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Quick Draft LTR 24 July 2023

24 July 11:42 - Enriette 7 Wins - 2 Losses
Maindeck
Creature (13)
1 Grishnákh, Brash Instigator image
2 Uglúk of the White Hand image
1 Goblin Fireleaper image
1 Mauhúr, Uruk-hai Captain image
1 Warbeast of Gorgoroth image
2 Battle-Scarred Goblin image
1 Gothmog, Morgul Lieutenant image
2 Rohirrim Lancer image
1 Mirkwood Bats image
1 Erebor Flamesmith image
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (10)
1 Quarrel's End image
1 Sam's Desperate Rescue image
1 Mordor Muster image
2 Nasty End image
1 Foray of Orcs image
1 Breaking of the Fellowship image
2 Rally at the Hornburg image
1 Fiery Inscription image
Land (17)
1 The Grey Havens image
8 Swamp image
8 Mountain image
Sideboard
1 Strider, Ranger of the North image
1 Delighted Halfling image
2 Shire Scarecrow image
1 One Ring to Rule Them All image
2 Orcish Medicine image
1 Hithlain Knots image
1 You Cannot Pass! image
1 Surrounded by Orcs image
1 The Black Breath image
1 Gimli's Fury image
2 Fire of Orthanc image
1 Rising of the Day image
1 Doors of Durin image
1 Bewitching Leechcraft image
1 Dúnedain Blade image

Pack 1 Pick 1: One Ring to Rule Them All
One Ring to Rule Them All image 4.0 So, since a Ringbearer becomes Legendary, the idea here is that Chapter II will hurt you less than it hurts your opponent, and for the most part that is true. The downside is that there are lots of legendary creatures in this set, and sometimes not being able to kill those is pretty rough. Still, because of Chapter I this will usually hurt you less than your opponent, and Chapter III also makes sure that your opponent will get hurt more by this Saga than you do. Your opponent is likely to have several creatures in the graveyard between Chapter I and II! Still, the fact that this will sometimes not kill multiple creatures your opponent has is a problem, and keeps it from being a straight up bomb
Strider, Ranger of the North image 4.0 This has solid base stats and a really strong landfall effect. He can always give the boost to himself, which means he can rumble as a 5/5 with First Strike, something that is formidable on virtually every board state! He can also spread the love around, of course, which is great because it can enable you to attack with more of your creatures
Gorbag of Minas Morgul image 3.0 This has decent base stats and a useful creature type, and the ability isn’t bad either. You aren’t always going to be in a spot to sacrifice a goblin or an orc for one of these effects, but there are definitely times where you’d be happy to turn a creature into a card or a Treasure
Old Man Willow image 4.0 This is a great signpost Uncommon. It is always going to have at least decent stats, and the attack effect is really strong too. You won’t always have something to sacrifice, but there is a lot of Food in this format, and that’s the ideal thing to give up. There are going to be tons of situations where this can attack and easily remove opposing creatures by giving up sacrifice fodder
Olog-hai Crusher image 2.5 This isn’t exactly the Goblin/Orc payoff you’re hoping for, but a 4-mana 4/4 Trampler is fairly formidable, and it will often be capable of blocking
Rally at the Hornburg image 3.0 Two mana for two 1/1s with Haste would be good in any format, but there are many cards in the format – especially in Red/White, that both like going wide and having Humans around. It can be specially spicy with the cards that give you an effect for each human who enters the battlefield
Galadhrim Guide image 2.0 Stats aren’t good, but there are enough Scry payoffs for the first copy of this to make the cut pretty often
Fire of Orthanc image 1.0 Demolish is almost never worth it in Limited, and tacking on this unblockable angle doesn’t do enough to change that.
Glorious Gale image 2.5 This is a strictly better Essence Scatter, and Essence Scatter is always decent in Limited. It is cheap and counters the most common type of spell in your typical game.
Willow-Wind image 3.0 The last time we saw a 5-mana ¾ Flyer that Scried 2 on ETB it really over-performed, and that wasn’t even in a set with a Scry deck. This is probably one of Blue’s best Commons.
Westfold Rider image 2.0 This has passable base stats and an ability that will actually do something sometimes. It is nice to be able to have a Disenchant in your main deck without having to pay much of a cost.
Dreadful as the Storm image 1.0 Lately, we’ve finally been seeing cards with this type of effect actually be playable, but that’s because they have drawn a card. Once that’s the case, a boost like this can be a 2-for-1 and that’s a big deal! The Ring tempting you isn’t nearly as good as drawing a card, so I don’t think this does enough. The problem with this type of boost is that you end up overpaying for it on most creatures – like a 3/3 that gets +2/+2 from this is not a good deal. Sure, on 1/1s it feels better, but that makes this overly situational
Orcish Medicine image 1.5 This trick isn’t that likely to help your creature win combat, but it does blank an attack and gain you some life at worst, and the fact it blanks most removal isn’t too bad either. Add Amass to the mix and I think you have a card that makes the cut in your deck sometimes, but for a trick to really be worthwhile it does need to be more useful in combat than this is
Dúnedain Blade image 2.5 If you are paying three to equip this, it is basically unplayable. If you’re paying one to equip it enough of the time, it becomes a solid playable. There are certainly enough Humans in White, as well as some equipment synergies in the set.
Pack 1 Pick 2: Grishnákh, Brash Instigator
Ent-Draught Basin image 0.0 This looks pretty bad. Sure, one mana to put a counter on a 1/1 isn’t a terrible deal, and as a mana sink you could do worse, but it will eventually be fairly expensive to put counters on things, and the fact it does it only at Sorcery speed is a pretty big problem too. This just seems too clunky
Grishnákh, Brash Instigator image 4.0 Even if you don’t think about the Threaten effect, a three mana 1/1 that makes a 2/2, or alternatively puts 2 counters on an Army you already have is a pretty nice rate. With the threaten effect in the mix it gets even better, especially if you’re in Black/Red and you have some cheap sacrifice outlets
Goblin Fireleaper image 3.0 A two mana 1/1 that does 1 to something when it dies is borderline playable, and this has a much higher ceiling than that! It goes great with Equipment and other buffs, and it can buff its own power, really presenting a problem for your opponent. It is a pretty nice card all game long, as you can always attack with it and threatne to buff it, which creates problems on most board states. Your opponent often has to take it or risk getting 2-for-1’d when it gets pumped
Soothing of Sméagol image 2.0 Two mana to bounce a nontoken creature isn’t an amazing deal these days. Remember, you’re only getting tempo and are actually going down a card. Still, this does allow you to impact the board and getting tempted by the ring is never a bad thing.
Chance-Met Elves image 3.0 This looks like another quality Scry payoff. Starting as a 3/2 obviously isn’t very good, but there’s definitely a critical mass of Scry in the set, so this will do a good job of accumulating counters throughout the game.
Pelargir Survivor image 2.0 Fixing and ramp for spells is alright, though even in a spell-heavy deck it always seems that this spell-specific ramp underperforms. The other ability is even less meaningful for the most part, as it costs a ton of mana and won’t do something meaningful most of the time.
Shelob's Ambush image 2.5 This is a really nice trick. Death touch and the toughness boost for only one mana means many creatures will be capable of taking down an opposing creature and surviving to tell the tale, and that’s likely to give you some pretty awesome tempo since it only costs a single mana. Its great that you also get some Food out of the deal!
Took Reaper image 2.0 This has mediocre stats that would make it a 1.0 at best these days. Getting tempted by the ring is nice upside, and does mean you’ll come out ahead in most trades, but it also isn’t the type of upside to get that excited over.
Shire Scarecrow image 1.5 A two mana 0/3 defender doesn’t tend to be very good, but this does a reasonable job of filtering your mana
Warbeast of Gorgoroth image 2.0 On its own, this is a 5-mana 5/4 that Amasses 2 when it dies. That’s not bad, but not really anything to write home about either. Obviously, it does get better the more 4 power or more creatures you have, and it makes any trades you make with those creatures into a pretty decent deal, but its still expensive and has mediocre stats
Sam's Desperate Rescue image 2.0 One mana to return a creature from your graveyard to your hand is a passable card, though I’d usually pay three mana to get two things back, as that gives you a more significant advantage by the later stages of the game. That said, paying one will often mean you can play the thing you get back right away, and getting tempted by the ring even makes this have a decent fail case if you don’t have something in your graveyard
Lothlórien Lookout image 1.5 This card’s pretty awkward, because 1/3 doesn’t exactly scream “Attack with me!” While Scrying is definitely important for Green decks in the format, there are lots of better ways to do it, so I don’t think this will usually make the cut unless you’re desperate for the synergy or two drops
Ithilien Kingfisher image 3.0 This isn’t quite as good as a three mana 2/1 with Flying that draws when it enters the battlefield, but it is still quite good. It is a reasonable threat in the air, and it can deliver a two-for-one pretty often.
Pack 1 Pick 3: Uglúk of the White Hand
The Grey Havens image 2.0 This seems like it will be able to add at least one color of mana to your mana pool by the middle stages of the game, and that’s not bad on a land that also Scries and has the potential upside of tapping for more colors. Still, there will be some awkward situations where you can only get colorless mana out of this, and that’s kind of rough
Uglúk of the White Hand image 3.0 Black-Red has lots of creatures with these types, and some sacrifice stuff going on, but I’m still kind of worried that growing this simply won’t be all that easy, and that’s a problem since it starts as a 4-mana 3/3
Council's Deliberation image 3.5 This is kind of an interesting take on Think Twice and similar cards. Drawing a card for two mana isn’t really worth it, but if you have a few cards with Scry in your deck, this suddenly turns into an impressive 2-for-1 that you only spend two mana on. Scry is definitely available in the set too, and it seems very doable to make this work in most Blue decks.
Chance-Met Elves image 3.0 This looks like another quality Scry payoff. Starting as a 3/2 obviously isn’t very good, but there’s definitely a critical mass of Scry in the set, so this will do a good job of accumulating counters throughout the game.
Ithilien Kingfisher image 3.0 This isn’t quite as good as a three mana 2/1 with Flying that draws when it enters the battlefield, but it is still quite good. It is a reasonable threat in the air, and it can deliver a two-for-one pretty often.
Easterling Vanguard image 2.0 You get three 3/2 worth of stats for two mana here. And sure, you don’t get it all at the same time, but this still looks like a solid two drop.
Revive the Shire image 1.5 This type of effect usually isn’t anything special, as 9 times out of 10 you’d rather just be adding to the board, and the fact that this is almost a blank card in the early game is an issue. Using it to get back a bomb or some other powerful permanent is definitely nice, and the Food makes it a little more attractive, but this seems like the kind of card that just doesn’t make the cut most of the time because it doesn’t usually do enough
Hobbit's Sting image 3.0 White has a decent amount of food and lots of cards that help it go wide, so this will often have no problem doing at leas three damage. There are of course the awkward times where your board isn’t where it needs to be to take full advantage, and that probably prevents this from being premium removal.
Isolation at Orthanc image 3.0 This is nice removal. You always trade 1-for-1 with it, and because it is an Instant, sometimes you’ll be able to really get your opponent if you cast it in response to a trick or something.
Mordor Trebuchet image 2.0 Obviously you’re going to be happiest with this in a Black-Red deck, but in that deck this seems like a pretty legit payoff. A three mana ¼ isn’t anything to write home about, but throwing a 2/1 Boulder at your opponent every time you attack with a Goblin or Orc is pretty sweet. It also works quite well alongside sacrifice outlets
Pippin's Bravery image 2.0 One mana for +2/+2 is usually a decent enough trick, and the food upside here is very real. This can allow your creature to win combat very efficiently, and that’s always what you want from a combat trick
Rohirrim Lancer image 2.0 A one mana 1/1 with Menace can get in for a few swings in the early game, and in the later game you can give this up to get tempted by the ring
Pack 1 Pick 4: Delighted Halfling
Delighted Halfling image 3.5 This looks really good. One mana creatures who tap for mana tend to be incredible on turn one, as you can quickly power out bigger things than your opponent can, and the fact this can even fix mana for legendary stuff is pretty nice. It does have the downside of most mana dorks though, as it gets less and less useful the longer the game goes on. Still, that early game upside is worth a lot.
Uglúk of the White Hand image 3.0 Black-Red has lots of creatures with these types, and some sacrifice stuff going on, but I’m still kind of worried that growing this simply won’t be all that easy, and that’s a problem since it starts as a 4-mana 3/3
Shire Shirriff image 3.5 You won’t always be able to exile something with the Sheriff, but there are enough tokens in this set that this will function as removal often enough, and the baseline isn’t a terrible card anyway. Obviously giving up food is the ideal thing, but sometimes giving up a 1/1 or an Army will be worth it too.
The Torment of Gollum image 2.5 So, the last time we saw Amass, there was an Amass discard spell that really overperformed. It only amassed one and cost one less mana, so the cards aren’t identical, but I am reasonably confident in saying that this is going to be a nice Common. This can net you a 2-for-1 in lots of situations. Just imagine this was a 4-mana 2/2 that lets you go after your opponents hand…because that’s basically what this is. It does feel a little less good when you just put two counters on something, but that’s still not a bad deal
Lothlórien Lookout image 1.5 This card’s pretty awkward, because 1/3 doesn’t exactly scream “Attack with me!” While Scrying is definitely important for Green decks in the format, there are lots of better ways to do it, so I don’t think this will usually make the cut unless you’re desperate for the synergy or two drops
Orcish Medicine image 1.5 This trick isn’t that likely to help your creature win combat, but it does blank an attack and gain you some life at worst, and the fact it blanks most removal isn’t too bad either. Add Amass to the mix and I think you have a card that makes the cut in your deck sometimes, but for a trick to really be worthwhile it does need to be more useful in combat than this is
Now for Wrath, Now for Ruin! image 1.0 // 3.0 This is a nice payoff for going wide. Vigilance is a great addition to the counters, because it makes it a lot easier for you to play offense and defense with your newly buffed board. The Ring Tempting you will usually also mean you get to upgrade one of your creatures too. This probably needs a build around grade. Because if you aren’t a deck playing tons of creatures and cards that make multiple bodies, you probably don’t play this most of the time, and if you are a deck that’s good at that, you probably always want the first copy of this.
Swarming of Moria image 2.5 A three mana 2/2 that gives you a treasure is decent, as is a three mana spell that puts two counters on something and gives you a Treasure. It is always nice having fixing and ramp in Red, as it doesn’t always have access to it
Arwen's Gift image 2.0 Having two legendary creatures in play is very doable in this set, but you also shouldn’t always expect to be able to cast this for three. At four mana it is definitely a little bit clunky, but at least you can see up to 4 cards – which is a ton in Limited.
Protector of Gondor image 2.5 We see versions of this card a lot, and its always fine. It is pretty much exactly what you expect to get from a 4-mana Common – 4/4 of stats spread across two bodies.
Shelob's Ambush image 2.5 This is a really nice trick. Death touch and the toughness boost for only one mana means many creatures will be capable of taking down an opposing creature and surviving to tell the tale, and that’s likely to give you some pretty awesome tempo since it only costs a single mana. Its great that you also get some Food out of the deal!
Pack 1 Pick 5: Uglúk of the White Hand
Prince Imrahil the Fair image 3.0 This is a nice signpost for Blue-White, which is obviously about drawing two cards a turn. Getting a 1/1 is a very real return on that type of investment
Uglúk of the White Hand image 3.0 Black-Red has lots of creatures with these types, and some sacrifice stuff going on, but I’m still kind of worried that growing this simply won’t be all that easy, and that’s a problem since it starts as a 4-mana 3/3
Protector of Gondor image 2.5 We see versions of this card a lot, and its always fine. It is pretty much exactly what you expect to get from a 4-mana Common – 4/4 of stats spread across two bodies.
Galadhrim Bow image 1.5 Thanks to Flash and the fact it attaches for free on ETB this can function as a trick. The bad news is, three mana for +1/+2, reach, and an untap normally isn’t very good. The good news is, that equation changes a bit when the +1/+2 and Reach, as well as an Equipment in general, sticks around.
Generous Ent image 2.5 A 6-mana 5/7 with Reach that gives you a treasure isn’t a terrible late game play. In fact, it is the kind of body that can help you stablize, especially because the Food can gain you life! And if you draw it early and need a land drop, you can always cycle it away
Pippin's Bravery image 2.0 One mana for +2/+2 is usually a decent enough trick, and the food upside here is very real. This can allow your creature to win combat very efficiently, and that’s always what you want from a combat trick
Hithlain Knots image 2.0 This does a bunch of little stuff that will play reasonably well in multiple decks in the format. Whether you’re interesting in drawing extra cards, casting spells, or Scrying, this has you covered!
Fog on the Barrow-Downs image 3.0 This is solid removal. Three mana Pacifisms tend to be fine, though they aren’t usually amazing because they don’t entirely get rid of 100% of creatures, since they don’t stop things like activated or triggered abilities. Enchantment-based removal also isn’t great against things like bounce or flicker effects. Still, this does shut down most creatures for a fairly reasonable cost.
Dúnedain Blade image 2.5 If you are paying three to equip this, it is basically unplayable. If you’re paying one to equip it enough of the time, it becomes a solid playable. There are certainly enough Humans in White, as well as some equipment synergies in the set.
Galadhrim Guide image 2.0 Stats aren’t good, but there are enough Scry payoffs for the first copy of this to make the cut pretty often
Pack 1 Pick 6: Orcish Medicine
You Cannot Pass! image 1.5 It is a little sad that they chose this card to represent such an epic moment, because it is mediocre at best. Even in a set with lots of legendaries, this sort of removal spell tends to just be too narrow, even at one mana! This set has lots of legendaries, and making your creature into a ring-bearer also makes it legendary, but you still can’t always count on having one around, and even when you do, setting up an advantageous situation where this actually does something can be a challenge.
Wose Pathfinder image 3.0 This is fragile and inefficient when it comes to stats, but it also fixes and ramps your mana, and in the extreme late game it has an effect that isn’t a terrible one to sink your mana into
Banish from Edoras image 2.0 This is passable removal, but certainly not premium. 5 mana is a lot to exile a creature at sorcery speed, and even though it gets a discount on a tapped creature, cards that can only kill tapped creatures at Sorcery speed are kind of rough, because it usually means your opponent got to hit you with the thing that you want to remove. It is still removal, and answers pretty much all creatures, but its so clunky it isn’t the kind of removal you’re going to prioritize.
Improvised Club image 1.5 Giving up a real creature for this is not very good, as you end up 2-for-1ing yourself, but if you have a treasure or food, or expendable body to sacrifice, this will do a decent job. Its nice that it can go after the opponent, and that will sometimes close out games. Still, it takes enough set up to actually be worthwhile that you’re not always going to play it
Pippin's Bravery image 2.0 One mana for +2/+2 is usually a decent enough trick, and the food upside here is very real. This can allow your creature to win combat very efficiently, and that’s always what you want from a combat trick
Breaking of the Fellowship image 1.5 We have seen cards like this before, and they are always surprisingly difficult to set up correctly. First your opponent needs to have two creatures, second one has to be able to kill the other. That sounds simple enough, but the stat-lines don’t always line up correctly. The fact this is a Sorcery makes it even harder to make it work. Basically, this is a removal spell that asks too much to be very good. Especially because you don’t have that much control over what its asking for
Orcish Medicine image 1.5 This trick isn’t that likely to help your creature win combat, but it does blank an attack and gain you some life at worst, and the fact it blanks most removal isn’t too bad either. Add Amass to the mix and I think you have a card that makes the cut in your deck sometimes, but for a trick to really be worthwhile it does need to be more useful in combat than this is
Lothlórien Lookout image 1.5 This card’s pretty awkward, because 1/3 doesn’t exactly scream “Attack with me!” While Scrying is definitely important for Green decks in the format, there are lots of better ways to do it, so I don’t think this will usually make the cut unless you’re desperate for the synergy or two drops
Lórien Revealed image 2.0 5 mana to draw 3 at sorcery speed is often a little too clunky to be something every deck wants, but the fact this can island cycle earlier in the game helps make up for that a fairly significant amount. When you do have the time to cast this, the card advantage it can give you is pretty sweet too. The only problem is sometimes tapping out and not adding to the board can mean you’re going to die
Pack 1 Pick 7: Surrounded by Orcs
Shadowfax, Lord of Horses image 2.5 This is nothing fancy, but it is a pretty amazing rate. They do enter tapped, which matters – as this will feel pretty miserable when you’re behind. Playing this on turn two will apply some serious pressure on your opponent, though
Elven Farsight image 2.5 This is a surprisingly powerful draw spell for green. You get to see up to four cards and you should be able to make sure you draw a creature most of the time when you play it. On top of that, Scrying is something you’re going to want to do a lot of when you’re playing Green. It doesn’t effect the board, but this feels like it is going to do such a good job of making your draws smoother and more consistent for so little mana that I’m tempted to go all the way up to a 3
Soldier of the Grey Host image 2.0 This has what are well below-rate stats these days, and while the enter the battlefield ability can be useful, it also isn’t anything special. This does have Flash, so sometimes it can work like a combat trick, but a +2/+0 boost isn’t exactly the sort of thing that helps your creature survive combat a large percentage of the time.
Cirith Ungol Patrol image 2.5 This is a fairly powerful sacrifice effect. Normally we just get “draw a card” on this type of thing and that ends up being fine, so also getting a Food out of it is some serious business. Gaining life on top of drawing a card can be a powerful way to pull ahead in a game. This has sort of decent stats too, and a useful creature type, and there’s plenty of good sacrifice fodder around
Surrounded by Orcs image 2.0 This is either a 4-mana 3/3 that mills three, or it makes an army you already have bigger, while milling even more. Neither of those are amazing deals, but if you’re doing graveyard stuff or your opponent is low and cards, this card can do something.
Erebor Flamesmith image 2.5 We see this type of spell payoff pretty often, and they are always pretty reasonable, especially when you can get multiples of them. Pinging your opponent can really add up if you’re doing a good job casting instants and sorceries.
Dreadful as the Storm image 1.0 Lately, we’ve finally been seeing cards with this type of effect actually be playable, but that’s because they have drawn a card. Once that’s the case, a boost like this can be a 2-for-1 and that’s a big deal! The Ring tempting you isn’t nearly as good as drawing a card, so I don’t think this does enough. The problem with this type of boost is that you end up overpaying for it on most creatures – like a 3/3 that gets +2/+2 from this is not a good deal. Sure, on 1/1s it feels better, but that makes this overly situational
Lórien Revealed image 2.0 5 mana to draw 3 at sorcery speed is often a little too clunky to be something every deck wants, but the fact this can island cycle earlier in the game helps make up for that a fairly significant amount. When you do have the time to cast this, the card advantage it can give you is pretty sweet too. The only problem is sometimes tapping out and not adding to the board can mean you’re going to die
Pack 1 Pick 8: Quarrel's End
Shadowfax, Lord of Horses image 2.5 This is nothing fancy, but it is a pretty amazing rate. They do enter tapped, which matters – as this will feel pretty miserable when you’re behind. Playing this on turn two will apply some serious pressure on your opponent, though
Great Hall of the Citadel image 1.5 This can certainly help you splash some powerful legendary creatures, but I’m a little skeptical. Most of these lands that normally only produce colorless, but can produce colored mana for a certain type of card end up not being worth it. Producing only colorless for the majority of cards in your deck can be a liability for your mana base, so it ends up sort of canceling out any upside you might get out of it when you have your legendaries around. You’re going to want to go after different fixing than this most of the time
Treason of Isengard image 2.0 A three mana 2/2 that puts a spell on top of your library is an okay card. This is an effect players often overrate, as they imagine getting back a really great spell – and when you can do that it is pretty good. However, the fact you have to wait to draw that card really makes it significantly worse
Eastfarthing Farmer image 2.5 A three mana ⅔ that makes a food is probably already playable, so giving +1/+1 to something when this ETBs is nice too, and sometimes it will be more than +1/+1!
Orcish Medicine image 1.5 This trick isn’t that likely to help your creature win combat, but it does blank an attack and gain you some life at worst, and the fact it blanks most removal isn’t too bad either. Add Amass to the mix and I think you have a card that makes the cut in your deck sometimes, but for a trick to really be worthwhile it does need to be more useful in combat than this is
Quarrel's End image 1.5 This is an interesting take on the obligatory Tormenting Voice effect. It costs one more, but you also get to add something to the board, and I think that’s pretty nice. Still, it is the kind of card that gets cut a lot as it doesn’t actually do that much
Second Breakfast image 2.0 Sometimes this kind of trick can generate a 2-for-1, which is obviously great – but with a toughness boost of only one, more often than not at least one of the creatures is going to die. Three mana is a lot to spend on a trick too! It is nice it gives you some food at least.
Pack 1 Pick 9: Strider, Ranger of the North
Strider, Ranger of the North image 4.0 This has solid base stats and a really strong landfall effect. He can always give the boost to himself, which means he can rumble as a 5/5 with First Strike, something that is formidable on virtually every board state! He can also spread the love around, of course, which is great because it can enable you to attack with more of your creatures
Fire of Orthanc image 1.0 Demolish is almost never worth it in Limited, and tacking on this unblockable angle doesn’t do enough to change that.
Willow-Wind image 3.0 The last time we saw a 5-mana ¾ Flyer that Scried 2 on ETB it really over-performed, and that wasn’t even in a set with a Scry deck. This is probably one of Blue’s best Commons.
Westfold Rider image 2.0 This has passable base stats and an ability that will actually do something sometimes. It is nice to be able to have a Disenchant in your main deck without having to pay much of a cost.
Dreadful as the Storm image 1.0 Lately, we’ve finally been seeing cards with this type of effect actually be playable, but that’s because they have drawn a card. Once that’s the case, a boost like this can be a 2-for-1 and that’s a big deal! The Ring tempting you isn’t nearly as good as drawing a card, so I don’t think this does enough. The problem with this type of boost is that you end up overpaying for it on most creatures – like a 3/3 that gets +2/+2 from this is not a good deal. Sure, on 1/1s it feels better, but that makes this overly situational
Dúnedain Blade image 2.5 If you are paying three to equip this, it is basically unplayable. If you’re paying one to equip it enough of the time, it becomes a solid playable. There are certainly enough Humans in White, as well as some equipment synergies in the set.
Pack 1 Pick 10: Sam's Desperate Rescue
Ent-Draught Basin image 0.0 This looks pretty bad. Sure, one mana to put a counter on a 1/1 isn’t a terrible deal, and as a mana sink you could do worse, but it will eventually be fairly expensive to put counters on things, and the fact it does it only at Sorcery speed is a pretty big problem too. This just seems too clunky
Soothing of Sméagol image 2.0 Two mana to bounce a nontoken creature isn’t an amazing deal these days. Remember, you’re only getting tempo and are actually going down a card. Still, this does allow you to impact the board and getting tempted by the ring is never a bad thing.
Took Reaper image 2.0 This has mediocre stats that would make it a 1.0 at best these days. Getting tempted by the ring is nice upside, and does mean you’ll come out ahead in most trades, but it also isn’t the type of upside to get that excited over.
Shire Scarecrow image 1.5 A two mana 0/3 defender doesn’t tend to be very good, but this does a reasonable job of filtering your mana
Sam's Desperate Rescue image 2.0 One mana to return a creature from your graveyard to your hand is a passable card, though I’d usually pay three mana to get two things back, as that gives you a more significant advantage by the later stages of the game. That said, paying one will often mean you can play the thing you get back right away, and getting tempted by the ring even makes this have a decent fail case if you don’t have something in your graveyard
Pack 1 Pick 11: The Grey Havens
The Grey Havens image 2.0 This seems like it will be able to add at least one color of mana to your mana pool by the middle stages of the game, and that’s not bad on a land that also Scries and has the potential upside of tapping for more colors. Still, there will be some awkward situations where you can only get colorless mana out of this, and that’s kind of rough
Revive the Shire image 1.5 This type of effect usually isn’t anything special, as 9 times out of 10 you’d rather just be adding to the board, and the fact that this is almost a blank card in the early game is an issue. Using it to get back a bomb or some other powerful permanent is definitely nice, and the Food makes it a little more attractive, but this seems like the kind of card that just doesn’t make the cut most of the time because it doesn’t usually do enough
Isolation at Orthanc image 3.0 This is nice removal. You always trade 1-for-1 with it, and because it is an Instant, sometimes you’ll be able to really get your opponent if you cast it in response to a trick or something.
Pippin's Bravery image 2.0 One mana for +2/+2 is usually a decent enough trick, and the food upside here is very real. This can allow your creature to win combat very efficiently, and that’s always what you want from a combat trick
Pack 1 Pick 12: Orcish Medicine
Orcish Medicine image 1.5 This trick isn’t that likely to help your creature win combat, but it does blank an attack and gain you some life at worst, and the fact it blanks most removal isn’t too bad either. Add Amass to the mix and I think you have a card that makes the cut in your deck sometimes, but for a trick to really be worthwhile it does need to be more useful in combat than this is
Now for Wrath, Now for Ruin! image 1.0 // 3.0 This is a nice payoff for going wide. Vigilance is a great addition to the counters, because it makes it a lot easier for you to play offense and defense with your newly buffed board. The Ring Tempting you will usually also mean you get to upgrade one of your creatures too. This probably needs a build around grade. Because if you aren’t a deck playing tons of creatures and cards that make multiple bodies, you probably don’t play this most of the time, and if you are a deck that’s good at that, you probably always want the first copy of this.
Protector of Gondor image 2.5 We see versions of this card a lot, and its always fine. It is pretty much exactly what you expect to get from a 4-mana Common – 4/4 of stats spread across two bodies.
Pack 1 Pick 13: Hithlain Knots
Pippin's Bravery image 2.0 One mana for +2/+2 is usually a decent enough trick, and the food upside here is very real. This can allow your creature to win combat very efficiently, and that’s always what you want from a combat trick
Hithlain Knots image 2.0 This does a bunch of little stuff that will play reasonably well in multiple decks in the format. Whether you’re interesting in drawing extra cards, casting spells, or Scrying, this has you covered!
Pack 1 Pick 14: You Cannot Pass!
You Cannot Pass! image 1.5 It is a little sad that they chose this card to represent such an epic moment, because it is mediocre at best. Even in a set with lots of legendaries, this sort of removal spell tends to just be too narrow, even at one mana! This set has lots of legendaries, and making your creature into a ring-bearer also makes it legendary, but you still can’t always count on having one around, and even when you do, setting up an advantageous situation where this actually does something can be a challenge.
Pack 2 Pick 1: Goblin Fireleaper
Shelob, Child of Ungoliant image 4.5 This is a way above-rate creature that gives you food with upside every time one of your opponents creatures gets killed by it – and they are going to get killed, because Shelob has death touch and is absolutely massive. If you have other Spiders around things get sillier, but even on its own Shelob is a massive problem that your opponent has to deal with immediately
Oath of the Grey Host image 2.5 I don’t love giving my opponent a Food token, but the end result of this card is very efficient. You get three 1/1 Flyers, a treasure token, your opponent loses 3 life, and you get a Food – though that part is kind of a wash because your opponent does too. So, its kind of slow, but each chapter does deliver real value, and getting those 1/1s at the end is going to feel great. They do enter tapped, which makes this a lot clunkier than it would otherwise be, but I still think this looks pretty nice
Goblin Fireleaper image 3.0 A two mana 1/1 that does 1 to something when it dies is borderline playable, and this has a much higher ceiling than that! It goes great with Equipment and other buffs, and it can buff its own power, really presenting a problem for your opponent. It is a pretty nice card all game long, as you can always attack with it and threatne to buff it, which creates problems on most board states. Your opponent often has to take it or risk getting 2-for-1’d when it gets pumped
Théoden, King of Rohan image 3.5 I would already be in on a three mana ⅔ that gives something double strike when it ETBs, so the fact this triggers for your other humans – which you’ll have a lot of in Red-White – is pretty awesome.
Pelargir Survivor image 2.0 Fixing and ramp for spells is alright, though even in a spell-heavy deck it always seems that this spell-specific ramp underperforms. The other ability is even less meaningful for the most part, as it costs a ton of mana and won’t do something meaningful most of the time.
Willow-Wind image 3.0 The last time we saw a 5-mana ¾ Flyer that Scried 2 on ETB it really over-performed, and that wasn’t even in a set with a Scry deck. This is probably one of Blue’s best Commons.
Battle-Scarred Goblin image 2.5 This isn’t the most exciting upside, but it does mean it can trade with X/3s and it basically can’t be blocked at all by X/1s. It can also be kind of funny to pair with death touch. It also has a useful creature type, which matters.
Surrounded by Orcs image 2.0 This is either a 4-mana 3/3 that mills three, or it makes an army you already have bigger, while milling even more. Neither of those are amazing deals, but if you’re doing graveyard stuff or your opponent is low and cards, this card can do something.
The Torment of Gollum image 2.5 So, the last time we saw Amass, there was an Amass discard spell that really overperformed. It only amassed one and cost one less mana, so the cards aren’t identical, but I am reasonably confident in saying that this is going to be a nice Common. This can net you a 2-for-1 in lots of situations. Just imagine this was a 4-mana 2/2 that lets you go after your opponents hand…because that’s basically what this is. It does feel a little less good when you just put two counters on something, but that’s still not a bad deal
Wose Pathfinder image 3.0 This is fragile and inefficient when it comes to stats, but it also fixes and ramps your mana, and in the extreme late game it has an effect that isn’t a terrible one to sink your mana into
Ent's Fury image 3.5 This looks like a nice removal spell for Green. +1/+1 + Fight for two mana is a good enough rate for this to be a nice card, so the 4 toughness or greater upside is enough to push this into “premium removal” range. You do always need to be careful with fight spells and choose a spot where you don’t risk getting completely blown out – like if your opponent removes your fighter in response – but there are plenty of windows where casting this will have a big impact
Pippin's Bravery image 2.0 One mana for +2/+2 is usually a decent enough trick, and the food upside here is very real. This can allow your creature to win combat very efficiently, and that’s always what you want from a combat trick
Slip On the Ring image 1.0 This is cheaper than most versions of this effect that we see, but most versions of this effect also draw you a card, and The Ring Tempts You isn’t quite as good as that. Still, this will be effective in decks that end up with enough cards with ETBs. It is a bit of a bummer it can only hit creatures, as blinking Sagas can be particularly valuable. You can of course use it to help a creature dodge removal and stuff like that too. But Still, it seems like this type of card basically never makes the cut in Limited formats these days. It isn’t a disaster in the right deck, but actually generating a card of value with it is harder than you think. We’ve seen this be the case with basically every version of this effect in countless Limited formats at this point. While the list of situations where this is good seems long, the percentage of the time they come up just isn’t enough.
Lembas image 2.5 This seems pretty solid. Scry 1 + Draw 1 when it ETBs is nice, and it is nice that it is Food – not only because it can gain you life, but because the format has lots of payoffs for Food – as well as things like Historic and Artifacts more generally, which it helps you with. The Scry and the extra draw also works well with decks in the format
Pack 2 Pick 2: Fiery Inscription
Théoden, King of Rohan image 3.5 I would already be in on a three mana ⅔ that gives something double strike when it ETBs, so the fact this triggers for your other humans – which you’ll have a lot of in Red-White – is pretty awesome.
Fiery Inscription image 1.0 // 2.5 Obviously, this is a build around. You need a lot of instants or sorceries, because three mana to get tempted by the ring just isn’t enough. If you do end up in a spell deck – which is very possible in Red – and I’m talking like 7+ instants and sorceries, it does became a pretty nice win condition. However, I don’t thinkt he ceiling on it is that high, since it only hits players
Legolas, Counter of Kills image 2.5 His ability to untap is reasonably easy to trigger in Blue-Green, but also not the most exciting thing ever. His ability to grow is where the real value is, but Green/blue is awkwardly a color pair that isn’t that good at killing things outside of combat, which limits just how good this can be. Additionally, his base stats are not remotely impressive
Revive the Shire image 1.5 This type of effect usually isn’t anything special, as 9 times out of 10 you’d rather just be adding to the board, and the fact that this is almost a blank card in the early game is an issue. Using it to get back a bomb or some other powerful permanent is definitely nice, and the Food makes it a little more attractive, but this seems like the kind of card that just doesn’t make the cut most of the time because it doesn’t usually do enough
Lothlórien Lookout image 1.5 This card’s pretty awkward, because 1/3 doesn’t exactly scream “Attack with me!” While Scrying is definitely important for Green decks in the format, there are lots of better ways to do it, so I don’t think this will usually make the cut unless you’re desperate for the synergy or two drops
Deceive the Messenger image 2.0 Instants that temporary lower power usually aren’t very good, since they aren’t usually enough to help your creature win in combat or anything, instead they just feel like they delay the inevitable. However, Adding Amass to the mix does matter. If you think of this as a one mana 1/1 that gives a creature -3/-0 until end of turn, that sounds a lot better. It won’t always be that, but if it isn’t well, then it will put a counter on your Army, and that does increase the chances of this feeling more like a combat trick.
Generous Ent image 2.5 A 6-mana 5/7 with Reach that gives you a treasure isn’t a terrible late game play. In fact, it is the kind of body that can help you stablize, especially because the Food can gain you life! And if you draw it early and need a land drop, you can always cycle it away
Battle-Scarred Goblin image 2.5 This isn’t the most exciting upside, but it does mean it can trade with X/3s and it basically can’t be blocked at all by X/1s. It can also be kind of funny to pair with death touch. It also has a useful creature type, which matters.
Second Breakfast image 2.0 Sometimes this kind of trick can generate a 2-for-1, which is obviously great – but with a toughness boost of only one, more often than not at least one of the creatures is going to die. Three mana is a lot to spend on a trick too! It is nice it gives you some food at least.
Mirkwood Spider image 2.5 One mana 1/1 deathtouchers are pretty much always playable, since they are relevant all game long thanks to their ability to trade with anything. Sometimes this will also be able to grant a problematic legendary creature death touch, and that’s some nice additional upside
Protector of Gondor image 2.5 We see versions of this card a lot, and its always fine. It is pretty much exactly what you expect to get from a 4-mana Common – 4/4 of stats spread across two bodies.
Nimble Hobbit image 2.0 Tapping opposing creatures tends to be pretty good in aggro decks, but paying three for the effect is kind of rough. Giving up a Food is more appealing, but you’re still attacking with a 1/3, and there’s a pretty good chance that even when you tap down an opposing creature with this, your opponent can easily take it down in combat, especially after the early stages of the game.
Mordor Trebuchet image 2.0 Obviously you’re going to be happiest with this in a Black-Red deck, but in that deck this seems like a pretty legit payoff. A three mana ¼ isn’t anything to write home about, but throwing a 2/1 Boulder at your opponent every time you attack with a Goblin or Orc is pretty sweet. It also works quite well alongside sacrifice outlets
Pack 2 Pick 3: Mauhúr, Uruk-hai Captain
Rising of the Day image 1.0 We’ve seen many cards like this over the years, and they just don’t do enough to be worth a card in Limited. Haste is nice and all, as is buffing your legendary creatures, but I don’t really want to spend three mana on an Enchantment that does both of those things. Legendaries are certainly prevalent in the set so the buff will matter, but it won’t matter enough, and Haste is only something that matters about half the time
Mauhúr, Uruk-hai Captain image 3.5 This is mostly useful alongside Amass, but the good news is there’s a ton of that in Black and Red in this set. A two mana 2/2 with Menace that gives you some extra counters here and there definitely makes for a nice signpost Uncommon
Warbeast of Gorgoroth image 2.0 On its own, this is a 5-mana 5/4 that Amasses 2 when it dies. That’s not bad, but not really anything to write home about either. Obviously, it does get better the more 4 power or more creatures you have, and it makes any trades you make with those creatures into a pretty decent deal, but its still expensive and has mediocre stats
Surrounded by Orcs image 2.0 This is either a 4-mana 3/3 that mills three, or it makes an army you already have bigger, while milling even more. Neither of those are amazing deals, but if you’re doing graveyard stuff or your opponent is low and cards, this card can do something.
Oliphaunt image 2.0 A 6-mana 6/4 with Trample isn’t very good, but offering +2/+0 and Trample to something else when it attacks can result in some pretty potent attacks. Adding Mountcycling for only one mana to the mix is a big deal though, as it means you can use this to help you hit a land drop early, and if you get it later in the game it can come down and impact the board
Galadhrim Guide image 2.0 Stats aren’t good, but there are enough Scry payoffs for the first copy of this to make the cut pretty often
Shire Scarecrow image 1.5 A two mana 0/3 defender doesn’t tend to be very good, but this does a reasonable job of filtering your mana
Knights of Dol Amroth image 2.0 We’ve seen this card before by a different name, and it was pretty underwhelming. Starting out as a Hill Giant is pretty rough these days, and even in a deck built around drawing extra cards, getting this to 4/4 isn’t always going to happen – and even if it does you don’t really feel like you’re getting there
Mushroom Watchdogs image 3.0 This is a pretty solid food payoff. The Watchdogs can quickly become a problem, and the fact that they gain Vigilance can really help out in a race. I’m giving this a 3.
Banish from Edoras image 2.0 This is passable removal, but certainly not premium. 5 mana is a lot to exile a creature at sorcery speed, and even though it gets a discount on a tapped creature, cards that can only kill tapped creatures at Sorcery speed are kind of rough, because it usually means your opponent got to hit you with the thing that you want to remove. It is still removal, and answers pretty much all creatures, but its so clunky it isn’t the kind of removal you’re going to prioritize.
Troll of Khazad-dûm image 2.0 This 6/5 is pretty tough to block and can alter combat even in the later stages of the game, and if you draw it early and you need a land, it can fetch one for you
Rush the Room image 1.5 +1/+0 and First Strike can help a creature win a decent number of combats, but not so many that I’m super excited about this as a trick. The extra Goblin/Orc upside is good, and occasionally giving something Haste will make a difference, but this seems pretty weak overall
Pack 2 Pick 4: Mordor Muster
Gwaihir the Windlord image 3.0 If this always costs 6 mana, it would probably be a 1.5. There are some other birds to give vigilance too, and a 6-mana 4/4 with Flying and Vigilance isn’t a disaster, though it also isn’t something that will always make your deck. The good news is, paying 4 for this is pretty awesome, and that’s fairly easy to do in a Blue-White deck. The bad news is, you probably had to spend some extra mana to draw that extra card, so that probably still means this won’t be coming down on turn 4 all that often, instead, it will be something that helps you double spell on turn 6 or so. Your ringbearer may help you draw that extra card too
Mordor Muster image 3.0 Two mana 1/1s that draw you a card are always solid in Limited, and that’s certainly the case here, especially because the format has extra Orc and Army synergy all over the place
Surrounded by Orcs image 2.0 This is either a 4-mana 3/3 that mills three, or it makes an army you already have bigger, while milling even more. Neither of those are amazing deals, but if you’re doing graveyard stuff or your opponent is low and cards, this card can do something.
Pippin's Bravery image 2.0 One mana for +2/+2 is usually a decent enough trick, and the food upside here is very real. This can allow your creature to win combat very efficiently, and that’s always what you want from a combat trick
Fire of Orthanc image 1.0 Demolish is almost never worth it in Limited, and tacking on this unblockable angle doesn’t do enough to change that.
Dúnedain Blade image 2.5 If you are paying three to equip this, it is basically unplayable. If you’re paying one to equip it enough of the time, it becomes a solid playable. There are certainly enough Humans in White, as well as some equipment synergies in the set.
Shower of Arrows image 0.5 We see this type of effect all the time, and it is generally better to leave it in your sideboard. You just don’t have enough targets consistently enough.
Wose Pathfinder image 3.0 This is fragile and inefficient when it comes to stats, but it also fixes and ramps your mana, and in the extreme late game it has an effect that isn’t a terrible one to sink your mana into
Stalwarts of Osgiliath image 2.5 This starts out with bad stats, but it does have the ability to grow reasonably well. The fact the Ring tempts you could actually help you get the Stalwarts going too, since one of the Ring’s bonuses is that your creature loots when it attacks, which will mean the Stalwarts get a counter.
Nasty End image 1.5 This type of spell is never amazing, but it does often find a niche. If you have a legendary creature that is worth sacrificing this can feel particularly good, but the problem with this kind of card is always that you don’t always have something worth giving up. Using it in response to removal is often the ideal situation, and that can potentially be quite impressive. However, it still ends up being too situational to be anything special.
Wizard's Rockets image 1.5 If you need fixing, there are worse ways to do it. In total, you end up spending one more mana than you get back, but the fact that they replace themselves helps soften the blow. Still, it doesn’t really feel like this is a card that will make the cut in all of your decks or anything
Pack 2 Pick 5: Nasty End
Old Man Willow image 4.0 This is a great signpost Uncommon. It is always going to have at least decent stats, and the attack effect is really strong too. You won’t always have something to sacrifice, but there is a lot of Food in this format, and that’s the ideal thing to give up. There are going to be tons of situations where this can attack and easily remove opposing creatures by giving up sacrifice fodder
Gimli's Fury image 1.5 +3/+2 is a decent boost for two mana, but you do need to be getting trample out of this pretty often for it to be worth it.
Galadhrim Guide image 2.0 Stats aren’t good, but there are enough Scry payoffs for the first copy of this to make the cut pretty often
Nasty End image 1.5 This type of spell is never amazing, but it does often find a niche. If you have a legendary creature that is worth sacrificing this can feel particularly good, but the problem with this kind of card is always that you don’t always have something worth giving up. Using it in response to removal is often the ideal situation, and that can potentially be quite impressive. However, it still ends up being too situational to be anything special.
Knights of Dol Amroth image 2.0 We’ve seen this card before by a different name, and it was pretty underwhelming. Starting out as a Hill Giant is pretty rough these days, and even in a deck built around drawing extra cards, getting this to 4/4 isn’t always going to happen – and even if it does you don’t really feel like you’re getting there
Soothing of Sméagol image 2.0 Two mana to bounce a nontoken creature isn’t an amazing deal these days. Remember, you’re only getting tempo and are actually going down a card. Still, this does allow you to impact the board and getting tempted by the ring is never a bad thing.
Wose Pathfinder image 3.0 This is fragile and inefficient when it comes to stats, but it also fixes and ramps your mana, and in the extreme late game it has an effect that isn’t a terrible one to sink your mana into
Protector of Gondor image 2.5 We see versions of this card a lot, and its always fine. It is pretty much exactly what you expect to get from a 4-mana Common – 4/4 of stats spread across two bodies.
Rohirrim Lancer image 2.0 A one mana 1/1 with Menace can get in for a few swings in the early game, and in the later game you can give this up to get tempted by the ring
Mordor Trebuchet image 2.0 Obviously you’re going to be happiest with this in a Black-Red deck, but in that deck this seems like a pretty legit payoff. A three mana ¼ isn’t anything to write home about, but throwing a 2/1 Boulder at your opponent every time you attack with a Goblin or Orc is pretty sweet. It also works quite well alongside sacrifice outlets
Pack 2 Pick 6: Foray of Orcs
Foray of Orcs image 3.5 At worst, this is a 4-mana 2/2 that does 2 to something. That’s a decent card, and this has the upside of sometimes doing significantly more damage, provided this isn’t the first time you’ve Amassed.
Elven Farsight image 2.5 This is a surprisingly powerful draw spell for green. You get to see up to four cards and you should be able to make sure you draw a creature most of the time when you play it. On top of that, Scrying is something you’re going to want to do a lot of when you’re playing Green. It doesn’t effect the board, but this feels like it is going to do such a good job of making your draws smoother and more consistent for so little mana that I’m tempted to go all the way up to a 3
Enraged Huorn image 2.0 A 5-mana 4/5 Trample is probably a 1.5 these days, but the ring tempting you does mean that at the very least, you can give the Huorn some extra abilities – or do the same for some other creature
Banish from Edoras image 2.0 This is passable removal, but certainly not premium. 5 mana is a lot to exile a creature at sorcery speed, and even though it gets a discount on a tapped creature, cards that can only kill tapped creatures at Sorcery speed are kind of rough, because it usually means your opponent got to hit you with the thing that you want to remove. It is still removal, and answers pretty much all creatures, but its so clunky it isn’t the kind of removal you’re going to prioritize.
Lembas image 2.5 This seems pretty solid. Scry 1 + Draw 1 when it ETBs is nice, and it is nice that it is Food – not only because it can gain you life, but because the format has lots of payoffs for Food – as well as things like Historic and Artifacts more generally, which it helps you with. The Scry and the extra draw also works well with decks in the format
Rally at the Hornburg image 3.0 Two mana for two 1/1s with Haste would be good in any format, but there are many cards in the format – especially in Red/White, that both like going wide and having Humans around. It can be specially spicy with the cards that give you an effect for each human who enters the battlefield
The Black Breath image 0.5 A one-sided -1/-1 effect can be good in the right match-up, but I mostly think this needs a sideboard grade. If you’re not able to take down creatures with it consistently it just isn’t going to be worth it, as the Ring tempts you alone just won’t be enough for the cost.
Oliphaunt image 2.0 A 6-mana 6/4 with Trample isn’t very good, but offering +2/+0 and Trample to something else when it attacks can result in some pretty potent attacks. Adding Mountcycling for only one mana to the mix is a big deal though, as it means you can use this to help you hit a land drop early, and if you get it later in the game it can come down and impact the board
Surrounded by Orcs image 2.0 This is either a 4-mana 3/3 that mills three, or it makes an army you already have bigger, while milling even more. Neither of those are amazing deals, but if you’re doing graveyard stuff or your opponent is low and cards, this card can do something.
Pack 2 Pick 7: Warbeast of Gorgoroth
Stern Scolding image 0.0 This is definitely here for constructed formats, as it is far too narrow to ever be worth including in a Limited deck. It just won’t have enough targets. There may be a corner case where your opponent has tons of creatures with 2 or less toughness and you side it in.
Soothing of Sméagol image 2.0 Two mana to bounce a nontoken creature isn’t an amazing deal these days. Remember, you’re only getting tempo and are actually going down a card. Still, this does allow you to impact the board and getting tempted by the ring is never a bad thing.
Eastfarthing Farmer image 2.5 A three mana ⅔ that makes a food is probably already playable, so giving +1/+1 to something when this ETBs is nice too, and sometimes it will be more than +1/+1!
Warbeast of Gorgoroth image 2.0 On its own, this is a 5-mana 5/4 that Amasses 2 when it dies. That’s not bad, but not really anything to write home about either. Obviously, it does get better the more 4 power or more creatures you have, and it makes any trades you make with those creatures into a pretty decent deal, but its still expensive and has mediocre stats
Treason of Isengard image 2.0 A three mana 2/2 that puts a spell on top of your library is an okay card. This is an effect players often overrate, as they imagine getting back a really great spell – and when you can do that it is pretty good. However, the fact you have to wait to draw that card really makes it significantly worse
Escape from Orthanc image 2.0 This gives a reasonable boost for only one mana, and the toughness means it will do enough to save it from a decent amount of removal too. The fact it gives Flying also means you can use this sometimes before you attack to get in for lethal. It is cheap and has enough different uses that it seems like a quality trick for white aggressive deck.
Lothlórien Lookout image 1.5 This card’s pretty awkward, because 1/3 doesn’t exactly scream “Attack with me!” While Scrying is definitely important for Green decks in the format, there are lots of better ways to do it, so I don’t think this will usually make the cut unless you’re desperate for the synergy or two drops
Mushroom Watchdogs image 3.0 This is a pretty solid food payoff. The Watchdogs can quickly become a problem, and the fact that they gain Vigilance can really help out in a race. I’m giving this a 3.
Pack 2 Pick 8: Breaking of the Fellowship
Pippin's Bravery image 2.0 One mana for +2/+2 is usually a decent enough trick, and the food upside here is very real. This can allow your creature to win combat very efficiently, and that’s always what you want from a combat trick
Cast into the Fire image 0.5 This has two modes that aren’t useful often enough, and while the fact that you can choose between them helps offset how narrow each effect is, we’re still looking at a card that won’t do anything meaningful far too often. This feels like sideboard material.
Many Partings image 2.5 This offers some quality fixing while also helping you up your deck’s Food count, something that certainly matters in Green
Captain of Umbar image 2.0 This has below-rate states, but looting for one mana isn’t too bad, especially in a format with lots of payoffs for drawing an extra card during your turn.
Breaking of the Fellowship image 1.5 We have seen cards like this before, and they are always surprisingly difficult to set up correctly. First your opponent needs to have two creatures, second one has to be able to kill the other. That sounds simple enough, but the stat-lines don’t always line up correctly. The fact this is a Sorcery makes it even harder to make it work. Basically, this is a removal spell that asks too much to be very good. Especially because you don’t have that much control over what its asking for
Lembas image 2.5 This seems pretty solid. Scry 1 + Draw 1 when it ETBs is nice, and it is nice that it is Food – not only because it can gain you life, but because the format has lots of payoffs for Food – as well as things like Historic and Artifacts more generally, which it helps you with. The Scry and the extra draw also works well with decks in the format
East-Mark Cavalier image 1.5 This has passable stats as a two mana 2/2 with Vigilance, but the other upside it has is very underwhelming. There will be some occasions where it lines up nicely since it can trade with a larger Goblin or Orc, but a lot of the time the ability doesn’t matter, and even when your opponent does have a creature with one of those types, they are often already just going to trade with the cavalier.
Pack 2 Pick 9: Battle-Scarred Goblin
Pelargir Survivor image 2.0 Fixing and ramp for spells is alright, though even in a spell-heavy deck it always seems that this spell-specific ramp underperforms. The other ability is even less meaningful for the most part, as it costs a ton of mana and won’t do something meaningful most of the time.
Willow-Wind image 3.0 The last time we saw a 5-mana ¾ Flyer that Scried 2 on ETB it really over-performed, and that wasn’t even in a set with a Scry deck. This is probably one of Blue’s best Commons.
Battle-Scarred Goblin image 2.5 This isn’t the most exciting upside, but it does mean it can trade with X/3s and it basically can’t be blocked at all by X/1s. It can also be kind of funny to pair with death touch. It also has a useful creature type, which matters.
Pippin's Bravery image 2.0 One mana for +2/+2 is usually a decent enough trick, and the food upside here is very real. This can allow your creature to win combat very efficiently, and that’s always what you want from a combat trick
Slip On the Ring image 1.0 This is cheaper than most versions of this effect that we see, but most versions of this effect also draw you a card, and The Ring Tempts You isn’t quite as good as that. Still, this will be effective in decks that end up with enough cards with ETBs. It is a bit of a bummer it can only hit creatures, as blinking Sagas can be particularly valuable. You can of course use it to help a creature dodge removal and stuff like that too. But Still, it seems like this type of card basically never makes the cut in Limited formats these days. It isn’t a disaster in the right deck, but actually generating a card of value with it is harder than you think. We’ve seen this be the case with basically every version of this effect in countless Limited formats at this point. While the list of situations where this is good seems long, the percentage of the time they come up just isn’t enough.
Lembas image 2.5 This seems pretty solid. Scry 1 + Draw 1 when it ETBs is nice, and it is nice that it is Food – not only because it can gain you life, but because the format has lots of payoffs for Food – as well as things like Historic and Artifacts more generally, which it helps you with. The Scry and the extra draw also works well with decks in the format
Pack 2 Pick 10: Battle-Scarred Goblin
Revive the Shire image 1.5 This type of effect usually isn’t anything special, as 9 times out of 10 you’d rather just be adding to the board, and the fact that this is almost a blank card in the early game is an issue. Using it to get back a bomb or some other powerful permanent is definitely nice, and the Food makes it a little more attractive, but this seems like the kind of card that just doesn’t make the cut most of the time because it doesn’t usually do enough
Deceive the Messenger image 2.0 Instants that temporary lower power usually aren’t very good, since they aren’t usually enough to help your creature win in combat or anything, instead they just feel like they delay the inevitable. However, Adding Amass to the mix does matter. If you think of this as a one mana 1/1 that gives a creature -3/-0 until end of turn, that sounds a lot better. It won’t always be that, but if it isn’t well, then it will put a counter on your Army, and that does increase the chances of this feeling more like a combat trick.
Battle-Scarred Goblin image 2.5 This isn’t the most exciting upside, but it does mean it can trade with X/3s and it basically can’t be blocked at all by X/1s. It can also be kind of funny to pair with death touch. It also has a useful creature type, which matters.
Second Breakfast image 2.0 Sometimes this kind of trick can generate a 2-for-1, which is obviously great – but with a toughness boost of only one, more often than not at least one of the creatures is going to die. Three mana is a lot to spend on a trick too! It is nice it gives you some food at least.
Nimble Hobbit image 2.0 Tapping opposing creatures tends to be pretty good in aggro decks, but paying three for the effect is kind of rough. Giving up a Food is more appealing, but you’re still attacking with a 1/3, and there’s a pretty good chance that even when you tap down an opposing creature with this, your opponent can easily take it down in combat, especially after the early stages of the game.
Pack 2 Pick 11: Rising of the Day
Rising of the Day image 1.0 We’ve seen many cards like this over the years, and they just don’t do enough to be worth a card in Limited. Haste is nice and all, as is buffing your legendary creatures, but I don’t really want to spend three mana on an Enchantment that does both of those things. Legendaries are certainly prevalent in the set so the buff will matter, but it won’t matter enough, and Haste is only something that matters about half the time
Surrounded by Orcs image 2.0 This is either a 4-mana 3/3 that mills three, or it makes an army you already have bigger, while milling even more. Neither of those are amazing deals, but if you’re doing graveyard stuff or your opponent is low and cards, this card can do something.
Knights of Dol Amroth image 2.0 We’ve seen this card before by a different name, and it was pretty underwhelming. Starting out as a Hill Giant is pretty rough these days, and even in a deck built around drawing extra cards, getting this to 4/4 isn’t always going to happen – and even if it does you don’t really feel like you’re getting there
Rush the Room image 1.5 +1/+0 and First Strike can help a creature win a decent number of combats, but not so many that I’m super excited about this as a trick. The extra Goblin/Orc upside is good, and occasionally giving something Haste will make a difference, but this seems pretty weak overall
Pack 2 Pick 12: Fire of Orthanc
Pippin's Bravery image 2.0 One mana for +2/+2 is usually a decent enough trick, and the food upside here is very real. This can allow your creature to win combat very efficiently, and that’s always what you want from a combat trick
Fire of Orthanc image 1.0 Demolish is almost never worth it in Limited, and tacking on this unblockable angle doesn’t do enough to change that.
Shower of Arrows image 0.5 We see this type of effect all the time, and it is generally better to leave it in your sideboard. You just don’t have enough targets consistently enough.
Pack 2 Pick 13: Gimli's Fury
Gimli's Fury image 1.5 +3/+2 is a decent boost for two mana, but you do need to be getting trample out of this pretty often for it to be worth it.
Knights of Dol Amroth image 2.0 We’ve seen this card before by a different name, and it was pretty underwhelming. Starting out as a Hill Giant is pretty rough these days, and even in a deck built around drawing extra cards, getting this to 4/4 isn’t always going to happen – and even if it does you don’t really feel like you’re getting there
Pack 2 Pick 14: The Black Breath
The Black Breath image 0.5 A one-sided -1/-1 effect can be good in the right match-up, but I mostly think this needs a sideboard grade. If you’re not able to take down creatures with it consistently it just isn’t going to be worth it, as the Ring tempts you alone just won’t be enough for the cost.
Pack 3 Pick 1: Doors of Durin
Doors of Durin image 3.5 This does something the turn you play it, which is pretty important! Once you attack and Scry 2, you’ve got a pretty solid shot at revealing a creature that this will let you cheat into play. You’ll wiff sometimes, but in your typical 15-creature deck, you’re normally going to find what you’re looking for. Of course, the creature isn’t always going to be something that its amazing for you to have to put into play tapped and attacking, but an extra body is usually going to be welcome if you already had a good attack. I think this will do enough to be pretty good overall, even if sometimes it won’t quite pan out the way you want it to
Long List of the Ents image 1.0 This is a really neat and flavorful design, and sometimes it will give you a ton of value. Imagine playing it on turn one with a hand that can curve out. Theoretically, if you name the right creatures, you can have all of those come down with extra counters. Of course, problem is, getting this late makes it pretty close to a dead card, and it will really only shine if you play it on turn one and have a hand full of creatures. That makes it too narrow
Celeborn the Wise image 3.0 Scrying is a well-supported theme in Blue-Green, and Celeborn is another nice payoff for doing so. He will always attack as a 4/4, since he counts himself, and there are going to plenty of times where you can Scry additional times to buff him, especially because his Scry ability will theoretically allow you to find even more Scry! He will largely be a Hill Giant on your opponents turn, but some instant speed scry can also cause some problems for your opponent
Reprieve image 2.5 This is basically a White Remand, and that’s pretty nice! Sure, your opponent gets the card back and can cast it in the future, but Reprieve also replaces itself, so getting some nice tempo is actually a reasonable deal. There will be times in the late game where your opponent can just cast the thing you bounce without a whole lot of effort, but the fail case is still that you get to draw a card.
Isolation at Orthanc image 3.0 This is nice removal. You always trade 1-for-1 with it, and because it is an Instant, sometimes you’ll be able to really get your opponent if you cast it in response to a trick or something.
Shire Scarecrow image 1.5 A two mana 0/3 defender doesn’t tend to be very good, but this does a reasonable job of filtering your mana
Wose Pathfinder image 3.0 This is fragile and inefficient when it comes to stats, but it also fixes and ramps your mana, and in the extreme late game it has an effect that isn’t a terrible one to sink your mana into
Pelargir Survivor image 2.0 Fixing and ramp for spells is alright, though even in a spell-heavy deck it always seems that this spell-specific ramp underperforms. The other ability is even less meaningful for the most part, as it costs a ton of mana and won’t do something meaningful most of the time.
Nimble Hobbit image 2.0 Tapping opposing creatures tends to be pretty good in aggro decks, but paying three for the effect is kind of rough. Giving up a Food is more appealing, but you’re still attacking with a 1/3, and there’s a pretty good chance that even when you tap down an opposing creature with this, your opponent can easily take it down in combat, especially after the early stages of the game.
Cirith Ungol Patrol image 2.5 This is a fairly powerful sacrifice effect. Normally we just get “draw a card” on this type of thing and that ends up being fine, so also getting a Food out of it is some serious business. Gaining life on top of drawing a card can be a powerful way to pull ahead in a game. This has sort of decent stats too, and a useful creature type, and there’s plenty of good sacrifice fodder around
Warbeast of Gorgoroth image 2.0 On its own, this is a 5-mana 5/4 that Amasses 2 when it dies. That’s not bad, but not really anything to write home about either. Obviously, it does get better the more 4 power or more creatures you have, and it makes any trades you make with those creatures into a pretty decent deal, but its still expensive and has mediocre stats
Glorious Gale image 2.5 This is a strictly better Essence Scatter, and Essence Scatter is always decent in Limited. It is cheap and counters the most common type of spell in your typical game.
Esquire of the King image 1.5 This ability costing only three mana is pretty sweet, especially if you’ve gone wide enough – and doing that in White certainly seems doable. The bad news is, as a one mana 1/1 it is pretty irrelevant up until the point it can use its ability, and paying 5 for that ability isn’t nearly as appealing.
Birthday Escape image 2.5 This seems like a nice deal for only a single Blue mana. Most of the time getting two effects for one mana ends up being pretty nice, and I think that’s the case here.
Pack 3 Pick 2: Gothmog, Morgul Lieutenant
Fall of Cair Andros image 1.5 Most red decks will have a few sources of noncombat damage that might allow them to Amass, but this card looks like it will be pretty bad in the early stages of the game, as getting it to do something consistently is tough. It does have some insane late game upside, where you can just start pumping 8 mana into this every turn and killing something and amassing. If the game reaches that point, it will be tough for your opponent to win, but this is so bad in the earlier stages of the game
Grishnákh, Brash Instigator image 4.0 Even if you don’t think about the Threaten effect, a three mana 1/1 that makes a 2/2, or alternatively puts 2 counters on an Army you already have is a pretty nice rate. With the threaten effect in the mix it gets even better, especially if you’re in Black/Red and you have some cheap sacrifice outlets
Gothmog, Morgul Lieutenant image 4.0 So if you don’t already have an Orc Army, this is 4-mana for a 3/3 and a 1/1 with death touch, and if you do have one, this is 4-mana for a 3/3 and a +1/+1 counter on your Army. That’s a pretty good rate all around. It works with all the other tokens too!
Long List of the Ents image 1.0 This is a really neat and flavorful design, and sometimes it will give you a ton of value. Imagine playing it on turn one with a hand that can curve out. Theoretically, if you name the right creatures, you can have all of those come down with extra counters. Of course, problem is, getting this late makes it pretty close to a dead card, and it will really only shine if you play it on turn one and have a hand full of creatures. That makes it too narrow
Esquire of the King image 1.5 This ability costing only three mana is pretty sweet, especially if you’ve gone wide enough – and doing that in White certainly seems doable. The bad news is, as a one mana 1/1 it is pretty irrelevant up until the point it can use its ability, and paying 5 for that ability isn’t nearly as appealing.
Treason of Isengard image 2.0 A three mana 2/2 that puts a spell on top of your library is an okay card. This is an effect players often overrate, as they imagine getting back a really great spell – and when you can do that it is pretty good. However, the fact you have to wait to draw that card really makes it significantly worse
Haradrim Spearmaster image 2.0 It is a little sad it can’t buff itself, as that would have made it significantly better, but offering +1/+0 to something every turn does do enough to improve combat for you often enough for this to be fine
Birthday Escape image 2.5 This seems like a nice deal for only a single Blue mana. Most of the time getting two effects for one mana ends up being pretty nice, and I think that’s the case here.
Bag End Porter image 3.0 This starts with solid stats, and there are enough legendary creatures in this set for this to attack as a 5/5 or 6/6 a decent chunk of the time.
Willow-Wind image 3.0 The last time we saw a 5-mana ¾ Flyer that Scried 2 on ETB it really over-performed, and that wasn’t even in a set with a Scry deck. This is probably one of Blue’s best Commons.
Erebor Flamesmith image 2.5 We see this type of spell payoff pretty often, and they are always pretty reasonable, especially when you can get multiples of them. Pinging your opponent can really add up if you’re doing a good job casting instants and sorceries.
Knights of Dol Amroth image 2.0 We’ve seen this card before by a different name, and it was pretty underwhelming. Starting out as a Hill Giant is pretty rough these days, and even in a deck built around drawing extra cards, getting this to 4/4 isn’t always going to happen – and even if it does you don’t really feel like you’re getting there
Gimli's Axe image 2.0 +3/+0 and Menace is enough to make just about anything into a threat, but even in a set with this many legendaries, you aren’t going to be able to always count on that. After all, they only appear at Uncommon or higher, and when this isn’t granting menace it seems pretty bad, especially when you take the casting and equip cost into account.
Pack 3 Pick 3: Rohirrim Lancer
You Cannot Pass! image 1.5 It is a little sad that they chose this card to represent such an epic moment, because it is mediocre at best. Even in a set with lots of legendaries, this sort of removal spell tends to just be too narrow, even at one mana! This set has lots of legendaries, and making your creature into a ring-bearer also makes it legendary, but you still can’t always count on having one around, and even when you do, setting up an advantageous situation where this actually does something can be a challenge.
Ent-Draught Basin image 0.0 This looks pretty bad. Sure, one mana to put a counter on a 1/1 isn’t a terrible deal, and as a mana sink you could do worse, but it will eventually be fairly expensive to put counters on things, and the fact it does it only at Sorcery speed is a pretty big problem too. This just seems too clunky
Inherited Envelope image 1.5 Manalith doesn’t tend to be very good in Limited. Using up a card just for inefficient fixing and ramp can be rough, though adding “The Ring Tempts You” to the mix probably does enough for this to be fixing you turn to when you’re desperate
Shelob's Ambush image 2.5 This is a really nice trick. Death touch and the toughness boost for only one mana means many creatures will be capable of taking down an opposing creature and surviving to tell the tale, and that’s likely to give you some pretty awesome tempo since it only costs a single mana. Its great that you also get some Food out of the deal!
Arwen's Gift image 2.0 Having two legendary creatures in play is very doable in this set, but you also shouldn’t always expect to be able to cast this for three. At four mana it is definitely a little bit clunky, but at least you can see up to 4 cards – which is a ton in Limited.
Snarling Warg image 2.5 A 4-mana ¾ Menace isn’t the worst stat-line, and this will be a 4/4 sometimes
Bewitching Leechcraft image 3.0 Obviously, this doesn’t work super well against Armies, since they will have counters to remove that allows this to untap, and there are other +1/+1 counters in the set too. However, I do think this will effectively lock down most creatures in the set, and it isn’t like if they have +1/+1 counters this goes away entirely anyway, because they have to keep removing counters from it to untap it. Obviously you want to use it on things that don’t have those counters at all, I’m just saying that even in the worst case it can be a problem for your opponent. I think this actually gets pretty close to being premium removal because it is so cheap, but even ignoring the whole +1/+1 counter part of the card, this doesn’t ever fully deal with a creature.
Second Breakfast image 2.0 Sometimes this kind of trick can generate a 2-for-1, which is obviously great – but with a toughness boost of only one, more often than not at least one of the creatures is going to die. Three mana is a lot to spend on a trick too! It is nice it gives you some food at least.
Dreadful as the Storm image 1.0 Lately, we’ve finally been seeing cards with this type of effect actually be playable, but that’s because they have drawn a card. Once that’s the case, a boost like this can be a 2-for-1 and that’s a big deal! The Ring tempting you isn’t nearly as good as drawing a card, so I don’t think this does enough. The problem with this type of boost is that you end up overpaying for it on most creatures – like a 3/3 that gets +2/+2 from this is not a good deal. Sure, on 1/1s it feels better, but that makes this overly situational
Mirrormere Guardian image 2.5 3-mana 4/2s tend to be reasonable, and in this set there are several cards that like it when you have a creature with 4 or more power, and this is one of the earliest ways you can meet that requirement. The ring tempting you when it dies is some very nice additional upside, too
Rohirrim Lancer image 2.0 A one mana 1/1 with Menace can get in for a few swings in the early game, and in the later game you can give this up to get tempted by the ring
Nimble Hobbit image 2.0 Tapping opposing creatures tends to be pretty good in aggro decks, but paying three for the effect is kind of rough. Giving up a Food is more appealing, but you’re still attacking with a 1/3, and there’s a pretty good chance that even when you tap down an opposing creature with this, your opponent can easily take it down in combat, especially after the early stages of the game.
Pack 3 Pick 4: Mirkwood Bats
Legolas, Counter of Kills image 2.5 His ability to untap is reasonably easy to trigger in Blue-Green, but also not the most exciting thing ever. His ability to grow is where the real value is, but Green/blue is awkwardly a color pair that isn’t that good at killing things outside of combat, which limits just how good this can be. Additionally, his base stats are not remotely impressive
Barrow-Blade image 2.5 A +1/+1 Equipment that costs one to play and one to Equip is usually a C- level card. It offers a decent boost at a decent rate. The additional upside here does matter though, as it makes it more difficult for your opponent to find an advantageous way to block or attack through your creatures. The fact the abilities are lost until end of turn will often have ramifications outside of combat too.
Soldier of the Grey Host image 2.0 This has what are well below-rate stats these days, and while the enter the battlefield ability can be useful, it also isn’t anything special. This does have Flash, so sometimes it can work like a combat trick, but a +2/+0 boost isn’t exactly the sort of thing that helps your creature survive combat a large percentage of the time.
Slip On the Ring image 1.0 This is cheaper than most versions of this effect that we see, but most versions of this effect also draw you a card, and The Ring Tempts You isn’t quite as good as that. Still, this will be effective in decks that end up with enough cards with ETBs. It is a bit of a bummer it can only hit creatures, as blinking Sagas can be particularly valuable. You can of course use it to help a creature dodge removal and stuff like that too. But Still, it seems like this type of card basically never makes the cut in Limited formats these days. It isn’t a disaster in the right deck, but actually generating a card of value with it is harder than you think. We’ve seen this be the case with basically every version of this effect in countless Limited formats at this point. While the list of situations where this is good seems long, the percentage of the time they come up just isn’t enough.
Mirkwood Bats image 3.0 This stat-line is well below rate these days, but this ability has the potential to be fairly strong, especially if you have some Food or Treasure tokens around since they are tokens that you create with built-in sacrifice effects
Shire Scarecrow image 1.5 A two mana 0/3 defender doesn’t tend to be very good, but this does a reasonable job of filtering your mana
Shelob's Ambush image 2.5 This is a really nice trick. Death touch and the toughness boost for only one mana means many creatures will be capable of taking down an opposing creature and surviving to tell the tale, and that’s likely to give you some pretty awesome tempo since it only costs a single mana. Its great that you also get some Food out of the deal!
Many Partings image 2.5 This offers some quality fixing while also helping you up your deck’s Food count, something that certainly matters in Green
Hithlain Knots image 2.0 This does a bunch of little stuff that will play reasonably well in multiple decks in the format. Whether you’re interesting in drawing extra cards, casting spells, or Scrying, this has you covered!
Now for Wrath, Now for Ruin! image 1.0 // 3.0 This is a nice payoff for going wide. Vigilance is a great addition to the counters, because it makes it a lot easier for you to play offense and defense with your newly buffed board. The Ring Tempting you will usually also mean you get to upgrade one of your creatures too. This probably needs a build around grade. Because if you aren’t a deck playing tons of creatures and cards that make multiple bodies, you probably don’t play this most of the time, and if you are a deck that’s good at that, you probably always want the first copy of this.
Bag End Porter image 3.0 This starts with solid stats, and there are enough legendary creatures in this set for this to attack as a 5/5 or 6/6 a decent chunk of the time.
Pack 3 Pick 5: Rally at the Hornburg
Sharkey, Tyrant of the Shire image 0.0 Sharkey won’t do a whole lot in Limited. There are some rare lands that he can shut down and steal the abilities of, and there’s a couple of Commons too, but the ones that aren’t Rare don’t really matter very much, and gaining and shutting down their abilities is meaningless. That, combined with a bad stat-line means that this isn’t something you’re going to play in Limited
Glorfindel, Dauntless Rescuer image 2.5 This combination of abilities seems pretty good, and makes Glorfindel capable of doing something powerful in a few different situations. For example, if your opponent has a 2/2 around that you can force to block, that feels pretty good. And, if your opponent can only take down Glorfindel with a double block, you can shut that down. It gets really interesting when you scry more than once in a turn and you can choose both, which you’ll want to do in some situations. All that said, while the design is definitely cool, I think it will be hard to line things up consistently with Glorfindel, especially because he demands you Scry for this effect to ever happen in the first place.
Bewitching Leechcraft image 3.0 Obviously, this doesn’t work super well against Armies, since they will have counters to remove that allows this to untap, and there are other +1/+1 counters in the set too. However, I do think this will effectively lock down most creatures in the set, and it isn’t like if they have +1/+1 counters this goes away entirely anyway, because they have to keep removing counters from it to untap it. Obviously you want to use it on things that don’t have those counters at all, I’m just saying that even in the worst case it can be a problem for your opponent. I think this actually gets pretty close to being premium removal because it is so cheap, but even ignoring the whole +1/+1 counter part of the card, this doesn’t ever fully deal with a creature.
Rally at the Hornburg image 3.0 Two mana for two 1/1s with Haste would be good in any format, but there are many cards in the format – especially in Red/White, that both like going wide and having Humans around. It can be specially spicy with the cards that give you an effect for each human who enters the battlefield
Shelob's Ambush image 2.5 This is a really nice trick. Death touch and the toughness boost for only one mana means many creatures will be capable of taking down an opposing creature and surviving to tell the tale, and that’s likely to give you some pretty awesome tempo since it only costs a single mana. Its great that you also get some Food out of the deal!
Took Reaper image 2.0 This has mediocre stats that would make it a 1.0 at best these days. Getting tempted by the ring is nice upside, and does mean you’ll come out ahead in most trades, but it also isn’t the type of upside to get that excited over.
Dúnedain Blade image 2.5 If you are paying three to equip this, it is basically unplayable. If you’re paying one to equip it enough of the time, it becomes a solid playable. There are certainly enough Humans in White, as well as some equipment synergies in the set.
Cirith Ungol Patrol image 2.5 This is a fairly powerful sacrifice effect. Normally we just get “draw a card” on this type of thing and that ends up being fine, so also getting a Food out of it is some serious business. Gaining life on top of drawing a card can be a powerful way to pull ahead in a game. This has sort of decent stats too, and a useful creature type, and there’s plenty of good sacrifice fodder around
Shower of Arrows image 0.5 We see this type of effect all the time, and it is generally better to leave it in your sideboard. You just don’t have enough targets consistently enough.
Olog-hai Crusher image 2.5 This isn’t exactly the Goblin/Orc payoff you’re hoping for, but a 4-mana 4/4 Trampler is fairly formidable, and it will often be capable of blocking
Pack 3 Pick 6: Rohirrim Lancer
Stern Scolding image 0.0 This is definitely here for constructed formats, as it is far too narrow to ever be worth including in a Limited deck. It just won’t have enough targets. There may be a corner case where your opponent has tons of creatures with 2 or less toughness and you side it in.
Generous Ent image 2.5 A 6-mana 5/7 with Reach that gives you a treasure isn’t a terrible late game play. In fact, it is the kind of body that can help you stablize, especially because the Food can gain you life! And if you draw it early and need a land drop, you can always cycle it away
Great Hall of the Citadel image 1.5 This can certainly help you splash some powerful legendary creatures, but I’m a little skeptical. Most of these lands that normally only produce colorless, but can produce colored mana for a certain type of card end up not being worth it. Producing only colorless for the majority of cards in your deck can be a liability for your mana base, so it ends up sort of canceling out any upside you might get out of it when you have your legendaries around. You’re going to want to go after different fixing than this most of the time
Soothing of Sméagol image 2.0 Two mana to bounce a nontoken creature isn’t an amazing deal these days. Remember, you’re only getting tempo and are actually going down a card. Still, this does allow you to impact the board and getting tempted by the ring is never a bad thing.
Morgul-Knife Wound image 0.0 I don’t think this is very good. I know it looks like a really cheap removal spell, but it has some serious problems. It is basically a Black version of the kind of removal spell Blue usually gets that makes a creature into a 0/2 or whatever, and those are always pretty underwhelming. So, let’s go through this card’s problems: The biggest thing is that it it doesn’t entirely remove a creature on its own. That effectively means you’re going down a card, and not taking a full card from your opponent.. Just lowering a creature’s power means that it can still block – perhaps even really effectively since its toughness is unaffected. It can also use all of its abilities. And heck, if it has high enough power it might still be a decent attacker! All of that is bad news. Additionally, giving your opponent an option about whether to pay life or exile the creature is way worse than it looks, because your opponent can always choose whichever option doesn’t really matter for them, and most of the time – neither of them will matter. Basically, even when this does operate as removal it isn’t going to give you a full card of value, and there will be plenty of times where it is far worse than that
Rohirrim Lancer image 2.0 A one mana 1/1 with Menace can get in for a few swings in the early game, and in the later game you can give this up to get tempted by the ring
Fire of Orthanc image 1.0 Demolish is almost never worth it in Limited, and tacking on this unblockable angle doesn’t do enough to change that.
Orcish Medicine image 1.5 This trick isn’t that likely to help your creature win combat, but it does blank an attack and gain you some life at worst, and the fact it blanks most removal isn’t too bad either. Add Amass to the mix and I think you have a card that makes the cut in your deck sometimes, but for a trick to really be worthwhile it does need to be more useful in combat than this is
Esquire of the King image 1.5 This ability costing only three mana is pretty sweet, especially if you’ve gone wide enough – and doing that in White certainly seems doable. The bad news is, as a one mana 1/1 it is pretty irrelevant up until the point it can use its ability, and paying 5 for that ability isn’t nearly as appealing.
Pack 3 Pick 7: Rally at the Hornburg
Snarling Warg image 2.5 A 4-mana ¾ Menace isn’t the worst stat-line, and this will be a 4/4 sometimes
Rally at the Hornburg image 3.0 Two mana for two 1/1s with Haste would be good in any format, but there are many cards in the format – especially in Red/White, that both like going wide and having Humans around. It can be specially spicy with the cards that give you an effect for each human who enters the battlefield
Nimrodel Watcher image 3.0 This is a nice Common payoff for scrying. There seems to be a critical mass of Scry at lower rarities, so imagining that you can get in with this an unblockable 3/1 a couple of times isn’t a pipe dream. Sometimes it will be a very real win condition.
Orcish Medicine image 1.5 This trick isn’t that likely to help your creature win combat, but it does blank an attack and gain you some life at worst, and the fact it blanks most removal isn’t too bad either. Add Amass to the mix and I think you have a card that makes the cut in your deck sometimes, but for a trick to really be worthwhile it does need to be more useful in combat than this is
Relentless Rohirrim image 2.5 These aren’t great stats these days, but because the ring tempts you on ETB you are at worst going to give this one extra ability – although if it’s the first time the ring has tempted you it isn’t going to feel very good. If it is the second time or later though, the Rohirrim will feel like a solid card
Shower of Arrows image 0.5 We see this type of effect all the time, and it is generally better to leave it in your sideboard. You just don’t have enough targets consistently enough.
Willow-Wind image 3.0 The last time we saw a 5-mana ¾ Flyer that Scried 2 on ETB it really over-performed, and that wasn’t even in a set with a Scry deck. This is probably one of Blue’s best Commons.
Sam's Desperate Rescue image 2.0 One mana to return a creature from your graveyard to your hand is a passable card, though I’d usually pay three mana to get two things back, as that gives you a more significant advantage by the later stages of the game. That said, paying one will often mean you can play the thing you get back right away, and getting tempted by the ring even makes this have a decent fail case if you don’t have something in your graveyard
Pack 3 Pick 8: Nasty End
Nasty End image 1.5 This type of spell is never amazing, but it does often find a niche. If you have a legendary creature that is worth sacrificing this can feel particularly good, but the problem with this kind of card is always that you don’t always have something worth giving up. Using it in response to removal is often the ideal situation, and that can potentially be quite impressive. However, it still ends up being too situational to be anything special.
Generous Ent image 2.5 A 6-mana 5/7 with Reach that gives you a treasure isn’t a terrible late game play. In fact, it is the kind of body that can help you stablize, especially because the Food can gain you life! And if you draw it early and need a land drop, you can always cycle it away
Soldier of the Grey Host image 2.0 This has what are well below-rate stats these days, and while the enter the battlefield ability can be useful, it also isn’t anything special. This does have Flash, so sometimes it can work like a combat trick, but a +2/+0 boost isn’t exactly the sort of thing that helps your creature survive combat a large percentage of the time.
Shelob's Ambush image 2.5 This is a really nice trick. Death touch and the toughness boost for only one mana means many creatures will be capable of taking down an opposing creature and surviving to tell the tale, and that’s likely to give you some pretty awesome tempo since it only costs a single mana. Its great that you also get some Food out of the deal!
Surrounded by Orcs image 2.0 This is either a 4-mana 3/3 that mills three, or it makes an army you already have bigger, while milling even more. Neither of those are amazing deals, but if you’re doing graveyard stuff or your opponent is low and cards, this card can do something.
Haradrim Spearmaster image 2.0 It is a little sad it can’t buff itself, as that would have made it significantly better, but offering +1/+0 to something every turn does do enough to improve combat for you often enough for this to be fine
Wose Pathfinder image 3.0 This is fragile and inefficient when it comes to stats, but it also fixes and ramps your mana, and in the extreme late game it has an effect that isn’t a terrible one to sink your mana into
Pack 3 Pick 9: Shire Scarecrow
Isolation at Orthanc image 3.0 This is nice removal. You always trade 1-for-1 with it, and because it is an Instant, sometimes you’ll be able to really get your opponent if you cast it in response to a trick or something.
Shire Scarecrow image 1.5 A two mana 0/3 defender doesn’t tend to be very good, but this does a reasonable job of filtering your mana
Pelargir Survivor image 2.0 Fixing and ramp for spells is alright, though even in a spell-heavy deck it always seems that this spell-specific ramp underperforms. The other ability is even less meaningful for the most part, as it costs a ton of mana and won’t do something meaningful most of the time.
Nimble Hobbit image 2.0 Tapping opposing creatures tends to be pretty good in aggro decks, but paying three for the effect is kind of rough. Giving up a Food is more appealing, but you’re still attacking with a 1/3, and there’s a pretty good chance that even when you tap down an opposing creature with this, your opponent can easily take it down in combat, especially after the early stages of the game.
Esquire of the King image 1.5 This ability costing only three mana is pretty sweet, especially if you’ve gone wide enough – and doing that in White certainly seems doable. The bad news is, as a one mana 1/1 it is pretty irrelevant up until the point it can use its ability, and paying 5 for that ability isn’t nearly as appealing.
Birthday Escape image 2.5 This seems like a nice deal for only a single Blue mana. Most of the time getting two effects for one mana ends up being pretty nice, and I think that’s the case here.
Pack 3 Pick 10: Erebor Flamesmith
Treason of Isengard image 2.0 A three mana 2/2 that puts a spell on top of your library is an okay card. This is an effect players often overrate, as they imagine getting back a really great spell – and when you can do that it is pretty good. However, the fact you have to wait to draw that card really makes it significantly worse
Willow-Wind image 3.0 The last time we saw a 5-mana ¾ Flyer that Scried 2 on ETB it really over-performed, and that wasn’t even in a set with a Scry deck. This is probably one of Blue’s best Commons.
Erebor Flamesmith image 2.5 We see this type of spell payoff pretty often, and they are always pretty reasonable, especially when you can get multiples of them. Pinging your opponent can really add up if you’re doing a good job casting instants and sorceries.
Knights of Dol Amroth image 2.0 We’ve seen this card before by a different name, and it was pretty underwhelming. Starting out as a Hill Giant is pretty rough these days, and even in a deck built around drawing extra cards, getting this to 4/4 isn’t always going to happen – and even if it does you don’t really feel like you’re getting there
Gimli's Axe image 2.0 +3/+0 and Menace is enough to make just about anything into a threat, but even in a set with this many legendaries, you aren’t going to be able to always count on that. After all, they only appear at Uncommon or higher, and when this isn’t granting menace it seems pretty bad, especially when you take the casting and equip cost into account.
Pack 3 Pick 11: Bewitching Leechcraft
Bewitching Leechcraft image 3.0 Obviously, this doesn’t work super well against Armies, since they will have counters to remove that allows this to untap, and there are other +1/+1 counters in the set too. However, I do think this will effectively lock down most creatures in the set, and it isn’t like if they have +1/+1 counters this goes away entirely anyway, because they have to keep removing counters from it to untap it. Obviously you want to use it on things that don’t have those counters at all, I’m just saying that even in the worst case it can be a problem for your opponent. I think this actually gets pretty close to being premium removal because it is so cheap, but even ignoring the whole +1/+1 counter part of the card, this doesn’t ever fully deal with a creature.
Second Breakfast image 2.0 Sometimes this kind of trick can generate a 2-for-1, which is obviously great – but with a toughness boost of only one, more often than not at least one of the creatures is going to die. Three mana is a lot to spend on a trick too! It is nice it gives you some food at least.
Dreadful as the Storm image 1.0 Lately, we’ve finally been seeing cards with this type of effect actually be playable, but that’s because they have drawn a card. Once that’s the case, a boost like this can be a 2-for-1 and that’s a big deal! The Ring tempting you isn’t nearly as good as drawing a card, so I don’t think this does enough. The problem with this type of boost is that you end up overpaying for it on most creatures – like a 3/3 that gets +2/+2 from this is not a good deal. Sure, on 1/1s it feels better, but that makes this overly situational
Nimble Hobbit image 2.0 Tapping opposing creatures tends to be pretty good in aggro decks, but paying three for the effect is kind of rough. Giving up a Food is more appealing, but you’re still attacking with a 1/3, and there’s a pretty good chance that even when you tap down an opposing creature with this, your opponent can easily take it down in combat, especially after the early stages of the game.
Pack 3 Pick 12: Shire Scarecrow
Shire Scarecrow image 1.5 A two mana 0/3 defender doesn’t tend to be very good, but this does a reasonable job of filtering your mana
Hithlain Knots image 2.0 This does a bunch of little stuff that will play reasonably well in multiple decks in the format. Whether you’re interesting in drawing extra cards, casting spells, or Scrying, this has you covered!
Bag End Porter image 3.0 This starts with solid stats, and there are enough legendary creatures in this set for this to attack as a 5/5 or 6/6 a decent chunk of the time.
Pack 3 Pick 13: Dúnedain Blade
Dúnedain Blade image 2.5 If you are paying three to equip this, it is basically unplayable. If you’re paying one to equip it enough of the time, it becomes a solid playable. There are certainly enough Humans in White, as well as some equipment synergies in the set.
Shower of Arrows image 0.5 We see this type of effect all the time, and it is generally better to leave it in your sideboard. You just don’t have enough targets consistently enough.
Pack 3 Pick 14: Fire of Orthanc
Fire of Orthanc image 1.0 Demolish is almost never worth it in Limited, and tacking on this unblockable angle doesn’t do enough to change that.
Draft Pick Overview