These look great (for Intro Packs). Each deck gives you a solid introduction to the Clan's primary theme as well as a subtheme (Mardu Tokens, Temur Morph). Each deck has two Trilands, a Charm, a copy of the "five drop limited bomb" uncommons for each clan (Warden of the Eye, Bear's Companion), and at least one copy (but almost always two!) of the clan's best mechanical uncommon (like Heir to the Wilds, War-Name Aspirant, Abzan Falconer, etc). That means that buying two of these will give you a fairly competent casual or even FNM-y deck for each clan (with a lot of unplayable jank leftover of course, but that's par for the course).
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sufferer of EDHD
Commander - Currently Playing: RCRDaretti: Superfriends Forever RCR WGBDoran: Ent-mootWBG GGGMultani: Group Bear HugGGG GB(B/G)The Gitrog Monster: Dredgefall DurdleGB(B/G) RGWGahiji, the Honored Group Hug MonsterRGW UB(U/B)Yuriko, Ninja Trinket AggroUB(U/B) WUBRGAtogatog: Assembling a OHKOWUBRG
Serra Angel...Thundering Giant. Does each deck have one of these "kinda-but-not-really-in-M15" cards?
Thundering Giant and Serra Angel are both from M15. Its a weird trend they developed awhile back so that each new set with intro decks that come after the core set will always come with cards from the core set.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Generals
Vorosh BUG
Sygg
Molimo
Intent RUG
Rith RWG
Purphoros
Oh, I know they've been including Core Set cards, but that M15 Serra Angel has only been obtainable in the White 30 card sample deck and the deck builders tool kit (thought the Thundering Giant was the same but I was wrong). Interesting that this now third way to get the angel at least
I am much more interested in the 2nd rares in each pack. Some of them I was concerned would be excessively priced but ready availability in intro packs inhibits speculation.
Definitely surprised by the quality here. Temur's rares are embarrassing, but I really like most of the construction choices on these. The quality makes me realize that some of the inclusions are bad on purpose so that new players will really FEEL the sensation of wanting to switch in new cards after playing with the bad ones. I am learning. The pile of multicolor lands in each will also be very useful to new players.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My favorite flavor text: Time of Heroes
Feel free to tell me yours!
These look great (for Intro Packs). Each deck gives you a solid introduction to the Clan's primary theme as well as a subtheme (Mardu Tokens, Temur Morph). Each deck has two Trilands, a Charm, a copy of the "five drop limited bomb" uncommons for each clan (Warden of the Eye, Bear's Companion), and at least one copy (but almost always two!) of the clan's best mechanical uncommon (like Heir to the Wilds, War-Name Aspirant, Abzan Falconer, etc). That means that buying two of these will give you a fairly competent casual or even FNM-y deck for each clan (with a lot of unplayable jank leftover of course, but that's par for the course).
Agreed completely. I like that a couple of the non-foil rares are actually things that I suspect are going to be $1 rares that see a fair bit of kitchen table play (like Flying Crane Technique and High Sentinels of Arashin), along with the fact that they've not gone easy on the lands and just thrown one or two in - I suspect that when these start getting cleared off the shelves at the local Wal-Mart (or, if you're in Australia like me, the local K-Mart, Target or Big W), they're going to disappear pretty quickly, if only for the lands, the odd rare, and the chance of pulling a fetch out of the boosters for a few bucks.
Nah. I'm absolutely mad that Wizards didn't put that in for casuals...
Competitive players aren't the only ones needing them at tourney tables.
Fetches for the kitchen table top!!!
It's an intro pack. Not an event deck.
You do realize that all 60 card intro packs, except Flames of the Dragon from M15 because of an error, always have 2 rares, 12 uncommons, and 36 commons and basic lands right? Flames of the Dragon had 13 uncommons and 35 commons and basic lands, but even so, theme decks also had 13 uncommons and 35 commons and basic lands, as well as the 2 rares.
Don't kid yourself, for a product that is targeted at not so established players, or should I say, newbie, a land is the last thing they want as one of the rares.
So let's say the second rare was a fetchland, then what, you still can't fetch 2 out of 3 colors.
You also know that either way, by adding fetchlands into the intro packs, stores are going to jack up the price anyway.
Do the decks contain all basic lands or only the ones aligned to their clan.
The decks contain only the type and number of basic lands noted in the deck lists. E.g. the "Abzan Siege" deck contains 8 plains, 7 swamp and 6 forest (and no mountains or islands).
In addition you get basic lands from the 2 indluded booster packs (i.e. one random basic per booster + a small chance for a foil basic).
RCRDaretti: Superfriends Forever RCR
WGBDoran: Ent-mootWBG
GGGMultani: Group Bear HugGGG
GB(B/G)The Gitrog Monster: Dredgefall DurdleGB(B/G)
RGWGahiji, the Honored Group Hug MonsterRGW
UB(U/B)Yuriko, Ninja Trinket AggroUB(U/B)
WUBRGAtogatog: Assembling a OHKOWUBRG
Thundering Giant and Serra Angel are both from M15. Its a weird trend they developed awhile back so that each new set with intro decks that come after the core set will always come with cards from the core set.
Vorosh BUG
Sygg
Molimo
Intent RUG
Rith RWG
Purphoros
Epic Signature by the one and only Ace in Ace of Spades Studio
Proud member of the Spirit of EDH
BGW Teneb, the Harvester [Primer]
R Márton Stromgald
WUB Dakkon Blackblade
GR Atarka, World Render
{Writing and Rants}
WUBRG The Primeval Dragon's influence on EDH
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
Mardu is particularly strong.
Sultai seems ok as the self mill theme is strong but I'd of liked more cut and cruise.
Seeing tireless missonaries in Jeskai makes me cringe though.
Pioneer:UR Pheonix
Modern:U Mono U Tron
EDH
GB Glissa, the traitor: Army of Cans
UW Dragonlord Ojutai: Dragonlord NOjutai
UWGDerevi, Empyrial Tactician "you cannot fight the storm"
R Zirilan of the claw. The solution to every problem is dragons
UB Etrata, the Silencer Cloning assassination
Peasant cube: Cards I own
Feel free to tell me yours!
Agreed completely. I like that a couple of the non-foil rares are actually things that I suspect are going to be $1 rares that see a fair bit of kitchen table play (like Flying Crane Technique and High Sentinels of Arashin), along with the fact that they've not gone easy on the lands and just thrown one or two in - I suspect that when these start getting cleared off the shelves at the local Wal-Mart (or, if you're in Australia like me, the local K-Mart, Target or Big W), they're going to disappear pretty quickly, if only for the lands, the odd rare, and the chance of pulling a fetch out of the boosters for a few bucks.
My Stupidly Large Number of Current Decks
PucaTrade with me!
The Multiplayer Power Rankings
Cube: the Gittening (My Multiplayer Cube) - MTGS Cube List | @ CubeTutor
The N00b Cube (Peasant cube for new players) - MTGS Cube List | @ CubeTutor
UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
I think the rollseyes smiley is more appropriate than the mad smiley
Competitive players aren't the only ones needing them at tourney tables.
Fetches for the kitchen table top!!!
UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
It's an intro pack. Not an event deck.
You do realize that all 60 card intro packs, except Flames of the Dragon from M15 because of an error, always have 2 rares, 12 uncommons, and 36 commons and basic lands right? Flames of the Dragon had 13 uncommons and 35 commons and basic lands, but even so, theme decks also had 13 uncommons and 35 commons and basic lands, as well as the 2 rares.
Don't kid yourself, for a product that is targeted at not so established players, or should I say, newbie, a land is the last thing they want as one of the rares.
So let's say the second rare was a fetchland, then what, you still can't fetch 2 out of 3 colors.
You also know that either way, by adding fetchlands into the intro packs, stores are going to jack up the price anyway.
The decks contain only the type and number of basic lands noted in the deck lists. E.g. the "Abzan Siege" deck contains 8 plains, 7 swamp and 6 forest (and no mountains or islands).
In addition you get basic lands from the 2 indluded booster packs (i.e. one random basic per booster + a small chance for a foil basic).