So the whole set will be spoiled today and the traditional favourite ten cards from the set must be done. Pre-fix your list with what they are the favourite format for Standard / Modern / Limited / Casual etc and go for it ...
My favourite cards for standard (in no particular order) are:-
1) Harsh Mentor - going to be even better in Modern where fetchlands will get his wrath, but crewing is going to be that much harder now ...
2) Cast Out - A flash / Cycler way of stopping the Cat Lady combo
3) Censor - An expensive force spike which will be good early but that can be cycled away later
4) Drake Haven - Capable of creating an architype all by itself
5) Liliana, Death's Majesty - I think we might see some Zombie tribal with her and the new Lord of the Accursed
6) Glorybringer - With a method of giving Vigilance (Arlind Kord or Always Watching) this is going to be a Planeswalker killer of choice
7) Channeler Initiate - A mana elf that can fight the good fight late on
8) Rhonas the Indomitable - Probably the best God, though he may be restricted to crewing vehicles some of the time.
9) Manglehorn - Destroy annoying vehicle
10) Wayward Servant - Could this bring back a Zombie aristocrats style deck with Bontu
Honestly, I think compulsory rest is the surprise unspoiled card for me. Two-mana removal with a very affordable downside. trespasser's curse is the other surprise card.
For the rest, the obvious power-house are obvious. To the OP list, I'd add the new nissa.
Bone Picker, you mentioned some good cards already, this is the Delver and there are so many ways to drop this on turn 2 in Standard and in other formats you could get him on turn 1 but yes like so many others it dies to removal lol
10. Vizier of Deferment - I love flexibility, and an instant-speed Flicker body that can also Fog stuff is pretty fun. This effect is also very powerful in a limited format that promises to be full of tokens.
9. Glorybringer - I love its main-set art, and like the design overall. FTK is back and more dragon-y than ever.
8. Embalmer's Tools - Cards like this get my mind a'brewin, and my wife and I have numerous zombie decks that can abuse this.
7. Nissa, Steward of Elements - The world's most flexible planeswalker is something I look forward to testing.
6. As Foretold - I don't know if this is broken in any format, but I am anxious to try it. It is a massive amount of value.
5. Drake Haven - On my top 5 list of favorite ways to durdle, "Cycling for value" is definitely on the list. Consider this a mention for most of these cards with Haven and Archfiend of Ifnir being the most spicy from a casual/commander perspective.
4. Liliana, Death's Majesty - One of my favorite planeswalkers finally making the tribal type she's known for and supporting one of my favorite durdle-archetypes (dredging stuff for fun and profit)? Total home-run.
3. Anointed Procession - Love this card. Love doubling, love tokens, love having this in White now. So excited to crack some.
2. Glorious End - Fantastic flavor. Lots of fun brewing options. Just a brilliant card overall.
1. The Cycling Lands (Canyon Slough et al) - For a commander player these are the best dual lands since the Shocks. Fetchable, Farseekable, great late-game when you need to cycle, and have some durdly applciations with Crucible of Worlds, Life from the Loam, The Gitrog Monster, and Splendid Reclamation plus every "whenever you cycle" card. I think they are brilliant and I want a billion copies. Here's hoping we get the enemy color ones soonish.
I could easily expand my list to include some of the flavor home-runs (Trespasser's Curse, the Monument cycle), Kefnet, Lord of the Accursed, Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons, Neheb, the Worthy, and all of the green/black "shrink/kill your dudes" cards like Exemplar of Strength and Plague Belcher). I was on the fence for a while since the Gods and Aftermath cards are mostly underwhelming, but overall I am extremely pleased with this set as a lover of Egyptology and a lover of value durdling, and look forward to my prerelease and box.
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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
Well here's 10 of my favorites in no particular order...
As Foretold: Not for any broken shenanigans, but simply for the ability to play a free spell each turn, sounds fun.
Archfiend of Ifnir: Such cool flavor and some kickass abilities to boot. Cards like this make me want to build a -1/-1 counter deck.
Dread Wanderer: Partly because I enjoy recurring critters, partly for the awesome art, and honestly because Zombie Jackal!
Nest of Scarabs: Honestly after seeing this card early in the spoilers, I just fell in love with the set. First card in a long time that's made me want to brew a entirely new deck. I really like this in multi alongside something like Midnight Banshee hehe.
As Foretold is great, it's... probably the only card that I actually will try to get for my EDH deck. The Gods are... alright, but I'm not a huge fan of them. I'm a fan of the Oracle's Vault too, slow but I'm fine with that in my meta. Nissa is interesting too.
As Foretold
Curator of Mysteries
Cryptic Serpent
Glyph Keeper
Heiroglyphic Illumination
Kefnet the Mindful
New Perspectives
Open Into Wonder
Sacred Excavation
Seeker of Insight
Benefaction of Rhonas
Gift of Paradise
Greater Sandwurm
Harvest Season
Rhonas the Indomitable
Sandwurn Convergence
Nest of scarabs. .............................. Anointed procession
Lord of the accursed. ........................ Approach of the second sun
Liliana, deaths Majesty. ................... Cast out
Plague belcher. ................................. Gideon of the trials
Bone picker. ..................................... Aven mindcensor
Shadow of the grave
Scarab feast
As foretold. .................................... Blazing volley
Curator of mysterious. .................. Glorious end
Drake Haven. ................................... Glorybringer
VIZIER of tumbling sands. ............... Harsh mentor
Wind of rebuke
Hapatras mark. ............................... Merciless javelineer
Harvest season. .............................. Nehab the worthy
Rhonas the imdomitable. ............... Nissa, steward of elements
Vizier of the menagerie ............... Samut voice of dissent
Embalmers tools
10 Aftermath split Rares....They really want you to use these...... ugh
And what is up with Gate to the Afterlife....Lots of hoops so whatever the God-Pharoahs Gift IS....
...It should be Incredible. ( Enters play, You win hahahaha)
Okay, time for my reviews. Typical disclaimer that it is just ultimately my opinion and I mainly play EDH (and don't play Standard) although I will take into account general power-levels and potential of cards I see for other formats, so it's not exactly a formula but more of a mixture between favoritism and analysis resulting in this list. It's also formed after skimming through the visual list, so I didn't spend that much effort analyzing the cards nor the time testing them out of course (hence they might eventually play out differently) so it's more of a "first impressions" list then a report of any kind.
Same like most other sets I review, there are 2 lists of 10, one for playability (and power, but not necessarily strictly ranked in the "correct" order due to mish-mash of formats and I like to put design-aspects as well) and the other for flavor (because that's important enough for me at least). Let's start with playability.
10) Liliana, Death's Majesty - No doubt powerful. 5 loyalty for 5 mana with a plus ability that defends herself is no doubt the basic steps done right, although her use will be dependent on the meta I suppose. I don't brew for Standard, so while the Zombies seem strong, there have been occasions strong-tribal support still doesn't make the cut, so I'm just leaving it here. She's ranked the lowest because while efficient her design felt sort of boring to me.
9) Rhonas the Indomitable - I'll be honest, the Gods were a disappointment to me (none of them made the flavor cut), but without a doubt Rhonas was the strongest of the five in terms of playability and I suppose I should let one of them up at least.
8) Nissa, Steward of Elements - Well while UG Nissa looks to have a more unstable potential than Liliana, we got our first "Hydra" planeswalker. That new design space used earns enough points me to rank above Liliana at least, but not as much as...
7) Glorious End - Probably the most Mythic Red Mythic we got, especially in the non-permanent section. Simple design, but it screams so much elegance in every direction. I don't have too much hopes on its playability but it's still explosive enough I could see it being the cause of a few victories (just not a mainstream staple of any sort).
6) Harsh Mentor - While not as innovative, I appreciate good punisher cards. Now if they only printed one for ETB triggered abilities instead of Panharmonicon....
5) Bone Picker - Remember Delver? This might be even better than Delver. It has deathtouch, requires pretty much just removal (which Midrange decks have plenty of) instead of a luck-based flip (considering Delver decks can still whiff despite being built around it...) and can be cast for a full-4 instead as an underwhelming 1/1 (that's dependent on luck again) in the later game.
4) Vizier of Remedies - The Abzan Company people in Modern certainly are looking at this. Makes persist "immortal", combos with Devoted Druid for infinite mana as early as turn 3/4. While the correct shell may not have been found yet it at least has a stronger basis than what Bone Picker has to work with, so it's ranked higher.
3) As Foretold - Okay, it doesn't have a basis as strong as Vizier of Remedies (or Bone Picker), but this card is explosively dangerous. Restore Balance immediately is no laughing matter and the card only builds up to be more dangerous from there. It's like the Paradox Engine of this set, potential so dangerous I'm cautious enough to rank it here. But Engine I ranked first in Aether Revolt and As Foretold only third? Well, thanks to...
2) Gideon of the Trials - Well, we have something that isn't just potentially dangerous, it's outright dangerous, especially since Amonkhet was designed with BFZ rotating out in mind than but it turned out not to be so. Gideon Tribal looks set to be as set as obvious as CopyCat in Standard. But waitaminute I ranked Felidar Guardian as the third card in Aether Revolt (with Fatal Push between it and Engine), so why was something obviously dangerous ranked below something potentially dangerous then but not now? Well, because...
1) Vizier of the Menagerie - Sorry people, I have an EDH bias. My first place rankings tend to just lean towards favortism more than anything else (I ranked It That Rides as One first in EMN for flavor after all...) Engine got ahead then because it was potentially dangerous a lot more in EDH (which As Foretold doesn't do as well). Likewise here, Amonkhet previews were a bit slow to get going for me and this Political Advisor of the Zoo here was the first card to impress me. While I do have a few other select cards I want for EDH from the set as well, I think the Vizier still impressed me the most, especially when I consider Animar to be my "signature" Commander. So yeah, complete bias here.
Now onto the flavor list. Not sure whether it was a lack of interest, or a case of too many expectations, or the Bolas/Gatewatch factor diluting it, or maybe a combination of all of them, I'm not particularly impressed by Amonkhet flavor-wise. It does mark the boxes of Ancient Egypt quite well, but there's nothing that really made me go "wow" over the world itself, nor did a single card successfully did it this time round (like It That Rides as One did). But here's the list:
10) Soulstinger - I know we have a Crocodile Demon as well, but Bontu set up some expectations, so I was slightly more surprised by the Scorpion Demon instead.
9) Colossapede - I like "Survival of the Fittest" flavor texts and while this isn't the best the entire game has to offer, amongst those in the set (most by Rhonas), this was the best.
8) Curator of Mysteries - A shame we don't have a lot of Sphinxes in the set (I suppose Bolas did something with those less cooperative back then), but I found the entire card (and flavor text) quite the apt description.
7) Regal Caracal - Meow Meow it's three Cows... I mean Cats. It's sort of like the Sphinxes (along with the same expectations from an Ancient Egypt set), but by virtue of Sphinxes being an Iconic Species while Cats aren't a Characteristic Species they get one over the Sphinxes here.
6) Grim Strider - I appreciate the mention of outside horrors (that aren't sandstorms, zombies and wurms). I know there are others as well, but this one among the entire lot impressed me the most, because despite Eldrazi having a bad name in the game now, their likeness-in-designs still lend best towards unknown horrors.
5) Pyramid of the Pantheon - Short simple flavor text, but yet so grand and unnerving (although the later is because we know Bolas is up to something).
4) Cartouche of Zeal - I like the blood in the art, it really adds a lot to the mystery behind the trials and few cards do it visually with subtlety as this card does.
3) Shadow of the Grave - I like cards that help describe a world and its situation. This is the card that does so for Amonkhet and the art also helps amplify the atmosphere greatly. Usually these sort of cards get first place, but for Amonkhet...
2) Oashra Cultivator - unnerves me completely. It's almost like the citizens actually know what Bolas's real plans are and are in full support of it (rather than being misled by the Gods). The look on the face tells it all (although I guess it's still possible to be this confident about being harvested in death for some grand plan that was a lie, but it's still unnerving).
1) Harvest Season - Well, I did say that card that describe the plane usually get first and while I initially picked this card because the flavor text is one of those "This is how nature works" (like Colossapede) texts I like, upon reviewing it again it does also accurately describe Amonkhet (or at least, its current system). Honestly the top two cards helped each other get to their respective positions (one from an inside perspective and the other an overall one) and together they produced a flavor better than Shadow of the Grave could alone (which is why it got knocked down to third).
There are what seem to be a fair few good cards in this set, however I'm still surprised that nobody has mentioned By Force yet.
I am primarily an EDH player, and this just seems almost broken in that format. Yes its a sorcery, which does slow it down somewhat, but with someone like Mizzix of the Izmagnus this could get very dirty, very quickly.
As Foretold is great, it's... probably the only card that I actually will try to get for my EDH deck. The Gods are... alright, but I'm not a huge fan of them. I'm a fan of the Oracle's Vault too, slow but I'm fine with that in my meta. Nissa is interesting too.
Wow, you said pretty much exactly what I would have.
There are about five cards in this set I want.
That's the worst for a large set since, like, Theros.
Amonkhet hasn't even arrived and I'm already ready to leave.
Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
Melek, Izzet Paragon
Oona, Queen of the Fae
Bruna, Light of Alabaster
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Rhys the Redeemed
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Sen Triplets
The Mimeoplasm WUBRGSliver OverlordGRBUW WUBRGSliver Hivelord(Superfriends)GRBUW
As Foretold is great, it's... probably the only card that I actually will try to get for my EDH deck. The Gods are... alright, but I'm not a huge fan of them. I'm a fan of the Oracle's Vault too, slow but I'm fine with that in my meta. Nissa is interesting too.
Wow, you said pretty much exactly what I would have.
There are about five cards in this set I want.
That's the worst for a large set since, like, Theros.
Amonkhet hasn't even arrived and I'm already ready to leave.
What really sucks? I love Egypt. But this isn't enough Egyptian Mythology for me, and the God part of it just feels... weak. I realized that the Theros Gods were kind of similar, but they really suffer not having a Global effect.
Plague Belcher -> I just love this card. At first I was looking at it funny, then realized it's just all upside. Nissa, Steward of Elements -> Got a playset of her because she is one of the most interesting planeswalkers I've seen. I got a good feeling she may end up like Tezzeret, the Schemer, but due to her flexibility I believe she will be far more popular. Liliana, Death's Majesty -> It's like someone in R&D wanted to make the de-facto version of Liliana. She does everything one would want from her: pump out tokens, fuel your graveyard, animate the dead, and her ultimate is decent. She reminds me a bit of Elspeth, Sun's Champion. Regal Caracal -> It's a cat lord. A freaking good cat lord. Cast Out -> Expensive, but that cycling makes it very useful.
Private Mod Note
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1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Vizier of the Menagerie is my stand out pick, in an Animar EDH deck. Being able to hemorrhage creatures off the top for free is pretty nasty. The mana fixing for creatures is unreal as well.
My favourite cards for standard (in no particular order) are:-
1) Harsh Mentor - going to be even better in Modern where fetchlands will get his wrath, but crewing is going to be that much harder now ...
2) Cast Out - A flash / Cycler way of stopping the Cat Lady combo
3) Censor - An expensive force spike which will be good early but that can be cycled away later
4) Drake Haven - Capable of creating an architype all by itself
5) Liliana, Death's Majesty - I think we might see some Zombie tribal with her and the new Lord of the Accursed
6) Glorybringer - With a method of giving Vigilance (Arlind Kord or Always Watching) this is going to be a Planeswalker killer of choice
7) Channeler Initiate - A mana elf that can fight the good fight late on
8) Rhonas the Indomitable - Probably the best God, though he may be restricted to crewing vehicles some of the time.
9) Manglehorn - Destroy annoying vehicle
10) Wayward Servant - Could this bring back a Zombie aristocrats style deck with Bontu
For the rest, the obvious power-house are obvious. To the OP list, I'd add the new nissa.
Oh and Combat Celebrant once I get the rest of the deck build.
9. Glorybringer - I love its main-set art, and like the design overall. FTK is back and more dragon-y than ever.
8. Embalmer's Tools - Cards like this get my mind a'brewin, and my wife and I have numerous zombie decks that can abuse this.
7. Nissa, Steward of Elements - The world's most flexible planeswalker is something I look forward to testing.
6. As Foretold - I don't know if this is broken in any format, but I am anxious to try it. It is a massive amount of value.
5. Drake Haven - On my top 5 list of favorite ways to durdle, "Cycling for value" is definitely on the list. Consider this a mention for most of these cards with Haven and Archfiend of Ifnir being the most spicy from a casual/commander perspective.
4. Liliana, Death's Majesty - One of my favorite planeswalkers finally making the tribal type she's known for and supporting one of my favorite durdle-archetypes (dredging stuff for fun and profit)? Total home-run.
3. Anointed Procession - Love this card. Love doubling, love tokens, love having this in White now. So excited to crack some.
2. Glorious End - Fantastic flavor. Lots of fun brewing options. Just a brilliant card overall.
1. The Cycling Lands (Canyon Slough et al) - For a commander player these are the best dual lands since the Shocks. Fetchable, Farseekable, great late-game when you need to cycle, and have some durdly applciations with Crucible of Worlds, Life from the Loam, The Gitrog Monster, and Splendid Reclamation plus every "whenever you cycle" card. I think they are brilliant and I want a billion copies. Here's hoping we get the enemy color ones soonish.
I could easily expand my list to include some of the flavor home-runs (Trespasser's Curse, the Monument cycle), Kefnet, Lord of the Accursed, Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons, Neheb, the Worthy, and all of the green/black "shrink/kill your dudes" cards like Exemplar of Strength and Plague Belcher). I was on the fence for a while since the Gods and Aftermath cards are mostly underwhelming, but overall I am extremely pleased with this set as a lover of Egyptology and a lover of value durdling, and look forward to my prerelease and box.
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
Gideon
Nissa
Glorybringer
Glorybound Initiate
Combat Celebrant
Hazoret
Rhonas
Oketra
Vizier of Menagerie
Bloodfury Militant !
& many more. Good set, but not great to me. Though much better than AER
As Foretold: Not for any broken shenanigans, but simply for the ability to play a free spell each turn, sounds fun.
Archfiend of Ifnir: Such cool flavor and some kickass abilities to boot. Cards like this make me want to build a -1/-1 counter deck.
Dread Wanderer: Partly because I enjoy recurring critters, partly for the awesome art, and honestly because Zombie Jackal!
Nest of Scarabs: Honestly after seeing this card early in the spoilers, I just fell in love with the set. First card in a long time that's made me want to brew a entirely new deck. I really like this in multi alongside something like Midnight Banshee hehe.
Glorious End: Because it's Glorious!
Champion of Rhonas: This just tickles my inner Timmy/Johnny. And no I won't be dropping any Eldrazi, just some good old dumb green beaters.
Sandwurm Convergence: Besides being epic in all ways...The Spice Must Flow!
Soul-Scar Mage: I was all ready to make my B/G -1/-1 counter deck when i saw this beauty, now it's gonna be Jund all the way!
Vizier of the Menagerie: I always love cards that let me use my mana as any color to cast things, this is that plus so much more.
Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons: I just love the interesting implications and interactions her secondary ability can achieve via many sources old and new.
PS. Oh and almost forgot, and Honorable mention to all of the Gods Monuments, I particularly want to try out Rhonas's, and Oketras.
Oketra the True
Gideon
As Foretold
Curator of Mysteries
Cryptic Serpent
Glyph Keeper
Heiroglyphic Illumination
Kefnet the Mindful
New Perspectives
Open Into Wonder
Sacred Excavation
Seeker of Insight
Benefaction of Rhonas
Gift of Paradise
Greater Sandwurm
Harvest Season
Rhonas the Indomitable
Sandwurn Convergence
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun
Oketra's Monument
Oracle's Vault
Evolving Wilds
Irrigated Farmland
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
As Foretold
Censor
Glorious End
Sweltering Suns
Neheb, the Worthy
Nissa, Steward of Elements
Bicycle Lands
Nest of scarabs. .............................. Anointed procession
Lord of the accursed. ........................ Approach of the second sun
Liliana, deaths Majesty. ................... Cast out
Plague belcher. ................................. Gideon of the trials
Bone picker. ..................................... Aven mindcensor
Shadow of the grave
Scarab feast
As foretold. .................................... Blazing volley
Curator of mysterious. .................. Glorious end
Drake Haven. ................................... Glorybringer
VIZIER of tumbling sands. ............... Harsh mentor
Wind of rebuke
Hapatras mark. ............................... Merciless javelineer
Harvest season. .............................. Nehab the worthy
Rhonas the imdomitable. ............... Nissa, steward of elements
Vizier of the menagerie ............... Samut voice of dissent
Embalmers tools
10 Aftermath split Rares....They really want you to use these...... ugh
And what is up with Gate to the Afterlife....Lots of hoops so whatever the God-Pharoahs Gift IS....
...It should be Incredible. ( Enters play, You win hahahaha)
Same like most other sets I review, there are 2 lists of 10, one for playability (and power, but not necessarily strictly ranked in the "correct" order due to mish-mash of formats and I like to put design-aspects as well) and the other for flavor (because that's important enough for me at least). Let's start with playability.
9) Rhonas the Indomitable - I'll be honest, the Gods were a disappointment to me (none of them made the flavor cut), but without a doubt Rhonas was the strongest of the five in terms of playability and I suppose I should let one of them up at least.
8) Nissa, Steward of Elements - Well while UG Nissa looks to have a more unstable potential than Liliana, we got our first "Hydra" planeswalker. That new design space used earns enough points me to rank above Liliana at least, but not as much as...
7) Glorious End - Probably the most Mythic Red Mythic we got, especially in the non-permanent section. Simple design, but it screams so much elegance in every direction. I don't have too much hopes on its playability but it's still explosive enough I could see it being the cause of a few victories (just not a mainstream staple of any sort).
6) Harsh Mentor - While not as innovative, I appreciate good punisher cards. Now if they only printed one for ETB triggered abilities instead of Panharmonicon....
5) Bone Picker - Remember Delver? This might be even better than Delver. It has deathtouch, requires pretty much just removal (which Midrange decks have plenty of) instead of a luck-based flip (considering Delver decks can still whiff despite being built around it...) and can be cast for a full-4 instead as an underwhelming 1/1 (that's dependent on luck again) in the later game.
4) Vizier of Remedies - The Abzan Company people in Modern certainly are looking at this. Makes persist "immortal", combos with Devoted Druid for infinite mana as early as turn 3/4. While the correct shell may not have been found yet it at least has a stronger basis than what Bone Picker has to work with, so it's ranked higher.
3) As Foretold - Okay, it doesn't have a basis as strong as Vizier of Remedies (or Bone Picker), but this card is explosively dangerous. Restore Balance immediately is no laughing matter and the card only builds up to be more dangerous from there. It's like the Paradox Engine of this set, potential so dangerous I'm cautious enough to rank it here. But Engine I ranked first in Aether Revolt and As Foretold only third? Well, thanks to...
2) Gideon of the Trials - Well, we have something that isn't just potentially dangerous, it's outright dangerous, especially since Amonkhet was designed with BFZ rotating out in mind than but it turned out not to be so. Gideon Tribal looks set to be as set as obvious as CopyCat in Standard. But waitaminute I ranked Felidar Guardian as the third card in Aether Revolt (with Fatal Push between it and Engine), so why was something obviously dangerous ranked below something potentially dangerous then but not now? Well, because...
1) Vizier of the Menagerie - Sorry people, I have an EDH bias. My first place rankings tend to just lean towards favortism more than anything else (I ranked It That Rides as One first in EMN for flavor after all...) Engine got ahead then because it was potentially dangerous a lot more in EDH (which As Foretold doesn't do as well). Likewise here, Amonkhet previews were a bit slow to get going for me and this Political Advisor of the Zoo here was the first card to impress me. While I do have a few other select cards I want for EDH from the set as well, I think the Vizier still impressed me the most, especially when I consider Animar to be my "signature" Commander. So yeah, complete bias here.
Now onto the flavor list. Not sure whether it was a lack of interest, or a case of too many expectations, or the Bolas/Gatewatch factor diluting it, or maybe a combination of all of them, I'm not particularly impressed by Amonkhet flavor-wise. It does mark the boxes of Ancient Egypt quite well, but there's nothing that really made me go "wow" over the world itself, nor did a single card successfully did it this time round (like It That Rides as One did). But here's the list:
9) Colossapede - I like "Survival of the Fittest" flavor texts and while this isn't the best the entire game has to offer, amongst those in the set (most by Rhonas), this was the best.
8) Curator of Mysteries - A shame we don't have a lot of Sphinxes in the set (I suppose Bolas did something with those less cooperative back then), but I found the entire card (and flavor text) quite the apt description.
7) Regal Caracal - Meow Meow it's three Cows... I mean Cats. It's sort of like the Sphinxes (along with the same expectations from an Ancient Egypt set), but by virtue of Sphinxes being an Iconic Species while Cats aren't a Characteristic Species they get one over the Sphinxes here.
6) Grim Strider - I appreciate the mention of outside horrors (that aren't sandstorms, zombies and wurms). I know there are others as well, but this one among the entire lot impressed me the most, because despite Eldrazi having a bad name in the game now, their likeness-in-designs still lend best towards unknown horrors.
5) Pyramid of the Pantheon - Short simple flavor text, but yet so grand and unnerving (although the later is because we know Bolas is up to something).
4) Cartouche of Zeal - I like the blood in the art, it really adds a lot to the mystery behind the trials and few cards do it visually with subtlety as this card does.
3) Shadow of the Grave - I like cards that help describe a world and its situation. This is the card that does so for Amonkhet and the art also helps amplify the atmosphere greatly. Usually these sort of cards get first place, but for Amonkhet...
2) Oashra Cultivator - unnerves me completely. It's almost like the citizens actually know what Bolas's real plans are and are in full support of it (rather than being misled by the Gods). The look on the face tells it all (although I guess it's still possible to be this confident about being harvested in death for some grand plan that was a lie, but it's still unnerving).
1) Harvest Season - Well, I did say that card that describe the plane usually get first and while I initially picked this card because the flavor text is one of those "This is how nature works" (like Colossapede) texts I like, upon reviewing it again it does also accurately describe Amonkhet (or at least, its current system). Honestly the top two cards helped each other get to their respective positions (one from an inside perspective and the other an overall one) and together they produced a flavor better than Shadow of the Grave could alone (which is why it got knocked down to third).
I am primarily an EDH player, and this just seems almost broken in that format. Yes its a sorcery, which does slow it down somewhat, but with someone like Mizzix of the Izmagnus this could get very dirty, very quickly.
Also for a token heavy or overtly aggro (Think Krenko, Mob Boss) deck, Throne of the God-Pharaoh will take some people down pretty quickly.
UBRJeleva, Nephalias Scourge: ...and the storm arrivedRBU
BGHapatra, Vizier of PoisonsGB
WAvacyn, Angel of Hope: Avy, Baby!W
Wow, you said pretty much exactly what I would have.
There are about five cards in this set I want.
That's the worst for a large set since, like, Theros.
Amonkhet hasn't even arrived and I'm already ready to leave.
Reprint Stasis!
Control needs more love.
EDH:
Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
Melek, Izzet Paragon
Oona, Queen of the Fae
Bruna, Light of Alabaster
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Rhys the Redeemed
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Sen Triplets
The Mimeoplasm
WUBRGSliver OverlordGRBUW
WUBRGSliver Hivelord(Superfriends)GRBUW
What really sucks? I love Egypt. But this isn't enough Egyptian Mythology for me, and the God part of it just feels... weak. I realized that the Theros Gods were kind of similar, but they really suffer not having a Global effect.
Nissa, Steward of Elements -> Got a playset of her because she is one of the most interesting planeswalkers I've seen. I got a good feeling she may end up like Tezzeret, the Schemer, but due to her flexibility I believe she will be far more popular.
Liliana, Death's Majesty -> It's like someone in R&D wanted to make the de-facto version of Liliana. She does everything one would want from her: pump out tokens, fuel your graveyard, animate the dead, and her ultimate is decent. She reminds me a bit of Elspeth, Sun's Champion.
Regal Caracal -> It's a cat lord. A freaking good cat lord.
Cast Out -> Expensive, but that cycling makes it very useful.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
(W/U)(B/R)GForm of Progenitus, Shape of a Scrubland
BRGJund Tokens with Prossh, the Magic Dragon Foil
URGAnimar, the RUG CleanerFoil
RRRFeldon of the Third Path 2.0 Foil
BG(B/G)Not Another Meren DeckFoil
UR(U/R)Mizzix, Y Control and X Burn Spells
(W/U)(B/R)GHarold Ramos - The 35 Foot Long Twinkie (In +1/+1 counters)
UB(U/B)Dragonlord Silumgar