Looking at the entire set, it seems like Rivals has a high floor and low ceiling power-level wise. I’m not really seeing much that will enter competitive play, but the non-competitive cards seem stronger than usual.
Not yet. That's still missing even cards spoiled last night.
Try F5 ;-)
EDIT: Has this happened before?
THe only one I can remember is the bear punch from Khan's block
We got a riff on Bear punch - Savage Punch became Epic Confrontation. Not a straight reprint though. I think this is unprecedented, and a sour way to end the era of blocks. Legion Conquistador makes total sense, but the other three are super frustrating.
Riverwise Augur and Oathsworn Vampire are commander staples that might be playable in other formats, and are probably the spiciest cards they held in reserve. I am also into Cacaphodon as the glue that holds together EDH Dinosaurs, as it goes "infinite" if you can make it indestructible and have Pyrohemia on the table, and at the very least gets you as many enrage triggers as you want (and possibly generates mana, if you can be untapping Gilded Lotus or Gruul Turf instead of a basic mountain).
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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
I am just sad Bombard doesn't go to the face :(, I'd of liked a raid trigger kind of like a red version of chart a course.
We could be ten years in the past, and Wizards still wouldn't print something like that. Raid would be a laughably low price for a splashable Flame Javelin. Maybe I could see it happen if the card were an uncommon sorcery, but definitely not as a common instant.
This looks fun to construct in a limited block. Guess this set was really supposed to push MTG Arena. 4 Tribals fighting each other. It doesn't mesh well with the rest of Standard, but it'll be fun in Arena.
I want 4 damage but I don't like I can't point it at the face :/. Still likely to end up in my standard deck just for the 4 damage, just a pain that killing a long-tusk cub is still nearly impossible in red.
I want 4 damage but I don't like I can't point it at the face :/. Still likely to end up in my standard deck just for the 4 damage, just a pain that killing a long-tusk cub is still nearly impossible in red.
Cut||Ribbons already does the same thing for 2 mana
Summit Prowler was in both khans and dragons of takir. But that was only the one card.
Tormenting Voice was also printed in both Khans and Dragons. It's easy to miss over it considering it has also been reprinted in SOI, Amonkhet, Conspiracy: Take the Crown and Iconic Masters, but the Khans printing was the original (first) one, so I'll say its inclusion in Dragons holds as much weight.
Only a few cards caught my attention from the set (not unexpected though considering I primarily play EDH and I've been scrutinizing new cards more and more to minimize changes), but I haven't been really paying attention to the set, so I'll need to re-evaluate the specific cards at a later time instead. Overall though I can feel this set being more "exciting" than Ixalan to me, which honestly was sort of disappointing to me for the set that introduced dinosaurs (even during its preview session), but then again I've been on an extended break from the game itself, so I suppose I just didn't care that much from my side either.
1. Merfolk - a little split between going token wide and +1/+1 counters. The two lords are very solid and the amount of cheap unblockable creatures with +1/+1 counter synergy shines through to be a real pain in the butt aggro deck. Pack some Spell Pierces though for those board wipes! Rating 4/5
2.Vampires - this tribe a little hard to evaluate, they have a LOT of interesting 2CMC creatures that have effects based off of Life-gain and loss. I could see a deck with a lot of these 2CMC creatures ending in some of the card draw from the higher CMC creatures to refill your hand with more 2CMC creatures to refill the board or keep the pressure on. The tribe does suffer from some very low P/T and not many ways to increase those stats. Rating 3.5/5
3. Dinosaurs - Dinosaurs already had a solid shell, this set gave that shell some options, but not a huge shake-up. There two different build options RW cheaper, but more aggressive dinos deck and the RG more expensive ramp into Fatties deck. I don't think the RW got pushed enough and the RG just seems better balanced. Rating 3.5/5
4.Pirates - Pirates are very hard to evaluate because they are doing some many things! UB Flyer Tempo, UR Control-Tempo, BR aggro, UBR Treasure (Revel in Riches wincon), UBR aggro-midrange. The 3 color strategies don't seem that viable due to the poor mana fixing so the 2 color strategies look like the best to build around and two stick out to me as the most viable: UB Flyer Tempo-use cheap Flyers with counterspells and black removal to plink the opponent to death and BR aggro-use the Direfleet Pirates to wreck havoc and control the seas! I am a dissapointed we got no more Pirate ships. Rating 3/5
Overall I am a little upset Pirates got relegated to three color Tempo, but got no good color fixing for 3 colors. Merfolk being on top is also a little disappointing as it is a fairly common tribe, that is almost always pushed when it shows up and that gives little chance of rarer tribes having a chance to shine.
Lol at anyone who thought that Ascend was going to be busted. The vast majority of Ascend cards are limited fodder but there are a few decent cards but also a lot that seem like they just won't find a home.
Interestingly, I think that Arch of Orazca looks pretty good for any deck that wants to go long.
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It only looks bad because you're comparing it to premium uncommons (at least that's what murder was in Eldritch Moon). Overcosted black sorceries that offer unconditional removal are a dime a dozen and can play an important role in limited. I'd say this set's entry is actually quite solid, better than the already limited playable Contract Killing and about on par with Daring Demolition.
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We got a riff on Bear punch - Savage Punch became Epic Confrontation. Not a straight reprint though. I think this is unprecedented, and a sour way to end the era of blocks. Legion Conquistador makes total sense, but the other three are super frustrating.
Riverwise Augur and Oathsworn Vampire are commander staples that might be playable in other formats, and are probably the spiciest cards they held in reserve. I am also into Cacaphodon as the glue that holds together EDH Dinosaurs, as it goes "infinite" if you can make it indestructible and have Pyrohemia on the table, and at the very least gets you as many enrage triggers as you want (and possibly generates mana, if you can be untapping Gilded Lotus or Gruul Turf instead of a basic mountain).
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
Summit Prowler was in both khans and dragons of takir. But that was only the one card.
I am just sad Bombard doesn't go to the face :(, I'd of liked a raid trigger kind of like a red version of chart a course.
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
We could be ten years in the past, and Wizards still wouldn't print something like that. Raid would be a laughably low price for a splashable Flame Javelin. Maybe I could see it happen if the card were an uncommon sorcery, but definitely not as a common instant.
Modern Tallowisp Spirits - A Modern Tallowisp Deck UW
Eldrazi Ninjas - Summoning Octopus Jutsu YYYYAAAHHHH!
STANDARD
Naban Wizards
I want 4 damage but I don't like I can't point it at the face :/. Still likely to end up in my standard deck just for the 4 damage, just a pain that killing a long-tusk cub is still nearly impossible in red.
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
Cut||Ribbons already does the same thing for 2 mana
That makes me so happy to see!
Tormenting Voice was also printed in both Khans and Dragons. It's easy to miss over it considering it has also been reprinted in SOI, Amonkhet, Conspiracy: Take the Crown and Iconic Masters, but the Khans printing was the original (first) one, so I'll say its inclusion in Dragons holds as much weight.
Only a few cards caught my attention from the set (not unexpected though considering I primarily play EDH and I've been scrutinizing new cards more and more to minimize changes), but I haven't been really paying attention to the set, so I'll need to re-evaluate the specific cards at a later time instead. Overall though I can feel this set being more "exciting" than Ixalan to me, which honestly was sort of disappointing to me for the set that introduced dinosaurs (even during its preview session), but then again I've been on an extended break from the game itself, so I suppose I just didn't care that much from my side either.
I was actually going to say the same thing. Excellent flavor text and very reminiscent of the old days!
Modern Tallowisp Spirits - A Modern Tallowisp Deck UW
Eldrazi Ninjas - Summoning Octopus Jutsu YYYYAAAHHHH!
STANDARD
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**EDIT** NVM, that was in HOU, not XLN.
1. Merfolk - a little split between going token wide and +1/+1 counters. The two lords are very solid and the amount of cheap unblockable creatures with +1/+1 counter synergy shines through to be a real pain in the butt aggro deck. Pack some Spell Pierces though for those board wipes! Rating 4/5
2.Vampires - this tribe a little hard to evaluate, they have a LOT of interesting 2CMC creatures that have effects based off of Life-gain and loss. I could see a deck with a lot of these 2CMC creatures ending in some of the card draw from the higher CMC creatures to refill your hand with more 2CMC creatures to refill the board or keep the pressure on. The tribe does suffer from some very low P/T and not many ways to increase those stats. Rating 3.5/5
3. Dinosaurs - Dinosaurs already had a solid shell, this set gave that shell some options, but not a huge shake-up. There two different build options RW cheaper, but more aggressive dinos deck and the RG more expensive ramp into Fatties deck. I don't think the RW got pushed enough and the RG just seems better balanced. Rating 3.5/5
4.Pirates - Pirates are very hard to evaluate because they are doing some many things! UB Flyer Tempo, UR Control-Tempo, BR aggro, UBR Treasure (Revel in Riches wincon), UBR aggro-midrange. The 3 color strategies don't seem that viable due to the poor mana fixing so the 2 color strategies look like the best to build around and two stick out to me as the most viable: UB Flyer Tempo-use cheap Flyers with counterspells and black removal to plink the opponent to death and BR aggro-use the Direfleet Pirates to wreck havoc and control the seas! I am a dissapointed we got no more Pirate ships. Rating 3/5
Overall I am a little upset Pirates got relegated to three color Tempo, but got no good color fixing for 3 colors. Merfolk being on top is also a little disappointing as it is a fairly common tribe, that is almost always pushed when it shows up and that gives little chance of rarer tribes having a chance to shine.
What are your thoughts?
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Standard Deck:
BUPirates
Modern Deck:
B8-Rack
Reaver Ambush--a functional reprint of Complete Disregard, a card which didn't see as much play as it should have.
Modern Tallowisp Spirits - A Modern Tallowisp Deck UW
Eldrazi Ninjas - Summoning Octopus Jutsu YYYYAAAHHHH!
STANDARD
Naban Wizards
Crashing Tide is a sorcery though.
Slap in ot unblockable creature (implying you will block with him, ever) and you'll find the answer.
Siren Reaver
Sadistic Skymarcher
Needletooth Raptor
Crested Herdcaller
Everdawn Champion
Limited of course but still, those are practical bombs. Soul of the Rapids is a hurting as well.
Interestingly, I think that Arch of Orazca looks pretty good for any deck that wants to go long.
-Chandra Nalaar
It only looks bad because you're comparing it to premium uncommons (at least that's what murder was in Eldritch Moon). Overcosted black sorceries that offer unconditional removal are a dime a dozen and can play an important role in limited. I'd say this set's entry is actually quite solid, better than the already limited playable Contract Killing and about on par with Daring Demolition.