looking. . . Stop that! Are you done? Okay. Seriously this guy is a decent beater for 1B, and for his colors the evasion at that cost is nice. This card does suck when you don’t have a helper in hand, but if its late-game the disadvantage is minimal.

Rare(11):

Boggart Mob - 3B
Creature - Goblin Warrior (Rare)
Champion a Goblin (When this comes into play, sacrifice it unless you remove another Goblin you control from the game. When this leaves play, that card returns to play.)
Whenever a Goblin you control deals combat damage to a player, put a 1/1 black Goblin Warrior creature token into play.
5/5
#104/301

Let the glory days of goblins bashing commence. I don’t think Goblins will be as fast as their Onslaught brethren, but it does look like they will have some better mid-late game power. I remember a BR Rock style deck with Oversold Cemetery and Siege-Gang Commander that performed pretty well at FNMs, I think the new Goblins will play similar to that.

Cairn Wanderer - 4B
Creature - Shapeshifter (Rare)
Changeling
As long as a creature card in your graveyard has flying, Cairn Wanderer has flying. The same is true for fear, first strike, double strike, deathtouch, haste, landwalk, lifelink, protection, reach, trample, shroud, and vigilance.
4/4
#105/301

Nifty Body Double-ish effect. Screams “build around me!” Useful in limited but don’t hold your breath in constructed.

Colfenor's Plans - 2BB
Enchantment (Rare)
When Colfenor's Plans comes into play, remove the top seven cards of your library from the game face down.
You may look at and play cards removed form the game with Colfenor's Plans.
Skip your draw step.
You can't play more than one spell each turn.
#106/301

I think what other people are saying about this card is right, but with a consistent way to sacrifice it (Here’s to you Claws of Gix,) there may be hope for this strange Yawgmoth’s Will in constructed. A scary proposition in limited, but may be interesting.

Dread - 3BBB
Creature - Elemental Incarnation (Rare)
Fear
Whenever a creature deals damage to you, destroy it.
When Dread is put into a graveyard from anywhere, shuffle it into it's owner's library.
6/6
Illus. Matt Cavotta
#107/301

I don’t really care for the No Mercy effect outside of murdering weenies. I do care that it is an efficient finisher with evasion for mono black decks. A bomb in limited, may even find its way into a MBC deck in standard/block constructed. Also cool because he whacks guys with protection from black.

Knucklebone Witch - B
Creature - Goblin Shaman (Rare)
Whenever a Goblin you control is put into a graveyard from play, you may put a +1/+1 counter on Knucklebone Witch.
Each bone honors its owner's best pranks.
1/1
Illus. Jim Pavelec
#120/301

Hello Goblin Arcbound Ravager! Okay so Knucklebone Witch is nowhere near as broken, I expect this card to show up a bit in constructed and limited. Think: this guy and Mogg Fanatic are a pretty good deal. Now imagine the Witch surrounded with many more Goblins. Also draws the removal heat off of other Goblins you have out. Pick them up while they are cheap.

Liliana Vess - 3BB
Planeswalker - Liliana (Rare)
+1: Target player discards a card.
-2: Search your library for a card, then shuffle your library and put that card on top of it.
-8: Put all creature cards in all graveyards into play under your control.
5
Illus. Aleksi Briclot
#121/301

The All Hallows Eve effect is nice, but too slow and fragile. The discard effect comes out too late for most fast decks out there. The real gem when it comes to Liliana Vess is the double tutor. I hear some people say it is marginal and too expensive for that. I look at the damage soaking that Lilana will ultimately endure and the fact if that doesn’t happen, you can start pulling bombs from your deck and think this card may end up as an interesting one of in block, maybe even standard. Of course she is a bomb in limited, but I still wonder how far she will go in constructed. Note she does grab all of your opponents dead guys as well, just a interesting note that MBC might like to know.

Mad Auntie - 2B
Creature - Goblin Shaman (Rare)
Other Goblin creatures you control get +1/+1.
T: Regenerate another target Goblin.
One part cunning, one part wise, and many, many parts demented.
2/2
Illus. Wayne Reynolds
#123/301

Will be played in Goblin decks all over limited, block and type two formats. She can even block Tarmogoyf indefinitely.

Nettlevine Blight - 4BB
Enchantment - Aura (Rare)
Enchant creature or land
Enchanted permanent has "At the end of your turn, sacrifice this permanent and attach Nettlevine Blight to a creature or land you control."
#131/301

Am I reading this right? Would this hurt control mirrors, or does it pass back and forth? If it’s not symmetrical I think this may see some sideboard space in constructed.

Oona's Prowler - 1B
Creature - Faerie Rogue (Rare)
Flying
Discard a card: Oona's Prowler gets -2/-0 until end of turn. Any player may play this ability.
3/1
#133/301

Maybe faeries will start off sooner than I think. An excellent beater, as it is basically a 3/1 all the time as an opponent will usually use a card to remove it instead of discarding a card to slow it down. Snatch these up, they will be pretty hot.

Profane Command - XBB
Sorcery (Rare)
Choose two - Target player loses X life; or return target creature card with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to play; or target creature gets -X/-X until end of turn; or up to X target creatures gain fear until end of turn.
#135/301

I’m already getting tired of the command cycle, but I can’t help but know how versatile they are. Can bring back a Hellkite, deal five, and then they lose seven life. Ouch. Alpha swing, that’s a sure thing. Whack a guy, burn, or whack a guy, bring a guy back are pretty good too. There are just too many applications for Profane Command to pass it up.

Thoughtseize - B
Sorcery (Rare)
Target player reveals his or her hand. Choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card. You lose 2 life.
#145/301

The hype card at this moment eh? Yes, this is a great card, yes it is going to be overpriced. I still think the price may go down a bit as things settle down, but we will see, wont we?


That finishes up my black review. I really do think some good tribal decks (and maybe a few others as well) will be viable in the new type two format. Oh yeah and I got a decent story about Tarmogoyf. Okay well not really a story but slightly interesting nonetheless. Take a look at what I wrote while I was reviewing Future Sight cards:

“GeorgeJung2006
Card Flipper (90 Posts) * 5/9/2007 9:51:26 PM
One word: Dredge. Will be almost like a quicker Werebear if applied correctly.
Also: Looks like Planeswalker will be the new card type.”

Yeah, ALMOST like a quicker Werebear. Boy was I off on that one. At least I knew about Planeswalkers first!
Until next time,
-Jorge

Lorwyn Impressions II - Blue
JorgeJung2006
9/26/2007 12:08 AM
my.TCGplayer.com

Hello again,
Today I will be covering the blue cards that will appear in Lorwyn. Please bear with me I am still trying to perfect text formatting on this blog, and with any luck I should get it looking better than yesterday's article. The ground rules again, now updated:

1. The information over at mtgsalvation is still a rumor, I may end up previewing cards that do not exist, not my fault!
2. All set reviews are wrong, period. That is why I call this series impressions.

Now let’s get started:

Æthersnipe - 5U
Creature - Elemental (Common)
When Æthersnipe comes into play, return target non-land permanent to its owner's hand.
Evoke 1UU (You may play this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it's sacrificed when it comes into play.)
4/4
#50/301

Cute ability and you get a 4/4 to boot, but at 7 mana you may be a little too late for it’s bounce effect. Maybe a pick in limited, but I don’t see it.

Ameboid Changeling - 1U
Creature - Shapeshifter (Common)
Changeling (This card is every creature type even if this card isn't in play.)
T: Target creature gains all creature types until end of turn.
T: Target creature loses all creature types until end of turn.
1/1
#51/301

Now according to the guys at the FFL, this guy wreaks all sorts of havoc in limited. I can definitely see some interactions that will be cute, using opponents tribal effects against them. “Now my guy is an elf! He doesn’t die.” I’m sure we will see some of him in limited, no place in constructed.

Aquitect's Will - U
Tribal Sorcery - Merfolk (Common)
Put a flood counter on target land. That land is an island in addition to its other types as long as it has a flood counter on it. If you control a Merfolk, draw a card.
#52/301

Will see play in some fish (read: Merfolk for all you newer guys out there) decks, both constructed and limited.

Benthicore - 6U
Creature - Elemental (Uncommon)
When Benthicore comes into play, put two 1/1 blue Merfolk Wizard creature tokens into play.
Tap two untapped Merfolk you control: Untap Benthicore. It gains shroud until end of turn.
5/5
#53/301

Maybe some limited action, as he puts out guys and protects himself, but probably too expensive.

Broken Ambitions - XU
Instant (Common)
Counter target spell unless its controller pays {X}, then clash with an opponent. If you win, that spell's controller puts the top four cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.(Each clashing player reveals the top card of his or her library then puts that card on the top or bottom. A player wins if his or her card had a higher converted mana cost)
#54/301

It’s a counter, and counters get played; a card to remember if you are trying to break clash.

Captivating Glance - 2U
Enchantment - Aura (Uncommon)
Enchant creature
At the end of your turn, clash with the opponent. If you win, gain control of enchanted creature, otherwise that player gains control of enchanted creature.
#55/301

Too fickle to be useful in competitive play, but nine years ago I would’ve loved it.

Cryptic Command - 1UUU
Instant (Rare)
Choose two - Counter target spell; or return target permanent to its owner's hand; or tap all creatures your opponents control; or draw a card.
Illus. Wayne England
#56/301

Everyone is talking about this card, so I’ll just agree with them until I find a good spot for this guy. Note: the tempo gained from a counter and a bounce spell in one should be remembered though.

Deeptread Merrow - 1U
Creature - Merfolk Rogue (Common) U: Deeptread Merrow gains islandwalk until end of turn.
2/1
#57/301

A 2/1 for two that combos well with Auquitect’s Will. If merfolk take off this guy will be okay, also a decent beater in limited. Deeptread is great against blue based decks obviously.

Drowner of Secrets - 2U
Creature - Merfolk Wizard (Uncommon)
Tap an untapped Merfolk you control: Target player puts the top card of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
1/3
#58/301

There may be a use for Drowner, but I don’t see it. There are just better ways to mill out there.

Ethereal Whiskergill - 3U
Creature - Elemental (Uncommon)
Flying
Ethereal Whiskergill can't attack unless defending player controls an Island.
4/3
#60/301

C’mon Aquitect’s Will! Sideboard maybe? Nah. . .

Faerie Harbinger - 3U
Creature - Faerie Wizard (Uncommon)
Flash
Flying
When Faerie Harbinger comes into play, search your library for a Faerie card and reveal it, then shuffle your library and put it on top of your library.
2/2
#61/301

A 2/2 flying balanced faerie teachings. She can search for a counter (see Trickery below). If she would’ve put the card in your hand it would be broken.

Faerie Trickery - 1UU
Tribal Instant - Faerie (Common)
Counter target non-Faerie spell. If it was countered this way, remove it from the game instead of putting it in its owner's graveyard.
#62/301

Yeah, a new Dissipate. Will see play in Standard and Block constructed.

Fallowsage - 3U
Creature - Merfolk Wizard (Uncommon)
Whenever Fallowsage becomes tapped, you may draw a card.
2/2
#63/301

Please reprint Opposition, so we can use these cards! At least replaces himself with one attack, so probably not too bad in limited, real good if you an find a way to tap him or give him evasion.

Familiar's Ruse - UU
Instant (Uncommon)
As an additional cost to play Familiar's Ruse, return a creature you control to its owner's hand.
Counter target spell.
#64/301

This guy likes 187 effects. Still useless if you don’t have a guy out (or can’t keep one in play!)

Fathom Trawl - 3UU
Sorcery (Rare)
Reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal three nonland cards. Put each nonland card revealed this way into your hand, then put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
#65/301

Five mana for three cards just doesn’t seem too great. At least they will be GAS and no filler. Note that if you are looking for an Academy Ruins, or Urza’s Factory this card will leave you SOL.

Forced Fruition - 4UU
Enchantment (Rare)
Whenever an opponent plays a spell, that player draws seven cards.
#66/301

I like the concept; a one card Owling Mine strategy. Weak in application as it let’s the opponent draw outs although they have to get them quickly. Might see some block shenanigans. A hot clock in limited.

Glen Elendra Pranksters - 3U
Creature - Faerie Wizard (Uncommon)
Flying
Whenever you play a spell during an opponent's turn, you may return target creature you control to its owners hand.
1/3
#67/301

Seriously, isn’t Momentary Blink enough? Yada yada yada, works well with 187 effects. May help new school AngelFire, everything I said before, only on YOUR turn! Would be killer at 2 or 3 mana.

Glimmerdust Nap - 2U
Enchantment - Aura (Common)
Enchant tapped creature
Enchanted creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step.
#68/301

Yay for blue removal in limited, but it is limited blue removal. “Ha ha!” says the man with vigilance. Did I mention they get one swing/activation in?

Guile - 3UUU
Creature - Elemental Incarnation (Rare)
Guile can't be blocked except by three or more creatures.
If a spell or ability you control would counter a spell, instead remove that spell from the game and you may play that card without paying its mana cost.
When Guile is put into a graveyard from anywhere, shuffle it into its owner's library.
6/6
#69/301

Guile is a strong finisher, he is strong in limited, counterspell-based decks love him. But he is probably just a “win more” card, as a 6/6 with evasion is pretty good in itself. And tapping out for six is counterproductive for an effective counter strategy. Still may see some play.

Inkfathom Divers - 3UU
Creature - Merfolk Soldier (Common)
Islandwalk
When Inkfathom Divers comes into play, look at the top four cards of your library, then put them back in any order.
3/3
#70/301

Too much buck for not enough bang. But it does have an abuseable 187 effect (like a top almost when it is every turn,) fits into a fish tribe, and kills other blue mages with Islandwalk (or just use the Aquitect’s Will.) If he was cheaper and/or drew a card this guy would be playable.

Jace Beleren - 1UU
Planeswalker - Jace (Rare)
+2: Each player draws a card.
-1: Target player draws a card.
-10: Target player puts the top twenty cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
3
Illus. Aleksi Briclot
#71/301

I still think Plansewalkers will make for some interesting card choices in the coming months. Take Jace here. She can draw you many cards, and even mill opponents out. Also even if she does die chances are she replaced herself with a card and took some damage instead of you, which is always good in blue. Almost like an expensive cantripping Fog. And that is when she is at her worst. Don’t be too surprised if you see some Plansewalkers showing up outside of limited.

Merrow Commerce - 1U
Tribal Enchantment - Merfolk (Uncommon)
At the end of your turn, untap all Merfolk you control.
#72/301

Is anyone else seeing this crazy tap-happy fish deck that may come about? Also works as a pseudo-vigilance for your fishies.

Merrow Harbinger - 3U
Creature - Merfolk Wizard (Uncommon)
Islandwalk
When Merrow Harbinger comes into play, search your library for a Merfolk card, reveal that card, then shuffle your library and put that card on top of your library.
2/3
#73/301

It’s the small stuff you gotta love. Like dropping the Harbringer to fetch. . . yes Aquitect’s Will. Playing the Will next turn and drawing a card, while making your Harbringer unblockable. I think both of those cards will see some play and are bombs in limited.

Merrow Reejerey - 2U
Creature - Merfolk Soldier (Uncommon)
Other Merfolk creatures you control get +1/+1.
Whenever you play a merfolk spell, you may tap or untap target permanent.
2/2
#74/301

Too bad there are not enough flashing fishies. Still the walking tribal Glorious Anthem cycle is nothing to scoff at.

Mistblind Clique - 3U
Creature - Faerie Wizard (Rare)
Flash, flying
Champion a Faerie
When a Faerie is championed with Mistbind Clique, tap all lands target player controls.
4/4
#75/301

This guy is funky like George Clinton! A near-Time Walk that beats down, has flash, and works good with 187 effects. Man is Slaughter Pact going to be good!

Mulldrifter - 4U
Creature - Elemental (Common)
Flying
When Mulldrifter comes into play, draw two cards.
Evoke 2U (You may play this spell for its evoke cost. If you do, it's sacrificed when it comes into play)
2/2
#76/301

Nice CIP effect. Very nice in limited if you can abuse the CIP effect and has flying to boot. May see some block play as well but don’t hold your breath.

Pestermite - 2U
Creature - Faerie Rogue (Common)
Flash
Flying
When Pestermite comes into play, you may tap or untap target permanent.
2/1
#78/301

Nice tricks in limited. Pestermite may find a home with some friends of the Fey in constructed as well. Flash and flying are always nice.

Ponder - U
Sorcery (Common)
Look at the top three cards of your library, then put them back in any order. You may shuffle your library.
Draw a card.
"We see the same sky as you, but we see it differently."
Illus. Mark Tedin
#79/301

Maybe not Brainstorm but still pretty damn good. If you run blue you will probably use it. Maybe not if you have other 1-drops. No, you will still use it.

Ringskipper - 1U
Creature - Faerie Wizard (Common)
Flying
When Ringskipper is put into a graveyard from play, clash with an opponent. If you win, return Ringskipper to its owner's hand.
1/1
#81/301

Even if she comes back only half the time, that’s still good. 1/1 flyers are always welcome here. Add clash triggers for your enchantments and random recursion leading to more clash triggers and we have something. Not much, but something. . .

Scattering Stroke - 2UU
Instant (Uncommon)
Counter target spell, then clash. If you win, at the beginning of your next main phase, you may add {X} to your mana pool, where X is that spell's converted mana cost.
#82/301

Kind of hard to plan with, as sometimes you will hold back a bigger play hoping the clash will go in your favor. At least there is a may clause if you don’t need it. Stroke is another possibility to watch for the clash deck that may or may not be viable once things get rolling.

Scion of Oona - 2U
Creature - Faerie Soldier (Rare)
Flash, flying
Other Faerie creatures you control get +1/+1 and have shroud.
1/1
#83/301

Yup, nice faerie deck foundation that protects them from spot removal until she gets removed. The Scion also lets you counter a timely Tendrils or Slaughter Pact if you keep lands untapped, which I believe flash also helps you accomplish. Damnation and WoG laugh uncontrollably in the background. Faerie Trickery looks over from the bar nefariously. . .


Sentinels of Glen Elendra - 3U
Creature - Faerie Soldier (Common)
Flash, flying
2/3
#84/301

Limited. Next.

Shapesharer - 1U
Creature - Shapeshifter (Rare)
Changeling
2U: Target Shapeshifter becomes a copy of target creature until the end of your next turn.
1/1
#85/301

Interesting card. Has way too many applications to mention here, but I’m sure you can think of a few. May end up too small or may break some crazy deck. Keep an eye out for him.

Silvergill Adept - 1U
Creature - Merfolk Wizard (Uncommon)
As an additional cost to play Silvergill Adept, reveal a Merfolk card from your hand or pay {3}.
When Silvergill Adept comes into play, draw a card.
"I bring baubles of lore, lost secrets seined from the listening waves."
2/1
Illus. Matt Cavotta
#86/301

Good guy for fish. I made a fantasy card similar, except mine was broken. Seeing as to that, I don’t think the Adept will be spectacular, but will be used outside of limited somewhere just for the cantripping.

Sower of Temptation - 2UU
Creature - Faerie Wizard (Rare)
Flying
When Sower of Temptation comes into play, gain control of target creature as long as Sower of Temptation remains in play.
2/2
#88/301

Wow! Lets take Abduction, make it a 2/2 flying beater, and make sure it fits in a tribe. Way to go R&D! This guy is nuts in all current formats (T2, Block, and limited formats.) Ok, well not really nuts but is STRONG. Got yer ‘Goyf, Gargadon, or Teferi (if the Sower lives long enough) right here buddy. Goblin Shock laughs uncontrollably in the background.

Spellstutter Sprite - 1U
Creature - Faerie Wizard (Common)
Flash
Flying
When Spellstutter Sprite comes into play, counter target spell with converted mana cost X or less, where X is the number of Faeries you control.
1/1
Illus. Rebecca Guay
#89/301

Okay forget this, I’m going to go build some Faerie deck. I never though I’d say that one. But seriously, if UG Aggro decks are doing so well in Standard right now, there may be some room for a quick-tempo flashing Faerie deck to come about, that can both protect its men and blow up or bounce theirs. Thanks to the versatility of blacks disruption, we may see something that can contend with the new format’s Teachings decks that will obviously make a splash. States is going to be fun, the question can someone pull another Broodstar Affinity run? We will see some new stuff I believe.

Stonybrook Angler - 1U
Creature - Merfolk Wizard (Common)
1U, T: You may tap or untap target creature.
1/2
#90/301

I thought I reviewed this card yesterday? Oh wait, he UNTAPS your guys too. Nothing flashy but good in limited.

Streambed Aquitects - 1UU
Creature - Merfolk Scout (Common)
T: Target Merfolk creature gets +1/+1 and gains Islandwalk until end of turn.
T: Target land becomes an Island until end of turn.
2/3
#91/301

I smell something fishy in limited with this tribe. . . Look he works good with an Angler too! You only use three creatures to push one through! Yeah. . . Still can pull some limited tricks.

Surgespanner - 3U
Creature - Merfolk Wizard (Rare)
When Surgespanner becomes tapped, you may pay 1U. If you do, return target permanent to its owner's hand.
2/2
#92/301

Very cool ability, but how am I going to tap them?

Tideshaper Mystic - U
Creature - Merfolk Wizard (Common)
T: Target land becomes the basic land type of your choice until end of turn. Play this ability only during your turn.
1/1
#93/301

Island beats in limited! Too bad you can’t use him as mana denial. The Mystic is still a solid one drop with some Islandwalkers in your deck.


Turtleshell Changeling - 3U
Creature - Shapeshifter (Uncommon)
Changeling
1U: Switch Turtleshell Changeling's power and toughness until end of turn.
1/4
#94/301

Here we have a solid blocker that can switch roles on the fly. I think the changeling mechanic will be underrated at first, but will end up being pretty good in sealed/draft.

Wanderwine Prophets - 4UU
Creature - Merfolk Wizard (Rare)
Champion a Merfolk (When this comes into play, sacrifice it unless you remove another Merfolk you control from the game. When this leaves play, that card returns to play.)
Whenever Wanderwine Prophets deals combat damage to a player, you may sacrifice a Merfolk. If you do, take an extra turn after this one.
4/4
#95/301

Has potential to do stupid things, but will probably fall short of a first down in constructed. Might be good in limited, nah I don’t think so.

Whirlpool Whelm - 1U
Instant (Common)
Clash with an opponent, then return target creature to its owner's hand. If you win, you may put that creature on top of its owner's library instead. (Each clashing player reveals the top card of his or her library then puts that card on the top or bottom. A player wins if his or her card had a higher converted mana cost)
Illus. Cyril Van Der Haegen
#96/301

Whirlpool Whelm is Creature bounce that provides excellent tempo half the time. A great pick in constructed and limited. The clash deck inclusion is inherent.

Wings of Velis