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Premier Draft M19 26.mars 2021

26 March 06:46 - spoon836 7 Wins - 1 Losses
Maindeck
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (7)
1 Village Rites image
1 Frost Breath image
1 Sift image
1 Flood of Tears image
1 Mind Rot image
1 Capture Sphere image
1 Finishing Blow image
Creature (14)
1 Masked Blackguard image
1 Blood Glutton image
1 Aven Wind Mage image
1 Two-Headed Zombie image
1 Walking Corpse image
2 Infectious Horror image
1 Warden of Evos Isle image
1 Tomebound Lich image
1 Gravedigger image
1 Bloodthirsty Aerialist image
1 Gorging Vulture image
1 Undead Servant image
1 Walking Corpse image
Planeswalker (2)
1 Liliana, Untouched by Death image
1 Ugin, the Spirit Dragon image
Land (17)
8 Island image
9 Swamp image
Sideboard
1 Boggart Brute image
1 Frilled Sea Serpent image
1 Lightning Mare image
1 Goblin Motivator image
1 Epicure of Blood image
1 Gloom Sower image
1 Fortress Crab image
1 Feral Abomination image
1 Blood Divination image
1 Marauder's Axe image
1 Abnormal Endurance image
1 Drawn from Dreams image
1 Anticipate image
1 Village Rites image
1 Convolute image
1 Frantic Inventory image
1 Bad Deal image
1 Mind Rot image
1 Turn to Slag image

Pack 1 Pick 1: Liliana, Untouched by Death
Liliana, Untouched by Death image 0.0 This Liliana is all about Zombies, and this isn’t a set with a Zombie archetype. There are a decent number of Zombies around in this format, but getting a critical mass for her abilities to actually do enough to justify playing her is near impossible, there just isn’t enough support. She is very hard to build around, and that mostly makes her unplayable.
Aerial Engineer image 3.5 A 4-mana 2/4 isn’t the worst floor, and in the UW color pair this will be a 4/4 a lot of the time even if you don’t try very hard.
Shield Mare image 3.0 A 3-mana 2/3 that gains you 3 life when it comes into place is pretty nice, and this one also gains you 3 life if it is targeted by an opponent. The fact that sometimes it will be difficult to block makes it even a little bit more valuable, but like most of these Mares, it is playable enough without that line of text that it definitely isn’t a sideboard card. That’s just some color-specific upside on a solid card.
Aether Tunnel image 1.0 // 3.0 This does make any creature into a threat, but it is also a super risky Aura that doesn’t do anything to mitigate against a 2-for-1. That said – if you happen to have a couple of Vine Mares, you should probably run this, as putting the Tunnel on a hexproof creature like that is pretty much game over in most scenarios. This is a really specific build around in that sense – I basically would advise not playing it unless you have at least one Vine Mare, but when you pull that off, it will feel good.
Bogstomper image 1.0 This is a big vanilla boi who you’ll play if you’re desperate for top curve.
Child of Night image 2.0 A two-mana 2/1 with Lifelink is nothing special, even in a set where lifegain is an archetype (the BW one in particular). I don’t think this is the kind of card you feel bad about having as a two-drop, but I think you can do a whole lot better.
Walking Corpse image 1.0 This is a Black Grizzly Bear and nothing more. The Zombie type has some small upside in this format, but not enough to make this worth putting in your deck most of the time.
Salvager of Secrets image 2.5 We’ve seen other cards like this, and they’re basically always nice cards for Blue decks in Limited – buying back removal spells is unsurprisingly quite good. That said, it doesn’t fit into every deck ever – you’ll play this in all your control decks, though.
Take Vengeance image 2.5 This isn’t premium removal – but it is fine. It at least kills things pretty efficiently at two mana, but the conditions it asks for make it much less powerful. The creature has to be tapped, and that means most of the time a more offensive minded deck won’t be interested in this type of removal, they want a way to get blockers out of the way – this doesn’t do that. It’s also only a sorcery, so if you’re the defensive-minded deck where this is better-suited, you still have to take a hit to the face from something before you kill it.
Oakenform image 1.5 This gives a nice stats boost for the mana, but I think steering clear of this Aura is the right thing most of the time. Unless you have Vine Mare of course.
Act of Treason image 0.0 // 2.5 This is bad in a lot of decks, but in can be good in a couple scenarios: one of these is that your deck is incredibly aggressive, and Act of Treason can consistently end games for you. The other is that you have sacrifice outlets that let you actually kill your opponent’s creature in addition to stealing it.
Viashino Pyromancer image 2.5 This is an aggressive two-drop. It doesn’t have the greatest stats, but unlike other 2 drops it still does something in the late game. Now, doing 2 to your opponent won’t always be super meaningful, but at least its something.
Invoke the Divine image 1.5 // 3.0 You can main deck this in this format if you’re really in need of playables, as there are enough good Artifacts and Enchantments running around, but it is still going to be more well-suited to your sideboard, where it will feel pretty good to bring in against some opponents.
Rhox Oracle image 3.0 5 mana for a 4/2 certainly isn’t good, but making this draw you a card is a big deal! With 4 power, it means you can get easy 2-for-1s with this, even trading up for more imposing X/4 creatures. It is true it dies to basically everything, but you still get a 2-for-1 if that’s what happens.
Highland Lake image 2.5 These are all good fixing, and are worth playing even in two-color decks because making your mana better is a big deal.
Pack 1 Pick 2: Aven Wind Mage
Sift image 2.5 This is a fine draw spell if you’re a control deck in the market for one of those.
Millstone image 0.0 This generally won’t be able to mill your opponent out on its own, so don’t play it. Spending mana on this kind of thing is a bad idea when you could be adding to your board.
Horizon Scholar image 3.5 This isn’t the best rate for a 4/4 flyer, but it make sup for that by letting you Scry when it comes into play.
Strangling Spores image 3.0 Giving a creature -3/-3 at Instant speed for 4 seems like an ok deal to me. These kinds of weakening effects always have a little extra utility too, sure – you can use it as straight up removal to kill something with 3 or less toughness – but you can also use it to weaken a creature and then block it to kill it without losing your creature. It falls a little short of premium removal because of its cost, but it is decent card.
Wall of Vines image 1.0 I don’t usually like do-nothing walls. And I don’t really like this one, either. It does get bonus points for Reach I guess, but meh.
Anticipate image 1.5 This is fine, and is a good way to get deeper into your deck, but it doesn’t actually do that much. It is going to be a 23rd card in a lot of decks, though, and if you manage to build a spells matter deck it gets a little bit better.
Onakke Ogre image 2.0 This might look like a throwaway vanilla creature, but 3-mana for a 4/2 is a passable statline, especially in a set that has a 4 power or more archetype, and this one does!
Loxodon Line Breaker image 1.0 This is just a vanilla creature with mediocre stats. You’ll play this in a world where you can’t seem to find yourself enough playables or enough creatures, but in an ideal world you’re never playing it.
Oakenform image 1.5 This gives a nice stats boost for the mana, but I think steering clear of this Aura is the right thing most of the time. Unless you have Vine Mare of course.
Dwarven Priest image 2.0 4-mana for a 2/4 isn’t terribly off-rate, and in a worst-case this is a 4-mana 2/4 that gains you 1 life. You can definitely go wider and gain a bunch with it too. This can sometimes help you stabilize, and fits especially well in the BW lifegain deck.
Infectious Horror image 0.0 A 4-mana 2/2 is terrible on the vanilla test – so surely it does SOMETHING right? Well, I guess it does technically do “something” – but that “something” isn’t much. Making your opponent lose 2 when this attacks is just not good, since they will be able to easily block and kill this on almost any board state. There aren’t a lot of creatures in Limited that are stone unplayable, but this is one of them.
Cavalry Drillmaster image 3.0 A two-mana 2/1 isn’t great, but this card gets some serious points for also being relevant in the latter part of the game. +2/+0 and first strike is enough to make most creatures a problem for your opponent to block, so chances are he’s going to come down and get you an attack you wouldn’t have had otherwise, in addition to offering up a body that can trade with a ton of things.
Forest image
Pack 1 Pick 3: Sift
Meteor Golem image 3.5 A 7-mana 3/3 that just destroys a permanent is something you’ll play all day. I really love the flexibility it has too – I mean usually you’re going to want to kill a creature, but sometimes blowing up an enchantment or artifact will be better, and that’s nice. This DOES cost 7 mana, but it feels like 7 mana worth of card to me.
Recollect image 1.0 I’m never a huge fan of these sorts of effects. They don’t impact the board at all and the payoff for them is usually minimal. That said, Recollect can be good if your deck has several bombs in it – but guess what, your deck was already good because it has several bombs in it.
Abnormal Endurance image 1.5 We have seen almost this card before – Supernatural Stamina, which did the exact same thing and had a synonymous name, but it cost one less mana. Supernatural Stamina was pretty nice – a trick that makes your creature able to kill something it couldn’t before, and keeps your creature alive is strong. Especially if that creature has a ETB ability, because you get to trigger it all over again! That said, increasing the mana cost by 100% does significantly decrease how good a trick is. Still, this will often allow you to win combat without permanently losing a creature, and while that’s situational, it seems alright for a trick.
Wall of Mist image 1.5 If your deck has a lot of flyers or is interested in being defensive earlier, you will play this on occasion.
Marauder's Axe image 1.5 Not boosting toughness is a big problem for equipment, since it makes your creature hit harder, but doesn’t really help them survive combat in any way. Basically, you need a creature with an evasive ability to make this worth it – so if you have a bunch of fliers this becomes reasonably appealing, but other than that, not so much.
Boggart Brute image 3.0 This type of creature is always pretty solid in aggro decks. 3-mana 3/2 with menace just tends to play pretty well, and get in for lots of damage early.
Epicure of Blood image 2.5 This has sub-par stats, and a serviceable (albeit underwhelming) life gain payoff. You’ll play it often enough.
Highland Game image 1.5 This is a pretty unexciting two-drop. Two-mana 2/1s need to do something interesting, and this doesn’t – gaining 2 life doesn’t qualify as interesting – it just isn’t’ enough value. You’ll play it if you need a 2 drop though.
Onakke Ogre image 2.0 This might look like a throwaway vanilla creature, but 3-mana for a 4/2 is a passable statline, especially in a set that has a 4 power or more archetype, and this one does!
Sure Strike image 2.0 This is always a serviceable combat trick that basically wins you any combat. In exchange, it isn’t the kind of trick that can save your creature for removal.
Loxodon Line Breaker image 1.0 This is just a vanilla creature with mediocre stats. You’ll play this in a world where you can’t seem to find yourself enough playables or enough creatures, but in an ideal world you’re never playing it.
Foul Orchard image 2.5 These are all good fixing, and are worth playing even in two-color decks because making your mana better is a big deal.
Pack 1 Pick 4: Boggart Brute
Meteor Golem image 3.5 A 7-mana 3/3 that just destroys a permanent is something you’ll play all day. I really love the flexibility it has too – I mean usually you’re going to want to kill a creature, but sometimes blowing up an enchantment or artifact will be better, and that’s nice. This DOES cost 7 mana, but it feels like 7 mana worth of card to me.
Recollect image 1.0 I’m never a huge fan of these sorts of effects. They don’t impact the board at all and the payoff for them is usually minimal. That said, Recollect can be good if your deck has several bombs in it – but guess what, your deck was already good because it has several bombs in it.
Abnormal Endurance image 1.5 We have seen almost this card before – Supernatural Stamina, which did the exact same thing and had a synonymous name, but it cost one less mana. Supernatural Stamina was pretty nice – a trick that makes your creature able to kill something it couldn’t before, and keeps your creature alive is strong. Especially if that creature has a ETB ability, because you get to trigger it all over again! That said, increasing the mana cost by 100% does significantly decrease how good a trick is. Still, this will often allow you to win combat without permanently losing a creature, and while that’s situational, it seems alright for a trick.
Wall of Mist image 1.5 If your deck has a lot of flyers or is interested in being defensive earlier, you will play this on occasion.
Marauder's Axe image 1.5 Not boosting toughness is a big problem for equipment, since it makes your creature hit harder, but doesn’t really help them survive combat in any way. Basically, you need a creature with an evasive ability to make this worth it – so if you have a bunch of fliers this becomes reasonably appealing, but other than that, not so much.
Boggart Brute image 3.0 This type of creature is always pretty solid in aggro decks. 3-mana 3/2 with menace just tends to play pretty well, and get in for lots of damage early.
Epicure of Blood image 2.5 This has sub-par stats, and a serviceable (albeit underwhelming) life gain payoff. You’ll play it often enough.
Highland Game image 1.5 This is a pretty unexciting two-drop. Two-mana 2/1s need to do something interesting, and this doesn’t – gaining 2 life doesn’t qualify as interesting – it just isn’t’ enough value. You’ll play it if you need a 2 drop though.
Onakke Ogre image 2.0 This might look like a throwaway vanilla creature, but 3-mana for a 4/2 is a passable statline, especially in a set that has a 4 power or more archetype, and this one does!
Sure Strike image 2.0 This is always a serviceable combat trick that basically wins you any combat. In exchange, it isn’t the kind of trick that can save your creature for removal.
Loxodon Line Breaker image 1.0 This is just a vanilla creature with mediocre stats. You’ll play this in a world where you can’t seem to find yourself enough playables or enough creatures, but in an ideal world you’re never playing it.
Foul Orchard image 2.5 These are all good fixing, and are worth playing even in two-color decks because making your mana better is a big deal.
Pack 1 Pick 5: Frilled Sea Serpent
Inferno Hellion image 1.0 This is pretty bad. Obviously it is quite efficient, but the fact that it goes away every time it does anything is pretty rough.
Naturalize image 0.5 This is strictly sideboard material in this format. Bring it in against someone who has multiple targets.
Daggerback Basilisk image 2.0 This can trade with anything, but at 3-mana that won’t always feel like the greatest deal. Still, death touch does keep it relevant all game long.
Havoc Devils image 2.5 4-mana for a 4/3 trampler is perfectly fine.
Cancel image 1.5 This just doesn’t do enough most of the time to make the cut very often. Leaving up mana for countermagic can be a big cost, and while this does counter everything, three mana is a lot to have to leave up when you’re just trading 1-for-1.
Infectious Horror image 0.0 A 4-mana 2/2 is terrible on the vanilla test – so surely it does SOMETHING right? Well, I guess it does technically do “something” – but that “something” isn’t much. Making your opponent lose 2 when this attacks is just not good, since they will be able to easily block and kill this on almost any board state. There aren’t a lot of creatures in Limited that are stone unplayable, but this is one of them.
Sovereign's Bite image 0.0 I don’t like cards like this in most formats. They don’t impact the board in any way. Sure, 6 damage of life swing can be nice, and sometimes it will end games, but you gotta have cards that actually impact the board. This card is pretty bad unless you’re way ahead of your opponent and beating down on them. It isn’t good if you’re behind or at parity, because it just won’t do anything.
Frilled Sea Serpent image 2.0 This can be a decent finisher for Blue decks that need one. It isn’t efficient to cast, and it costs a ton to make it unblockable, but it does give you inevitability in the late game.
Macabre Waltz image 2.0 This kind of card is always one you would like one of in your Black decks, but you don’t want to go after them too early. They aren’t very good early, but in the late game they can really help you restock your hand and get ahead of your opponent.
Marauder's Axe image 1.5 Not boosting toughness is a big problem for equipment, since it makes your creature hit harder, but doesn’t really help them survive combat in any way. Basically, you need a creature with an evasive ability to make this worth it – so if you have a bunch of fliers this becomes reasonably appealing, but other than that, not so much.
Swamp image
Pack 1 Pick 6: Lightning Mare
Lightning Mare image 2.5 This is a reasonably efficient creature with some reasonable upside. Firebreathing is nice, but obviously it will die in combat to most things – unless of course your opponent has a board full of Blue creatures!
Goblin Motivator image 1.5 We have seen many an incarnation of this card, and they always tend to be decent but not great. Haste only has so many uses, though it does do enough to keep the Motivator a relevant card in the late game sometimes, it isn’t always enough.
Colossal Dreadmaw image 2.5 Of course Colossal Dreadmaw is back! My guess is it will be about as good the last 50 times we saw it – a solid playable. The kind of Green creature that fits well at the top of your curve thanks to its size and evasive keyword ability. But you can find better finishers at higher rarities.
Daybreak Chaplain image 2.0 A two-mana 1/3 with lifelink is fine, but not much else. It is definitely an obnoxious blocker for decks with lots of 2/2s or creature tokens, and it carries equipment and auras well – as lifelink creatures always do. It is a fine card, especially if you have life gain payoffs.
Mighty Leap image 2.0 This is a playable combat trick, and it offers more upside than most combat tricks because sometimes it can just end the game for you out of nowhere. I mean, I guess all combat tricks can do that – but not all of them offer you flying, which can just make a stable board into game over for your opponent sometimes. Still, it’s just a combat trick and it has the inherent risks that they all have – serious blowout potential – you’ll play one in any white deck with like 15 creatures in most cases, but it isn’t going to be great most of the time.
Tolarian Scholar image 1.0 There’s not a reason to play this in this format other than desperation – there isn’t a Wizard archetype like there was in Dominaria.
Knight of the Tusk image 1.5 If you’re in a White control deck, this does a kind of okay job of holding down the ground and even threatening to attack a little bit thanks to Vigilance + high toughness, but you still won’t run this a ton.
Scholar of Stars image 2.5 You can draw a card off of this often enough for it to be solid.
Hired Blade image 1.5 You can flash this in to kill some stuff, but it isn’t the best ambush blocker as a 3/2. It can only survive blocking one power creatures, so most of the time it is just sort of a super conditional removal spell with some creature upside. Which is fine, but not something that always makes your deck.
Forest image
Pack 1 Pick 7: Blood Divination
Blood Divination image 2.0 The ideal thing to do with this is sacrifice something that gives you value when it dies – or better, use a Threaten effect to steal your opponent’s creature and THEN sacrifice it, that’s some insane value. That said, there will be lots of times where you just can’t cast this thing because you can’t give up your board position.
Ghostform image 1.0 I’m never a huge fan of this kind of card. It basically pans out as a really risky Blue Lava Axe, and that kind of card tends to not be worth it. You use up a card to do something that won’t generally matter unless it kills your opponent. That’s too situational.
Titanic Growth image 2.0 This is a nice combat trick. But it is still a combat trick that comes with a lot of inherent risk and requires your opponent to play into it to actually take an opponent’s creature away from that.
Epicure of Blood image 2.5 This has sub-par stats, and a serviceable (albeit underwhelming) life gain payoff. You’ll play it often enough.
Onakke Ogre image 2.0 This might look like a throwaway vanilla creature, but 3-mana for a 4/2 is a passable statline, especially in a set that has a 4 power or more archetype, and this one does!
Dwarven Priest image 2.0 4-mana for a 2/4 isn’t terribly off-rate, and in a worst-case this is a 4-mana 2/4 that gains you 1 life. You can definitely go wider and gain a bunch with it too. This can sometimes help you stabilize, and fits especially well in the BW lifegain deck.
Explosive Apparatus image 1.5 This isn’t efficient, but this format has an artifact deck, which means this makes the cut sometimes.
Loxodon Line Breaker image 1.0 This is just a vanilla creature with mediocre stats. You’ll play this in a world where you can’t seem to find yourself enough playables or enough creatures, but in an ideal world you’re never playing it.
Swamp image
Pack 1 Pick 8: Two-Headed Zombie
Volley Veteran image 1.5 // 3.5 So obviously, this is something of a build around, but there are enough goblins around for this to do 2 damage a decent chunk of the time. Either way, though, this has a reasonable floor, as a 4-mana 4/2 that does 1 to a creature it can pick things up, do 1 last damage and so forth. Obviously it hasn’t an even higher ceiling of MORE than 2 damage, but this set doesn’t have so much Goblin support that that will be a regular occurrence.
Two-Headed Zombie image 2.5 A 4-mana 4/2 menace is some pretty aggressive stats. A lot of the time he will at least get you a 2-for-1, thanks to that Menace. Menace creatures are always super amazing with combat tricks too, since you KNOW your opponent has to set themselves up for a 2-for-1 if they want to kill it. So this will be a nice pick up for aggressive black decks, but it’s nothing special.
Titanic Growth image 2.0 This is a nice combat trick. But it is still a combat trick that comes with a lot of inherent risk and requires your opponent to play into it to actually take an opponent’s creature away from that.
Hostile Minotaur image 2.0 4-mana for a 3/3 with Haste is passable.
Smelt image 0.5 This set HAS artifacts, but not so many that you ever main deck this.
Cavalry Drillmaster image 3.0 A two-mana 2/1 isn’t great, but this card gets some serious points for also being relevant in the latter part of the game. +2/+0 and first strike is enough to make most creatures a problem for your opponent to block, so chances are he’s going to come down and get you an attack you wouldn’t have had otherwise, in addition to offering up a body that can trade with a ton of things.
Talons of Wildwood image 2.0 This is a fairly reasonable Aura. It doesn’t give an impressive boost, but it gets around the downsides of 2-for-1s by being able to come back whenever you need it.
Timber Gorge image 2.5 These are all good fixing, and are worth playing even in two-color decks because making your mana better is a big deal.
Pack 1 Pick 9: Walking Corpse
Bogstomper image 1.0 This is a big vanilla boi who you’ll play if you’re desperate for top curve.
Walking Corpse image 1.0 This is a Black Grizzly Bear and nothing more. The Zombie type has some small upside in this format, but not enough to make this worth putting in your deck most of the time.
Oakenform image 1.5 This gives a nice stats boost for the mana, but I think steering clear of this Aura is the right thing most of the time. Unless you have Vine Mare of course.
Act of Treason image 0.0 // 2.5 This is bad in a lot of decks, but in can be good in a couple scenarios: one of these is that your deck is incredibly aggressive, and Act of Treason can consistently end games for you. The other is that you have sacrifice outlets that let you actually kill your opponent’s creature in addition to stealing it.
Viashino Pyromancer image 2.5 This is an aggressive two-drop. It doesn’t have the greatest stats, but unlike other 2 drops it still does something in the late game. Now, doing 2 to your opponent won’t always be super meaningful, but at least its something.
Invoke the Divine image 1.5 // 3.0 You can main deck this in this format if you’re really in need of playables, as there are enough good Artifacts and Enchantments running around, but it is still going to be more well-suited to your sideboard, where it will feel pretty good to bring in against some opponents.
Highland Lake image 2.5 These are all good fixing, and are worth playing even in two-color decks because making your mana better is a big deal.
Pack 1 Pick 10: Marauder's Axe
Onakke Ogre image 2.0 This might look like a throwaway vanilla creature, but 3-mana for a 4/2 is a passable statline, especially in a set that has a 4 power or more archetype, and this one does!
Dwarven Priest image 2.0 4-mana for a 2/4 isn’t terribly off-rate, and in a worst-case this is a 4-mana 2/4 that gains you 1 life. You can definitely go wider and gain a bunch with it too. This can sometimes help you stabilize, and fits especially well in the BW lifegain deck.
Infectious Horror image 0.0 A 4-mana 2/2 is terrible on the vanilla test – so surely it does SOMETHING right? Well, I guess it does technically do “something” – but that “something” isn’t much. Making your opponent lose 2 when this attacks is just not good, since they will be able to easily block and kill this on almost any board state. There aren’t a lot of creatures in Limited that are stone unplayable, but this is one of them.
Cavalry Drillmaster image 3.0 A two-mana 2/1 isn’t great, but this card gets some serious points for also being relevant in the latter part of the game. +2/+0 and first strike is enough to make most creatures a problem for your opponent to block, so chances are he’s going to come down and get you an attack you wouldn’t have had otherwise, in addition to offering up a body that can trade with a ton of things.
Forest image
Pack 1 Pick 11: Infectious Horror
Onakke Ogre image 2.0 This might look like a throwaway vanilla creature, but 3-mana for a 4/2 is a passable statline, especially in a set that has a 4 power or more archetype, and this one does!
Dwarven Priest image 2.0 4-mana for a 2/4 isn’t terribly off-rate, and in a worst-case this is a 4-mana 2/4 that gains you 1 life. You can definitely go wider and gain a bunch with it too. This can sometimes help you stabilize, and fits especially well in the BW lifegain deck.
Infectious Horror image 0.0 A 4-mana 2/2 is terrible on the vanilla test – so surely it does SOMETHING right? Well, I guess it does technically do “something” – but that “something” isn’t much. Making your opponent lose 2 when this attacks is just not good, since they will be able to easily block and kill this on almost any board state. There aren’t a lot of creatures in Limited that are stone unplayable, but this is one of them.
Cavalry Drillmaster image 3.0 A two-mana 2/1 isn’t great, but this card gets some serious points for also being relevant in the latter part of the game. +2/+0 and first strike is enough to make most creatures a problem for your opponent to block, so chances are he’s going to come down and get you an attack you wouldn’t have had otherwise, in addition to offering up a body that can trade with a ton of things.
Forest image
Pack 1 Pick 12: Abnormal Endurance
Infectious Horror image 0.0 A 4-mana 2/2 is terrible on the vanilla test – so surely it does SOMETHING right? Well, I guess it does technically do “something” – but that “something” isn’t much. Making your opponent lose 2 when this attacks is just not good, since they will be able to easily block and kill this on almost any board state. There aren’t a lot of creatures in Limited that are stone unplayable, but this is one of them.
Sovereign's Bite image 0.0 I don’t like cards like this in most formats. They don’t impact the board in any way. Sure, 6 damage of life swing can be nice, and sometimes it will end games, but you gotta have cards that actually impact the board. This card is pretty bad unless you’re way ahead of your opponent and beating down on them. It isn’t good if you’re behind or at parity, because it just won’t do anything.
Swamp image
Pack 1 Pick 13: Infectious Horror
Infectious Horror image 0.0 A 4-mana 2/2 is terrible on the vanilla test – so surely it does SOMETHING right? Well, I guess it does technically do “something” – but that “something” isn’t much. Making your opponent lose 2 when this attacks is just not good, since they will be able to easily block and kill this on almost any board state. There aren’t a lot of creatures in Limited that are stone unplayable, but this is one of them.
Sovereign's Bite image 0.0 I don’t like cards like this in most formats. They don’t impact the board in any way. Sure, 6 damage of life swing can be nice, and sometimes it will end games, but you gotta have cards that actually impact the board. This card is pretty bad unless you’re way ahead of your opponent and beating down on them. It isn’t good if you’re behind or at parity, because it just won’t do anything.
Swamp image
Pack 1 Pick 14: Goblin Motivator
Goblin Motivator image 1.5 We have seen many an incarnation of this card, and they always tend to be decent but not great. Haste only has so many uses, though it does do enough to keep the Motivator a relevant card in the late game sometimes, it isn’t always enough.
Forest image
Pack 1 Pick 15: Swamp
Swamp image
Pack 2 Pick 1: Flood of Tears
Flood of Tears image 1.0 It is easy to imagine the ideal situation with this card. I mean, you get to bounce the whole board and then put something back, right? Well, it turns out having enough nonland permanents to get that additional effect is pretty darn difficult, and if you do have that many, you also just bounced a bunch of your board. And sure, you did get to put something back, but you also just paid 6 mana and your opponent is going to rebuild a lot more than you will be able to on their next turn. So, yeah, this just isn’t very good.
Hard Cover image 0.5 This gives a minimal boost, and the ability to make a creature loot just isn’t enough to overcome the huge downside of the 2-for-1 you could suffer.
Gravedigger image 3.5 This has been in Magic a long time, and it is always good. You get to add to the board while drawing the best creature in your graveyard, and that feels really good, and is a good way to make sure you outvalue your opponent in the later part of the game.
Howling Giant image 3.5 This is certainly expensive, but it is one of the best non-rare things to ramp into in this format. It tends to really stabilize you on a whole bunch of different board states, as the three bodies do a great job of putting an end to your opponents’ aggression, and the Giant itself has Reach, even allowing you to stabilize against Flyers!
Metropolis Sprite image 2.0 This has reasonable starting stats and the ability to attack sometimes as a 2/1, which isn’t bad. It also isn’t good, but yeah.
Griffin Protector image 2.5 This frequently attacks as a ¾ Flyer, which feels pretty good. Sometimes it will be a 2/3, but it will also sometimes be a 5/6 if you have ways to make counters!
Zephyr Charge image 0.0 This is really bad. It tends to not do very much until the extreme late game, where you have the mana to utilize it – and, by then, your opponent probably has a board that isn’t that intimidated by flying.
Sleep Paralysis image 3.0 This is a little clunky to be sure, as 4 mana is way more than you normally want to be paying for a removal spell that doesn’t even fully remove a creature, but it does the job well enough. It isn’t quite premium removal, but it is fine to play.
Octoprophet image 2.5 I like playing creatures with decent stats who let me scry, though I do think those that appear lower in the curve are better, because they allow you to keep a larger percentage of hands. A 4-drop who scries doesn’t do that.
Feral Abomination image 1.0 This is a big creature with Deathtouch – which always feels weird on a huge creature like this. If you’re desperate for a finisher, this can do it sometimes.
Ferocious Pup image 2.5 3-mana for a 0/1 and a 2/2 is a decent deal. Green is interested in going wide, and this helps with that.
Silverback Shaman image 3.5 This creature does well on the Vanilla test, has evasion, and replaces himself when he dies. That means he is a 2-for-1 that is really threatening – and that’s pretty nice. One thing I could see happening with him is that your 5-drop slot is just too loaded – I mean, you only want so many in most formats – but I have a hard time saying no to a 2-for-1 like this guy.
Shock image 3.5 This kills a bunch of stuff and it does it cheaply, while also being able to do the last 2 damage to the opponent. This is premium removal.
Wolfkin Bond image 2.5 I have a hard time getting behind auras that don’t add something to the board – but Wolfkin Bond does that. Paying 5 for +2/+2 isn’t great, but adding a 2/2 to the board makes it a lot better. It likely lets you attack with something that couldn’t before, or at the very least lets you attack harder, and it makes sure that a Wolf is around to block and then start attacking the next turn. This helps you from being completely devastated by a 2-for-1 as well, since you at least have the Wolf behind. Though, keep in mind, if your opponent has mana up, they can just blow up your target for the Bond and you don’t get anything – and that’s still a huge risk with this type of card. This is a solid playable, and I think most Green decks will be fine with one of these.
Rugged Highlands image 2.5 If you need fixing, this is a decent place to get it. There are also a few cards in the set that care about lifegain, which might mean they are a little more useful than usual in some decks, but mostly they just make your mana better. Even if you’re just 2 colors, taking these over filler is sometimes a good call, since they really make your mana so much better.
Pack 2 Pick 2: Drawn from Dreams
Drawn from Dreams image 3.5 4 mana to get some serious card selection that always results in a 2-for-1 is pretty nice. It is a Sorcery, and sometimes you just won’t’ have time to do something like this, because you have to find a way to survive after your opponent’s aggressive start, and you just need to play creatures who can trade – but if you do manage to stabilize, this will go a long way towards helping you out. 7 cards is a ton in a Limited deck, so you have a good chance at hitting whatever card you need to save the day.
Blood for Bones image 3.0 This does take some set up, but it is a pretty sweet card. So the obvious way to use it is by giving up some mediocre creature on the board to reanimate something impressive and get something else back to your hand. But you can also just sacrifice the same creature you want to reanimate to re-buy an ETB ability or something like that. Now, having situations where you can take full advantage of this is not guaranteed, but it does happen often enough that it is pretty solid.
Chandra, Novice Pyromancer image 4.0 I think uncommon Chandra is actually a lot better than Rare Chandra – though not nearly as good as Mythic Rare Chandra. She will play a lot like Jaya Ballard, who we just saw in War of the Spark. The comparison isn’t perfect – Chandra costs less and doesn’t have that sweet static ability Chandra had – but Chandra comes with the same ability to do 2 damage to any target, as well as actually being able to raise her loyalty and ramp you a bit. I think you’ll be pretty happy any time you can kill two things with her, and if you happen to have a bunch of elementals, she obviously gets even better. Worth noting you can also splash her. I like that she is great in the Elemental deck, but still good in any Red deck, making her a very safe and powerful early pick.
Thought Distortion image 0.0 6 mana is a ton, and if you’re spending that much you want to be actually accomplishing something. By that late in the game there is no guarantee your opponent will even have a hand, and only exiling noncreature nonland cards from their graveyard is not worth 6 mana. This is unplayable.
Battalion Foot Soldier image 0.0 // 2.5 The “collect ‘em all”-type cards are always pretty interesting. Obviously, if you just have one of these, you’re not going to play it. However, if you can get 2 or more, I think you play them. A 3-mana 2/2 that draws you another 3-mana 2/2 is some nice card advantage. Because the creature is kind of underwhelming, I think even with 3-5 of them, it is probably just still a solid playable. It isn’t amazing, but it will let you quickly fill the board and avoid mana flooding and that always feels nice.
Fire Elemental image 1.0 This would normally be pretty close to unplayable, but with the elemental deck being a very real thing in this format, you actually play this sometimes.
Mind Rot image 1.0 Mind Rot is never particularly good. It does give you a 2-for-1 in ideal situations, but it is really only good in the mid-game. Early on, paying 3 for this and not adding to the board isn’t ideal, and late, your opponent likely doesn’t have cards. So in the mid-game is the sweet spot, but that’s a bit too narrow for me.
Healer of the Glade image 1.0 This is an Elemental, but it is one of the few in the set that you cut alot, even in most elemental decks. It just doesn’t do enough stuff to really feel like a card most of the time. It is quickly outclassed stats-wise, and gaining 3 life isn’t really a big payoff.
Convolute image 1.0 A three-mana counterspell that isn’t even a hard counter is a hard sell for me. This is just too situational to be worth it in most decks.
Frilled Sea Serpent image 1.5 This doesn’t have efficient stats, nor does it make itself unblockable efficiently – but it has actually proven to be kind of a reasonable finisher in this format, you know – if you didn’t get some that are significantly better.
Growth Cycle image 1.5 Well, this is an interesting trick. Two mana for +3/+3 is already a kind of good deal, but the fact that it pumps your creature even more if you have Growth Cycles in your graveyard seems pretty cool. The kind of awkward thing here is that most of the time, you don’t want to be running too many tricks. So even with that “collect ‘em all” bonus, I’m not sure I ever want more than one of these.
Raise the Alarm image 3.0 This is a nice common every time we see it. Two mana to makes two 1/1s at Instant speed is pretty efficient, and it can be used as a pseudo-removal spell sometimes – you can use the soldiers to double block an X/2, or in a dream scenario – block an X/1 with each of them and get that 2-for-1. But it is also useful as just a way to make your board go wide, too – and that is definitely something White will be interested in here.
Sedge Scorpion image 2.5 One-mana 1/1s with death touch are always solid. They aren’t ever game-breaking, but they do remain relevant all game long.
Scoured Barrens image 2.5 If you need fixing, this is a decent place to get it. There are also a few cards in the set that care about lifegain, which might mean they are a little more useful than usual in some decks, but mostly they just make your mana better. Even if you’re just 2 colors, taking these over filler is sometimes a good call, since they really make your mana so much better.
Pack 2 Pick 3: Warden of Evos Isle
Vampire of the Dire Moon image 3.0 I am pretty much always happy with one mana 1/1 death touchers. They are great in more defensive decks, because they can trade for anything. Adding lifelink here is a nice touch, because sometimes you’ll have to go on the offensive with this and force your opponent choose between trading a big creature for it, or just taking it – and now, just taking it has some extra consequences, because you can potentially find yourself a repetable source of lifegain if they do. Still, while this card is efficient at what it does, like more 1/1 deathtouchers, it isn’t like it is gamebreaking – but it is a nice card.
Warden of Evos Isle image 2.5 This has always-reasonable Wind Drake stats, and reducing the cost of your other Flyers is a nice little bonus.
Sedge Scorpion image 2.5 One-mana 1/1s with death touch are always solid. They aren’t ever game-breaking, but they do remain relevant all game long.
Fire Elemental image 1.0 This would normally be pretty close to unplayable, but with the elemental deck being a very real thing in this format, you actually play this sometimes.
Steadfast Sentry image 3.0 This has alright stats and an alright death trigger. Having Vigilance matters on a creature like this, because – obviously enough – you can attack and block, and using this to trade often feels pretty good because you come out ahead as a result of that +1/+1 counter.
Inspired Charge image 1.0 // 2.5 Like always, if you’re in the token deck this will be a decent Common for you. If you’re not, don’t play it.
Epicure of Blood image 2.5 This is a decent-but-not-great lifegain payoff. It has alright stats too.
Aerial Assault image 2.5 This sort of sorcery speed situational removal spell is certainly not premium, but it is pretty solid. The big downside is that generally, the creature you want to kill gets to attack you once first, which means you’re losing some life or chump blocking. Now, this does make up for that fact a bit by having a minor flying payoff clause on it, and certainly gaining a 1 or 2 life when you cast this does take away that downside a bit. But it is still sorcery speed, and not particularly good when you are the aggressor, since it can’t get a blocker out of your way.
Feral Invocation image 2.0 This has proven to be pretty solid. Auras can be dangerous as a result of the 2-for-1 risk, but because the Invocation has Flash, you can normally get around that. You can do so by using it as a combat trick of sorts that allows you to kill one of your opponents’ creatures in combat, and then your creature gets to keep the buff! Now, you still have to be careful when you use it, because the 2-for-1 risk is still there, but as long as you are, this ends up being a pretty reasonable card for creature-heavy Green decks.
Metropolis Sprite image 2.0 This has reasonable starting stats and the ability to attack sometimes as a 2/1, which isn’t bad. It also isn’t good, but yeah.
Lavakin Brawler image 3.0 This card really overperforms. There are a ton of Elemental in this set to pump its power, and 4 toughness is enough that it can be a real problem for many decks. Combining it with Goblin Smuggler is particularly nasty.
Daggersail Aeronaut image 2.0 This is a surprisingly good little creature. It can attack pretty hard in the air, and while having 2 toughness is definitely a liability, this is a pretty solid creature.
Scoured Barrens image 2.5 If you need fixing, this is a decent place to get it. There are also a few cards in the set that care about lifegain, which might mean they are a little more useful than usual in some decks, but mostly they just make your mana better. Even if you’re just 2 colors, taking these over filler is sometimes a good call, since they really make your mana so much better.
Pack 2 Pick 4: Tomebound Lich
Moldervine Reclamation image 2.5 This is an interesting card. On the one hand, I think it looks like a really great engine, allowing you to make any trade profitable, and allowing you to even chump block effectively. On the other hand, it is also a 5 mana enchantment that does nothing on its own, and sometimes playing something like this instead of immediately impacting the board is just going to make you lose. If you play this, you’ll experience both of those scenarios.
Tomebound Lich image 4.0 If you break this card down, and take away parts of it – it is still pretty good. If it was a 3-mana 1/3 with death touch it would be an alright card. The same is true about a 3-mana 1/3 with lifelink? What about a 3-mana 1/3 that loots on ETB or when it does damage? That’s a pretty solid card. If you take all of these “fine” and “solid” cards and jam them together though, I think you end up with a great card. This gives you card selection the minute it comes down, trades with anything, and gains you life as a decent blocker. Then, the whole deathtouch thing can also be used more aggressively, to attack your opponent when they have no good choices to block it, and if they don’t block it, you get to loot again.
Pack Mastiff image 2.0 // 3.0 Most of this collect ‘em all cycle is pretty bad if you only have one copy – that’s not true of the Mastiff, who has decent stats and a fine activated ability. The trade off here is that the Mastiff is also the least impressive of the bunch when you end up with multiple copies, as they all have to be in play at the exact right time to really abuse the ability.
Sanitarium Skeleton image 0.5 // 2.5 You really only want to play this if you’re in a Sacrifice deck, everywhere else it is just too slow and silly to do much.
Stone Golem image 0.0 I’m not sure why you would play this. Artifact synergy is not a big part of this set, it doesn’t have a useful creature type. It is just a bad creature.
Sedge Scorpion image 2.5 One-mana 1/1s with death touch are always solid. They aren’t ever game-breaking, but they do remain relevant all game long.
Wolfkin Bond image 2.5 I have a hard time getting behind auras that don’t add something to the board – but Wolfkin Bond does that. Paying 5 for +2/+2 isn’t great, but adding a 2/2 to the board makes it a lot better. It likely lets you attack with something that couldn’t before, or at the very least lets you attack harder, and it makes sure that a Wolf is around to block and then start attacking the next turn. This helps you from being completely devastated by a 2-for-1 as well, since you at least have the Wolf behind. Though, keep in mind, if your opponent has mana up, they can just blow up your target for the Bond and you don’t get anything – and that’s still a huge risk with this type of card. This is a solid playable, and I think most Green decks will be fine with one of these.
Soul Salvage image 2.5 This kind of card is basically always something Black decks want one copy of in Limited. It is basically a Black Divination, but one with powerful card selection, since you know you’re going to get your two best creatures back.
Epicure of Blood image 2.5 This is a decent-but-not-great lifegain payoff. It has alright stats too.
Undead Servant image 0.0 // 2.5 Obviously, like most of this cycle, this is unplayable as one copy. You don’t want to be playing a vanilla 4-mana 3/2, there are countless cards in this set you would play before that. You have to be making a Zombie token pretty regularly with this for it to be worth it. How many copies of this do you need before it is worth playing? Probably around 3, and it gets better if you are good at loading up your graveyard and can get value out of them that way.
Octoprophet image 2.5 I like playing creatures with decent stats who let me scry, though I do think those that appear lower in the curve are better, because they allow you to keep a larger percentage of hands. A 4-drop who scries doesn’t do that.
Dismal Backwater image 2.5 If you need fixing, this is a decent place to get it. There are also a few cards in the set that care about lifegain, which might mean they are a little more useful than usual in some decks, but mostly they just make your mana better. Even if you’re just 2 colors, taking these over filler is sometimes a good call, since they really make your mana so much better.
Pack 2 Pick 5: Gravedigger
Fencing Ace image 2.0 In some formats, the Ace can be quite good – but this isn’t one of them. There just aren’t enough +1/+1 counters or reasonable equipment and Auras for it to be more than just kind of okay.
Pattern Matcher image 1.0 // 3.0 A 4-mana 3/3 that draws you a card is nice, but how often will that be what this is? You need to be able to consistently do that, because a 4-mana 3/3 that does nothing is pretty terrible. Your deck needs to have a handful of 2-ofs, which is doable, but I think you frequently just won’t have the right deck composition for this. It is a little annoying that it can’t search for a copy of itself, just because that would make it much better since it could do something on an empty board, instead of just being a 4-mana 3/3. Basically, this needs a build around grade. It is near unplayable if you don’t have 2-3 duplicate creatures, but if you do have that going on, it becomes a quality card.
Gravedigger image 3.5 This has been in Magic a long time, and it is always good. You get to add to the board while drawing the best creature in your graveyard, and that feels really good, and is a good way to make sure you outvalue your opponent in the later part of the game.
Marauder's Axe image 1.5 Equipment that just boosts power doesn’t tend to be amazing, though it does work well on things like tokens, since they become much more formidable.
Reduce to Ashes image 2.5 5 damage from a 5 mana Sorcery is always solid removal, though not especially close to being premium.
Fire Elemental image 1.0 This would normally be pretty close to unplayable, but with the elemental deck being a very real thing in this format, you actually play this sometimes.
Greenwood Sentinel image 2.0 Vigilance is upside, but not crazy upside to have on a bear. This is a decent 2-drop.
Agonizing Syphon image 2.5 4 mana for 3 damage is pretty steep, but the fact you can hit any target AND you gain 3 life does enough to make this solid removal, though I wouldn’t say it is premium.
Keldon Raider image 2.5 This has decent stats and lets you rummage. It isn’t exciting, but it is a solid Common.
Anticipate image 1.0 This type of effect is very replaceable. It gives you some card selection and all that, but a lot of the time you end up cutting these for cards that are more impactful.
Raise the Alarm image 3.0 This is a nice common every time we see it. Two mana to makes two 1/1s at Instant speed is pretty efficient, and it can be used as a pseudo-removal spell sometimes – you can use the soldiers to double block an X/2, or in a dream scenario – block an X/1 with each of them and get that 2-for-1. But it is also useful as just a way to make your board go wide, too – and that is definitely something White will be interested in here.
Pack 2 Pick 6: Mind Rot
Ember Hauler image 3.5 This is a 2-drop that is relevant all game long because of a powerful ability. Early it is nice to play this as a 2/2 that can attack, and late it gives you a way to kill small creature and complicated combat for your opponent, and it can even go after Planeswalkers and your opponent’s face, so that’s pretty nice. The one thing not nice about it? That double Red cost means it may not always be easy to get it down on turn 2.
Rule of Law image 0.0 This is a reprint that has been a nice sideboard card in the past…but for constructed. I have a hard time seeing this as something worth playing in Limited. Sure, people double spell in Limited a time or two a game, but that’s not often enough for Rule of Law to be worth it.
Moorland Inquisitor image 2.0 This is a bear with some reasonable upside, so it isn’t bad, but a lot of the time by the time you have the mana to give the Inquisitor First Strike, a 2/2 with First Strike doesn’t really matter!
Netcaster Spider image 2.0 This is another decent spider for Green. It doesn’t have as high of toughness as some spiders, but it makes up for that by becoming a 4/3 when it blocks flyers, which will be enough to trade with a lot of them.
Mind Rot image 1.0 Mind Rot is never particularly good. It does give you a 2-for-1 in ideal situations, but it is really only good in the mid-game. Early on, paying 3 for this and not adding to the board isn’t ideal, and late, your opponent likely doesn’t have cards. So in the mid-game is the sweet spot, but that’s a bit too narrow for me.
Epicure of Blood image 2.5 This is a decent-but-not-great lifegain payoff. It has alright stats too.
Reduce to Ashes image 2.5 5 damage from a 5 mana Sorcery is always solid removal, though not especially close to being premium.
Centaur Courser image 2.0 Vanilla 3-mana 3/3s are still perfectly fine in Limited.
Fortress Crab image 1.0 Here’s a super defensive creature that you will only play on very rare occasions. It just doesn’t do much.
Island image
Pack 2 Pick 7: Bloodthirsty Aerialist
Bloodthirsty Aerialist image 3.5 A 3-mana 2/3 Flyer is something you always play. Then, if you have ways to gain life –which BW has plenty of – it is just going to get better. Even if you don’t go crazy with lifegain and only add one counter to this, you’re going to feel like you’re in business.
Gauntlets of Light image 1.0 The boost this tends to give just isn’t worth the massive mana investment and the risk of getting 2-for-1’d.
Inspiring Captain image 2.5 There are enough tokens in this format that Inspiring Captain often comes down and has an immediate impact on the board. Now, you do need a reasonable board state in most cases to really take advantage, but this tends to be better than something like Inspired Charge, since its failed case is still something that adds to the board.
Chandra's Embercat image 3.0 So, 2 mana 2/2s are always a decent baseline for a card, but this comes with some significant addition value. I think most Red decks will have 4 or 5 elementals in them without even trying, so it seems like most decks can get use out of it. Elementals are one of the best decks in this format too, and this is a key Common for that deck.
Blood Burglar image 2.5 This has decent stats and lifelink in a set that cares about gaining life, so it is something you play pretty often.
Gorging Vulture image 3.5 This has Wind Drake stats while also loading your graveyard and gaining you life, two things Black decks are interested in in this format. That makes this a key Common for Black deck.
Feral Invocation image 2.0 This has proven to be pretty solid. Auras can be dangerous as a result of the 2-for-1 risk, but because the Invocation has Flash, you can normally get around that. You can do so by using it as a combat trick of sorts that allows you to kill one of your opponents’ creatures in combat, and then your creature gets to keep the buff! Now, you still have to be careful when you use it, because the 2-for-1 risk is still there, but as long as you are, this ends up being a pretty reasonable card for creature-heavy Green decks.
Scorch Spitter image 1.5 In a lot of formats, the Scorch Spitter would be unplayable. A one-mana 1/1, even with this ability, would quickly get outclasses. BUT it is Elemental, and also a card that combos well with Goblin Smuggler. It still isn’t good, mind you, but it is far from unplayable.
Plains image
Pack 2 Pick 8: Gorging Vulture
Goblin Smuggler image 3.0 This card really overperforms, mostly because there are so many creatures with low power in this format who do some impressive stuff – most notably at Common, Audacious Thief and Lavakin Brawler, both of whom pair incredibly well with the Goblin. And apart from those things, the Smuggler is just an okay card anyway, allowing you to push through damage late.
Negate image 0.5 This is sideboard material, like usual. Most opponents just don’t have the targets for this to matter.
Convolute image 1.0 A three-mana counterspell that isn’t even a hard counter is a hard sell for me. This is just too situational to be worth it in most decks.
Wolfkin Bond image 2.5 I have a hard time getting behind auras that don’t add something to the board – but Wolfkin Bond does that. Paying 5 for +2/+2 isn’t great, but adding a 2/2 to the board makes it a lot better. It likely lets you attack with something that couldn’t before, or at the very least lets you attack harder, and it makes sure that a Wolf is around to block and then start attacking the next turn. This helps you from being completely devastated by a 2-for-1 as well, since you at least have the Wolf behind. Though, keep in mind, if your opponent has mana up, they can just blow up your target for the Bond and you don’t get anything – and that’s still a huge risk with this type of card. This is a solid playable, and I think most Green decks will be fine with one of these.
Gorging Vulture image 3.5 This has Wind Drake stats while also loading your graveyard and gaining you life, two things Black decks are interested in in this format. That makes this a key Common for Black deck.
Sorcerer of the Fang image 1.5 This is a creature with mediocre stats that has a late game mana sink that can sometimes close things out, but boy is that ability expensive!
Aerial Assault image 2.5 This sort of sorcery speed situational removal spell is certainly not premium, but it is pretty solid. The big downside is that generally, the creature you want to kill gets to attack you once first, which means you’re losing some life or chump blocking. Now, this does make up for that fact a bit by having a minor flying payoff clause on it, and certainly gaining a 1 or 2 life when you cast this does take away that downside a bit. But it is still sorcery speed, and not particularly good when you are the aggressor, since it can’t get a blocker out of your way.
Tranquil Cove image 2.5 If you need fixing, this is a decent place to get it. There are also a few cards in the set that care about lifegain, which might mean they are a little more useful than usual in some decks, but mostly they just make your mana better. Even if you’re just 2 colors, taking these over filler is sometimes a good call, since they really make your mana so much better.
Pack 2 Pick 9: Feral Abomination
Hard Cover image 0.5 This gives a minimal boost, and the ability to make a creature loot just isn’t enough to overcome the huge downside of the 2-for-1 you could suffer.
Metropolis Sprite image 2.0 This has reasonable starting stats and the ability to attack sometimes as a 2/1, which isn’t bad. It also isn’t good, but yeah.
Zephyr Charge image 0.0 This is really bad. It tends to not do very much until the extreme late game, where you have the mana to utilize it – and, by then, your opponent probably has a board that isn’t that intimidated by flying.
Feral Abomination image 1.0 This is a big creature with Deathtouch – which always feels weird on a huge creature like this. If you’re desperate for a finisher, this can do it sometimes.
Ferocious Pup image 2.5 3-mana for a 0/1 and a 2/2 is a decent deal. Green is interested in going wide, and this helps with that.
Wolfkin Bond image 2.5 I have a hard time getting behind auras that don’t add something to the board – but Wolfkin Bond does that. Paying 5 for +2/+2 isn’t great, but adding a 2/2 to the board makes it a lot better. It likely lets you attack with something that couldn’t before, or at the very least lets you attack harder, and it makes sure that a Wolf is around to block and then start attacking the next turn. This helps you from being completely devastated by a 2-for-1 as well, since you at least have the Wolf behind. Though, keep in mind, if your opponent has mana up, they can just blow up your target for the Bond and you don’t get anything – and that’s still a huge risk with this type of card. This is a solid playable, and I think most Green decks will be fine with one of these.
Rugged Highlands image 2.5 If you need fixing, this is a decent place to get it. There are also a few cards in the set that care about lifegain, which might mean they are a little more useful than usual in some decks, but mostly they just make your mana better. Even if you’re just 2 colors, taking these over filler is sometimes a good call, since they really make your mana so much better.
Pack 2 Pick 10: Convolute
Thought Distortion image 0.0 6 mana is a ton, and if you’re spending that much you want to be actually accomplishing something. By that late in the game there is no guarantee your opponent will even have a hand, and only exiling noncreature nonland cards from their graveyard is not worth 6 mana. This is unplayable.
Battalion Foot Soldier image 0.0 // 2.5 The “collect ‘em all”-type cards are always pretty interesting. Obviously, if you just have one of these, you’re not going to play it. However, if you can get 2 or more, I think you play them. A 3-mana 2/2 that draws you another 3-mana 2/2 is some nice card advantage. Because the creature is kind of underwhelming, I think even with 3-5 of them, it is probably just still a solid playable. It isn’t amazing, but it will let you quickly fill the board and avoid mana flooding and that always feels nice.
Mind Rot image 1.0 Mind Rot is never particularly good. It does give you a 2-for-1 in ideal situations, but it is really only good in the mid-game. Early on, paying 3 for this and not adding to the board isn’t ideal, and late, your opponent likely doesn’t have cards. So in the mid-game is the sweet spot, but that’s a bit too narrow for me.
Healer of the Glade image 1.0 This is an Elemental, but it is one of the few in the set that you cut alot, even in most elemental decks. It just doesn’t do enough stuff to really feel like a card most of the time. It is quickly outclassed stats-wise, and gaining 3 life isn’t really a big payoff.
Convolute image 1.0 A three-mana counterspell that isn’t even a hard counter is a hard sell for me. This is just too situational to be worth it in most decks.
Growth Cycle image 1.5 Well, this is an interesting trick. Two mana for +3/+3 is already a kind of good deal, but the fact that it pumps your creature even more if you have Growth Cycles in your graveyard seems pretty cool. The kind of awkward thing here is that most of the time, you don’t want to be running too many tricks. So even with that “collect ‘em all” bonus, I’m not sure I ever want more than one of these.
Pack 2 Pick 11: Epicure of Blood
Fire Elemental image 1.0 This would normally be pretty close to unplayable, but with the elemental deck being a very real thing in this format, you actually play this sometimes.
Steadfast Sentry image 3.0 This has alright stats and an alright death trigger. Having Vigilance matters on a creature like this, because – obviously enough – you can attack and block, and using this to trade often feels pretty good because you come out ahead as a result of that +1/+1 counter.
Inspired Charge image 1.0 // 2.5 Like always, if you’re in the token deck this will be a decent Common for you. If you’re not, don’t play it.
Epicure of Blood image 2.5 This is a decent-but-not-great lifegain payoff. It has alright stats too.
Lavakin Brawler image 3.0 This card really overperforms. There are a ton of Elemental in this set to pump its power, and 4 toughness is enough that it can be a real problem for many decks. Combining it with Goblin Smuggler is particularly nasty.
Pack 2 Pick 12: Undead Servant
Sanitarium Skeleton image 0.5 // 2.5 You really only want to play this if you’re in a Sacrifice deck, everywhere else it is just too slow and silly to do much.
Stone Golem image 0.0 I’m not sure why you would play this. Artifact synergy is not a big part of this set, it doesn’t have a useful creature type. It is just a bad creature.
Epicure of Blood image 2.5 This is a decent-but-not-great lifegain payoff. It has alright stats too.
Undead Servant image 0.0 // 2.5 Obviously, like most of this cycle, this is unplayable as one copy. You don’t want to be playing a vanilla 4-mana 3/2, there are countless cards in this set you would play before that. You have to be making a Zombie token pretty regularly with this for it to be worth it. How many copies of this do you need before it is worth playing? Probably around 3, and it gets better if you are good at loading up your graveyard and can get value out of them that way.
Pack 2 Pick 13: Anticipate
Marauder's Axe image 1.5 Equipment that just boosts power doesn’t tend to be amazing, though it does work well on things like tokens, since they become much more formidable.
Fire Elemental image 1.0 This would normally be pretty close to unplayable, but with the elemental deck being a very real thing in this format, you actually play this sometimes.
Anticipate image 1.0 This type of effect is very replaceable. It gives you some card selection and all that, but a lot of the time you end up cutting these for cards that are more impactful.
Pack 2 Pick 14: Fortress Crab
Fortress Crab image 1.0 Here’s a super defensive creature that you will only play on very rare occasions. It just doesn’t do much.
Island image
Pack 2 Pick 15: Plains
Plains image
Pack 3 Pick 1: Ugin, the Spirit Dragon
Vryn Wingmare image 2.0 A 3-mana 2/1 flyer is usually borderline playable, but this also comes with a symmetrical tax effect. As a result of that, you don’t really want to be playing this in a deck that has lots of non-creature spells -- but if your deck is mostly creatures, you’re going to be in business with this, since it will hate on your opponent more than you, in addition to having reasonable stats.
Miscast image 0.0 Countermagic that asks for card types that aren’t “creature” generally aren’t worth it in Limited, and this one isn’t either.
Furious Rise image 1.0 // 3.5 This is a nice 4-power payoff. It effectively draws you an extra card every turn, and that’s the kind of advantage that will win you the game after you trigger it a few times -- it is just hard for your opponent to keep up with that. It is obviously a build around -- an aggressive Red deck that doesn’t have creatures with high power won’t play this, and it is unlikely a UR spells type deck would either -- this is mostly here for the RG deck, which is all about 4 or more power.
Keen Glidemaster image 2.5 Its nice that this is a two-drop who can stay relevant all game long, since flying definitely allows that.
Radiant Fountain image 0.0 Even in the life gain deck this isn’t worth it. It does huge damage to your mana base, and gaining 2 life doesn’t make up for that.
Turn to Slag image 2.5 This is clunky as heck, but it does kill most things, and there is enough good Equipment in this format that you’ll even blow up some Equipment sometimes. It isn’t premium removal, but it is serviceable.
Capture Sphere image 3.0 This is always pretty good removal for Blue. It doesn’t shut off static abilities, but it does pretty much everything else you’d like from your removal spells.
Scorching Dragonfire image 3.5 This is really efficient removal, and the exile clause is nice. This is definitely premium.
Basri's Acolyte image 3.5 This kind of creature always performs pretty well. You’re adding ⅘ worth of stats to the board for 4 mana, and ⅔ of it is has lifelink. That’s a great deal for a Common especially. And sure, it can’t put the counters on itself ever -- and you need at least two other creatures to really reap all the benefits. Those are limitations to be sure, but not huge ones.
Garruk's Gorehorn image 1.0 This is a vanilla creature with huge power and low toughness, and I’m not really looking to play that most of the time.
Blood Glutton image 2.0 This doesn’t have great stats, but trading with it and gaining some life is surprisingly decent, and it is a way to repeatedly gain life, something that the life gain decks really want.
Run Afoul image 0.5 This is mostly just a sideboard card. An edict for only flyers is a dead card too often, and even as a sideboard card it leaves a lot to be desired.
Secure the Scene image 1.5 The flexibility here is pretty nice. However, the mana cost and giving your opponent a 1/1 soldier aren’t so nice – it is especially clunky as a Sorcery. Removing something and then giving your opponent a creature, even a 1/1 creature, is just a huge downside. It really slows you down to not get a whole card of value out of this.
Jungle Hollow image 2.5 This give you nice fixing and even gain you some life! You should value these over most medium cards if they are in your color or you’re interested in fixing.
Pack 3 Pick 2: Capture Sphere
Vryn Wingmare image 2.0 A 3-mana 2/1 flyer is usually borderline playable, but this also comes with a symmetrical tax effect. As a result of that, you don’t really want to be playing this in a deck that has lots of non-creature spells -- but if your deck is mostly creatures, you’re going to be in business with this, since it will hate on your opponent more than you, in addition to having reasonable stats.
Miscast image 0.0 Countermagic that asks for card types that aren’t “creature” generally aren’t worth it in Limited, and this one isn’t either.
Furious Rise image 1.0 // 3.5 This is a nice 4-power payoff. It effectively draws you an extra card every turn, and that’s the kind of advantage that will win you the game after you trigger it a few times -- it is just hard for your opponent to keep up with that. It is obviously a build around -- an aggressive Red deck that doesn’t have creatures with high power won’t play this, and it is unlikely a UR spells type deck would either -- this is mostly here for the RG deck, which is all about 4 or more power.
Keen Glidemaster image 2.5 Its nice that this is a two-drop who can stay relevant all game long, since flying definitely allows that.
Radiant Fountain image 0.0 Even in the life gain deck this isn’t worth it. It does huge damage to your mana base, and gaining 2 life doesn’t make up for that.
Turn to Slag image 2.5 This is clunky as heck, but it does kill most things, and there is enough good Equipment in this format that you’ll even blow up some Equipment sometimes. It isn’t premium removal, but it is serviceable.
Capture Sphere image 3.0 This is always pretty good removal for Blue. It doesn’t shut off static abilities, but it does pretty much everything else you’d like from your removal spells.
Scorching Dragonfire image 3.5 This is really efficient removal, and the exile clause is nice. This is definitely premium.
Basri's Acolyte image 3.5 This kind of creature always performs pretty well. You’re adding ⅘ worth of stats to the board for 4 mana, and ⅔ of it is has lifelink. That’s a great deal for a Common especially. And sure, it can’t put the counters on itself ever -- and you need at least two other creatures to really reap all the benefits. Those are limitations to be sure, but not huge ones.
Garruk's Gorehorn image 1.0 This is a vanilla creature with huge power and low toughness, and I’m not really looking to play that most of the time.
Blood Glutton image 2.0 This doesn’t have great stats, but trading with it and gaining some life is surprisingly decent, and it is a way to repeatedly gain life, something that the life gain decks really want.
Run Afoul image 0.5 This is mostly just a sideboard card. An edict for only flyers is a dead card too often, and even as a sideboard card it leaves a lot to be desired.
Secure the Scene image 1.5 The flexibility here is pretty nice. However, the mana cost and giving your opponent a 1/1 soldier aren’t so nice – it is especially clunky as a Sorcery. Removing something and then giving your opponent a creature, even a 1/1 creature, is just a huge downside. It really slows you down to not get a whole card of value out of this.
Jungle Hollow image 2.5 This give you nice fixing and even gain you some life! You should value these over most medium cards if they are in your color or you’re interested in fixing.
Pack 3 Pick 3: Walking Corpse
Tormod's Crypt image 0.5 This isn’t usually worth it in Limited, as it can only do one thing. There IS a legit graveyard deck in this format, which makes it a reasonable sideboard card, but you should never put this in your main deck.
Warden of the Woods image 3.5 This is a nice blocker who attacks reasonably well too. This comes with some additional value that will make things really obnoxious on your opponent, too. If your opponent has to kill the Warden, it is going to really punish them for it -- netting you two cards is no joke, and amounts to a 3-for-1. Most of the time, your opponent just won’t kill this because of that -- but its size is going to make it something they have to kill a decent chunk of the time.
Rambunctious Mutt image 1.5 He’s just not very efficient if he isn’t taking down an Artifact or Enchantment, and while this format has a decent number of those, it doesn’t have so many that this guy always makes the cut.
Crash Through image 1.0 // 2.0 This is nice in the spells deck, since it triggers a bunch of stuff and replaces itself, but pretty much unplayable everywhere else.
Garruk's Gorehorn image 1.0 This is a vanilla creature with huge power and low toughness, and I’m not really looking to play that most of the time.
Masked Blackguard image 1.5 This is something you play sometimes, it is a two-drop that maintains some relevancy all game long because of its ability, even if the creature itself and its ability are pretty darn inefficient.
Daybreak Charger image 3.0 This is a nice aggressive two drop. It starts with reasonable enough stats and then has a very real ETB ability. Giving something +2/+0 is often enough to enable attack that you didn’t have before, and giving the boost to a creature token or an evasive creature feels particularly satisfying. This is a premiere two-drop for White aggressive decks.
Walking Corpse image 1.0 This is a vanilla two drop that you’ll play only out of desperation.
Deathbloom Thallid image 3.0 This is always a nice creature when we see it. It has decent stats for attacking, blocking, or trading, and then gives you a 1/1 when it dies, which is pretty good for the overall investment.
Celestial Enforcer image 2.5 If you don’t have fliers, you probably hope you don’t play this, but as long as you have 4 or 5 Flyers, this probably gets into the playable range, and that isn’t a crazy thing to achieve. Tap down effects are always nice in Limited, and even a situational one like this is well worth playing.
Roaming Ghostlight image 4.0 My favorite Common in the set, the Ghostlight is great because it adds to the board while you take away from your opponents’, AND it adds a very relevant evasive body to the board. For a Common, it shifts games way in your favor.
Frantic Inventory image 0.5 // 3.0 I actually enjoy these “Collect ‘em All” type cards in Limited, as they make for interesting decisions even later on in packs. Obviously, you don’t want to play this if you only have 1, it is woefully inefficient -- and even 2 isn’t really where you should be playing it. I think you need to get at least 3 before you start playing it, and any more than that and it becomes increasingly impressive. It doesn’t hurt that UG has payoffs for drawing cards, and UR has payoffs for spells either. Keep in mind, by the way -- in Limited you can play as many copies of something as you can get your hands on, so you can go higher than 4.
Bloodfell Caves image 2.5 This give you nice fixing and even gain you some life! You should value these over most medium cards if they are in your color or you’re interested in fixing.
Pack 3 Pick 4: Finishing Blow
Alpine Houndmaster image 3.5 I always like cards that pay you off for having other cards in your deck, or other copies of the card in your deck, and the Huntmaster definitely does. A two mana 2/2 that already has upside, which can potentially draw you 1-2 cards is quite nice. Now, the two creatures you can search up with it are definitely sub-par -- something that I think makes this card even more interesting -- but I still think it will be worth doing. We’ve seen 3-mana 2/2s that can search up other copies of itself turn out to be pretty nice in Limited, so I think this will work well too. Then, it is a payoff for going wide, since it raises its power whenever it attacks -- and obviously, searching up 1-2 cards helps you go wide too!
Kitesail Freebooter image 3.0 This is a nice disruptive creature that also comes with some reasonable French Vanilla stats. Even though they get the creature back if they kill him, he will usually have disrupted their plan enough to really cause them problems, while also still getting traded for 1-for-1.
Sure Strike image 2.0 This trick virtually always allows your creature to win combat, and that’s the kind of trick that aggressive decks are after.
Finishing Blow image 3.5 This is a little bit expensive, but it can kill pretty much everything and it does at Instant speed, so the 5 mana is well worth it.
Return to Nature image 1.5 This does enough different stuff that you can maindeck it without really being disappointed about it, but it is still generally better to bring in out of the sideboard.
Rookie Mistake image 1.0 It is hard to line this up in an advantageous way, it is just so weird. However, it is cheap, and this format has spell payoffs, so that saves it from being completely unplayable.
Trufflesnout image 3.0 This is a nice little card. Either option is a card you’d probably play. Having an option to choose which of those is ideal makes this a nice Common, and one that has synergy for some of the life gain payoffs in the format, as well as the +1/+1 counter payoffs.
Spined Megalodon image 1.5 // 2.5 Big hexproof guys like this usually can find a place in Limited. They are at their best in more controlling decks, as it provides a large Blocker who your opponent just can’t interact with. Hexproof creatures also tend to be good places to put Auras, since getting 2-for-1’d when you put it on a hexproof creature is so unlikely. It is a nice bit of additional value that this Scries when you attack with it, too. UB Reanimator is a very real deck in this format, and this is one of the Commons that you’re pretty happy to play there.
Village Rites image 1.5 I think it is fair to compare this to Tormenting Voice. Both cost you two cards to get you two cards. And yes, there are some differences -- the Rite needs a creature in play and it is an Instant, but I think this will serve a similar purpose. If you have lots of creature tokens, or use it in response to removal, or sacrifice a creature shut down by an Aura, it is going to feel pretty good -- and if you have sacrifice synergies it will be a little better to, but I think that it only makes the cut in your deck about half of the time, and usually just barely as a 23rd or 24th card.
Wishcoin Crab image 1.0 This has stats that line up reasonably well against early attackers, and if you’re in the market for that, you’ll probably play it.
Gale Swooper image 3.0 These are reasonable stats for an evasive creature. Giving something else Flying is a very real ETB trigger, and one that will frequently make attacks happen that just couldn’t before. I think you always run your first copy of this.
Swamp image
Pack 3 Pick 5: Frost Breath
Experimental Overload image 4.0 There are a lot of good cheap spells in this format, and that makes this really easy to make work. Even if you just get a 2/2 out of it, you're likely to get a 2-for-1, and by the late game the token you make from this becomes a legitimate win condition. Getting back a removal spell and making a reasonably sized token is a surprisingly powerful turn!
Crypt Lurker image 3.0 This card really ended up overperforming. It helps you set up things for the reanimator deck, and its ¾ body lines up surprisingly well, and sacrificing a creature to this ends up making sense more often than you’d think too.
Skeleton Archer image 2.5 There are lots of X/1s in this format, so this really overperforms. Doesn’t hurt that it can go after the opponent too sometimes.
Warded Battlements image 1.5 This is weird because it is a payoff for go-wide aggro decks, where the boost will be the most effective – but also weird because it has Defender, and that’s not usually what you’re looking for in an aggro deck. The Battlements are probably actually at their best in the UW skies deck – those decks usually need blockers on the ground while they attack in the air, and +1/+0 on a bunch of flyers is pretty nice. Still, you don’t even always run it in those decks.
Frost Breath image 1.0 I am never a huge fan of this type of situational effect. Sure, you can use it offensive, to get some attacks in, or defensively, to make a creature miss two rounds of attacks, but there are too many situations where it doesn’t do anything. For these effects to be worth it they usually need something else going on.
Setessan Training image 2.0 This gives a reasonable enough boost and replaces itself. It isn’t as good here as it was in Theros, where Enchantments came with a lot of upsides, but its still a fine card.
Run Afoul image 0.5 This is mostly just a sideboard card. An edict for only flyers is a dead card too often, and even as a sideboard card it leaves a lot to be desired.
Destructive Tampering image 0. 5 // 2.0 This is mostly a sideboard card, but if you’re in a really aggressive deck, consider playing one of them because they give you a way to win a game even if your opponent stabilizes.
Chandra's Magmutt image 3.0 This has Grizzly Bear stats and the ability to do 1 to the opponent every turn, and that ability means that the Magemutt stays relevant all game long, after being a decent play on turn two. This will end up threatening a lot of extra damage on the opponent.
Turn to Slag image 2.5 This is clunky as heck, but it does kill most things, and there is enough good Equipment in this format that you’ll even blow up some Equipment sometimes. It isn’t premium removal, but it is serviceable.
Tranquil Cove image 2.5 This give you nice fixing and even gain you some life! You should value these over most medium cards if they are in your color or you’re interested in fixing.
Pack 3 Pick 6: Frantic Inventory
Fungal Rebirth image 1.0 This SEEMS like it would be really sweet, but it is way harder to set up in a way to take full advantage of it than I expected. Mostly it will just be 3 mana to return a permanent, and that’s not worth it.
Life Goes On image 0.5 This gains you a bunch of life and that’s all. That’s not something you usually play in Limited. Maybe if you are GW and have some of the White life gain payoffs it can make it, but that won’t happen often.
Frantic Inventory image 0.5 // 3.0 I actually enjoy these “Collect ‘em All” type cards in Limited, as they make for interesting decisions even later on in packs. Obviously, you don’t want to play this if you only have 1, it is woefully inefficient -- and even 2 isn’t really where you should be playing it. I think you need to get at least 3 before you start playing it, and any more than that and it becomes increasingly impressive. It doesn’t hurt that UG has payoffs for drawing cards, and UR has payoffs for spells either. Keep in mind, by the way -- in Limited you can play as many copies of something as you can get your hands on, so you can go higher than 4.
Turn to Slag image 2.5 This is clunky as heck, but it does kill most things, and there is enough good Equipment in this format that you’ll even blow up some Equipment sometimes. It isn’t premium removal, but it is serviceable.
Sanguine Indulgence image 2.0 Most Black decks are after the first copy of this, even if they can’t get life gain going. Paying 4 to get back two creatures is pretty reasonable, and the kind of thing that can help you win the long game.
Ornery Dilophosaur image 1.5 This card’s main downfall is that it costs 4 and frequently only has two toughness, which makes it die to a whole lot, and you’re usually losing tempo when it happens. It does have Deathtouch, which allows it to trade with whatever, but costing 4 makes that a lot less impressive. Becoming a 4/4 when it attacks is nice additional upside, but it isn’t that impressive, really.
Defiant Strike image 0.5 If White doesn’t have some sort of theme built around spells or combat tricks, this card is usually not very good. Sure, it does replace itself, but the stats boost is meaningless or may as well be far too often for me to play this most of the time.
Mind Rot image 1.0 This is always underwhelming. It can 2-for-1 your opponent early, but at the cost of you not developing the board, and then in the late game it often does nothing.
Gnarled Sage image 2.0 This has some decent stats and keywords, and sometimes it gets bigger. It is a surprisingly good road block for decks in this format.
Swiftwater Cliffs image 2.5 This give you nice fixing and even gain you some life! You should value these over most medium cards if they are in your color or you’re interested in fixing.
Pack 3 Pick 7: Village Rites
Pridemalkin image 3.5 So, worst case scenario you have a 3-mana 3/2 with Trample here. That’s acceptable, but luckily it does even more! For one thing, you can put the counter anywhere -- like on a larger creature who will benefit more from Trample. For another, it gives Trample to any other creatures you control with +1/+1 counters too, so this will often come down and shake up the board. The fact that it can add something to the board right away, no matter what, is always attractive too. +1/+1-adding creatures who are reasonably efficient have always been good in Limited, and that’s what we have here -- in addition to some nice synergy.
Ornery Dilophosaur image 1.5 This card’s main downfall is that it costs 4 and frequently only has two toughness, which makes it die to a whole lot, and you’re usually losing tempo when it happens. It does have Deathtouch, which allows it to trade with whatever, but costing 4 makes that a lot less impressive. Becoming a 4/4 when it attacks is nice additional upside, but it isn’t that impressive, really.
Village Rites image 1.5 I think it is fair to compare this to Tormenting Voice. Both cost you two cards to get you two cards. And yes, there are some differences -- the Rite needs a creature in play and it is an Instant, but I think this will serve a similar purpose. If you have lots of creature tokens, or use it in response to removal, or sacrifice a creature shut down by an Aura, it is going to feel pretty good -- and if you have sacrifice synergies it will be a little better to, but I think that it only makes the cut in your deck about half of the time, and usually just barely as a 23rd or 24th card.
Titanic Growth image 2.0 This is a stat boost that will allow your creature to win almost all combats, and that’s the kind of trick most aggro decks feel okay about running.
Setessan Training image 2.0 This gives a reasonable enough boost and replaces itself. It isn’t as good here as it was in Theros, where Enchantments came with a lot of upsides, but its still a fine card.
Wishcoin Crab image 1.0 This has stats that line up reasonably well against early attackers, and if you’re in the market for that, you’ll probably play it.
Onakke Ogre image 1.5 3-mana 4/2s are borderline playables, and this set has various payoffs for 4 power, so you’ll play this a little more than you might think.
Gloom Sower image 1.0 // 2.0 This card is mostly not very good – it has low toughness for the cost and is very easy to take down. However, it does slot reasonably well into the UB reanimator deck, and that helps make it a more appealing card.
Forest image
Pack 3 Pick 8: Gloom Sower
Rookie Mistake image 1.0 It is hard to line this up in an advantageous way, it is just so weird. However, it is cheap, and this format has spell payoffs, so that saves it from being completely unplayable.
Prismite image 1.0 This has bad stats and it is bad at fixing mana. If you’re desperate for a two drop or fixing you’ll play it, but that’s it.
Wishcoin Crab image 1.0 This has stats that line up reasonably well against early attackers, and if you’re in the market for that, you’ll probably play it.
Life Goes On image 0.5 This gains you a bunch of life and that’s all. That’s not something you usually play in Limited. Maybe if you are GW and have some of the White life gain payoffs it can make it, but that won’t happen often.
Gloom Sower image 1.0 // 2.0 This card is mostly not very good – it has low toughness for the cost and is very easy to take down. However, it does slot reasonably well into the UB reanimator deck, and that helps make it a more appealing card.
Crypt Lurker image 3.0 This card really ended up overperforming. It helps you set up things for the reanimator deck, and its ¾ body lines up surprisingly well, and sacrificing a creature to this ends up making sense more often than you’d think too.
Igneous Cur image 1.5 This thing is a borderline playable on its own, but it can be fetched by the RW signpost uncommon, increasing its value a little bit.
Plains image
Pack 3 Pick 9: Bad Deal
Alpine Houndmaster image 3.5 I always like cards that pay you off for having other cards in your deck, or other copies of the card in your deck, and the Huntmaster definitely does. A two mana 2/2 that already has upside, which can potentially draw you 1-2 cards is quite nice. Now, the two creatures you can search up with it are definitely sub-par -- something that I think makes this card even more interesting -- but I still think it will be worth doing. We’ve seen 3-mana 2/2s that can search up other copies of itself turn out to be pretty nice in Limited, so I think this will work well too. Then, it is a payoff for going wide, since it raises its power whenever it attacks -- and obviously, searching up 1-2 cards helps you go wide too!
Bad Deal image 0.5 This card is exactly what its name is. It is tempting to imagine the 4-for-1 this gives you in ideal scenarios, but it just doesn’t happen. It is mostly just a bad draw spell.
Infernal Scarring image 1.5 I generally don’t like this when we see it. It does replace itself if the creature dies, but it just gives such an underwhelming statsboost. You’ll play it in more aggressive decks, but even then it won’t always make the cut.
Warded Battlements image 1.5 This is weird because it is a payoff for go-wide aggro decks, where the boost will be the most effective – but also weird because it has Defender, and that’s not usually what you’re looking for in an aggro deck. The Battlements are probably actually at their best in the UW skies deck – those decks usually need blockers on the ground while they attack in the air, and +1/+0 on a bunch of flyers is pretty nice. Still, you don’t even always run it in those decks.
Mind Rot image 1.0 This is always underwhelming. It can 2-for-1 your opponent early, but at the cost of you not developing the board, and then in the late game it often does nothing.
Furor of the Bitten image 1.0 This gives a reasonable boost for the cost, but probably not quite enough to be worth the risk of a 2-for-1, especially because you can end up setting yourself up for the 2-for-1 just by playing this, since it forces your creature to attack. It can also be used to force an opposing creature to attack, but that additional use still doesn’t make it very good.
Mountain image
Pack 3 Pick 10: Blood Glutton
Miscast image 0.0 Countermagic that asks for card types that aren’t “creature” generally aren’t worth it in Limited, and this one isn’t either.
Furious Rise image 1.0 // 3.5 This is a nice 4-power payoff. It effectively draws you an extra card every turn, and that’s the kind of advantage that will win you the game after you trigger it a few times -- it is just hard for your opponent to keep up with that. It is obviously a build around -- an aggressive Red deck that doesn’t have creatures with high power won’t play this, and it is unlikely a UR spells type deck would either -- this is mostly here for the RG deck, which is all about 4 or more power.
Radiant Fountain image 0.0 Even in the life gain deck this isn’t worth it. It does huge damage to your mana base, and gaining 2 life doesn’t make up for that.
Turn to Slag image 2.5 This is clunky as heck, but it does kill most things, and there is enough good Equipment in this format that you’ll even blow up some Equipment sometimes. It isn’t premium removal, but it is serviceable.
Blood Glutton image 2.0 This doesn’t have great stats, but trading with it and gaining some life is surprisingly decent, and it is a way to repeatedly gain life, something that the life gain decks really want.
Run Afoul image 0.5 This is mostly just a sideboard card. An edict for only flyers is a dead card too often, and even as a sideboard card it leaves a lot to be desired.
Pack 3 Pick 11: Masked Blackguard
Crash Through image 1.0 // 2.0 This is nice in the spells deck, since it triggers a bunch of stuff and replaces itself, but pretty much unplayable everywhere else.
Masked Blackguard image 1.5 This is something you play sometimes, it is a two-drop that maintains some relevancy all game long because of its ability, even if the creature itself and its ability are pretty darn inefficient.
Daybreak Charger image 3.0 This is a nice aggressive two drop. It starts with reasonable enough stats and then has a very real ETB ability. Giving something +2/+0 is often enough to enable attack that you didn’t have before, and giving the boost to a creature token or an evasive creature feels particularly satisfying. This is a premiere two-drop for White aggressive decks.
Celestial Enforcer image 2.5 If you don’t have fliers, you probably hope you don’t play this, but as long as you have 4 or 5 Flyers, this probably gets into the playable range, and that isn’t a crazy thing to achieve. Tap down effects are always nice in Limited, and even a situational one like this is well worth playing.
Bloodfell Caves image 2.5 This give you nice fixing and even gain you some life! You should value these over most medium cards if they are in your color or you’re interested in fixing.
Pack 3 Pick 12: Village Rites
Alpine Houndmaster image 3.5 I always like cards that pay you off for having other cards in your deck, or other copies of the card in your deck, and the Huntmaster definitely does. A two mana 2/2 that already has upside, which can potentially draw you 1-2 cards is quite nice. Now, the two creatures you can search up with it are definitely sub-par -- something that I think makes this card even more interesting -- but I still think it will be worth doing. We’ve seen 3-mana 2/2s that can search up other copies of itself turn out to be pretty nice in Limited, so I think this will work well too. Then, it is a payoff for going wide, since it raises its power whenever it attacks -- and obviously, searching up 1-2 cards helps you go wide too!
Sure Strike image 2.0 This trick virtually always allows your creature to win combat, and that’s the kind of trick that aggressive decks are after.
Village Rites image 1.5 I think it is fair to compare this to Tormenting Voice. Both cost you two cards to get you two cards. And yes, there are some differences -- the Rite needs a creature in play and it is an Instant, but I think this will serve a similar purpose. If you have lots of creature tokens, or use it in response to removal, or sacrifice a creature shut down by an Aura, it is going to feel pretty good -- and if you have sacrifice synergies it will be a little better to, but I think that it only makes the cut in your deck about half of the time, and usually just barely as a 23rd or 24th card.
Swamp image
Pack 3 Pick 13: Turn to Slag
Destructive Tampering image 0. 5 // 2.0 This is mostly a sideboard card, but if you’re in a really aggressive deck, consider playing one of them because they give you a way to win a game even if your opponent stabilizes.
Chandra's Magmutt image 3.0 This has Grizzly Bear stats and the ability to do 1 to the opponent every turn, and that ability means that the Magemutt stays relevant all game long, after being a decent play on turn two. This will end up threatening a lot of extra damage on the opponent.
Turn to Slag image 2.5 This is clunky as heck, but it does kill most things, and there is enough good Equipment in this format that you’ll even blow up some Equipment sometimes. It isn’t premium removal, but it is serviceable.
Pack 3 Pick 14: Mind Rot
Life Goes On image 0.5 This gains you a bunch of life and that’s all. That’s not something you usually play in Limited. Maybe if you are GW and have some of the White life gain payoffs it can make it, but that won’t happen often.
Mind Rot image 1.0 This is always underwhelming. It can 2-for-1 your opponent early, but at the cost of you not developing the board, and then in the late game it often does nothing.
Pack 3 Pick 15: Forest
Forest image
Draft Pick Overview