Premier Draft DAR 24 June 2021
24 June 04:34 - glenn2763 7 Wins - 2 LossesMaindeck
| Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (11) | |||
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1
Opt
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| Creature (12) | |||
| Land (17) | |||
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9
Island
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8
Mountain
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Pack 1 Pick 1: Forebear's Blade
Forebear's Blade
3.5 When you Equip this the first time it isn’t going to feel amazingly efficient, 6 mana total to give a creature +3/+0 , Vigilance and Trample is not a card you would feel great about. That said, the boost is enough to make virtually any creature into a good attacker, though the lack of a toughness boost does mean your creature isn’t less likely to actually die in combat, but that’s okay, since the Blade just gets equipped to something else for free any time the creature wielding it dies, and that’s where the real value is.
3.5 When you Equip this the first time it isn’t going to feel amazingly efficient, 6 mana total to give a creature +3/+0 , Vigilance and Trample is not a card you would feel great about. That said, the boost is enough to make virtually any creature into a good attacker, though the lack of a toughness boost does mean your creature isn’t less likely to actually die in combat, but that’s okay, since the Blade just gets equipped to something else for free any time the creature wielding it dies, and that’s where the real value is.
Sage of Lat-Nam
2.0 The effect here is pretty strong, as cashing in artifacts for cards can be a good deal, but it isn’t always easy to set up.
2.0 The effect here is pretty strong, as cashing in artifacts for cards can be a good deal, but it isn’t always easy to set up.
Song of Freyalise
4.0 This thing ends up doing way more than you might think (certainly more than I thought when first reviewing the set). If you can get just two creatures in play ahead of casting this, it ends up being an absolute beating for your opponent. Chapter I and II give you both fixing and extra mana, which will of course allow you to add more creatures to the board, and then chapter III comes along and gives you what amounts to a free attack – your whole board gets permanently larger and gain vigilance and indestructible until end of turn, which means you don’t have to worry about the crack back, or any of your creatures dying in combat. It does take that bit of set up – but if you’re playing a deck with a normal number of creatures, it is very doable.
4.0 This thing ends up doing way more than you might think (certainly more than I thought when first reviewing the set). If you can get just two creatures in play ahead of casting this, it ends up being an absolute beating for your opponent. Chapter I and II give you both fixing and extra mana, which will of course allow you to add more creatures to the board, and then chapter III comes along and gives you what amounts to a free attack – your whole board gets permanently larger and gain vigilance and indestructible until end of turn, which means you don’t have to worry about the crack back, or any of your creatures dying in combat. It does take that bit of set up – but if you’re playing a deck with a normal number of creatures, it is very doable.
Arvad the Cursed
3.5 Even if Arvad didn’t pump legendary creatures at all, he would be a card you’d usually run. He can trade with anything and gain you life in the process, and he’s a good creature to pump. There are enough other legendary creatures in this set, too, that Arvad does often end up pumping a few other creatures in your deck too.
3.5 Even if Arvad didn’t pump legendary creatures at all, he would be a card you’d usually run. He can trade with anything and gain you life in the process, and he’s a good creature to pump. There are enough other legendary creatures in this set, too, that Arvad does often end up pumping a few other creatures in your deck too.
Caligo Skin-Witch
3.0 This is another card with Kicker where neither option is terribly efficient, but it turns out that it doesn’t really matter – the flexibility and late game usefulness make up for that. In this format, people tend to hold on to card a fair bit, so kicking the Skin-Witch ends up hitting two cards way more in this format than in most, and can often just be the kind of thing that shifts the game in your favor.
3.0 This is another card with Kicker where neither option is terribly efficient, but it turns out that it doesn’t really matter – the flexibility and late game usefulness make up for that. In this format, people tend to hold on to card a fair bit, so kicking the Skin-Witch ends up hitting two cards way more in this format than in most, and can often just be the kind of thing that shifts the game in your favor.
Skittering Surveyor
3.5 So, this is a 3-mana ½ that draws you any basic land, and I would be on board with that pretty much no matter the format. The fixing it provides is just that good – and in this format, it is even better! Especially because there is Artifact/historic synergy all over the place.
3.5 So, this is a 3-mana ½ that draws you any basic land, and I would be on board with that pretty much no matter the format. The fixing it provides is just that good – and in this format, it is even better! Especially because there is Artifact/historic synergy all over the place.
Keldon Overseer
2.5 Another card with Kicker where neither the unkicked OR kicked version seems very efficient, but the upside offered by that flexibility is very real. Kicking this late and Threatening an opponents creature will add a lot of damage to the board in most cases, and will often really allow you to attack in a situation where it didn’t look like a good idea.
2.5 Another card with Kicker where neither the unkicked OR kicked version seems very efficient, but the upside offered by that flexibility is very real. Kicking this late and Threatening an opponents creature will add a lot of damage to the board in most cases, and will often really allow you to attack in a situation where it didn’t look like a good idea.
Befuddle
1.5 This type of Blue “combat trick” almost always disappoints, just because you need things to line up in very specific ways for it to actually feel like a combat trick. Other times, it just feels like Fog. However, adding a cantrip effect to this makes it substantially better, as does the fact that the UR deck likes spells. It still isn’t good exactly, but it is better than most versions of this type of card.
1.5 This type of Blue “combat trick” almost always disappoints, just because you need things to line up in very specific ways for it to actually feel like a combat trick. Other times, it just feels like Fog. However, adding a cantrip effect to this makes it substantially better, as does the fact that the UR deck likes spells. It still isn’t good exactly, but it is better than most versions of this type of card.
Gift of Growth
2.0 This trick will often allow your creature to win combat early, and sometimes the kicker side of things can get you lethal out of nowhere, in addition to also being the sort of boost that will allow almost any creature to take down any other creature. It is still a trick of course, and comes with the significant downside those have.
2.0 This trick will often allow your creature to win combat early, and sometimes the kicker side of things can get you lethal out of nowhere, in addition to also being the sort of boost that will allow almost any creature to take down any other creature. It is still a trick of course, and comes with the significant downside those have.
Sparring Construct
1.5 This is passable, mostly just because it is an Artifact.
1.5 This is passable, mostly just because it is an Artifact.
Knight of New Benalia
1.5 Two mana 3/1s tend to be kind of alright, and this one has a useful creature type.
1.5 Two mana 3/1s tend to be kind of alright, and this one has a useful creature type.
Dark Bargain
2.0 This is basically Black Divination, and that means having one copy of it in your Black decks is usually decent.
2.0 This is basically Black Divination, and that means having one copy of it in your Black decks is usually decent.
Homarid Explorer
1.0 There isn’t enough of a payoff for milling yourself or your opponent for this to be very good.
1.0 There isn’t enough of a payoff for milling yourself or your opponent for this to be very good.
Ancient Animus
2.5 Getting the counter with this won’t come up a ton, but being an instant speed fight effect is a fine baseline.
2.5 Getting the counter with this won’t come up a ton, but being an instant speed fight effect is a fine baseline.
Pack 1 Pick 2: Wizard's Retort
The First Eruption
1.5 This Saga isn’t a great one. Chapter I often won’t do anything, or worse – it could hurt you more than your opponent. Chapter II’s ramp isn’t too bad, and neither is Chapter III letting you sacrifice a mountain for 3 damage. Still, you won’t always have some way to make use of Chapter II, and Chapter III takes a long time if what you’re really looking for is removal.
1.5 This Saga isn’t a great one. Chapter I often won’t do anything, or worse – it could hurt you more than your opponent. Chapter II’s ramp isn’t too bad, and neither is Chapter III letting you sacrifice a mountain for 3 damage. Still, you won’t always have some way to make use of Chapter II, and Chapter III takes a long time if what you’re really looking for is removal.
Sanctum Spirit
2.0 It is cool that this can become indestructible, but a lot of the time when you play this, you find yourself not really wanting to discard a Historic card to save it, as a 3/2 with lifelink isn’t exactly a worldbeater.
2.0 It is cool that this can become indestructible, but a lot of the time when you play this, you find yourself not really wanting to discard a Historic card to save it, as a 3/2 with lifelink isn’t exactly a worldbeater.
Wizard's Retort
2.5 Cancel usually is something like a 1.0 in Limited, it comes with all the downside that is inherent to counterspells – most notably, you better have the mana at the exact right time for it to actually do something! But, the Wizard clause here is a big deal, as this turns into straight up Counterspell, which is a significantly better card. If you’re in Blue (and uh, you are if you’re playing this), being able to cast this for UU will happen pretty often.
2.5 Cancel usually is something like a 1.0 in Limited, it comes with all the downside that is inherent to counterspells – most notably, you better have the mana at the exact right time for it to actually do something! But, the Wizard clause here is a big deal, as this turns into straight up Counterspell, which is a significantly better card. If you’re in Blue (and uh, you are if you’re playing this), being able to cast this for UU will happen pretty often.
Fire Elemental
1.0 The stats here aren’t great, and there’s not any payoff in this set for Elementals, so you won’t play this most of the time.
1.0 The stats here aren’t great, and there’s not any payoff in this set for Elementals, so you won’t play this most of the time.
Divest
0.5 This is a sideboard card. People frequently won’t have enough targets to make it worth it.
0.5 This is a sideboard card. People frequently won’t have enough targets to make it worth it.
Tragic Poet
1.0 This isn’t great, even in a set with Sagas.
1.0 This isn’t great, even in a set with Sagas.
Dub
2.0 This is a pretty solid Aura, mostly because the stats boost it gives will often make a creature into something your opponent has to kill, and if they can’t, you probably win. Still, it is quite swingy – if your opponent can kill your guy, that means you just got 2-for-1’d, and that’s not always easy to recover from.
2.0 This is a pretty solid Aura, mostly because the stats boost it gives will often make a creature into something your opponent has to kill, and if they can’t, you probably win. Still, it is quite swingy – if your opponent can kill your guy, that means you just got 2-for-1’d, and that’s not always easy to recover from.
Vodalian Arcanist
2.0 This has decent stats and allows you to make some extra mana for Instants and Sorceries, something that is a pretty nice effect to have, albeit not one that will come up all the time.
2.0 This has decent stats and allows you to make some extra mana for Instants and Sorceries, something that is a pretty nice effect to have, albeit not one that will come up all the time.
Pierce the Sky
0.5 This is mostly a sideboard card – it pretty much kills all the flyers in the set.
0.5 This is mostly a sideboard card – it pretty much kills all the flyers in the set.
Thallid Omnivore
3.0 You will end up having this on many board states where your opponent always has to block it, since it can get big so quickly and so cheaply. Saprolings pair really well with it, not only because of the life gain, but also because there are plenty of cards in this set that make multiples, and that’s just what Thallid Omnivore is after.
3.0 You will end up having this on many board states where your opponent always has to block it, since it can get big so quickly and so cheaply. Saprolings pair really well with it, not only because of the life gain, but also because there are plenty of cards in this set that make multiples, and that’s just what Thallid Omnivore is after.
D'Avenant Trapper
2.5 This has decent stats and an okay historic trigger. Tapping stuff down can often really enable attacks you just didn’t have before, and that’s a good place to be in an aggressive deck.
2.5 This has decent stats and an okay historic trigger. Tapping stuff down can often really enable attacks you just didn’t have before, and that’s a good place to be in an aggressive deck.
Sparring Construct
1.5 This is passable, mostly just because it is an Artifact.
1.5 This is passable, mostly just because it is an Artifact.
Mesa Unicorn
2.5 Two mana 2/2s with Lifelink are usually nice little cards in Limited, and that’s the case here.
2.5 Two mana 2/2s with Lifelink are usually nice little cards in Limited, and that’s the case here.
Pack 1 Pick 3: Cloudreader Sphinx
Memorial to Glory
3.0 This might come into play tapped, but it more that makes up for that with the ability to make a couple of creature tokens in the late game.
3.0 This might come into play tapped, but it more that makes up for that with the ability to make a couple of creature tokens in the late game.
Whisper, Blood Liturgist
2.0 It isn’t that easy to set Whisper up in this format – you need to be going wide and you need to have something worth reanimating, and neither of those are guaranteed. You’ll be able to pull it off sometimes, and it is also nice that Whisper can sacrifice itself if need be.
2.0 It isn’t that easy to set Whisper up in this format – you need to be going wide and you need to have something worth reanimating, and neither of those are guaranteed. You’ll be able to pull it off sometimes, and it is also nice that Whisper can sacrifice itself if need be.
Baloth Gorger
3.5 This is a very good common, as playing it as a 4-mana 4/4 feels pretty good, and then in the late game it has the added utility of being an 8-mana 7/7, which, while not efficient – is not upside to have on an already efficient creature.
3.5 This is a very good common, as playing it as a 4-mana 4/4 feels pretty good, and then in the late game it has the added utility of being an 8-mana 7/7, which, while not efficient – is not upside to have on an already efficient creature.
Aven Sentry
2.0 This has decent French Vanilla stats, and not much else.
2.0 This has decent French Vanilla stats, and not much else.
Unwind
0.5 This is generally too narrow for you to really want to play. It is better out of your sideboard, as bringing it in against someone who has a lot of noncreature spells will work out okay.
0.5 This is generally too narrow for you to really want to play. It is better out of your sideboard, as bringing it in against someone who has a lot of noncreature spells will work out okay.
Drudge Sentinel
1.0 A 3-mana 2/1 that can become indestructible for three mana isn’t very good. Both parts of that are pretty inefficient. The Sentinel isn’t an especially good attacker or blocker, so you mostly just won’t play it.
1.0 A 3-mana 2/1 that can become indestructible for three mana isn’t very good. Both parts of that are pretty inefficient. The Sentinel isn’t an especially good attacker or blocker, so you mostly just won’t play it.
Warlord's Fury
1.5 There is a bit of a spell theme in this set, but not really enough of one that Warlord’s Fury feels amazing here. It does replace itself, so it isn’t terrible.
1.5 There is a bit of a spell theme in this set, but not really enough of one that Warlord’s Fury feels amazing here. It does replace itself, so it isn’t terrible.
Divest
0.5 This is a sideboard card. People frequently won’t have enough targets to make it worth it.
0.5 This is a sideboard card. People frequently won’t have enough targets to make it worth it.
Ghitu Lavarunner
1.5 One mana creatures like this just don’t do well in Limited, especially because loading up the graveyard super quickly isn’t going to happen. This will mostly just be a one mana ½ that is a 2/2 with Haste in the mid-to-late game, but by then, it won’t really matter. The fact it is a Wizard does help make it more playable though.
1.5 One mana creatures like this just don’t do well in Limited, especially because loading up the graveyard super quickly isn’t going to happen. This will mostly just be a one mana ½ that is a 2/2 with Haste in the mid-to-late game, but by then, it won’t really matter. The fact it is a Wizard does help make it more playable though.
Cloudreader Sphinx
3.5 This card really overperforms. 5-mana ¾ Flyers are usually somewhat passable, but in this format that statline is especially good. Additionally, Scry 2 is a nice thing to add to an already solid creature.
3.5 This card really overperforms. 5-mana ¾ Flyers are usually somewhat passable, but in this format that statline is especially good. Additionally, Scry 2 is a nice thing to add to an already solid creature.
Tolarian Scholar
1.5 In most formats, this would be a 1.0, but the Wizard creature type matters enough here that this 3-mana 2/3 gets a little upgrade.
1.5 In most formats, this would be a 1.0, but the Wizard creature type matters enough here that this 3-mana 2/3 gets a little upgrade.
Feral Abomination
1.5 This is a kind of okay finisher if you’re desperate for one.
1.5 This is a kind of okay finisher if you’re desperate for one.
Pack 1 Pick 4: Jousting Lance
Chainer's Torment
2.0 Most of the time, paying 4 mana for this won’t feel worth it. Most of the time, you’ll do some damage and gain some life up to 12 or 14, and then make like a 6/6 that lowers your life back down to 6. It does this all really slowly too, and the fact that you played this on turn four will often mean your life is pretty low, assuming your opponent has also added to the board. Don’t get me wrong, this does win games sometimes, but it seems like it does very little even more often than that.
2.0 Most of the time, paying 4 mana for this won’t feel worth it. Most of the time, you’ll do some damage and gain some life up to 12 or 14, and then make like a 6/6 that lowers your life back down to 6. It does this all really slowly too, and the fact that you played this on turn four will often mean your life is pretty low, assuming your opponent has also added to the board. Don’t get me wrong, this does win games sometimes, but it seems like it does very little even more often than that.
Memorial to Folly
3.5 I love utility lands, and this whole Memorial cycle is certainly that! It enters tapped, but most of the time the Memorial will just feel like a way better Swamp, since in the late game it can get you the best creature back out of your graveyard, that’s a very real effect on a land – something most don’t have!
3.5 I love utility lands, and this whole Memorial cycle is certainly that! It enters tapped, but most of the time the Memorial will just feel like a way better Swamp, since in the late game it can get you the best creature back out of your graveyard, that’s a very real effect on a land – something most don’t have!
Keldon Overseer
2.5 Another card with Kicker where neither the unkicked OR kicked version seems very efficient, but the upside offered by that flexibility is very real. Kicking this late and Threatening an opponents creature will add a lot of damage to the board in most cases, and will often really allow you to attack in a situation where it didn’t look like a good idea.
2.5 Another card with Kicker where neither the unkicked OR kicked version seems very efficient, but the upside offered by that flexibility is very real. Kicking this late and Threatening an opponents creature will add a lot of damage to the board in most cases, and will often really allow you to attack in a situation where it didn’t look like a good idea.
Homarid Explorer
1.0 There isn’t enough of a payoff for milling yourself or your opponent for this to be very good.
1.0 There isn’t enough of a payoff for milling yourself or your opponent for this to be very good.
Corrosive Ooze
1.5 There is Equipment in this set, but not so much that this ability is amazing. Most of the time, Corrosive Ooze is just a Bear.
1.5 There is Equipment in this set, but not so much that this ability is amazing. Most of the time, Corrosive Ooze is just a Bear.
Jousting Lance
2.5 This is another piece of Equipment that might be a little bit clunky in most formats, but in this one, Jousting Lance tends to be pretty good. +2/+0 and first strike is enough to make many creatures very difficult to block, so most creature-based decks are pretty interested in this.
2.5 This is another piece of Equipment that might be a little bit clunky in most formats, but in this one, Jousting Lance tends to be pretty good. +2/+0 and first strike is enough to make many creatures very difficult to block, so most creature-based decks are pretty interested in this.
Warlord's Fury
1.5 There is a bit of a spell theme in this set, but not really enough of one that Warlord’s Fury feels amazing here. It does replace itself, so it isn’t terrible.
1.5 There is a bit of a spell theme in this set, but not really enough of one that Warlord’s Fury feels amazing here. It does replace itself, so it isn’t terrible.
Feral Abomination
1.5 This is a kind of okay finisher if you’re desperate for one.
1.5 This is a kind of okay finisher if you’re desperate for one.
Cabal Paladin
2.0 This has a pretty nice Historic ability, as it can really chip in a ton of damage, but it comes on a pretty terrible body. A 4-mana 4/2 dies to a whole lot of stuff that costs 1-2 mana, and that never feels very good.
2.0 This has a pretty nice Historic ability, as it can really chip in a ton of damage, but it comes on a pretty terrible body. A 4-mana 4/2 dies to a whole lot of stuff that costs 1-2 mana, and that never feels very good.
Caligo Skin-Witch
3.0 This is another card with Kicker where neither option is terribly efficient, but it turns out that it doesn’t really matter – the flexibility and late game usefulness make up for that. In this format, people tend to hold on to card a fair bit, so kicking the Skin-Witch ends up hitting two cards way more in this format than in most, and can often just be the kind of thing that shifts the game in your favor.
3.0 This is another card with Kicker where neither option is terribly efficient, but it turns out that it doesn’t really matter – the flexibility and late game usefulness make up for that. In this format, people tend to hold on to card a fair bit, so kicking the Skin-Witch ends up hitting two cards way more in this format than in most, and can often just be the kind of thing that shifts the game in your favor.
Artificer's Assistant
1.5 This has decent base stats, but the Scry trigger here just doesn’t happen often enough for this to be very good.
1.5 This has decent base stats, but the Scry trigger here just doesn’t happen often enough for this to be very good.
Pack 1 Pick 5: Ghitu Lavarunner
Thorn Elemental
2.0 This isn’t the worst thing to ramp into or have at the top of your curve, it is nice that you can just make the 7 damage hit your opponent no matter what, and that does really discourage little chump blocks and the like.
2.0 This isn’t the worst thing to ramp into or have at the top of your curve, it is nice that you can just make the 7 damage hit your opponent no matter what, and that does really discourage little chump blocks and the like.
Wild Onslaught
1.5 This isn’t especially good without kicker, but sometimes that boost will mean the difference between winning combat and losing it, and can sometimes result in lethal! Kicking it is where a ton of damage can really come out of nowhere in a hurry, though it is pretty darn expensive to do it.
1.5 This isn’t especially good without kicker, but sometimes that boost will mean the difference between winning combat and losing it, and can sometimes result in lethal! Kicking it is where a ton of damage can really come out of nowhere in a hurry, though it is pretty darn expensive to do it.
Cabal Paladin
2.0 This has a pretty nice Historic ability, as it can really chip in a ton of damage, but it comes on a pretty terrible body. A 4-mana 4/2 dies to a whole lot of stuff that costs 1-2 mana, and that never feels very good.
2.0 This has a pretty nice Historic ability, as it can really chip in a ton of damage, but it comes on a pretty terrible body. A 4-mana 4/2 dies to a whole lot of stuff that costs 1-2 mana, and that never feels very good.
Tolarian Scholar
1.5 In most formats, this would be a 1.0, but the Wizard creature type matters enough here that this 3-mana 2/3 gets a little upgrade.
1.5 In most formats, this would be a 1.0, but the Wizard creature type matters enough here that this 3-mana 2/3 gets a little upgrade.
Fire Elemental
1.0 The stats here aren’t great, and there’s not any payoff in this set for Elementals, so you won’t play this most of the time.
1.0 The stats here aren’t great, and there’s not any payoff in this set for Elementals, so you won’t play this most of the time.
Powerstone Shard
0.0 // 2.5 This is hard to make work, but if you end up 3+ Powerstone Shards, you can start consider playing them, especially if you’re in a ramp deck. If you have 2 or less, it probably isn’t worth it.
0.0 // 2.5 This is hard to make work, but if you end up 3+ Powerstone Shards, you can start consider playing them, especially if you’re in a ramp deck. If you have 2 or less, it probably isn’t worth it.
Excavation Elephant
2.0 Like most cards with Kicker in this set, Excavation Elephant is a decent creature when you cast it regularly, and then in the later part of the game you can kick it for some extra value. There are enough Artifacts in this set that casting this with Kicker and getting something back is very doable.
2.0 Like most cards with Kicker in this set, Excavation Elephant is a decent creature when you cast it regularly, and then in the later part of the game you can kick it for some extra value. There are enough Artifacts in this set that casting this with Kicker and getting something back is very doable.
Grow from the Ashes
3.5 Fixing and ramp are big in this format as a result of kicker and various mana sinks, and Grow from the Ashes is really good at giving you both of those things, especially when you kick it. It can even allow you to splash double colored cards, which is nice upside.
3.5 Fixing and ramp are big in this format as a result of kicker and various mana sinks, and Grow from the Ashes is really good at giving you both of those things, especially when you kick it. It can even allow you to splash double colored cards, which is nice upside.
Ghitu Lavarunner
1.5 One mana creatures like this just don’t do well in Limited, especially because loading up the graveyard super quickly isn’t going to happen. This will mostly just be a one mana ½ that is a 2/2 with Haste in the mid-to-late game, but by then, it won’t really matter. The fact it is a Wizard does help make it more playable though.
1.5 One mana creatures like this just don’t do well in Limited, especially because loading up the graveyard super quickly isn’t going to happen. This will mostly just be a one mana ½ that is a 2/2 with Haste in the mid-to-late game, but by then, it won’t really matter. The fact it is a Wizard does help make it more playable though.
Bloodstone Goblin
2.0 A two-mana 2/2 isn’t a bad baseline, but this often isn’t much more than that. That’s because, by the part of the game where you can pay kicker costs, a 3/3 with Menace usually isn’t going to be the most…well…menacing creature around.
2.0 A two-mana 2/2 isn’t a bad baseline, but this often isn’t much more than that. That’s because, by the part of the game where you can pay kicker costs, a 3/3 with Menace usually isn’t going to be the most…well…menacing creature around.
Pack 1 Pick 6: Two-Headed Giant
Two-Headed Giant
3.5 This has some random stuff going on of course, but whatever the coin lands on, you’re looking at an efficient creature. A 4-mana 4/4 is a great baseline, and it will be attacking with Menace or Double Strike a reasonable chunk of the time. Now, sometimes you’ll really be crossing your fingers for a flip to go a certain way, and when it doesn’t it won’t feel so good, but most of the time you’ll feel like you got your mana’s worth out of this.
3.5 This has some random stuff going on of course, but whatever the coin lands on, you’re looking at an efficient creature. A 4-mana 4/4 is a great baseline, and it will be attacking with Menace or Double Strike a reasonable chunk of the time. Now, sometimes you’ll really be crossing your fingers for a flip to go a certain way, and when it doesn’t it won’t feel so good, but most of the time you’ll feel like you got your mana’s worth out of this.
Sorcerer's Wand
1.0 Even with a lot of Wizards in this set, it is pretty hard to set this up, and even when you do, it isn’t really going to be great in most situations.
1.0 Even with a lot of Wizards in this set, it is pretty hard to set this up, and even when you do, it isn’t really going to be great in most situations.
Fervent Strike
1.5 This is a one-mana trick that can help a creature win a decent number of combats. That’s what makes it a decent enough trick for aggressive decks.
1.5 This is a one-mana trick that can help a creature win a decent number of combats. That’s what makes it a decent enough trick for aggressive decks.
Navigator's Compass
0.5 This kind of card is always overrated. People look at it and they really think of it as a form of fixing, and..well, it is, but you also use up an entire card for it, and you just modify a land you already have. This does nothing but fix for the most part. It does gain you a bit of life, and it is an artifact in a set that cares about them, but you can do a lot better than this.
0.5 This kind of card is always overrated. People look at it and they really think of it as a form of fixing, and..well, it is, but you also use up an entire card for it, and you just modify a land you already have. This does nothing but fix for the most part. It does gain you a bit of life, and it is an artifact in a set that cares about them, but you can do a lot better than this.
Sergeant-at-Arms
2.5 This is another card with Kicker where both options don’t exactly seem efficient, but having the choice between them is great. You either get a 3-mana 2/3 or a 6-mana 2/3 that makes two 1/1 tokens. When you kick it, it can really allow you to stabilize in situations even when you are pretty far behind.
2.5 This is another card with Kicker where both options don’t exactly seem efficient, but having the choice between them is great. You either get a 3-mana 2/3 or a 6-mana 2/3 that makes two 1/1 tokens. When you kick it, it can really allow you to stabilize in situations even when you are pretty far behind.
Rescue
0.5 This can do some things – like help you reset a Saga – but it is mostly too narrow to ever really want to play.
0.5 This can do some things – like help you reset a Saga – but it is mostly too narrow to ever really want to play.
Guardians of Koilos
1.5 The idea here is that you can bounce a Saga or other Historic thing to your hand that will give you value when you play it again, but a lot of the time this is just a 5-mana 4/4, and that’s not really something you want.
1.5 The idea here is that you can bounce a Saga or other Historic thing to your hand that will give you value when you play it again, but a lot of the time this is just a 5-mana 4/4, and that’s not really something you want.
Sparring Construct
1.5 This is passable, mostly just because it is an Artifact.
1.5 This is passable, mostly just because it is an Artifact.
Homarid Explorer
1.0 There isn’t enough of a payoff for milling yourself or your opponent for this to be very good.
1.0 There isn’t enough of a payoff for milling yourself or your opponent for this to be very good.
Pack 1 Pick 7: Radiating Lightning
Diligent Excavator
0.5 There just isn’t a viable mill deck in this format, so this mostly doesn’t do anything.
0.5 There just isn’t a viable mill deck in this format, so this mostly doesn’t do anything.
Memorial to War
2.5 This Memorial is kind of a dud compared the others, blowing up lands just isn’t a big deal in Limited – though, it is nice that it can blow opposing Memorials, and people will be fixing enough in this format that sometimes it has a real effect. Still, it pales in comparison to the others, but it is still a land with some very utility in the late game.
2.5 This Memorial is kind of a dud compared the others, blowing up lands just isn’t a big deal in Limited – though, it is nice that it can blow opposing Memorials, and people will be fixing enough in this format that sometimes it has a real effect. Still, it pales in comparison to the others, but it is still a land with some very utility in the late game.
Primordial Wurm
1.5 You’re kind of hoping you get something better than this for the top of your curve, especially in a set with a ton of Kicker, which allows multiple cards to be curve toppers and early plays, but if you really need a big boi at the end of the game, the Wurm is passable.
1.5 You’re kind of hoping you get something better than this for the top of your curve, especially in a set with a ton of Kicker, which allows multiple cards to be curve toppers and early plays, but if you really need a big boi at the end of the game, the Wurm is passable.
Radiating Lightning
1.0 This will often just feel like 4 mana to do 3 to an opponent, and that’s not worth it. Doing 1 damage to opposing creatures will sometimes actually do something, but it will be irrelevant more often than not.
1.0 This will often just feel like 4 mana to do 3 to an opponent, and that’s not worth it. Doing 1 damage to opposing creatures will sometimes actually do something, but it will be irrelevant more often than not.
Demonic Vigor
1.5 People always overrate this type of card, as it is easy to imagine putting it on a really good creature and making sure you get it back. However, more often than not, you won’t have an amazing creature to put it on, and you’ll often get back something that isn’t super relevant.
1.5 People always overrate this type of card, as it is easy to imagine putting it on a really good creature and making sure you get it back. However, more often than not, you won’t have an amazing creature to put it on, and you’ll often get back something that isn’t super relevant.
Invoke the Divine
2.0 There are enough targets for this in this format that you end up main decking it sometimes.
2.0 There are enough targets for this in this format that you end up main decking it sometimes.
Blessing of Belzenlok
1.0 This is a mediocre trick, even if you use it on a legendary creature.
1.0 This is a mediocre trick, even if you use it on a legendary creature.
Gaea's Protector
0.5 This is such an odd card. The idea is that you have a 4/2 that will kill your opponents X/4, but the problem is that your opponent just has to assign one blocker, and they can just stick something in front of it that trades – or worse, put a couple of Saprolings in front of it.
0.5 This is such an odd card. The idea is that you have a 4/2 that will kill your opponents X/4, but the problem is that your opponent just has to assign one blocker, and they can just stick something in front of it that trades – or worse, put a couple of Saprolings in front of it.
Pack 1 Pick 8: Wizard's Retort
Sanctum Spirit
2.0 It is cool that this can become indestructible, but a lot of the time when you play this, you find yourself not really wanting to discard a Historic card to save it, as a 3/2 with lifelink isn’t exactly a worldbeater.
2.0 It is cool that this can become indestructible, but a lot of the time when you play this, you find yourself not really wanting to discard a Historic card to save it, as a 3/2 with lifelink isn’t exactly a worldbeater.
Wizard's Retort
2.5 Cancel usually is something like a 1.0 in Limited, it comes with all the downside that is inherent to counterspells – most notably, you better have the mana at the exact right time for it to actually do something! But, the Wizard clause here is a big deal, as this turns into straight up Counterspell, which is a significantly better card. If you’re in Blue (and uh, you are if you’re playing this), being able to cast this for UU will happen pretty often.
2.5 Cancel usually is something like a 1.0 in Limited, it comes with all the downside that is inherent to counterspells – most notably, you better have the mana at the exact right time for it to actually do something! But, the Wizard clause here is a big deal, as this turns into straight up Counterspell, which is a significantly better card. If you’re in Blue (and uh, you are if you’re playing this), being able to cast this for UU will happen pretty often.
Pierce the Sky
0.5 This is mostly a sideboard card – it pretty much kills all the flyers in the set.
0.5 This is mostly a sideboard card – it pretty much kills all the flyers in the set.
Healing Grace
0.0 Strictly better Healing Salve is still not a playable card.
0.0 Strictly better Healing Salve is still not a playable card.
Unwind
0.5 This is generally too narrow for you to really want to play. It is better out of your sideboard, as bringing it in against someone who has a lot of noncreature spells will work out okay.
0.5 This is generally too narrow for you to really want to play. It is better out of your sideboard, as bringing it in against someone who has a lot of noncreature spells will work out okay.
Mesa Unicorn
2.5 Two mana 2/2s with Lifelink are usually nice little cards in Limited, and that’s the case here.
2.5 Two mana 2/2s with Lifelink are usually nice little cards in Limited, and that’s the case here.
Bloodstone Goblin
2.0 A two-mana 2/2 isn’t a bad baseline, but this often isn’t much more than that. That’s because, by the part of the game where you can pay kicker costs, a 3/3 with Menace usually isn’t going to be the most…well…menacing creature around.
2.0 A two-mana 2/2 isn’t a bad baseline, but this often isn’t much more than that. That’s because, by the part of the game where you can pay kicker costs, a 3/3 with Menace usually isn’t going to be the most…well…menacing creature around.
Pack 1 Pick 9: Sage of Lat-Nam
Sage of Lat-Nam
2.0 The effect here is pretty strong, as cashing in artifacts for cards can be a good deal, but it isn’t always easy to set up.
2.0 The effect here is pretty strong, as cashing in artifacts for cards can be a good deal, but it isn’t always easy to set up.
Befuddle
1.5 This type of Blue “combat trick” almost always disappoints, just because you need things to line up in very specific ways for it to actually feel like a combat trick. Other times, it just feels like Fog. However, adding a cantrip effect to this makes it substantially better, as does the fact that the UR deck likes spells. It still isn’t good exactly, but it is better than most versions of this type of card.
1.5 This type of Blue “combat trick” almost always disappoints, just because you need things to line up in very specific ways for it to actually feel like a combat trick. Other times, it just feels like Fog. However, adding a cantrip effect to this makes it substantially better, as does the fact that the UR deck likes spells. It still isn’t good exactly, but it is better than most versions of this type of card.
Gift of Growth
2.0 This trick will often allow your creature to win combat early, and sometimes the kicker side of things can get you lethal out of nowhere, in addition to also being the sort of boost that will allow almost any creature to take down any other creature. It is still a trick of course, and comes with the significant downside those have.
2.0 This trick will often allow your creature to win combat early, and sometimes the kicker side of things can get you lethal out of nowhere, in addition to also being the sort of boost that will allow almost any creature to take down any other creature. It is still a trick of course, and comes with the significant downside those have.
Sparring Construct
1.5 This is passable, mostly just because it is an Artifact.
1.5 This is passable, mostly just because it is an Artifact.
Dark Bargain
2.0 This is basically Black Divination, and that means having one copy of it in your Black decks is usually decent.
2.0 This is basically Black Divination, and that means having one copy of it in your Black decks is usually decent.
Homarid Explorer
1.0 There isn’t enough of a payoff for milling yourself or your opponent for this to be very good.
1.0 There isn’t enough of a payoff for milling yourself or your opponent for this to be very good.
Pack 1 Pick 10: Sparring Construct
Sanctum Spirit
2.0 It is cool that this can become indestructible, but a lot of the time when you play this, you find yourself not really wanting to discard a Historic card to save it, as a 3/2 with lifelink isn’t exactly a worldbeater.
2.0 It is cool that this can become indestructible, but a lot of the time when you play this, you find yourself not really wanting to discard a Historic card to save it, as a 3/2 with lifelink isn’t exactly a worldbeater.
Fire Elemental
1.0 The stats here aren’t great, and there’s not any payoff in this set for Elementals, so you won’t play this most of the time.
1.0 The stats here aren’t great, and there’s not any payoff in this set for Elementals, so you won’t play this most of the time.
Divest
0.5 This is a sideboard card. People frequently won’t have enough targets to make it worth it.
0.5 This is a sideboard card. People frequently won’t have enough targets to make it worth it.
Pierce the Sky
0.5 This is mostly a sideboard card – it pretty much kills all the flyers in the set.
0.5 This is mostly a sideboard card – it pretty much kills all the flyers in the set.
Sparring Construct
1.5 This is passable, mostly just because it is an Artifact.
1.5 This is passable, mostly just because it is an Artifact.
Pack 1 Pick 11: Tolarian Scholar
Drudge Sentinel
1.0 A 3-mana 2/1 that can become indestructible for three mana isn’t very good. Both parts of that are pretty inefficient. The Sentinel isn’t an especially good attacker or blocker, so you mostly just won’t play it.
1.0 A 3-mana 2/1 that can become indestructible for three mana isn’t very good. Both parts of that are pretty inefficient. The Sentinel isn’t an especially good attacker or blocker, so you mostly just won’t play it.
Warlord's Fury
1.5 There is a bit of a spell theme in this set, but not really enough of one that Warlord’s Fury feels amazing here. It does replace itself, so it isn’t terrible.
1.5 There is a bit of a spell theme in this set, but not really enough of one that Warlord’s Fury feels amazing here. It does replace itself, so it isn’t terrible.
Tolarian Scholar
1.5 In most formats, this would be a 1.0, but the Wizard creature type matters enough here that this 3-mana 2/3 gets a little upgrade.
1.5 In most formats, this would be a 1.0, but the Wizard creature type matters enough here that this 3-mana 2/3 gets a little upgrade.
Feral Abomination
1.5 This is a kind of okay finisher if you’re desperate for one.
1.5 This is a kind of okay finisher if you’re desperate for one.
Pack 1 Pick 12: Homarid Explorer
Chainer's Torment
2.0 Most of the time, paying 4 mana for this won’t feel worth it. Most of the time, you’ll do some damage and gain some life up to 12 or 14, and then make like a 6/6 that lowers your life back down to 6. It does this all really slowly too, and the fact that you played this on turn four will often mean your life is pretty low, assuming your opponent has also added to the board. Don’t get me wrong, this does win games sometimes, but it seems like it does very little even more often than that.
2.0 Most of the time, paying 4 mana for this won’t feel worth it. Most of the time, you’ll do some damage and gain some life up to 12 or 14, and then make like a 6/6 that lowers your life back down to 6. It does this all really slowly too, and the fact that you played this on turn four will often mean your life is pretty low, assuming your opponent has also added to the board. Don’t get me wrong, this does win games sometimes, but it seems like it does very little even more often than that.
Homarid Explorer
1.0 There isn’t enough of a payoff for milling yourself or your opponent for this to be very good.
1.0 There isn’t enough of a payoff for milling yourself or your opponent for this to be very good.
Feral Abomination
1.5 This is a kind of okay finisher if you’re desperate for one.
1.5 This is a kind of okay finisher if you’re desperate for one.
Pack 1 Pick 13: Tolarian Scholar
Tolarian Scholar
1.5 In most formats, this would be a 1.0, but the Wizard creature type matters enough here that this 3-mana 2/3 gets a little upgrade.
1.5 In most formats, this would be a 1.0, but the Wizard creature type matters enough here that this 3-mana 2/3 gets a little upgrade.
Fire Elemental
1.0 The stats here aren’t great, and there’s not any payoff in this set for Elementals, so you won’t play this most of the time.
1.0 The stats here aren’t great, and there’s not any payoff in this set for Elementals, so you won’t play this most of the time.
Pack 1 Pick 14: Homarid Explorer
Homarid Explorer
1.0 There isn’t enough of a payoff for milling yourself or your opponent for this to be very good.
1.0 There isn’t enough of a payoff for milling yourself or your opponent for this to be very good.
Pack 2 Pick 1: Ghitu Chronicler
Aryel, Knight of Windgrace
5.0 On her own, Aryel is very powerul. Her stats are great, and then she has two really nice activated abilities – and having those abilities pairs really well with Vigilance. It means she can attack and you can still use her to make a Knight on your opponents turn or whatever. Her second ability does require a little bit more building around, but not a ton of it, since she is a Knight who makes Knight tokens, you will sometimes find yourself able to kill plenty of creatures. Basically, Aryel gives you a great baseline, and is the kind of creature where, if left unchecked she floods the board with Knights and starts killing something every turn. That’s definitely a bomb.
5.0 On her own, Aryel is very powerul. Her stats are great, and then she has two really nice activated abilities – and having those abilities pairs really well with Vigilance. It means she can attack and you can still use her to make a Knight on your opponents turn or whatever. Her second ability does require a little bit more building around, but not a ton of it, since she is a Knight who makes Knight tokens, you will sometimes find yourself able to kill plenty of creatures. Basically, Aryel gives you a great baseline, and is the kind of creature where, if left unchecked she floods the board with Knights and starts killing something every turn. That’s definitely a bomb.
The Eldest Reborn
4.5 This is an Uncommon bomb, and a card that always does a ton for the investment. Up front, it makes your opponent lose a creature. And sure, it is an Edict, so your opponent chooses which creature they lose – and that can be kind of a bummer, but you still have the next two chapters! Your opponent has to discard a card on their next turn, and then you get to reanimate something on the turn after that. This is certainly sort of slow, but it amounts to a 3-for-1 in the end, and you really make your opponent’s life difficult because with Chapter I and II, your opponent has to keep Chapter III in mind, as putting something in the graveyard you can make use of is a big problem.
4.5 This is an Uncommon bomb, and a card that always does a ton for the investment. Up front, it makes your opponent lose a creature. And sure, it is an Edict, so your opponent chooses which creature they lose – and that can be kind of a bummer, but you still have the next two chapters! Your opponent has to discard a card on their next turn, and then you get to reanimate something on the turn after that. This is certainly sort of slow, but it amounts to a 3-for-1 in the end, and you really make your opponent’s life difficult because with Chapter I and II, your opponent has to keep Chapter III in mind, as putting something in the graveyard you can make use of is a big problem.
Amaranthine Wall
1.0 Even with all of the artifact/historic payoffs in this format, Amaranthine Wall is pretty bad. It just blocks, and a 4 mana card that does that isn’t really something you’re going to want most of the time.
1.0 Even with all of the artifact/historic payoffs in this format, Amaranthine Wall is pretty bad. It just blocks, and a 4 mana card that does that isn’t really something you’re going to want most of the time.
Kwende, Pride of Femeref
2.5 A 4-mana 2/2 with Double Strike is sort of passable, and upgrading all of your First Strikers to double strikers is pretty nice. Now, a lot of the time that part of the card won’t matter, but it does have a reasonable baseline and a nice ceiling.
2.5 A 4-mana 2/2 with Double Strike is sort of passable, and upgrading all of your First Strikers to double strikers is pretty nice. Now, a lot of the time that part of the card won’t matter, but it does have a reasonable baseline and a nice ceiling.
Windgrace Acolyte
2.0 The ETB trigger here is surprisingly solid. The life you gain and the cards you mill can be some really significant value on a reasonable evasive creature.
2.0 The ETB trigger here is surprisingly solid. The life you gain and the cards you mill can be some really significant value on a reasonable evasive creature.
Knight of New Benalia
1.5 Two mana 3/1s tend to be kind of alright, and this one has a useful creature type.
1.5 Two mana 3/1s tend to be kind of alright, and this one has a useful creature type.
Dark Bargain
2.0 This is basically Black Divination, and that means having one copy of it in your Black decks is usually decent.
2.0 This is basically Black Divination, and that means having one copy of it in your Black decks is usually decent.
Radiating Lightning
1.0 This will often just feel like 4 mana to do 3 to an opponent, and that’s not worth it. Doing 1 damage to opposing creatures will sometimes actually do something, but it will be irrelevant more often than not.
1.0 This will often just feel like 4 mana to do 3 to an opponent, and that’s not worth it. Doing 1 damage to opposing creatures will sometimes actually do something, but it will be irrelevant more often than not.
Ghitu Chronicler
3.5 This can be a two mana 1/3 early – and you need that sometimes. However, the real value of the card comes when you kick it. 6 mana for a 1/3 that returns a spell is surprisingly potent in this format, especially if you’ve got Fight With Fire, but even if you just have reasonable spells to get back, this still feels pretty good.
3.5 This can be a two mana 1/3 early – and you need that sometimes. However, the real value of the card comes when you kick it. 6 mana for a 1/3 that returns a spell is surprisingly potent in this format, especially if you’ve got Fight With Fire, but even if you just have reasonable spells to get back, this still feels pretty good.
Divination
2.0 As usual, Divination is fine. It is a 3-mana 2-for-1, and while you don’t want too many cards that don’t add to the board, having one of these is fine in most Blue decks.
2.0 As usual, Divination is fine. It is a 3-mana 2-for-1, and while you don’t want too many cards that don’t add to the board, having one of these is fine in most Blue decks.
Corrosive Ooze
1.5 There is Equipment in this set, but not so much that this ability is amazing. Most of the time, Corrosive Ooze is just a Bear.
1.5 There is Equipment in this set, but not so much that this ability is amazing. Most of the time, Corrosive Ooze is just a Bear.
Powerstone Shard
0.0 // 2.5 This is hard to make work, but if you end up 3+ Powerstone Shards, you can start consider playing them, especially if you’re in a ramp deck. If you have 2 or less, it probably isn’t worth it.
0.0 // 2.5 This is hard to make work, but if you end up 3+ Powerstone Shards, you can start consider playing them, especially if you’re in a ramp deck. If you have 2 or less, it probably isn’t worth it.
Arbor Armament
1.0 This is a mediocre trick, but it does give the counter permanently. Still, tricks that are defensive always seem super awkward. You can of course use it offensively, but Reach doesn’t matter in that situation, and +1/+1 just isn’t always going to be enough to win combat.
1.0 This is a mediocre trick, but it does give the counter permanently. Still, tricks that are defensive always seem super awkward. You can of course use it offensively, but Reach doesn’t matter in that situation, and +1/+1 just isn’t always going to be enough to win combat.
Tragic Poet
1.0 This isn’t great, even in a set with Sagas.
1.0 This isn’t great, even in a set with Sagas.
Pack 2 Pick 2: Wizard's Lightning
Wizard's Lightning
4.0 I would always play this if it was 3-mana for 3 damage to any target, but the fact it turns into straight up Lightning Bolt if you have a Wizard makes it incredible!
4.0 I would always play this if it was 3-mana for 3 damage to any target, but the fact it turns into straight up Lightning Bolt if you have a Wizard makes it incredible!
Firefist Adept
3.0 On its own, this is a 5-mana 3/3 that does 1 damage to a creature, which isn’t great, but even if you can just have this do two damage consistently you’re going to be in business, as that will frequently allow you to take something down while adding to the board.
3.0 On its own, this is a 5-mana 3/3 that does 1 damage to a creature, which isn’t great, but even if you can just have this do two damage consistently you’re going to be in business, as that will frequently allow you to take something down while adding to the board.
Curator's Ward
0.5 It is really hard to ever set this up effectively. Giving one permanent Hexproof might sound appealing, but you need to have a permanent that is worth giving hexproof too, otherwise this just feels like wasting a card. And, even then, you have no way of knowing whether adding hexproof to a thing will actually accomplish anything. It is neat that there’s some Historic upside, but I still think you should almost never play this.
0.5 It is really hard to ever set this up effectively. Giving one permanent Hexproof might sound appealing, but you need to have a permanent that is worth giving hexproof too, otherwise this just feels like wasting a card. And, even then, you have no way of knowing whether adding hexproof to a thing will actually accomplish anything. It is neat that there’s some Historic upside, but I still think you should almost never play this.
Rescue
0.5 This can do some things – like help you reset a Saga – but it is mostly too narrow to ever really want to play.
0.5 This can do some things – like help you reset a Saga – but it is mostly too narrow to ever really want to play.
Guardians of Koilos
1.5 The idea here is that you can bounce a Saga or other Historic thing to your hand that will give you value when you play it again, but a lot of the time this is just a 5-mana 4/4, and that’s not really something you want.
1.5 The idea here is that you can bounce a Saga or other Historic thing to your hand that will give you value when you play it again, but a lot of the time this is just a 5-mana 4/4, and that’s not really something you want.
Ghitu Journeymage
2.5 In a Red deck, especially a UR deck, this will be a 3-mana 3/2 that does 2 damage to the opponent a decent chunk of the time, and that’s a decent enough card.
2.5 In a Red deck, especially a UR deck, this will be a 3-mana 3/2 that does 2 damage to the opponent a decent chunk of the time, and that’s a decent enough card.
Excavation Elephant
2.0 Like most cards with Kicker in this set, Excavation Elephant is a decent creature when you cast it regularly, and then in the later part of the game you can kick it for some extra value. There are enough Artifacts in this set that casting this with Kicker and getting something back is very doable.
2.0 Like most cards with Kicker in this set, Excavation Elephant is a decent creature when you cast it regularly, and then in the later part of the game you can kick it for some extra value. There are enough Artifacts in this set that casting this with Kicker and getting something back is very doable.
Rat Colony
1.5 So, I wouldn’t advise jamming a bunch of these into your deck in most cases (though, if you have Tetsuko Umezawa, things might get interesting). Still, it is a kind of okay two drop, and they do get better in multiples.
1.5 So, I wouldn’t advise jamming a bunch of these into your deck in most cases (though, if you have Tetsuko Umezawa, things might get interesting). Still, it is a kind of okay two drop, and they do get better in multiples.
Broken Bond
1.5 There’s enough Artifacts and Enchantments in this set that you can play this in the main deck some, and sometimes it will even ramp you a bit.
1.5 There’s enough Artifacts and Enchantments in this set that you can play this in the main deck some, and sometimes it will even ramp you a bit.
Blessed Light
3.0 This is kind of expensive, but the price is going to be worth it most of the time. Exiling creatures and Enchantments is nice. Sometimes exiling is especially nice, as recursion is a thing. This is also an Instant, which means you can sometimes manufacture a 2-for-1 with it. It isn’t premium removal, but it is certainly solid, and the first copy will usually make the cut.
3.0 This is kind of expensive, but the price is going to be worth it most of the time. Exiling creatures and Enchantments is nice. Sometimes exiling is especially nice, as recursion is a thing. This is also an Instant, which means you can sometimes manufacture a 2-for-1 with it. It isn’t premium removal, but it is certainly solid, and the first copy will usually make the cut.
Thallid Omnivore
3.0 You will end up having this on many board states where your opponent always has to block it, since it can get big so quickly and so cheaply. Saprolings pair really well with it, not only because of the life gain, but also because there are plenty of cards in this set that make multiples, and that’s just what Thallid Omnivore is after.
3.0 You will end up having this on many board states where your opponent always has to block it, since it can get big so quickly and so cheaply. Saprolings pair really well with it, not only because of the life gain, but also because there are plenty of cards in this set that make multiples, and that’s just what Thallid Omnivore is after.
Short Sword
2.5 It definitely isn’t exciting, but this does give an efficient boost for the cost, and this set has enough Artifact and Equipment synergy around that you’ll play it a decent chunk of the time.
2.5 It definitely isn’t exciting, but this does give an efficient boost for the cost, and this set has enough Artifact and Equipment synergy around that you’ll play it a decent chunk of the time.
Vodalian Arcanist
2.0 This has decent stats and allows you to make some extra mana for Instants and Sorceries, something that is a pretty nice effect to have, albeit not one that will come up all the time.
2.0 This has decent stats and allows you to make some extra mana for Instants and Sorceries, something that is a pretty nice effect to have, albeit not one that will come up all the time.
Pack 2 Pick 3: Naru Meha, Master Wizard
Naru Meha, Master Wizard
4.0 This is pretty dang strong if you are a Wizard deck, and still passable if you aren’t. Now, actually copying a spell with it won’t happen a ton, just because you are paying 4 mana for Naru Meha, so you have to be casting something pretty cheap to copy it. This is certainly doable, I’m just saying there will be plenty of times where you can’t make that part of the card do its thing. Pumping all your Wizards is great, especially at Instant speed, and can sometimes manufacture blowouts.
4.0 This is pretty dang strong if you are a Wizard deck, and still passable if you aren’t. Now, actually copying a spell with it won’t happen a ton, just because you are paying 4 mana for Naru Meha, so you have to be casting something pretty cheap to copy it. This is certainly doable, I’m just saying there will be plenty of times where you can’t make that part of the card do its thing. Pumping all your Wizards is great, especially at Instant speed, and can sometimes manufacture blowouts.
Goblin Warchief
0.5 Don’t let this card fool you. Goblins are not well-supported in this format. This will basically just be a 3-mana 2/2 with Haste most of the time, and that isn’t worth it.
0.5 Don’t let this card fool you. Goblins are not well-supported in this format. This will basically just be a 3-mana 2/2 with Haste most of the time, and that isn’t worth it.
Memorial to Genius
3.5 Having a land that can produce mana for you early, and then draw you a couple cards late is pretty nice!
3.5 Having a land that can produce mana for you early, and then draw you a couple cards late is pretty nice!
Arcane Flight
1.5 This gives a nice boost for the cost, especially with Flying in the mix. It is especially nice on the hexproof turtle, but its efficiency makes it worthwhile in some other Blue decks too.
1.5 This gives a nice boost for the cost, especially with Flying in the mix. It is especially nice on the hexproof turtle, but its efficiency makes it worthwhile in some other Blue decks too.
Jousting Lance
2.5 This is another piece of Equipment that might be a little bit clunky in most formats, but in this one, Jousting Lance tends to be pretty good. +2/+0 and first strike is enough to make many creatures very difficult to block, so most creature-based decks are pretty interested in this.
2.5 This is another piece of Equipment that might be a little bit clunky in most formats, but in this one, Jousting Lance tends to be pretty good. +2/+0 and first strike is enough to make many creatures very difficult to block, so most creature-based decks are pretty interested in this.
Fervent Strike
1.5 This is a one-mana trick that can help a creature win a decent number of combats. That’s what makes it a decent enough trick for aggressive decks.
1.5 This is a one-mana trick that can help a creature win a decent number of combats. That’s what makes it a decent enough trick for aggressive decks.
Vicious Offering
3.5 Even without Kicker, this has a pretty nice baseline as a two mana instant that gives -2/-2. That’s something you would play most of the time! The kicker upside is great though, as -5/-5 can take down even more stuff. It feels especially good to give up a Saproling with it.
3.5 Even without Kicker, this has a pretty nice baseline as a two mana instant that gives -2/-2. That’s something you would play most of the time! The kicker upside is great though, as -5/-5 can take down even more stuff. It feels especially good to give up a Saproling with it.
Rampaging Cyclops
2.5 This is a 4-mana 4/4 with downside, which seems kind of rough, but it kind of turns out that his statline is good enough for that to be worth it. 4/4 is just very large in Limited, and while the double block clause is rough, most of the time you’ll still be trading at least with your opponent, so it isn’t the biggest disaster.
2.5 This is a 4-mana 4/4 with downside, which seems kind of rough, but it kind of turns out that his statline is good enough for that to be worth it. 4/4 is just very large in Limited, and while the double block clause is rough, most of the time you’ll still be trading at least with your opponent, so it isn’t the biggest disaster.
Adventurous Impulse
1.5 This can often allow you to find a creature or a land, and sometimes you really need one of those and not the other. It does wiff sometimes, but usually this costs one mana for some card selection, and while that is a fairly replaceable effect, it is something you’ll play often enough.
1.5 This can often allow you to find a creature or a land, and sometimes you really need one of those and not the other. It does wiff sometimes, but usually this costs one mana for some card selection, and while that is a fairly replaceable effect, it is something you’ll play often enough.
Cloudreader Sphinx
3.5 This card really overperforms. 5-mana ¾ Flyers are usually somewhat passable, but in this format that statline is especially good. Additionally, Scry 2 is a nice thing to add to an already solid creature.
3.5 This card really overperforms. 5-mana ¾ Flyers are usually somewhat passable, but in this format that statline is especially good. Additionally, Scry 2 is a nice thing to add to an already solid creature.
Llanowar Scout
1.5 People often really overrate this type of effect. It is easy to imagine simply always ramping with it, but the problem is that you have to have lands to put into play in the first place. That might sound like a foregone conclusion, but it really isn’t – what makes other ramp cards great is that they get you the land from your library, which effectively draws you a card – in this case, you have to have the land to ramp, and that’s a big difference.
1.5 People often really overrate this type of effect. It is easy to imagine simply always ramping with it, but the problem is that you have to have lands to put into play in the first place. That might sound like a foregone conclusion, but it really isn’t – what makes other ramp cards great is that they get you the land from your library, which effectively draws you a card – in this case, you have to have the land to ramp, and that’s a big difference.
Caligo Skin-Witch
3.0 This is another card with Kicker where neither option is terribly efficient, but it turns out that it doesn’t really matter – the flexibility and late game usefulness make up for that. In this format, people tend to hold on to card a fair bit, so kicking the Skin-Witch ends up hitting two cards way more in this format than in most, and can often just be the kind of thing that shifts the game in your favor.
3.0 This is another card with Kicker where neither option is terribly efficient, but it turns out that it doesn’t really matter – the flexibility and late game usefulness make up for that. In this format, people tend to hold on to card a fair bit, so kicking the Skin-Witch ends up hitting two cards way more in this format than in most, and can often just be the kind of thing that shifts the game in your favor.
Pack 2 Pick 4: Fiery Intervention
Knight of Malice
3.5 This is already a good card as a two mana 2/2 with First Strike, and it gets a big upgrade against an opponent who is playing White.
3.5 This is already a good card as a two mana 2/2 with First Strike, and it gets a big upgrade against an opponent who is playing White.
Tiana, Ship's Caretaker
3.0 There are a significant number of Auras and Equipment in this set, but Tiana rarely seems to work out how you want. Now, she’s a 5-mana 3/3 with Flying and First Strike, which is already passable, so it isn’t like the floor here is dismal, and yeah – if you do have any number of Equipment and Auras, she’s going to give you upside sometimes.
3.0 There are a significant number of Auras and Equipment in this set, but Tiana rarely seems to work out how you want. Now, she’s a 5-mana 3/3 with Flying and First Strike, which is already passable, so it isn’t like the floor here is dismal, and yeah – if you do have any number of Equipment and Auras, she’s going to give you upside sometimes.
D'Avenant Trapper
2.5 This has decent stats and an okay historic trigger. Tapping stuff down can often really enable attacks you just didn’t have before, and that’s a good place to be in an aggressive deck.
2.5 This has decent stats and an okay historic trigger. Tapping stuff down can often really enable attacks you just didn’t have before, and that’s a good place to be in an aggressive deck.
Aesthir Glider
1.5 In a lot of formats this would be close to unplayable, but in this one – which features lots of Artifact/Historic payoffs, you end up playing the glider sometimes. A 3-mana 2/1 with Flying isn’t bad, but the fact it can’t block is a little miserable.
1.5 In a lot of formats this would be close to unplayable, but in this one – which features lots of Artifact/Historic payoffs, you end up playing the glider sometimes. A 3-mana 2/1 with Flying isn’t bad, but the fact it can’t block is a little miserable.
Arbor Armament
1.0 This is a mediocre trick, but it does give the counter permanently. Still, tricks that are defensive always seem super awkward. You can of course use it offensively, but Reach doesn’t matter in that situation, and +1/+1 just isn’t always going to be enough to win combat.
1.0 This is a mediocre trick, but it does give the counter permanently. Still, tricks that are defensive always seem super awkward. You can of course use it offensively, but Reach doesn’t matter in that situation, and +1/+1 just isn’t always going to be enough to win combat.
Bloodtallow Candle
2.0 This is not an efficient way to removal creatures, but this format has several payoffs for playing Artifacts/historic cards, and having a cheap one around isn’t bad, especially because some of those payoffs let you get Artifacts back from your graveyard, and recurring a removal spell – even an inefficient one, tends to feel pretty good.
2.0 This is not an efficient way to removal creatures, but this format has several payoffs for playing Artifacts/historic cards, and having a cheap one around isn’t bad, especially because some of those payoffs let you get Artifacts back from your graveyard, and recurring a removal spell – even an inefficient one, tends to feel pretty good.
Rat Colony
1.5 So, I wouldn’t advise jamming a bunch of these into your deck in most cases (though, if you have Tetsuko Umezawa, things might get interesting). Still, it is a kind of okay two drop, and they do get better in multiples.
1.5 So, I wouldn’t advise jamming a bunch of these into your deck in most cases (though, if you have Tetsuko Umezawa, things might get interesting). Still, it is a kind of okay two drop, and they do get better in multiples.
Primordial Wurm
1.5 You’re kind of hoping you get something better than this for the top of your curve, especially in a set with a ton of Kicker, which allows multiple cards to be curve toppers and early plays, but if you really need a big boi at the end of the game, the Wurm is passable.
1.5 You’re kind of hoping you get something better than this for the top of your curve, especially in a set with a ton of Kicker, which allows multiple cards to be curve toppers and early plays, but if you really need a big boi at the end of the game, the Wurm is passable.
Cold-Water Snapper
1.5 Yep, there’s a common with hexproof in this set! This is a great place to put Auras like Arcane Flight, and is sort of passable as top curve in other Blue decks too.
1.5 Yep, there’s a common with hexproof in this set! This is a great place to put Auras like Arcane Flight, and is sort of passable as top curve in other Blue decks too.
Mesa Unicorn
2.5 Two mana 2/2s with Lifelink are usually nice little cards in Limited, and that’s the case here.
2.5 Two mana 2/2s with Lifelink are usually nice little cards in Limited, and that’s the case here.
Fiery Intervention
2.5 This isn’t premium since it is a Sorcery and 5 mana, but it does kill a lot of stuff in this format, and having the addition upside of blowing up a problem artifact sometimes is nice.
2.5 This isn’t premium since it is a Sorcery and 5 mana, but it does kill a lot of stuff in this format, and having the addition upside of blowing up a problem artifact sometimes is nice.
Pack 2 Pick 5: Opt
Shield of the Realm
1.5 This doesn’t give any real stats boost, but the effect it grants can often really tamper with combat. Of course, the problem is, you generally have to put it on a creature that is already good, because if your creature is just a 2/2 or something, adding this effect won’t make much of difference.
1.5 This doesn’t give any real stats boost, but the effect it grants can often really tamper with combat. Of course, the problem is, you generally have to put it on a creature that is already good, because if your creature is just a 2/2 or something, adding this effect won’t make much of difference.
Rona, Disciple of Gix
3.0 Rona is pretty glacial, but she does become a pretty nice source of card advantage. Even if you only ever take advantage of the one thing she exiles, you’re probably going to get a 2-for-1 out of the deal. Exiling cards from your library for 4 isn’t exactly efficient though, and the effect is also incredibly random, so you won’t always be getting something worthwhile.
3.0 Rona is pretty glacial, but she does become a pretty nice source of card advantage. Even if you only ever take advantage of the one thing she exiles, you’re probably going to get a 2-for-1 out of the deal. Exiling cards from your library for 4 isn’t exactly efficient though, and the effect is also incredibly random, so you won’t always be getting something worthwhile.
Pardic Wanderer
1.5 This is something you’ll play in decks that have ways to recur Artifacts, as a 6-mana 5/5 with Trample that you can bring back is pretty nice.
1.5 This is something you’ll play in decks that have ways to recur Artifacts, as a 6-mana 5/5 with Trample that you can bring back is pretty nice.
Blessing of Belzenlok
1.0 This is a mediocre trick, even if you use it on a legendary creature.
1.0 This is a mediocre trick, even if you use it on a legendary creature.
Invoke the Divine
2.0 There are enough targets for this in this format that you end up main decking it sometimes.
2.0 There are enough targets for this in this format that you end up main decking it sometimes.
Broken Bond
1.5 There’s enough Artifacts and Enchantments in this set that you can play this in the main deck some, and sometimes it will even ramp you a bit.
1.5 There’s enough Artifacts and Enchantments in this set that you can play this in the main deck some, and sometimes it will even ramp you a bit.
Opt
2.0 As usual, this is fine. Seeing two cards for one mana feels pretty good.
2.0 As usual, this is fine. Seeing two cards for one mana feels pretty good.
Bloodstone Goblin
2.0 A two-mana 2/2 isn’t a bad baseline, but this often isn’t much more than that. That’s because, by the part of the game where you can pay kicker costs, a 3/3 with Menace usually isn’t going to be the most…well…menacing creature around.
2.0 A two-mana 2/2 isn’t a bad baseline, but this often isn’t much more than that. That’s because, by the part of the game where you can pay kicker costs, a 3/3 with Menace usually isn’t going to be the most…well…menacing creature around.
Fiery Intervention
2.5 This isn’t premium since it is a Sorcery and 5 mana, but it does kill a lot of stuff in this format, and having the addition upside of blowing up a problem artifact sometimes is nice.
2.5 This isn’t premium since it is a Sorcery and 5 mana, but it does kill a lot of stuff in this format, and having the addition upside of blowing up a problem artifact sometimes is nice.
Frenzied Rage
2.0 +2/+1 and Menace for two mana is very aggressive, and can make many creatures into a threat. Now, it does have the same downside of all Auras – namely, the huge risk of getting 2-for-1’d, but it is worth doing in some of the more aggressive decks.
2.0 +2/+1 and Menace for two mana is very aggressive, and can make many creatures into a threat. Now, it does have the same downside of all Auras – namely, the huge risk of getting 2-for-1’d, but it is worth doing in some of the more aggressive decks.
Pack 2 Pick 6: Zahid, Djinn of the Lamp
Zahid, Djinn of the Lamp
4.5 At worst, Zahid is Mahamoti Djinn. While not as impressive these days as it once was, a 6-mana 5/6 with Flying is still a card that would almost always make the cut in Limited decks! The additional upside here is big too, as casting this for 4 mana quickly puts your opponent under a ton of pressure. There are enough playable cheap artifacts in this set that setting that up isn’t too difficult.
4.5 At worst, Zahid is Mahamoti Djinn. While not as impressive these days as it once was, a 6-mana 5/6 with Flying is still a card that would almost always make the cut in Limited decks! The additional upside here is big too, as casting this for 4 mana quickly puts your opponent under a ton of pressure. There are enough playable cheap artifacts in this set that setting that up isn’t too difficult.
Aven Sentry
2.0 This has decent French Vanilla stats, and not much else.
2.0 This has decent French Vanilla stats, and not much else.
Llanowar Envoy
1.5 This offers a mediocre body and mediocre fixing. You’ll play it sometimes if you need both of those things.
1.5 This offers a mediocre body and mediocre fixing. You’ll play it sometimes if you need both of those things.
Homarid Explorer
1.0 There isn’t enough of a payoff for milling yourself or your opponent for this to be very good.
1.0 There isn’t enough of a payoff for milling yourself or your opponent for this to be very good.
Cabal Paladin
2.0 This has a pretty nice Historic ability, as it can really chip in a ton of damage, but it comes on a pretty terrible body. A 4-mana 4/2 dies to a whole lot of stuff that costs 1-2 mana, and that never feels very good.
2.0 This has a pretty nice Historic ability, as it can really chip in a ton of damage, but it comes on a pretty terrible body. A 4-mana 4/2 dies to a whole lot of stuff that costs 1-2 mana, and that never feels very good.
Deep Freeze
2.5 This is typical of most Blue removal. It does the job of turning off a creature, but the downside is that creature can still block. This means this type of effect isn’t great if you’re really aggressive, but still – at least the creature can only block once! This isn’t premium, but it is solid removal.
2.5 This is typical of most Blue removal. It does the job of turning off a creature, but the downside is that creature can still block. This means this type of effect isn’t great if you’re really aggressive, but still – at least the creature can only block once! This isn’t premium, but it is solid removal.
Thallid Omnivore
3.0 You will end up having this on many board states where your opponent always has to block it, since it can get big so quickly and so cheaply. Saprolings pair really well with it, not only because of the life gain, but also because there are plenty of cards in this set that make multiples, and that’s just what Thallid Omnivore is after.
3.0 You will end up having this on many board states where your opponent always has to block it, since it can get big so quickly and so cheaply. Saprolings pair really well with it, not only because of the life gain, but also because there are plenty of cards in this set that make multiples, and that’s just what Thallid Omnivore is after.
Ghitu Journeymage
2.5 In a Red deck, especially a UR deck, this will be a 3-mana 3/2 that does 2 damage to the opponent a decent chunk of the time, and that’s a decent enough card.
2.5 In a Red deck, especially a UR deck, this will be a 3-mana 3/2 that does 2 damage to the opponent a decent chunk of the time, and that’s a decent enough card.
Keldon Raider
2.5 A 4-mana 4/3 that lets you rummage is perfectly fine, but not much more than that.
2.5 A 4-mana 4/3 that lets you rummage is perfectly fine, but not much more than that.
Pack 2 Pick 7: Merfolk Trickster
Warcry Phoenix
2.0 This isn’t efficient, but it is nice that it can keep coming back when you attack with enough creatures, and that kind of persistence can be pretty great.
2.0 This isn’t efficient, but it is nice that it can keep coming back when you attack with enough creatures, and that kind of persistence can be pretty great.
Merfolk Trickster
3.0 This has a lot of utility for a two drop. A two mana 2/2 with Flash is already fairly passable, but the ETB ability here is quite good. You can use it to simply tap down an attacker you don’t want to attack you – or to tap down a blocker that you don’t want to be in your way. But, you can also use it to turn abilities of a creature off at instant speed, and this can sometimes really allow you to blow out your opponent. It won’t always come up, but when it does, it’ll feel pretty good.
3.0 This has a lot of utility for a two drop. A two mana 2/2 with Flash is already fairly passable, but the ETB ability here is quite good. You can use it to simply tap down an attacker you don’t want to attack you – or to tap down a blocker that you don’t want to be in your way. But, you can also use it to turn abilities of a creature off at instant speed, and this can sometimes really allow you to blow out your opponent. It won’t always come up, but when it does, it’ll feel pretty good.
Befuddle
1.5 This type of Blue “combat trick” almost always disappoints, just because you need things to line up in very specific ways for it to actually feel like a combat trick. Other times, it just feels like Fog. However, adding a cantrip effect to this makes it substantially better, as does the fact that the UR deck likes spells. It still isn’t good exactly, but it is better than most versions of this type of card.
1.5 This type of Blue “combat trick” almost always disappoints, just because you need things to line up in very specific ways for it to actually feel like a combat trick. Other times, it just feels like Fog. However, adding a cantrip effect to this makes it substantially better, as does the fact that the UR deck likes spells. It still isn’t good exactly, but it is better than most versions of this type of card.
Frenzied Rage
2.0 +2/+1 and Menace for two mana is very aggressive, and can make many creatures into a threat. Now, it does have the same downside of all Auras – namely, the huge risk of getting 2-for-1’d, but it is worth doing in some of the more aggressive decks.
2.0 +2/+1 and Menace for two mana is very aggressive, and can make many creatures into a threat. Now, it does have the same downside of all Auras – namely, the huge risk of getting 2-for-1’d, but it is worth doing in some of the more aggressive decks.
Run Amok
1.5 This isn’t super great in this format. There are too many ways to interact and the format is far too grindy for this trick to really shine, as we’ve seen it do in some other formats.
1.5 This isn’t super great in this format. There are too many ways to interact and the format is far too grindy for this trick to really shine, as we’ve seen it do in some other formats.
Dub
2.0 This is a pretty solid Aura, mostly because the stats boost it gives will often make a creature into something your opponent has to kill, and if they can’t, you probably win. Still, it is quite swingy – if your opponent can kill your guy, that means you just got 2-for-1’d, and that’s not always easy to recover from.
2.0 This is a pretty solid Aura, mostly because the stats boost it gives will often make a creature into something your opponent has to kill, and if they can’t, you probably win. Still, it is quite swingy – if your opponent can kill your guy, that means you just got 2-for-1’d, and that’s not always easy to recover from.
Cold-Water Snapper
1.5 Yep, there’s a common with hexproof in this set! This is a great place to put Auras like Arcane Flight, and is sort of passable as top curve in other Blue decks too.
1.5 Yep, there’s a common with hexproof in this set! This is a great place to put Auras like Arcane Flight, and is sort of passable as top curve in other Blue decks too.
Llanowar Envoy
1.5 This offers a mediocre body and mediocre fixing. You’ll play it sometimes if you need both of those things.
1.5 This offers a mediocre body and mediocre fixing. You’ll play it sometimes if you need both of those things.
Pack 2 Pick 8: Artificer's Assistant
Nature's Spiral
1.5 This can be somewhat appealing if you have some significantly powerful permanents, but just spinning your wheels for this kind of card selection can be a bit of liability.
1.5 This can be somewhat appealing if you have some significantly powerful permanents, but just spinning your wheels for this kind of card selection can be a bit of liability.
Lingering Phantom
2.5 This has bad stats to be sure – as 6-mana 5/4 isn’t where you want to be, but the fact that you can just get it back all game long for a single B is nice. Sure, you have to have Historic spells to be triggering that consistently, but even just having a few of them around is doable. Now, this does cost 6, and sometimes you just won’t be able to keep casting it, but if that’s true, it is because you have other stuff to do. Lingering Phantom is something you can get back and then cast when you whiff on your draw step.
2.5 This has bad stats to be sure – as 6-mana 5/4 isn’t where you want to be, but the fact that you can just get it back all game long for a single B is nice. Sure, you have to have Historic spells to be triggering that consistently, but even just having a few of them around is doable. Now, this does cost 6, and sometimes you just won’t be able to keep casting it, but if that’s true, it is because you have other stuff to do. Lingering Phantom is something you can get back and then cast when you whiff on your draw step.
Dub
2.0 This is a pretty solid Aura, mostly because the stats boost it gives will often make a creature into something your opponent has to kill, and if they can’t, you probably win. Still, it is quite swingy – if your opponent can kill your guy, that means you just got 2-for-1’d, and that’s not always easy to recover from.
2.0 This is a pretty solid Aura, mostly because the stats boost it gives will often make a creature into something your opponent has to kill, and if they can’t, you probably win. Still, it is quite swingy – if your opponent can kill your guy, that means you just got 2-for-1’d, and that’s not always easy to recover from.
Blessing of Belzenlok
1.0 This is a mediocre trick, even if you use it on a legendary creature.
1.0 This is a mediocre trick, even if you use it on a legendary creature.
Gaea's Protector
0.5 This is such an odd card. The idea is that you have a 4/2 that will kill your opponents X/4, but the problem is that your opponent just has to assign one blocker, and they can just stick something in front of it that trades – or worse, put a couple of Saprolings in front of it.
0.5 This is such an odd card. The idea is that you have a 4/2 that will kill your opponents X/4, but the problem is that your opponent just has to assign one blocker, and they can just stick something in front of it that trades – or worse, put a couple of Saprolings in front of it.
Cabal Paladin
2.0 This has a pretty nice Historic ability, as it can really chip in a ton of damage, but it comes on a pretty terrible body. A 4-mana 4/2 dies to a whole lot of stuff that costs 1-2 mana, and that never feels very good.
2.0 This has a pretty nice Historic ability, as it can really chip in a ton of damage, but it comes on a pretty terrible body. A 4-mana 4/2 dies to a whole lot of stuff that costs 1-2 mana, and that never feels very good.
Artificer's Assistant
1.5 This has decent base stats, but the Scry trigger here just doesn’t happen often enough for this to be very good.
1.5 This has decent base stats, but the Scry trigger here just doesn’t happen often enough for this to be very good.
Pack 2 Pick 9: Radiating Lightning
Amaranthine Wall
1.0 Even with all of the artifact/historic payoffs in this format, Amaranthine Wall is pretty bad. It just blocks, and a 4 mana card that does that isn’t really something you’re going to want most of the time.
1.0 Even with all of the artifact/historic payoffs in this format, Amaranthine Wall is pretty bad. It just blocks, and a 4 mana card that does that isn’t really something you’re going to want most of the time.
Radiating Lightning
1.0 This will often just feel like 4 mana to do 3 to an opponent, and that’s not worth it. Doing 1 damage to opposing creatures will sometimes actually do something, but it will be irrelevant more often than not.
1.0 This will often just feel like 4 mana to do 3 to an opponent, and that’s not worth it. Doing 1 damage to opposing creatures will sometimes actually do something, but it will be irrelevant more often than not.
Corrosive Ooze
1.5 There is Equipment in this set, but not so much that this ability is amazing. Most of the time, Corrosive Ooze is just a Bear.
1.5 There is Equipment in this set, but not so much that this ability is amazing. Most of the time, Corrosive Ooze is just a Bear.
Powerstone Shard
0.0 // 2.5 This is hard to make work, but if you end up 3+ Powerstone Shards, you can start consider playing them, especially if you’re in a ramp deck. If you have 2 or less, it probably isn’t worth it.
0.0 // 2.5 This is hard to make work, but if you end up 3+ Powerstone Shards, you can start consider playing them, especially if you’re in a ramp deck. If you have 2 or less, it probably isn’t worth it.
Arbor Armament
1.0 This is a mediocre trick, but it does give the counter permanently. Still, tricks that are defensive always seem super awkward. You can of course use it offensively, but Reach doesn’t matter in that situation, and +1/+1 just isn’t always going to be enough to win combat.
1.0 This is a mediocre trick, but it does give the counter permanently. Still, tricks that are defensive always seem super awkward. You can of course use it offensively, but Reach doesn’t matter in that situation, and +1/+1 just isn’t always going to be enough to win combat.
Tragic Poet
1.0 This isn’t great, even in a set with Sagas.
1.0 This isn’t great, even in a set with Sagas.
Pack 2 Pick 10: Ghitu Journeymage
Rescue
0.5 This can do some things – like help you reset a Saga – but it is mostly too narrow to ever really want to play.
0.5 This can do some things – like help you reset a Saga – but it is mostly too narrow to ever really want to play.
Guardians of Koilos
1.5 The idea here is that you can bounce a Saga or other Historic thing to your hand that will give you value when you play it again, but a lot of the time this is just a 5-mana 4/4, and that’s not really something you want.
1.5 The idea here is that you can bounce a Saga or other Historic thing to your hand that will give you value when you play it again, but a lot of the time this is just a 5-mana 4/4, and that’s not really something you want.
Ghitu Journeymage
2.5 In a Red deck, especially a UR deck, this will be a 3-mana 3/2 that does 2 damage to the opponent a decent chunk of the time, and that’s a decent enough card.
2.5 In a Red deck, especially a UR deck, this will be a 3-mana 3/2 that does 2 damage to the opponent a decent chunk of the time, and that’s a decent enough card.
Rat Colony
1.5 So, I wouldn’t advise jamming a bunch of these into your deck in most cases (though, if you have Tetsuko Umezawa, things might get interesting). Still, it is a kind of okay two drop, and they do get better in multiples.
1.5 So, I wouldn’t advise jamming a bunch of these into your deck in most cases (though, if you have Tetsuko Umezawa, things might get interesting). Still, it is a kind of okay two drop, and they do get better in multiples.
Vodalian Arcanist
2.0 This has decent stats and allows you to make some extra mana for Instants and Sorceries, something that is a pretty nice effect to have, albeit not one that will come up all the time.
2.0 This has decent stats and allows you to make some extra mana for Instants and Sorceries, something that is a pretty nice effect to have, albeit not one that will come up all the time.
Pack 2 Pick 11: Arcane Flight
Goblin Warchief
0.5 Don’t let this card fool you. Goblins are not well-supported in this format. This will basically just be a 3-mana 2/2 with Haste most of the time, and that isn’t worth it.
0.5 Don’t let this card fool you. Goblins are not well-supported in this format. This will basically just be a 3-mana 2/2 with Haste most of the time, and that isn’t worth it.
Arcane Flight
1.5 This gives a nice boost for the cost, especially with Flying in the mix. It is especially nice on the hexproof turtle, but its efficiency makes it worthwhile in some other Blue decks too.
1.5 This gives a nice boost for the cost, especially with Flying in the mix. It is especially nice on the hexproof turtle, but its efficiency makes it worthwhile in some other Blue decks too.
Fervent Strike
1.5 This is a one-mana trick that can help a creature win a decent number of combats. That’s what makes it a decent enough trick for aggressive decks.
1.5 This is a one-mana trick that can help a creature win a decent number of combats. That’s what makes it a decent enough trick for aggressive decks.
Rampaging Cyclops
2.5 This is a 4-mana 4/4 with downside, which seems kind of rough, but it kind of turns out that his statline is good enough for that to be worth it. 4/4 is just very large in Limited, and while the double block clause is rough, most of the time you’ll still be trading at least with your opponent, so it isn’t the biggest disaster.
2.5 This is a 4-mana 4/4 with downside, which seems kind of rough, but it kind of turns out that his statline is good enough for that to be worth it. 4/4 is just very large in Limited, and while the double block clause is rough, most of the time you’ll still be trading at least with your opponent, so it isn’t the biggest disaster.
Pack 2 Pick 12: Cold-Water Snapper
Arbor Armament
1.0 This is a mediocre trick, but it does give the counter permanently. Still, tricks that are defensive always seem super awkward. You can of course use it offensively, but Reach doesn’t matter in that situation, and +1/+1 just isn’t always going to be enough to win combat.
1.0 This is a mediocre trick, but it does give the counter permanently. Still, tricks that are defensive always seem super awkward. You can of course use it offensively, but Reach doesn’t matter in that situation, and +1/+1 just isn’t always going to be enough to win combat.
Rat Colony
1.5 So, I wouldn’t advise jamming a bunch of these into your deck in most cases (though, if you have Tetsuko Umezawa, things might get interesting). Still, it is a kind of okay two drop, and they do get better in multiples.
1.5 So, I wouldn’t advise jamming a bunch of these into your deck in most cases (though, if you have Tetsuko Umezawa, things might get interesting). Still, it is a kind of okay two drop, and they do get better in multiples.
Cold-Water Snapper
1.5 Yep, there’s a common with hexproof in this set! This is a great place to put Auras like Arcane Flight, and is sort of passable as top curve in other Blue decks too.
1.5 Yep, there’s a common with hexproof in this set! This is a great place to put Auras like Arcane Flight, and is sort of passable as top curve in other Blue decks too.
Pack 2 Pick 13: Pardic Wanderer
Pardic Wanderer
1.5 This is something you’ll play in decks that have ways to recur Artifacts, as a 6-mana 5/5 with Trample that you can bring back is pretty nice.
1.5 This is something you’ll play in decks that have ways to recur Artifacts, as a 6-mana 5/5 with Trample that you can bring back is pretty nice.
Blessing of Belzenlok
1.0 This is a mediocre trick, even if you use it on a legendary creature.
1.0 This is a mediocre trick, even if you use it on a legendary creature.
Pack 2 Pick 14: Keldon Raider
Keldon Raider
2.5 A 4-mana 4/3 that lets you rummage is perfectly fine, but not much more than that.
2.5 A 4-mana 4/3 that lets you rummage is perfectly fine, but not much more than that.
Pack 3 Pick 1: In Bolas's Clutches
The Mending of Dominaria
2.5 This is slow, but if you have the time, it gives you a ton of value. You end up with at least a 2-for-1 in most cases, and then you will also get a significant mana boost from Chapter III. Even getting up to 10 or so mana is big in this format because of all the kicker, so that ability is better than it looks.
2.5 This is slow, but if you have the time, it gives you a ton of value. You end up with at least a 2-for-1 in most cases, and then you will also get a significant mana boost from Chapter III. Even getting up to 10 or so mana is big in this format because of all the kicker, so that ability is better than it looks.
Warcry Phoenix
2.0 This isn’t efficient, but it is nice that it can keep coming back when you attack with enough creatures, and that kind of persistence can be pretty great.
2.0 This isn’t efficient, but it is nice that it can keep coming back when you attack with enough creatures, and that kind of persistence can be pretty great.
In Bolas's Clutches
4.5 This is an Uncommon bomb, which isn’t something you see every day! Mind control effects are among the strongest thing you can do in Limited, as you end up using a card to steal your opponents’ best creature, which basically amounts to a 2-for-1. It is also nice that this will give you two legendary permanents if your deck is interested in that. It does have the downside of being an Aura – so if your opponent bounces the target or destroys the Clutches, they get their creature back, but that’s reasonable downside on a very powerful card.
4.5 This is an Uncommon bomb, which isn’t something you see every day! Mind control effects are among the strongest thing you can do in Limited, as you end up using a card to steal your opponents’ best creature, which basically amounts to a 2-for-1. It is also nice that this will give you two legendary permanents if your deck is interested in that. It does have the downside of being an Aura – so if your opponent bounces the target or destroys the Clutches, they get their creature back, but that’s reasonable downside on a very powerful card.
Garna, the Bloodflame
3.0 Garna is kind of hard to get serious value out of. You have to leave up significant mana, and then set up a situation where some of your creatures die to give you value, and while that’s not impossible, it comes up less often than you might think. It is nice that she comes with Flash and gives Haste to your whole board though, as sometimes she can also just represent a ton of damage out of nowhere, between her 3/3 body and whatever other creatures you play on your own turn.
3.0 Garna is kind of hard to get serious value out of. You have to leave up significant mana, and then set up a situation where some of your creatures die to give you value, and while that’s not impossible, it comes up less often than you might think. It is nice that she comes with Flash and gives Haste to your whole board though, as sometimes she can also just represent a ton of damage out of nowhere, between her 3/3 body and whatever other creatures you play on your own turn.
Skirk Prospector
0.5 There aren’t enough Goblins in this set for this to be worth it. It can sacrifice itself to its own ability to help you ramp, but giving up a card for such minor ramp just isn’t worth doing in Limited.
0.5 There aren’t enough Goblins in this set for this to be worth it. It can sacrifice itself to its own ability to help you ramp, but giving up a card for such minor ramp just isn’t worth doing in Limited.
Powerstone Shard
0.0 // 2.5 This is hard to make work, but if you end up 3+ Powerstone Shards, you can start consider playing them, especially if you’re in a ramp deck. If you have 2 or less, it probably isn’t worth it.
0.0 // 2.5 This is hard to make work, but if you end up 3+ Powerstone Shards, you can start consider playing them, especially if you’re in a ramp deck. If you have 2 or less, it probably isn’t worth it.
Demonic Vigor
1.5 People always overrate this type of card, as it is easy to imagine putting it on a really good creature and making sure you get it back. However, more often than not, you won’t have an amazing creature to put it on, and you’ll often get back something that isn’t super relevant.
1.5 People always overrate this type of card, as it is easy to imagine putting it on a really good creature and making sure you get it back. However, more often than not, you won’t have an amazing creature to put it on, and you’ll often get back something that isn’t super relevant.
Grow from the Ashes
3.5 Fixing and ramp are big in this format as a result of kicker and various mana sinks, and Grow from the Ashes is really good at giving you both of those things, especially when you kick it. It can even allow you to splash double colored cards, which is nice upside.
3.5 Fixing and ramp are big in this format as a result of kicker and various mana sinks, and Grow from the Ashes is really good at giving you both of those things, especially when you kick it. It can even allow you to splash double colored cards, which is nice upside.
Keldon Raider
2.5 A 4-mana 4/3 that lets you rummage is perfectly fine, but not much more than that.
2.5 A 4-mana 4/3 that lets you rummage is perfectly fine, but not much more than that.
Fire Elemental
1.0 The stats here aren’t great, and there’s not any payoff in this set for Elementals, so you won’t play this most of the time.
1.0 The stats here aren’t great, and there’s not any payoff in this set for Elementals, so you won’t play this most of the time.
Healing Grace
0.0 Strictly better Healing Salve is still not a playable card.
0.0 Strictly better Healing Salve is still not a playable card.
Divination
2.0 As usual, Divination is fine. It is a 3-mana 2-for-1, and while you don’t want too many cards that don’t add to the board, having one of these is fine in most Blue decks.
2.0 As usual, Divination is fine. It is a 3-mana 2-for-1, and while you don’t want too many cards that don’t add to the board, having one of these is fine in most Blue decks.
Sergeant-at-Arms
2.5 This is another card with Kicker where both options don’t exactly seem efficient, but having the choice between them is great. You either get a 3-mana 2/3 or a 6-mana 2/3 that makes two 1/1 tokens. When you kick it, it can really allow you to stabilize in situations even when you are pretty far behind.
2.5 This is another card with Kicker where both options don’t exactly seem efficient, but having the choice between them is great. You either get a 3-mana 2/3 or a 6-mana 2/3 that makes two 1/1 tokens. When you kick it, it can really allow you to stabilize in situations even when you are pretty far behind.
Navigator's Compass
0.5 This kind of card is always overrated. People look at it and they really think of it as a form of fixing, and..well, it is, but you also use up an entire card for it, and you just modify a land you already have. This does nothing but fix for the most part. It does gain you a bit of life, and it is an artifact in a set that cares about them, but you can do a lot better than this.
0.5 This kind of card is always overrated. People look at it and they really think of it as a form of fixing, and..well, it is, but you also use up an entire card for it, and you just modify a land you already have. This does nothing but fix for the most part. It does gain you a bit of life, and it is an artifact in a set that cares about them, but you can do a lot better than this.
Pack 3 Pick 2: Academy Journeymage
Clifftop Retreat
3.0 Like most two-color cycles of lands, these are some pretty nice fixing, and they’ll often come into play untapped.
3.0 Like most two-color cycles of lands, these are some pretty nice fixing, and they’ll often come into play untapped.
Zhalfirin Void
0.5 This basically isn’t worth it unless you end up mono-colored or almost mono-colored. It tends to do some very serious damage to your mana base, and that definitely is not worth the upside of having a scry land.
0.5 This basically isn’t worth it unless you end up mono-colored or almost mono-colored. It tends to do some very serious damage to your mana base, and that definitely is not worth the upside of having a scry land.
Seal Away
4.0 This is situational, but it is cheap enough that it is incredibly good removal.
4.0 This is situational, but it is cheap enough that it is incredibly good removal.
Grow from the Ashes
3.5 Fixing and ramp are big in this format as a result of kicker and various mana sinks, and Grow from the Ashes is really good at giving you both of those things, especially when you kick it. It can even allow you to splash double colored cards, which is nice upside.
3.5 Fixing and ramp are big in this format as a result of kicker and various mana sinks, and Grow from the Ashes is really good at giving you both of those things, especially when you kick it. It can even allow you to splash double colored cards, which is nice upside.
Academy Journeymage
3.5 Man-O’-War effects are always good in Limited – adding to your own board and subtracting from your opponent’s at the same time is always good. Even if you can’t reduce the cost of this, it plays pretty well, and if you can lower the cost to 4 it is going to feel great.
3.5 Man-O’-War effects are always good in Limited – adding to your own board and subtracting from your opponent’s at the same time is always good. Even if you can’t reduce the cost of this, it plays pretty well, and if you can lower the cost to 4 it is going to feel great.
Adamant Will
1.5 This is a decent trick, which will frequently allow your creature to win combat. The indestructibility also gives it an additional use as a way to save a creature from removal. This format is pretty grindy, so tricks aren’t as good as they are in some formats, but if you’re an aggressive deck and you need a trick, this is a solid one.
1.5 This is a decent trick, which will frequently allow your creature to win combat. The indestructibility also gives it an additional use as a way to save a creature from removal. This format is pretty grindy, so tricks aren’t as good as they are in some formats, but if you’re an aggressive deck and you need a trick, this is a solid one.
Voltaic Servant
1.5 There are a few pretty sweet combos you can pull off with Voltaic Servant in this format, with Traxos being the sweetest one around, but it is also just a two mana 1/3 that will be giving an artifact creature pseudo-Vigilance, and that’s not the worst thing ever.
1.5 There are a few pretty sweet combos you can pull off with Voltaic Servant in this format, with Traxos being the sweetest one around, but it is also just a two mana 1/3 that will be giving an artifact creature pseudo-Vigilance, and that’s not the worst thing ever.
Krosan Druid
2.5 Early in the game, the Druid gives you a reasonable body, and in the late game in can gain you a ton of life, enough that it can often allow you to stabilize, and that’s some really nice upside! You won’t always get the opportunity to kick it, of course.
2.5 Early in the game, the Druid gives you a reasonable body, and in the late game in can gain you a ton of life, enough that it can often allow you to stabilize, and that’s some really nice upside! You won’t always get the opportunity to kick it, of course.
Aven Sentry
2.0 This has decent French Vanilla stats, and not much else.
2.0 This has decent French Vanilla stats, and not much else.
Aesthir Glider
1.5 In a lot of formats this would be close to unplayable, but in this one – which features lots of Artifact/Historic payoffs, you end up playing the glider sometimes. A 3-mana 2/1 with Flying isn’t bad, but the fact it can’t block is a little miserable.
1.5 In a lot of formats this would be close to unplayable, but in this one – which features lots of Artifact/Historic payoffs, you end up playing the glider sometimes. A 3-mana 2/1 with Flying isn’t bad, but the fact it can’t block is a little miserable.
Stronghold Confessor
2.5 A one mana 1/1 with Menace and a 4-mana 3/3 with Menace are both kind of okay, and having the flexibility to be either is quite nice.
2.5 A one mana 1/1 with Menace and a 4-mana 3/3 with Menace are both kind of okay, and having the flexibility to be either is quite nice.
Keldon Overseer
2.5 Another card with Kicker where neither the unkicked OR kicked version seems very efficient, but the upside offered by that flexibility is very real. Kicking this late and Threatening an opponents creature will add a lot of damage to the board in most cases, and will often really allow you to attack in a situation where it didn’t look like a good idea.
2.5 Another card with Kicker where neither the unkicked OR kicked version seems very efficient, but the upside offered by that flexibility is very real. Kicking this late and Threatening an opponents creature will add a lot of damage to the board in most cases, and will often really allow you to attack in a situation where it didn’t look like a good idea.
Unwind
0.5 This is generally too narrow for you to really want to play. It is better out of your sideboard, as bringing it in against someone who has a lot of noncreature spells will work out okay.
0.5 This is generally too narrow for you to really want to play. It is better out of your sideboard, as bringing it in against someone who has a lot of noncreature spells will work out okay.
Pack 3 Pick 3: Opt
Grand Warlord Radha
4.0 Radha does typically give you some serious mana, and in a format with lots of Kicker and other mana sinks, you usually have something to use it on. This is all coupled with a pretty reasonable body.
4.0 Radha does typically give you some serious mana, and in a format with lots of Kicker and other mana sinks, you usually have something to use it on. This is all coupled with a pretty reasonable body.
Orcish Vandal
1.5 If you have Artifacts, being able to hurl them at your opponent’s dome and creatures feels pretty good, but this format doesn’t have so many that doing that is really easy.
1.5 If you have Artifacts, being able to hurl them at your opponent’s dome and creatures feels pretty good, but this format doesn’t have so many that doing that is really easy.
Memorial to Glory
3.0 This might come into play tapped, but it more that makes up for that with the ability to make a couple of creature tokens in the late game.
3.0 This might come into play tapped, but it more that makes up for that with the ability to make a couple of creature tokens in the late game.
Feral Abomination
1.5 This is a kind of okay finisher if you’re desperate for one.
1.5 This is a kind of okay finisher if you’re desperate for one.
Primordial Wurm
1.5 You’re kind of hoping you get something better than this for the top of your curve, especially in a set with a ton of Kicker, which allows multiple cards to be curve toppers and early plays, but if you really need a big boi at the end of the game, the Wurm is passable.
1.5 You’re kind of hoping you get something better than this for the top of your curve, especially in a set with a ton of Kicker, which allows multiple cards to be curve toppers and early plays, but if you really need a big boi at the end of the game, the Wurm is passable.
Sergeant-at-Arms
2.5 This is another card with Kicker where both options don’t exactly seem efficient, but having the choice between them is great. You either get a 3-mana 2/3 or a 6-mana 2/3 that makes two 1/1 tokens. When you kick it, it can really allow you to stabilize in situations even when you are pretty far behind.
2.5 This is another card with Kicker where both options don’t exactly seem efficient, but having the choice between them is great. You either get a 3-mana 2/3 or a 6-mana 2/3 that makes two 1/1 tokens. When you kick it, it can really allow you to stabilize in situations even when you are pretty far behind.
Run Amok
1.5 This isn’t super great in this format. There are too many ways to interact and the format is far too grindy for this trick to really shine, as we’ve seen it do in some other formats.
1.5 This isn’t super great in this format. There are too many ways to interact and the format is far too grindy for this trick to really shine, as we’ve seen it do in some other formats.
Academy Drake
3.0 In the early part of the game, this is a Wind Drake, which is always serviceable, and in the late game it can be significantly larger. Like most cards with Kicker, the second mode isn’t exactly efficient, but it is nice upside to have on an already reasonable card.
3.0 In the early part of the game, this is a Wind Drake, which is always serviceable, and in the late game it can be significantly larger. Like most cards with Kicker, the second mode isn’t exactly efficient, but it is nice upside to have on an already reasonable card.
Adventurous Impulse
1.5 This can often allow you to find a creature or a land, and sometimes you really need one of those and not the other. It does wiff sometimes, but usually this costs one mana for some card selection, and while that is a fairly replaceable effect, it is something you’ll play often enough.
1.5 This can often allow you to find a creature or a land, and sometimes you really need one of those and not the other. It does wiff sometimes, but usually this costs one mana for some card selection, and while that is a fairly replaceable effect, it is something you’ll play often enough.
Opt
2.0 As usual, this is fine. Seeing two cards for one mana feels pretty good.
2.0 As usual, this is fine. Seeing two cards for one mana feels pretty good.
Cabal Paladin
2.0 This has a pretty nice Historic ability, as it can really chip in a ton of damage, but it comes on a pretty terrible body. A 4-mana 4/2 dies to a whole lot of stuff that costs 1-2 mana, and that never feels very good.
2.0 This has a pretty nice Historic ability, as it can really chip in a ton of damage, but it comes on a pretty terrible body. A 4-mana 4/2 dies to a whole lot of stuff that costs 1-2 mana, and that never feels very good.
Fervent Strike
1.5 This is a one-mana trick that can help a creature win a decent number of combats. That’s what makes it a decent enough trick for aggressive decks.
1.5 This is a one-mana trick that can help a creature win a decent number of combats. That’s what makes it a decent enough trick for aggressive decks.
Pack 3 Pick 4: Jousting Lance
Zhalfirin Void
0.5 This basically isn’t worth it unless you end up mono-colored or almost mono-colored. It tends to do some very serious damage to your mana base, and that definitely is not worth the upside of having a scry land.
0.5 This basically isn’t worth it unless you end up mono-colored or almost mono-colored. It tends to do some very serious damage to your mana base, and that definitely is not worth the upside of having a scry land.
Jousting Lance
2.5 This is another piece of Equipment that might be a little bit clunky in most formats, but in this one, Jousting Lance tends to be pretty good. +2/+0 and first strike is enough to make many creatures very difficult to block, so most creature-based decks are pretty interested in this.
2.5 This is another piece of Equipment that might be a little bit clunky in most formats, but in this one, Jousting Lance tends to be pretty good. +2/+0 and first strike is enough to make many creatures very difficult to block, so most creature-based decks are pretty interested in this.
Relic Runner
2.5 This is unblockable often enough that it is a pretty nice little two-drop.
2.5 This is unblockable often enough that it is a pretty nice little two-drop.
Keldon Warcaller
1.5 This just doesn’t line up very often to really make your Sagas better. It is mostly just a bear.
1.5 This just doesn’t line up very often to really make your Sagas better. It is mostly just a bear.
Llanowar Scout
1.5 People often really overrate this type of effect. It is easy to imagine simply always ramping with it, but the problem is that you have to have lands to put into play in the first place. That might sound like a foregone conclusion, but it really isn’t – what makes other ramp cards great is that they get you the land from your library, which effectively draws you a card – in this case, you have to have the land to ramp, and that’s a big difference.
1.5 People often really overrate this type of effect. It is easy to imagine simply always ramping with it, but the problem is that you have to have lands to put into play in the first place. That might sound like a foregone conclusion, but it really isn’t – what makes other ramp cards great is that they get you the land from your library, which effectively draws you a card – in this case, you have to have the land to ramp, and that’s a big difference.
Befuddle
1.5 This type of Blue “combat trick” almost always disappoints, just because you need things to line up in very specific ways for it to actually feel like a combat trick. Other times, it just feels like Fog. However, adding a cantrip effect to this makes it substantially better, as does the fact that the UR deck likes spells. It still isn’t good exactly, but it is better than most versions of this type of card.
1.5 This type of Blue “combat trick” almost always disappoints, just because you need things to line up in very specific ways for it to actually feel like a combat trick. Other times, it just feels like Fog. However, adding a cantrip effect to this makes it substantially better, as does the fact that the UR deck likes spells. It still isn’t good exactly, but it is better than most versions of this type of card.
Saproling Migration
3.5 Both modes on this are quite good, and can allow you to go wide in a hurry. In BG there are some significant Saproling/go wide payoffs too, which make it even nicer.
3.5 Both modes on this are quite good, and can allow you to go wide in a hurry. In BG there are some significant Saproling/go wide payoffs too, which make it even nicer.
Corrosive Ooze
1.5 There is Equipment in this set, but not so much that this ability is amazing. Most of the time, Corrosive Ooze is just a Bear.
1.5 There is Equipment in this set, but not so much that this ability is amazing. Most of the time, Corrosive Ooze is just a Bear.
Fungal Infection
2.5 This ends up lining up surprisingly well. Sometimes you can use this to just kill an X/2, other times you can use it to kill two X/1s, and still other times you can use it help a creature win combat while also getting a Saproling. Sure, sometimes a Saproling and -1/-1 won’t do a ton, but even in those fail cases you can at least get a blocker.
2.5 This ends up lining up surprisingly well. Sometimes you can use this to just kill an X/2, other times you can use it to kill two X/1s, and still other times you can use it help a creature win combat while also getting a Saproling. Sure, sometimes a Saproling and -1/-1 won’t do a ton, but even in those fail cases you can at least get a blocker.
Charge
1.5 Pumping your whole board with this isn’t the best thing to be doing in a format that can be as grindy as this one, but it does do the job reasonably efficiently, and if you’re going wide enough you might end up playing it.
1.5 Pumping your whole board with this isn’t the best thing to be doing in a format that can be as grindy as this one, but it does do the job reasonably efficiently, and if you’re going wide enough you might end up playing it.
Bloodstone Goblin
2.0 A two-mana 2/2 isn’t a bad baseline, but this often isn’t much more than that. That’s because, by the part of the game where you can pay kicker costs, a 3/3 with Menace usually isn’t going to be the most…well…menacing creature around.
2.0 A two-mana 2/2 isn’t a bad baseline, but this often isn’t much more than that. That’s because, by the part of the game where you can pay kicker costs, a 3/3 with Menace usually isn’t going to be the most…well…menacing creature around.
Pack 3 Pick 5: Syncopate
Jodah, Archmage Eternal
3.0 Jodah is mostly just a fairly hard to cast 4-mana 4/3 with Flying, which isn’t bad, but the other part of the card just won’t come up in Limited because your mana won’t be good enough.
3.0 Jodah is mostly just a fairly hard to cast 4-mana 4/3 with Flying, which isn’t bad, but the other part of the card just won’t come up in Limited because your mana won’t be good enough.
Shield of the Realm
1.5 This doesn’t give any real stats boost, but the effect it grants can often really tamper with combat. Of course, the problem is, you generally have to put it on a creature that is already good, because if your creature is just a 2/2 or something, adding this effect won’t make much of difference.
1.5 This doesn’t give any real stats boost, but the effect it grants can often really tamper with combat. Of course, the problem is, you generally have to put it on a creature that is already good, because if your creature is just a 2/2 or something, adding this effect won’t make much of difference.
Aesthir Glider
1.5 In a lot of formats this would be close to unplayable, but in this one – which features lots of Artifact/Historic payoffs, you end up playing the glider sometimes. A 3-mana 2/1 with Flying isn’t bad, but the fact it can’t block is a little miserable.
1.5 In a lot of formats this would be close to unplayable, but in this one – which features lots of Artifact/Historic payoffs, you end up playing the glider sometimes. A 3-mana 2/1 with Flying isn’t bad, but the fact it can’t block is a little miserable.
Warlord's Fury
1.5 There is a bit of a spell theme in this set, but not really enough of one that Warlord’s Fury feels amazing here. It does replace itself, so it isn’t terrible.
1.5 There is a bit of a spell theme in this set, but not really enough of one that Warlord’s Fury feels amazing here. It does replace itself, so it isn’t terrible.
Radiating Lightning
1.0 This will often just feel like 4 mana to do 3 to an opponent, and that’s not worth it. Doing 1 damage to opposing creatures will sometimes actually do something, but it will be irrelevant more often than not.
1.0 This will often just feel like 4 mana to do 3 to an opponent, and that’s not worth it. Doing 1 damage to opposing creatures will sometimes actually do something, but it will be irrelevant more often than not.
Syncopate
2.0 This is a Counterspell that can sort of stay relevant all game since you can pay X, but there will still be times where you just can’t use it to effectively counter something because your opponent has too much mana. Like a lot of counterspells, it has some significant downside as a result of being so situational, but this one is good enough that you’ll play it a decent chunk of the time.
2.0 This is a Counterspell that can sort of stay relevant all game since you can pay X, but there will still be times where you just can’t use it to effectively counter something because your opponent has too much mana. Like a lot of counterspells, it has some significant downside as a result of being so situational, but this one is good enough that you’ll play it a decent chunk of the time.
Tragic Poet
1.0 This isn’t great, even in a set with Sagas.
1.0 This isn’t great, even in a set with Sagas.
Guardians of Koilos
1.5 The idea here is that you can bounce a Saga or other Historic thing to your hand that will give you value when you play it again, but a lot of the time this is just a 5-mana 4/4, and that’s not really something you want.
1.5 The idea here is that you can bounce a Saga or other Historic thing to your hand that will give you value when you play it again, but a lot of the time this is just a 5-mana 4/4, and that’s not really something you want.
Cold-Water Snapper
1.5 Yep, there’s a common with hexproof in this set! This is a great place to put Auras like Arcane Flight, and is sort of passable as top curve in other Blue decks too.
1.5 Yep, there’s a common with hexproof in this set! This is a great place to put Auras like Arcane Flight, and is sort of passable as top curve in other Blue decks too.
Corrosive Ooze
1.5 There is Equipment in this set, but not so much that this ability is amazing. Most of the time, Corrosive Ooze is just a Bear.
1.5 There is Equipment in this set, but not so much that this ability is amazing. Most of the time, Corrosive Ooze is just a Bear.
Pack 3 Pick 6: Tolarian Scholar
Nature's Spiral
1.5 This can be somewhat appealing if you have some significantly powerful permanents, but just spinning your wheels for this kind of card selection can be a bit of liability.
1.5 This can be somewhat appealing if you have some significantly powerful permanents, but just spinning your wheels for this kind of card selection can be a bit of liability.
Lingering Phantom
2.5 This has bad stats to be sure – as 6-mana 5/4 isn’t where you want to be, but the fact that you can just get it back all game long for a single B is nice. Sure, you have to have Historic spells to be triggering that consistently, but even just having a few of them around is doable. Now, this does cost 6, and sometimes you just won’t be able to keep casting it, but if that’s true, it is because you have other stuff to do. Lingering Phantom is something you can get back and then cast when you whiff on your draw step.
2.5 This has bad stats to be sure – as 6-mana 5/4 isn’t where you want to be, but the fact that you can just get it back all game long for a single B is nice. Sure, you have to have Historic spells to be triggering that consistently, but even just having a few of them around is doable. Now, this does cost 6, and sometimes you just won’t be able to keep casting it, but if that’s true, it is because you have other stuff to do. Lingering Phantom is something you can get back and then cast when you whiff on your draw step.
Tolarian Scholar
1.5 In most formats, this would be a 1.0, but the Wizard creature type matters enough here that this 3-mana 2/3 gets a little upgrade.
1.5 In most formats, this would be a 1.0, but the Wizard creature type matters enough here that this 3-mana 2/3 gets a little upgrade.
Keldon Warcaller
1.5 This just doesn’t line up very often to really make your Sagas better. It is mostly just a bear.
1.5 This just doesn’t line up very often to really make your Sagas better. It is mostly just a bear.
Powerstone Shard
0.0 // 2.5 This is hard to make work, but if you end up 3+ Powerstone Shards, you can start consider playing them, especially if you’re in a ramp deck. If you have 2 or less, it probably isn’t worth it.
0.0 // 2.5 This is hard to make work, but if you end up 3+ Powerstone Shards, you can start consider playing them, especially if you’re in a ramp deck. If you have 2 or less, it probably isn’t worth it.
Fire Elemental
1.0 The stats here aren’t great, and there’s not any payoff in this set for Elementals, so you won’t play this most of the time.
1.0 The stats here aren’t great, and there’s not any payoff in this set for Elementals, so you won’t play this most of the time.
Krosan Druid
2.5 Early in the game, the Druid gives you a reasonable body, and in the late game in can gain you a ton of life, enough that it can often allow you to stabilize, and that’s some really nice upside! You won’t always get the opportunity to kick it, of course.
2.5 Early in the game, the Druid gives you a reasonable body, and in the late game in can gain you a ton of life, enough that it can often allow you to stabilize, and that’s some really nice upside! You won’t always get the opportunity to kick it, of course.
Gideon's Reproach
3.0 This is situational, but it is efficient enough that it still makes it into the lower range of premium removal. Attacking and blocking does happen a fair bit, and because of that, it doesn’t feel all that situational.
3.0 This is situational, but it is efficient enough that it still makes it into the lower range of premium removal. Attacking and blocking does happen a fair bit, and because of that, it doesn’t feel all that situational.
Divest
0.5 This is a sideboard card. People frequently won’t have enough targets to make it worth it.
0.5 This is a sideboard card. People frequently won’t have enough targets to make it worth it.
Pack 3 Pick 7: Blink of an Eye
Curator's Ward
0.5 It is really hard to ever set this up effectively. Giving one permanent Hexproof might sound appealing, but you need to have a permanent that is worth giving hexproof too, otherwise this just feels like wasting a card. And, even then, you have no way of knowing whether adding hexproof to a thing will actually accomplish anything. It is neat that there’s some Historic upside, but I still think you should almost never play this.
0.5 It is really hard to ever set this up effectively. Giving one permanent Hexproof might sound appealing, but you need to have a permanent that is worth giving hexproof too, otherwise this just feels like wasting a card. And, even then, you have no way of knowing whether adding hexproof to a thing will actually accomplish anything. It is neat that there’s some Historic upside, but I still think you should almost never play this.
Navigator's Compass
0.5 This kind of card is always overrated. People look at it and they really think of it as a form of fixing, and..well, it is, but you also use up an entire card for it, and you just modify a land you already have. This does nothing but fix for the most part. It does gain you a bit of life, and it is an artifact in a set that cares about them, but you can do a lot better than this.
0.5 This kind of card is always overrated. People look at it and they really think of it as a form of fixing, and..well, it is, but you also use up an entire card for it, and you just modify a land you already have. This does nothing but fix for the most part. It does gain you a bit of life, and it is an artifact in a set that cares about them, but you can do a lot better than this.
Bloodtallow Candle
2.0 This is not an efficient way to removal creatures, but this format has several payoffs for playing Artifacts/historic cards, and having a cheap one around isn’t bad, especially because some of those payoffs let you get Artifacts back from your graveyard, and recurring a removal spell – even an inefficient one, tends to feel pretty good.
2.0 This is not an efficient way to removal creatures, but this format has several payoffs for playing Artifacts/historic cards, and having a cheap one around isn’t bad, especially because some of those payoffs let you get Artifacts back from your graveyard, and recurring a removal spell – even an inefficient one, tends to feel pretty good.
Llanowar Scout
1.5 People often really overrate this type of effect. It is easy to imagine simply always ramping with it, but the problem is that you have to have lands to put into play in the first place. That might sound like a foregone conclusion, but it really isn’t – what makes other ramp cards great is that they get you the land from your library, which effectively draws you a card – in this case, you have to have the land to ramp, and that’s a big difference.
1.5 People often really overrate this type of effect. It is easy to imagine simply always ramping with it, but the problem is that you have to have lands to put into play in the first place. That might sound like a foregone conclusion, but it really isn’t – what makes other ramp cards great is that they get you the land from your library, which effectively draws you a card – in this case, you have to have the land to ramp, and that’s a big difference.
Keldon Warcaller
1.5 This just doesn’t line up very often to really make your Sagas better. It is mostly just a bear.
1.5 This just doesn’t line up very often to really make your Sagas better. It is mostly just a bear.
Relic Runner
2.5 This is unblockable often enough that it is a pretty nice little two-drop.
2.5 This is unblockable often enough that it is a pretty nice little two-drop.
Adventurous Impulse
1.5 This can often allow you to find a creature or a land, and sometimes you really need one of those and not the other. It does wiff sometimes, but usually this costs one mana for some card selection, and while that is a fairly replaceable effect, it is something you’ll play often enough.
1.5 This can often allow you to find a creature or a land, and sometimes you really need one of those and not the other. It does wiff sometimes, but usually this costs one mana for some card selection, and while that is a fairly replaceable effect, it is something you’ll play often enough.
Blink of an Eye
3.5 Even without Kicker, this would be a playable card. Adding kicker to the mix is great, because it keeps you from going down a card for tempo. Instead, you get to bounce their thing and draw a card, which tends to feel pretty good for 4 mana.
3.5 Even without Kicker, this would be a playable card. Adding kicker to the mix is great, because it keeps you from going down a card for tempo. Instead, you get to bounce their thing and draw a card, which tends to feel pretty good for 4 mana.
Pack 3 Pick 8: Weight of Memory
Jodah, Archmage Eternal
3.0 Jodah is mostly just a fairly hard to cast 4-mana 4/3 with Flying, which isn’t bad, but the other part of the card just won’t come up in Limited because your mana won’t be good enough.
3.0 Jodah is mostly just a fairly hard to cast 4-mana 4/3 with Flying, which isn’t bad, but the other part of the card just won’t come up in Limited because your mana won’t be good enough.
Weight of Memory
2.0 Even in this relatively slow format, Weight of Memory often feels very clunky. Still, 5 mana to draw 3 isn’t too shabby, even if the mill part of the card will have very little impact.
2.0 Even in this relatively slow format, Weight of Memory often feels very clunky. Still, 5 mana to draw 3 isn’t too shabby, even if the mill part of the card will have very little impact.
Final Parting
0.5 5 mana for a tutor effect just isn’t worth it 99% of the time. And yeah, you do get to tutor up two things, but this is still woefully inefficient, and spending a turn casting this and not adding to the board is rough.
0.5 5 mana for a tutor effect just isn’t worth it 99% of the time. And yeah, you do get to tutor up two things, but this is still woefully inefficient, and spending a turn casting this and not adding to the board is rough.
Adamant Will
1.5 This is a decent trick, which will frequently allow your creature to win combat. The indestructibility also gives it an additional use as a way to save a creature from removal. This format is pretty grindy, so tricks aren’t as good as they are in some formats, but if you’re an aggressive deck and you need a trick, this is a solid one.
1.5 This is a decent trick, which will frequently allow your creature to win combat. The indestructibility also gives it an additional use as a way to save a creature from removal. This format is pretty grindy, so tricks aren’t as good as they are in some formats, but if you’re an aggressive deck and you need a trick, this is a solid one.
Syncopate
2.0 This is a Counterspell that can sort of stay relevant all game since you can pay X, but there will still be times where you just can’t use it to effectively counter something because your opponent has too much mana. Like a lot of counterspells, it has some significant downside as a result of being so situational, but this one is good enough that you’ll play it a decent chunk of the time.
2.0 This is a Counterspell that can sort of stay relevant all game since you can pay X, but there will still be times where you just can’t use it to effectively counter something because your opponent has too much mana. Like a lot of counterspells, it has some significant downside as a result of being so situational, but this one is good enough that you’ll play it a decent chunk of the time.
Guardians of Koilos
1.5 The idea here is that you can bounce a Saga or other Historic thing to your hand that will give you value when you play it again, but a lot of the time this is just a 5-mana 4/4, and that’s not really something you want.
1.5 The idea here is that you can bounce a Saga or other Historic thing to your hand that will give you value when you play it again, but a lot of the time this is just a 5-mana 4/4, and that’s not really something you want.
Voltaic Servant
1.5 There are a few pretty sweet combos you can pull off with Voltaic Servant in this format, with Traxos being the sweetest one around, but it is also just a two mana 1/3 that will be giving an artifact creature pseudo-Vigilance, and that’s not the worst thing ever.
1.5 There are a few pretty sweet combos you can pull off with Voltaic Servant in this format, with Traxos being the sweetest one around, but it is also just a two mana 1/3 that will be giving an artifact creature pseudo-Vigilance, and that’s not the worst thing ever.
Pack 3 Pick 9: Divination
Powerstone Shard
0.0 // 2.5 This is hard to make work, but if you end up 3+ Powerstone Shards, you can start consider playing them, especially if you’re in a ramp deck. If you have 2 or less, it probably isn’t worth it.
0.0 // 2.5 This is hard to make work, but if you end up 3+ Powerstone Shards, you can start consider playing them, especially if you’re in a ramp deck. If you have 2 or less, it probably isn’t worth it.
Keldon Raider
2.5 A 4-mana 4/3 that lets you rummage is perfectly fine, but not much more than that.
2.5 A 4-mana 4/3 that lets you rummage is perfectly fine, but not much more than that.
Fire Elemental
1.0 The stats here aren’t great, and there’s not any payoff in this set for Elementals, so you won’t play this most of the time.
1.0 The stats here aren’t great, and there’s not any payoff in this set for Elementals, so you won’t play this most of the time.
Healing Grace
0.0 Strictly better Healing Salve is still not a playable card.
0.0 Strictly better Healing Salve is still not a playable card.
Divination
2.0 As usual, Divination is fine. It is a 3-mana 2-for-1, and while you don’t want too many cards that don’t add to the board, having one of these is fine in most Blue decks.
2.0 As usual, Divination is fine. It is a 3-mana 2-for-1, and while you don’t want too many cards that don’t add to the board, having one of these is fine in most Blue decks.
Navigator's Compass
0.5 This kind of card is always overrated. People look at it and they really think of it as a form of fixing, and..well, it is, but you also use up an entire card for it, and you just modify a land you already have. This does nothing but fix for the most part. It does gain you a bit of life, and it is an artifact in a set that cares about them, but you can do a lot better than this.
0.5 This kind of card is always overrated. People look at it and they really think of it as a form of fixing, and..well, it is, but you also use up an entire card for it, and you just modify a land you already have. This does nothing but fix for the most part. It does gain you a bit of life, and it is an artifact in a set that cares about them, but you can do a lot better than this.
Pack 3 Pick 10: Unwind
Adamant Will
1.5 This is a decent trick, which will frequently allow your creature to win combat. The indestructibility also gives it an additional use as a way to save a creature from removal. This format is pretty grindy, so tricks aren’t as good as they are in some formats, but if you’re an aggressive deck and you need a trick, this is a solid one.
1.5 This is a decent trick, which will frequently allow your creature to win combat. The indestructibility also gives it an additional use as a way to save a creature from removal. This format is pretty grindy, so tricks aren’t as good as they are in some formats, but if you’re an aggressive deck and you need a trick, this is a solid one.
Voltaic Servant
1.5 There are a few pretty sweet combos you can pull off with Voltaic Servant in this format, with Traxos being the sweetest one around, but it is also just a two mana 1/3 that will be giving an artifact creature pseudo-Vigilance, and that’s not the worst thing ever.
1.5 There are a few pretty sweet combos you can pull off with Voltaic Servant in this format, with Traxos being the sweetest one around, but it is also just a two mana 1/3 that will be giving an artifact creature pseudo-Vigilance, and that’s not the worst thing ever.
Aven Sentry
2.0 This has decent French Vanilla stats, and not much else.
2.0 This has decent French Vanilla stats, and not much else.
Aesthir Glider
1.5 In a lot of formats this would be close to unplayable, but in this one – which features lots of Artifact/Historic payoffs, you end up playing the glider sometimes. A 3-mana 2/1 with Flying isn’t bad, but the fact it can’t block is a little miserable.
1.5 In a lot of formats this would be close to unplayable, but in this one – which features lots of Artifact/Historic payoffs, you end up playing the glider sometimes. A 3-mana 2/1 with Flying isn’t bad, but the fact it can’t block is a little miserable.
Unwind
0.5 This is generally too narrow for you to really want to play. It is better out of your sideboard, as bringing it in against someone who has a lot of noncreature spells will work out okay.
0.5 This is generally too narrow for you to really want to play. It is better out of your sideboard, as bringing it in against someone who has a lot of noncreature spells will work out okay.
Pack 3 Pick 11: Academy Drake
Sergeant-at-Arms
2.5 This is another card with Kicker where both options don’t exactly seem efficient, but having the choice between them is great. You either get a 3-mana 2/3 or a 6-mana 2/3 that makes two 1/1 tokens. When you kick it, it can really allow you to stabilize in situations even when you are pretty far behind.
2.5 This is another card with Kicker where both options don’t exactly seem efficient, but having the choice between them is great. You either get a 3-mana 2/3 or a 6-mana 2/3 that makes two 1/1 tokens. When you kick it, it can really allow you to stabilize in situations even when you are pretty far behind.
Academy Drake
3.0 In the early part of the game, this is a Wind Drake, which is always serviceable, and in the late game it can be significantly larger. Like most cards with Kicker, the second mode isn’t exactly efficient, but it is nice upside to have on an already reasonable card.
3.0 In the early part of the game, this is a Wind Drake, which is always serviceable, and in the late game it can be significantly larger. Like most cards with Kicker, the second mode isn’t exactly efficient, but it is nice upside to have on an already reasonable card.
Adventurous Impulse
1.5 This can often allow you to find a creature or a land, and sometimes you really need one of those and not the other. It does wiff sometimes, but usually this costs one mana for some card selection, and while that is a fairly replaceable effect, it is something you’ll play often enough.
1.5 This can often allow you to find a creature or a land, and sometimes you really need one of those and not the other. It does wiff sometimes, but usually this costs one mana for some card selection, and while that is a fairly replaceable effect, it is something you’ll play often enough.
Fervent Strike
1.5 This is a one-mana trick that can help a creature win a decent number of combats. That’s what makes it a decent enough trick for aggressive decks.
1.5 This is a one-mana trick that can help a creature win a decent number of combats. That’s what makes it a decent enough trick for aggressive decks.
Pack 3 Pick 12: Relic Runner
Relic Runner
2.5 This is unblockable often enough that it is a pretty nice little two-drop.
2.5 This is unblockable often enough that it is a pretty nice little two-drop.
Befuddle
1.5 This type of Blue “combat trick” almost always disappoints, just because you need things to line up in very specific ways for it to actually feel like a combat trick. Other times, it just feels like Fog. However, adding a cantrip effect to this makes it substantially better, as does the fact that the UR deck likes spells. It still isn’t good exactly, but it is better than most versions of this type of card.
1.5 This type of Blue “combat trick” almost always disappoints, just because you need things to line up in very specific ways for it to actually feel like a combat trick. Other times, it just feels like Fog. However, adding a cantrip effect to this makes it substantially better, as does the fact that the UR deck likes spells. It still isn’t good exactly, but it is better than most versions of this type of card.
Corrosive Ooze
1.5 There is Equipment in this set, but not so much that this ability is amazing. Most of the time, Corrosive Ooze is just a Bear.
1.5 There is Equipment in this set, but not so much that this ability is amazing. Most of the time, Corrosive Ooze is just a Bear.
Pack 3 Pick 13: Cold-Water Snapper
Radiating Lightning
1.0 This will often just feel like 4 mana to do 3 to an opponent, and that’s not worth it. Doing 1 damage to opposing creatures will sometimes actually do something, but it will be irrelevant more often than not.
1.0 This will often just feel like 4 mana to do 3 to an opponent, and that’s not worth it. Doing 1 damage to opposing creatures will sometimes actually do something, but it will be irrelevant more often than not.
Cold-Water Snapper
1.5 Yep, there’s a common with hexproof in this set! This is a great place to put Auras like Arcane Flight, and is sort of passable as top curve in other Blue decks too.
1.5 Yep, there’s a common with hexproof in this set! This is a great place to put Auras like Arcane Flight, and is sort of passable as top curve in other Blue decks too.
Pack 3 Pick 14: Divest
Divest
0.5 This is a sideboard card. People frequently won’t have enough targets to make it worth it.
0.5 This is a sideboard card. People frequently won’t have enough targets to make it worth it.
Draft Pick Overview
- Pack 1 Pick 1: Forebear's Blade
- Pack 1 Pick 2: Wizard's Retort
- Pack 1 Pick 3: Cloudreader Sphinx
- Pack 1 Pick 4: Jousting Lance
- Pack 1 Pick 5: Ghitu Lavarunner
- Pack 1 Pick 6: Two-Headed Giant
- Pack 1 Pick 7: Radiating Lightning
- Pack 1 Pick 8: Wizard's Retort
- Pack 1 Pick 9: Sage of Lat-Nam
- Pack 1 Pick 10: Sparring Construct
- Pack 1 Pick 11: Tolarian Scholar
- Pack 1 Pick 12: Homarid Explorer
- Pack 1 Pick 13: Tolarian Scholar
- Pack 1 Pick 14: Homarid Explorer
- Pack 2 Pick 1: Ghitu Chronicler
- Pack 2 Pick 2: Wizard's Lightning
- Pack 2 Pick 3: Naru Meha, Master Wizard
- Pack 2 Pick 4: Fiery Intervention
- Pack 2 Pick 5: Opt
- Pack 2 Pick 6: Zahid, Djinn of the Lamp
- Pack 2 Pick 7: Merfolk Trickster
- Pack 2 Pick 8: Artificer's Assistant
- Pack 2 Pick 9: Radiating Lightning
- Pack 2 Pick 10: Ghitu Journeymage
- Pack 2 Pick 11: Arcane Flight
- Pack 2 Pick 12: Cold-Water Snapper
- Pack 2 Pick 13: Pardic Wanderer
- Pack 2 Pick 14: Keldon Raider
- Pack 3 Pick 1: In Bolas's Clutches
- Pack 3 Pick 2: Academy Journeymage
- Pack 3 Pick 3: Opt
- Pack 3 Pick 4: Jousting Lance
- Pack 3 Pick 5: Syncopate
- Pack 3 Pick 6: Tolarian Scholar
- Pack 3 Pick 7: Blink of an Eye
- Pack 3 Pick 8: Weight of Memory
- Pack 3 Pick 9: Divination
- Pack 3 Pick 10: Unwind
- Pack 3 Pick 11: Academy Drake
- Pack 3 Pick 12: Relic Runner
- Pack 3 Pick 13: Cold-Water Snapper
- Pack 3 Pick 14: Divest
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