I like boons (lightning bolt, etc.), so I like the idea of printing a few cycles of boons (ideally so they can mix and match in reprint sets...).
Escape the PitB
Instant (C)
Return a creature card with a converted mana cost of 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
(Instant Speed unearth w/o cycling. Unearth is a super fun card, and this makes it a combat trick to boot. Somehow I doubt "3 drop reanimator" will warp the format... but it'll certainly be fun to run a 3 drop toolbox deck.)
Rallying ForcesW
Instant (C)
Create three 1/1 white soldier creature tokens. Exile those tokens at the end of turn.
(This seems a bit strong, and certainly easy to abuse in sacrifice decks... but you know what? Let the bodies hit the floor.)
Grappling GroundG
Instant (C)
Put three +1/+1 counters on target land. It is a creature until end of turn.
(I like the synergy this has with manlands.)
Torrent of SparksR
Instant (C)
This deals 1 damage to up to three target creatures or players.
(A few years ago, I would have said this is too good. Given the number of 1/2s for 1 around, however, I'm inclined to think this might not even be playable... doesn't matter, though, as I think lightning bolt and giant growth are perfect boons, so their counterparts in this cycle won't see as many reprintings.)
Delicate Choice
Instant (C)
Choose three instant, sorcery, or artifact cards in your graveyard with different names. Target opponent puts two of these cards on the bottom of your library, then put the remaining card into your hand.
(The only "mini-game" card, this is pretty strong I think. It requires setup and variety - but it pays you off with your 3rd best spell card in your graveyard.)
Alternate: Delicate Restoration
Instant
Return an artifact card with a converted mana cost of 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
I like boons (lightning bolt, etc.), so I like the idea of printing a few cycles of boons (ideally so they can mix and match in reprint sets...).
Escape the PitB
Instant (C)
Return a creature card with a converted mana cost of 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
(Instant Speed unearth w/o cycling. Unearth is a super fun card, and this makes it a combat trick to boot. Somehow I doubt "3 drop reanimator" will warp the format... but it'll certainly be fun to run a 3 drop toolbox deck.)
Unearth is overall a pretty solid card. Removing cycling for instant speed makes this pushed for something that you want as a base card for the color.
Rallying ForcesW
Instant (C)
Create three 1/1 white soldier creature tokens. Exile those tokens at the end of turn.
(This seems a bit strong, and certainly easy to abuse in sacrifice decks... but you know what? Let the bodies hit the floor.)
Wording issues aside, this is a mini-Waylay. This seems fine.
Grappling GroundG
Instant (C)
Put three +1/+1 counters on target land. It is a creature until end of turn.
(I like the synergy this has with manlands.)
I do like the interaction this has with manlands but it's awkward putting counters on a land and then probably never using that land as a dude again. I'd rather this just make a land a 3/3 until end of turn but honestly that's pretty weak.
Torrent of SparksR
Instant (C)
This deals 1 damage to up to three target creatures or players.
(A few years ago, I would have said this is too good. Given the number of 1/2s for 1 around, however, I'm inclined to think this might not even be playable... doesn't matter, though, as I think lightning bolt and giant growth are perfect boons, so their counterparts in this cycle won't see as many reprintings.)
Am I reading this wrong or is this just Arc Lightning but at instant speed and costing 2 less? If it is, this card is BUSTED.
Delicate Choice
Instant (C)
Choose three instant, sorcery, or artifact cards in your graveyard with different names. Target opponent puts two of these cards on the bottom of your library, then put the remaining card into your hand.
(The only "mini-game" card, this is pretty strong I think. It requires setup and variety - but it pays you off with your 3rd best spell card in your graveyard.)
This seems really weak. Regrowth is fine, but regrowthing for the third best noncreatures seems fairly poor.
Alternate: Delicate Restoration
Instant
Return an artifact card with a converted mana cost of 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Am I reading this wrong or is this just Arc Lightning but at instant speed and costing 2 less?
I think you're reading it wrong. Arc Lightning can hit a single creature for 3 damage and so on. The choice costs ya. Compare to Electrickery which can hit all opponent creatures for 1 and only costs 1R at instant. It's at least reasonable to assume that... Torrent of SparksR
Instant
This deals 1 damage to up to three target creatures or players.
...hitting only up to three creatures for 1 OR up to three players for 1 is fine.
These boons are super neat. Loam Visions is my favorite
Re: Torrent: yup, 1 damage to each (up to 3) targets.
Re: Loam Visions: Thanks. I mean, it's no Life of the Loam - but in terms of interesting design space, this could be really good in a format with a fair variety of manlands and land sacrifice effects - fetches, ghost quarter, an the like.
Let's face it - if you pop this for 2 land in limited or constructed, you'll probably be really happy. Making it 3 - besides boontastic - makes it a rather interesting skill tester.
Escape the PitB
Instant (C)
Return a creature card with a converted mana cost of 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
(Instant Speed unearth w/o cycling. Unearth is a super fun card, and this makes it a combat trick to boot. Somehow I doubt "3 drop reanimator" will warp the format... but it'll certainly be fun to run a 3 drop toolbox deck.)
Rallying ForcesW
Instant (C)
Create three 1/1 white soldier creature tokens. Exile those tokens at the end of turn.
(This seems a bit strong, and certainly easy to abuse in sacrifice decks... but you know what? Let the bodies hit the floor.)
Grappling GroundG
Instant (C)
Put three +1/+1 counters on target land. It is a creature until end of turn.
(I like the synergy this has with manlands.)
Torrent of SparksR
Instant (C)
This deals 1 damage to up to three target creatures or players.
(A few years ago, I would have said this is too good. Given the number of 1/2s for 1 around, however, I'm inclined to think this might not even be playable... doesn't matter, though, as I think lightning bolt and giant growth are perfect boons, so their counterparts in this cycle won't see as many reprintings.)
Delicate Choice
Instant (C)
Choose three instant, sorcery, or artifact cards in your graveyard with different names. Target opponent puts two of these cards on the bottom of your library, then put the remaining card into your hand.
(The only "mini-game" card, this is pretty strong I think. It requires setup and variety - but it pays you off with your 3rd best spell card in your graveyard.)
Alternate:
Delicate Restoration
Instant
Return an artifact card with a converted mana cost of 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
(Blue Unearth variant).
Alternate 2:
Restored from SilenceW
Instant
Return an enchantment card with a converted mana cost of 3 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
(You see where I'm going with this...)
Alternate 3:
Loam VisionsG
Sorcery
Return up to 3 target land cards from your graveyard to your hand.
(Card Advantage Machine is a go!)
Unearth is overall a pretty solid card. Removing cycling for instant speed makes this pushed for something that you want as a base card for the color.
Wording issues aside, this is a mini-Waylay. This seems fine.
I do like the interaction this has with manlands but it's awkward putting counters on a land and then probably never using that land as a dude again. I'd rather this just make a land a 3/3 until end of turn but honestly that's pretty weak.
Am I reading this wrong or is this just Arc Lightning but at instant speed and costing 2 less? If it is, this card is BUSTED.
This seems really weak. Regrowth is fine, but regrowthing for the third best noncreatures seems fairly poor.
Seems fine, though outside of an artifact set this is less relevant.
Seems fine, but as with the current theme of these, outside of a specific environment, this feels weak.
Life from the Loam was cool because it fueled itself. Outside of a land themed set, this feels weak.
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
Wizards Certified Rules Advisor
I think you're reading it wrong. Arc Lightning can hit a single creature for 3 damage and so on. The choice costs ya. Compare to Electrickery which can hit all opponent creatures for 1 and only costs 1R at instant. It's at least reasonable to assume that...
Torrent of Sparks R
Instant
This deals 1 damage to up to three target creatures or players.
...hitting only up to three creatures for 1 OR up to three players for 1 is fine.
These boons are super neat. Loam Visions is my favorite
Re: Loam Visions: Thanks. I mean, it's no Life of the Loam - but in terms of interesting design space, this could be really good in a format with a fair variety of manlands and land sacrifice effects - fetches, ghost quarter, an the like.
Let's face it - if you pop this for 2 land in limited or constructed, you'll probably be really happy. Making it 3 - besides boontastic - makes it a rather interesting skill tester.
The cycle of grave recursion feels really awkward and not something that should be a cycle.