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Premier Draft LCI 22 November 2023

22 November 04:50 - Mimic 7 Wins - 1 Losses
Maindeck
Creature (17)
4 River Herald Scout image
1 Scampering Surveyor image
1 Council of Echoes image
1 Tishana's Tidebinder image
1 Staunch Crewmate image
2 Sanguine Evangelist image
1 Compass Gnome image
1 Oltec Cloud Guard image
1 Merfolk Cave-Diver image
1 Miner's Guidewing image
2 Cogwork Wrestler image
1 Sage of Days image
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (6)
1 Master's Guide-Mural // Master's Manufactory image
1 Quicksand Whirlpool image
1 Lodestone Needle // Guidestone Compass image
2 Relic's Roar image
1 Hurl into History image
Land (17)
6 Plains image
1 Hidden Cataract image
1 Hidden Courtyard image
9 Island image
Sideboard
1 Scytheclaw Raptor image
1 Geological Appraiser image
1 Cogwork Wrestler image
1 Plundering Pirate image
1 Primordial Gnawer image
1 River Herald Guide image
1 Volatile Wanderglyph image
1 Child of the Volcano image
1 Burning Sun Cavalry image
1 Sage of Days image
1 The Skullspore Nexus image
1 Waterlogged Hulk image
1 Abrade image
1 Rumbling Rockslide image
1 Relic's Roar image
2 Daring Discovery image
1 Deeproot Pilgrimage image
1 Pirate Hat image

Pack 1 Pick 1: The Skullspore Nexus
The Skullspore Nexus image 4.0 This does make it really hard for your opponent to ever come out ahead when they try to remove your creatures, or trade with them in combat, and casting this for something like 4 or 5 mana isn’t exactly far-fetched, though we do need to take into account the times where this just gets stuck in your hand. I do think you can look at it as a card that impacts the board in most situations though, since the effect it has will drastically alter the game right away, often making your attacks and blocks far more problematic the minute it comes down. The double power effect will also wreak havoc on combat
Rampaging Ceratops image 2.0 This has solid stats and blocking it is no easy task.
Market Gnome image 3.0 This is great sacrifice and craft fodder. Both of those look doable in White.
Ruin-Lurker Bat image 3.0 A one mana 1/1 with these keywords is a nice starting point. Makes it great with equipment and counters and stuff, and when it reaches the stage of the game when it can't rumble, it can help you find meaningful cards.
Master's Guide-Mural image 3.0 A 5-mana 4/4 Golem isn’t exactly great, but keep in mind Blue-White does like having artifacts lying around, and this gives you two of them. If you can craft this in the later stages of the game, you end up with a pretty powerful Artifact that can immediately crank out another 4/4, and can make more later in the game too. I don’t love how expensive this is to craft or how much it costs initially, and I worry it will feel a little too slow, but this definitely has the ability to take over games
Miner's Guidewing image 2.0 A one mana 1/1 with Flying and Vigilance isn’t a great card on its own, but getting to explore when it dies is pretty sweet. You do need another creature around for that part to matter, though.
Walk with the Ancestors image 2.0 5 mana to return a permanent to your hand is rough, but getting to cast something else while you do helps soften that blow
Adaptive Gemguard image 2.5 4-mana 3/3s have not performed well of late. The fact aggro decks can just attack into them with their two and three drops while they hold up a combat trick has been a real problem. This one can get bigger if you have artifacts and creatures lying around, and that’s certainly doable. It even counts itself for the effect.
Broodrage Mycoid image 3.0 This will make a 1/1 on a decent number of turns and it has passable stats
Fanatical Offering image 2.5 This probably isn’t quite Deadly Dispute, but I think that’s a pretty good comparison. This format has lots and lots of expendable stuff around, and this will often feel like you’re giving up very little to draw two and get a Map token, and that’s some serious value
Seismic Monstrosaur image 2.0 This probably isn’t as good as the land cyclers in Blue, Black, and Green, as those are the colors that are best with the graveyard, but Red isn’t completely uninterested in the ‘yard, and the creature you get here isn’t the most inefficient thing either. The ability to throw away lands late when you’re flooding out comes in handy too
Hotfoot Gnome image 2.0 A three mana 3/1 with Haste with a useful card type in Artifact is probably a 1.5, but it’s nice this can tap to give things haste. Once it isn’t a very good attacker on its own – which will be often – it can at least make your other creatures into better attackers. Still, this isn’t nearly as good as one mana 1/1s with this ability that we’ve seen in the recent past
Deconstruction Hammer image 3.0 One to play and one to equip for +1/+1 is a borderline playable, and this set has more than enough targets for the disenchant effect for this to turn into a removal spell. I think this will be a surprisingly good Common, because it can destroy so many permanents in the format.
Sage of Days image 3.0 This is a nice way to load your graveyard in a hurry, and it isn’t that far from Scry 3 on ETB, which would make for a nice card. The stat-line isn’t good of course, but I think this does the kind of thing you want to be doing in Blue in this format
Hidden Nursery image 2.5 Entering tapped is certainly a problem sometimes, but they more than make up for it by getting you a card back in the later game thanks to Discover. The Cave type matters some too! I think you’re pretty much always playing the first copy of one of these. Obviously, if you have a bunch of one drops you’ll be less interested in them
Pack 1 Pick 2: Scytheclaw Raptor
Calamitous Cave-In image 0.0 // 4.0 Cave decks look pretty legit in this format, and this feels like a card that can really enable that type of deck – it reminds me a lot of Gates Ablaze, a card with a similar sweeper effect that checked for Gates. It will be great if you have lots of Caves, and terrible if you don’t
Forgotten Monument image 2.0 This tries to address the problem that most caves only produce colorless, and that’s a huge hit to your mana base if you’re not careful. If you do have enough Caves, this provides some nice fixing, but if you’re really reliant on getting this for your fixing your’e going to be in some trouble
Scytheclaw Raptor image 2.0 This has good aggressive stats, and the symmetrical effect will sometimes punish your opponent
Inverted Iceberg image 3.5 The front side of the card has a useful card type, loads your graveyard, and replaces itself. It would probably be a C all on its own. And in the late game you can transform it into a creature that your opponent is going to have to do something about. Even if it doesn’t impact the board on turn two, I think it does enough for the cost and the upside is big
Petrify image 2.0 They really are giving Pacifism upside these days! This one can shut off abilities and hit artifacts too! The problem with this card in this format is that there is a prominent sacrifice theme, and even an entire mechanic – in Craft – that lets you exile permanents you control, there’s also a bunch of cards that let you tap your creatures and artifacts for value, and so on. In other words, Petrify will have a hard time giving you a full card of value consistently, because your opponent will still be able to do enough stuff with their permanents that this doesn’t shut the card down entirely
Primordial Gnawer image 2.0 This is an ugly stat-line, but it does make sure you get a 2-for-1. Still…the stat-line is bad enough that I don’t think this ends up always making the cut.
Pathfinding Axejaw image 3.5 This will either be a 4-mana 5/4 with Surveil 1, or a 4-mana 4/3 that draws you a card. Both of those are pretty nice for the cost.
Out of Air image 2.0 So, this is either a Harder-to-cast Essence Scatter, or a harder-to-cast Counterspell. I’m not super enthusiastic about either of those modes. Countermagic that costs double blue can be rough in Limited, because you are far from guaranteed to have it up when you need to. That’s sort of true of all counterspells, but one with more mana intensive requirements in a format where your mana just isn’t very good is extra hard to use
Seeker of Sunlight image 0.0 A one mana 1/1 just isn’t’ a stat-line that stays relevant, and while this has the ability to stay more relevant thanks to it’s activated ability, it’s costly enough and clunky enough at sorcery speed that it is only something you’re going to start using in the extreme late game. This is bad at virtually every other stage
Sunfire Torch image 2.0 So…this is a really roundabout Shock. It takes some extra steps, and more total mana, but eventually it does 2 to something! You can also keep it around for a meager power boost if you want. Being an artifact and a card that can put itself into the graveyard has extra value here too, but I do think this takes too much work to really be looked at as premium removal.
Acrobatic Leap image 1.5 One mana tricks that give +1/+3 are rarely worthwhile in Limited. The boost is enough to save a creature in combat, but not enough to help it win combat often enough. The flying and untap angle here do make it so you can both punch in for lethal in the air or ambush a flyer, but those use cases are all much too frequent for this to be something that makes the cut in all your white aggro decks.
Deep Goblin Skulltaker image 2.0 The Gray Ogre statline is ugly, even with Menace, but this can grow without a ton of effort, and obviously the bigger it gets, the better Menace feels
Cogwork Wrestler image 2.5 This can Flash in and kill just about any X/1, which tends to feel pretty good.. If you can combine it with some other creatures, it can even take down bigger things. You do need to have that mode work out more often than not to make it worth it, because just using this to blank a couple of damage isn’t nearly as good, but that’s not the worst fail case either.
Island image
Pack 1 Pick 3: Geological Appraiser
Self-Reflection image 2.5 Paying 6 to copy a creature is pretty rough. Hard to consistently get your man's worth there. However, with Flashback in the mix this has 2-for-1 potential, and Blue mills itself enough for this to give you nice value out of the graveyard
Geological Appraiser image 4.5 This isn’t that far from being Bloodbraid Elf, and that card is absolutely absurd. Sure, the creature you cast isn’t the most efficient, but you’re always getting a 2-for-1 when you cast this, and you’ll always feel like you’re getting 4 mana or more worth of value too. That’s just insane
Lodestone Needle image 1.0 If this were only the card on the front, it would be a 0.0. Spending a card to stun something for two turns…just isn’t worth it. But it does have another side! And it lets you explore on the cheap, which…I like. But I still feel like the front is so ineffectual, and crafting it takes enough work that I'm not very impressed.
Brackish Blunder image 2.0 Just the bounce part of the card is usually a passable card, so getting a map token if the creature is tapped makes this pretty appealing. Now…not being a permanent in Blue does hurt a card a little bit because of Descent stuff, but the fact this gives you a Map helps check some boxes for artifact decks.
Walk with the Ancestors image 2.0 5 mana to return a permanent to your hand is rough, but getting to cast something else while you do helps soften that blow
Primordial Gnawer image 2.0 This is an ugly stat-line, but it does make sure you get a 2-for-1. Still…the stat-line is bad enough that I don’t think this ends up always making the cut.
Tectonic Hazard image 0.5 This is sideboard material, your opponent has to have a ton of X/1s for this to be worth it.
Sunshot Militia image 2.0 This seems like a decent way to finish your opponent off in Red artifact decks. Even if they stabilize, this two drop can make it impossible for them provided you have artifacts and creatures around, and that’s not a huge ask. This only being Sorcery speed, like most of these effects, certainly matters, as being able to wait until the end of your opponents turn would mean you can keep all our blocks up – but still, I think this will do enough to warrant a slot in your deck
Soaring Sandwing image 1.5 So, the landyclers in Blue, Black, and Green all really interest me because of the descent mechanic. White doesn’t really have that going on, though you might be able to use it with craft at least. Still… I think that makes this a little less useful. You can throw this away early to hit a land drop, and in the late game if you gives you a beefy creature that can gain you life, which can sometimes help you stabilize
Adaptive Gemguard image 2.5 4-mana 3/3s have not performed well of late. The fact aggro decks can just attack into them with their two and three drops while they hold up a combat trick has been a real problem. This one can get bigger if you have artifacts and creatures lying around, and that’s certainly doable. It even counts itself for the effect.
Screaming Phantom image 2.5 It has passable stats and helps enable all of your graveyard shenanigans that you’re almost guaranteed to have in Black
Relic's Roar image 0.0 Normally, if we see this effect without card draw attached, it isn’t playable. This is because the stats boost you get for the cost often isn’t worth it, especially because if your creatures are large enough this doesn’t really offer a boost at all. But at one mana? Well…I still don’t think it’s very good. It’s just too variable as to how much of a boost it actually offers. It’s tempting to imagine buffing a 1/1 with it, because it will feel like a Blue giant growth, but the higher the base stats of your creature is, the worse this gets
Plains image
Pack 1 Pick 4: Council of Echoes
Malicious Eclipse image 0.5 This type of card is always pretty awkward in Limited. The effect has a really high ceiling for sure, but the floor is bad because you just don’t end up in decks very often where you can be certain it will hurt your opponent more than you when you cast it. If you find yourself in a control deck that doesn’t have many creatures that die to this, it can work out reasonably well, but that kind of deck just doesn’t come together often enough. This is mostly sideboard material.
Council of Echoes image 3.0 When this bounces something, it will feel pretty good. Adding a big flier and subtracting from the opposing board feels great. When this doesn't bounce something…it will feel way inefficient and overcosted. Seems to me getting Descend 4 going by the time you cast this is a reasonable expectation, though
Waterlogged Hulk image 3.5 A one mana artifact that can load your graveyard is better in this format than it is in most – as we’ve seen Blue cares about artifacts and the graveyard, and this checks the most boxes. Then, when you craft this it becomes a very real easy-to-crew vehicle, that in the really late game can just close it out for you. I think the front does what you want to do in Blue and getting to the point where you get the vehicle is easy enough that this looks quite strong
Ancestors' Aid image 2.0 +2/+0 and First Strike is going to win combat a huge percentage of the time, and in addition to the value treasure normally gives you in the form of mana, there’s lots of other stuff you can do with it in the format
Skullcap Snail image 2.5 It’s important than this exile instead of letting the opponent discard, as you don’t want to be helping your opponent get Descend stuff going. As usual, a two mana 1/1 with this effect is solid
Compass Gnome image 2.0 We’ve seen this card before, more or less, and its always kind of mediocre. Putting the land on top is miles away from putting it in your hand. This offers passable fixing, but I think it will be especially attractive to Cave decks. As we’ll see in just a little bit, the set has a lot of caves, but still, getting your hands on enough to make the various Cave payoffs work is a little tricky – something like Compass Gnome helps make that easier
Petrify image 2.0 They really are giving Pacifism upside these days! This one can shut off abilities and hit artifacts too! The problem with this card in this format is that there is a prominent sacrifice theme, and even an entire mechanic – in Craft – that lets you exile permanents you control, there’s also a bunch of cards that let you tap your creatures and artifacts for value, and so on. In other words, Petrify will have a hard time giving you a full card of value consistently, because your opponent will still be able to do enough stuff with their permanents that this doesn’t shut the card down entirely
Oaken Siren image 2.5 A two mana ½ with Flying and Vigilance that happens to be an artifact would probably be borderline playable in this format, so I think adding in the mana for artifact stuff does enough to make it a card that will make the cut in many Blue decks
Malamet Veteran image 2.5 A 5-mana 5/4 trampler is sort of passable, and the fact that this can hand out +1/+1 counters, including to itself, when you have enough permanents in your graveyard, is pretty nice. Descend 4 is pretty approachable by the time the Veteran comes down too
Pirate Hat image 2.5 If you can Equip this for one consistently, it looks pretty solid to me. The stats boost isn’t the best thing ever, but if you’re sticking it on things for 1 mana it will feel plenty good, especially because artifacts and loot triggers are better than normal in this format
Walk with the Ancestors image 2.0 5 mana to return a permanent to your hand is rough, but getting to cast something else while you do helps soften that blow
Hidden Volcano image 2.5 Entering tapped is certainly a problem sometimes, but they more than make up for it by getting you a card back in the later game thanks to Discover. The Cave type matters some too! I think you’re pretty much always playing the first copy of one of these. Obviously, if you have a bunch of one drops you’ll be less interested in them
Pack 1 Pick 5: Tishana's Tidebinder
Tishana's Tidebinder image 3.0 There are enough abilities around for this to actually counter something reasonably often, and turning the permanent vanilla is pretty big. You will encounter situations where you have to run this out without getting that value, though
Eaten by Piranhas image 2.5 This coming with Flash is kind of a game changer. Without it, this would be the usual mediocre Blue removal spell that doesn’t ever entirely remove a creature. Spending a card on removal and having the creature still able to block and attack, even if it’s smaller, is really frustrating. And in this format that’s extra bad because of all the stuff that lets you sacrifice or tap creatures for value, among other things. But, when you add Flash, suddenly you can use this to make the creature you put it on die in combat, before your opponent ever has a chance to get more value out of it
Tithing Blade image 3.0 Two mana for an Edict effect is usually a 2.0 or so in Limited. Good in the early game, not so good later in the game. But this is an artifact that will be great to sacrifice, and obviously the Craft upside is big here too. Once transformed, this creates a life difference of two between you and your opponent during your upkeep, and that makes your opponent’s life very difficult. Crafting this is relatively easy too
Cogwork Wrestler image 2.5 This can Flash in and kill just about any X/1, which tends to feel pretty good.. If you can combine it with some other creatures, it can even take down bigger things. You do need to have that mode work out more often than not to make it worth it, because just using this to blank a couple of damage isn’t nearly as good, but that’s not the worst fail case either.
Rumbling Rockslide image 2.5 This can kill lots of things at 4, and it does scale the longer the game goes. It’s a bit clunky as a 4-mana Sorcery, so it isn’t premium removal, but the first copy of it seems pretty appealing in most Red decks
Miner's Guidewing image 2.0 A one mana 1/1 with Flying and Vigilance isn’t a great card on its own, but getting to explore when it dies is pretty sweet. You do need another creature around for that part to matter, though.
Broodrage Mycoid image 3.0 This will make a 1/1 on a decent number of turns and it has passable stats
Song of Stupefaction image 1.5 Lowering a creature’s power just isn’t enough to be worth a card most of the time, although I do think milling gives you enough value itself in this format that this isn’t unplayable, but I think you’ll be able to find better enablers and payoffs for milling yourself than this thing
In the Presence of Ages image 2.5 I think you’ll want one of these in most Green decks. It helps you load the yard while drawing you a couple of cards in most cases
Ancestors' Aid image 2.0 +2/+0 and First Strike is going to win combat a huge percentage of the time, and in addition to the value treasure normally gives you in the form of mana, there’s lots of other stuff you can do with it in the format
Mountain image
Pack 1 Pick 6: Cogwork Wrestler
Vanguard of the Rose image 3.0 This has solid aggro stats to start with, and any time you have 1 mana and an artifact or creature available, attacking with it is going to drive your opponent nuts. Especially if you can give up something expendable
Swashbuckler's Whip image 1.5 So, one to play and one to equip to give a creature this tap effect for two mana seems…kind of alright. I’d like to pay one to tap things, but still. It is…kind of weird it also gives Reach. I guess that’s mostly a flavor thing, because the creature you put this on will often tap something before your opponent goes to combat, in which case Reach doesn’t matter. But anyway, this can tap things down for awhile, and then in the late game can just start Discovering, which is nice. Keep in mind, most of the time when you discover 10 for 8 mana, you’re going to get something worth far less, so it won’t ever feel efficient, but it’s a decent late game mana sink. Still…the whole package here seems passable, no matter what stage of the game it is
Armored Kincaller image 3.0 This will gain you three pretty often in Green, and that’s a pretty good ETB to have on a three mana 3/3
Mineshaft Spider image 2.0 This has mediocre stats, but it does help you with graveyard stuff
Brazen Blademaster image 2.0 The starting stats are rough, but it seems like this will attack as a reasonably often
River Herald Guide image 3.0 This is another Explore ETB creature that gives you a really good rate, regardless of which Explore thing happens
Fungal Fortitude image 2.0 +2/+0 will help a creature win lots of combats, and it doesn’t matter that there isn’t also a toughness boost, because the creature’s coming back! It feels especially busted with ETB abilities. This also helps you trigger descend stuff
Glorifier of Suffering image 2.5 Putting a counter on TWO separate creatures is a pretty nice payoff for throwing away a gnome token or a map token, and can really make an attack far more formidable. It can also put a counter on itself, which is nice. This seems like a quality payoff for the aggressive sacrifice decks in the format.
Cogwork Wrestler image 2.5 This can Flash in and kill just about any X/1, which tends to feel pretty good.. If you can combine it with some other creatures, it can even take down bigger things. You do need to have that mode work out more often than not to make it worth it, because just using this to blank a couple of damage isn’t nearly as good, but that’s not the worst fail case either.
Hidden Courtyard image 2.5 Entering tapped is certainly a problem sometimes, but they more than make up for it by getting you a card back in the later game thanks to Discover. The Cave type matters some too! I think you’re pretty much always playing the first copy of one of these. Obviously, if you have a bunch of one drops you’ll be less interested in them
Pack 1 Pick 7: Plundering Pirate
Bat Colony image 0.0 // 3.5 This is definitely a build around, since it does way too little in any deck that has too few caves. You kind of need at least one bat when you cast it, and then to get two counters to feel like you're getting there. That…doesn't sound easy. I think this is an unplayable in most White decks, but Cave decks do look legit enough for me to think this will have a home in that type of deck.
Abyssal Gorestalker image 1.0 This looks a little too awkward. There are too many situations where it hurts you more than your opponent. Sure, there are also the times where it's amazing, but there aren't enough of those to offset the downside.
Oaken Siren image 2.5 A two mana ½ with Flying and Vigilance that happens to be an artifact would probably be borderline playable in this format, so I think adding in the mana for artifact stuff does enough to make it a card that will make the cut in many Blue decks
Dead Weight image 3.5 This is good every time we see it, especially because they tend to put it in formats where you can get some extra value out of it. One mana for -2/-2 is already premium, as you can trade up all the time, but the extra value in this format comes as a result of all of the Descend. Permanents that are removal spells are going to give you some nice extra value, and that’s certainly true here
Over the Edge image 2.5 There are enough artifacts and enchantments in this set and – importantly – enough artifact creatures for this to work pretty well as a removal spell. The double Explore mode isn’t too bad either.
Waylaying Pirates image 3.0 I love creatures that ETB and stun something, and while this makes you jump through a hoop – I think that hoop is pretty easy to jump through in Blue. Adding a decent body to the board and getting a blocker out of the way at the same time is going to be pretty strong. If you’re in the Pirate-Artifact deck, and you just curve out and play this on turn four, your opponent is going to be in serious trouble.
Plundering Pirate image 3.0 Creatures that make treasures on ETB virtually always over perform, and the stat-line here is a bit better than what we usually see. Treasure brings extra value in an artifact format too. I think this is one of Red’s better commons
Malamet Brawler image 2.0 The awkward thing about this card is that by the time you can attack with something else that is worth giving trample to, your Brawler is probably not going to uh…brawl very well. I mean, it’s a fine two drop, but not one I’m excited about
Mountain image
Pack 1 Pick 8: River Herald Scout
Master's Guide-Mural image 3.0 A 5-mana 4/4 Golem isn’t exactly great, but keep in mind Blue-White does like having artifacts lying around, and this gives you two of them. If you can craft this in the later stages of the game, you end up with a pretty powerful Artifact that can immediately crank out another 4/4, and can make more later in the game too. I don’t love how expensive this is to craft or how much it costs initially, and I worry it will feel a little too slow, but this definitely has the ability to take over games
Walk with the Ancestors image 2.0 5 mana to return a permanent to your hand is rough, but getting to cast something else while you do helps soften that blow
Adaptive Gemguard image 2.5 4-mana 3/3s have not performed well of late. The fact aggro decks can just attack into them with their two and three drops while they hold up a combat trick has been a real problem. This one can get bigger if you have artifacts and creatures lying around, and that’s certainly doable. It even counts itself for the effect.
Fanatical Offering image 2.5 This probably isn’t quite Deadly Dispute, but I think that’s a pretty good comparison. This format has lots and lots of expendable stuff around, and this will often feel like you’re giving up very little to draw two and get a Map token, and that’s some serious value
Hotfoot Gnome image 2.0 A three mana 3/1 with Haste with a useful card type in Artifact is probably a 1.5, but it’s nice this can tap to give things haste. Once it isn’t a very good attacker on its own – which will be often – it can at least make your other creatures into better attackers. Still, this isn’t nearly as good as one mana 1/1s with this ability that we’ve seen in the recent past
Deconstruction Hammer image 3.0 One to play and one to equip for +1/+1 is a borderline playable, and this set has more than enough targets for the disenchant effect for this to turn into a removal spell. I think this will be a surprisingly good Common, because it can destroy so many permanents in the format.
Sage of Days image 3.0 This is a nice way to load your graveyard in a hurry, and it isn’t that far from Scry 3 on ETB, which would make for a nice card. The stat-line isn’t good of course, but I think this does the kind of thing you want to be doing in Blue in this format
Pack 1 Pick 9: Master's Guide-Mural
Master's Guide-Mural image 3.0 A 5-mana 4/4 Golem isn’t exactly great, but keep in mind Blue-White does like having artifacts lying around, and this gives you two of them. If you can craft this in the later stages of the game, you end up with a pretty powerful Artifact that can immediately crank out another 4/4, and can make more later in the game too. I don’t love how expensive this is to craft or how much it costs initially, and I worry it will feel a little too slow, but this definitely has the ability to take over games
Walk with the Ancestors image 2.0 5 mana to return a permanent to your hand is rough, but getting to cast something else while you do helps soften that blow
Adaptive Gemguard image 2.5 4-mana 3/3s have not performed well of late. The fact aggro decks can just attack into them with their two and three drops while they hold up a combat trick has been a real problem. This one can get bigger if you have artifacts and creatures lying around, and that’s certainly doable. It even counts itself for the effect.
Fanatical Offering image 2.5 This probably isn’t quite Deadly Dispute, but I think that’s a pretty good comparison. This format has lots and lots of expendable stuff around, and this will often feel like you’re giving up very little to draw two and get a Map token, and that’s some serious value
Hotfoot Gnome image 2.0 A three mana 3/1 with Haste with a useful card type in Artifact is probably a 1.5, but it’s nice this can tap to give things haste. Once it isn’t a very good attacker on its own – which will be often – it can at least make your other creatures into better attackers. Still, this isn’t nearly as good as one mana 1/1s with this ability that we’ve seen in the recent past
Deconstruction Hammer image 3.0 One to play and one to equip for +1/+1 is a borderline playable, and this set has more than enough targets for the disenchant effect for this to turn into a removal spell. I think this will be a surprisingly good Common, because it can destroy so many permanents in the format.
Sage of Days image 3.0 This is a nice way to load your graveyard in a hurry, and it isn’t that far from Scry 3 on ETB, which would make for a nice card. The stat-line isn’t good of course, but I think this does the kind of thing you want to be doing in Blue in this format
Pack 1 Pick 10: Cogwork Wrestler
Calamitous Cave-In image 0.0 // 4.0 Cave decks look pretty legit in this format, and this feels like a card that can really enable that type of deck – it reminds me a lot of Gates Ablaze, a card with a similar sweeper effect that checked for Gates. It will be great if you have lots of Caves, and terrible if you don’t
Seeker of Sunlight image 0.0 A one mana 1/1 just isn’t’ a stat-line that stays relevant, and while this has the ability to stay more relevant thanks to it’s activated ability, it’s costly enough and clunky enough at sorcery speed that it is only something you’re going to start using in the extreme late game. This is bad at virtually every other stage
Acrobatic Leap image 1.5 One mana tricks that give +1/+3 are rarely worthwhile in Limited. The boost is enough to save a creature in combat, but not enough to help it win combat often enough. The flying and untap angle here do make it so you can both punch in for lethal in the air or ambush a flyer, but those use cases are all much too frequent for this to be something that makes the cut in all your white aggro decks.
Deep Goblin Skulltaker image 2.0 The Gray Ogre statline is ugly, even with Menace, but this can grow without a ton of effort, and obviously the bigger it gets, the better Menace feels
Cogwork Wrestler image 2.5 This can Flash in and kill just about any X/1, which tends to feel pretty good.. If you can combine it with some other creatures, it can even take down bigger things. You do need to have that mode work out more often than not to make it worth it, because just using this to blank a couple of damage isn’t nearly as good, but that’s not the worst fail case either.
Island image
Pack 1 Pick 11: Primordial Gnawer
Self-Reflection image 2.5 Paying 6 to copy a creature is pretty rough. Hard to consistently get your man's worth there. However, with Flashback in the mix this has 2-for-1 potential, and Blue mills itself enough for this to give you nice value out of the graveyard
Primordial Gnawer image 2.0 This is an ugly stat-line, but it does make sure you get a 2-for-1. Still…the stat-line is bad enough that I don’t think this ends up always making the cut.
Tectonic Hazard image 0.5 This is sideboard material, your opponent has to have a ton of X/1s for this to be worth it.
Relic's Roar image 0.0 Normally, if we see this effect without card draw attached, it isn’t playable. This is because the stats boost you get for the cost often isn’t worth it, especially because if your creatures are large enough this doesn’t really offer a boost at all. But at one mana? Well…I still don’t think it’s very good. It’s just too variable as to how much of a boost it actually offers. It’s tempting to imagine buffing a 1/1 with it, because it will feel like a Blue giant growth, but the higher the base stats of your creature is, the worse this gets
Plains image
Pack 1 Pick 12: Waterlogged Hulk
Waterlogged Hulk image 3.5 A one mana artifact that can load your graveyard is better in this format than it is in most – as we’ve seen Blue cares about artifacts and the graveyard, and this checks the most boxes. Then, when you craft this it becomes a very real easy-to-crew vehicle, that in the really late game can just close it out for you. I think the front does what you want to do in Blue and getting to the point where you get the vehicle is easy enough that this looks quite strong
Ancestors' Aid image 2.0 +2/+0 and First Strike is going to win combat a huge percentage of the time, and in addition to the value treasure normally gives you in the form of mana, there’s lots of other stuff you can do with it in the format
Pirate Hat image 2.5 If you can Equip this for one consistently, it looks pretty solid to me. The stats boost isn’t the best thing ever, but if you’re sticking it on things for 1 mana it will feel plenty good, especially because artifacts and loot triggers are better than normal in this format
Walk with the Ancestors image 2.0 5 mana to return a permanent to your hand is rough, but getting to cast something else while you do helps soften that blow
Pack 1 Pick 13: Cogwork Wrestler
Cogwork Wrestler image 2.5 This can Flash in and kill just about any X/1, which tends to feel pretty good.. If you can combine it with some other creatures, it can even take down bigger things. You do need to have that mode work out more often than not to make it worth it, because just using this to blank a couple of damage isn’t nearly as good, but that’s not the worst fail case either.
Song of Stupefaction image 1.5 Lowering a creature’s power just isn’t enough to be worth a card most of the time, although I do think milling gives you enough value itself in this format that this isn’t unplayable, but I think you’ll be able to find better enablers and payoffs for milling yourself than this thing
Mountain image
Pack 1 Pick 14: River Herald Guide
Swashbuckler's Whip image 1.5 So, one to play and one to equip to give a creature this tap effect for two mana seems…kind of alright. I’d like to pay one to tap things, but still. It is…kind of weird it also gives Reach. I guess that’s mostly a flavor thing, because the creature you put this on will often tap something before your opponent goes to combat, in which case Reach doesn’t matter. But anyway, this can tap things down for awhile, and then in the late game can just start Discovering, which is nice. Keep in mind, most of the time when you discover 10 for 8 mana, you’re going to get something worth far less, so it won’t ever feel efficient, but it’s a decent late game mana sink. Still…the whole package here seems passable, no matter what stage of the game it is
River Herald Guide image 3.0 This is another Explore ETB creature that gives you a really good rate, regardless of which Explore thing happens
Pack 1 Pick 15: Mountain
Mountain image
Pack 2 Pick 1: Sanguine Evangelist
Sanguine Evangelist image 4.0 A three mana 2/1 that makes a 1/1 Flyer is already a great Limited card, but this tacks on so much additional value! Getting a flyer when it dies too means your opponent can basically never remove this profitably, and they are kind of going to want to remove it because Battlecry is a pretty big problem on some board states. This just gives you so much value for the mana cost, and it has an incredibly high floor thanks to its ETB and death triggers.
Tendril of the Mycotyrant image 3.5 This feels fine on turn two, and then in the late game it is an insane mana sink that will add a massive body to the board. It’s tough to beat at that stage
Might of the Ancestors image 2.0 This is a boost that can make just about any creature into a much better attacker, and you get the trigger the turn you play it, provided you play it in your first main phase. Still…there are situations where a card like this just doesn’t do enough to make your board state any better, and it feels miserable in those situations.
Sinuous Benthisaur image 0.0 // 4.0 This has some insane potential. Even if you just have two caves, this is a 6-mana 4/4 that draws you two cards. That’s really amazing, and even with one cave it’s a passible card. Now…if there are no Caves around it’s awful, but if your deck has 4 or more caves in it, you’re going to be happy to play this most of the time
Spring-Loaded Sawblades image 4.0 Let’s set “Craft” aside for a moment. Two mana for 5 damage to a tapped creature at instant speed is a pretty decent rate. Sure, it’s fairly restrictive – and not really the kind of removal spell an aggro deck is excited about, but it can definitely trade up in many situations, and even produce blow outs when combat tricks are involved. I think that card alone would be about a C+ – with the caveat that you don’t really play it in aggro. But this comes with the upside of Crafting later, and when it does, you get a pretty beefy vehicle. A 5/5 vehicle with Crew 1 is formidable, and if you happen to have some other artifacts lying around - like Map tokens, you can animate it without having to Crew at all. It definitely takes some work to transform it, and you can’t count on always pulling it off, but because the front is already a nice card.
Sage of Days image 3.0 This is a nice way to load your graveyard in a hurry, and it isn’t that far from Scry 3 on ETB, which would make for a nice card. The stat-line isn’t good of course, but I think this does the kind of thing you want to be doing in Blue in this format
River Herald Guide image 3.0 This is another Explore ETB creature that gives you a really good rate, regardless of which Explore thing happens
Relic's Roar image 0.0 Normally, if we see this effect without card draw attached, it isn’t playable. This is because the stats boost you get for the cost often isn’t worth it, especially because if your creatures are large enough this doesn’t really offer a boost at all. But at one mana? Well…I still don’t think it’s very good. It’s just too variable as to how much of a boost it actually offers. It’s tempting to imagine buffing a 1/1 with it, because it will feel like a Blue giant growth, but the higher the base stats of your creature is, the worse this gets
Echo of Dusk image 2.0 It’s fine on turn two, and Black decks will get it to 3/3 and lifelink pretty often, and once it’s there there’s a good chance it has at least some relevance on just about any board
Malamet Scythe image 2.0 When you use this as a combat trick, it’s going to feel pretty good. After all, it helps your creature win combat and keeps +2/+2 sticking around. After that initial equip, having to pay 4 at a time to move this will feel rough, but if you’ve already traded one-for-one, we’re just talking about upside at that point.
In the Presence of Ages image 2.5 I think you’ll want one of these in most Green decks. It helps you load the yard while drawing you a couple of cards in most cases
Quicksand Whirlpool image 2.5 Casting this for six is kind of rough, but casting it for three is solid enough, especially in less aggressive decks.
Plundering Pirate image 3.0 Creatures that make treasures on ETB virtually always over perform, and the stat-line here is a bit better than what we usually see. Treasure brings extra value in an artifact format too. I think this is one of Red’s better commons
Ancestral Reminiscence image 1.5 This is a functional reprint of Sift, which in the olden days of Limited was a pretty good card. But…paying 4 and not impacting the board with a Sorcery can be pretty rough, even if this helps with the graveyard. You might end up running one of these in control decks, but I don’t think it always makes the cut
Island image
Pack 2 Pick 2: Scampering Surveyor
Scampering Surveyor image 3.5 Skittering Surveyor has a friend, I guess. And it looks pretty good! Ramping your mana, fixing your mana, and even helping you set up cave stuff seems like a pretty good deal when it comes attached to a 4-mana 3/2
Confounding Riddle image 3.0 We've seen cards before with these two options, more or less, and they have performed pretty well. One of the downsides of counter magic is that if your opponent plays around it after you left mana up, it can feel terrible. This fixes that problem by having another powerful mode - a mode that is extra strong in a format where Blue us so into the graveyard. Getting one card in hand and several in the yard will often feel like two cards of value in this set
Triumphant Chomp image 4.0 One mana for two damage is always premium, even at Sorcery speed, and this will often be able to do significantly more than that. Paying one to do 4 with this seems very doable, and that’s just crazy!
Kaslem's Stonetree image 1.5 The front side of this isn’t great, although the fact it can hit any land means it can help you dig for Caves if you’re interested in doing that – and you probably are, because the Stonetree crafts with Caves! Later, it can become a beefy enough creature. Overall…I’m not actually that impressed here. It doesn’t add to the board on the front side, and crafting with Caves is challenging enough that you can’t really count on getting the 5/5. There are just so many better cave payoffs in the set, that this isn’t really the one you’re desperate for
Oaken Siren image 2.5 A two mana ½ with Flying and Vigilance that happens to be an artifact would probably be borderline playable in this format, so I think adding in the mana for artifact stuff does enough to make it a card that will make the cut in many Blue decks
Acolyte of Aclazotz image 2.5 There are plenty of expendable artifacts and creatures to be had in Black, and this also works well with Descend stuff. Draining 1 life at a time might sound small, but it really can keep you alive while pressuring your opponent
Adaptive Gemguard image 2.5 4-mana 3/3s have not performed well of late. The fact aggro decks can just attack into them with their two and three drops while they hold up a combat trick has been a real problem. This one can get bigger if you have artifacts and creatures lying around, and that’s certainly doable. It even counts itself for the effect.
Volatile Wanderglyph image 2.0 This will let you rummage when you attack or crew a vehicle, but perhaps most importantly, it lets you do it when you tap it using one of the many cards in this format that lets you tap artifacts and creatures for value. It doesn’t seem essential for that type of deck, but it certainly seems useful.
Mephitic Draught image 1.5 // 3.0 This is another card that is great sacrifice fodder, but not really worth it if you’re not consistently available to get rid of it. When you can it feels awesome, because it gives you a very efficient 2-for-1. But there will be enough Black decks that aren’t that good at sacrificing that I think this needs a build around grade.
Disturbed Slumber image 0.0 This effect is basically never worth it. I get it, you can ambush your opponent’s attacker with a land, or suddenly do 4 out of nowhere, but the times where that’s actually worth a card are infrequent. I’d rather have something that permanently adds to the board
Deathcap Marionette image 2.0 We’ve already seen that descending is a key part of what Black wants to do in this format, and the Marionette helps you do it while being capable of trading with anything thanks to death touch
Greedy Freebooter image 1.0 // 3.0 This is some amazing sacrifice fodder, especially because the sacrifice effects in this format let you sacrifice creature or artifacts, and this one card gives you two of those. It does get a lot worse in situations where you can’t sacrifice it easily, as it will be a little more difficult to get a card of value out of it. I think that probably makes it a build around
Sunshot Militia image 2.0 This seems like a decent way to finish your opponent off in Red artifact decks. Even if they stabilize, this two drop can make it impossible for them provided you have artifacts and creatures around, and that’s not a huge ask. This only being Sorcery speed, like most of these effects, certainly matters, as being able to wait until the end of your opponents turn would mean you can keep all our blocks up – but still, I think this will do enough to warrant a slot in your deck
Forest image
Pack 2 Pick 3: Sanguine Evangelist
Sanguine Evangelist image 4.0 A three mana 2/1 that makes a 1/1 Flyer is already a great Limited card, but this tacks on so much additional value! Getting a flyer when it dies too means your opponent can basically never remove this profitably, and they are kind of going to want to remove it because Battlecry is a pretty big problem on some board states. This just gives you so much value for the mana cost, and it has an incredibly high floor thanks to its ETB and death triggers.
Nicanzil, Current Conductor image 3.5 This has nice base stats and it makes all of your Explores way better. Getting to put a land into play right when you hit it with Explore is super relevant in the early game, and while it drops off some late, it certainly doesn’t hurt. Getting an extra +1/+1 counter on Nicanzil also means it has the potential to stay relevant forever
Careening Mine Cart image 2.0 A 3 mana 3/3 vehicle with Crew 1 isn’t very good. I like getting Treasure, and that saves this from being actively bad, especially because it is a colorless source of fixing
Twists and Turns image 3.5 Scry 1 before you explore is a big upgrade, and obviously this can help you find the lands you need to transform it, and once transformed it's a great late game mana sink. The fact it explores when it ETBs is awesome too! I don't really think this needs a build around grade, since even on its own it seems playable, provided you're a slowish Green deck. And you're pretty likely to have more explore without even trying too
Thousand Moons Crackshot image 1.5 Sometimes you’ll be able to attack with this and really open the floodgates on your opponent by getting their best blocker out of the way, but three mana is a lot, and your opponent also always knows this is coming, making it a lot less useful. You’re rarely going to use this ability early, and by the late game it has some diminishing returns.
Adaptive Gemguard image 2.5 4-mana 3/3s have not performed well of late. The fact aggro decks can just attack into them with their two and three drops while they hold up a combat trick has been a real problem. This one can get bigger if you have artifacts and creatures lying around, and that’s certainly doable. It even counts itself for the effect.
Deconstruction Hammer image 3.0 One to play and one to equip for +1/+1 is a borderline playable, and this set has more than enough targets for the disenchant effect for this to turn into a removal spell. I think this will be a surprisingly good Common, because it can destroy so many permanents in the format.
Screaming Phantom image 2.5 It has passable stats and helps enable all of your graveyard shenanigans that you’re almost guaranteed to have in Black
Etali's Favor image 1.0 You just don’t want to pay for that stats boost when you’re seriously risking getting 2-for-1’d. The Discover part does mean that this makes sure to give you back a card, but the card you get back won’t be impressive enough to offset this card’s weak effect, at least not enough for this to be the kind of Red card you’re interesting in playing consistently
Disturbed Slumber image 0.0 This effect is basically never worth it. I get it, you can ambush your opponent’s attacker with a land, or suddenly do 4 out of nowhere, but the times where that’s actually worth a card are infrequent. I’d rather have something that permanently adds to the board
Compass Gnome image 2.0 We’ve seen this card before, more or less, and its always kind of mediocre. Putting the land on top is miles away from putting it in your hand. This offers passable fixing, but I think it will be especially attractive to Cave decks. As we’ll see in just a little bit, the set has a lot of caves, but still, getting your hands on enough to make the various Cave payoffs work is a little tricky – something like Compass Gnome helps make that easier
Sage of Days image 3.0 This is a nice way to load your graveyard in a hurry, and it isn’t that far from Scry 3 on ETB, which would make for a nice card. The stat-line isn’t good of course, but I think this does the kind of thing you want to be doing in Blue in this format
Promising Vein image 2.5 In the Lord of the Rings set, we saw that an Evolving Wilds that can tap for mana, but costs 1 generic to sacrifice, was a pretty big downgrade from a traditional Evolving Wilds. Having to pay one just makes a world of difference. That said, it does have a useful subtype in this set, and that probably means it will be a bit more useful than its predecessor.
Pack 2 Pick 4: Hurl into History
Hurl into History image 2.0 5 mana for something that can't even counter everything is sort of brutal. But this set has fewer instants and sorceries than normal, and also getting to Discover means you're getting a 2 for 1
Goldfury Strider image 2.0 The base stats here are very underwhelming, and the idea here is that you can use some combination of artifacts and creature tokens that are available in the set to make this a 5/5 trampler, in which case you’re talking about something significantly more impressive. It is a pretty big bummer that you have to do it at sorcery speed, as the threat of activation here would make it a lot better. You’re just…not always going to have the extra stuff around to buff this, and even when you do, I don’t think you’re going to feel like you’re doing something all that impressive.
Twists and Turns image 3.5 Scry 1 before you explore is a big upgrade, and obviously this can help you find the lands you need to transform it, and once transformed it's a great late game mana sink. The fact it explores when it ETBs is awesome too! I don't really think this needs a build around grade, since even on its own it seems playable, provided you're a slowish Green deck. And you're pretty likely to have more explore without even trying too
Didact Echo image 3.0 A 5-mana 3/2 that draws you a card is already kind of passable – after all, it can generate a 2-for-1. But..if this always had Flying? It would be an amazing Common. While it having flying won't be that automatic, Descend 4 does seem fairly achievable by turn 5 for Blue decks in this format
Thousand Moons Infantry image 2.0 A three mana 2/4 with kind-of sort-of vigilance is decent, and the idea here is to get multiple taps out of the Infantry for your cards that want you tap creatures or artifacts for effects. I can see this performing that role decently enough
Child of the Volcano image 2.0 Hill Giant statlines have been bad lately. But, if this can consistently come down as a 4/4, it will feel pretty nice, and that seems doable. After all, all that needs to happen is you attack and your opponent decides to trade, things like that. Then, it has the potential to grow easily on subsequent turns too, especially when paired with the more graveyard-oriented colors like Black and Blue
Song of Stupefaction image 1.5 Lowering a creature’s power just isn’t enough to be worth a card most of the time, although I do think milling gives you enough value itself in this format that this isn’t unplayable, but I think you’ll be able to find better enablers and payoffs for milling yourself than this thing
Envoy of Okinec Ahau image 2.5 Solid base stats, and a passable mana sink ability. Not much more to say about it.
Nurturing Bristleback image 3.0 This adds a very real presence to the board at 7 mana, and cycling is extra good in a set with Descend
Primordial Gnawer image 2.0 This is an ugly stat-line, but it does make sure you get a 2-for-1. Still…the stat-line is bad enough that I don’t think this ends up always making the cut.
Another Chance image 2.5 Playing one copy of this effect is usually a good idea in Black decks in Limited, but that’s even more the case in this format, since milling yourself and loading the graveyard in general is easier than normal, and there are more payoffs than normal for doing it too. You still probably don’t want more than one of these, but that first copy is something I’m going to value pretty highly for a common
Hidden Nursery image 2.5 Entering tapped is certainly a problem sometimes, but they more than make up for it by getting you a card back in the later game thanks to Discover. The Cave type matters some too! I think you’re pretty much always playing the first copy of one of these. Obviously, if you have a bunch of one drops you’ll be less interested in them
Pack 2 Pick 5: Abrade
Glowcap Lantern image 1.5 I like exploring repeatedly, but this doesn’t do much to improve the creature up front
Idol of the Deep King image 3.0 The front side of this is a playable, albeit inefficient removal spell. It’s nice it can hit the opponent too! The thing it transforms into…is….very mediocre, though. The free equip is nice, but +2/+0 isn’t much to write home about, and this won’t quite feel like a 2-for-1 most of the time, because the Equipment side just isn’t worth a card. Still, it’s removal with some real upside
Hunter's Blowgun image 1.0 While I like that this gives you two different keywords depending on whether you’re being defensive or aggressive, they are also keywords that really only matter on the right creature. I think you end up not playing this most of the time, it’s just hard to get a full card of value here
Tectonic Hazard image 0.5 This is sideboard material, your opponent has to have a ton of X/1s for this to be worth it.
Burning Sun Cavalry image 2.5 I like that this triggers when you’re a blocker too, as it makes the card far better when you’re behind
Abrade image 4.0 This is great every time it gets printed, and it might actually be better here. Two for 3 damage at instant speed is already premium, but this format has a ton of artifacts and artifact creatures too, and this can also destroy those outright.
Greedy Freebooter image 1.0 // 3.0 This is some amazing sacrifice fodder, especially because the sacrifice effects in this format let you sacrifice creature or artifacts, and this one card gives you two of those. It does get a lot worse in situations where you can’t sacrifice it easily, as it will be a little more difficult to get a card of value out of it. I think that probably makes it a build around
Miner's Guidewing image 2.0 A one mana 1/1 with Flying and Vigilance isn’t a great card on its own, but getting to explore when it dies is pretty sweet. You do need another creature around for that part to matter, though.
Staggering Size image 2.0 This offers a big enough boost to make a creature win combat pretty often, and trample can result in some pretty serious damage to your opponent too. I think you’ll play one of these in lots of aggressive Green decks
Daring Discovery image 1.5 If you hit a two drop creature with this, it feels like a 5-mana 2/2 that makes three things unable to block. That’s not too shabby, and sometimes it will be better. Of course, sometimes you’ll also not get a creature at all. Additionally, this effect is highly situational, and not really worth using except in the situation where it allows you to win the game anyway, so I think we have to look at the Discover part almost as an alternate mode that you use when the creatures can’t block part is irrelevant, which will be often
Swamp image
Pack 2 Pick 6: Miner's Guidewing
Bat Colony image 0.0 // 3.5 This is definitely a build around, since it does way too little in any deck that has too few caves. You kind of need at least one bat when you cast it, and then to get two counters to feel like you're getting there. That…doesn't sound easy. I think this is an unplayable in most White decks, but Cave decks do look legit enough for me to think this will have a home in that type of deck.
Sunbird Standard image 2.0 We’ve seen time and time again, a three mana artifact that taps for mana of any color isn’t playable in Limited. It’s just too slow, and a mana boost like this just isn’t worth a card most of the time. However…this obviously has some real upside, since it can turn into a creature. And it can do it fairly flexibly, since it can exile any permanent type. That said, it is usually going to be a 2/2 Flyer that can tap for two mana – which is nice, but the set up cost of getting there is pretty significant. It takes quite the mana investment, even if the Standard itself can be used
Rumbling Rockslide image 2.5 This can kill lots of things at 4, and it does scale the longer the game goes. It’s a bit clunky as a 4-mana Sorcery, so it isn’t premium removal, but the first copy of it seems pretty appealing in most Red decks
Malamet Scythe image 2.0 When you use this as a combat trick, it’s going to feel pretty good. After all, it helps your creature win combat and keeps +2/+2 sticking around. After that initial equip, having to pay 4 at a time to move this will feel rough, but if you’ve already traded one-for-one, we’re just talking about upside at that point.
Daring Discovery image 1.5 If you hit a two drop creature with this, it feels like a 5-mana 2/2 that makes three things unable to block. That’s not too shabby, and sometimes it will be better. Of course, sometimes you’ll also not get a creature at all. Additionally, this effect is highly situational, and not really worth using except in the situation where it allows you to win the game anyway, so I think we have to look at the Discover part almost as an alternate mode that you use when the creatures can’t block part is irrelevant, which will be often
Tectonic Hazard image 0.5 This is sideboard material, your opponent has to have a ton of X/1s for this to be worth it.
Broodrage Mycoid image 3.0 This will make a 1/1 on a decent number of turns and it has passable stats
Song of Stupefaction image 1.5 Lowering a creature’s power just isn’t enough to be worth a card most of the time, although I do think milling gives you enough value itself in this format that this isn’t unplayable, but I think you’ll be able to find better enablers and payoffs for milling yourself than this thing
Miner's Guidewing image 2.0 A one mana 1/1 with Flying and Vigilance isn’t a great card on its own, but getting to explore when it dies is pretty sweet. You do need another creature around for that part to matter, though.
Promising Vein image 2.5 In the Lord of the Rings set, we saw that an Evolving Wilds that can tap for mana, but costs 1 generic to sacrifice, was a pretty big downgrade from a traditional Evolving Wilds. Having to pay one just makes a world of difference. That said, it does have a useful subtype in this set, and that probably means it will be a bit more useful than its predecessor.
Pack 2 Pick 7: River Herald Scout
Echoing Deeps image 1.5 There aren’t that many lands it will be exciting to copy, but I guess copying some of the Discover lands isn’t too bad. Still, this will only produce colorless mana if you get it early and that’s pretty rough
Malicious Eclipse image 0.5 This type of card is always pretty awkward in Limited. The effect has a really high ceiling for sure, but the floor is bad because you just don’t end up in decks very often where you can be certain it will hurt your opponent more than you when you cast it. If you find yourself in a control deck that doesn’t have many creatures that die to this, it can work out reasonably well, but that kind of deck just doesn’t come together often enough. This is mostly sideboard material.
River Herald Scout image 3.0 You would happily play a two mana 2/3 with Surveil one, and you’d happily play a two mana ½ that draws you a card, and you’re getting one of those every time you cast it
Fungal Fortitude image 2.0 +2/+0 will help a creature win lots of combats, and it doesn’t matter that there isn’t also a toughness boost, because the creature’s coming back! It feels especially busted with ETB abilities. This also helps you trigger descend stuff
Burning Sun Cavalry image 2.5 I like that this triggers when you’re a blocker too, as it makes the card far better when you’re behind
Out of Air image 2.0 So, this is either a Harder-to-cast Essence Scatter, or a harder-to-cast Counterspell. I’m not super enthusiastic about either of those modes. Countermagic that costs double blue can be rough in Limited, because you are far from guaranteed to have it up when you need to. That’s sort of true of all counterspells, but one with more mana intensive requirements in a format where your mana just isn’t very good is extra hard to use
Another Chance image 2.5 Playing one copy of this effect is usually a good idea in Black decks in Limited, but that’s even more the case in this format, since milling yourself and loading the graveyard in general is easier than normal, and there are more payoffs than normal for doing it too. You still probably don’t want more than one of these, but that first copy is something I’m going to value pretty highly for a common
Seeker of Sunlight image 0.0 A one mana 1/1 just isn’t’ a stat-line that stays relevant, and while this has the ability to stay more relevant thanks to it’s activated ability, it’s costly enough and clunky enough at sorcery speed that it is only something you’re going to start using in the extreme late game. This is bad at virtually every other stage
Glorifier of Suffering image 2.5 Putting a counter on TWO separate creatures is a pretty nice payoff for throwing away a gnome token or a map token, and can really make an attack far more formidable. It can also put a counter on itself, which is nice. This seems like a quality payoff for the aggressive sacrifice decks in the format.
Pack 2 Pick 8: Rumbling Rockslide
Curator of Sun's Creation image 2.0 Even if this is potentially powerful, the fact your opponent can probably attack into it with impunity, or kill it for two mana, makes it hard for me to get excited
Rumbling Rockslide image 2.5 This can kill lots of things at 4, and it does scale the longer the game goes. It’s a bit clunky as a 4-mana Sorcery, so it isn’t premium removal, but the first copy of it seems pretty appealing in most Red decks
Acolyte of Aclazotz image 2.5 There are plenty of expendable artifacts and creatures to be had in Black, and this also works well with Descend stuff. Draining 1 life at a time might sound small, but it really can keep you alive while pressuring your opponent
Cavern Stomper image 2.5 This thing means business, and in addition to adding such a nice body to the board, it also improves your next draw significantly. The ability is costly, but there are certainly times where it matters
Mephitic Draught image 1.5 // 3.0 This is another card that is great sacrifice fodder, but not really worth it if you’re not consistently available to get rid of it. When you can it feels awesome, because it gives you a very efficient 2-for-1. But there will be enough Black decks that aren’t that good at sacrificing that I think this needs a build around grade.
Echo of Dusk image 2.0 It’s fine on turn two, and Black decks will get it to 3/3 and lifelink pretty often, and once it’s there there’s a good chance it has at least some relevance on just about any board
Staggering Size image 2.0 This offers a big enough boost to make a creature win combat pretty often, and trample can result in some pretty serious damage to your opponent too. I think you’ll play one of these in lots of aggressive Green decks
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Pack 2 Pick 9: Relic's Roar
Tendril of the Mycotyrant image 3.5 This feels fine on turn two, and then in the late game it is an insane mana sink that will add a massive body to the board. It’s tough to beat at that stage
Sinuous Benthisaur image 0.0 // 4.0 This has some insane potential. Even if you just have two caves, this is a 6-mana 4/4 that draws you two cards. That’s really amazing, and even with one cave it’s a passible card. Now…if there are no Caves around it’s awful, but if your deck has 4 or more caves in it, you’re going to be happy to play this most of the time
Sage of Days image 3.0 This is a nice way to load your graveyard in a hurry, and it isn’t that far from Scry 3 on ETB, which would make for a nice card. The stat-line isn’t good of course, but I think this does the kind of thing you want to be doing in Blue in this format
Relic's Roar image 0.0 Normally, if we see this effect without card draw attached, it isn’t playable. This is because the stats boost you get for the cost often isn’t worth it, especially because if your creatures are large enough this doesn’t really offer a boost at all. But at one mana? Well…I still don’t think it’s very good. It’s just too variable as to how much of a boost it actually offers. It’s tempting to imagine buffing a 1/1 with it, because it will feel like a Blue giant growth, but the higher the base stats of your creature is, the worse this gets
Malamet Scythe image 2.0 When you use this as a combat trick, it’s going to feel pretty good. After all, it helps your creature win combat and keeps +2/+2 sticking around. After that initial equip, having to pay 4 at a time to move this will feel rough, but if you’ve already traded one-for-one, we’re just talking about upside at that point.
In the Presence of Ages image 2.5 I think you’ll want one of these in most Green decks. It helps you load the yard while drawing you a couple of cards in most cases
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Pack 2 Pick 10: Volatile Wanderglyph
Kaslem's Stonetree image 1.5 The front side of this isn’t great, although the fact it can hit any land means it can help you dig for Caves if you’re interested in doing that – and you probably are, because the Stonetree crafts with Caves! Later, it can become a beefy enough creature. Overall…I’m not actually that impressed here. It doesn’t add to the board on the front side, and crafting with Caves is challenging enough that you can’t really count on getting the 5/5. There are just so many better cave payoffs in the set, that this isn’t really the one you’re desperate for
Volatile Wanderglyph image 2.0 This will let you rummage when you attack or crew a vehicle, but perhaps most importantly, it lets you do it when you tap it using one of the many cards in this format that lets you tap artifacts and creatures for value. It doesn’t seem essential for that type of deck, but it certainly seems useful.
Mephitic Draught image 1.5 // 3.0 This is another card that is great sacrifice fodder, but not really worth it if you’re not consistently available to get rid of it. When you can it feels awesome, because it gives you a very efficient 2-for-1. But there will be enough Black decks that aren’t that good at sacrificing that I think this needs a build around grade.
Deathcap Marionette image 2.0 We’ve already seen that descending is a key part of what Black wants to do in this format, and the Marionette helps you do it while being capable of trading with anything thanks to death touch
Greedy Freebooter image 1.0 // 3.0 This is some amazing sacrifice fodder, especially because the sacrifice effects in this format let you sacrifice creature or artifacts, and this one card gives you two of those. It does get a lot worse in situations where you can’t sacrifice it easily, as it will be a little more difficult to get a card of value out of it. I think that probably makes it a build around
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Pack 2 Pick 11: Compass Gnome
Nicanzil, Current Conductor image 3.5 This has nice base stats and it makes all of your Explores way better. Getting to put a land into play right when you hit it with Explore is super relevant in the early game, and while it drops off some late, it certainly doesn’t hurt. Getting an extra +1/+1 counter on Nicanzil also means it has the potential to stay relevant forever
Thousand Moons Crackshot image 1.5 Sometimes you’ll be able to attack with this and really open the floodgates on your opponent by getting their best blocker out of the way, but three mana is a lot, and your opponent also always knows this is coming, making it a lot less useful. You’re rarely going to use this ability early, and by the late game it has some diminishing returns.
Disturbed Slumber image 0.0 This effect is basically never worth it. I get it, you can ambush your opponent’s attacker with a land, or suddenly do 4 out of nowhere, but the times where that’s actually worth a card are infrequent. I’d rather have something that permanently adds to the board
Compass Gnome image 2.0 We’ve seen this card before, more or less, and its always kind of mediocre. Putting the land on top is miles away from putting it in your hand. This offers passable fixing, but I think it will be especially attractive to Cave decks. As we’ll see in just a little bit, the set has a lot of caves, but still, getting your hands on enough to make the various Cave payoffs work is a little tricky – something like Compass Gnome helps make that easier
Sage of Days image 3.0 This is a nice way to load your graveyard in a hurry, and it isn’t that far from Scry 3 on ETB, which would make for a nice card. The stat-line isn’t good of course, but I think this does the kind of thing you want to be doing in Blue in this format
Pack 2 Pick 12: Child of the Volcano
Twists and Turns image 3.5 Scry 1 before you explore is a big upgrade, and obviously this can help you find the lands you need to transform it, and once transformed it's a great late game mana sink. The fact it explores when it ETBs is awesome too! I don't really think this needs a build around grade, since even on its own it seems playable, provided you're a slowish Green deck. And you're pretty likely to have more explore without even trying too
Child of the Volcano image 2.0 Hill Giant statlines have been bad lately. But, if this can consistently come down as a 4/4, it will feel pretty nice, and that seems doable. After all, all that needs to happen is you attack and your opponent decides to trade, things like that. Then, it has the potential to grow easily on subsequent turns too, especially when paired with the more graveyard-oriented colors like Black and Blue
Primordial Gnawer image 2.0 This is an ugly stat-line, but it does make sure you get a 2-for-1. Still…the stat-line is bad enough that I don’t think this ends up always making the cut.
Hidden Nursery image 2.5 Entering tapped is certainly a problem sometimes, but they more than make up for it by getting you a card back in the later game thanks to Discover. The Cave type matters some too! I think you’re pretty much always playing the first copy of one of these. Obviously, if you have a bunch of one drops you’ll be less interested in them
Pack 2 Pick 13: Daring Discovery
Hunter's Blowgun image 1.0 While I like that this gives you two different keywords depending on whether you’re being defensive or aggressive, they are also keywords that really only matter on the right creature. I think you end up not playing this most of the time, it’s just hard to get a full card of value here
Daring Discovery image 1.5 If you hit a two drop creature with this, it feels like a 5-mana 2/2 that makes three things unable to block. That’s not too shabby, and sometimes it will be better. Of course, sometimes you’ll also not get a creature at all. Additionally, this effect is highly situational, and not really worth using except in the situation where it allows you to win the game anyway, so I think we have to look at the Discover part almost as an alternate mode that you use when the creatures can’t block part is irrelevant, which will be often
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Pack 2 Pick 14: Daring Discovery
Daring Discovery image 1.5 If you hit a two drop creature with this, it feels like a 5-mana 2/2 that makes three things unable to block. That’s not too shabby, and sometimes it will be better. Of course, sometimes you’ll also not get a creature at all. Additionally, this effect is highly situational, and not really worth using except in the situation where it allows you to win the game anyway, so I think we have to look at the Discover part almost as an alternate mode that you use when the creatures can’t block part is irrelevant, which will be often
Tectonic Hazard image 0.5 This is sideboard material, your opponent has to have a ton of X/1s for this to be worth it.
Pack 2 Pick 15: Burning Sun Cavalry
Burning Sun Cavalry image 2.5 I like that this triggers when you’re a blocker too, as it makes the card far better when you’re behind
Pack 3 Pick 1: Lodestone Needle
Kellan, Daring Traveler image 3.5 So, if we take the Adventure away here, we’re talking about a two mana ⅔ that will draw you a card sometimes when it attacks. That’s certainly a nice two drop, but also nothing special. The Adventure side is nice, because Explore can of course help you set things up so that you will draw a card more often with Kellan, and it won’t really be unusual to get two Map tokens from the effect. Casting both sides in the same turn will feel pretty nice in the late game too
Dauntless Dismantler image 2.5 Two mana ¼s aren't the worst thing, and this has some genuine upside. This set has a ton of artifacts, including Map tokens, and making those things all enter tapped seems relevant, as does the ability to potentially destroy more than one artifact at a time.
Confounding Riddle image 3.0 We've seen cards before with these two options, more or less, and they have performed pretty well. One of the downsides of counter magic is that if your opponent plays around it after you left mana up, it can feel terrible. This fixes that problem by having another powerful mode - a mode that is extra strong in a format where Blue us so into the graveyard. Getting one card in hand and several in the yard will often feel like two cards of value in this set
Dusk Rose Reliquary image 3.5 Oblivion Rings are usually great in Limited, and this one is crazy efficient! But obviously, having to sacrifice something really lowers the power level. Still, White has lots of map and gnome tokens, so giving up something that doesn't matter seems doable enough for this to be pretty good. Adding Ward to the mix certainly matters too. I'm a bit skeptical this will grade out as premium removal, as the set up is very real.
Lodestone Needle image 1.0 If this were only the card on the front, it would be a 0.0. Spending a card to stun something for two turns…just isn’t worth it. But it does have another side! And it lets you explore on the cheap, which…I like. But I still feel like the front is so ineffectual, and crafting it takes enough work that I'm not very impressed.
Etali's Favor image 1.0 You just don’t want to pay for that stats boost when you’re seriously risking getting 2-for-1’d. The Discover part does mean that this makes sure to give you back a card, but the card you get back won’t be impressive enough to offset this card’s weak effect, at least not enough for this to be the kind of Red card you’re interesting in playing consistently
Join the Dead image 4.0 This is great without Descend, and with it it’s incredible. Always remember that double Black ends up being a problem sometimes, but this is so efficient that it doesn’t matter much.
Broodrage Mycoid image 3.0 This will make a 1/1 on a decent number of turns and it has passable stats
Orazca Puzzle-Door image 2.5 It’s an artifact, which some Blue decks care about, and it puts two cards into your graveyard all on its own, something other Blue decks care about. Mix that in with the fact that what this does for the cost is kind of passable anyway, and I think we’re talking about a solid playable
Frilled Cave-Wurm image 2.0 A 4-mana 2/5 is mediocre, but there are definitely worst stat-lines. The Descend upgrade here is a big one too, as it suddenly makes the Cave-Wurm into a formidable attacker. That said, this is never going to feel like anything special. The floor is a very inefficient creature and the ceiling is one with slightly above-rate stats
Miner's Guidewing image 2.0 A one mana 1/1 with Flying and Vigilance isn’t a great card on its own, but getting to explore when it dies is pretty sweet. You do need another creature around for that part to matter, though.
Pathfinding Axejaw image 3.5 This will either be a 4-mana 5/4 with Surveil 1, or a 4-mana 4/3 that draws you a card. Both of those are pretty nice for the cost.
Waterwind Scout image 3.5 Wind Drake + Map token for three mana seems like a quality Common to me. Explore and artifacts both matter in Blue, and this helps you do both of those. This looks like a pretty good deal
Quicksand Whirlpool image 2.5 Casting this for six is kind of rough, but casting it for three is solid enough, especially in less aggressive decks.
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Pack 3 Pick 2: Staunch Crewmate
Chupacabra Echo image 4.5 Giving something -2/-2 when this enters seems eminently doable, and that’s already a good card. After all, it's a 2-for-1 most of the time. By the mid to late game, it will feel a lot like the original chupacabra
Staunch Crewmate image 3.5 I think this will be a two mana 2/1 that draws you a card pretty darn often in Blue, and that’s a great card
Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar image 3.5 A three mana 3/3 that shuts off your opponent’s spells during your turn is something that always makes the cut, and this comes with some awesome upside, since it will draw you a few cards sometimes. The easiest way to make this do its thing is to get +1/+1 counters with Explore, but any stats boost on your creatures will work
Tithing Blade image 3.0 Two mana for an Edict effect is usually a 2.0 or so in Limited. Good in the early game, not so good later in the game. But this is an artifact that will be great to sacrifice, and obviously the Craft upside is big here too. Once transformed, this creates a life difference of two between you and your opponent during your upkeep, and that makes your opponent’s life very difficult. Crafting this is relatively easy too
Thousand Moons Infantry image 2.0 A three mana 2/4 with kind-of sort-of vigilance is decent, and the idea here is to get multiple taps out of the Infantry for your cards that want you tap creatures or artifacts for effects. I can see this performing that role decently enough
Another Chance image 2.5 Playing one copy of this effect is usually a good idea in Black decks in Limited, but that’s even more the case in this format, since milling yourself and loading the graveyard in general is easier than normal, and there are more payoffs than normal for doing it too. You still probably don’t want more than one of these, but that first copy is something I’m going to value pretty highly for a common
Runaway Boulder image 1.5 Lots of decks want to run as many permanents as possible because of Descend, and the Boulder gives you a removal spell that is still a permanent. Now…it is very far from being efficient, but it does deal with most things, and you can also cycle it away – which also matters for Descend. With all that in mind, it will definitely make the cut a decent chunk of the time
Ancestors' Aid image 2.0 +2/+0 and First Strike is going to win combat a huge percentage of the time, and in addition to the value treasure normally gives you in the form of mana, there’s lots of other stuff you can do with it in the format
Didact Echo image 3.0 A 5-mana 3/2 that draws you a card is already kind of passable – after all, it can generate a 2-for-1. But..if this always had Flying? It would be an amazing Common. While it having flying won't be that automatic, Descend 4 does seem fairly achievable by turn 5 for Blue decks in this format
Envoy of Okinec Ahau image 2.5 Solid base stats, and a passable mana sink ability. Not much more to say about it.
Malamet Scythe image 2.0 When you use this as a combat trick, it’s going to feel pretty good. After all, it helps your creature win combat and keeps +2/+2 sticking around. After that initial equip, having to pay 4 at a time to move this will feel rough, but if you’ve already traded one-for-one, we’re just talking about upside at that point.
River Herald Scout image 3.0 You would happily play a two mana 2/3 with Surveil one, and you’d happily play a two mana ½ that draws you a card, and you’re getting one of those every time you cast it
Cogwork Wrestler image 2.5 This can Flash in and kill just about any X/1, which tends to feel pretty good.. If you can combine it with some other creatures, it can even take down bigger things. You do need to have that mode work out more often than not to make it worth it, because just using this to blank a couple of damage isn’t nearly as good, but that’s not the worst fail case either.
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Pack 3 Pick 3: Sage of Days
Deeproot Pilgrimage image 1.0 This has the potential to help you go wide in a hurry, that’s for sure. But…I worry a little bit about the many situations where you can’t really effectively tap your merfolk to get it going – and those are definitely going to come up. I’m not sure that it isn’t just better to play some random two mana 2/2 than it is to play this, since you will immediately add to the board if you go the other route, as opposed to this which has you jump through some hoops. So, I’m pretty skeptical about this to start the format
Dauntless Dismantler image 2.5 Two mana ¼s aren't the worst thing, and this has some genuine upside. This set has a ton of artifacts, including Map tokens, and making those things all enter tapped seems relevant, as does the ability to potentially destroy more than one artifact at a time.
Bat Colony image 0.0 // 3.5 This is definitely a build around, since it does way too little in any deck that has too few caves. You kind of need at least one bat when you cast it, and then to get two counters to feel like you're getting there. That…doesn't sound easy. I think this is an unplayable in most White decks, but Cave decks do look legit enough for me to think this will have a home in that type of deck.
Idol of the Deep King image 3.0 The front side of this is a playable, albeit inefficient removal spell. It’s nice it can hit the opponent too! The thing it transforms into…is….very mediocre, though. The free equip is nice, but +2/+0 isn’t much to write home about, and this won’t quite feel like a 2-for-1 most of the time, because the Equipment side just isn’t worth a card. Still, it’s removal with some real upside
Family Reunion image 2.0 I like this take on a mass pump effect. White can go wide, as usual, in this format, so buffing everything is a big game sometimes, but having the hexproof option attached is nice too, as it makes this useful in a wider variety of situations – namely, at times when your opponent tries to remove one of your creatures. The total package is a solid card you’re going to want one of in a lot of your White creature-heavy decks.
Mephitic Draught image 1.5 // 3.0 This is another card that is great sacrifice fodder, but not really worth it if you’re not consistently available to get rid of it. When you can it feels awesome, because it gives you a very efficient 2-for-1. But there will be enough Black decks that aren’t that good at sacrificing that I think this needs a build around grade.
Panicked Altisaur image 2.0 This seems solid for five mana. It’s hard to attack through, and it can chip away at your opponent in the late game
Frilled Cave-Wurm image 2.0 A 4-mana 2/5 is mediocre, but there are definitely worst stat-lines. The Descend upgrade here is a big one too, as it suddenly makes the Cave-Wurm into a formidable attacker. That said, this is never going to feel like anything special. The floor is a very inefficient creature and the ceiling is one with slightly above-rate stats
Screaming Phantom image 2.5 It has passable stats and helps enable all of your graveyard shenanigans that you’re almost guaranteed to have in Black
Hotfoot Gnome image 2.0 A three mana 3/1 with Haste with a useful card type in Artifact is probably a 1.5, but it’s nice this can tap to give things haste. Once it isn’t a very good attacker on its own – which will be often – it can at least make your other creatures into better attackers. Still, this isn’t nearly as good as one mana 1/1s with this ability that we’ve seen in the recent past
Hunter's Blowgun image 1.0 While I like that this gives you two different keywords depending on whether you’re being defensive or aggressive, they are also keywords that really only matter on the right creature. I think you end up not playing this most of the time, it’s just hard to get a full card of value here
Malamet Veteran image 2.5 A 5-mana 5/4 trampler is sort of passable, and the fact that this can hand out +1/+1 counters, including to itself, when you have enough permanents in your graveyard, is pretty nice. Descend 4 is pretty approachable by the time the Veteran comes down too
Sage of Days image 3.0 This is a nice way to load your graveyard in a hurry, and it isn’t that far from Scry 3 on ETB, which would make for a nice card. The stat-line isn’t good of course, but I think this does the kind of thing you want to be doing in Blue in this format
Pack 3 Pick 4: Merfolk Cave-Diver
Bat Colony image 0.0 // 3.5 This is definitely a build around, since it does way too little in any deck that has too few caves. You kind of need at least one bat when you cast it, and then to get two counters to feel like you're getting there. That…doesn't sound easy. I think this is an unplayable in most White decks, but Cave decks do look legit enough for me to think this will have a home in that type of deck.
Merfolk Cave-Diver image 2.5 This has passable starting stats, and it's a great explore payoff. Gets especially spicy with repeatable explore
Helping Hand image 1.5 This feels reasonably efficient when you get back a three mana creature, and there is certainly graveyard stuff in the set, but this is still a card that feels a bit too situational to be anything special. It feels pretty bad in your opening hand, for example. Entering tapped definitely hurts too.
Visage of Dread image 3.0 This will hit a card in your opponent's hand every single time on turn two, and it will often have a card to hit much later than that. It does have the potential of feeling terrible when you wiff, but it makes up for that with the Craft upside, which is likely going to be accessible by the stage of the game when it does wiff. Disrupting the opponent early and getting a big monster late will feel best of course.
Primordial Gnawer image 2.0 This is an ugly stat-line, but it does make sure you get a 2-for-1. Still…the stat-line is bad enough that I don’t think this ends up always making the cut.
Daring Discovery image 1.5 If you hit a two drop creature with this, it feels like a 5-mana 2/2 that makes three things unable to block. That’s not too shabby, and sometimes it will be better. Of course, sometimes you’ll also not get a creature at all. Additionally, this effect is highly situational, and not really worth using except in the situation where it allows you to win the game anyway, so I think we have to look at the Discover part almost as an alternate mode that you use when the creatures can’t block part is irrelevant, which will be often
Deathcap Marionette image 2.0 We’ve already seen that descending is a key part of what Black wants to do in this format, and the Marionette helps you do it while being capable of trading with anything thanks to death touch
Mephitic Draught image 1.5 // 3.0 This is another card that is great sacrifice fodder, but not really worth it if you’re not consistently available to get rid of it. When you can it feels awesome, because it gives you a very efficient 2-for-1. But there will be enough Black decks that aren’t that good at sacrificing that I think this needs a build around grade.
Malamet Veteran image 2.5 A 5-mana 5/4 trampler is sort of passable, and the fact that this can hand out +1/+1 counters, including to itself, when you have enough permanents in your graveyard, is pretty nice. Descend 4 is pretty approachable by the time the Veteran comes down too
Pirate Hat image 2.5 If you can Equip this for one consistently, it looks pretty solid to me. The stats boost isn’t the best thing ever, but if you’re sticking it on things for 1 mana it will feel plenty good, especially because artifacts and loot triggers are better than normal in this format
Rampaging Spiketail image 2.5 We recently saw cards with landcycling for two really underperform, but they have some advantages in this format. Like all land cyclers, this has the upside of getting you a land when you draw it early, and being a reasonably relevant card in the later stages of the game. And in this case, the Spiketail is likely to enable a pretty good attack when you cast it. But the extra value of land cyclers comes as a result of this format’s graveyard-heavy theme. Cycling this counts as descending, and it also makes it more likely you get to Descend 4 or 8, and you can also exile it from your graveyard for Craft
Hidden Necropolis image 2.5 Entering tapped is certainly a problem sometimes, but they more than make up for it by getting you a card back in the later game thanks to Discover. The Cave type matters some too! I think you’re pretty much always playing the first copy of one of these. Obviously, if you have a bunch of one drops you’ll be less interested in them
Pack 3 Pick 5: Oltec Cloud Guard
Canonized in Blood image 3.0 You probably need at least two counters before this feels like it’s worth it, and I think that’s definitely doable. It’s great that in the late game, you also have the ability to put a very real flyer into play too, while also triggering your other descent stuff. This seems like a very nice payoff for the various descending strategies – which, keep in mind can include self mill, sacrifice, and more
Dowsing Device image 2.0 Playing an artifact creature to trigger this is best, because then you can guarantee that the Haste part matters, so you get the most value. Transforming this seems very doable, and the land is obviously relevant if you managed to transform it in the first place
Ancestors' Aid image 2.0 +2/+0 and First Strike is going to win combat a huge percentage of the time, and in addition to the value treasure normally gives you in the form of mana, there’s lots of other stuff you can do with it in the format
Oltec Cloud Guard image 3.5 This is a great rate for what you get, especially when you consider artifact synergy.
River Herald Scout image 3.0 You would happily play a two mana 2/3 with Surveil one, and you’d happily play a two mana ½ that draws you a card, and you’re getting one of those every time you cast it
Seismic Monstrosaur image 2.0 This probably isn’t as good as the land cyclers in Blue, Black, and Green, as those are the colors that are best with the graveyard, but Red isn’t completely uninterested in the ‘yard, and the creature you get here isn’t the most inefficient thing either. The ability to throw away lands late when you’re flooding out comes in handy too
Basking Capybara image 2.5 This seems like a solid two drop. Obviously a 1/3 isn’t where you want to be, but a two mana 4/3 is some serious business, and Green is good enough at getting there on Descend that you can expect this to have a very relevant body by the mid game
Primordial Gnawer image 2.0 This is an ugly stat-line, but it does make sure you get a 2-for-1. Still…the stat-line is bad enough that I don’t think this ends up always making the cut.
Acolyte of Aclazotz image 2.5 There are plenty of expendable artifacts and creatures to be had in Black, and this also works well with Descend stuff. Draining 1 life at a time might sound small, but it really can keep you alive while pressuring your opponent
Oltec Archaeologists image 2.5 I love that they gave this a mode where it does something even if you don’t have an artifact to get back, as this type of card can be pretty bad when you can’t do something with the ETB, and Scry 3 is pretty big, it really improves your next couple of draws. Meanwhile, if you can get an artifact back we’re talking about a two-for-one. This inefficient stat-line definitely holds it back some, but I think most White decks will play the first copy of this.
Sage of Days image 3.0 This is a nice way to load your graveyard in a hurry, and it isn’t that far from Scry 3 on ETB, which would make for a nice card. The stat-line isn’t good of course, but I think this does the kind of thing you want to be doing in Blue in this format
Pack 3 Pick 6: Hidden Cataract
Enterprising Scallywag image 3.0 A two mana 2/2 that makes a treasure every end step is close to a 3.5, especially in a format with lots of artifact stuff going on. This doesn’t quite do that of course, but I think it will spit out treasure reasonably often
Saheeli's Lattice image 3.5 This might be the best Tormenting Voice effect we’ve ever seen. That type of card is always fine, as it lets you dig deeper in your deck, but this one has a ton of upside. First, it’s an artifact in a format where that matters. It’s also a permanent in a format where that matters more than being an instant or sorcery, And this is a format where you can get extra value out of discard, and on top of that, this can turn into a very real creature in the later stages of the game. Playing this on two and then getting a creature later sounds awesome
Cavern Stomper image 2.5 This thing means business, and in addition to adding such a nice body to the board, it also improves your next draw significantly. The ability is costly, but there are certainly times where it matters
Cosmium Blast image 2.5 We see a card like this in most sets, and as usual – it’s efficient, but situational enough that it definitely isn’t premium. It’s far better when you’re not an aggro deck, since in that type of deck you want removal that lets you get rid of a creature before they ever get to block.
Hotfoot Gnome image 2.0 A three mana 3/1 with Haste with a useful card type in Artifact is probably a 1.5, but it’s nice this can tap to give things haste. Once it isn’t a very good attacker on its own – which will be often – it can at least make your other creatures into better attackers. Still, this isn’t nearly as good as one mana 1/1s with this ability that we’ve seen in the recent past
Relic's Roar image 0.0 Normally, if we see this effect without card draw attached, it isn’t playable. This is because the stats boost you get for the cost often isn’t worth it, especially because if your creatures are large enough this doesn’t really offer a boost at all. But at one mana? Well…I still don’t think it’s very good. It’s just too variable as to how much of a boost it actually offers. It’s tempting to imagine buffing a 1/1 with it, because it will feel like a Blue giant growth, but the higher the base stats of your creature is, the worse this gets
Oltec Cloud Guard image 3.5 This is a great rate for what you get, especially when you consider artifact synergy.
Ironpaw Aspirant image 2.5 We see two mana 1/1s with this ETB all the time, and they tend to be solid or better. So, getting a ½ instead is amazing. This makes it a 2/3 with nothing else around, which makes for a great two turn play, and then in the later game you can put the counter somewhere more meaningful. Obviously, this works well with the Green-White theme of having higher base power, too. I think this a great Common.
Screaming Phantom image 2.5 It has passable stats and helps enable all of your graveyard shenanigans that you’re almost guaranteed to have in Black
Hidden Cataract image 2.5 Entering tapped is certainly a problem sometimes, but they more than make up for it by getting you a card back in the later game thanks to Discover. The Cave type matters some too! I think you’re pretty much always playing the first copy of one of these. Obviously, if you have a bunch of one drops you’ll be less interested in them
Pack 3 Pick 7: Hidden Courtyard
Relic's Roar image 0.0 Normally, if we see this effect without card draw attached, it isn’t playable. This is because the stats boost you get for the cost often isn’t worth it, especially because if your creatures are large enough this doesn’t really offer a boost at all. But at one mana? Well…I still don’t think it’s very good. It’s just too variable as to how much of a boost it actually offers. It’s tempting to imagine buffing a 1/1 with it, because it will feel like a Blue giant growth, but the higher the base stats of your creature is, the worse this gets
Seeker of Sunlight image 0.0 A one mana 1/1 just isn’t’ a stat-line that stays relevant, and while this has the ability to stay more relevant thanks to it’s activated ability, it’s costly enough and clunky enough at sorcery speed that it is only something you’re going to start using in the extreme late game. This is bad at virtually every other stage
Family Reunion image 2.0 I like this take on a mass pump effect. White can go wide, as usual, in this format, so buffing everything is a big game sometimes, but having the hexproof option attached is nice too, as it makes this useful in a wider variety of situations – namely, at times when your opponent tries to remove one of your creatures. The total package is a solid card you’re going to want one of in a lot of your White creature-heavy decks.
Tectonic Hazard image 0.5 This is sideboard material, your opponent has to have a ton of X/1s for this to be worth it.
In the Presence of Ages image 2.5 I think you’ll want one of these in most Green decks. It helps you load the yard while drawing you a couple of cards in most cases
Hotfoot Gnome image 2.0 A three mana 3/1 with Haste with a useful card type in Artifact is probably a 1.5, but it’s nice this can tap to give things haste. Once it isn’t a very good attacker on its own – which will be often – it can at least make your other creatures into better attackers. Still, this isn’t nearly as good as one mana 1/1s with this ability that we’ve seen in the recent past
Ray of Ruin image 2.0 We always get a super clunky Black Sorcery removal spell at Common, and they are always kind of meh. It can deal with a lot of things, but it will basically never do it efficiently, and Scry 1 being tacked on isn’t exciting enough for this to rise above a 2.0
Acrobatic Leap image 1.5 One mana tricks that give +1/+3 are rarely worthwhile in Limited. The boost is enough to save a creature in combat, but not enough to help it win combat often enough. The flying and untap angle here do make it so you can both punch in for lethal in the air or ambush a flyer, but those use cases are all much too frequent for this to be something that makes the cut in all your white aggro decks.
Hidden Courtyard image 2.5 Entering tapped is certainly a problem sometimes, but they more than make up for it by getting you a card back in the later game thanks to Discover. The Cave type matters some too! I think you’re pretty much always playing the first copy of one of these. Obviously, if you have a bunch of one drops you’ll be less interested in them
Pack 3 Pick 8: River Herald Scout
Sorcerous Spyglass image 0.0 This is an 0.0 every time we see it. Even IF you see a card that you get to name, turning off a card’s activated abilities isn’t worth a card, and we’re talking about the BEST CASE scenario
Inverted Iceberg image 3.5 The front side of the card has a useful card type, loads your graveyard, and replaces itself. It would probably be a C all on its own. And in the late game you can transform it into a creature that your opponent is going to have to do something about. Even if it doesn’t impact the board on turn two, I think it does enough for the cost and the upside is big
Hotfoot Gnome image 2.0 A three mana 3/1 with Haste with a useful card type in Artifact is probably a 1.5, but it’s nice this can tap to give things haste. Once it isn’t a very good attacker on its own – which will be often – it can at least make your other creatures into better attackers. Still, this isn’t nearly as good as one mana 1/1s with this ability that we’ve seen in the recent past
Orazca Puzzle-Door image 2.5 It’s an artifact, which some Blue decks care about, and it puts two cards into your graveyard all on its own, something other Blue decks care about. Mix that in with the fact that what this does for the cost is kind of passable anyway, and I think we’re talking about a solid playable
River Herald Scout image 3.0 You would happily play a two mana 2/3 with Surveil one, and you’d happily play a two mana ½ that draws you a card, and you’re getting one of those every time you cast it
Disturbed Slumber image 0.0 This effect is basically never worth it. I get it, you can ambush your opponent’s attacker with a land, or suddenly do 4 out of nowhere, but the times where that’s actually worth a card are infrequent. I’d rather have something that permanently adds to the board
Plundering Pirate image 3.0 Creatures that make treasures on ETB virtually always over perform, and the stat-line here is a bit better than what we usually see. Treasure brings extra value in an artifact format too. I think this is one of Red’s better commons
Ray of Ruin image 2.0 We always get a super clunky Black Sorcery removal spell at Common, and they are always kind of meh. It can deal with a lot of things, but it will basically never do it efficiently, and Scry 1 being tacked on isn’t exciting enough for this to rise above a 2.0
Pack 3 Pick 9: Quicksand Whirlpool
Dauntless Dismantler image 2.5 Two mana ¼s aren't the worst thing, and this has some genuine upside. This set has a ton of artifacts, including Map tokens, and making those things all enter tapped seems relevant, as does the ability to potentially destroy more than one artifact at a time.
Dusk Rose Reliquary image 3.5 Oblivion Rings are usually great in Limited, and this one is crazy efficient! But obviously, having to sacrifice something really lowers the power level. Still, White has lots of map and gnome tokens, so giving up something that doesn't matter seems doable enough for this to be pretty good. Adding Ward to the mix certainly matters too. I'm a bit skeptical this will grade out as premium removal, as the set up is very real.
Orazca Puzzle-Door image 2.5 It’s an artifact, which some Blue decks care about, and it puts two cards into your graveyard all on its own, something other Blue decks care about. Mix that in with the fact that what this does for the cost is kind of passable anyway, and I think we’re talking about a solid playable
Frilled Cave-Wurm image 2.0 A 4-mana 2/5 is mediocre, but there are definitely worst stat-lines. The Descend upgrade here is a big one too, as it suddenly makes the Cave-Wurm into a formidable attacker. That said, this is never going to feel like anything special. The floor is a very inefficient creature and the ceiling is one with slightly above-rate stats
Pathfinding Axejaw image 3.5 This will either be a 4-mana 5/4 with Surveil 1, or a 4-mana 4/3 that draws you a card. Both of those are pretty nice for the cost.
Quicksand Whirlpool image 2.5 Casting this for six is kind of rough, but casting it for three is solid enough, especially in less aggressive decks.
Forest image
Pack 3 Pick 10: River Herald Scout
Thousand Moons Infantry image 2.0 A three mana 2/4 with kind-of sort-of vigilance is decent, and the idea here is to get multiple taps out of the Infantry for your cards that want you tap creatures or artifacts for effects. I can see this performing that role decently enough
Another Chance image 2.5 Playing one copy of this effect is usually a good idea in Black decks in Limited, but that’s even more the case in this format, since milling yourself and loading the graveyard in general is easier than normal, and there are more payoffs than normal for doing it too. You still probably don’t want more than one of these, but that first copy is something I’m going to value pretty highly for a common
Didact Echo image 3.0 A 5-mana 3/2 that draws you a card is already kind of passable – after all, it can generate a 2-for-1. But..if this always had Flying? It would be an amazing Common. While it having flying won't be that automatic, Descend 4 does seem fairly achievable by turn 5 for Blue decks in this format
Malamet Scythe image 2.0 When you use this as a combat trick, it’s going to feel pretty good. After all, it helps your creature win combat and keeps +2/+2 sticking around. After that initial equip, having to pay 4 at a time to move this will feel rough, but if you’ve already traded one-for-one, we’re just talking about upside at that point.
River Herald Scout image 3.0 You would happily play a two mana 2/3 with Surveil one, and you’d happily play a two mana ½ that draws you a card, and you’re getting one of those every time you cast it
Plains image
Pack 3 Pick 11: Deeproot Pilgrimage
Deeproot Pilgrimage image 1.0 This has the potential to help you go wide in a hurry, that’s for sure. But…I worry a little bit about the many situations where you can’t really effectively tap your merfolk to get it going – and those are definitely going to come up. I’m not sure that it isn’t just better to play some random two mana 2/2 than it is to play this, since you will immediately add to the board if you go the other route, as opposed to this which has you jump through some hoops. So, I’m pretty skeptical about this to start the format
Dauntless Dismantler image 2.5 Two mana ¼s aren't the worst thing, and this has some genuine upside. This set has a ton of artifacts, including Map tokens, and making those things all enter tapped seems relevant, as does the ability to potentially destroy more than one artifact at a time.
Bat Colony image 0.0 // 3.5 This is definitely a build around, since it does way too little in any deck that has too few caves. You kind of need at least one bat when you cast it, and then to get two counters to feel like you're getting there. That…doesn't sound easy. I think this is an unplayable in most White decks, but Cave decks do look legit enough for me to think this will have a home in that type of deck.
Mephitic Draught image 1.5 // 3.0 This is another card that is great sacrifice fodder, but not really worth it if you’re not consistently available to get rid of it. When you can it feels awesome, because it gives you a very efficient 2-for-1. But there will be enough Black decks that aren’t that good at sacrificing that I think this needs a build around grade.
Hunter's Blowgun image 1.0 While I like that this gives you two different keywords depending on whether you’re being defensive or aggressive, they are also keywords that really only matter on the right creature. I think you end up not playing this most of the time, it’s just hard to get a full card of value here
Pack 3 Pick 12: Pirate Hat
Primordial Gnawer image 2.0 This is an ugly stat-line, but it does make sure you get a 2-for-1. Still…the stat-line is bad enough that I don’t think this ends up always making the cut.
Mephitic Draught image 1.5 // 3.0 This is another card that is great sacrifice fodder, but not really worth it if you’re not consistently available to get rid of it. When you can it feels awesome, because it gives you a very efficient 2-for-1. But there will be enough Black decks that aren’t that good at sacrificing that I think this needs a build around grade.
Pirate Hat image 2.5 If you can Equip this for one consistently, it looks pretty solid to me. The stats boost isn’t the best thing ever, but if you’re sticking it on things for 1 mana it will feel plenty good, especially because artifacts and loot triggers are better than normal in this format
Rampaging Spiketail image 2.5 We recently saw cards with landcycling for two really underperform, but they have some advantages in this format. Like all land cyclers, this has the upside of getting you a land when you draw it early, and being a reasonably relevant card in the later stages of the game. And in this case, the Spiketail is likely to enable a pretty good attack when you cast it. But the extra value of land cyclers comes as a result of this format’s graveyard-heavy theme. Cycling this counts as descending, and it also makes it more likely you get to Descend 4 or 8, and you can also exile it from your graveyard for Craft
Pack 3 Pick 13: Sage of Days
Primordial Gnawer image 2.0 This is an ugly stat-line, but it does make sure you get a 2-for-1. Still…the stat-line is bad enough that I don’t think this ends up always making the cut.
Acolyte of Aclazotz image 2.5 There are plenty of expendable artifacts and creatures to be had in Black, and this also works well with Descend stuff. Draining 1 life at a time might sound small, but it really can keep you alive while pressuring your opponent
Sage of Days image 3.0 This is a nice way to load your graveyard in a hurry, and it isn’t that far from Scry 3 on ETB, which would make for a nice card. The stat-line isn’t good of course, but I think this does the kind of thing you want to be doing in Blue in this format
Pack 3 Pick 14: Relic's Roar
Hotfoot Gnome image 2.0 A three mana 3/1 with Haste with a useful card type in Artifact is probably a 1.5, but it’s nice this can tap to give things haste. Once it isn’t a very good attacker on its own – which will be often – it can at least make your other creatures into better attackers. Still, this isn’t nearly as good as one mana 1/1s with this ability that we’ve seen in the recent past
Relic's Roar image 0.0 Normally, if we see this effect without card draw attached, it isn’t playable. This is because the stats boost you get for the cost often isn’t worth it, especially because if your creatures are large enough this doesn’t really offer a boost at all. But at one mana? Well…I still don’t think it’s very good. It’s just too variable as to how much of a boost it actually offers. It’s tempting to imagine buffing a 1/1 with it, because it will feel like a Blue giant growth, but the higher the base stats of your creature is, the worse this gets
Pack 3 Pick 15: Relic's Roar
Relic's Roar image 0.0 Normally, if we see this effect without card draw attached, it isn’t playable. This is because the stats boost you get for the cost often isn’t worth it, especially because if your creatures are large enough this doesn’t really offer a boost at all. But at one mana? Well…I still don’t think it’s very good. It’s just too variable as to how much of a boost it actually offers. It’s tempting to imagine buffing a 1/1 with it, because it will feel like a Blue giant growth, but the higher the base stats of your creature is, the worse this gets
Draft Pick Overview