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2009-04-04T11:12:00.000+08:00

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Quick Conflux Review

2009-02-03T11:21:00.006+08:00

I have been really busy the last couple of days. I intend to finish my Conflux Comparative Review soon. For now, here are my ratings (for Standard) for the rest of the cards from the latest expansion.

BLACK

Absorb Vis - 6B
Sorcery (Common)
Taget player loses 4 life and you gain 4 life.
Basic landcycling {1}{B}
RATING: 2 Stars

Corrupted Roots - B
Enchantment - Aura (Uncommon)
Enchant Forest or Plains
Whenever enchanted land becomes tapped, its controller loses 2 life.
RATING: 1 Star

Drag Down - 2B
Instant (Common)
Domain - Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn for each basic land type among lands you control.
RATING: 1 Star

Dreadwing - B
Creature - Zombie (Uncommon)
{1}{U}{R}: Dreadwing gets +3/+0 and gains flying until end of turn.
1/1
RATING: 2 Stars

Extractor Demon - 4BB
Creature - Demon (Rare)
Flying
Whenever another creature leaves play, you may have target player put the top two cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
Unearth {2}{B}
5/5
RATING: 2 Stars

Fleshformer - 2B
Creature - Human Wizard (Uncommon)
{W}{U}{B}{R}{G}: Fleshformer gets +2/+2 and gains fear until end of turn. Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn. Play this ability only during your turn.
2/2
RATING: 1 Star

Grixis Slavedriver - 5B
Creature - Zombie Giant (Uncommon)
When Grixis Slavedriver leaves play, put a 2/2 black Zombie creature token into play.
Unearth {3}{B}
4/4
RATING: 1 Star

Infectious Horror - 3B
Creature - Horror (Common)
Whenever Infectious Horror attacks, each opponent loses 2 life.
2/2
RATING: 1 Star

Kederekt Parasite - B
Creature - Horror (Rare)
Whenever an opponent draws a card, if you control a red permanent, you may have Kederekt Parasite deal 1 damage to that player.
1/1
RATING: 2 Stars

Nyxathid - 1BB
Creature - Elemental (Rare)
As Nyxathid comes into play, choose an opponent.
Nyxathid gets -1/-1 for each card in the chosen player's hand.
7/7
RATING: 5 Stars

Pestilent Kathari - 2B
Creature - Bird Warrior (Common)
Flying
Deathtouch
{2}{R}: Pestilent Kathari gains first strike until end of turn.
1/1
RATING: 1 Star

Rotting Rats - 1B
Creature - Rat (Common)
When Rotting Rats comes into play, each player discards a card.
Unearth {1}{B}
1/1
RATING: 3 Stars

Salvage Slasher - 1B
Artifact Creature - Human Rogue (Common)
Salvage Slasher gets +1/+0 for each artifact card in your graveyard.
1/1
RATING: 2 Stars

Scepter of Fugue - BB
Artifact (Rare)
{1}{B}, {T}: Target player discards a card. Play this ability only during your turn.
RATING: 3 Stars

Sedraxis Alchemist - 2B
Creature - Zombie Wizard (Common)
When Sedraxis Alchemist comes into play, if you control a blue permanent, return target nonland permanent to its owner's hand.
2/2
RATING: 2 Stars

Voices from the Void - 4B
Sorcery (Uncommon)
Domain - Target player discards a card for each basic land type among lands you control.
RATING: 1 Star

Wretched Banquet - B
Sorcery (Common)
Destroy target creature if it has the least power or is tied for least power among creatures in play.
RATING: 3 Stars

Yoke of the Damned - 1B
Enchantment - Aura (Common)
Enchant creature
When a creature is put into a graveyard from play, destroy enchanted creature.
RATING: 1 Star

RED

Banefire - XR
Sorcery (Rare)
Banefire deals X damage to target creature or player.
If X is 5 or more, Banefire can't be countered by spells or abilities and the damage can't be prevented.
RATING: 4 Stars

Bloodhall Ooze - R
Creature - Ooze (Rare)
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control a black permanent, you may put a +1/+1 counter on Bloodhall Ooze.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control a green permanent, you may put a +1/+1 counter on Bloodhall Ooze.
1/1
RATING: 3 Stars

Canyon Minotaur - 3R
Creature - Minotaur Warrior (Common)
3/3
RATING: 1 Star

Dark Temper - 2R
Instant (Common)
Dark Temper deals 2 damage to target creature. If you control a black permanent, destroy the creature instead.
RATING: 1 Star

Dragonsoul Knight - 2R
Creature - Human Knight (Uncommon)
First strike
{W}{B}{U}{R}{G}: Until end of turn, Dragonsoul Knight becomes a Dragon, gets +5/+3, and gains flying and trample.
2/2
RATING: 1 Star

Fiery Fall - 5R
Instant (Common)
Fiery Fall deals 5 damage to target creature.
Basic landcycling {1}{R} ({1}{R}, Discard this card: Search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.)
RATING: 2 Stars

Goblin Razerunners - 2RR
Creature - Goblin Warrior (Rare)
{1}{R}, Sacrifice a land: Put a +1/+1 counter on Goblin Razerunners.
At the end of your turn, you may have Goblin Razerunners deal damage equal to the number of +1/+1 counters on it to target player.
3/4
RATING: 3 Stars

Hellspark Elemental - 1R
Creature - Elemental (Uncommon)
Trample, haste
At end of turn, sacrifice Hellspark Elemental.
Unearth {1}{R}
3/1
RATING: 3 Stars

Ignite Disorder - 1R
Instant (Uncommon)
Ignite Disorder deals 3 damage divided as you choose among any number of target white and/or blue creatures.
RATING: 3 Stars

Kranioceros - 4R
Creature - Beast (Common)
{1}{W}: Kranioceros gets +0/+3 until end of turn.
5/2
RATING: 1 Star

Maniacal Rage - 1R
Enchantment - Aura (Common)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 and can't block.
RATING: 1 Star

Molten Frame - 1R
Instant (Common)
Destroy target artifact creature.
Cycling {2}
RATING: 2 Stars

Quenchable Fire - 3R
Sorcery (Common)
Quenchable Fire deals 3 damage to target player. It deals an additional 3 damage to that player at the beginning of your next upkeep step unless he or she pays {U} before that step.
RATING: 2 Stars

Rakka Mar - 2RR
Legendary Creature - Human Shaman (Rare)
Haste
{R}, {T}: Put a 3/1 red Elemental creature token with haste into play.
2/2
RATING: 3 Stars

Toxic Iguanar - R
Creature - Lizard (Common)
Toxic Iguanar has deathtouch as long as you control a green permanent.(Whenever it deals damage to a creature, destroy that creature.)
1/1
RATING: 1 Star

Viashino Slaughtermaster - 1R
Creature - Viashino Warrior (Uncommon)
Double strike
{B}{G}: Viashino Slaughtermaster gets +1/+1 until end of turn. Play this ability only once each turn.
1/1
RATING: 2 Stars

Volcanic Fallout - 1RR
Instant (Uncommon)
Volcanic Fallout can't be countered.
Volcanic Fallout deals 2 damage to each creature and each player.
RATING: 4 Stars

Voracious Dragon - 3RR
Creature - Dragon (Rare)
Flying
Devour 1
When Voracious Dragon comes into play, it deals damage to target creature or player equal to twice the number of Goblins it devoured.
4/4
RATING: 3 Stars

Wandering Goblins - 2R
Creature - Goblin Warrior (Common)
Domain - {3}: Wandering Goblins get +1/+0 until end of turn for each basic land type among lands you control.
0/3
RATING: 1 Star

Worldheart Phoenix - 3R
Creature - Phoenix (Rare)
Flying
You may play Worldheart Phoenix from your graveyard by paying {W}{U}{B}{R}{G} rather than paying its mana cost. If you do, it comes into play with two +1/+1 counters on it.
2/2
RATING: 2 Stars

GREEN

Beacon Behemoth - 3GG
Creature - Beast (Common)
{1}: Target creature with power 5 or greater gains vigilance until end of turn.
5/3
RATING: 1 Star

Cliffrunner Behemoth - 3G
Creature - Rhino Beast (Rare)
Cliffrunner Behemoth has haste as long as you control a red permanent.
Cliffrunner Behemoth has lifelink as long as you control a white permanent.
5/3
RATING: 3 Stars

Cylian Sunsinger - 1G
Creature - Elf Shaman (Rare)
{R}{G}{W}: Cylian Sunsinger and each other creature with the same name as it gets +3/+3 until end of turn.
2/2
RATING: 3 Stars

Ember Weaver - 2G
Creature - Spider (Common)
Reach
As long as you control a red permanent, Ember Weaver gets +1/+0 and has first strike
2/3
RATING: 2 Stars

Filigree Fracture - 2G
Instant (Uncommon)
Destroy target artifact of enchantment. If it was blue or black, draw a card.
RATING: 2 Stars

Gluttonous Slime - 2G
Creature - Ooze (Uncommon)
Flash
Devour 1
2/2
RATING: 2 Stars

Matca Rioters - 2G
Creature - Human Warrior (Common)
Domain - Matca Rioters's power and toughness are each equal to the number of basic land types among lands you control.
*/*
RATING: 2 Stars

Might of Alara - G
Instant (Common)
Domain - Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each basic land type among lands you control.
RATING: 2 Stars

Nacatl Savage - 1G
Creature - Cat Warrior (Common)
Protection from artifacts
2/1
RATING: 1 Star

Noble Hierarch - G
Creature - Human Druid (Rare)
Exalted
{T}: Add {G}, {W} or {U} to your mana pool.
0/1
RATING: 5 Stars

Paleoloth - 4GG
Creature - Beast (Rare)
Whenever another creature with power 5 or greater comes into play under your control, you may return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
5/5
RATING: 1 Stars

Sacellum Archers - 2G
Creature - Elf Archer (Uncommon)
{R}{W}, {T}: Sacellum Archers deals 2 damage to target attacking or blocking creature.
2/3
RATING: 1 Star

Scattershot Archer - G
Creature - Elf Archer (Common)
{T}: Scattershot Archer deals 1 damage to each creature with flying.
1/2
RATING: 3 Stars

Shard Convergence - 3G
Sorcery (Uncommon)
Search your library for a Plains card, an Island card, a Swamp card, and a Mountain card. Reveal those cards and put them into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
RATING: 2 Stars

Soul's Majesty - 4G
Sorcery (Rare)
Draw cards equal to the power of target creature you control.
RATING: 1 Star

Spore Burst - 3G
Sorcery (Uncommon)
Domain - Put a 1/1 green Saproling creature token into play for each basic land type among lands you control.
RATING: 1 Star

Sylvan Bounty - 5G
Instant (Common)
Target player gains 8 life.
Basic landcycling {1}{G}
RATING: 1 Star

Thornling - 3GG
Creature - Elemental Shapeshifter (Mythic Rare)
{G}: Thornling gains haste until end of turn.
{G}: Thornling gains trample until end of turn.
{G}: Thornling is indestructible this turn.
{1}: Thornling gets +1/-1 until end of turn.
{1}: Thornling gets -1/+1 until end of turn.
4/4
RATING: 4 Stars

Tukatongue Thallid - G
Creature - Fungus (Common)
When Tukatongue Thallid is put into a graveyard from play, put a 1/1 green Saproling creature token into play.
1/1
RATING: 2 Stars

Wild Leotau - 2GG
Creature - Cat (Common)
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice Wild Leotau unless you pay {G}.
5/4
RATING: 1 Star

GOLD

Apocalypse Hydra - XRG
Creature - Hydra (Mythic Rare)
Apocalypse Hydra comes into play with X +1/+1 counters on it. If X is 5 or more, it comes into play with an additional X +1/+1 counters on it.
{1}{R}, Remove a +1/+1 counter from Apocalypse Hydra: Apocalypse Hydra deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
0/0
RATING: 2 Stars

Blood Tyrant - 4UBR
Creature - Vampire (Rare)
Flying, trample
At the beginning of your upkeep, each player loses 1 life. Put a +1/+1 counter on Blood Tyrant for each 1 life lost this way.
Whenever a player loses the game, put five +1/+1 counters on Blood Tyrant.
5/5
RATING: 2 Stars

Charnelhoard Wurm - 4BRG
Creature - Wurm (Rare)
Trample
Whenever Charnelhoard Wurm deals damage to an opponent, you may return target card from your graveyard to your hand.
6/6
RATING: 2 Stars

Child of Alara - WUBRG
Legendary Creature - Avatar (Mythic Rare)
Trample
When Child of Alara is put into a graveyard from play, destroy all nonland permanents. They can't be regenerated.
6/6
RATING: 3 Stars

Conflux - 3WUBRG
Sorcery (Mythic Rare)
Search your library for a white card, a blue card, a black card, a red card, and a green card. Reveal those cards and put them into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
RATING: 2 Stars

Countersquall - UB
Instant (Uncommon)
Counter target noncreature spell. Its controller loses 2 life.
RATING: 2 Stars

Elder Mastery - 3UBR
Enchantment - Aura (Uncommon)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +3/+3 and has flying.
Whenever enchanted creature deals damage to a player, that player discards two cards.
RATING: 1 Star

Esper Cormorants - 2WU
Artifact Creature - Bird (Common)
Flying
3/3
RATING: 1 Star

Exploding Borders - 2RG
Sorcery (Common)
Domain - Search your library for a basic land card, put that card into play tapped, then shuffle your library. Exploding Borders deals X damage to target player, where X is the number of basic land types among lands you control.
RATING: 2 Stars

Fusion Elemental - WUBRG
Creature - Elemental (Uncommon)
8/8
RATING: 2 Stars

Giltspire Avenger - GWU
Creature - Human Soldier (Rare)
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
{T}: Destroy target creature that dealt damage to you this turn.
2/2
RATING: 2 Stars

Goblin Outlander - BR
Creature - Goblin Scout (Common)
Protection from white
2/2
RATING: 3 Stars

Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer - 1WU
Legendary Creature - Human Rogue (Rare)
{W}{U}, {T}: Put a bribery counter on target creature you don't control. Its controller draws a card.
Creatures with bribery counters on them can't attack or block.
2/2
RATING: 1 Star

Hellkite Hatchling - 2RG
Creature - Dragon (Uncommon)
Devour 1
Hellkite Hatchling has flying and trample if it devoured a creature.
2/2
RATING: 1 Star

Jhessian Balmgiver - 1WU
Creature - Human Cleric (Uncommon)
{T}: Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to target creature or player this turn.
{T}: Target creature is unblockable this turn.
1/1
RATING: 1 Star

Knight of the Reliquary - 1GW
Creature - Human Knight (Rare)
Knight of the Reliquary gets +1/+1 for each land card in your graveyard.
{T}, Sacrifice a Forest or Plains: Search your library for a land card, put it into play, then shuffle your library.
2/2
RATING: 3 Stars

Knotvine Mystic - RGW
Creature - Elf Druid? (Uncommon)
{1}, {T}: Add {R}{G}{W} to your mana pool.
2/2
RATING: 3 Stars

Maelstrom Archangel - WUBRG
Creature - Angel (Mythic Rare)
Flying
Whenever Maelstrom Archangel deals combat damage to a player, you may play a nonland card from your hand without paying its mana cost.
5/5
RATING: 4 Stars

Magister Sphinx - 4WUB
Artifact Creature - Sphinx (Rare)
Flying
When Magister Sphinx comes into play, target player's life total becomes 10.
5/5
RATING: 2 Stars

Malfegor - 2BBRR
Legendary Creature - Demon Dragon (Mythic Rare)
Flying
When Malfegor comes into play, discard your hand. Each opponent sacrifices a creature for each card discarded this way.
6/6
RATING: 3 Stars

Meglonoth - 3RGW
Creature - Beast (Rare)
Vigilance, trample
Whenever Meglonoth blocks a creature, Meglonoth deals damage to that creature's controller equal to Meglonoth's power.
6/6
RATING: 1 Star

Nacatl Outlander - RG
Creature - Cat Scout (Common)
Protection from blue
2/2
RATING: 2 Stars

Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker - 4UBBR
Planeswalker - Bolas (Mythic Rare)
+3: Destroy target noncreature permanent.
-2: Gain control of target creature.
-9: Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker deals 7 damage to target player. That player discards seven cards, then sacrifices seven permanents.
5
RATING: 2 Stars

Progenitus - WWUUBBRRGG
Legendary Creature - Hydra Avatar (Mythic Rare)
Protection from everything
If Progenitus would be put into a graveyard from anywhere, reveal Progenitus and shuffle it into its owner's library instead.
10/10
RATING: 2 Stars

Rhox Bodyguard - 3GW
Creature - Rhino Monk Soldier (Common)
Exalted
When Rhox Bodyguard comes into play, you gain 3 life.
2/3
RATING: 1 Star

Scarland Thrinax - BRG
Creature - Lizard (Uncommon)
Sacrifice a creature: Put a +1/+1 counter on Scarland Thrinax.
2/2
RATING: 3 Stars

Shambling Remains - 1BR
Creature - Zombie Horror (Uncommon)
Shambling Remains can't block.
Unearth {B}{R}
4/3
RATING: 3 Stars

Skyward Eye Prophets - 3GWU
Creature - Human Wizard (Uncommon)
Vigilance
{T}: Reveal the top card of your library. If it's a land card, put it into play. Otherwise, put that card into your hand.
3/3
RATING: 1 Star

Sludge Strider - 1WUB
Artifact Creature - Insect (Uncommon)
Whenever another artifact comes into play under your control or another artifact you control leaves play, you may pay {1}. If you do, target player loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
3/3
RATING: 2 Stars

Sphinx Summoner - 3UB
Artifact Creature - Sphinx (Rare)
Flying
When Sphinx Summoner comes into play, you may search your libary for an artifact creature card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. If you do, shuffle your library.
3/3
RATING: 3 Stars

Suicidal Charge - 3BR
Enchantment (Common)
Sacrifice Suicidal Charge: Creatures your opponents control get -1/-1 until end of turn. Those creatures attack this turn if able.
RATING: 2 Stars

Vagrant Plowbeasts - 5GW
Creature - Beast (Uncommon)
{1}: Regenerate target creature with power 5 or greater.
6/6
RATING 1 Star

Valeron Outlander - GW
Creature - Human Scout (Common)
Protection from black
2/2
RATING: 2 Stars

Vectis Agents - 3UB
Artifact Creature - Human Rogue (Common)
{U}{B}: Vectis Agents gets -2/-0 until end of turn and is unblockable this turn.
4/3
RATING: 1 Star

Vedalken Outlander - WU
Artifact Creature - Vedalken Scout (Common)
Protection from red
2/2
RATING: 3 Stars

Zombie Outlander - UB
Creature - Zombie Scout (Common)
Protection from green
2/2
RATING: 2 Stars

ARTIFACTS

Armillary Sphere - 2
Artifact (Common)
{2}, {T}, Sacrifice Armillary Sphere: Search your library for up to two basic land cards, reveal them, and put them into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
RATING: 2 Stars

Bone Saw - 0
Artifact - Equipment (Common)
Equipped creature gets +1/+0.
Equip {1}
RATING: 1 Star

Font of Mythos - 4
Artifact (Rare)
At the beginning of each player's draw step, that player draws an additional two cards.
RATING: 2 Stars

Kaleidostone - 2
Artifact (Common)
When Kaleidostone comes into play, draw a card.
{5}, {T}, Sacrifice Kaleidostone: Add {W}{U}{B}{R}{G} to your mana pool.
RATING: 1 Star

Mana Cylix - 1
Artifact (Common)
{1}, {T}: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
RATING: 1 Star

Manaforce Mace - 4
Artifact - Equipment (Uncommon)
Domain - Equipped creature gets +1/+1 for each basic land type among lands you control.
Equip {3}
RATING: 1 Star

Obelisk of Alara - 6
Artifact (Rare)
{1}{W}, {T}: You gain 5 life.
{1}{U}, {T}: Draw a card, then discard a card.
{1}{B}, {T}: Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn.
{1}{R}, {T}: Obelisk of Alara deals 3 damage to target player.
{1}{G}, {T}: Target creature gets +4/+4 until end of turn.
RATING: 3 Stars

LANDS

Ancient Ziggurat
Land (Uncommon)
{T}: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to play creature spells.
RATING: 2 Stars

Exotic Orchard
Land (Rare)
{T}: Add to your mana pool one mana of any color that a land an opponent controls could produce.
RATING: 2 Stars

Reliquary Tower
Land (Uncommon)
You have no maximum hand size.
{T}: Add {1} to your mana pool.
RATING: 2 Stars

Rupture Spire
Land (Common)
Rupture Spire comes into play tapped.
When Rupture Spire comes into play, sacrifice it unless you pay {1}.
{T}: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
RATING: 1 Star

Unstable Frontier
Land (Uncommon)
{T}: Add {1} to your mana pool.
{T}: Target land you control becomes the basic land type of your choice until end of turn.
RATING: 2 Stars

The Comparative Conflux Review: Blue

2009-01-28T22:53:00.007+08:00

Brackwater Elemental versus Fog Elemental

Brackwater Elemental - 2U
Creature - Elemental (Common)
When Brackwater Elemental attacks or blocks, sacrifice it at end of turn.
Unearth {2}{U}
4/4

Brackwater Elemental traded Flying for Unearth. While Fog Elemental's evasion makes sure that the 4/4 hits the opponent when it attacks, Brackwater Elemental is often better as it can hit twice.

WINNER: Backwater Elemental

Esperzoa versus Stampeding Wildebeests

Esperzoa - 2U
Artifact Creature - Jellyfish (Uncommon)
Flying
At the beginning of your upkeep, return an artifact you control to its owner's hand.
4/3

Stampeding Wildebeests was the cornerstone of the mono-color Stupid Green decks. The idea was to take advantage of the Wildebeests' return-a-green-creature-to-your-hand drawback by using creatures with comes-into-play effects, like Wall of Blossoms. Esperzoa may serve the same purpose in Esper decks, bouncing Sanctum Gargoyles or Elsewhere Flasks instead. It would be fun to build a casual Esper deck around Esperzoa.

WINNER: Esperzoa

Master Transmuter versus Elvish Piper

Master Transmuter - 3U
Artifact Creature - Human Artificer (Rare)
{U}, {T}: Return an artifact you control to its owner's hand: You may put an artifact card from your hand into play.
1/2

Both are "fun-tastic" cards for casual decks, but Master Transmuter's return-an-artifact ability has a lot more combo potential. Both easily die to common creature-kills, so I doubt either will see tournament play.

WINNER: Master Tansmuter

Scepter of Insight versus Jayamdae Tome

Scepter of Insight - 1UU
Artifact (Rare)
{3}{U}, {T}: Draw a card.

Both still suck. Gone are the days when we had to make do with slow, expensive card-drawing.

WINNER: None

Telemin Performance versus Bribery

Telemin Performance - 3UU
Sorcery (Rare)
Target opponent reveals cards from the top of his or her library until a creature card is revealed. Put all noncreature cards revealed this way into that player's graveyard, then put the creature card into play under your control.

The ability to potentially mill out an opponent's library is tempting, but Bribery is still better than Telim's Performance. Being able to choose which creature to take from an opponent's deck makes a lot of difference. Besides, why the need to mill an opponent's library when you can just attack him with the beastie you just stole?

WINNER: Bribery

QUICK HITS

Brackwater Elemental - 2U
Creature - Elemental (Common)
When Brackwater Elemental attacks or blocks, sacrifice it at end of turn.
Unearth {2}{U}
4/4
RATING: 1 Star

Constricting Tendrils - U
Instant (Common)
Target creature gets -3/-0 until end of turn.
Cycling {2}
RATING: 1 Star

Controlled Instincts - U
Enchantment - Aura (Uncommon)
Enchant red or green creature
Enchanted creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step.
RATING: 2 Stars

Cumber Stone - 3U
Artifact (Uncommon)
Creatures your opponents control get -1/-0.
RATING: 2 Stars

Esperzoa - 2U
Artifact Creature - Jellyfish (Uncommon)
Flying
At the beginning of your upkeep, return an artifact you control to its owner's hand.
4/3
RATING: 2 Stars

Ethersworn Adjudicator - 4U
Artifact Creature - Vedalken Knight (Mythic Rare)
Flying
{1}{B}{W}, {T}: Destroy target creature or enchantment.
{2}{U}: Untap Ethersworn Ajudicator.
4/4
RATING: 3 Stars

Faerie Mechanist - 3U
Artifact Creature - Faerie Artificer (Common)
Flying
When Faerie Mechanist comes into play, look at the top three cards of your library. You may reveal an artifact card from among them and put it in your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
2/2
RATING: 2 Stars

Frontline Sage - 2U
Creature - Human Wizard (Common)
Exalted
{U}, {T}: Draw a card, then discard a card.
0/1
RATING: 1 Star

Grixis Illusionist - U
Creature - Human Wizard (Common)
{T}: Target land you control becomes the basic land type of your choice until end of turn.
1/1
RATING: 1 Star

Inkwell Leviathan - 7UU
Artifact Creature - Leviathan (Rare)
Islandwalk, trample, shroud
7/11
RATING: 2 Stars

Master Transmuter - 3U
Artifact Creature - Human Artificer (Rare)
{U}, {T}: Return an artifact you control to its owner's hand: You may put an artifact card from your hand into play.
1/2
RATING: 2 Stars

Parasitic Strix - 2U
Artifact Creature - Bird (Common)
Flying
When Parasitic Strix comes into play, if you control a black permanent, target player loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.
2/2
RATING: 2 Stars

Scepter of Insight - 1UU
Artifact (Rare)
{3}{U}, {T}: Draw a card.
RATING: 2 Stars

Scornful Aether-Lich - 3U
Artifact Creature - Vedalken Wizard (Uncommon)
{W}{B}: Scornful Aether-Lich gains fear and vigilance until end of turn.
2/4
RATING: 1 Star

Telemin Performance - 3UU
Sorcery (Rare)
Target opponent reveals cards from the top of his or her library until he or she reveals a creature card. That player puts all noncreature cards revealed this way into his or her graveyard, then you put the creature card into play under your control.
RATING: 2 Stars

Traumatic Visions - 3UU
Instant (Common)
Counter target spell.
Basic landcycling {1}{U}
RATING: 2 Stars

Unsummon - U
Instant (Common)
Return target creature to its owner's hand.
RATING: 3 Stars

View from Above - 1U
Instant (Uncommon)
Target creature gains flying until end of turn. If you control a white permanent, return View from Above to its owner's hand.
RATING: 1 Star

Worldly Counsel - 1U
Instant (Common)
Domain - Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the number of basic land types among lands you control. Put one of those cards into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library.
RATING: 1 Star

(Images from magicthegathering.com)

The Conflux Comparative Review: White

2009-01-26T22:25:00.018+08:00

INTRODUCTION

Unoriginal. That's my problem with Conflux. A lot of the set's cards are just (sometimes) better versions of cards from older expansions. We've got a new Icy Manipulator. A new Demonfire. A new Swords to Plowshares. A new Birds of Paradise. The list goes on. The sad thing is, this is not a "nostalgia" set like Time Spiral. As it is, Conflux appears to have been poorly designed -- the designers seemed to have ran out of new ideas.

Well, at least they gave me an idea on how to go about my Conflux set review...

Some cards are easy to rate because there are older cards with similar abilities with which to compare them. For example, I know Chameleon Colossus was going to be good in Standard because Phantom Centaur was. Flame Javelin is similar to Char, a card that saw a lot of tournament play. Wild Nacatl is Kird Ape version 2.

There are cards which have been misevaluated by the designers at Wizards of the Coast perhaps because these cards are so original that there are no other cards to compare them with. Take Bitterblossom. The card nearest to its ability may be Phyrexian Arena. One life gives you a resource, a 1/1 flier from the former, and a card from the latter. Yet Phyrexian Arena is a well-balanced card, while Bitterblossom continues to dominate Standard. The same may also be said with Tarmogoyf (compared to Lhurgoyf) and Skullclamp (compared to, um... nothing!).

Since most of the "buzz" cards of Conflux are copycats, might as well compare them with their predecessors. In this set review, I intend to use the "comparative approach" in evaluating the cards. Are the new cards better than their counterparts? Will they see tournament play as did (or did not) their forerunners? On with the review!

WHITE

Court Homonculus versus Goldmeadow Stalwart

Court Homunculus - W
Artifact Creature - Homunculus (Common)
Court Homunculus gets +1/+1 as long as you control another artifact.
1/1

Both one-to-cast 2/2's. The Stalwart for Kithkin decks, the Homonculus for Esper decks... The problem with Court Homonculus, however, is that, currently, there is no viable aggressive Esper deck, and I doubt that there ever will be. Esper, it seems, is a shard not designed for an aggro strategy. Popular Esper cards from Shards of Alara, like Esper Charm and Tidehollow Sculler, point to disruption and card advantage as the strenghts of the artifact-heavy shard.

WINNER: Goldmeadow Stalwart

Lapse of Certainty versus Memory Lapse

Lapse of Certainty - 2W

Instant (Common)

Counter target spell. If that spell is countered this way, put it on top of its owner's library instead of into that player's graveyard.

Would the shift from the color pie justify the additional one-mana for the mana cost of Lapse of Uncertainty? I don't think so. At three mana, Blue gets a "hard" counter, like Cancel. White gets this. And it does not need it. "Soft" counters are supposed to be tempo cards. They buy the player time. Little tempo advantage can be gained using a three-casting-cost counterspell. White would rather stay with the aggro route to victory.

WINNER: Memory Lapse

Mark of Asylum versus Forfend

Mark of Asylum - 1W

Enchantment (Rare)

Prevent all noncombat damage that would be dealt to creatures you control.

Enchantment versus Instant. As a sideboard against damage-based mass-kill spells (like Firespout and Pyroclasm), the permanent is most times better for obvious reasons.

WINNER: Mark of Asylum... but wait, we have another challenger...

Mark of Asylum versus Burrenton Forge-Tender

Both are hosers against Red burn-based decks. While Mark of Asylum is an excellent sideboard card, Burrenton Forge-Tender is good in the main deck. The Forge-Tender is currently a tournament staple in Kithkin and Boat-Brew decks. The Mark of Asylum is a welcome addition to the sideboard of these creature-based decks, especially with all the cheap damage-based mass-kills.

WINNER: Tie

Martial Coup versus Supply/Demand versus Decree of Justice

Martial Coup - XWW

Sorcery (Rare)

Put X 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens into play. If X is 5 or more, destroy all other creatures.

A token-making triple threat! The game-changing power of a seven-mana-cost Martial Coup easily beats the versatility of Supply/Demand. The tougher opponent is the oft-cycled Decree of Justice. This one's close, but I dare say that the bonus Wrath of God effect can swing more games than an instant-speed uncounterable token-maker. I hope to see this Conflux card replace Oona, Queen of the Fae in Quick-and-Toast decks soon.

WINNER: Martial Coup

Path to Exile versus Swords to Plowshares

Path to Exile - W

Instant (Uncommon)

Remove target creature from the game. Its controller may search his or her library for a basic land card, put it into play tapped, then shuffle his or her library.

The problem with Path to Exile is that it often sucks as a creature-kill during the first few turns, assuming your opponent does not have any basic lands in his deck. But it gets better as the game progresses, as the search-a-land drawback becomes less relevant. That said, Path to Exile still pales in comparison with Swords to Plowshares. But still, the Conflux card is far from being a bad card. Path to Exile is best used in a creature-heavy aggro deck where,early in the game, you can instead use it as a pseudo Rampant Growth, targeting your own graveyard-bound creatures. Not too useful in control decks, though...

WINNER: Swords to Plowshares

Scepter of Dominance versus Icy Manipulator

Scepter of Dominance - 1WW

Artifact (Rare)

{W}, {T}: Tap target permanent.

Guess what: Icy Manipulator was reprinted in Tenth Edition. It is Type-2 legal... yet no one seems to care. The mana cost of Icy Manipultor is too pricey for the current metagame. I'm afraid shaving off one mana would do little good. Icy Manipulator was good in tandem with Winter Orb. The two-card combo created a "soft-lock". With no Winter Orb in Standard, the Scepter of Dominance, if ever it will be used, is best in a land-destruction deck, together with Ajani Vengeant and Fulminator Mage. But mana-denial decks, I'm afraid, won't do much good facing a lot of aggro and tempo decks in today's meta.

WINNER: None

BONUS: QUICK HITS!!!

Here's a quick Standard card evaluation...

Rating System:

5 Stars- Main-Deck Key Card, Build-A-Deck-Around-Me Card

4 Stars- Tournament Staple in the Main Deck or Sideboard

3 Stars- Good Card with Potential for Tournament Play

2 Stars- Little Potential for Tournament Play

1 Star- Don't Even Bother...

Aerie Mystics - 4W

Creature - Bird Wizard (Uncommon)

Flying{1}{G}{U}: Creatures you control gain shroud until end of turn.

3/3

RATING: 1 Star

Asha's Favor - 2W

Enchantment - Aura (Common)

Enchant creature

Enchanted creature has flying, first strike, and vigilance.

RATING: 1 Star

Aven Squire - 1W

Creature - Bird Soldier (Common)

Flying

Exalted

1/1

RATING: 2 Stars

Aven Trailblazer - 2W

Creature - Bird Soldier (Common)

Flying

Domain - Aven Trailblazer's toughtness is equal to the number of basic land types among lands you control."

2/*

RATING: 1 Star

Celestial Purge - 1W

Instant (Uncommon)

Remove target red or black permanent from the game.

RATING: 4 Stars

Court Homunculus - W

Artifact Creature - Homunculus (Common)

Court Homunculus gets +1/+1 as long as you control another artifact.

1/1

RATING: 3 Stars

Darklit Gargoyle - 1W

Artifact Creature - Gargoyle (Common)

Flying{B}: Darklit Gargoyle gets +2/-1 until end of turn.

1/2

RATING: 2 Stars

Gleam of Resistance - 4W

Instant (Common)

Creatures you control get +1/+2 until end of turn. Untap those creatures.

Basic landcycling {1}{W}

RATING: 2 Stars

Lapse of Certainty - 2W

Instant (Common)

Counter target spell. If that spell is countered this way, put it on top of its owner's library instead of into that player's graveyard.

RATING: 2 Stars

Mark of Asylum - 1W

Enchantment (Rare)

Prevent all noncombat damage that would be dealt to creatures you control.

RATING: 4 Stars

Martial Coup - XWW

Sorcery (Rare)

Put X 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens into play. If X is 5 or more, destroy all other creatures.

RATING: 4 Stars

Mirror-Sigil Sergeant - 5W

Creature - Rhino Soldier (Mythic Rare)

Trample

At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control a blue permanent, you may put a token into play that's a copy of Mirror-Sigil Sergeant.

4/4

RATING: 2 Stars

Nacatl Hunt-Pride - 5W

Creature - Cat Warrior (Uncommon)

Vigilance

{R}, {T}: Target creature can't block this turn.{G}, {T}: Target creature blocks this turn if able.

5/4

RATING: 1 Star

Paragon of the Amesha - 2W

Creature - Human Knight (Uncommon)

First strike

{W}{U}{B}{R}{G}: Until end of turn, Paragon of the Amesha becomes an Angel, gets +3/+3, and gains flying and lifelink.

2/2

RATING: 2 Stars

Path to Exile - W

Instant (Uncommon)

Remove target creature from the game. Its controller may search his or her library for a basic land card, put it into play tapped, then shuffle his or her library.

RATING: 5 Stars

Rhox Meditant - 3W

Creature - Rhino Monk (Common)

When Rhox Meditant comes into play, if you control a green permanent, you may draw a card.

2/4

RATING: 2 Stars

Scepter of Dominance - 1WW

Artifact (Rare)

{W}, {T}: Tap target permanent.

RATING: 2 Stars

Sigil of the Empty Throne - 3WW

Enchantment (Rare)

Whenever you play an enchantment spell, put a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying into play.

RATING: 1 Star

Valiant Guard - W

Creature - Human Soldier (Common)

0/3

RATING: 1 Star

Wall of Reverence - 3W

Creature - Spirit Wall (Rare)

Defender, flying

At the end of your turn, you may gain life equal to the power of target creature you control.

1/6

RATING: 3 Stars

(Thanks to mtgsalvation.com for the spoiler!)

(Images from magicthegathering.com)

Naya Aggro Post Conflux

2009-01-24T22:13:00.004+08:00

NAYA AGGRO
4 Wild Nacatl
4 Figure of Destiny
4 Woolly Thoctar
3 Qasali Ambusher
4 Ranger of Eos
4 Cylian Sunsinger (Conflux)

4 Naya Charm
4 Ajani Vengeant
4 Saferight Quest
4 Path to Exile (Conflux)

5 Plains
4 Mountain
1 Forest
4 Terramorphic Expanse
4 Jungle Shrine
3 Karplusan Forest

Path to Exile - W
Instant (Uncommon)
Remove target creature from the game. Its controller may search his or her library for a basic land card, put it into play tapped, then shuffle his or her library.

Cylian Sunsinger - 1G
Creature - Elf Shaman (Rare)
{R}{G}{W}: Cylian Sunsinger and each other creature with the same name as it get +3/+3 until end of turn.
2/2

NEXT: Black-Red Discarder!
Image from wizards.com

New Year (and Naya Aggro)

2009-01-01T07:09:00.007+08:00

Happy New Year! Sorry I have not been able to post anything for quite a while. Blame it on online games (Cabal Online) and law school. This 2009 however, I resolve to update this site regularly - primarily with Magic articles, then maybe with some other nerdy stuff, like comics or online games. After all, 2008 had been such a good year to me as a Magic player (even if passed up the opportunity to play at Worlds in Memphis because I had to finish my law degree... seeesh!), so I have to give something to the community in return.

With the greetings/apologies/resolutions out of the way, here's the current version of one of the decks I'm currently playing:

NAYA AGGRO

4 Wild Nacatl
4 Figure of Destiny
2 Mogg Fanatic
4 Woolly Thoctar
3 Qasali Ambusher
4 Ranger of Eos

4 Rampant Growth
4 Incinerate
4 Naya Charm
4 Ajani Vengeant

4 Plains
4 Mountain
2 Forest
4 Terramorphic Expanse
2 Naya Panorama
3 Jungle Shrine
2 Karplusan Forest
2 Brushland

I figured that, with Faeries still the deck-to-beat, I had to make an aggro deck (after all, aggressive decks beat tempo-based strategies, theoretically at least). But my deck had to be ORIGINAL and FUN, and competitive at the same time. So instead of playing Kithkin or Blighting decks, I decided to go for an aggressive Naya deck. Nothing is more fun and original than playing Wild Nacatl and Qasali Ambusher, is there?

With no Ravnica shock-lands (which, rumor has it, MIGHT be reprinted in 11th-Ed) I had to make do with Terramorphic Expanse, Naya Panorama and Rampant Growth (which also doubles as mana acceleration) to fetch me some basic lands for my Cat Warriors.

Figure of Destiny fits the deck nicely. People should realize that FOD isn't just a mono-white card in a mono-white Kithkin deck, or a mono-red card in a mono-red Demigod deck. They should see the card for what it actually is: a white-red hybrid card for white-red decks.

Underrated cards Ranger of Eos and Naya Charm distinguish Naya from other aggro decks. The Ranger makes sure the deck does not run out of ammo, while Naya Charm takes care of creature-stalls.

If spoilers are to be believed, the next expansion, Conflux, seems to support the "Domain" mechanic. That's good news for Naya Aggro. Already, Path to Exile - the new Swords to Plowshares - is creating buzz. I'll probably replace the two Mogg Fanatics with this new card when the set becomes legal.

(Image from magicthegathering.com)

I told you so...

2008-08-14T17:26:00.005+08:00

Bin Laden the Skrull:
http://polarnest.blogspot.com/2008/04/who-do-you-trust-part-2.html

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo the Skrull:
http://polarnest.blogspot.com/2008/03/who-do-you-trust.html

Raed Secret Invasion issue 4, released yesterday. Carefully scan page nine. Either I'm psychic or SI artist Lienel Francis Yu reads my blog. Personally, I prefer the latter. Lolz.

Netdecker, Metagamer

2008-08-12T07:37:00.009+08:00

I eagerly awaited the results of the US, Canadian, French, and Italian nationals. UB Faeries, Reivellarks and Demigod Reds posted impressive finishes during the events. There were no discarder decks in the top-eights. Perfect. This was the go-signal I was waiting for. I was to play a discarder deck for the 2008 Philippine National Championships the following week.

A lot would say that the current Standard metagame is a rock-paper-scissors game. If the rock were UB Faeries, the paper would be Mono-Red Aggro, and the scissors multi-color Reivellark. My strategy for the Standard portions of the nationals was simple: use a deck than can beat the rocks, the papers, and the scissors. Discarder it is.

The funny thing is, discarder decks are one of those decks which are easiest to beat after sideboarding. Any deck can pack three to four copies of Dodecapod in the board. Not every discarder player can handle well the Dodecapod mind-games. But I knew not one soul in the tournament would be using the 3/3 artifact creature. After all, no discarder decks went into the top eight of recent national championship events. Most Magic players here are "net-deckers". They would be using and expecting decks similar to those which were successful in other countries. I had to take advantage of that net-decking mentality.

In this age of information, the Internet's impact on the Magic metagame can not be ignored. While most would simply copy successful decks from the Net, I took a different approach to "net-decking". The Net helped me correctly predict the metagame. All I needed to do was use a deck which can break the metagame decks. My strategy paid off well.

aNIHILITHor

2008-08-11T12:04:00.004+08:00

Undefeated at the 2008 Philippine Nationals. I conceded the finals match to my good friend.

Main Deck
4 Tarmogoyf
4 Kitchen Finks
4 Augur of Skulls
2 Nihilith

4 Stupor
4 Raven's Crime
4 Smallpox
4 Nameless Inversion
2 Slaughter Pact
4 The Rack

4 Treetop Village
4 Llanowar Wastes
4 Twilight Mire
2 Gilt-Leaf Palace
4 Howltooth Hollow
6 Swamp

Sideboard
4 Bitterblossom
4 Damnation
3 Riftsweeper
2 Faerie Macabre
2 Bottle Gnomes

1,000 words

2008-08-11T08:23:00.004+08:00

(Transaltion: 2008 National Championship / PHILIPPINES / Finalist)

Forget Tribal: BG Ramp for Block Constructed

2008-06-10T15:03:00.003+08:00

4 Devoted Druid
4 Fertile Ground
3 Garruk Wildspeaker

4 Firespout
4 Mind Shatter
3 Nameless Inversion / Primal Command
2 Profane Command

4 Shriekmaw
3 Cloudthresher
4 Chameleon Colossus
2 Nath of the Gilt Leaf

4 Gilt-Leaf Palace
4 Vivid Marsh
2 Vivid Grove
3 Mutavault
5 Forest
2 Firelit Thicket
3 swamp

(Image from magicthegathering.com)

Elemental Mannequin and Hybrid-Doran for Lorwyn-Shadowmoor Block Constructed

2008-06-02T13:20:00.006+08:00

Last weekend was sweet. Two decks I designed for Lorwyn-Shadowmoor Block Constructed saw decent finishes in a recently held Grand Prix Manila Trial attended by around a hundred participants. I used an Elemental deck which I have been toying with even before Shadowmoor came out, while my friend used a Doran deck packing a lot of Green-White Hybrid creatures. Both earned a decent 6-2 win-loss record, just missing the Top 8 due to low tie-breaks. The decks:

Elemental Mannequin

4 Smokebraider
4 Incandescent Soulstroke
4 Mulldrifter
4 Shriekmaw
3 Cloudthresher
4 Chameleon Colossus
2 Horde of Notions

4 Makeshift Mannequin
3 Fertile Ground
2 Nameless Inversion
3 Firespout

4 Primal Beyond
4 Vivid Marsh
4 Firelit Thicket
2 Graven Cairns
2 Vivid Crag
2 Swamp
5 Forest

The deck abuses the classic Makeshift Mannequin-Mulldrifter-Shriekmaw strategy. Horde of Notions has won me a lot of games. The 5/5 trampling, hasted and vigilant beastie isn't difficult to cast (even on the third turn) due to Smokebraider, Primal Beyond, and the several Vivid lands. Chameleon Colossus is nice midsize creature which can't be blocked by Bitterblossom tokens. Firespout is this set's Damnation.

Hybrid-Doran

4 Safehold Elite
4 Devoted Druid
3 Gaddock Teeg
3 Doran, Siege Tower
4 Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers
4 Wilt-Leaf Liege
3 Oversoul of Dusk

4 Thoughtsieze
2 Shield of the Oversoul
2 Oblivion Ring
4 Nameless Inversion

2 Vivid Meadow
2 Vivid Marsh
4 Murmuring Bosk
4 Gilt-Leaf Palace
4 Wooded Bastion
7 Forest

Third-turn Doran or Oversoul of Dusk (via Devoted Druid) can quickly win games. So can a turn-three Shield of the Oversoul. Thoughtsieze and Gaddock Teeg prevent Makeshift Mannequin, Cryptic Command, Garruk, Profane Command and Mirrorweave shenanigans. Wilt-Leaf Liege grants all of your other creatures extra muscle to power out wins.

There are other deck ideas I want to try out. I'll be posting them in the next couple of days.

(Images from magicthegathering.com)

Sygg Sligh V3 (Bye-Bye Faeries)

2008-05-20T11:12:00.007+08:00

Tired of Faeries? Try my latest version of Sygg Sligh:

3 Sygg, River Cutthroat
4 Bitterblossom
2 Dusk Urchins
4 Blood Knight
4 Boggart Ram-Gang
4 Mogg Fanatic
3 Shadow Guildmage

4 Incinerate
2 Shard Volley
4 Flame Javelin
4 Rift Bolt

2 Ghitu Encampment
4 Sulfurous Springs
4 Graven Cairns
4 Auntie's Hovel
8 Mountain

I didn't want to play Tattermunge Maniac and Keldon Marauders as they suck against recurring blockers such as Bitterblossom tokens and Persist creatures. Blood Knight seems a good metagame choice against decks running Kitchen Finks. Black cards Sygg, Bitterblossom, and Dusk Urchins provide card advantage, making sure that you don't run out of burn spells.

A turn-one Shadow Guildmage, which shrugs of Terror, can pretty much seal the game against Faeries. A Bitterblossom on your side of the table is just as good.

UB Faeries are dominating tournaments because Red decks, which can easily beat the former, are losing to GW Aggro and Reivellark decks packing a lot of life-gain. The key to beating those life-gain decks pre-sideboarding its to use resillient creatures. Ditch Keldon Marauders and Tattermunge Maniac from your Red Deck Wins. Replace them with Black card-advantage spells Sygg and Bitterblossom. The deck will be slower but will have a better chance to win mid-game to late-game.

Mono-Black Rogue-Rack

2008-05-12T10:48:00.004+08:00

I've been toying with my Rogue deck lately and have come up with this discarder build:

4 The Rack
4 Bitterblossom
4 Noggin Whack
4 Nameless Inversion
2 Stupor

4 Sygg, River Cutthroat
4 Frogtosser Banneret
4 Marsh Flitter
4 Stinkdrinker Bandit
4 Oona's Blackguard

4 Leechridden Swamp
4 Mutavault
13 Swamp
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

I like the synergy of the deck. The Rack and the Leechridden Swamps give Sygg the opportunity to have you draw a card at the end of your opponent's turn. Oona's Blackguard not only beefs up the Little rogues but also, together with the also-rogue Noggin Whack, plays with the deck's discard strategy. Bitterblossom and Marsh Flitter make sure you have a good number of critters in play while the Prowl mechanic and the Banneret lessen mana costs.

It's a fun deck to play, but I wouldn't advise playing it in a tournament, at least not until the metagame clears up. Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers' Dodecapod ability sucks too much!

(Image from magicthegathering.com)

UW Halo Control V2

2008-05-06T11:15:00.007+08:00

I'm surprised how there seems to be little buzz for Runed Halo. At this moment, this underrated Shadowmoor card has been selling for only around four dollars. Fulmiunator Mage started out as the most expensive card in the set, but the hype is slowly dying down -- together with its price tag. The Flores-backed 2/2 tempo card started out at 15 dollars a ago, but now sells for only about 13. Both the Mage and the Halo are very good cards no doubt. The problem is that they currently don't fit in any Tier One deck. I hope that situation would change soon, at least for the double-white-mana enchantment. Here's a sample deck which packs in main-deck Runed Halo.

UW Halo Control

4 Runed Halo
2 Declaration of Naught
2 Oblivion Ring
4 Rune Snag
4 Cryptic Command
4 Ancestral Visions
4 Wrath of God
2 Careful Consideration

2 Voidstone Gargoyle
4 Vendillion Clique
2 Sacred Mesa

4 Faerie Conclave
4 Mystic Gate
4 Adarkar Wastes
4 Dessert
6 Plains
4 Island

The deck is a new twist to the classic Blue-White Control deck. The "name-a-card" spells (Runed Halo, Declaration of Naught, and Voidstone Gargoyle) offer a new, interesting strategy for control. Disruption is no longer limited to counter-magic. You can virtually nullify the strategy of your opponent's deck by naming its key spells. This is how true-blue (pun not intended) control players want to win -- by rendering an opponent's deck useless.

Vendillion Clique lets you "peek" at your opponent's hand to see which immediate threat would be the best target for your name-a-card spells. The 3/1 pseudo-Coercion faerie also shines against opposing control decks. The deck's other win condition is Sacred Mesa, which can create its own version of "faeries" sometimes faster than Bitterblossom.

UW Halo Control excels against creature decks and Red-based burn decks. "Protection from Tarmogoyf" or "Protection from Flame Javelin" just sounds too good. The various counterspells help against Reivellark decks. A Declaration of Naught naming the 4/3 flying elemental can pretty much win you the game.

Tempo decks packing some counterspells are a challenge though. As long as Faerie and Merfolk decks abound, most control decks would have difficulty achieving Tier One status. Faeries in particular are difficult to beat especially due to Bitterblossom. I hope the four main-deck Desserts would be enough to give the deck a fighting chance against Tinkerbell decks.

For me, Runed Halo is the most underrated Shadowmoor card right now, much like Meddling Mage in the early days, but ironically unlike the over-hyped cards Pithing Needle and Cranial Extraction. In the right deck, Runed Halo might prove to be Shadowmoor's sleeper. I hope it soon wakes up to its true potential.

(Image from magicthegathering.com)

Post-Shadowmoor Tarmorack

2008-05-02T19:20:00.008+08:00

4 Tarmogoyf
3 Sygg, River Cutthroat
4 Dusk Urchins
4 Augur of Skulls

4 Bitterblossom
4 The Rack

3 Nameless Inversion
4 Funeral Charm
4 Stupor
3 Smallpox

3 Treetop Village
4 Llanowar Wastes
2 Gemstone Mine
1 Pendelhaven
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
2 Gilt-Leaf Palace
10 Swamp

Once upon a time, Tarmogoyf was the king of the tournament scene. Although Goyf saw tournament play in all sorts of decks like Red-Green Aggro or Blue-Green Tempo, it was in discarder decks where its true potential was realized. Discard spells, after all, feed the graveyard with different card types very quickly, making Tarmogoyf bigger and a lot better. Dark Confidant was Goyf's better half. "Bob" brought out the best in Goyf, with the former providing a steady stream of cards for the latter to "feed" on. When Dark Confidant left the kingdom of Standard, Tarmorack slowly crumbled. The loss of the card advantage generated by Bob hurt the deck so much. Lesser cards usually meant lesser card types. Goyf was left in shambles with the departure of Bob.

Goyf, meet your new "Bob": Sygg, River Cutthroat. And get this: Sygg may even be outright better than Bob. Whereas Dark Confidant draws you one card a turn, Sygg can potentially net you twice as much. Yes, that's double the Bob. On your turn, deal three points of combat damage, draw a card. On your opponent's turn, deal three damage with The Rack, draw a card. That's one mean card-drawing machine!

And if ever Sygg becomes unreliable, perhaps Dusk Urchins can satisfy your craving for card advantage. I'm sure your opponent will hesitate attacking with his Boggart Ram Gang, Keldon Marauders or Tatturmunge Maniac (as if he had a choice!) with this ouphe on your side of the table.

Shadowmoor provides us with cards to fill the gap left by Dark Confidant. I have a feeling Sygg, River Cutthroat and Dusk Urchins can even do a better job than Bob. At last, Tarmogoyf may finally reclaim its throne and rule the Standard metagame happily ever after!

BONUS: Budget Sygg-Rack

Who says you can't do a nice discarder deck without Goyf?

3 Sygg, River Cutthroat
4 Dusk Urchins
4 Augur of Skulls
4 Ravenous Rats

4 Korlash, Heir to Blackblade

4 Bitterblossom
4 The Rack
2 Tendrils of Corruption

4 Funeral Charm
4 Stupor

4 Leechridden Swamp
3 Mutavault

1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
15 Swamp
(Images from magicthegathering.com)

Post-Shadowmoor Metagame Forecast: Emerging Decks

2008-04-29T13:07:00.006+08:00

What new deck archetypes will see tournament play post Shadowmoor? Some cards from the new set are just begging for a deck to be built around them. Other cards are just so good that it would be a sin to ignore them. I've consulted my crystal ball and see these decks to be quite popular in tournaments.

GW AGGRO

Key cards from Shadowmoor: Wilt-Leaf Liege, Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers, Kitchen Finks, Shield of the Oversoul, Raking Canopy

Wilt-Leaf Liege and Shield of the Oversoul support the color-matters theme of the deck. The Cavaliers, Kitchen Finks, Safehold Elite and Oversoul of the Dusk are cost-efficient creatures which also maximize the bonuses from the color-matters cards. Simple but effective synergy.

Key cards from other sets: Gaddock Teeg, Saffi Eriksdotter, Glittering Wish, Doran Siege Tower, Cloudthresher, Squall Line

Now is the time for Gaddock Teeg to shine. Hailed as one of the best cards from Lorwyn, this Kithkin never really saw the limelight because it does not fit in any deck. Until now, and the timing couldn't have been better as Cryptic Command and Wrath of God have been dominant cards lately. A Green-White deck can splash Black for Doran for sheer power, but Kitchen Finks seems better for the coming metagame due to burn spells from Red.

Forecast: When Red-based aggro decks become popular in tournaments, Green-White Aggro will rise to take the spotlight with its main-deck Kitchen Finks and other high-toughness creatures. Gaddock Teeg and the persist mechanic are keys to beating Reivellark. The Faerie matchup may end up being decided by the anti-flying sideboard cards.

SEISMIC SWANS

Key cards from Shadowmoor: Swans of Bryan Argoll, Beseech the Queen, Reflecting Pool

Key cards from other sets: Seismic Assault, Dakmor Salvage

With Swans and Seismic Assault in play, pitch Dakmor Salvage to Seismic Assault, dredge-ing Salvage in the process. Repeat until you draw enough land cards to fry your opponent.

Forecast: Barring mana screws (which I think will be frequent), Seismic Swans is likely to win Game One against decks without disruption, but would have a difficult time after sideboarding. Pithing Needle and various enchantment-kill take care of Seismic Assault. Like Dragonstorm, Seismic Swans will fail in a metagame prepared against it.

Quick notes on other decks:

Mono-Black Control gains Corrupt, Beseech the Queen, Dusk Urchins and Demigod of Revenge. The problem is the metagame. As long as counter-magic-heavy decks, such as UB Faeries and Reivellark still win tournaments, MBC won't be a good deck choice. MBC excels in a creature-heavy meta and fares poorly against control and tempo decks.

A deck based on the Colfenor's Plan and Puca's Mischief combo to permanently prevent the opponent from drawing cards for the duration of the game, is a variation of the Blue-Black Control decks. The deck loses to decks with a lot of disruption, as playing Colfenor's Plans becomes too risky.

Blue-White Control (other than Reivellark) may make a comback due to Runed Halo. The problem is Faerie decks.

Land-destruction decks built on Fulminator Mage might have a hard time against fast rogue decks like Kithkin and Rogues, but will excel against slow decks like Reivellark.

(images from magicthegathering.com)

Post-Shadowmoor Metagame Forecast: Deck Updates

2008-04-29T09:23:00.004+08:00

INTRODUCTION: LEVELS OF CARD REVIEW

There are three levels of card review. In the lowest level, you determine whether the card is good in itself. A card is good if its abilities and effects are in proportion to its mana cost. The card's mana cost should be worth its effects. A creature card's power and toughness and its abilities must be right for it's mana cost. A permanent's activated ability should also be cost-efficient. When I look at Troll Ascetic, for example, I am impressed by its 3/2 stats in proportion to its three-mana cost. The shroud-like ability and regeneration are fantastic. This creature will surely get at least four stars. Five stars belong to Tarmogoyf, the most cost-efficient creature in Standard today.

In the second level of card review, you determine how good a card is in relation to the other cards in the deck. A card is good if it fulfills a role in a deck efficiently. It must have synergy to all the other cards in the deck. Troll Acsetic, for example, although it is a great creature in itself, underperforms in an Elf deck, as it does not belong to the elf tribe. It does not gain any bonus from Imperious Perfect and does not aid in reducing the mana cost of Wren's Run Vanquisher. In an Elf deck, Troll Ascetic would probably get only two stars. Tarmogoyf gets five stars in a Tarmorack deck, just three stars in Red Deck Wins, and only one in, say, Dragonstorm.

The highest level of card review determines how good a card is in the context of the metagame. How will the card fare in a tournament? Is the card good against popular decks? How does the card interact with the other cards in the game? Troll Ascetic's regeneration ability is weak in today's meta as the Troll can not block the flying creatures of Faerie decks, the top tribe today. Post-Shadowmoor, Troll Ascetic's regeneration ability is useless against wither. Tarmogoyf gets stronger with planewalker and tribal cards in an opponent's graveyard. How often are Garruk and Nameless Inversion used in tournaments today?

A complete card review analyzes the card first on its own merits, then on its synergy with the rest of the cards in a deck, and lastly in the context of the metagame. I intend to complete my Shadowmoor card review.

DECK UPDATES

In the current metagame, there are a multitude of decks to choose from to take to a tournament. But some decks stand out from the rest. Tier One decks like Reivellark, UB Faeries, BG Elves and Red Deck Wins dominate the tournament, often placing a top-eight finish. Kithkin, Merfolk, Rogue, UB Teachings, RG Mana-Ramp, UB Mannequin, and other "rogue" decks sometimes make it too, but not as often. How does the introduction of Shadowmoor in Standard affect those decks? What cards from Shadowmoor develop the decks' respective strategies? What Shadowmoor cards fight that strategy?

REIVELLARK

What it gains: Mystic Gate, Runed Halo

The hybrid land will help Reivellark with its mana base, especially with its key spells Wrath of God and Cryptic Command both costing more than one colored mana. Runed Halo is a great sideboard against mid-size decks and an additional sideboard, together with life-gain cards, against burn decks. It can also destroy a sideboarded Wheel of Sun and Moon. Aven Riftwatcher is still better than Kitchen Finks for the deck due to former's better synergy with Momentary Blink. Prison Term and Plumveil are often unnecessary with Runed Halo in the sideboard.

What other decks gain against it: Guttural Response, Vexing Shusher, Wheel of Sun and Moon, Faerie Macabre

Most versions of Reivellark have main-deck counterspells like Cryptic Command and Rune Snag. Vexing Shusher and Guttural Response both present a cost-efficient way to deal with those counterspells. Sun and Moon Wheel, which gives White and Green, access to efficient graveyard-hate, disrupts Reivellark's combos long-term, but it can easily be dealt with using Runed Halo or enchantment-kill. Faerie Macabre is accessible to all colors and has the element of surprise.

Forecast: Reivellark is a Tier One deck and it will remain that way. Although the deck didn't gain much from Shadowmoor, the deck is already complete the way it is. It needs no other cards from Shadowmoor and any other future set. Reivellark will need life-gain more than ever due to the emergence of Red-based decks. The deck is not too reliant on counter-magic spells -- it can easily win games even without them or if they get countered. But countering Cryptic Command's other effects for just one mana is a different story. The deck has dealt with Tormod's Crypt before, so Wheel of Sun and Moon wouldn't be much of a problem. The surprise-element in Faerie Macabre may prove to be a new challenge though.

UB FAERIES

What it gains: Sunken Ruins, Faerie Macabre

Not much to add from Shadowmoor. Sunken Ruins helps in playing Cryptic Command, a key spell in the deck. Faerie Macabre is a perfect sideboard (as it also fits the tribe) for Faeries against Reivellark, although Faerie decks do not need it as much as other decks. Needless to say, Glen Elandra Leige, Oona, Queen of the Fae, Wasp Lancers and the other Shadowmoor faeries are too slow for the deck.

What other decks gain against it: Guttural Response, Vexing Shusher, Raking Canopy

UB Faeries often relies on Cryptic Command's tap and bounce abilities to gain tempo advantage against other creature decks. Guttural Response will hurt Faerie decks when it counters the four-mana blue instant. The uncounterable Vexing Shusher also nullifies the effects of Spellstutter Sprite, a key card in a Faerie deck, and other counter-magic. Raking Canopy is a long-term -- and sometimes permanent -- way of dealing with faeries, but may fall prey to Cryptic Command's bounce. Most times, Hurricane effects are better. Firespout does almost the same thing as Sulfurous Blast and Pyroclasm in Red and Squall Line and Cloudthresher in Green. The older cards are often still better.

Forecast: Weaker after Shadowmoor. Red decks seem to pose the greatest threat against the Faerie deck's current Tier One status. Against a deck with a lot of efficient direct-damage spells, Bitterblossom usually becomes a liability. Not to mention that Red still has its arsenal of mass creature-kill in Pyroclasm and Sulfurous Blast, with Firespout added to the mix. Guttural Response hurts Faerie decks in the tempo race after sideboarding against creature-based aggro decks, as will Vexing Shusher but to a lesser extent. Raking Canopy, used in addition to Cloudthresher and/or Squall Line, may present a new challenge against fairies.

RED DECK WINS / PONZA / SLIGH

(The Internet has blurred the distinctions among the three distinct deck archetypes. All three are very aggressive red-based or mono-red decks packing a lot of direct-damage spells, so they are discussed here collectively. For purposes of this article, Red Deck Wins (RDW) is a deck which relies mainly on cost-efficient creatures, such as Countryside Crusher and Tarmogoyf, to get some damage through. Ponza contains land-destruction such as Avalanche Riders for some disruption. Sligh's focus is on fast, "disposable" creatures such as Keldon Marauders and Mogg Fanatic, and often has the most number of direct-damage spells among the three.)

What they gain: Flame Javelin; Fulminator Mage; Vexing Shusher; Guttural Response; Spiteful Visions; Boggart Ram-Gang; Giantbaiting; Tattermunge Maniac; Baortusk Liege; Faerie Macabre; Everlasting Torment; Sygg, River Cutthroat

Quite a number of cards. Flame Javelin and Tattermunge Maniac are no-brainer main-deck inclusions for all three deck archetypes. Fulminator Mage, together with Avalanche Riders, may give Ponza a new lease in life. Or they may be used as sideboard cards against slow control decks. Boggart Ram-Gang and Giantbaiting are efficient additions to Sligh. Sligh may also want to splash black ala Satanic Sligh and try to maximize the card-drawing power of Sygg, River Cutthroat. RDW may want to experiment and try out Boartusk Liege together with other RG hybrids Vexing Shusher, the Ram Gang and the Maniac, instead of using its usual creatures Countryside Crusher and Greater Gargadon. Spiteful Visions may introduce a new archetype with heavier burn and less creatures. Faerie Macabre, Everlasting Torment and Guttural Response are sideboard mainstays.

What other decks gain against them: Kitchen Finks, Runed Halo, Corrupt, Dawnglow Infusion, Oversoul of Dusk.

All three Red deck archetypes hate life-gain. Kitchen Finks may find its way in the main deck in Green-White Aggro decks, and Dawnglow Infusion in the sideboard. Mono-Black Control's Corrupt may be slower than Tendrils of Corruption, but it is more versatile. Also versatile is Runed Halo, which can prevent damage either from Red's efficient creatures or its direct-damage spells. Oversoul of Dusk's protection from red make it near unkillable. Oracle of Nectars is too slow and vulnerable for its life-gain ability. Consign to Dream is a bit overcosted but may have its uses in Blue's sideboard against Red.

Forecast: Definitely a lot stronger than before, and will surely see Tier One status. RDW, Sligh and Ponza are favored in a match-up against Faerie decks due to their arsenal of direct-damage spells and bigger critters. These Red decks will also have the edge against most other decks. Against Reivellark, it is a question of whether the Blue-White deck can play its Aven Riftwatchers (which they may want to have in the main deck). Mono-black decks need to resolve Corrupt or Tendrils of Corruption. Green-based decks need Kitchen Finks. Luckily, Everlasting Torment nullifies all these life-gaining shenanigans. Post-Shadowmoor Standard is looking very red indeed.

MERFOLK

What the deck gains: Cursecatcher; Inkfathom Infiltrator; Sygg, River Cutthroat

Shadowmoor offers some quality merfolk. Cursecatcher is the one-drop of choice for Merfolk decks as it can easily stall Wrath of God, Damnation and Cryptic Command, among other instants and sorceries. Inkfathom Infiltrator is an aggressive two-drop, while Sygg provides welcome card advantage (and a blocker for Tattermunge Maniac). Faerie Macabre is a nice sideboard card against Reivellark decks but I don't think Merfolk decks, which often have a lot of counter-magic after all, will need it as much as other decks. Savor the Moment and Merfolk Commerce is a fun combo, it won't do much impact in tournaments as the enchantment, by itself, does not do much in the deck (maybe in Mill-folk decks...).

What other decks gain: Firespout, Guttural Response, Vexing Shusher

Not much of a surprise. Vexing Shusher and Guttural Response are excellent hosers against Blue. Pyroclasm and Sulfurous Blast are better than Firespout as they are easier to resolve against counter-magic.

Forecast: With the re-emergence of Red decks to Tier One status, Merfolk decks will get a lot weaker, and may even fade from the limelight. The burn spells can easily fry merrow to a crisp. Merfolk decks are choice decks for the current metagame because they are favored in a matchup against Standard's top two decks today, Reivellark and Faeries. Post Shadowmoor, Faeries may get weaker too also due to the power of Red. So when Faeries lose their Tier One status, there will be little reason to play Merfolk. I'd rather play the more reliable Faeries instead if I wanted to play tempo.

RG MANA RAMP

What the deck gains: Guttural Response, Vexing Shusher, Deus of Calamity, Woodfall Primus, Wheel of Sun and Moon, Faerie Macabre

The Red-Green hybrid counterspell hosers are especially efficient in this deck's sideboard. Mana Ramp decks play powerful high-mana-cost creatures which can easily win games when not eliminated or countered. Deus of Calamity is added to the deck's arsenal of fatties to take care of slower decks. Wheel of Sun and Moon and Faerie Macabre provide Mana Ramp much needed sideboards against Reivellark, with the latter being able to be tutored by Primal Command. Cloudthresher is still better than Raking Canopy as it doubles as a threat.

What other decks gain against it: Prison Term, Runed Halo, Mirrorweave, Fulminator Mage

Reivellark decks, which can easily beat Mana Ramp pre-sideboarding, gain Prison Term and Runed Halo against the latter deck's fatties. Mirrorweave is a surprise win condition for Kithkin decks. Making a swarm of weenies a copy of Mana Ramp's biggest creature can quickly end games. Land-destruction in the form of Fulminator Mage, though annoying, wouldn't be much of a problem due to the deck's mana acceleration spells.

Forecast: Must evolve to survive the coming metagame. Reivellark, which will still remain a top deck in the format, will still almost always win against Mana Ramp. Mana Ramp decks can try the land-destruction route to victory with Deus of Calamity and Woodland Primus, together with Primal Command and Mwonvuli Acid-Moss, against Reivellark. Mana Ramp needs built-in Primal Commands post Shadowmoor if they want to have a fighting chance against Red-based decks. The seven-point life-gain from the Command is what the deck needs to beat burn spells. Cloudthresher will still remain in the main deck, although not as four-ofs anymore, as Faerie decks are expected to be weaker.

GB ELVES / GB MIDSIZE / DORAN

(All three decks are Green-based decks with some black cards for creature-kill and disruption. They are discussed here collectively because they all have the same strategy: play some of Green's efficient creatures, then back them up with Black's discard spells and finish off your opponent with Profane Command. The three decks differ from one another due to the creature base. Almost all the creatures from BG Elves are form the namesake tribe, BG Midsize uses Tarmogoyf and other efficient non-elf green creatures like Troll Ascetic, while Doran decks use Birds of Paradise and splash White for the 0/5 treefolk.)

What the decks gain: Incremental Blight, Devoted Druid, Guttural Response, Kitchen Finks

Not much. Extirpate is often better than Faerie Macabre and Wheel of Sun and Moon in the sideboard. Guttural Response and Vexing Shusher are excellent Blue hosers, but this deck might have trouble in playing the double-green mana-cost of the Shusher. Incremental Blight is a nice sideboard against creature decks except Faeries. The decks also gain Raking Canopy versus Bitterblossom, not that they need another anti-flying card. Devoted Druid, although a good accelerator, might have no place in any of the decks, with one-mana mana producers being better. Devoted Druid belongs to a new Black-Green mana-ramp style archetype which powers out bigger, higher-mana-cost creatures, and game-changing spells like Mind Shatter. Kitchen Finks may find main-deck slots for Midsize and Doran. Tattermunge Maniac doesn't fit the deck as Llanowar Elves and company are still better.

What other decks gain against them: Firespout, Runed Halo, Consign to Dream

Not much either. Firespout and Consign to Dream are not new as similar and often better cards like Sulfurous Blast and Cryptic Command are already available in the current metagame. Runed Halo acts as a better Oblivion Ring as it can nullify up to four copies of a creature.

Forecast: Will survive post Shadowmoor. Among the tree Black Green decks Mid-size will be the best. They have bigger, more efficient creatures than the Elves and Doran builds, making them better against Red-based decks. All three decks will still have their problems against Reivellark though, as not much is added to its arsenal against the still-to-be Tier One deck.

Quick notes on other decks:

Monowhite Kithkin gains Mirrorweave, but Mirror Entity is still a better finisher.

Monoblack Rogue gains Sygg, River Cutthroat and Inkfathom Infiltrator, but UB Faeries is still a better deck overall.

Monogreen Warrior Elves gains Tower Above, the closest Green can get to tournament-level creature-kill.

Dragonstorm gains Manamorpohse and Knollspine DRagon, and might make a surprise comeback.

Blue-Black Mannequin gains Fulminator Mage.

Whew! Next time, I'll try to predict emerging decks archetypes.

Shadowmoor Set Review for Standard: Hybrids, Artifacts, and Lands

2008-04-20T20:34:00.012+08:00

(For an explanation of the rating system: http://polarnest.blogspot.com/2008/04/shadowmoor-set-review-for-standard.html)

WU HYBRID

Æthertow - 3{wu}
Instant (Common)
Put target attacking or blocking creature on top of its owner's library.
Conspire

Overcosted creature-kill, even for blue or white.

Rating: *

Augury Adept - 1{wu}{wu}
Creature - Kithkin Wizard (Rare)
Whenever Augury Adept deals combat damage to a player, reveal the top card of your library and put that card into your hand. You gain life equal to its converted mana cost.
2/2

Dimir Cutpurse, which I think is a better card, didn't see much constructed play. A 2/2 for turn-three is just too fragile. I really want this card to see tournament play. I'll try to make a Mono-White Kithkin deck using this card and Thisltedown Liege.

Rating: **

Barrenton Cragtreads - 2{wu}{wu}
Creature - Kithkin Scout (Common)
Barrenton Cragtreads can't be blocked by red creatures.
3/3

Overcosted even for a sideboard card.

Rating: *

Curse of Chains - 1{WU}
Enchantment - Aura (Common)
Enchant creature
At the beginning of each upkeep, tap enchanted creature.

Unreliable creature-kill.

Rating: *

Enchanted Evening - 3{uw}{uw}
Enchantment (Rare)
All permanents are enchantments in addition to their other types.

How fun it would be to destroy all permanents with Tranquility? A casual card at best.

Rating: *

Glamer Spinners - 4{wu}
Creature - Faerie Wizard (Uncommon)
Flash
Flying
When Glamer Spinners comes into play, attach all Auras enchanting target permanent to another permanent with the same controller.
2/4

Overcosted for tournament play. The ability to switch auras is usually irrelevant.

Rating: *

Godhead of Awe - {WU}{WU}{WU}{WU}{WU}
Creature - Spirit Avatar (Rare)
Flying
Other creatures are 1/1
4/4

Just a better Air Elemental. Finishers need some kind of ability to avoid conventional creature-kill. Doesn't do much against faeries, the top tribe in the metagame.

Rating: **

Mirrorweave - 2{wu}{wu}
Instant (Rare)
Each other creature becomes a copy of target nonlegendary creature until end of turn.

Mirrorweave is a less reliable but potentially more powerful Mirror Entity. The card's power is too dependent on the quality of creatures in play. And the creatures of your opponent may also benefit from it. But it can also handily win games as a surprise Overrun effect when you target Wizened Cenn, for example. I'll try to design a deck that maximizes Mirrorweave's potential.

Rating: ***

Mistmeadow Witch - 1{wu}
Creature - Kithkin Wizard (Uncommon)
{2}{W}{U}: Remove target creature from the game. Return that card to play under its owner's control at end of turn.
1/1

The ability seems overcosted to see tournament play.

Rating: **

Plumeveil - {wu}{wu}{wu}
Creature - Elemental (Uncommon)
Flash
Flying, defender
4/4

A good sideboard card for control decks. Straight-up creature-kill is oftentimes better though.

Rating: ***

Puresight Merrow - {uw}{uw}
Creature - Merfolk Wizard (Uncommon)
{wu}, {Q}: Look at the top card of your library. You may remove that card from the game.
2/2

Why is it that the untap cost is usually more beneficial than the effect produced by {Q} creatures? This card's library manipulation effect is lousy but the activation cost {Q} gives the creature pseudo-vigilance. I'm beginning to think that {Q} spells were not well-designed. Anyway, this merfolk will see play in decks abusing its cheap untap ability. I doubt that there will be such decks in the near future.

Rating: **

Repel Intruders - 3{wu}
Instant (Uncommon)
Put two 1/1 white Kithkin Soldier creature tokens into play if {W} was spent to play Repel Intruders. Counter up to one target creature spell if {U} was spent to play Repel Intruders.

This one is nearly on-par with Mystic Snake, which sometimes sees tournament action. Of course Cryptic Command is almost always better.

Rating: ***

Silkbind Faerie - 2{wu}
Creature - Faerie Rogue (Common)
Flying
{1}{wu}, {Q}: Tap target creature.
1/3

Overcosted tapper.

Rating: *

Somnomancer - 1{uw}
Creature - Kithkin Wizard (Common)
When Somnomancer comes into play, you may tap target creature.
2/1

Nice tempo card for kithkin decks, but there are other better two-drops.

Rating: **

Steel of the Godhead - 2{wu}
Enchantment - Aura (Common)
Enchant creature
As long as enchanted creature is white, it gets +1/+1 and has lifelink.
As long as enchanted creature is blue, it gets +1/+1 and is unblockable.

Good ability, but suffers from the "two-for-one syndrome" going against most auras.

Rating: **

Swans of Bryn Argoll - 2{wu}{wu}
Creature - Bird Spirit (Rare)
Flying
If a source would deal damage to Swans of Bryn Argoll, prevent that damage. The source's controller draws cards equal to the damage prevented this way.
4/3

Wow. Whatever deck this will be in is sure to pack a lot of damage-dealing burn spells. Incinerate makes you draw three cards. I wonder how many cards you would draw with Skred. And the Swans does beatdown to boot. This card will be the centerpiece of a Tier One deck, just as Reivellark was in Morningtide. Five stars from me!

Rating: *****

Thistledown Duo - 2{wu}
Creature - Kithkin Soldier Wizard (Common)
Whenever you play a white spell, Thistledown Duo gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
Whenever you play a blue spell, Thistledown Duo gains flying until end of turn.
2/2

Overvcosted for Standard.

Rating: *

Thistledown Liege - 1{uw}{uw}{uw}
Creature - Kithkin Knight (Rare)
Flash
Other white creatures you control get +1/+1.
Other blue creatures you control get +1/+1.
1/3

Poor stats for a four-mana creature. Good thing it's a kithkin...

Rating: ***

Thoughtweft Gambit - 4{wu}{wu}
Instant (Uncommon)
Tap all creatures your opponents control and untap all creatures you control.

Overcosted.

Rating: *

Turn to Mist - 1{wu}
Instant (Common)
Remove target creature from the game. Return that card to play under its owner's control at end of turn.

Momentary Blink is special due to the flashback ability. That's two blinks in one card. Turn to Mist is a one-shot. At least you can get back the creature your opponent stole from you with Sower of Temptation.

Rating: **

Worldpurge - 4{wu}{wu}{wu}{wu}

Sorcery (Rare)

Return all permanents to their owners' hands. Each player chooses up to seven cards in his or her hand, then shuffles the rest into his or her library. Empty each player's mana pool.

A "fixed" Upheaval. So it became overcosted. And unplayable.

Rating: *

Zealous Guardian - {wu}
Creature - Kithkin Soldier (Common)
Flash
1/1

A poor surprise blocker.

Rating: *

The Swans get five stars! The challenge now is to build the deck that can maximize its potential.

BONUS: Kithkin deck, Shadowmoor style!

4 Goldmeadow Harrier

4 Goldmeadow Stalwart

4 Knight of Meadowgrain

4 Cenn's Heir
4 Augury Adept*

4 Somnomancer*

4 Thistledown Liege*

3 Oblivion Ring

3 Militia's Pride

2 Mirrorweave*

4 Mutavault

4 Rustic Clachan

4 Forbidden Watchtower

14 Plains

(*from Shadowmoor)

UB HYBRID

Cemetery Puca - 1{ub}{ub}
Creature - Shapeshifter (Rare)
Whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from play, you may pay {1}.
If you do, Cemetery Puca becomes a copy of that creature and gains this ability.
1/2

A casual card at best. May fit a deck with a sacrifice theme, but I can't think of one at the moment. Maybe in the future.

Rating: **

Dire Undercurrents - 3{ub}{ub}
Enchantment (Rare)
Whenever a blue creature comes into play under your control, you may have target player draw a card.
Whenever a black creature comes into play under your control, you may have target player discard a card.

Overcosted. Cards which rely on creatures coming into play for their triggered abilities need to be in play early in the game.

Rating: *

Dream Salvage - {bu}
Instant (Uncommon)
Draw cards equal to the number of cards an opponent discarded this turn.

This card is useless unless you get your opponent to discard at least two cards in one turn. It combos well only with Augur of Skulls. You need at least four mana to net a card with it with Stupor as your discard spell. That may prove to be too slow in Standard.

Rating: **

Fate Transfer - 1{bu}
Instant (Common)
Move all counters from target creature onto another target creature.

The effect is usually irrelevant.

Rating: *

Ghastlord of Fugue - {bu}{bu}{bu}{bu}{bu}
Creature - Spirit Avatar (Rare)
Ghastlord of Fugue is unblockable.
Whenever Ghastlord of Fugue deals combat damage to a player, that player reveals his or her hand. Choose a card from it. That player removes that card from the game.
4/4

Slow and overcosted. The Coercion ability is useless if the opponent has no cards in his hand. A bait for Flame Javelin.

Rating: **

Glen Elendra Liege - 1{ub}{ub}{ub}
Creature - Faerie Knight (Rare)
Flying
Other blue creatures you control get +1/+1.
Other black creatures you control get +1/+1.
2/3

Please don't add this to a Faerie deck. It may be used in a blue-black tempo deck using cards such as Sygg, River Cutthroat and Shadowmage Infiltrator. But I don't think that deck will fare well against Red aggro decks. And Black-Blue Faerie decks still appear to be better.

Rating: **

Gravelgill Axeshark - 4{ub}
Creature - Merfolk Soldier (Common)
Persist
3/3

Overcosted.

Rating: *

Gravelgill Duo - 2{ub}
Creature - Merfolk Rogue Warrior (Common)
Whenever you play a blue spell, Gravelgill Duo gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
Whenever you play a black spell, Gravelgill Duo gains fear until end of turn.
2/1

Too slow and a bit overcosted for tournament play.

Rating: *

Helm of the Ghastlord - 3{bu}
Enchantment - Aura (Common)
Enchant creature

As long as enchanted creature is blue, it gets +1/+1 and has "Whenever this creature deals damage to an opponent, draw a card. "
As long as enchanted creature is black, it gets +1/+1 and has "Whenever this creature deals damage to an opponent, that player discards a card."

Overcosted and suffers from the "two-for-one syndrome" going against most auras.

Rating: *

Inkfathom Infiltrator - {UB}{UB}
Creature - Merfolk Rogue (Uncommon)
Inkfathom Infiltrator can't block and is unblockable.
2/1

It isn't good but it is needed. That's why it may see tournament play. Its a two-drop beatdown merfolk for Merfolk decks, rogue for Rogue decks, and hybrid card for UB Tempo decks. There aren't much good two-drops for Black and Blue so we must work with what we have.

Rating: ***

Inkfathom Witch - 1{bu}
Creature - Merfolk Wizard (Uncommon)
Fear
{2}{U}{B}: Unblocked creatures become 4/1 until end of turn.
1/1

This card might end games quickly as a mini-Overrun in the black-blue deck I've been working on, as most of the deck's creatures (including this witch) have evasion.

Rating: **

Memory Plunder - {bu}{bu}{bu}{bu}
Instant (Rare)
You may play target instant or sorcery card in an opponent's graveyard without paying its mana cost.

An overcosted sideboard card. Doesn't have much use in today's metagame except stealing your opponent's Cryptic Command.

Rating: *

Memory Sluice - {ub}
Sorcery (Common)
Target player puts the top four cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
Conspire

Creature-based library depletion is an oxymoron. Why not just attack with the creatures? Merfolk can attack too, you know?

Rating: *

Merrow Grimeblotter - 3{ub}
Creature - Merfolk Wizard (Uncommon)
{1}{ub}, {Q}: Target creature gets -2/-0 until end of turn.
2/2

Overcosted creature with an irrelevant ability.

Rating: *

Oona, Queen of the Fae - 3{bu}{bu}{bu}
Legendary Creature - Faerie Wizard (Rare)
Flying{X}{ub}: Choose a color. Target opponent removes the top X cards of his or her library from the game. For each card of the chosen color removed this way, put a 1/1 blue and black Faerie Rogue creature token with flying into play.
5/5

A 5/5 flyer for six mana for Standard is mediocre. That creature must have a great ability to make it special. Oona's faerie-generating ability is great only if your opponent is playing mono-color. It doesn't do much against two-color decks, which are dominating today's metagame. Let's do a quick math. A two-color deck would roughly have 1/3 spells with color A, 1/3 spells with color B, and 1/3 land (that's just a rough estimate of course). That means if you spend seven mana, choose one of the colors your opponent is playing, and mill your opponent for six, you get only around two faerie tokens. Not much of a bargain, is it? Yes it can win games, but so can Dread and Guile, which I think are better.

Rating: ***

Oona's Gatewarden - {bu}
Creature - Faerie Soldier (Common)
Flying, defender
Wither
2/1

A one-toughness defender: useless.

Rating: *

River's Grasp - 3{ub}
Sorcery (Uncommon)
Return target creature to its owner's hand if {U} was spent to play River's Grasp.
If {B} was spent to play River's Grasp, target player reveals his or hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card.

Overcosted for a creature-kill. Slow at sorcery speed.

Rating: *

Scarscale Ritual - 1{bu}
Sorcery (Common)
As an additional cost to play Scarscale Ritual, put a -1/-1 counter on a creature you control. Draw two cards.

It is a "dead card" if you have no creatures in play. It combos well with Dusk Urchins and Leech Bonder, but that's it. The one extra card net gain isn't worth the risk of having a set of potential dead cards in your deck.

Rating: **

Sygg, River Cutthroat - {ub}{ub}
Legendary Creature - Merfolk Rogue (Rare)
At end of turn, if an opponent lost 3 or more life this turn, you may draw a card.
1/3

I really like this card. It is sometimes more powerful than Dark Confidant as it can make you draw a card at the end of each turn, not just of your turn. It's a merfolk and a rogue, two tribes that need the push in Standard. Burn decks will be built around Sygg to maximize its potential. Five stars.

Rating: *****

Torpor Dust - 2{bu}
Enchantment - Aura (Common)
Flash
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets -3/-0.

Overcosted pseudo-removal.

Rating: *

Wanderbrine Rootcutters - 2{bu}{bu}
Creature - Merfolk Rogue (Common)
Wanderbrine Rootcutters can't be blocked by green creatures.
3/3

Overcosted even for a sideboard card.

Rating: *

Wasp Lancer - {ub}{ub}{ub}
Creature - Faerie Soldier (Uncommon)
Flying
3/2

Vendillion Clique and Pestermite are better by a mile.

Rating: **

Five stars for Sygg! Better be ready against Black-Red Sligh decks or Blue-Red Merfolk Sligh decks or Mono-Black Rogue decks!

BR HYBRID

Ashenmoor Gouger - {br}{br}{br}
Creature - Elemental Warrior (Uncommon)
Ashenmoor Gouger can't block.
4/4

Nice 4/4 body for a mere three mana. There are better red creatures though. I'm not sure the Guoger can push Aggro Elementals to tournament-level status in Standard. Maybe in Block Constructed, but probably not in regular Standard.

Rating: ***

Ashenmoor Liege - 1{br}{br}{br}
Creature - Elemental Knight (Rare)
Other black creatures you control get +1/+1.
Other red creatures you control get +1/+1.
Whenever Ashenmoor Liege becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, that player loses 4 life.
4/1

Another nice black-red aggressive elemental hybrid to go with Ashenmoor Gouger. There are far more aggressive strategies for Black and Red in Standard though. Probably for Block Constructed.

Rating: ***

Cultbrand Cinder - 4{br}
Creature - Elemental Shaman (Common)
When Cultbrand Cinder comes into play, put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.
3/3

Overcosted.

Rating: *

Demigod of Revenge - {BR}{BR}{BR}{BR}{BR}
Creature - Spirit Avatar (Rare)
Flying, haste
When you play Demigod of Revenge, return all cards named Demigod of Revenge from your graveyard to play.
5/4

An excellent card on its own, with the amazing, almost "uncounterable" reanimation ability. The stats, the evasion, and haste make this avatar one of the most dangerous creatures in the game. The problem is in trying to fit it into a deck. I've been play-testing the Demigod in a mono-black control deck. A controllish or mid-size mono-red deck may also find a place for it.

Rating: ****

Din of the Fireherd - 5{br}{br}{br}
Sorcery (Rare)
Put a 5/5 black and red Elemental creature token into play. Target opponent sacrifices a creature for each black creature you control, then sacrifices a land for each red creature you control.

Overcosted. The power of the effects are dependent too much on the number and the color/s of your creatures in play.

Rating: **

Emberstrike Duo - 1{rb}
Creature - Elemental Warrior Shaman (Common)
Whenever you play a black spell, Emberstrike Duo gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
Whenever you play a red spell, Emberstrike Duo gains first strike until end of turn.
1/1

Underwhelming abilities.

Rating: *

Everlasting Torment - 2{rb}
Enchantment (Rare)
Players can't gain life.
Damage can't be prevented.
All damage is dealt as though its source had wither.

One of the best sideboard cards for Standard. Red decks are going to make a comeback in Post-Shadowmoor metagame, and they're going to need this against life-gain sideboard cards.

Rating: ****

Fists of the Demigod - 1{br}
Enchantment - Aura (Common)
Enchant creature
As long as enchanted creature is black, it gets +1/+1 and has wither.
As long as enchanted creature is red, it gets +1/+1 and has first strike.

Suffers from the "two-for-one syndrome" going against most auras. The abilities are not too useful as Black and Red would rather kill off blockers than engage in combat.

Rating: **

Fulminator Mage - 1{br}{br}
Creature - Elemental Shaman (Rare)
Sacrifice Fulminator Mage: Destroy target nonbasic land.
2/2

Sakura-Tribe Elder was great. So is Fulminator Mage. The tempo advantage in the early game may be crucial to winning the game. It will see tournament play as it can destroy Mutavaults and Treetop Villages. The question is whether to put it in the sideboard or maindeck. Main deck for slower decks. Sideboard for aggressive decks (along with other land-destruction) spells against control decks.

Rating: ****

Grief Tyrant - 5{br}
Creature - Horror (Uncommon)
Grief Tyrant comes into play with four -1/-1 counters on it.
When Grief Tyrant is put into a graveyard from play, put a -1/-1 counter on target creature for each -1/-1 counter on Grief Tyrant.
8/8

Overcosted.

Rating: *

Kulrath Knight - 3{br}{br}
Creature - Elemental Knight (Uncommon)
Flying
Wither
Creatures your opponents control with counters on them can't attack or block.
3/3

The abilities may not matter so much in Standard.

Rating: **

Manaforge Cinder - {br}
Creature - Elemental Shaman (Common)
{1}: Add {B} or {R} to your mana pool.Play this ability no more than three times each turn.
1/1

Irrelevant. I would rather have a stable mana base than use a mana-fixer.

Rating: *

Murderous Redcap - 2{rb}{rb}
Creature - Goblin Assassin (Uncommon)
When Murderous Redcap comes into play, it deals damage equal to its power to target creature or player.
Persist
2/2

A nice, cost-efficient creature. Can knockout several weenies. It may find its place in goblin decks, just as Mudbutton Torchrunner surprisingly did.

Rating: ***

Poison the Well - 2{br}{br}
Sorcery (Common)
Destroy target land. Poison the Well deals 2 damage to that land's controller.

Overcosted for a land-destruction spell.

Rating: **

Scar - {rb}
Instant (Common)
Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.

I'm sure there are better one-mana creature kill (such as Shock).

Rating: **

Sootstoke Kindler - 1{br}
Creature - Elemental Shaman (Common)
Haste
{T}: Target black or red creature gains haste until end of turn.
1/1

Another aggressive elemental. See comments on Ashenmoor Liege and Ashenmoor Gouger.

Rating: ***

Sootwalkers - 2{br}{br}
Creature - Elemental Rogue (Common)
Sootwalkers can't be blocked by white creatures.
3/3

Overcosted even for a sideboard card.

Rating: *

Spiteflame Witch - 1{br}
Creature - Elemental Shaman (Uncommon)
{B}{R}: Each player loses 1 life.
2/1

Not bad but there are better substitutes.

Rating: **

Spiteful Visions - 2{rb}{rb}
Enchantment (Rare)
At the beginning of each player's draw step, that player draws a card.
Whenever a player draws a card, Spiteful Visions deals 1 damage to that player.

This card has a lot of potential in red burn decks, not so much in mono-black control. The card advantage gained by the opponent still bothers me though.

Rating: ***

Torrent of Souls - 4{br}
Sorcery (Uncommon)
Return up to one target creature card from your graveyard to play if {B} was spent to play Torrent of Souls.
Creatures target player controls get +2/+0 and gain haste until end of turn if {R} was spend to play Torrent of Souls.

This may be a surprise hit for reanimator decks just as Makeshift Mannequin was. The haste ability is reminiscent of the dangerous Corpse Dance decks of long ago. The mini-Overrun effect is a welcome bonus. A bit overcosted for five mana, but still well worth the effects.

Rating: ***

Traitor's Roar - 4{rb}
Sorcery (Common)
Tap target untapped creature. That creature deals damage equal to its power to its controller.
Conspire

Overcosted Threaten effect.

Rating: **

Tyrannize - 3{br}{br}
Sorcery (Rare)
Target player discards his or her hand unless that player pays 7 life.

The "punisher" mechanic was one of the poorest mechanics in ever. I'm certain Tyrannize would do nothing to improve it.

Rating: *

Wow, several four-star cards in Demigod of Revenge, Fulminator Mage and Everlasting Torment. Also a number of cards with a lot of potential, such as the aggressive elemantals, and Spiteful Visions.

RG HYBRID

Boartusk Liege - 1{gr}{gr}{gr}
Creature - Goblin Knight (Rare)
Trample
Other red creatures you control get +1/+1.
Other green creatures you control get +1/+1.
3/4

The second-best in the cycle of Lieges. How does mono-red Gruul sound?

Rating: ****

Boggart Ram-Gang - {rg}{rg}{rg}
Creature - Goblin Warrior (Uncommon)
Haste
Wither (This deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters)
3/3

The best in the triple-hybrid-cost creature cycle. It's a mini-Ball Lightning! And it's a warrior to boot!

Rating: ****

Deus of Calamity - {rg}{rg}{rg}{rg}{rg}
Creature - Spirit Avatar (Rare)
Trample
Whenever Deus of Calamity deals 6 or more damage to an opponent, destroy target land that player controls.
6/6

Great stats for a five-mana creature. It's problem is that it easily dies to conventional creature-kill.

Rating: ***

Firespout - 2{gr}
Sorcery (Uncommon)
Firespout deals 3 damage to each creature without flying if {R} was spent to play Firespout and 3 damage to each creature with flying if {G} was spent to play it.

Nice, versatile card to have in the sideboard. I think this is better than Pyroclasm as it can kill Wren's Run Vanquisher. You could also just choose to play the Earthquake-effect and save your flyers. May even find itself in the main deck once the metagame clears up.

Rating: ****

Fossil Find - {rg}
Sorcery (Uncommon)
Return a card at random from your graveyard to your hand, then reorder your graveyard as you choose.

Useless.

Rating: *

Giantbaiting - 2{rg}
Sorcery (Common)
Put a 4/4 red and green Giant Warrior creature token with haste into play. Remove it from the game at end of turn.
Conspire

With no trample, Giantbaiting is a weak burn spell. The two creatures tapped to pay conspire may might as well just attack for probably the same amount of damage.

Rating: **

Guttural Response - {rg}
Instant (Uncommon)
Counter target blue instant spell.

The card reads: "Counter target Cryptic Command." And it counters other blue counters like Rune Snag and Flashfreeze. That's good enough to see some space in the sideboard.

Rating: ****

Impromptu Raid - 3{rg}
Enchantment (Rare)
{2}{rg}: Reveal the top card of your library. If it isn't a creature card, put it in your graveyard. Otherwise, put that card in to play. That creature has haste. Sacrifice it at end of turn.

Another "build-around-me" card. Call of the Wild, which is a better card by a mile, didn't see tournament play though. I don't think Impromptu Raid would be any different. I hope I'm wrong.

Rating: **

Loamdragger Giant - 4{rg}{rg}{rg}
Creature - Giant Warrior (Common)
7/6

Overcosted.

Rating: *

Manamorphose - 1{rg}
Instant (Common)
Add two mana in any combination of colors to your mana pool.
Draw a card.

I'd rather fix my mana-base than use mana fixers. This may help up the Storm count, though.

Rating: **

Morselhoarder - 4{gr}{gr}
Creature - Elemental (Common)
Morselhoarder comes into play with two -1/-1 counters on it.
Remove a -1/-1 counter from Morselhoarder: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
6/4

Overcosted. Must be some part of a combo deck I'm not aware of.

Rating: *

Mudbrawler Raiders - 2{gr}{gr}
Creature - Goblin Warrior (Common)
Mudbrawler Raiders can't be blocked by blue creatures.
3/3

Overcosted even for a sideboard card.

Rating: *

Rosheen Meanderer - 3{rg}
Legendary Creature - Giant Shaman (Rare)
{T}: Add {4} to your mana pool. Spend this mana only on costs that contain {X}.
4/4

Cost-efficient giant with a lousy ability. There are better four-drops for Red and Green.

Rating: ***

Runes of the Deus - 4{rg}
Enchantment - Aura (Common)
Enchant creature
As long as enchanted creature is red, it gets +1/+1 and has double strike.
As long as enchanted creature is green, it gets +1/+1 and has trample.

Overcosted.

Rating: *

Scuzzback Marauders - 4{rg}
Creature - Goblin Warrior (Common)
Trample
Persist
5/2

A combo card at best (with Bramblewood paragon and some sacrifice outlet).

Rating: **

Scuzzback Scrapper - {rg}
Creature - Goblin Warrior (Common)
Wither
1/1

There are better one-drops for Red and Green.

Rating: *

Tattermunge Duo - 2{rg}
Creature - Goblin Warrior Shaman (Common)
Whenever you play a red spell, Tattermunge Duo gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
Whenever you play a green spell, Tattermunge Duo gains forestwalk until end of turn.
2/3

Poor stats for Constructed.

Rating: *

Tattermunge Maniac - {rg}
Creature - Goblin Warrior (Uncommon)
Tattermunge Maniac attacks each turn if able.
2/1

Everyone knows how good it is. And it's a warrior and a goblin too!

Rating: ****

Tattermunge Witch - 1{rg}
Creature - Goblin Shaman (Uncommon)
{R}{G}: Each blocked creature gets +1/+0 and gains trample until end of turn.
2/1

Nice two-drop with a useful ability. Might see play in Red-Green Hybrid decks.

Rating: ***

Valleymaker - 5{rg}
Creature - Giant Shaman (Rare)
{T}, Sacrifice a Mountain: Valleymaker deals 3 damage to target creature.
{T}, Sacrifice a Forest: Choose a player. That player adds {G}{G}{G} to his or her mana pool.
5/5

Overcosted.

Rating: *

Vexing Shusher - {rg}{rg}
Creature - Goblin Shaman (Rare)
Vexing Shusher can't be countered by spells or abilities.
{rg}: Target spell can't be countered by spells or abilities.
2/2

Another excellent sideboard against Blue. May even be a main-deck card depending on the metagame. And it's a goblin too!

Rating: ****

Wort, the Raidmother - 4{rg}{rg}
Legendary Creature - Goblin Shaman (Rare)
When Wort, the Raidmother comes into play, put two 1/1 red and green Goblin Warrior creature tokens into play.
Each red or green instant or sorcery spell you play has conspire
3/3

Overcosted for Standard, despite the abusable ability.

Rating: **

Gruul seems poised for a comeback in Standard. A lot of Blue-hate too!

GW HYBRID

Barkshell Blessing - {wg}
Instant (Common)
Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
Conspire

White gets its own mini-Giant Growth. Unfortunately, it can't save your one-toughness creatures from the most efficient creature-kill in Standard today (Incinerate, Nameless Inversion, Rift Bolt, Sulfurous Blast). Not bad but not useful.

Rating: **

Dawnglow Infusion - X{gw}
Sorcery (Uncommon)
You gain X life if {G} was spent to play Dawnglow Infusion and X life if {W} was spent to play it.

At sorcery-speed, it is a slow sideboard card against Red decks. And it eat ups a lot of mana without developing the board. Nice card, but there are better life-gainers.

Rating: ***

Elvish Hexhunter - {wg}
Creature - Elf Shaman (Common)
{wg}, {T}, Sacrifice Elvish Hexhunter: Destroy target enchantment.
1/1

With Bitterblossom one of the best cards in Standard today, it's about time to pack in some enchantment-removal in the main deck. Shadowmoor's Runed Halo and Spiteful Visions are some other enchantments which have main-deck potential. Unlike the Naturalize variants, Elvish Hexhunter will seldom be a dead card in the main deck as it can always attack (or block Tattermunge Maniac). White has a better option with Oblivion Ring though.

Rating: ***

Fracturing Gust - 2{wg}{wg}{wg}
Instant (Rare)
Destroy all artifacts and enchantments. You gain 2 life for each permanent destroyed this way.

It's overcosted, even with the life-gain effect.

Rating: *

Heartmender - 2{gw}{gw}
Creature - Elemental (Rare)
At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a -1/-1 counter from each creature you control.
Persist
2/2

A bit overcosted. The ability is useful only in a dedicated Persist deck, which I doubt will see tournament play.

Rating: **

Kitchen Finks - 1{gw}{gw}
Creature - Ouphe (Uncommon)
When Kitchen Finks comes into play, you gain 2 life.
Persist
3/2

A mini-Loxodon Hierarch which can ruin Tattermunge Manmiac's day. Red burn decks may dominate Post-Shadowmoor Standard. This Ouphe is a must at least in the sideboard. It has a lot of main-deck potential once the metagame clears up and Red appears to be the color to beat. It has decent stats for a three-mana creature. Nice name too.

Rating: ****

Medicine Bearer - 1{gw}
Creature - Elf Cleric (Common)
When Medicine Bearer comes into play, you may remove a counter from target permanent.
2/1

Underwhelming for a Green/White weenie.

Rating: *

Mercy Killing - 2{gw}
Instant (Uncommon)
Target creature's controller sacrifices it, then puts X 1/1 green and white Elf tokens into play, where X is that creature's power.

Versatile. It's removal against utility creatures. And a surprise swarm which benefits much from Wilt-Leaf Liege. The problem is that it is unreliable as a removal spell as it can't effectively take care of opponent's beatdown creatures.

Rating: **

Old Ghastbark - 3{gw}{gw}
Creature - Treefolk Warrior (Common)
3/6

Overcosted.

Rating: *

Oracle of Nectars - 2{gw}
Creature - Elf Cleric (Rare)
{X}, {T}: You gain X life.
2/2

Too slow for a life-gain card. Dies easily to burn spells too. I would rather use the Ouphes.

Rating: **

Oversoul of Dusk - {wg}{wg}{wg}{wg}{wg}
Creature - Spirit Avatar (Rare)
Protection from blue, from black, and from red
5/5

The second-best (and perhaps the only other Avatar that will see tournament play) of it's cycle, it shuns almost all tournament-level pinpoint removal and bounce spells. It has decent stats for five mana. It has pseudo-evsaion too. A good finisher or mid-size creature.

Rating: ****

Raven's Run Dragoon - 2{wg}{wg}
Creature - Elf Knight (Common)
Raven's Run Dragoon can't be blocked by black creatures.

Overcosted even for a sideboard card.

Rating: *

Reknit - 1{gw}
Instant (Uncommon)
Regenerate target permanent.

Doesn't look special to me. Incinerate and Nameless Inversion even laugh at it. Perhaps it may get to see the sideboard against land-destruction decks, if they do become popular.

Rating: **

Rhys the Redeemed - {GW}
Legendary Creature - Elf Warrior (Rare)
{2}{gw}, {T}: Put a 1/1 green and white Elf Warrior creature token into play.
{4}{gw}{gw}, {T}: For each creature token you control, put a token into play thats a copy of that creature.
1/1

This card probably makes Japanese deck-builder extraordinaire Fujita very happy as Rhys fits perfectly in his Heritage Druid Elf deck. Yes the abilities are a way too overcosted, but Rhys might see play in the right deck.

Rating: **

Safehold Duo - 3{gw}
Creature - Elf Warrior Shaman (Common)
Whenever you play a green spell, Safehold Duo gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
Whenever you play a white spell, Safehold Duo gains vigilance until end of turn.
2/4

Underwhelming stats.

Rating: *

Safehold Elite - 1{gw}
Creature - Elf Scout (Common)
Persist
2/2

A nice addition to G/W Hybrid Aggro decks which might show up in numbers in tournaments to come.

Rating: ***

Safewright Quest - {gw}
Sorcery (Common)
Search your library for a Forest or Plains card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.

I would rather fix my mana base than use mana-fixers.

Rating: **

Seedcradle Witch - {gw}
Creature - Elf Shaman (Uncommon)
{2}{G}{W}: Target creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn. Untap that creature.
1/1

Nice ability but I would rather use Elvish Hexhunter as a hybrid one-drop.

Rating: **

Shield of the Oversoul - 2{wg}
Enchantment - Aura (Common)
Enchant creature
As long as enchanted creature is green, it gets +1/+1 and is indestructible.
As long as enchanted creature is white, it gets +1/+1 and has flying.

With right timing, the Shield of the Oversoul will not fall prey to the "two-for-one syndrome" going againts most auras. The abilities it grants your hybrid creature is amazing, as it can quickly end games.

Rating: ****

Wheel of Sun and Moon - {gw}{gw}
Enchantment - Aura (Rare)
Enchant player
If a card would be put into enchanted player's graveyard from anywhere, reveal that card and put it on the bottom of that player's library instead.

I once thought this was amazing as Reivellark decks will now have something to fear. Then Faerie Macabre showed up. Faerie Macabre will be one of the most important sideboards across all formats. I've lost a lot of faith in the Wheel. It can even be destroyed by Runed Halo, which is sure to show up in a lot of sideboards of Reivellark decks.

Rating: ***

Wilt-Leaf Cavaliers - {GW}{GW}{GW}
Creature - Elf Knight (Uncommon)
Vigilance
3/4

Aggressive mid-size creature. Deserves to see tournament play.

Rating: ****

Wilt-Leaf Liege - 1{gw}{gw}{gw}
Creature - Elf Knight (Rare)
Other green creatures you control get +1/+1.
Other white creatures you control get +1/+1.
If a spell or ability an opponent controls causes you to discard Wilt-Leaf Liege, put it into play instead of putting it into your graveyard.
4/4

Decent 4/4 body for four mana, but with amazing abilities. The double Glorious Anthem abilities can easily win the beatdown race. The Dodecapod ability is just gravy. This Liege is special also because Green-White typically has the best dual-color weenies in the game (Gaoddok Teeg, Saffi Eriksdotter). I give it five stars as it is the backbone of a future tournament-level aggro deck.

Rating: *****

Green-White Aggro is sure shaping up well. Check out a deck suggestion: http://polarnest.blogspot.com/2008/04/post-shadowmoor-deck-updates.html

ARTIFACTS

Blazethorn Scarecrow - 5
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow (Common)
Blazethorn Scarecrow has haste as long as you control a red creature.
Blazethorn Scarecrow has wither as long as you control a green creature.
3/3

Lousy scarecrow.

Rating: *

Blight Sickle - 2
Artifact - Equipment (Common)
Equipped creature gets +1/+0 and gains wither.
Equip {2}

Ability not usually relevant.

Rating: *

Cauldron of Souls - 5
Artifact (Rare)
{T}: Choose any number of target creatures. Each of those creatures gains persist until end of turn.

Overcosted. There are better ways to protect your creatures from mass creature-kill (counterspells, pinpoint discard). I don't see any combo potential, at least not at the moment.

Rating: **

Chainbreaker - 2
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow (Common)
Chainbreaker comes into play with two -1/-1 counters on it.
{3}, {T}: Remove a -1/-1 counter from target creature.
3/3

Lousy scarecrow. The ability is overcosted and usually irrelevant.

Rating: *

Elsewhere Flask - 2
Artifact (Common)
When Elsewhere Flask comes into play, draw a card.
Sacrifice Elsewhere Flask: Choose a basic land type. Each land you control becomes that type until end of turn.

Fix your mana base rather than use mana-fixers. There is no shortage of playable dual-color lands in Standard.

Rating: *

Gnarled Effigy - 4
Artifact (Uncommon)
{4}, {T}: Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.

Too slow for Constructed.

Rating: *

Grim Poppet - 7
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow (Rare)
Grim Poppet comes into play with three -1/-1 counters on it.
Remove a -1/-1 counter from Grim Poppet: Put a -1/-1 counter on another target creature.
4/4

One of the better scarecrows, but still not good enough. Triskelion and Triskelavus saw tournament play, but that was back then. Grim Poppet is too costly at seven mana to see play in today's meta, in my opinion.

Rating: **

Heap Doll - 1
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow (Uncommon)
Sacrifice Heap Doll: Remove target card in a graveyard from the game.
1/1

Lousy scarecrow. Especially with Faerie Macabre around.

Rating: *

Illuminated Folio - 5
Artifact (Uncommon)
{1}, {T}, Reveal two cards from your hand that share a color: Draw a card.

Overcosted at five mana. I'd rather use Scrying Sheets and go Snow for mono-colored decks desperate of card-drawing.

Rating: **

Lockjaw Snapper - 4
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow (Uncommon)
Wither
When Lockjaw Snapper is put into a graveyard from play, put a-1/-1 on each creature with a -1/-1 counter on it.
2/2

Lousy scarecrow.

Rating: *

Pili-Pala - 2
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow (Common)
Flying
{2}, {Q}: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
1/1

A combo deck with {Q} creatures seems to be difficult to pull off because the creatures are often very vulnerable.

Rating: **

Lurebound Scarecrow - 3
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow (Uncommon)
As Lurebound Scarecrow comes into play, choose a color.
When you control no permanents of the chosen color, sacrifice Lurebound Scarecrow.
4/4

Nice stats but suffers from the same problems Emperor Crocodile had. Won't see much play like the Crocodile. Stick with Phyrexian Ironfoot.

Rating: **

Painter's Servant - 2
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow (Rare)
When Painter's Servant comes into play, choose a color.
All cards that aren't in play, spells, and permanents are the chosen color in addition to their other colors.
1/3

A casual card at best. Would have been useful when the Circles of Protection were still in Standard.

Rating: **

Rattleblaze Scarecrow - 6
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow (Common)
Rattleblaze Scarecrow has persist as long as you control a black creature. Rattleblaze Scarecrow has haste as long as you control a red creature.
5/3

Lousy scarecrow.

Rating: *

Reaper King - {2w}{2u}{2b}{2r}{2g}
Legendary Artifact Creature - Scarecrow (Rare)
Other Scarecrow creatures you control get +1/+1.
Whenever another Scarecrow comes into play under your control, destroy target permanent.
6/6

The king of lousy scarecrows! Scarecrows are no slivers. Although the Reaper King is not bad on its own, there are only a few playable scarecrows in Standard. That makes Reaper Kning lousy too. No creepy scarecrow deck will dominate tournaments.

Rating: **

Revelsong Horn - 2
Artifact (Uncommon)
{1}, {T}, Tap an untapped creature you control: Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.

Irrelevant ability.

Rating: *

Scrapbasket - 4
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow (Common)
{1}: Scrapbasket becomes all colors until end of turn.
3/2

Lousy scarecrow.

Rating: *

Scuttlemutt - 3
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow (Common)
{T}: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
{T}: Target creature becomes the color or the colors of your choice until end of turn.
2/2

Lousy scarecrow. Vulnerable accelerator.

Rating: *

Tatterkite - 3
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow (Uncommon)
Flying
Tatterkite can't have counters placed on it.
2/1

Lousy scarecrow.

Rating: *

Thornwatch Scarecrow - 6
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow (Common)
Thornwatch Scarecrow has wither as long as you control a green creature.
Thornwatch Scarecrow has vigilance as long as you control a white creature.
4/4

Lousy scarecrow.

Rating: *

Trip Noose - 2
Artifact (Uncommon)
{2}, {T}: Tap target creature.

Actual creature removal is still better.

Rating: *

Umbral Mantle - 3
Artifact - Equipment (Uncommon)
Equipped creature has: "{3}, {Q}: This creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn."
Equip {0}

Overcosted {Q} ability.

Rating: *

Watchwing Scarecrow - 4
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow (Common)
Watchwing Scarecrow has vigilance as long as you control a white creature.
Watchwing Scarecrow has flying as long as you control a blue creature.
2/4

Lousy scarecrow.

Rating: *

Wicker Warcrawler - 5
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow (Uncommon)
Whenever Wicker Warcrawler attacks or blocks, put a -1/-1 counter on it at end of combat.
6/6

Lousy scarecrow.

Rating: *

Wingrattle Scarecrow - 3
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow (Common)
Wingrattle Scarecrow has flying as long as you control a blue creature.
Wingrattle Scarecrow has persist as long as you control a black creature.
2/2

Lousy scarecrow.

Rating: *

I hate reviewing artifacts. A lot of cards which may be excellent in Limited but very lousy in Constructed.

LANDS

Fire-Lit Thicket
Land (Rare)
{T}: Add {1} to your mana pool.
{rg}, {T}: Add {R}{R}, {R}{G}, or {G}{G} to your mana pool.

Not all hybrid lands are created equal. Of all the hybrid lands, this one will see tournament play the least. There is little reason to play a Red-Green aggro deck when mono-red or mono-green will work just the same. With Fire-Lit Thicket, you can't even play a first-turn Mogg Fanatic, Tattermunge Maniac, Llanowar Elver or Birds of Paradise. There are better dual-color lands for that Tarmogoyf splash ( which I think is unnecessary).

Raing: ***

Graven Cairns
Land (Rare)
{T}: Add {1} to your mana pool.
{br}, {T}: Add {B}{B}, {B}{R}, or {R}{R} to your mana pool.

Which is better, Mono-Red Sligh or Black-Red Satanic Sligh? I'm inclined to believe that Sygg, River Cutthroat and Shadow Guildmage are worth the trouble of splashing Black. I wouldn't mind also trying out a Black-Red Rogue deck. I'm still hesitant on giving Graven Cairns a higher rating though.

Rating: ***

Leechridden Swamp
Land - Swamp (Uncommon)
Leechridden Swamp comes into play tapped.
{B}, {T}: Each opponent loses 1 life. Play this ability only if you control two or more black permanents.

This might see tournament play because it is a swamp despite being a nonbasic land. It feeds Tendrils of Corruption, Corrupt and Korlash (and can be fetched by it too). The life-loss ability is more relevant than the other lands belonging to the cycle.

Rating: ***

Madblind Mountain
Land - Mountain (Uncommon)
Madblind Mountain comes into play tapped.
{R}, {T}: Shuffle your library. Play this ability only if you control two or more red permanents.

Irrelevant ability.

Rating: *

Mistveil Plains
Land - Plains (Uncommon)
Mistveil Plains comes into play tapped.
{W}, {T}: Put target card in your graveyard on the bottom of your library. Play this ability if you control two or more white permanents.

Ability also irrelevant.

Rating: *

Moonring Island
Land - Island (Uncommon)
Moonring Island comes into play tapped.
{U}, {T}: Look at the top card of target player's library. Play this ability only if you control two or more blue permanents.

Irrelevant ability.

Rating: *

Mystic Gate
Land (Rare)
{T}: Add {1} to your mana pool.
{wu}, {T}: Add {W}{W}, {W}{U}, or {U}{U} to your mana pool.

Reivellark decks need this. It aids a lot in paying for the mana cost of Cryptic Command. Blue-White decks don't have a lot of one-drops. Unlike the other two hybrid lands, Mystic Gate will definitely see tournament play.

Rating: ****

Reflecting Pool
Land (Rare)
{T}: Add to your mana pool one mana of any type that a land you control could produce.

Overrated. I think this is often superfluous and redundant. You usually do not need the color of mana it produces when you have another land that produces the same color. It even doesn't produce mana of your first-turn.

Rating: ***

Sapseep Forest
Land - Forest (Uncommon)
Sapseep Forest comes into play tapped.
{G}, {T}: You gain 1 life. Play this ability only if you control two or more green permanents.

Its life-gaining ability would prove to be too slow. It comes into play tapped too, unlike regular forests. The ability is not worth the drawback.

Rating: *

Sunken Ruins
Land (Rare)
{T}: Add {1} to your mana pool.
{ub}, {T}: Add {U}{U}, {U}{B}, or {B}{B} to your mana pool.

Another hybrid land that will definitely see play as it aids faerie decks in being able to play Cryptic Command.

Rating: ****

Wooded Bastion
Land (Rare)
{T}: Add {1} to your mana pool.
{gw}, {T}: Add {G}{G}, {G}{W}, or {W}{W} to your mana pool.

Green-White decks will need this because most of its creature spells are not only hybrid. Doran, Gaddok Teeg, and Glittering Wish are all gold cards, not just hybrids. To play them, you need both colors of mana, not either, something Wooded Bastion can easily provide.

Rating: ****

Some hybrid lands are apparently better than others, just as some ouch-lands do not see tournament play. Next time I'll wrap things up and try to predict the future of Standard.

Shadowmoor Set Review for Standard: White, Blue, Black, Red, and Green

2008-04-18T21:52:00.021+08:00

Let's face it. No one wants to read a review about cards that are universally known to be useless in Standard. Who cares about cards like Goldenglow Moth (see below)? Wasting 10 words or so talking about that card would be a waste of Internet space (not to mention that it would be an insult to your intelligence)! So in my review of most cards, I'll just leave a short comment, if you don't mind.

Now for the rating system:

"Craptacular" cards, those that I rate with only one star, suffer from either or both of these two defects: (1) they are "overcosted" or (2) are "irrelevant" in type two.

"Overcosted" cards are those whose mana cost are too expensive in proportion to their effects or abilities for them to see competitve play. A 2/2 creature which costs three mana and no other abilities, for example, is overcosted for Standard, even if it costs only three mana. Also in this category are cards with mana costs which are astronomical in today's fast-paced Standard meta.

On the other hand, "irrelevant" cards are those with effects or abilities which are pretty much useless. Damage prevention on creatures, for example, is usually an irrelevant effect in Standard, as there are better, more versatile ways to save a creature from lethal damage, such as by protection or regeneration. A card which destroys auras, for example, is irrelevant when compared to cards which destroy any type of enchantment.

Two-star cards are those which are not entirely useless and irrelevant, but way better substitutes for the card exist. They may see tournament play but only as sideboard cards for very specific situations (hence, they are not versatile). Also with two stars are cards which have "combo potential," meaning that combo decks may be made around them but the other pieces of the combo are yet to be printed on cardboard in future expansions (or they may never be printed at all).

Three-star cards are good cards which are likely to see tournament play either in the sideboard or main deck. They are not great but they're needed in the deck. They are fillers for a deck until better substitutes are created in the coming expansions. Average utility cards also fall under this category.

Four-star cards are great cards which will definitely see play either in the main deck or sideboard due to the cards' sheer power. It may be that the card is "undercosted" for its effects or abilities, or that the cards' effects or abilities are very much relevant in today's metagame. What keeps them from achieving five-star status is the fact the deck can still function properly even without them.

Finally, the cream of the crop. Five-star cards are powerful main-deck tournament staples. The "key cards." They define the deck they're in. They're the backbone of the deck, without which the deck could not stand. They usually have some flashy effect or ability for a reasonable mana cost.

With that out of the way, here is my review.

WHITE

Apothecary Initiate - W
Creature - Kithkin Cleric (Common)
Whenever a player plays a white spell, you may pay {1}. if you do, you gain 1 life.
1/1

Poor sideboard card for Kithkin decks against mirror matches. The life-gain ability is usually irrelevant.

Rating: *

Armored Ascension - 3W
Enchantment - Aura (Uncommon)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 for each Plains you control and has flying.

Overcosted. Unlike Griffin Guide, Armored Ascension also suffers from the "two-for-one syndrome" going against creature-auras in general.

Rating: *

Ballynock Cohort - 2W
Creature - Kithkin Soldier (Common)
First strike
Ballynock Cohort gets +1/+1 as long as you control another white creature.
2/2

Not a bad card, but the problem is that there are others that are way better for Kithkin / Soldier decks, such as Kinsbaile Borderguard and Preeminant Captain.

Rating: **

Barrenton Medic - 4W
Creature - Kithkin Cleric (Common)
{T}: Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to target creature or player this turn.Put a -1/-1 counter on Barrenton Medic: Untap Barrenton Medic.
0/4

Overcosted. Poor stats. Its damage-prevention ability is near useless in Standard.

Rating: *

Boon Reflection - 4W
Enchantment (Rare)
If you would gain life, you gain twice that much life instead.

Overcosted and pretty much useless ability. May have some combo potential though.

Rating: **

Goldenglow Moth - W
Creature - Insect (Common)
Flying
Whenever Goldenglow Moth blocks, you may gain 4 life.
0/1

Useless.

Rating: *

Greater Auramancy - 1W
Enchantment (Rare)
Other enchantments you control have shroud.
Enchanted creatures you control have shroud.

Irrelevant ability. Enchantments by themselves are quite difficult to eliminate already. May be good when enchantments hit big-time. But not today.

Rating: *

Inquisitor's Snare - 1W
Instant (Common)
Prevent all damage target attacking or blocking creature would deal this turn. If that creature is black or red, destroy it.
A sideboard card at best. But Condemn still seems to be better, it not having the color restrictions and costing a mana less.

Rating: **

Kithkin Rabble - 3W
Creature - Kithkin (Uncommon)
Vigilance
Kithkin Rabble's power and toughness are each equal to the number of white permanents you control.
*/*

Overcosted and too slow for today's fast Kithkin decks. Kinsbaile Borderguard is miles better.

Rating: *

Kithkin Shielddare - 1W
Creature - Kithkin Soldier (Common)
{W}, {T}: Target blocking creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
1/1

Poor stats for a two-mana white creature, and a usually useless ability.

Rating: *

Last Breath - 1W
Instant (Common)
Remove target creature with power 2 or less from the game. Its controller gains 4 life.

A good sideboard card for White-based decks against utility creatures. But other better, more versatile creature elimination for White exists, like Oblivion Ring.

Rating: **

Mass Calcify - 5WW
Sorcery (Rare)
Destroy all nonwhite creatures.

Overcosted. You're pretty much dead against a swarm of aggressive creatures before you get to seven mana.

Rating: *

Mine Excavation - 1W
Sorcery (Common)
Return target artifact or enchantment card in a graveyard to its owner's hand.
Conspire

Ability irrelevant. May have its uses in the future.

Rating:*

Mistmeadow Skulk - 1W
Creature - Kithkin Rogue (Uncommon)
Protection from converted mana cost 3 or greater
Lifelink (Whenever this creature deals damage, you gain that much life.)
1/1

Poor stats for a two-mana-cost White creature. There are way better substitutes.

Rating: *

Niveous Wisps - W
Instant (Common)Target creature becomes white until end of turn. Tap that creature.
Draw a card.

Useless.

Rating: *

Order of Whiteclay - 1WW
Creature - Kithkin Cleric (Rare)
{1}{W}{W}, {Q}: Return target creature card with converted mana cost 3 or less from your graveyard to play.
1/4

A "build-around-me" card. Has a lot of potential for White-based control decks (think Martyr of the Sands). Good stats for a defensive creature. I hope someone breaks this card someday.

Rating: ***

Pale Wayfarer - 5WW
Creature - Spirit Giant (Uncommon)
{2}{W}{W}, {Q}: Target creature gains protection from the color of its controller's choice until end of turn.
4/4

Overcosted creature. Overcosted ability. Nothing seems to come cheap these days...

Rating: *

Prison Term - 1WW
Enchantment - Aura (Uncommon)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature can't attack or block, and its activated abilities can't be played.
Whenever a creature comes into play under an opponent's control, you may attach Prison Term to that creature.

Good creature elimination for White. The ability to switch between creatures makes sure that you neutralize your opponent's best creature. Also negates haste. But it lacks the versatility of Oblivion Ring and Runed Halo, both of whcih can also deal with non-creature threats. Nonetheless, Prison Term is a good sideboard against creature-based mid-size decks.

Rating: ***

Resplendent Mentor - 4W
Creature - Kithkin Cleric (Uncommon)
White creatures you control have "{T}: You gain 1 life"
2/2

Overcosted with an irrelevant ability. Please don't do a Boon Reflection deck.

Rating: *

Rune-Cervin Rider - 3W
Creature - Elf Knight (Common)
Flying
{gw}{gw}: Rune-Cervin Rider gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
2/2

Overcosted. Even it's pump ability is overcosted.

Rating: *

Runed Halo - WW
Enchantment (Rare)
As Runed Halo comes into play, name a card. You have protection from the named card.

This card will definitely be used in tournaments between the sideboard and main deck. A versatile card best played in a control deck. At best, it effectively negates all copies of an opponent's beatdown creature. May also neutralize prime burn spells or discard spells. Reivellark decks may also use the Halo in their sideboard as a creative way to deal with the player-aura Sun-and-Moon Wheel.

Rating: ****

Safehold Sentry - 1W
Creature - Elf Warrior (Common)
{2}{W}, {Q}: Safehold Sentry gets +0/+2 until end of turn.
2/2

Overcosted for a white weenie with a poor ability.

Rating: *

Spectral Procession - {2w}{2w}{2w}
Sorcery (Uncommon)
Put three 1/1 white Spirit creature tokens with flying into play.

Not actually a bad card, but no deck wants it at the moment, not especially Kithkin decks. Perhaps in the future.

Rating: **

Strip Bare - W
Instant (Common)
Destroy all Auras and Equipment attached to target creature.

Irrelevant effect. The effect's too narrow to warrant Constructed play.

Rating: *

Twilight Shepherd - 3WWW
Creature - Angel (Rare)
Flying, vigilance
When Twilight Shepherd comes into play, return to your hand all cards in your graveyard put there from play this turn.
Persist
5/5

A good finisher for White-based control decks, as it has evasion (flying) and a way to deal with conventioanl ways of creature elimination (persist). Nice stats and abilities for six mana. But there are still better finishers for control decks, such as the white Akroma or Sacred Mesa.

Rating: ***

Windbrisk Raptor - 5WW
Creature - Bird (Rare)
Flying
Attacking creatures you control have lifelink.
5/7

Costs a ton! This is one big (useless) bird!

Rating: *

Woeleecher - 5W
Creature - Elemental (Common)
{W}, {T}: Remove a -1/-1 counter from target creature. If you do, you gain 2 life.
3/5

Overcosted.

Rating: *

There you have it! Mono-color White fairs poorly, with only Runed Halo sure to see tournament play. Hope the other colors are better.

BLUE

Advice of the Fae - {2u}{2u}{2u}

Sorcery (Uncommon)

Look at the top five cards of your library. If you control more creatures than each other player, put two of those cards into your hand. Otherwise, put one of those cards into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom your library in any order.

The worst of the mono-color-hybrid cycle. Three mana card-drawing for blue should already net at least one card (think Counsel of the Soratami). For three blue mana, I expected more. But the card advantage in Advice of the Fae is conditional, and the condition itself is hard to fulfill given that Blue isn't actually the color for the best creatures. The spell is overcosted at a minimum of three mana for a sorcery-speed Impulse-effect.

Rating: *

Biting Tether - 4U

Enchantment - Aura (Uncommon)

Enchant creature

You control enchanted creature.

At the beginning of your upkeep, put a -1/-1 counter on enchanted creature.

A very poor Persuasion. Even Persuasion no loner sees tournament play. Sower of Temptation is cheaper by one mana. Five mana to deal with opponent's creatures may prove to be too much, even for Blue.

Rating: *

Briarberry Cohort - 1U

Creature - Faerie Soldier (Common)

Flying

Briarberry Cohort gets +1/+1 as long as you control another blue creature.

1/1
Not a bad creature for Faerie decks, but there are others which are better two-drops, such as Bitterblossom, Oona's Blackguard, and Oona's Prowler. No space for this Cohort.

Rating: *

Cerulean Wisps - U

Instant (Common)

Target creature becomes blue until end of turn. Untap that creature. Draw a card.
Useless.

Rating: *

Consign to Dream - 2U

Instant (Common)

Return target permanent to its owner's hand. If that permanent is red or green, put it on top of its owner's library instead.

A nice sideboard card. Three mana for a bounce spell may prove to be too slow for today's meta, though.

Rating: **

Counterbore - 3UU

Instant (Rare)

Counter target spell. Search its controller's graveyard, hand, and library for all cards with the same name as that spell and remove them from the game. That player then shuffles his or her library.

At five mana for a hard counter, this spell is extremely overcosted. The Lobotomy ability is hardly necessary for decks packing a lot of counterspells. At best, Counterbore is a sideboard card for decks with a few counterspells against combo decks.

Rating: **

Cursecatcher - U

Creature - Merfolk Wizard (Uncommon)

Sacrifice Cursecatcher : Counter target instant or sorcery spell unless its controller pays {1}.

1/1

Effect too narrow and irrelevant for the card to matter.

Rating: *

Deepchannel Mentor - 5U

Creature - Merfolk Rogue (Uncommon)

Blue creatures you control are unblockable.

2/2

Overcosted... way overcosted.

Rating: *

Drowner Initiate - U

Creature - Merfolk Wizard (Common)

Whenever a player plays a blue spell, you may pay {1}. If you do, target player puts the top two cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.

1/1
The Millstone route to victory isn't popular for a reason: it is easier to deal 20 points of damage than to deplete a less-than-60-card deck. The Initiate's effect is thus irrelevant.
Rating: *

Faerie Swarm - 3U

Creature - Faerie (Uncommon)

Flying

Faerie Swarm's power and toughness are each equal to the number of blue permanents you control.

*/*
Overcosted. Blue doesn't usually have a lot of permanents in play.

Rating: *

Flow of Ideas - 5U

Sorcery (Uncommon)

Draw a card for each Island you control.
It didn't see play before, there is no reason it will see play again. Even Tidings, which costs two less mana, no longer sees play in Standard. Card-drawing for five man seems to be slow nowadays.

Rating: *

Ghastly Discovery - 2U

Sorcery (Common)

Draw two cards, then discard a card.

Conspire

A bad Compulsive Research. May have its uses in Reanimator decks. Strictly better than Advice of the Fae.

Rating: **

Isleback Spawn - 5UU

Creature - Kraken (Rare)

Shroud

Isleback Spawn gets +4/+8 if a library has twenty or fewer cards in it.

4/8

Overcosted, as with other "Hideaway" creatures. May be an okay reanimation target due to its shroud ability.

Rating: **

Kinscaer Harpoonist - 3U

Creature - Kithkin Soldier (Common)

Flying

Whenever Kinscaer Harpoonist attacks, you may have target creature lose flying until end of turn.

2/2

Overcosted with an irrelevant ability.

Rating: *

Knacksaw Clique - 3U

Creature - Faerie Rogue (Rare)

Flying{1}{U}, {Q}: Target opponent removes the top card of his or her library from the game. Until end of turn, you may play that card.

1/4

Good defensive stats. Obviously best used as a sideboard against mirror matches. May be a sleeper card, as Tradewind Rider was back then.

Rating: ***

Leech Bonder - 2U

Creature - Merfolk Soldier (Uncommon)

Leech Bonder comes into play with two -1/-1 counters on it.{U},

{Q}: Move a counter from target creature onto another target creature.

3/3

Combo! Some creative mind would probably attach to this card Utopia Vow or other Auras for a pseudo-combo deck worthy of tournament play. A better Horseshoe Crab, which saw tournament play along with Opposition.

Rating: ***

Merrow Wavebreakers - 4U

Creature - Merfolk Soldier (Common)

{1}{U}, {Q}: Merrow Wavebreakers gains flying until end of turn.

3/3

Overcosted.

Rating: *

Parapet Watchers - 2U

Creature - Kithkin Soldier (Common)

{wu}: Parapet Watchers gets +0/+1 until end of turn.

2/2

Overcosted. Useless ability.

Rating: *

Prismwake Merrow - 2U

Creature - Merfolk Wizard (Common)

Flash

When Prismwake Merrow comes into play, target creature becomes the color or colors of your choice until end of turn.

2/1

Overcosted anti-Shriekmaw trick. Bounce would be better.

Rating: *

Puca's Mischief - 3U

Enchantment (Rare)

At the beginning of your upkeep, you may exchange control of target nonland permanent you control and target nonland permanent an opponent controls with an equal or lesser converted mana cost.

A very fun card for casual play. Maybe it would be fun exchanging your cumulative-upkeep cards with your opponent's permanents. Or Colfenor's Plan. Or maybe I'm just thinking too much.

Rating: **

Put Away - 2UU

Instant (Common)

Counter Target Spell. You may shuffle up to one target card from your graveyard into your library.

Extremely overcosted for a minimal additional effect.

Rating: *

River Kelpie - 3UU

Creature - Beast (Rare)

Whenever River Kelpie or another permanent is put into play from a graveyard, draw a card.Whenever a card is played from a graveyard, draw a card.

Persist

3/3

Another fun card pushing the Persist mechanic. A bit overcosted for my tastes.

Rating: **

Savor the Moment - 1UU

Sorcery (Rare)

Take an extra turn after this one.

Skip the untap step of that turn.

Has a lot of potential. I'm thinking of a deck with vigilant angels (Serra's Avenger and Lightning Angel). It' s also a cantrip land-drop. Or it can accelerate suspended cards. May actually see tournament play in the future.

Rating: ***

Sinking Feeling - 2U

Enchantment - Aura (Common)

Enchant creature

Enchanted Creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step.

Enchanted creature has "{1}, Put a -1/-1 counter on this creature: Untap this creature."

A bad creature-kill, even for blue.

Rating: *

Spell Syphon - 1U

Instant (Common)

Counter target spell unless its controller pays {1} for each blue permanent you control.

This is our new two-mana counter? Rune Snag is better by a mile. May be used only in creatures-based decks.

Rating: **

Thought Reflection - 4UUU

Enchantment (Rare)

If you would draw a card, draw two cards instead.

Also a potential combo card. The mana cost is too expensive for a control deck.

Rating: **

Whimwader - 4U

Creature - Elemental (Common)

Whimwader can't attack unless defending player controls a blue permanent.

6/4

An overcosted wall.

Rating: *

Blue seems to be the worst color in Shadowmoor, although there are some creative cards which may be fun to use. But fun doesn't always translate to a win. Black is next!

BLACK

Aphotic Wisps - B
Instant (Common)
Target creature becomes black and gains fear until end of turn.
Draw a card.

Useless cantrip.

Rating: *

Ashenmoor Cohort - 5B
Creature - Elemental Warrior (Common)
Ashenmoor Cohort gets +1/+1 as long as you control another black creature.
4/3

Overcosted.

Rating: *

Beseech the Queen - {2b}{2b}{2b}
Sorcery (Uncommon
Search your library for a card with converted mana cost less than or equal to the number of lands you control, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.Those who hear her go mad with inspiration.

I think this card's overrrated. With Beesech the Queen in Mono-Black Control, you can not search for Damnation on your third turn. You can not search for Corrupt on your fifth turn. Beseech the Queen mocks the mana curve. This card may probably see play in combo decks as tutors for the components of the combo; but then again, the mana cost is too prohibitive for non-black decks. Neither is it a good tutor for silver bullets ala-Vampiric Turor due to it not being an instant. Many will try it out until they realize that Diabolic Tutor is at most times better (and yet it still does not see Standard play). Maybe when they reprint Cabal Coffers...

Rating: **

Blowfly Infestation - 2B
Enchantment (Uncommon)
Whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from play, if it had a -1/-1 counter on it, put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.

Will not do much in Standard. Shadowmoor's "-1/-1" theme was not made for Constructed play.

Rating: *

Cinderbones - 2B
Creature - Elemental Skeleton (Common)
Wither{1}{B}: Regenerate Cinderbones
1/1

Creature-kill is better than regenerating blockers.

Rating: *

Cinderhaze Wretch - 4B
Creature - Elemental Shaman (Common)
{T}: Target player discards a card. Play this ability only during your turn.
Put a -1/-1 counter on Cinderhaze Wretch: Untap Cinderhaze Wretch.
3/2

Overcosted for a discard spell. May have some combo potential with Giant-Growth-effects to wipe out an opponent's hand.

Rating: **

Corrosive Mentor - 2B
Creature - Elemental Rogue (Uncommon)
Black creatures you control have wither.
1/3

Not exciting.

Rating: *

Corrupt - 5B
Sorcery (Uncommon)
Corrupt deals damage equal to the number of Swamps you control to target creature or player. You gain life equal to the damage dealt this way.

Without Cabal Coffers, six mana even for a control deck is too expensive in today's meta. But this card will still see tournament play in MBC as it can actually win games with its sheer power. But I'm hesitant to run four copies though due to the high mana cost. The cheaper, instant-speed Tendrils of Despair is better most of the time. I have no problem running both, but probably not four Corrupts.

Rating: ***

Crowd of Cinders - 3B
Creature - Elemental (Uncommon)
Fear
Crowd of Cinders' power and toughness are each equal to the number of black permanents you control.
*/*

Too slow for mono-black aggro decks, even with Bitterblossom.

Rating: *

Disturbing Plot - 1B
Sorcery (Common)
Return target creature card in a graveyard to its owner's hand.
Conspire

Disturbing.

Rating: *

Dusk Urchins - 2B
Creature - Ouphe (Rare)
Whenever Dusk Urchins attacks or blocks, put a -1/-1 counter on it. When Dusk Urchins is put into a graveyard from play, draw a card for each -1/-1 counter on it.
4/3

Overrated, but for a good reason. Mono-Black Control players (like me) have been desperate for good card-drawing ever since Phyrexian Arena left Standard. They think Dusk Urchins is the answer. Although the Urchins is very good, it's not great. It's a much better version of Phyrexian Rager, something already available in Standard but still does not see play. The Urchins is sure to see Standard action not because it's powerful, but because players are need it. The moment Phyreixian Arena gets reprinted, Dusk Urchins will fade from the limelight.

Rating: ***

Faerie Macabre - 1BB
Creature - Faerie Rogue (Common)
Flying
Discard Faerie Macabre: Remove up to two target cards in graveyards from the game.
2/2

Uncounterable graveyard hate for zero mana -- take that Tormod's Crypt! This faerie, though more powerful in Extended than Standard, will definitely be a graveyard-hate staple in the sideboard of most decks, even if they don't pack black mana. The surprise element in this Faerie may often prove to be better than the Tormod's Crypt's graveyard wipe-out.

Rating: ****

Gloomlance - 3BB
Sorcery (Common)
Destroy target creature. If that creature was green or white, its controller discards a card.

Overcosted creature-kill. Too slow.

Rating: *

Hollowborn Barghest - 5BB
Creature - Demon Hound (Rare)
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have no cards in hand, each opponent loses 2 life.
At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, if that player has no cards in hand, he or she loses 2 life.
7/6

At least the "Hideaway" creatures are consistent... consistently crappy. Too late for discarder decks.

Rating: *

Hollowsage - 3B
Creature - Merfolk Wizard (Uncommon)
Whenever Hollowsage becomes untapped, you may have target player discard a card.
2/2

Overcosted for a its discard ability.

Rating: *

Incremental Blight - 3BB
Sorcery (Uncommon)
Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature, two -1/-1 counters on another target creature, and three -1/-1 counters on a third target creature.

The three-target requirement may be often difficult to comply with. May be a sideboard card against very aggressive decks, acting like Damnations #5 and #6.

Rating: **

Loch Korrigan - 3B
Creature - Spirit (Common)
{ub}: Loch Korrigan gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
1/1

Overcosted.

Rating: *

Midnight Banshee - 3BBB
Creature - Spirit (Rare)
Wither
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a -1/-1 counter on each nonblack creature.

5/5

There is no shortage of efficient fatties for MBC decks. Dread, Oona, Demigod of Revenge come into mind. Which one to pick depends on the metagame. Expecting a lot of faeries? Oona seems best as it and the tokens it produces can block them. Chameleon Colossus? Use Dread. Kithkins and other non-black weenies. Banshee is the answer. Good control decks adapt to the meta.

Rating: ***

Plague of Vermin - 6B
Sorcery (Rare)
Starting with you, each player may pay any amount of life. Repeat this process until no one pays life. Each player puts a 1/1 black Rat creature token into play for each 1 life he or she paid this way.

A fun but overcosted spell.

Rating: *

Polluted Bonds - 3BB
Enchantment (Rare)
Whenever a land comes into play under an opponent's control, that player loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.

Overcosted for a poor ability. By the time you have five mana to be able to cast this card, your opponent probably no longer needs to play anymore lands anyway. May be a sideboard card against mana-extensive control decks if it cost a lot less like Ankh of Mishra. And no, don't put this in land-destruction decks, please.

Rating: *

Puppeteer Clique - 3BB
Creature - Faerie Wizard (Rare)
Flying
When Puppeteer Clique comes into play, put target creature card in an opponent's graveyard into play under your control. That creature gains haste. At end of turn, remove that creature from the game.
Persist
3/2

An interesting sideboard card (and perhaps even main-deck in the right metagame). It has nice stats and abilities and doubles as graveyard-hate. Obviously neat against reanimator decks.

Rating: ***

Rite of Consumption - 1B
Sorcery (Common)
As additional cost to play Rite of Consumption, sacrifice a creature.Rite of Consumption deals damage equal to the sacrificed creature's power to target player. You gain life equal to the damage dealt this way.

Like Fling only worse, not being at instant-speed.

Rating: **

Sickle Ripper - 1B
Creature - Elemental Warrior (Common)
Wither
2/1

Nice stats and abilities but there are better substitutes.

Rating: **

Smolder Initiate - B
Creature - Elemental Shaman (Common)Whenever a player plays a black spell, you may pay {1}. If you do, target player loses 1 life.
1/1

A nice black weenie. May be use when non-tribal black weenie decks make a comeback. It would definitely see play if it were a rogue though.

Rating: ***

Splitting Headache - 3B
Sorcery (Common)
Choose one - Target player discards two cards; or target player reveals his or her hand. You choose a card from it. That player discards that card.

An overcosted discard spell that gives me migraine.

Rating: *

Torture - B
Enchantment - Aura (Common)
Enchant creature.{1}{B}: Put a -1/-1 counter on enchanted creature.

Bad, slow removal.

Rating: *

Wound Reflection - 5B
Enchantment (Rare)
At the end of each turn, each opponent loses life equal to the life he or she lost this turn.

Overcosted and unnecessary, like the war on Iraq

Rating: *

A lot of nice, tournament-worthy cards. I hope the Urchins prove to be better than I think.

RED

Blistering Dieflyn - 3R
Creature - Imp (Common)
Flying
{br}: Blistering Dieflyn gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
0/1

Overcosted.

Rating: *

Bloodmark Mentor - 1R
Creature - Goblin Warrior (Uncommon)
Red creatures you control have first strike.
1/1

First strike becomes relevant only during creature combat. Red would rather eliminate attackers and blockers than have its creatures engage in combat. Although the Mentor seems okay with its mana cost and ability, there are better creature for Red.

Rating: **

Bloodshed Fever - R
Enchantment - Aura (Common)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature attacks each turn if able.

A creative, but bad, way of killing opponent's creatures.

Rating: *

Boggart Arsonists - 2R
Creature - Goblin Rogue (Common)
Plainswalk
{2}{R}, Sacrifice Boggart Arsonists: Destroy target Scarecrow or Plains.
2/1

May see play when Scarecrow decks dominate tournaments. That day may never come.

Rating: *

Burn Trail - 3R
Sorcery (Common)
Burn Trail deals 3 damage to target creature or player.
Conspire

Too costly for a three-damage burn spell.

Rating: **

Cragganwick Cremator - 2RR
Creature - Giant Shaman (Rare)
When Cragganwick Cremator comes into play, discard a card at random. If you discard a creature card this way, Cragganwick Cremator deals damage to target player equal to the discarded creature card's power.
5/4

Nice stats for a red creature. Unlike Balduvian Horde, the Creamtor doesn't get sacrificed even if you fail to discard a card when it comes into play. The extra damage from a discarded creature is a welcome bonus. A four-mana creature may prove to be too slow for aggressive red decks, though. Maybe in a Giant deck, if ever there will be one.

Rating: ***

Crimson Wisps - R
Instant (Common)
Target creature becomes red and gains haste until end of turn. Draw a card.

Another near useless cantrip.

Rating: *

Deep-Slumber Titan - 2RR
Creature - Giant Warrior (Rare)
Deep-Slumber Titan comes into play tapped. Deep-Slumber Titan doesn't untap during your untap step. Whenever Deep-Slumber Titan is dealt damage, untap it.
7/7

I'm beginning to think that there is hope for a casual Giant deck! Under-costed but with a heavy drawback (Arena, anyone?). The lack of trample hurts though.

Rating: **

Elemental Mastery - 3R
Enchantment - Aura (Rare)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has "{T}: Put X 1/1 red Elemental creature tokens with haste into play, where X is this creature's power. Remove them from the game at end of turn."

Redundant if placed on a creature with a high power, as the creature usually is better off just simply attacking than tapping for a few tokens. There are better auras for "Q" creatures.

Rating: *

Ember Gale - 3R
Sorcery (Common)
Creatures target player controls can't block this turn.
Ember Gale Deals 1 damage to each white and/or blue creature that player controls.

Nice effect but often unnecessary. There are better ways to kill one-toughness blue faeries and kithkins.

Rating: **

Flame Javelin - {2r}{2r}{2r}
Instant (Uncommon)
Flame Javelin deals 4 damage to target creature or player.

Four damage for three mana with no drawback (such as that of Char). Wow. The only thing going against the Javelin getting a five-star rating is the heavy commitment to Red.

Rating: ****

Furystoke Giant - 3RR
Creature - Giant Warrior (Rare)
When Furystoke Giant comes into play, each other creature you control gains "{T}: This creature deals 2 damage to target creature or player" until end of turn.
Persist
3/3

A fun, casual card made for Limited, not Constructed.

Rating: *

Horde of Boggarts - 3R
Creature - Goblin (Uncommon)
Horde of Boggarts's power and toughness are each equal to the number of red permanents you control.
Horde of Boggarts can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.
*/*

Coslty and unnecessary, like pork barrel.

Rating: *

Inescapable Brute - 5R
Creature - Giant Warrior (Common)
Wither
Inescapable Brute must be blocked if able.
3/3

Overcosted, like rice today.

Rating: *

Intimidator Initiate - R
Creature - Goblin Shaman (Common)
Whenever you play a red spell, you may pay {1}. If you do, target creature can't block this turn.
1/1

Irrelevant.

Rating: *

Jaws of Stone - 5R
Sorcery (Uncommon)
Jaws of Stone deals X damage divided as you choose among any number of target creatures and/or players, where X is the number of Mountains you control as you play Jaws of Stone.

Will Skred Red make a comeback? Perhaps, what with the other good red cards from Shadowmoor. If it does, maybe two copies of Jaws of Stone wouldn't hurt. It's a nice (but expensive) mass-kill that doubles as an X-spell direct-damage finisher.

Rating: ***

Knollspine Dragon - 5RR
Creature - Dragon (Rare)
Flying
When Knollspine Dragon comes into play, you may discard your hand and draw cards equal to the damage dealt to target opponent this turn.
7/5

Who would have thought that red's "hideaway" land would see competitive constructed play? Is red's hideaway creature a "sleeper"? This dragon may be used as Bogardan Hellkites #5 and #6. That is, when and if Dragonstorm decks become hip again.

Rating: **

Knollspine Invocation - 1RR
Enchantment (Rare)
{X}, Discard a card with converted mana cost X: Knollspine Invocation deals X damage to target creature or player.

Squee, Goblin Nabob might actually see Constructed play! This card has a lot of potential in controllish red decks like Skred Red. I wish someone finds a way to abuse this card.

Rating: ***

Mudbrawler Cohort - 1R
Creature - Goblin Warrior (Common)
Haste
Mudbrawler Cohort gets +1/+1 as long as you control another red creature.
1/1
Not a bad weenie for Red, but there are might be better goblins (like Goblin War Marshall). On second thought, it might actually be better than the War Marshall.

Rating: ***

Power of Fire - 1R
Enchantment - Aura (Common)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has "{T}: This creature deals 1 damage to target creature or player."
Fire Whip is obviously better. May actually see play due to "Q" shenanigans. Maybe as Fire Whips #5 and #6.

Rating: **

Puncture Bolt - 1R
Instant (Common)
Puncture Bolt deals 1 damage to target creature. Put a -1-/1 counter on that creature.
A bad burn but only for creatures.

Rating: *

Pyre Charger - RR
Creature - Elemental Warrior (Uncommon)
Haste
{R}: Pyre Charger gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
1/1
Not bad but Slith Firewalker is better by a mile.

Rating: **

Rage Reflection - 4RR
Enchantment (Rare)
Creatures you control have double strike.
Too coslty for an aggro deck. Furnace of Rath, which is cheaper by two mana, is still better.

Rating: *

Rustrazor Butcher - 1R
Creature - Goblin Warrior (Common)
First Strike
Wither
1/2
One power for a two-drop attacker for red is lousy.

Rating: *

Slinking Giant - 2RR
Creature - Giant Rogue (Uncommon)
Wither
Whenever Slinking Giant blocks or becomes blocked, it get -3/-0 until end of turn.
4/4
Bad card.

Rating: *

Smash to Smithereens - 1R
Instant (Common)
Destroy target artifact. Smash to Smithereens deals 3 damage to that artifact's controller.
Sideboard card if and when artifact-based decks see play. Not in the meantime.

Rating: **

Wild Swing - 3R
Sorcery (Uncommon)
Choose three target nonenchantment permanents. Destroy one of them at random.
Too random destruction spell. Overcosted.

Flame Javelin leads the pack for red. I do hope Skred Red makes a comeback due to Shadowmoor.

GREEN

Crabapple Cohort - 4G
Creature - Treefolk Warrior (Common)
Crabapple Cohort gets +1/+1 as long as you control another green creature.
4/4

Overcosted for a green creature. There are far better Treefolk.

Rating: *

Devoted Druid - 1G
Creature - Elf Druid (Common)
{T}: Add {G} to your mana pool.
Put a -1/-1 counter on Devoted Druid: Untap Devoted Druid.
0/2

On its own, this card is great, being able to provide up to two additional mana on the third turn for an explosive start. Combined with Giant-Growth effects, this card is insane! This is Mana Ramp on steroids. With Devoted Druid, Mind Shatter might finally see play.

Rating: ****

Dramatic Entrance - 3GG
Instant (Rare)
You may put a green creature card from your hand into play.

Dramatic Entrance is a way to be able to play green creatures with high mana costs. But at five mana, this card is overcosted itself!

Rating: **

Drove of Elves - 3G
Creature - Elf (Uncommon)
Drove of Elves's power and toughness are each equal to the number of green permanents you control.
Drove of Elves can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control
*/*

Green has better creatures for four mana. An overcosted Jagged Archers.

Rating: **

Farhaven Elf - 2G
Creature - Elf Druid (Common)
When Farhaven Elf comes into play, you may search your library for a basic land card and put that card into play tapped. If you do, shuffle your library.
1/1

Wood Elves and Yavimaya Dryad both saw Constructed play before. But the meta today is far faster. A three-mana Rampant-Growth effect may prove to be too slow now.

Rating: **

Flourishing Defenses - 4G
Enchantment (Uncommon)
Whenever a -1/-1 counter is placed on a creature, you may put a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token into play.

A lot of combo potential for casual play. But it is too overcosted for tournament play.

Rating: **

Foxfire Oak - 5G
Creature - Treefolk Shaman (Common)
{rg}{rg}{rg}: Foxfire Oak gets +3/+0 until end of turn.
3/6

Overcosted.

Rating: *

Gleeful Sabotage - 1G
Sorcery (Common)
Destroy target artifact or enchantment.
Conspire

Instant spells Naturalize and Krosan Grip will often prove to be better.

Rating: **

Gloomwidow - 2G
Creature - Spider (Uncommon)
Reach
Gloomwidow can't block creatures without flying.
3/3

Green has a number of better ways to deal with those pesky faeries. (I have a feeling I'll say this again.)

Rating: **

Gloomwidow's Feast - 3G
Instant (Common)
Destroy target creature with flying. If that creature was blue or black, put a 1/2 green Spider creature token with reach into play.

Green has a number of better ways to deal with those pesky faeries. (De javu.)

Rating: **

Howl of the Night Pack - 6G
Sorcery (Uncommon)
Put a 2/2 green Wolf creature token into play for each Forest you control

Control decks are seldom mono-green. There is no place for this card in a mono-green aggro deck. And there are better spells to play in Mana Ramp decks.

Rating: *

Hungry Spriggan - 2G
Creature - Goblin Warrior (Common)
Trample
Whenever Hungry Spriggan attacks, it gets +3/+3 until end of turn.
1/1

What a bargain: a 4/4 trampling attacker for only three mana! This card may find a place in Standard in non-Elf warrior decks. But for me, Elf Warriors are still better, with Imperious Perfect and Wren's Run Vanquishers.

Rating: ***

Juvenile Gloomwidow - GG
Creature - Spider (Common)
Reach
Wither
1/3

Green has a number of better ways to deal with those pesky faeries. (Again?!)

Rating: *

Mana Reflection - 4GG
Enchantment (Rare)
If you tap a permanent for mana, it produces twice as much of that mana instead.

A combo player's dream card, only it costs too much to play. Heartbeat of Spring part two?

Rating: **

Mossbridge Troll - 5GG
Creature - Troll (Rare)
If Mossbridge Troll would be destroyed, regenerate it.
Tap any number of untapped creatures you control other than Mossbridge Troll with total power 10 or greater: Mossbridge Troll gets +20/+20 until end of turn.
5/5

Well, the set needed some crap rares...

Rating: *

Nurturer Initiate - G
Creature - Elf Shaman (Common)
Whenever a player plays a green spell, you may pay {1}. If you do, target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
1/1

Irrelevant.

Rating: *

Presence of Gond - 2G
Enchantment - Aura (Common)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has "{T}: Put a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token into play."

Another card for {Q}, although the Fire Whip auras still seem to be better.

Rating: **

Prismatic Omen - 1G
Enchantment (Rare)
Lands you control are every basic land type in addition to their other type.

Rather than deck slots for mana-fixers, I'd rather have a stable mana base in the first place. Domain isn't big in Standard today.

Rating: **

Raking Canopy - 1GG
Enchantment (Uncommon)
Whenever a creature with flying attacks you, Raking Canopy deals 4 damage to it.

Green has a number of better ways to deal with those pesky faeries. A well-timed Cryptic Command or Naturalize can take care of Raking Canopy. The enchantment is good, but I prefer Squall Line and Cloudthresher.

Rating: ***

Roughshod Mentor - 5G
Creature - Giant Warrior (Uncommon)
Green creatures you control have trample.
5/4

Overcosted.

Rating: *

Spawnwrithe - 2G
Creature - Elemental (Rare)
Trample
Whenever Spawnwrithe deals combat damage to a player, put a token into play that's a copy of Spawnwrithe.
2/2

A fun casual card. May be a sleeper. I'll see if I can make a Cronozoa-Savor the Moment deck.

Rating: ***

Toil to Renown - 1G
Sorcery (Common)
You gain 1 life for each tapped artifact, creature, and land you control.

Usually useless. There are better life-gain spells.

Rating: *

Tower Above - {2g}{2g}{2g}
Sorcery (Uncommon
Until end of turn, target creature gets +4/+4 and gains trample, wither and "When this creature attacks, target creature blocks it this turn if able."

A pseudo-creature-kill for Green which is actually tournament-worthy! The trample ability makes sure that no point of damage goes to waste and wither makes sure that the blocker dies (or becomes way smaller).

Rating: ****

Viridescent Wisps - G
Instant (Common)
Target creature becomes green and gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
Draw a card.

Another one of those lousy cantrips.

Rating: *

Wildslayer Elves - 3G
Creature - Elf Warrior (Common)
Wither
3/3

There are better four-mana creatures in Green.

Rating: *

Witherscale Wurm - 4GG
Creature - Wurm (Rare)
Whenever Witherscale Wurm blocks or becomes blocked by a creature, that creature gains wither until end of turn.When Witherscale Wurm deals damage to a player, remove all -1/-1 counters from it.
9/9

Useless without trample.

Rating: *

Woodfall Primus - 5GGG
Creature - Treefolk Shaman (Rare)
Trample
When Woodfall Primus comes into play, destroy target noncreature permanent.
Persist
6/6

A great reanimation target. Overcosted for other decks.

Rating: **

Not bad for Green, with Devoted Druid and Tower Above. The exciting hybrid cards are next!

'Moor Musings: MBC

2008-04-17T11:17:00.009+08:00

With Corrupt being reprinted in Shadowmoor, a lot of players have been trying to revive Mono-Black Control to its former glory. Many point to Shadowmoor's Beseech the Queen as a more efficient Diabolic Tutor, and Brutal Visions or Dusk Urchins as replacements for Skeletal Scrying (or Phyrexian Arena). We have Korlash for Nantuko Shade, Damnation for Mutilate, Mind Shatter for Mind Sludge, Shriekmaw and Nameless Inversion for creature-kill. It would appear that there are suitable replacements for the cards in the original MBC.

But that isn't actually the case. The original Mono-Black Control was powered by Cabal Coffers. No other card comes close to replicating the mana-producing power of the Coffers. Gauntlets of Power and Magus of the Coffers are often too slow for today's metagame. So are the storage lands. Hence, finding card-for-card replacements for the original MBC cards is a step in the wrong direction to recreating the classic deck.

Another thing going against the revival of MBC is today's meta. When MBC was famous back then, blue-based control decks were at an all-time low, with Blue-Green Madness decks the only other Tier One deck. Madness decks had only one set of counters, Circular Logic. But when Psychatog reared its ugly head, MBC faded from the limelight, failing from the assortment of counterspells. MBC fails miserably against other control decks, particularly those that sport a number of counterspells.That said, a reincarnation of MBC should not be pure all-out control. Instead it should be mid-size.

It is difficult to create a control deck because you have to know the metagame first before making the deck. Control is a reactive strategy, aggro is proactive. Control decks tend to react to the plays of aggro decks. If, for example, Gaddock Teeg becomes a tournament fixture, Tendrils of Despair becomes weaker and better replaced with a cheaper creature-kill. If Chameleon Colossus appears in tournaments more often, it's time to go Snow and add some Mouths of Ronom.

Having said all that, here is my stab at recreating MBC. Here's the deck:

4 Demigod of Revenge*

4 Korlash, Heir to Blackblade

4 Shriekmaw

4 Bitterblossom

4 Damnation

4 Tendrils of Despair

2 Corrupt*

4 Thoughtsieze

2 Distress

4 Coldsteel Heart

4 Leechridden Swamp*

2 Mouth of Ronom

18 Snow-Covered Swamp

(*from Shadowmoor)

Mono-Black decks should take advantage of their "mono-colored-ness" by playing cards that become more powerful with each swamp (or pseudo-swamp like Shadowmoor's Leechridden Swamp) played. Korlash, Tendrils, Corrupt, and the new Demigod of Revenge benefit from an all-swamp land-base.

Shadowmoor's Beseech the Queen is overrated and Brutal Visions is terrible (but may be good in other, burn-based decks). The tutor effect in the original MBC was primarily for fetching Cabal Coffers, a card that modern MBC decks lack. Brutal Visions provides card-disadvantage.(I might use Dusk Urchins though if the deck proves to be of desperate need of some form of card-drawing.) Even Corrupt, which will be too slow for today's meta, would not be as powerful as before.

The focus of the deck is on midsize creatures Demigod of Revenge and Korlash, Heir to Blackblade. Shriekmaw and Bitterblossom provide additional beatdown. Instead of card-drawing, we have virtual card advantage in the form of these cards. Cheaper pinpoint discards in the form of Thoughtsieze and Distress are better than slower, high-casting-cost (and thus oft-countered) mass-discard spells. An assortment of creature-kill rounds up the deck.

Only time can really tell if MBC would be great again post-Shadowmoor. I'm hoping that it will.

(Image from magicthegathering.com)

'Moor Musings: Aggro Swans

2008-04-16T14:47:00.007+08:00

Someday someone will break Swans of Bryn Argoll. I don't think that someone would be me, but I could try. Here's a deck based on the Swans:

Aggro Swans

4 Swans of Bryn Argoll*

4 Lightning Angel

4 Vendillion Clique

4 Ancestral Memories

4 Incinerate

4 Rift Bolt

2 Psionic Blast

2 Sulfurous Blast

4 Pyroclasm

4 Coldsteel Heart

4 Mystic Gate*

4 Shivan Reef

4 Battlefield Forge

4 Faerie Conclave

4 Mountain

4 Island

(*from Shadowmoor)

Convert direct damage spells into more cards (and hopefully more direct damage spells) using the Swans. The Swans, Lightning Angel and Vendillion Clique are very aggressive creatures. Get through some combat damage to your opponent and finish him off with the various "cheese spells".

Swans of Bryan Argoll is a card that appeals to both the "Spike" (competitive tournament player) and "Johnny" (combo player) demographics. This deck's a take from a Spike point of view. I hope someday some Johnny will make something more creative.

(Image from magicthegathering.com)

Updated Post-Shadowmoor Decks

2008-04-16T11:27:00.007+08:00

Some tweaks on GW Super Aggro and Sygg Sligh:

GW Super Aggro V2

2 Llanowar Elves
4 Birds of Paradise
3 Gaddock Teeg
3 Saffi Eriksdotter
4 Safehold Elite*
4 Wilt Leaf Cavaliers*
4 Wilt Leaf Liege*
4 Doran, Siege Tower

4 Shield of the Oversoul*
4 Nameless Inversion

4 Murmuring Bosk

4 Wooded Bastion*

2 Brushland

4 Llanowar Waste
4 Treetop Village

2 Gemstone Mine
4 Forest

(*from Shadowmoor)

Doran is in! How could I have forgotten that Doran is green and white too! Splashing black also makes Nameless Inversion available. I think the mana base needs some improvement though.

Sygg Sligh V2

4 Sygg, River Cutthroat*

2 Dusk Urchins*

2 Shadow Guildmage

4 Mogg fanatic

4 Tattermunge Maniac*

4 Keldon Marauders

4 Lash Out

4 Incinerate

4 Rift Bolt

4 Flame Javelin*

2 Shard Volley

4 Sulfurous Springs

4 Graven Cairns

2 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

10 Mountain

2 Swamp

(*from Shadowmoor)

Not much change. I think Dusk Urchins would be better than Countryside Crusher because of Fulminator Mage. I didn't' want four Urchins though, so I added Shadow Guildmage instead. Also, Mutavaults (probably two of them) can fit in the deck by replacing some basic lands.

My Top 10 Shadowmoor Cards

2008-04-15T11:35:00.006+08:00

Less than 70 cards to go and mtgsalvation's Shadowmoor spoiler will be complete! There may be cards yet to be spoiled that may catch my fancy, but that will not stop me from posting my Top 10 Standard Shadowmoor cards so far. Here you go:

#10

Sun-and-Moon Wheel - {gw}{gw}

Enchantment - Aura (Rare)

Enchant player

If a card would be put into enchanted player's graveyard from anywhere, reveal that card and put it on the bottom of that player's library instead.

One reason why Reivellark decks dominate in today's metagame is that there is no single sideboard card that can effectively neutralize the deck. Exterpate and Withered Wretch come close, but the cards are accessible only to decks with Black mana. Tormod's Crypt just does not cut it anymore. Sun-and-Moon Wheel provides White and Green an effective way to deal with Reivellark decks. The Wheel was probably created to deal with Extended's Dredge decks, but it is a welcome sideboard card for Standard as well.

Impact on Standard: Sideboard for Green and White against graveyard-based strategies such as that of Reivellark.

Tower Above - {2g}{2g}{2g}

Sorcery (Uncommon)

Until end of turn, target creature gets +4/+4 and gains trample, wither and "When this creature attacks, target creature blocks it this turn if able."

Green has the best mid-size creatures. But Green lacks an efficient way to deal with opposing creatures. Tower Above is the best psuedo-creature-kill soon to be available to mono-green decks. It is a defensive card as it grants your creature with wither and a Lure-like ability to eliminate an opponent's untapped creature. At the same time, it is also an aggressive card as it upsizes your creature and gives it trample so that no excess damage goes to waste.

Impact on Standard: Main deck for aggressive mono-green or green-based decks such as Elf Warriors.

Demigod of Revenge - {BR}{BR}{BR}{BR}{BR}

Creature - Spirit Avatar (Rare)

Flying, haste

When you play Demigod of Revenge, return all cards named Demigod of Revenge from your graveyard to play.

5/4

The best card in the Avatar cycle. The stats (5/4 for five mana) are great. The evasion and haste make it an amazing finisher for control decks or beater for midsize decks. It is tougher to kill than other creatures, as it shuns top creature-kills Shiekmaw, Nameless Inversion, Incinerate and Rift Bolt. And just in case it gets destroyed, it can be revived by playing a copy of the card. A very dangerous card that can quickly end games.

Impact on Standard: Likely to reintroduce Mono-Black Control decks in the metagame. Also good in Skred Red.

Swans of Bryn Argoll - 2{wu}{wu}

Creature - Bird Spirit (Rare)

Flying

If a source would deal damage to Swans of Bryn Argoll, prevent that damage. The source's controller draws cards equal to the damage prevented this way.

4/3

This may be a combo card waiting to explode! The Swans may potentially even be scarier than Reivellark. The creature is a card-drawing engine which turns direct-damage spells into more cards (and probably more direct-damage spells!). The stats (4/3 with flying for four mana) are nothing to laugh at either. My only reservation against the Swans is that they suck against Red decks with a lot of cheese spells.

Impact on Standard: May revive RW Boros, UR Snow-based Control or Counter-burn, or RWU Angel decks. May also be a combo card (as in with Siesmic Assualt) waiting for Johnny to break it.

Runed Halo - WW

Enchantment (Rare)

As Runed Halo comes into play, name a card. You have protection from the named card. (You can't be targeted by it, and all damage that would be dealt to you by it is prevented)

See my previous comments on the card: http://polarnest.blogspot.com/2008/04/moor-musings-uw-halo-control.html

Impact on Standard: A staple between main deck and sideboard for any white-based control decks.

Flame Javelin - {2r}{2r}{2r}

Instant (Uncommon)

Flame Javelin deals 4 damage to target creature or player.

Almost a Char and sometimes even better! Obviously fits in any mono-red and red-based decks. A vital card in any deck based on the "Theory of Fire" startegy. Can take care of Chameleon Collosus, Mistbind Clique, and Shadowmoor's Demigod of Revenge. For a deck maximizing the potential of Flame Javelin, check out "Sygg Sligh":http://polarnest.blogspot.com/2008/04/moor-musings-sygg-sligh.html

Impact on Standard: Main deck staple for any mono-red or red-based aggressive burn decks. May revive Satanic Sligh variants.

Tattermunge Maniac - {rg}

Creature - Goblin Warrior (Uncommon)

Tattermunge Maniac attacks each turn if able.

2/1

This is not just another Flamekin Bladewhirl, as elementals are not known for their speed and aggressiveness (not until Shadowmoor at least). Tattermunge Maniac is a goblin for Goblin decks, a warrior for Warrior decks, a red agressive creature for Red Aggro decks, a green agressive creature for Green Aggro decks, and a red-green hybrid agressive creature for RG Hybrid Aggro decks. I must admit though that the drawback can be painful in today's metagame where a second-turn Wren's Run Vanquisher (or Sygg, River Cutthroat post-Shadowmoor Standard) not dealt with can easily stop a first-turn Tattermunge Maniac.

Impact on Standard: Main deck for Red-based aggro decks. Not so much for Green-based aggro though, as one-drop mana elves are still usually better.

Wilt-Leaf Liege - 1{gw}{gw}{gw}

Creature - Elf Knight (Rare)

Other green creatures you control get +1/+1.

Other white creatures you control get +1/+1.

If a spell or ability an opponent controls causes you to discard Wilt-Leaf Liege, put it into play instead of putting it into your graveyard.

4/4

A 4/4 for mana is mediocre for Green but the double Glorious/Gaea's Anthem ability makes Wilt-Leaf Liege amazing. The Dodecapod ability is just a welcome bonus. The best in the Liege cycle, the Wilt-Leaf Liege, together with the other green-white hybrid and gold cards, may just propel white-green aggro as a formidable deck archetype!

Impact on Standard: Will establish GW Aggro in the metagame. For a sample deck, see: http://polarnest.blogspot.com/2008/04/moor-musings-gw-super-aggro.html

Fulminator Mage - 1{br}{br}

Creature - Elemental Shaman (Rare)

Sacrifice Fulminator Mage: Destroy target nonbasic land.

2/2

Tempo. Block a weenie, put damage on the stack, and destroy an opponent's non-basic land. Reanimating it adds insult to injury. Rest assured, there will be no shortage of nan-basic lands to destroy on the opponent's side of the table. Being hybrid, Fulminator Mage can easily fit in Red or Black decks (or Red-Black decks). Also, the Mage belongs to a tribe that may be relevant in post-Shadowmoor Standard.

Impact on Standard: Main deck in Mannequin decks. May revive Green/Black/Red Land Destruction decks. Sideboard in Red or Black Aggro decks against slower control decks.

Sygg, River Cutthroat - {ub}{ub}

Legendary Creature - Merfolk Rogue (Rare)

At end of turn, if an opponent has lost 3 or more life this turn, you may draw a card. (Damage causes loss of life.)

1/3

Dark Confidant was the best card in Ravnica. In Shadowmoor, Sygg should be no different. (For comparisons, check: http://polarnest.blogspot.com/2008/04/moor-musings-sygg-sligh.html) Sygg is also a Merfolk and at the same time a Rogue, two relevant creature types in Lorwyn block. Sygg may be the card to push Merfolk and Rogue decks to a higher tier. He is also an amazing creature, together with Shadowmage Infiltrator, for black-blue tempo decks.

Impact on Standard: May reintroduce Sligh-type decks into the metagame. An efficient creature for Mono-Blue Merfolk and Mono-Black Rogue decks. May reintroduce Black-Blue Tempo (aside from Faerie decks) in the metagame.

So there you have it! A Bob-wannabee at the top of the list. The good thing is that not a lot of players have been hyping Sygg, which means that he may be inexpensive early on. A greater number of players are instead in love with Dusk Urchins, which I think is just a slightly better version of Phyrixian Rager (which do not and did not see Standard play). I think Black players are just too desparate for card-drawing but are looking at the wrong direction.

Fulminator Mage and Tattermunge Maniac have been recieving the right amount of hype they deserve. Runed Halo may be a sleeper. Swans of Bryn Argoll and Demogod of Revenge are key components to decks trying to make a comeback. Overall, Shadowmoor has a right balance of cards to add to existing decks, to reintroduce previously defunct deck archetypes, and to introduce new decks. And we have around 70 cards yet to see!

'Moor Musings: Sygg Sligh

2008-04-13T18:15:00.005+08:00

Sygg = Bob v2. Or maybe even better. Dark Confidant guarantees one card draw during the upkeep, but at the expense of your own life points. Shadowmoor's Sygg, River Cutthroat does not guarantee card advantage, but it can potentially double the net card advantage one may receive from Dark Confidant, all at the expense of an opponent's life points. Twice the card-drawing power of Dark Confidant?! Are you crazy?! Read Sygg again:

It says "At end of turn," not "At end of your turn." If somehow you were able to deal three or more damage during an opponent's turn, you get to draw a card. One card at end of your turn, another at end of opponent's turn. That's double the Bob.

Everybody's been trying out Sygg in Merfolk decks and Rogue decks. That's good, but Sygg's full potential can be realized in Sligh-style decks. Instant-speed three-damage cheese spells cast during the opponent's turn become cantrip cards. Sygg perfectly fills the slots left by Dark Confidant in Satanic Sligh decks, if not even better.

Let me introduce a post-Shadowmoor Standard deck: Sygg Sligh. Shadowmoor offers cards that fit perfectly in the deck. Jackal Pup reincarnation Tattermunge Maniac and Char variant Flame Javelin are no-brainers. So are the usual red aggro cards Mogg Fanatic, Incinerate, Keldon Marauders and Rift Bolt. But I'm torn between Countryside Crusher and Dusk Urchins. Both can fill the turn-three slot, and both provide some sort of card filtering or card advantage. I'm in favor of the Crusher though, as I think the Urchin is just a better version of Phyrexian Rager. On the other hand, the drawback on the Crusher may be painful for a deck with a card-drawing engine. Anyway, here's the decklist, and I hope that you like it:

4 Sygg, River Cutthroat

4 Countryside Crusher / Dusk Urchins

4 Mogg Fanatic

4 Tattermunge Maniac

4 Keldon Marauders

4 Lash Out

4 Incinerate

4 Rift Bolt

4 Flame Javelin

2 Shard Volley

4 Sulfurous Springs

4 Graven Cairns

2 Urborg

10 Mountain

2 Swamp

(Image from magicthegathering.com)

'Moor Musings: UW Halo Control

2008-04-13T11:39:00.008+08:00

Just in:

Runed Halo
Enchantment
As Runed Halo comes into play, name a card.You have protection from the named card. (You can't be targeted by it, and all damage that would be dealt to you by it is prevented)

How good is it? Well I wouldn't mind getting protection from Tarmogoyf, Incinerate, Thoughtsieze, Rift Bolt, Countryside Crusher, Stupor, Chameleon Colossus, Meadowgrain Stalwart, heck, even Mulldrifter! It's a weaker Ivory Mask and a stronger Pacifism all rolled into one two-casting cost enchantment! I'm sure that's an excellent bargain, being able to effectively nullify with just one card a maximum number of four cards in an opponent's deck. It's virtual card advantage, and sometimes also tempo advantage if ever an opponent has two or more copies of a creature card with the same name in play. I'm inclined to believe that this card, in the right deck, may even be better than its name-a-card predecessors Meddling Mage, Cranial Extraction, and Pithing Needle, for the simple reason that the Halo can also effectively deal with beatdown creatures on the opponent's side of the table.

That said, the Halo still has its limitations. It is not an auto-four-of in any deck sporting white. It is best in a dedicated control deck. While aggro decks would want to win in the early- to mid-game, control decks bide their time. When a game reaches the late-game, the possibility of drawing multiple copies of the same card is higher. The Halo becomes more powerful as the number of copies of cards it effectively negates increases. Here's a simple Blue-White control deck that can make use of the Halo in its main deck.

4 Wrath of God

4 Rune Snag

4 Cryptic Command

4 Remove Soul
4 Runed Halo*

2 Declaration of Naught
4 Ancestral Vision

2 Peek

4 Vendillion Clique

2 Sacred Mesa

2 Godhead of Awe*

4 Adarkar Watses

4 (U/W hybrid filter land)*

2 Nimbus Maze

10 Island

4 Plains

(*from Shadowmoor)

Runed Halo and Declaration of Naught set this deck apart from other control decks. The two name-a-card enchantments become more powerful when you know what cards your opponent is holding. Peek and Vendillion Clique provide you with that valuable information. The other cards (Wrath of God, counterspells, card-drawers) are basic, Blue-White control cards. The deck's mascot is the Godhead of Awe. I don't think it's actually that awesome (I would rather use Akroma), but who cares, it's new anyway.

This deck, as with other control decks, would have a hard time against faeries. But I believe it will do well against the other creature-based decks and other control decks. The deck can also be further developed once all the Shadowmoor cards have been spoiled and the post-Shadowmoor metagame determined. Until then, this version of UW Halo Control deck would have to do.

(Image from magicthegathering.com)

Secret Invasion #1 Review: Pleasant Disappointment

2008-04-11T21:32:00.008+08:00

There was no hiding my excitement that day Secret Invasion #1 became available in a local comic-book shop. This is it, I thought. Some questions gnawing at me for weeks would finally be answered. I took the comic from the bag. As I lifted the pages, I savored each and every panel, trying to read as slow as possible as I let the images and texts sink into memory. I bought the comic book with the expectation of discovering which major superheroes had been replaced by Skrull sleeper agents. But instead of answers, I got more questions. This was one pleasant disappointment.

The premise of Secret Invasion was that certain superheroes had been replaced by Skrulls, a shapeshifting alien race bent on invading Earth. The event has become an endless guessing-game, a murder mystery where each character is suspect. And as with every effective whodunnits, the author gave the reader clues as to the identity of the antagonist/s, but not without a heavy dose of misleading information. Secret Invasion #1 was masterfully done to make the reader think and speculate even more. A question was answered by the reveal of which superhero, among others, was replaced by a Skrull. But for each question answered, a couple more questions arose, most of which was awesomely summarized in one thought-provoking full-spread panel.

The issue was not perfect though. Secret Invasion #1 was supposed to set an atmosphere of distrust. The superheroes were supposed to treat each other, even their own teammates, with suspicion. But the witty dialogue among them did little in establishing an aura of doubt. I understand that Skrulls can imitate the physical features of the superheroes and emulate their powers. But I doubt they can just as easily copy the personality of superheroes. Although the friendly banter was funny, it was unrealistic.

The art, though, was better. The faces of the characters were able to convey the right emotions (or lack of them). A sly smile may seem so innocent, but later on may appear to be sinister after all. There was great attention to detail. The "gooey" panel near the end of the book haunts me to this day. I just hoped there were exciting fight scenes which would have better fitted the artist's style. Perhaps in the coming issues.

Overall, the story sold the book. The mystery it created significantly outweighed the mystery it resolved. Although there was only one major reveal of which superhero had been replaced by a Skrull, this was one disappointment that would make me craving back for more.

'Moor Musings: GW Super Aggro

2008-04-08T23:59:00.016+08:00

Green is the color of aggressive creatures. White is also the color of aggressive creatures. How do the two colors differ? Green has the best mid-size creatures, those that cost three mana to four mana (Troll Ascetic, Chameleon Colossus); while White has the best weenies, those that cost one to two mana (Goldmeadow Stalwart, Knight of Meadowgrain). Now how should a green-white multicolor creature be characterized? Super aggressive. Just ask Watchwolf.

In Lorwyn block, the Kithkins were supposed to be a White tribe with a few hints of Green. The only green kithkin card that saw Standard tournament play was Gaddock Teeg, but seldom was it used in a kithkin deck. Instead, players opted for consistency and chose to play mono-white kithkin. Aside from Gaddok Teeg, who shrugs off Damnation and Wrath of God, kithkin weenie decks need no other green card, as the best green cards are creatures, something White has a sufficient supply of.

On the other hand, Green creature decks focused on the efficient Elves and Tarmogoyf. But unlike White, Green needs to pair with another color for creature removal and disruption. But Green is usually paired with Black instead of White, as Black provides far better removal and disruption than White. So, at least in the current metagame, there is little reason to build an aggro Green-White creature-based deck.

Enter Shadowmoor. Green-White hybrid seems to point to a direction of a higher level of aggression, higher than the aggressiveness of mono-color white or green creatures. Just look at the spoiled cards Shield of the Oversoul, Wilt Leaf Cavaleirs and Wilt-Leaf Liege (and the GW Avatar from mtgsalvation). If these cards are any indication, Shadowmoor is going to be a color-matters set, not tribal. So a Green-White aggro deck based on Shadowmoor should neither be an elf deck nor a kithkin deck. It should be a GW hybrid deck containing multi-color cards so as take advantage of the color-matters theme of the set.

I'm sure there are more G/W hybrid cards to be spoiled that can be added to the deck. Here's a rough decklist for GW Super Aggro:

4 LLanowar Elves

2 Birds of Paradise

3 Gaddok Teeg

3 Saffi Eriksdotter

4 (Two-casting cost 2/2 G/W hybrid)*

4 Wilt Leaf Cavaliers*

4 Wilt Leaf Liege*

2 (G/W Avatar)*

4 Sunlance (or other creature kill, depending on the metagame)

4 Sield of the Oversoul*

4 Mana Tithe (or 2 Oblivion Ring and 2 Summoner's Pact, depending on the metagame)

3 (G/W hybrid filter land)

4 Horizon Canopy

3 Brushland

4 Treetop Village

3 Forest

5 Plains

* from Shadowmoor

The stars of the deck are the color-matters cards Shield of the Oversoul and Wilt Leaf Liege. They take advantage of the dual-color charactersitc of the deck's creatures, including utility bears Gaddok and Saffi. I'm thinking of adding Glittering Wish, but doing so would have to depend on the other hybrid cards in Shadowmoor. Let's wait and see if there are more GW hybrid goodness!

(Images from magicthegathering.com)

Secret Invasion and the Illuminati Connection

2008-04-07T22:01:00.011+08:00

(Warning: Maybe, just maybe, some spoilers.)

The New Avengers: Illuminati is a 2006-2007 five-issue mini-series co-written by Secret Invasion mastermind Brian Michael Bendis about the heroics -- and misadventures -- of an elite group of superheroes (Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Blackbolt, Dr. Strange, Professor X, and Namor) as they try to shape the Marvel Universe to their liking. I wouldn't be surprised if Illuminati ties directly to this year's mega-event. After all Bendis has said that Secret Invasion was years in the making and that seeds were planted in Avengers comics. Each Illuminati issue is a self-contained story, independent of the other issues. How may each story influence Secret Invasion? Time to unearth those seeds.

Issue #1

The Illuminati traveled to the Skrull's homeworld to deliver some @ss-whopping. They wanted to impress on the Skrulls, who had just been defeated in their attempt to invade Earth, that the planet is not theirs for the taking. But the Illuminati's mission didn't go exactly as planned, as they were captured by the Skrulls. They were analyzed and experimented on by their captors. The Skrulls impersonated members of the Avengers in order to extract information from Iron Man. The six members of the Illuminati eventually escaped (assuming none was replaced by a Skrull) using a Skrull space ship. At the end of the issue, the ruler of the Skrulls, amid the ruins, asked his servant if they got the information they needed from the members of the Illuminati. The latter answered affirmatively. "Then it was worth it. Tell the priests of the sciences to get to work. They know what to do. Tell them no matter how long it takes -- I'll wait," said the Skrull king, ominously.

This one's a no-brainer. In this issue, the Skrulls were able to collect valuable data from their experiments with the Illuminati. They may have used these to make them virtually undetectable to Earth's superheroes. In Secret Invasion #1, Iron Man says that mutant powers, magic-based powers and the technologies of Earth's superheroes failed to identify Skrull sleeper agents. That may be due to the Illuminati's little mishap in the Skrull's homeworld.

Issue#2

The Illuminati successfully collected all six gems of the reality-altering Infinity Gauntlet. Considering them to be a threat to the universe, Mr. Fantastic then attempted to will the gauntlet out of existence, but failed to do so. He then gave each Illuminati member one gem to secure with the responsibility to keep its location secret so that they may never be combined again.

This one's difficult to connect with Secret Invasion. There seems to be no indication that the Infinity Gauntlet will come into play in this year's event, unless used by Bendis as deus ex machina (which is a no-no for good writers). Perhaps the "Blackbolt" which recieved one of the gems had already been replaced with a Skrull this early. Or that the Skrulls wanted to use the gems to recreate their annihilated homeworld. Another far-fetched idea is that the Infinity Gauntlet will later be used to defeat the Beyonder (as to be explained later). I doubt that this issue will have any direct connection with Secret Invasion. Maybe it's just a teaser for a sequel to the Infinity Gauntlet saga.

Issue #3

The reality-altering Beyonder, notorious for being the puppet master for the Secret Wars event, was revealed to be a mutant and at the same time an Inhuman. The Illuminati (minus Iron Man) traveled using the Skrull ship they stole in Issue #1 to the Asteroid Belt to confront him. The team was surprised to find that the Beyonder has recreated Manhattan on an asteroid for his own entertainment. When the Beyonder saw Blackbolt, king of the Inhumans, he paid his respects but asked, "How is it that you are still alive after all this time?" Mr. Fantastic and Professor X wondered what he meant. The Illuminati then ordered him not to tamper with reality and the natural order of things. They asked him to go away and leave their universe. Apparently, he did. But at the end of the issue, the Beyonder appeared in Time Square. "Now... what was I doing?", he asked himself. "Oh, yes. The world."

This one's mind-boggling. Has the Beyonder made the Marvel Universe his playground? Was he the one responsible for the Avengers Disassembled, House of M and Civil War events as retaliation against the Illuminati? Is the "He" in the Skrull catchphrase "He loves you" in Secret Invasion #1 referring to the Beyonder? If so, maybe the heroes' only way of defeating him is through the use of the Infinity Gauntlet introduced in Issue #2. Maybe I'm just speculating too much. The connection may be much simpler though. The Beyonder thought all these time that Blackbolt was dead. Was Blackbolt already replaced by a Skrull this early?

Issue #4

The Illuminati confronted Marvel Boy, a young Kree warrior who tried to conquer the Earth, at the Cube maximum security prison. They tried to convince him to be Earth's protector instead, just like the deceased Kree superhero Captain Marvel. They showed him that the Kree wanted to protect Earth. The issue ended with Marvel Boy in his cell thinking about what the Illuminati had just said.

The connection is made obvious in Secret Invasion Issue #1. In Secret Invasion, the Cube computer systems are infected with an alien virus which releases the prisoners. "Time to go," says Marvel Boy. The newly resurrected Captain Marvel also appears in Secret Invasion. Both are of Kree origin, and the Kree are mortal enemies of the Skrulls. Surely these two Kree superheroes would play a part in the Secret Invasion.

Issue #5

The Illuminati met in order to discuss the ramifications of the discovery of the corpse of a Skrull which was posing as the assassin Elektra. The other members of the team were surprised to find out that a Skrull had been posing as Blackbolt all this time. They were attacked by the Blackbolt Skrull, who had the superpowers of the Illuminati, and they defeated him. Two other Skrulls showed up, one with the superpowers of the Avengers, the other that of the X-men. The Illuminati barely survived. The issue ended with the Illuminati refusing to trust each other.

This one obviously ties directly to Secret Invasion. It even says so in it's cover.

To sum up, Issues 1, 4 and 5 of the Illuminati directly tie with Secret Invasion. The issues on the Infinity Gauntlet and the Beyonder may or may not. Probably not though. At least not yet. Otherwise, the connection should have been foreshadowed in Secret Invasion #1. These two are devices for deux ex machina. I'm confident Bendis, a competent writer, would not resort to an easy way out to resolve plots.

(Images from marvel.com)

Budget Lorwyn Block: Dismal Elemental

2008-04-07T12:22:00.014+08:00

A Lorwyn-block Constructed tournament was coming up the following day. My teammate wanted to participate but he had no Mutavaults for his mono-black Rogue deck which I thought could do well in the tourney. I lent him mine, so, with my available cards, I had to quickly think of a deck that does not need Mutavaults. The deck had to be of multiple colors so I would have a good excuse not to use the colorless-mana-producing land. I was expecting the tournament to be all about tribal (therefore, creature-based), so I also wanted a deck with a lot of creature elimination. The deck also had to be cheap, creative and fun to use, as the tournament, at least in my point of view, was casual, hence, less competitive. Elementals? Perfect.

With three colors (Red, Black and Blue), the deck had no room for colorless-mana-producing lands, so no Mutavaults here. The elementals Shriekmaw and Spitebellows, along with Nameless Inversion, provide the much-needed creature-kill. They can also be reanimated with Makeshift Mannequin for more firepower. Almost all cards were inexpensive. Perhaps the most expensive card in the deck - including the sideboard - was Incandescent Soulstroke, which may cost less that 100 pesos (or about two US dollars). That elemental lord and Primal Beyond were the only rare cards in the deck. Also, the deck was, I daresay, the most original in the tournament. It's not a pure aggro deck unlike the all other decks in the tournament. Neither can I say that it's a tempo deck or a control deck or a mid-size deck. Perhaps it's a little bit of every archetype. Most importantly, I had fun with the deck at the tournament...

...Despite the decks dismal performance. There were around 25 participants for six rounds of game play. I dropped at the fourth round after a 1-3 win-loss record. Given the lack of play-tests for a new deck (not to mention new archetype), there were a couple of flaws in the design. There were too much mana sources. I did not have mana dumps. I had no formidable finishers in my deck full of critters. The mana base was a bit off. But most of my losses came from game-play mistakes caused by lack of practice, considering that the deck was made the night before the tournament.

See, the deck was difficult to pilot. There were too many game decisions to make. On the other hand, that was the reason the deck was fun to play. It makes the player think for the best play posibble, unlike some other foolproof aggro decks.

I like this deck very much and would try to improve it. Here's the deck I used in the tourney, with the caveat that the list is far from perfect as there are still some flaws to fix. At least this is a good start:

Main Deck

4 Brighthearth Banneret

4 Smokebraider

2 Ashling the Pilgrim

4 Shriekmaw

4 Spitebellows

4 Incandescent Soulsstroke

4 Mulldrifter

2 Nevermaker

4 Nameless Inversion

4 Makeshift Mannequin

4 Primal Beyond

4 Vivid Marsh

2 Vivid Crag

2 Shimmering Grotto

4 Swamp

8 Mountain

(Image from magicthegathering.com)

Secret Invasion #1 Full Issue Summary

2008-04-04T08:59:00.035+08:00

Flashback years ago, in a desolate alien planet. Five armed and armored Skrulls approach a cave. Inside are three hooded figures. One of the Skrull soldiers tells the hooded figures that the Skrull Throneworld has been destroyed and that their armada is close to ruins. One of the hooded figures responds that the prediction of the scripture was right. "Yes your Excellence," one of the soldiers answers as they bow before the hooded figures. "And now you've come back to me," the hooded figure responds. "Yes my Queen," says the Skrull soldier. The "Queen" pulls down her hood revealing herself to be a Skrull as well. She tells them "what shall be done..."

Back to the present at a Stark Laboratory, the location of which is confidential. Tony Stark, the director of SHIELD, the world's peacekeeping force, in his Iron Man armor, announces to two of his colleagues that he is about to tell "the biggest secret there is in the world" because he does not know what else to do. His armor's mask lifted, he continues that the shape-shifting Skrulls, who through the Skrull Empire have ruled over dozens of worlds, are living among them undetectable. He knows them to be so because the Avengers went to Japan and found...

Stark reveals a corpse of a Skrull wearing the costume of the ninja assassin Elektra. Henry Pym, also known as the superhero Yellowjacket, asks how long the Skrull had been posing as Elektra. Reed Richards, also known as Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic Four, also asks "why couldn't anyone tell." "These are the questions," Stark tells them. "And she's not the only one. There are others. I know this to be a fact."

Stark tells the two scientists that they are the smartest people in the planet, and that he and his armor sees them to be Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four and Hank Pym of the Avengers and the Fifty State Initiative. "But I don't know if you are who you say you are," he continues. Stark says that something needs to be done, as he assures them that this is just the beginning.

Miles above Earth at the Peak space station, headquarters of SWORD orbiting the planet. Agent Brand of the SWORD and her crew welcome SHIELD veteran Dum-Dum Dugan to the space station. The latter tells them to be at ease as this was just a simple get-together between world-saving agencies, which was "nothin' to get out the parade balloons for." Brand responds that her crew was excited to meet him, being one of the all-time greatest agents of SHIELD. Dugan says that that was nice, looks around and tells her that this is "some shindig you guys slapped together." Brand says that they are standing in the hub of the Sentient World Observation and Response Department, the planet's counter-terrorism and intelligence agency which deals with extraterrestrial threats...

As Brand finishes her sentence, alarms for red alert sounded. A SWORD agent tells her that they've got a bogie coming fast. An alien spacecraft is hurtling towards Earth. Brand says it's a Skrull ship. The agent says it's a transport. "One Skrull ship?," Brand asks. The agent says the Skrull ship had entered the Earth's atmosphere and is flying. Brand asks where it is headed. The crew member confirms that it is definitely of Skrull origin, and that it is going to crash-land right smack dab in the Savage Land in 22 minutes. "Get me Tony Stark. Now!", she orders.

Back in the laboratory, the Skrull corpse is laid atop a table. Pym asks what they are looking for. "How this Skrull was able to shapeshift and stay completely undetectable...", Stark answers as Richards cuts him off, asking, "Completely undetectable?". Stark continues, "... to mutant powers, magic-based powers and technologies." Richards says that this is new, to which Stark agreed. "Or it's a trick, " Richards continues. Stark asks how it is a trick. "Maybe those Avengers are Skrulls and are messing with you," Richard answers. Stark puts back his mask on and tells them that, either way, his armor or their technology -- nothing -- was able to detect it, and that the body before them is the key. "Undetectable..." Pym ponders. Richards says that he'll need access to his files at the Baxter building since he has compiled an extensive research about the Skrulls.

Stark is then contacted by SHIELD agent Maria Hill, telling him that according to SWORD they've got a downed bogie, and that it's Skrull. Stark asks if there are any survivors. Hill answers that they can not tell and that they can send a team to find out or she can go there herself. "No, I got it," says Stark. Pym asks, "What is it?" "I have to go," says Stark. "Oh okay, we can do this," says Richards. Stark assures them that he'll call in for reports. Pym again asks what happened. "I'll call in," says Stark. "He'll call in," responds Pym, with a sly smile in his face, as Stark leaves.

"Avengers Assemble", Iron Man orders his team, the government-sanctioned Mighty Avengers, as he flies over a construction site. He attempts to contact them at their headquarters at the Avengers Tower. Fellow Mighty Avenger and SHIELD agent Spider-woman responds and tells him that she is the only one there and asks what is going on. He orders her to gather her teammates and fire up their transport, the Quinjet, because a Skrull ship just crash-landed in the Savage Land. She asks, "Is this it?" "We'll know soon, " he answers. She moves to the kitchen as the Avengers' butler Jarvis looked on behind her. She dials her cellphone. She tells the other person on the line that "it's happening."

"What is?", asks Luke Cage, leader of the renegade team New Avengers, at their secret hideout onlooking the Avengers Tower. Spider-woman tells him about the Skrull ship which crash-landed in the Savage Land and that Tony is gathering the Mighty Avengers to investigate. She continues that doing so is gonna take some time as her teammates are scattered. "And you want a bunch of renegade heroes running from the law to do what about it?", Cage tells her. "At this point I trust you more than Stark," she answers, pointing out that they may like a head start. She ends the call.

On a couch behind Luke Cage are his New Avengers teammates Wolverine, Echo, Iron Fist, Ronin and Spider-man. Cage dials his cellphone. "Hey man, I need a solid, ASAP. A quick drop. Yeah? You da man." He ends the call and faces his teammates. "You guys ready to piss off everyone?", he asks. "Boy, am I!", someone responds.

The rooftop of the Avengers Tower. SHIELD agent Natasha Romanova, also known as the Black Widow of the Mighty Avengers, contacts the SHIELD Hellicarrier and tells them that the Quinjet is gassed up and ready, and that they are just waiting for the other Mighty Avengers Wonder-man, Ms. Marvel and the Sentry. The renegade New Avengers suddenly show up, teleported there by the superhero Cloak. The Black Widow is caught off-guard as Spider-man blasts her with his webbings and Ronin throws his nanchucks at her. They steal the Quinjet.

Cloak tells the New Avengers that this is as far as he goes. Cage asks if he's sure he doesn't want to come with them as they could use some help. "You need some of my teleporting cloak? No problem. Stealing Tony Stark's car? You guys have fun, " Cloak retorts. On-board the Quinjet, Ronin says that Natasha's going to kill him when she wakes up because they used to go out. "Who haven't you gone out with?", responds one of his teammates.

Iron Man arrives three and a half minutes later, angrily asking the Black Widow where his Quinjet is.

Inside the Quinjet, which was flying at a great speed, a New Avenger notes that Iron Man can take control of the aircraft from his armor. Not anymore says Ronin, as he has just gutted the motherboard. "Nice," says Wolverine, who was co-piloting the ship. "He can follow us, " declares Iron Fist. "He can?", Echo wonders. Iron Fist tells her that Iron Man can control the world's satellites. "Fine by me," says Luke Cage as he pilots the jet towards the Savage Land. The Mighty Avengers' Sentry, Wonder-Man, Iron Man, Ms. Marvel, Aries and Black Widow, the last two onboard another aircraft, fly behind trying to catch up with the New Avengers.

The New Avengers reach the Savage Land. Alight the Quinjet Wolverine assures his teammates that the Savage Land is not a made-up place. It is "a hidden land that time forgot snuggled away in the deep depths of the Antarctic." Spider-man asks how do they know that this isn't a trap set up by Iron Man. Because they had plenty of opportunities to arrest them without all this, says Wolverine. Cage agrees. Spider-man then asks how do they know that it isn't a Skrull trap. "I hope it's a Skrull trap," Cage answers. "I'm so sick of hiding. I'm sick of not trusting each other." He adds that he misses his wife and kid and wants to back to normal. "When were things normal," asks Ronin. "Relatively," answers Cage. Spider-man asks if they know what they're looking for. Wolverine tells him not to worry as he can "track anything anywhere anytime..."

Just as a gigantic dinosaur bites the Quinjet! The New Avengers escape as another dinosaur bites the neck of the other reptile. The aircraft crash-landed atop a forest canopy. "You couldn't track that?" asks a New Avenger. Luke Cage punches the jet's door open. The team sets foot on Savage Land. "Wow," says Echo. "I was thinking more like... Ow!," says Spider-man. Wolverine tells them to be quiet and leads the way.

Swinging by the forest trees, Spider-man tells his teammates that they should find Ka-zar who lives around the area. They later pass by the ruins of a laboratory. "This is where the New Avengers had our first battle," says Luke Cage. Iron Fist asks if this was how they left it. Cage says no. Echo asks what happened here, but Wolverine interrupts and tells the team to move on as this was not what they were there for. They walk on and emerge from the bushes. "This is what we're here for," says Wolverine. They find a gray alien ship with some red markings on it.

Luke Cage asks Wolverine if he is sensing anything from the ship. No, as the ship is sealed shut, answers the latter. "So we open it," suggests Iron Fist. Spider-man tells him that that depends on what they think they were expecting to see inside. "Maybe the entire Skrull army's going to pour out," continues Spider-man. "Or escaped hostages," says Ronin. "Open it," demands Echo. Wolverine tells his teammates that whatever they do, they have to do it now because the Mighty Avengers just arrived.

Iron Man orders the New Avengers to step away from the ship, and tells them that they are under arrest, as the rest of the Mighty Avengers descend from the sky. "What? Now you're king of the Savage Land too?", says Ronin, as the two teams face off, ready for battle. Ms. Marvel, leader of the Mighty Avengers, orders the New Avengers to stand down. Luke Cage ignores her and says that he is opening the ship. Iron Man warns Cage and points his energy-charged glove at him, ready to blast. Cage says that Iron Man's suit can't hurt him and that Iron Man knows that. "Actually, what I meant to say is Tony Stark would know that. I ain't entirely sure who you are," Cage corrects himself. "But I know if you don't want me to open this, then I'm doing it," he continues.

Spying at the Avengers from the SWORD's headquarters at the Peak, Agent Brand asks Dum-Dum Dugan what Luke Cage meant. "I think it means he thinks Stark's a Skrull," answers Dugan.

Ms. Marvel comes between Iron Man and Luke Cage and tries to reason with the latter to let the Mighty Avengers handle the situation. Still, Cage attempts to rip the door of the ship open. Watching on at the SWORD space station, Dugan removes his bowler hat, his eyes becoming pupil-less. At the Avengers Tower, Jarvis appears uneasy. The ship is breaking open. The red light on the alien spacecraft turns green. "Wreeee!", it sounds. Dugan's eyes turn green. "He loves you", he says. The Peak space station explodes! The agents of SWORD are enveloped by blue translucent blobs as they float in space.

Meanwhile at the Avengers Tower Jarvis holds a diskette-like device. As he watches from a computer screen what was happening with the Avengers in the Savage Land, he inserts the device in one of Stark's computers. The screen flashes "ALIEN VIRUS DETECTED". Jarvis' pupils turn green as he utters, "He loves you." At the Savage Land, Iron Man, about to arrest Luke Cage, suddenly shouts in pain and suffers a seizure, energy surging around his armor, while the other Avengers look on helplessly.

Luke Cage desists from opening the alien as he looked toward Iron Man. Iron Man shouts at everyone to get back. He throws up. Ms. Marvel attempts to contact the SHIELD Hellicarrier in order to evacuate Iron Man. The Sentry offers to fly him out of Savage Land, but Ms. Marvel orders not to touch him.

But at the Hellicarrier, a SHIELD agent tells Maria Hill that they have full systems malfunction. Hill orders the agents to abandon-ship as the Hellicarrier, hovering high above the city, tilts to its side, apparently about to crash!

Computer screens connected with Iron Man's armor flashed the same message: "ALIEN VIRUS DETECTED." In no time the alien virus introduced by the Avengers' butler infected the Stark Enterprises Main Plant in Plushing, Queens, its Westchester facility, several of its satellites orbiting the Earth, and its launching facility in Long Island, New York.

The Raft maximum security prison for super-powered villians. The prison guards were checking on their prisoners. "Shockwave," says one of the guards. "Check," responds another. "Victor Von Doom," says the first guard. "Really? Wow. Check," responds the other. "The Armadillo." "Seriously?"

As the guards go on their routine, a computer screen flashes the same message: "ALIEN VIRUS DETECTED." "Are you kidding me?", says one of the guards. The prison guards are overwhelmed by super-villains as the virus released the latter them from their cells.

The Cube maximum security penitentiary. The same message appears: "ALIEN VIRUS DETECTED." Noh-Varr, also known as Marvel Boy, a convicted alien terrorist who currently has control of the Cube, calmly witnesses the turmoil caused by the virus as the released inmates attempt to escape the prison or kill the prison guards. "Time to go," he says.

The headquarters of the Thunderbolts at the Thunderbolts Mountain in Cayote Springs, Colorado. Thunderbolt Moonstone argues with the program's director Norman Osborn that they should go on shows and do damage control. Osborn tells them that they are criminals and that they work for him. Teammate Mockingbird interrupts, saying that she hears something wrong. Osborn's computer malfunctions and then explodes! The three along with fellow Thunderbolt Swordsman are thrown away by the explosion. Amid the ruins of their headquarters, the alien super-hero Captain Marvel arrives.

Manhattan, inside the Baxter Building home of the Fantastic Four. A tour guide wearing a Fantastic Four uniform informs a group of tourists that the building is not only the home of the Fantastic Four but also the location of the laboratories of Reed Richards, who has won a Nobel Prize for discovering the existence of the "Negative Zone," a parallel dimension whose properties and sciences are a skewed unexplainable version of our own.

One of the tourists is left behind by the group. His face shapeshifts into that of Sue Richards, also known as the Invisible Woman of the Fantastic Four. He/She then rides the elevator up to the floor where the team resides. A device scans him/her and confirms her identity to be that of Susan Richards.

"Hi mom," says the young Franklin Richards, who was with his younger sister Valeria and his uncle, as the impostor arrives at the living room. Johnny Storm, also known as the Human Torch of the same team and sister of Sue, says that he thought she was in Vancouver. The impostor ignores both of them. "Sue?", asks Johnny. "Mom?" asks Franklin. "Mom needs time-out?", the child asks his uncle. "Guess so," he replied.

A device again scans the imposter's pupils and confirms her identity to be that of Susan Richards. He/She enters one of Reed Richards' laboratories. He/She presses a few buttons on a computer. The computer warns of a Negative Zone portal. "Negative Zone breach. Danger. Danger," the computer indicates. A portal appears. It grows and tries to suck the impostor into it. "He loves you," he/she says. The portal grows and sucks the two children and the Human Torch into it. "Uncle Johnny," yells Valeria. "Susan!", shouts Johnny as he transforms into the Human Torch. Like an implosion, the top floors of the Baxter Building were consumed by the portal.

Back at the Savage Land. Iron Man is laid on the forest floor, still struggling. "He's a having a seizure. GIve me a branch. Something for him to bite on," Ms. Marvel says as the other Avengers look on. Iron Fist asks what's wrong with him. Luke Cage thinks that it's a trick. Spider-man disagrees and thinks that Iron Man has been infected with something. Ms. Marvel insists that it's not a trick. The Sentry asks that Iron Man's armor be removed. Wonderman asks what could do this to him. Spider-man responds, "A virus, maybe, but I don't know any kind that he wouldn't be able to instantly deflect..."

...They look back at the Skrull ship, stunned.

Disembarking the alien ship are what appear to be several of Earth's superheroes as how they looked several years ago. The Skrull ship's Beast is in his ape-like form, not in the post-secondary evolution cat form. The Skrull ship's other superheroes are wearing their old costumes: Thor is wearing his classic costume, the White Queen her Hellfire Club attire, Luke Cage his yellow, open-shirt Power Man costume, and Iron Man one of his older armors. Jean Grey, Captain America and the original Vision appear to be alive, unlike their counterparts. Other superheroes from the Skrull ship are Spider-man, Wolverine, Invisible Woman, Wonderman, the Scarlet Witch, Ms. Marvel and ?

The Skrull ship's Ms. Marvel asks, "Is this it? Did we make it back to Earth?" The Skrull ship's Wolverine answers, "Yeah, I was just about to say that... cuz... I know who I am..." He addresses the two Avenger teams before them. "...But who are you guys supposed to be?" The New and Mighty Avengers stare in disbelief.

Back in outer space, Agent Brand attempts to contact the SHIELD Hellicarrier, telling them of the Peak station's massive casualties. The SWORD agents are kept alive by the blue transluscent blobs that envelop them. Brand says that the blobs provide only about ten minutes of air. "Can anyone..." Brand is shocked as an armada of Skrull ships approaches Earth.

Back at the Stark Laboratory where Pym and Richards are studying the Skrull corpse. "I--I think I got it. I know how they made themselves undetectable," says Richards. "You know what they did? They took--". Pym cuts him off as he points an alien weapon at Richards' head, "I do actually." Pym shoots and Mr. Fantastic is reduced to a gooey mess. "He even loves you," says Pym, as he shapeshifts into his Skrull form.
(Images scanned from Secret Invasion #1)

'Moor Musings: Hybrid Implications

2008-04-03T00:59:00.010+08:00

The following are some of the spoiled cards (courtesy of magicthegathering.com and mtgsalvation.com) which might see tournament action:

All are hybrid. Notice that all require a great deal of commitment to one or both of the hybrid colors in order that the mana costs of the cards can be paid. I think these few cards are representative of what to expect in Shadowmoor.

Shadowmoor is said to be a "hybrid" set, one which focuses on the allied colors in Magic. At first impression, the hybrid cards seem to be biased in favor of allied-, two-color decks. But despite the dual-color nature of hybrid cards, these cards can easily fit in mono-color decks just the same. That's what's amazing about Shadowmoor -- it encourages playing multi-color decks without neglecting mono-color decks. No other Magic set has done the same. Brilliant!

But hybrid is not without casualties. If this trend of powerful cards with very heavy hybrid-mana costs continues, we may have no room in our decks for cards which produce colorless mana. And I'm not talking about some crappy colorless-mana-producing land. When Shadowmoor kicks in, will we have room in our decks for Mutavault?

The easy answer is that Mutavault, which has become a mainstay in every tribal deck, would be relegated to mono-color decks. Since even the new set of Graven Cairns-type lands can not filter colorless mana, multi-color decks would have a hard time squeezing in the 2/2 man-land because the colorless mana it produces aids little in paying the mana cost of hybrid cards. I believe that this was the thrust of the design team all along. Surely they didn't want just about every Standard deck to have Mutavaults in it. This must be the price multi-color decks have to pay for having access to the best spells of multiple colors.

But then again, it may be too early to speculate. There might be some sort of Signet- or Tomb of Yawgmoth-type of cards in Shadowmoor that would "give color" to colorless mana. But I don't think there'd be any.

(Images from magicthegathering.com)

Who Do You Trust? (Part 2)

2008-04-02T12:07:00.012+08:00

Marvel's "Secret Invasion" teaser:

OMG! Skrulls seem to be everywhere, just in time for the big launch of Marvel Comics' "Secret Invasion" mega-event tomorrow. Help me out here... Who among these have been acting a little Skrull-y?

Other "Skrulls" can be found here: http://http://polarnest.blogspot.com/search/label/Secret%20Invasion
(Some images from marvel.com, others, go figure.)

Battle Ready: Teammates win City Champs

2008-04-01T17:16:00.016+08:00

Congratulations are in order for two of my teammates who placed in the top eight after nine rounds of Standard tournament play last Saturday in the City Champs finals. Even though they barely needed the invites for the Philippine Nationals, they showed the competitive spirit our team has been known for. One used a modified Fujita-style UG Tempo and the other, a metagame-ready RG Mana Ramp. Here are the decks and some notes on them:

RG Mana Ramp

Main Deck

4 Wall of Roots

4 Tarmogoyf

2 Siege-Gang Commander

3 Cloudthresher

3 Chameleon Colossus

4 Into the North

3 Incinerate

4 Skred

4 Harmonize

3 Sulfurous Blast

1 Search for Tomorrow

2 Garruk Wildspeaker

4 Treetop Village

6 Snow-Covered Mountain

8 Snow-Covered Forest

4 Highland Weald

2 Mouth of Ronom

Sideboard

2 Pyroclasm

1 Sulfurous Blast

2 Detritivore

4 Mwonvuli Acid-Moss

1 Cloudthresher

2 Tormod's Crypt

3 Primal Command

-- Anticipating a number of faerie decks in the tournament, my teammate chose Cloudthresher over the traditional Bogardan Hellkite as his fattie. The Hellkite seems too slow for the format. Aside from obviously being anti-faerie, Cloudthresher is also efficient against Reivellark as an instant-speed surprise threat and a creature-kill against the Cloudskates and Sowers of Temptation.

-- Three built-in Sulfurous Blasts Takes care of most creature decks including Faeries, Elves and Kithkins. As with Cloudthresher, the ability to play mass creature-kill at instant speed is key to beating the popular and dominant Faerie decks.

-- The Chameleon Collossi are efficient mid-size creatures that can not be blocked by the annoying Bitterblossom tokens. They also serve as mana dumps for the mid- to late-game.

-- Several land destruction spells, plus two Tormod's Crypts, in the sideboard take care of Reivellark decks. Reivellark decks need at least five mana to be able to cast its key spells, so taking out the lands gives Mana Ramp a fighting chance to win against a deck it has difficulty beating.

UG Tempo

Main Deck

4 Tarmogoyf

4 Vendillion Clique

4 Riftwing Cloudskate

2 Venser, Shaper Savant

2 Mystic Snake

4 Ponder

4 Ancestral Vision

4 Rune Snag

4 Cryptic Command

4 Remove Soul

4 Yavimaya Coast

11 Snow-Covered Island

4 Snow-Covered Forest

3 Treetop Village

2 Faerie Conclave

Sideboard

4 Hurricane

2 Call of the Herd

2 Piracy Charm

3 Pithing Needle

4 Flashfreeze

-- The star of the deck is Vendillion Clique. It provides the deck with another form of disruption aside from counterspells. The instant-speed pseudo-Coercion effect is instrumental in beating Reivellark decks, since the "discarded" card doesn't actually go to the graveyard for reanimation. The three-powered faerie can also race against non-faerie decks while the beefy Tarmogoyf blocks opponents' non-flying creatures.

-- Ponder not only fixes early-game mana problems but also, being a sorcery, feeds Tarmogoyf.

-- The deck is an excellent metagame choice as it can easily beat Reivellark, given its numerous counterspells. But unlike faerie decks (which are also efficient against Reivellark), this deck does not lose against any Hurricane effect.

-- The Hurricanes and the Piracy Charms in sideboard are for faerie decks, Flashfreeze for Elf decks and Red Aggro decks.

It pays a lot to know the metagame. My teammates were expecting a lot of Reivallark decks and Faerie decks, and some other creature decks like Elves. Their choice of deck, main-deck cards and sideboards were influenced by the metagame. They were battle-ready and they reaped the benefits of their preparation.

(Images from magicthegathering.com)

Sloof Lirpa

2008-04-01T13:53:00.003+08:00

Wow, Shadowmoor is proving to be one insane set! Witness the latest spoiled card:

Sloof Lirpa
WUBRG
Legendary Creature - Avatar Spirit
WUBRG[Q]: Tap target player. (Tapped player can not declare attack or play spells or abilities)
5/5

'Nuff said!

'Moor Musings: "Q"

2008-03-31T13:12:00.011+08:00

Shadowmoor previews had offcially begun! The spoiled cards can be viewed at http://magicthegathering.com/ and http://mtgsalvation.com/. (I wouldn't want to take the credit that is due to the two websites so I won't be posting each and every spoiled card here.) We see quite a number of hybrid cards, a second avatar in a five-card cycle, two scarecrows, and a "redeemed" version of a legendary elf. But what piqued my interest was the official revelation of the much-speculated "Q" mechanic.

"Q" is untap. Brilliant! I assume the ability with "Q" as a cost can only be played while the permanent with that ability is tapped and without summoning sickness. The mechanic is simple and elegant, as was the Equipment mechanic introduced in Mirrodin. (Unlike the messy, unimaginative Planewalkers in Lorwyn, but that's a topic for some other day.) Needless to say, activating "Q" is more difficult than the traditional "T" (that's "Tap"), as the creature with a "Q"-activated ability needs to have attacked (or tapped in some other manner) before the "Q" ability can be used. Cards with abilities that need to tap permanents as an activation cost, like Opposition, Fire Whip, and Drowner of Secrets, may become more important. I just hope that there'd be no degenerate combos with "Q", and I'm sure the card designers will keep it that way.

(Image from magicthegathering.com)

City Champs Report: Not less than "Perfect"

2008-03-30T01:24:00.020+08:00

After nine gruelling rounds of Standard play which lasted for almost 12 hours, I took home with me a full-art Imperious Perfect for placing 48th with a 6-3 win-loss record in the recently held City Champs tournament participated by more than 260 Magic: the Gathering players. Not bad, really, for my performance was well within my expectations.

I used a Mono-Green Warrior Elves deck similar to the one with which I placed second in a City Champs Trial tournament. (See previous posts.)

Main Deck

4 Llanowar Elves

4 Boreal Druid

4 Leaf Gilder (WTF! How did that get there?!)

4 Wren's Run Vanquisher
4 Bramblewood Paragon
4 Imperious Perfect
4 Chameleon Colossus
4 Wren's Run Packmaster

4 Obsidian Battle-Axe
2 Garruk Wildspeaker

4 Mutavault
4 Treetop Village
1 Pendelhaven
2 Forest
11 Snow-Covered Forest

Sideboard

3 Squall Line
3 Naturalize
1 Cloudthresher
2 Overrun
2 Luminescent Rain
2 Tormod's Crypt
2 Wrap in Vigor

It was no surprise that faeries and Reivellarks were flying all over the place. My three losses came from two Reivellark decks and a UB Faerie deck. The other matches were against two other Reivellarks, a Mono-Red Aggro, a Doran deck, a GB Elves, and a Tarmo-Rack.

Some notes:

-- I wanted to be able to consistently play a four-casting-cost spell on the third turn so I added four Leaf Gilders in the deck. Many times it did it's purpose and was probabaly better than Heritage Druid in the deck. But Civic Wayfinder would have even been better. The "warrior" creature type would have made a lot of difference. Next time though I want to spalsh red and go Radha instead.

-- Main-deck Sower of Temptation was my worst nightmare. My first two losses came from a faerie deck and a Reivellark deck both sporting the creature-stealing 2/2 flyer. I wasn't expecting them main-decked as the four-casting-cost slots of both decks were already congested. It hurt so much being beat by my own Axe-equipped Colossus or Packmaster! Before sideboarding I had no way of getting back my creatures as I had no main-deck creature-kill.

-- Both my losses against Reivellak came down to Game Three. The card that cost me both games: Teferi's Moat. No Naturalize showed up. Next time though, Krosan Grip would have been better.

-- This deck will almost always lose Game One against faeries. After sideboarding, it all boils down to whether any Hurricane effect shows up. None did in Game Three so I lost. Bummer.

-- Matches against creature decks were often to my favor as I had more and bigger mid-size creatures. Finishers such as Garruk and Profane Command mattered so much during "stalemates" where both players with plenty of creatures refuse to declare an attack due to the numerous blockers. Stalemates didn't happen much because my bigger creatures forced my opponent to chomp-block every now and then.

-- Garruk underperformed. It's bad against faeries and burn decks as they can easily assign damage to it and it was too slow against Reivellark. The only times I didn't replace them with a sideboard card was with matches against creature decks like mine. But even so, Overrun still outshone Garruk.

Lesson learned: Next time I would rebuild the deck I would add anti-Sower of Temptation cards in the main deck, either by adding a second color for creature-kill, or by adding two Mouth of Ronoms or two Squall Lines (or both).

Going into the tournament, I knew my deck wasn't perfect. The best record I was expecting was 6-3. I did just that. And I got a full-art Imperious Perfect for my troubles. That was okay, I guess. Because I wasn't going to settle for anything less than "Perfect".

(Image from magicthegathering.com)

Budget Shaman

2008-03-28T12:07:00.017+08:00

It's Shaman Week! Of the five main classes in Morningtide, shamans are the least appreciated. From a flavor standpoint, they lack the rage of warriors, the savvy of wizards, the cunning of rogues and the honor of soldiers. On terms of card power, they pale in comparison to warriors (Obsidian Battle-Axe, Bramblewood Paragon) and rogues (Oona's Blackguard, Bitterblossom). Poor shamans...

Since it's Shaman Week in magicthegathering.com, I figured I'd make a cheap, casual Lorwyn-block shaman deck! To my surprise, there are a number of synergistic shaman cards at my disposal. Though individual shaman cards are weak on their own, they become better by complementing each other. In this case, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Now the deck:

4 Wolf-Skull Shaman

4 Bosk Banneret

4 Leaf-Crowned Elder

4 Masked Admirers

4 Sensation Gorger

4 Rage Forger

4 Cream of the Crop

4 Lash Out

4 Titan's Revenge

4 Shimmering Grotto

4 Vivid Grove

8 Forest

8 Mountain

Kinship is an underused mechanic available to some shamans. The kinship engine, once it gets going with the help of Cream of the Crop, can quickly overwhelm an opponent with "free" wolves from the Wolf-Skull Shaman and "free" shamans from Leaf-Crowned Elder. Another kinship card, Sensation Gorger, together with Masked Admirers, generates card advantage. The clash mechanic in burn spells Lash Out and Titan's Revenge also fits nicely in the deck. Clash excels with Cream of the Crop, or it can help set up a kinship trigger.The banneret provides acceleration, and the Forger, the extra wham!

For those new in the game, this deck is simple, fun, and more importantly, inexpensive. I doubt that it would have any impact at all in tournaments though. But who knows, maybe after of a couple of tweaks players would begin to appreciate the power of shamans!

(Image from magicthegathering.com)

Who do You Trust?

2008-03-27T11:29:00.019+08:00

Exactly one week from now I would be getting my hands on the first issue of Marvel Comics' latest mega-event "Secret Invasion", starring Marvel's most well-known super-heroes versus the alien Skrulls. The Skrulls are green, pointy-eared shapeshifting aliens with corrugated chins who want to invade Earth. Since they can mimic the appearance and approximate the super-powers of the various super-heroes, they have slowly infiltrated the super-hero community by replacing some with Skrulls. Now the super-heroes ask themselves, "Who do you trust?". I don't belong in the Marvel Universe but I have been asking myself the same question...

Any idea who among these are Skrulls?

(Some images from marvel.com, others, go figure!)

The "X" Card and the Metagame

2008-03-26T09:34:00.014+08:00

A tournament's coming up, so you've scoured the Net and found the deck that fits your playing style like a glove. That deck had just won a recent Grand Prix so you know that it just had to work. You copy the deck card-for-card down to the sideboard. You practice the deck and know its strategy by heart. But coming into the tournament, you realize that you forgot to add a sideboard card against certain decks that have just become popular. And that decks were redesigned to beat your deck. You walk out of the tournament empty-handed despite having the best deck money could buy. You didn't do your assignment. You weren't prepared against the local metagame.

"Metagame" means using out-of-game strategy in-game. As used in Magic parlance, it loosely refers to what decks to expect in a coming tournament. "Metagaming" is preparing for popular decks either by (1) using a deck that can handily beat such popular decks, or by (2) adjusting certain card choices in a your main deck and/or sideboard in order to give you an edge against such popular decks.

Unfortunately, not many of us have the resources to change decks at a whim. Many of us own a limited supply of Magic cards with which we can assemble only one or two tournament-level decks. Magic cards aren't cheap after all. To the rest of us who aren't blessed with an endless supply of cards, we can still do metagaming. We can simply adjust certain card choices in our existing deck. We can replace the "X" card with other more relevant cards depending on the metagame.

The "X" card is that card in a deck that even if replaced with a similar card would not affect the deck's strategy. In algebraic terms, the "X" cards are the variables, all other cards the constants. Even if we replace the "X" card, the deck would still function just the same. An example is in order.

The strategy behind snow-based Mana-Ramp decks is to use mana acceleration early in the game in order to play powerful high-casting cost creatures at the mid-game, while using cost-efficient creature-kill against weenies. It is a mid-range deck. For me, Garruk, Into the North, Skred and Harmonize are "constants"; replacing any of such cards would affect the integrity of the deck. I used to think that Bogardan Hellkite and Siege-Gang Commandos were constants, until many players replaced either of them with Cloudthresher. Built-in Pyroclams were replaced with instant-speed Sulfurous Blasts which can also kill oft-played Wren's Run Vanquishers. Knowing that faerie and elf decks were going to show up in large numbers, Mana-Ramp players replaced the "X" cards with more relevant cards without sacrificing the deck's strategy. That's metagaming. In the future, if ever Mono-Black decks become popular again I'd go for Chameleon Colossus instead; if Gaddock Teeg shows up more than usual, I'll revert back to Pyroclasm.

In a faerie deck I would happily replace Oona's Prowler, which underperforms against Reivellark and the mirror match, with Oona's Blackguard and go semi-Rogue for even bigger faeries with bonus disruption. In GB elf decks, I'd rather use Wrens Run Packmaster than Chameleon Colossus as the former is more efficient against the mirror match and Reivellark decks. (Heck, you can't even use your own Profane Command for the fear ability on your own Colossus!)

Needless to say, all sideboard cards are "X" cards. But integrating the "X" card theory in your main deck gives you the advantage as early as Game One. So whatever deck you show up in a tournament with, do your assignment by researching the current local metagame, lest you want to go home empty-handed despite having the best deck money could buy.

(Images from magicthegathering.com)