So, for starters, turns out there wasn't a Legendary Creature cycle after all. Bummer. Still, we did get some good cards in the last dump
Daybreak Chimera is one of my favorite cards in the whole set, easy top 5. That is going to be a Limited all-star and it has potential for both Pauper and Standard. 3/3 flier for WW ain't no joke, even if you can't play it Turn 2 - for example, compare to Serra Avenger. Also, chimeras rock. Transcendent Envoy is a fine Common dude, probably not as relevant as Chimera especially since we already have a better way to reduce enchantment mana costs, but he aight. Aspect of Lamprey is JESUS TAPDANCING CHRIST WHAT IS THIS Funeral Rites seems playable, it's no Sign in Blood but self-mill 2 seems pretty relevant in a format with Escape. Pharika's Libation is one of the most important newly spoiled cards simply because, and this is important, it's monoblack Enchantment destruction. MaRo already hinted that this was going to be a new addition to Black's color pie, and even though it's not extremely efficient, I'd still play it. Dreamstalker Manticore is very much playable, its only problem being how it conflicts with Irencrag Pyromancer in some decks. Wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if it hit Standard. Incendiary Oracle shows just how far we've gotten from Red not getting Common Bears. I like it.
I'll grab some Mirror Shields for EDH, it's no Whispersilk Cloak but it's almost there and I can already see it rising in price once people start noticing how good it is.
So we are going to new phyrexia with Elspeth and Ashiok it seems, it is going to be an exciting expansions, wonder when.
It said ashiok planeswalked to learn about the phyrexians i didn’t said Elspeth went there as well (but she could go to face her fears)
It’s not like they gonna make ashiok the new heir to yawgmoths throne are they?
My train of thought is that after the nightmares and new powers gained by Elspeth she is determined to go back and help what ever remains to save in new phyrexia.
Sentinel's Eyes is not obviously powerful but it's one of my favorite types of cards and might play better than it appears. The key is the super cheap escape cost. It's a contender to fill the (often awkward) final aura in Bogles and it might work just as a complement in fair decks to lingering souls and the like.
I'm glad the Elspeth is the Wanderer theory is seemingly put to rest now. Now they just need to reveal where this set fits in the overall WAR timeline.
Love Mirror Shield! Really flavorful
Also, there's not much synergy between Dalakos, Crafter of Wonders and the rest of the set is there?
Like the references to my favorite god, Ephara, too
My train of thought is that after the nightmares and new powers gained by Elspeth she is determined to go back and help what ever remains to save in new phyrexia.
Brave she might be, I don't think she thinks she can succeed without some help. My bet is she ends up in zendikar looking for the folks who defeated the eldrazi.
A couple of times during spoiler season the team variously said (and I'm paraphrasing a little) "we f***ed up, wasted a bunch of time getting it wrong and then course corrected. The new set is gonna be, well, a set". (The Stygian mechanic, overly complicated cards that were caught late in the dev cycle and needed a quick fix).
They weren't wrong about that. This is 264 new cards alright. There are things to live about this set and there are some really weird things that seem to be the result of getting it wrong.
Building M:TG is a hard job, I'm glad it isn't mine. The R&D team put their heart and soul into it. This is going to be a fun set to play and there are cards I love at all rarities but there's those weird gaps.
A couple of times during spoiler season the team variously said (and I'm paraphrasing a little) "we f***ed up, wasted a bunch of time getting it wrong and then course corrected. The new set is gonna be, well, a set". (The Stygian mechanic, overly complicated cards that were caught late in the dev cycle and needed a quick fix).
They weren't wrong about that. This is 264 new cards alright. There are things to live about this set and there are some really weird things that seem to be the result of getting it wrong.
Building M:TG is a hard job, I'm glad it isn't mine. The R&D team put their heart and soul into it. This is going to be a fun set to play and there are cards I love at all rarities but there's those weird gaps.
While I don’t totally disagree with you,
I do feel like this set is at least less of an underpowered mess than original Theros was.
I remember being borderline horrified back then,
and I definitely like this set at least a little more.
A couple of times during spoiler season the team variously said (and I'm paraphrasing a little) "we f***ed up, wasted a bunch of time getting it wrong and then course corrected. The new set is gonna be, well, a set". (The Stygian mechanic, overly complicated cards that were caught late in the dev cycle and needed a quick fix).
They weren't wrong about that. This is 264 new cards alright. There are things to love about this set and there are some really weird things that seem to be the result of getting it wrong.
Building M:TG is a hard job, I'm glad it isn't mine. The R&D team put their heart and soul into it. This is going to be a fun set to play and there are cards I love at all rarities but there's those weird gaps.
While I don’t totally disagree with you,
I do feel like this set is at least less of an underpowered mess than original Theros was.
I remember being borderline horrified back then,
and I definitely like this set at least a little more.
I think that's a fair statement, but that's they way it should be. They played it very safe with original Theros - Heroic probably would have been fine if it saw abilities and the distribution of costs for Bestow and Monstrous seemed really unbalanced. I feel like overall this set is better balanced for power but still isn't on the same level of cohesion as the last few sets.
A couple of times during spoiler season the team variously said (and I'm paraphrasing a little) "we f***ed up, wasted a bunch of time getting it wrong and then course corrected. The new set is gonna be, well, a set". (The Stygian mechanic, overly complicated cards that were caught late in the dev cycle and needed a quick fix).
They weren't wrong about that. This is 264 new cards alright. There are things to live about this set and there are some really weird things that seem to be the result of getting it wrong.
Building M:TG is a hard job, I'm glad it isn't mine. The R&D team put their heart and soul into it. This is going to be a fun set to play and there are cards I love at all rarities but there's those weird gaps.
With the netflix thing upcoming and integrating arena and dealing with kelly digges leaving and both novels and uncharted realms getting canned, mtg is in a lot more flux than I think they're being upfront about right now.
Same for UW, that broke the cycle of each color pair getting at least one legend at Uncommon+ rarity. But hey, we got that RG saytr legend everyone was asking for
A couple of times during spoiler season the team variously said (and I'm paraphrasing a little) "we f***ed up, wasted a bunch of time getting it wrong and then course corrected. The new set is gonna be, well, a set". (The Stygian mechanic, overly complicated cards that were caught late in the dev cycle and needed a quick fix).
They weren't wrong about that. This is 264 new cards alright. There are things to live about this set and there are some really weird things that seem to be the result of getting it wrong.
Building M:TG is a hard job, I'm glad it isn't mine. The R&D team put their heart and soul into it. This is going to be a fun set to play and there are cards I love at all rarities but there's those weird gaps.
With the netflix thing upcoming and integrating arena and dealing with kelly digges leaving and both novels and uncharted realms getting canned, mtg is in a lot more flux than I think they're being upfront about right now.
And I certainly don't blame them for keeping as much under cover as possible. Last thing any one wants is reputational damage. I was kind of surprised about how candid they were with disclosing that THB set didn't run exactly as planned.
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Here’s the cards
https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/theros-beyond-death-story-cards-2019-12-16
All story cards
https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/theros-beyond-death-story-summary-2020-01-10
And this is a much clearer version of the story
It's a monoblack answer to a Leyline of the Void.
Daybreak Chimera is one of my favorite cards in the whole set, easy top 5. That is going to be a Limited all-star and it has potential for both Pauper and Standard. 3/3 flier for WW ain't no joke, even if you can't play it Turn 2 - for example, compare to Serra Avenger. Also, chimeras rock.
Transcendent Envoy is a fine Common dude, probably not as relevant as Chimera especially since we already have a better way to reduce enchantment mana costs, but he aight.
Aspect of Lamprey is JESUS TAPDANCING CHRIST WHAT IS THIS
Funeral Rites seems playable, it's no Sign in Blood but self-mill 2 seems pretty relevant in a format with Escape.
Pharika's Libation is one of the most important newly spoiled cards simply because, and this is important, it's monoblack Enchantment destruction. MaRo already hinted that this was going to be a new addition to Black's color pie, and even though it's not extremely efficient, I'd still play it.
Dreamstalker Manticore is very much playable, its only problem being how it conflicts with Irencrag Pyromancer in some decks. Wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if it hit Standard.
Incendiary Oracle shows just how far we've gotten from Red not getting Common Bears. I like it.
I'll grab some Mirror Shields for EDH, it's no Whispersilk Cloak but it's almost there and I can already see it rising in price once people start noticing how good it is.
It said ashiok planeswalked to learn about the phyrexians i didn’t said Elspeth went there as well (but she could go to face her fears)
It’s not like they gonna make ashiok the new heir to yawgmoths throne are they?
My train of thought is that after the nightmares and new powers gained by Elspeth she is determined to go back and help what ever remains to save in new phyrexia.
Yeah, what a great idea to show up at the doorstep of Elesh Norn...
Anyway, now I hope for some future in which we get Ashiok, Compleated!
Also, there's not much synergy between Dalakos, Crafter of Wonders and the rest of the set is there?
Like the references to my favorite god, Ephara, too
Makes me wonder if phyrexians dream or not. Maybe they just straight up won't notice them.
Brave she might be, I don't think she thinks she can succeed without some help. My bet is she ends up in zendikar looking for the folks who defeated the eldrazi.
Always good to see some references in Theros
Hyrax Tower Scout hello Vannifar
Nylea's Huntmaster Nice aspect of the Hydra
Warbriar Blessing lots of auras in green red and white
Skola Grovedancer Girtrog support
Pheres-Band Brawler Would be nice if they did a legendary Centaur leader of the Pheres-band
Starlit Mantle good devotion card for Udevotion
Sage of Mysteries can't wait to play agains a deck with 3 of it on arena (that draft bot...)
Deny the Divine nice counter
Totally agree. Super weird.
They weren't wrong about that. This is 264 new cards alright. There are things to live about this set and there are some really weird things that seem to be the result of getting it wrong.
Building M:TG is a hard job, I'm glad it isn't mine. The R&D team put their heart and soul into it. This is going to be a fun set to play and there are cards I love at all rarities but there's those weird gaps.
While I don’t totally disagree with you,
I do feel like this set is at least less of an underpowered mess than original Theros was.
I remember being borderline horrified back then,
and I definitely like this set at least a little more.
I think that's a fair statement, but that's they way it should be. They played it very safe with original Theros - Heroic probably would have been fine if it saw abilities and the distribution of costs for Bestow and Monstrous seemed really unbalanced. I feel like overall this set is better balanced for power but still isn't on the same level of cohesion as the last few sets.
With the netflix thing upcoming and integrating arena and dealing with kelly digges leaving and both novels and uncharted realms getting canned, mtg is in a lot more flux than I think they're being upfront about right now.
Same for UW, that broke the cycle of each color pair getting at least one legend at Uncommon+ rarity. But hey, we got that RG saytr legend everyone was asking for
And I certainly don't blame them for keeping as much under cover as possible. Last thing any one wants is reputational damage. I was kind of surprised about how candid they were with disclosing that THB set didn't run exactly as planned.