The knight Planeswalker Elspeth Tirel sees herself as the protector of the Multiverse. She has pledged her sword and shield to all who suffer, and she summons forth impressive armies to assist her. The merfolk Planeswalker Kiora calls upon the creatures of the deepest oceans to fight at her side. She is the master of the world beneath the waves, her true power only now beginning to surface. How will these Planeswalkers measure up when they meet in battle?
So the big question here is, what cards will these decks have? Any particular strategies? I mean, we've seen one Elspeth deck, and it had a soldier theme. I wonder if this will carry over with the same idea? Kiora will obviously feature some creatures of the deep, but how does green fall into the mix?
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
It'd be nice to have a Path To Exile in here to help reduce the cost of one of the most expensive staple white uncommons in multiple formats. Mystical Snake with modern border would also be awesome. Oracle of Mul Daya would be nice but is a long shot.
I like the idea of basing an individual Planeswalker's Duel Deck on planes they visited previously and/or their home world. Elspeth and Kiora can each be an example.
Elspeth likes white weenie, and we know she's been to Alara, Dominaria, and Mirrodin. On Alara, Elspeth was associated with Bant, the white-centric shard which rewarded attacking with a single creature in the form of Exalted. After fleeing Alara, Elspeth spent some time pit fighting in Urborg, Dominaria, before joining Koth of the Hammer in the war against Phyrexia on Mirrodin as chronicled in Scars of Mirrodin. The Mirrans featured Battle cry as a signature mechanic which rewarded attacking with as many creatures as possible, quite the opposite of Exalted. Eventually Elspeth was forced to Planeswalk to another world, one which she had apparently visited before: Theros. She was recruited by Heliod, God of the Sun to serve as a hero and his champion. Heroes on Theros are associated with the Heroic ability word, which rewards players for casting spells that target creatures with the ability, namely instants, sorceries, and Auras.
Exalted clashes with Battle cry mechanically though not necessarily Heroic. Battle cry could be complimented by Battalion, the Boros Legion's signature ability word from Gatecrash which rewards players for attacking with at least two other creatures in addition to the creature with the ability. Battle cry and Battalion both seem like they would fit Elspeth, Sun's Champion's multiple creature aggro strategy quite well while Heroic would have a bit of flavor to it.
Kiora hails from Zendikar, tends to have strange dreams, and likes large sea monsters such as Leviathans and Krakens. Zendikar featured Landfall, which rewarded players for playing lands; Kicker and Multikicker, both of which let you pump extra mana into your spells, and Level up, which allows you to upgrade creatures by leveling them up multiple times. Kiora's search for sea monsters suitable to battle the Eldrazi led her to Theros, which features Monstrosity, a one-use +1/+1 counter-generating action word found on monstrous creatures like hydras and krakens, and Scry, a returning action word that allows you to look at the top cards of your library, rearrange them, and even move them to the bottom if desired.
Kiora's Explore ability and love of fatties suggests a land ramping strategy which plays well with Landfall, Kicker, Multikicker, Level up, and Monstrosity, supported by card draw and Scry which flavorfully can represent her dreams. In contrast to Elspeth's white weenie deck, Kiora's fatty ramp deck wants more control options including damage prevention and counterspells.
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
I disagree with you about Elspeth only because Heliod betrayed her, so I can't see her using a ton of Heliod based cards. She might have some heroic, but other than that I'm unsure.
Anyone have any suggestions for Kiora's deck? I find her a bit mysterious since all of the Krakens and Leviathans we have aren't that exciting or they're too themed towards another set.
Aside from the decklists I posted a couple weeks back, I think Deep-Sea Kraken would be a good fit for the Kiora deck.
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MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
I base my decklists on what the Planeswalkers want to be doing. Elspeth wants lots of weenie aggro, thus downplaying Heroic, Aura-based Heroic in particular, which is a pity as it would be a good flavor fit. Elspeth also wants a good suite of removal as Kiora's late game threats will need answers. Kiora's sea monster focus is obvious, but for early game plays she wants a mixture of defense and ramp, augmented with card draw. To sum up the basic direction I see for each deck:
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
I'll be very disappointed if Kiora's deck doesn't have at least, Whelming Wave, Quest for Ula's Temple, Kiora's Follower, Kraken Hatchling, and at least one each of Kraken, Octopus, Serpent, and Levaithan for the Wave and Temple. I'd want her deck to include a decent number of things from both Theros block and Zendikar block, although be spread out all over the planes overall of course, but at least a noteworthy few cards from planes she is known to be connected to.
I'd be similarly disappointed if Elspeth's deck doesn't have Godsend, some exalted stuff, some knights, soldiers, and angels (or at least angel related cards), and something involving Bant sigil lore, such as Sigiled Paladin. I'd want her deck to include a decent number of things from Theros, Alara, and Mirrodin blocks, although like the Kiora one, other stuff spread out over the planes overall would also be included, but at least noteworthy stuff from the planes we know she has been to.
What do you guys think the mildly expensive uncommon reprint is going to be this time around?
As far as uncommons go, it's hard to make an assumption without imagining cards that were already in reprints. I can imagine a lot of "valuable" common cards being in these decks, however. You'll notice my decklists contain a lot of these.
Giant sea monsters are Kiora's thing. They're the focus of her creative stories. Certainly she can support it with Merfolk like Kiora's Follower or Merfolk Wayfinder, but the draw of her deck will be sea monsters. It's the perfect win con for a Planeswalker with defensive, rampy abilities.
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MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
Giant sea monsters are Kiora's thing. They're the focus of her creative stories. Certainly she can support it with Merfolk like Kiora's Follower or Merfolk Wayfinder, but the draw of her deck will be sea monsters. It's the perfect win con for a Planeswalker with defensive, rampy abilities.
This is definitely what I was thinking. The Merfolk will be there but probably be more supportive towards playing large creatures.
I would like to see disenchant reprinted in Elspeth's deck, since it has not been reprinted in a long time, and this is only a supplemental product, not a core set or expansion set.
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1) I think Heroic is a slam-dunk include to showcase as the "evolution" of Elspeth's character. Heroic isn't that anti-synergystic with tokens and going wide: Phalanx Leader and Vanguard of Brimaz exist, as do Strive cards like Ajani's Presence (to show their close friendship) and Launch the Fleet and Radiance cards like Bathe in Light (which target while still boosting the team). Toss in a few easily recurable enablers like Conviction, Anoint, or Brilliant Halo (which all mostly feel in-character and appropriate) or even some Bestow cards, and it's an easy sub-theme. Also note that they don't need to make it a major component to include it - Jace 2 had a mill sub-theme because that's so Jace, but precious little chance of actually winning that way.
2) They tend to avoid repeating value cards, so Swords to Plowshares is right out. Path to Exile is a tough call; they have mostly avoided repeating value cards from other decks and it was in Venser v. Koth, but I say "mostly" because we just got Goblin Warchief again in a different context. I'd still bet no on it though. If there's a value card in Elspeth, I'm thinking it will be Mother of Runes, Felidar Umbra, Spirit Mantle, or possibly Resurrection as a cheeky bit of foreshadowing.
3) Jace repeated unavoidable mechanical stuff (bounce, counters, draw, fliers) but mostly avoided repeating cards and themes to show personality stuff - Jace in JvV uses Illusion tribal, mill, and "control magic" effects to show his mind mastery and cleverness instead of using Morph and "alternate cost" spells. As a result, I expect to see white weenie and combat tricks and maybe even a repeat of Raise the Alarm, Mighty Leap, and Elite Vanguard in Elspeth's deck, but I think they'll shy away from outright Soldier tribal, Convoke, or the Reinforce mechanic.
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The trouble with including Heroic in a duel deck is it requires specific and consistent support which means a good portion of the noncreature cards would be buff effects when Elspeth is going to need some removal to help deal with Kiora's fatties. I'm not saying it's impossible, indeed I agree that there would be some flavor there, I'm just looking at what the deck would need to actually support Heroic on a sufficiantly consistent basis.
Another reason I don't think Heroic Elspeth is likely is because Kiora's already about playing fatties, Heroic Elspeth would end up with a similar strategy, different path. Sure, she's using anthem effects to boost her creatures, but the focus is on the army, not building up a Hercules to wrestle sea monsters, fitting though that might be.
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
Well, there is one specific option if Kiora uses fatties and Elspeth uses Heroic for Elspeth to use: Valorous Stance
I don't think Heroic is really a good fit though, maybe one or two dudes with it, but not really as an Elspeth fitting theme. She seems more of a 'last minute struggle against that thing I don't really want to be the one to fight' type.
I wish there were better Sea Monsters for Kiora. I feel like all the Krakens we have, as well as serpents and octopi, are not necessarily... good. Haha.
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
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The knight Planeswalker Elspeth Tirel sees herself as the protector of the Multiverse. She has pledged her sword and shield to all who suffer, and she summons forth impressive armies to assist her. The merfolk Planeswalker Kiora calls upon the creatures of the deepest oceans to fight at her side. She is the master of the world beneath the waves, her true power only now beginning to surface. How will these Planeswalkers measure up when they meet in battle?
So the big question here is, what cards will these decks have? Any particular strategies? I mean, we've seen one Elspeth deck, and it had a soldier theme. I wonder if this will carry over with the same idea? Kiora will obviously feature some creatures of the deep, but how does green fall into the mix?
Here are my predictions:
Kiora
2 Kiora's Follower
1 Stormtide Leviathan
1 Kraken Hatchling
1 Giant Octopus
1 Harbor Serpent
1 Nimbus Swimmer
1 Lorescale Coatl
1 Winged Coatl
1 Mystic Snake
1 Kiora, the Crashing Wave
2 Temporal Spring
1 Whelming Wave
1 Flood
1 Griptide
1 Spreading Seas
1 Khalni Heart Expedition
1 Treasure Hunt
2 Explore
2 Thornwood Falls
2 Evolving Wilds
12 Island
8 Forest
Elspeth
1 Captain of the Watch
1 Archetype of Courage
1 Court Street Denizen
2 Daru Warchief
1 Enlistment Officer
2 Elite Vanguard
1 Fencing Ace
1 Field Marshal
1 Oathsworn Giant
1 Palace Guard
1 Paragon of New Dawns
1 Precinct Captain
1 Skyspear Cavalry
1 Veteran Armorer
2 Veteran Swordsmith
2 Veteran Armorsmith
2 Volunteer Militia
1 Eiganjo Free-Riders
1 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
1 Condemn
1 Mobilization
1 Honor of the Pure
1 Austere Command
1 Brave the Elements
1 Captain's Call
1 Guardian's Pledge
1 Safe Passage
1 Riot Control
1 Reprisal
1 Banishing Light
1 Elixir of Immortality
1 Mistveil Plains
1 Terramorphic Expanse
22 Plains
Discuss!
Dunes of Zairo
SHANDALAR
Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries
Reprint Stasis!
Control needs more love.
EDH:
WUBRGSliver OverlordGRBUW
WUBRGSliver Hivelord(Superfriends)GRBUW
I could definitely see it~!
Dunes of Zairo
SHANDALAR
Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries
UBRKess, Dissident MageUBR - Controlling Dissidents
GRhonas the IndomitableG - Indomitable Four Drops
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticWUB - Loot & Renanimate
Elspeth likes white weenie, and we know she's been to Alara, Dominaria, and Mirrodin. On Alara, Elspeth was associated with Bant, the white-centric shard which rewarded attacking with a single creature in the form of Exalted. After fleeing Alara, Elspeth spent some time pit fighting in Urborg, Dominaria, before joining Koth of the Hammer in the war against Phyrexia on Mirrodin as chronicled in Scars of Mirrodin. The Mirrans featured Battle cry as a signature mechanic which rewarded attacking with as many creatures as possible, quite the opposite of Exalted. Eventually Elspeth was forced to Planeswalk to another world, one which she had apparently visited before: Theros. She was recruited by Heliod, God of the Sun to serve as a hero and his champion. Heroes on Theros are associated with the Heroic ability word, which rewards players for casting spells that target creatures with the ability, namely instants, sorceries, and Auras.
Exalted clashes with Battle cry mechanically though not necessarily Heroic. Battle cry could be complimented by Battalion, the Boros Legion's signature ability word from Gatecrash which rewards players for attacking with at least two other creatures in addition to the creature with the ability. Battle cry and Battalion both seem like they would fit Elspeth, Sun's Champion's multiple creature aggro strategy quite well while Heroic would have a bit of flavor to it.
2 Boros Elite
1 Accorder Paladin
1 Daring Skyjek
1 Precinct Captain
1 Attended Knight
1 Crusader of Odric
1 Frontline Medic
1 Banisher Priest
1 Benalish Commander
1 Goldnight Commander
1 Paragon of New Dawns
1 Rhox Pikemaster
1 Loxodon Partisan
1 Nav Squad Commandos
1 Noble Templar
1 Evangel of Heliod
1 Seraph of the Masses
2 Raise the Alarm
2 To Arms!
2 Devouring Light
1 Guardians' Pledge
1 True Conviction
1 Decree of Justice
2 New Benalia
20 Plains
2 Secluded Steppe
Kiora hails from Zendikar, tends to have strange dreams, and likes large sea monsters such as Leviathans and Krakens. Zendikar featured Landfall, which rewarded players for playing lands; Kicker and Multikicker, both of which let you pump extra mana into your spells, and Level up, which allows you to upgrade creatures by leveling them up multiple times. Kiora's search for sea monsters suitable to battle the Eldrazi led her to Theros, which features Monstrosity, a one-use +1/+1 counter-generating action word found on monstrous creatures like hydras and krakens, and Scry, a returning action word that allows you to look at the top cards of your library, rearrange them, and even move them to the bottom if desired.
Kiora's Explore ability and love of fatties suggests a land ramping strategy which plays well with Landfall, Kicker, Multikicker, Level up, and Monstrosity, supported by card draw and Scry which flavorfully can represent her dreams. In contrast to Elspeth's white weenie deck, Kiora's fatty ramp deck wants more control options including damage prevention and counterspells.
1 Kraken Hatchling
1 Skywatcher Adept
1 Halimar Wavewatch
1 Sigiled Starfish
2 Coiling Oracle
2 Kiora's Follower
1 Merfolk Wayfinder
1 Giant Octopus
1 Sealock Monster
1 Water Elemental
1 Shoal Serpent
1 Merfolk of the Depths
1 Shipbreaker Kraken
1 Simic Sky Swallower
1 Stormtide Leviathan
1 Deep-Sea Kraken
1 Nimbus Swimmer
1 Into the Roil
1 Ior Ruin Expedition
2 Khalni Heart Expedition
2 Explore
1 Dissolve
1 Foresee
1 Peregrination
1 Whelming Wave
1 Gush
1 Mysteries of the Deep
1 Condescend
8 Forest
2 Halimar Depths
10 Island
2 Simic Guildgate
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
Dunes of Zairo
SHANDALAR
Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries
Dunes of Zairo
SHANDALAR
Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
Kiora, the Crashing Wave:
1 Quest for Ula's Temple
1 Kraken Hatchling
1 Nimbus Swimmer
1 Simic Sky Swallower
1 Shoal Serpent
1 Lorthos, the Tidemaker
1 Godhunter Octopus
1 Cold-Eyed Selkie
1 Enclave Cryptologist
1 Gaea's Skyfolk
1 Kiora's Follower
1 Merfolk of the Depths
1 Prime Speaker Zegana
1 Sea Scryer
1 Selkie Hedge-Mage
1 Wistful Selkie
1 Reef Worm
1 Favor of the Overbeing
1 Hydroform
1 Invert the Skies
1 Temporal Spring
1 Trygon Predator
1 Halimar Depths
1 Peer Through Depths
1 Deepchannel Mentor
1 Deep-Sea Kraken
1 Deepwater Hypnotist
1 Mysteries of the Deep
1 Pull from the Deep
1 Research the Deep
1 Sea Gate Oracle
1 Seafloor Debris
1 Turtleshell Changeling
Elspeth, Sun's Champion:
1 Crusade
1 Archetype of Courage
1 Guardians of Akrasa
1 Pristine Talisman
1 Reprisal
1 Angelic Accord
1 Angelic Armaments
1 Angelic Benediction
1 Angelic Destiny
1 Angelic Edict
1 Angelic Wall
1 Entreat the Angels
1 Opal Archangel
1 Bladed Bracers
1 Call to Serve
1 Decree of Justice
1 Defy Death
1 Devout Invocation
1 Luminarch Ascension
1 Moonsilver Spear
1 Seraph Sanctuary
1 Sigil of the Empty Throne
1 Urbis Protector
1 Archangel
1 Guardian Seraph
1 Herald of War
1 Seraph of the Masses
1 Voice of Duty
1 Voice of Reason
1 Avatar of Hope
1 Luminate Primordial
1 Fabled Hero
1 Intrepid Hero
1 Moment of Heroism
1 Elite Vanguard
1 Akrasan Squire
1 Attended Knight
1 Knight Errant
1 Knight of the White Orchid
1 Sigiled Paladin
1 Student of Warfare
1 Youthful Knight
I really just want to see enough tech between the two decks to build a budget Bant Control from the two of them.
Dunes of Zairo
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Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries
Elspeth - weenie aggro, removal
Kiora - defense, ramp, card draw, sea monsters
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
I'd be similarly disappointed if Elspeth's deck doesn't have Godsend, some exalted stuff, some knights, soldiers, and angels (or at least angel related cards), and something involving Bant sigil lore, such as Sigiled Paladin. I'd want her deck to include a decent number of things from Theros, Alara, and Mirrodin blocks, although like the Kiora one, other stuff spread out over the planes overall would also be included, but at least noteworthy stuff from the planes we know she has been to.
Hmm... maybe one of the following:
Aven Mindcensor
Enlightened Tutor
Counterbalance
Path to Exile
Remand again
Spell Snare
Eternal Witness
Sylvan Scrying
Æther Vial (not sure why this one, but it _is_ an uncommon in original printing, maybe if Kiora's deck is half merfolk strategy or for some kind of weird white weenie thing on Elspeth's to get around counterspells in Kiora's)
Dryad Arbor
Tolaria West
Gilder Bairn
As far as uncommons go, it's hard to make an assumption without imagining cards that were already in reprints. I can imagine a lot of "valuable" common cards being in these decks, however. You'll notice my decklists contain a lot of these.
Dunes of Zairo
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Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries
I'd love Remand, Spell Snare, or Dryad Arbor. Gilder Bairn seems the most likely, though, provided they don't think the untap symbol is too complex.
UR Blue-Red Control
Modern:
UBR Grixis Control
UWR Jeskai Control
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
This is definitely what I was thinking. The Merfolk will be there but probably be more supportive towards playing large creatures.
Dunes of Zairo
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Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries
“When the people fear the government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”-Thomas Jefferson
“A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of its user.”-Theodore Roosevelt
“Patriotism means to stand by one's country; it does not mean to stand by one's president.”-Theodore Roosevelt
1) I think Heroic is a slam-dunk include to showcase as the "evolution" of Elspeth's character. Heroic isn't that anti-synergystic with tokens and going wide: Phalanx Leader and Vanguard of Brimaz exist, as do Strive cards like Ajani's Presence (to show their close friendship) and Launch the Fleet and Radiance cards like Bathe in Light (which target while still boosting the team). Toss in a few easily recurable enablers like Conviction, Anoint, or Brilliant Halo (which all mostly feel in-character and appropriate) or even some Bestow cards, and it's an easy sub-theme. Also note that they don't need to make it a major component to include it - Jace 2 had a mill sub-theme because that's so Jace, but precious little chance of actually winning that way.
2) They tend to avoid repeating value cards, so Swords to Plowshares is right out. Path to Exile is a tough call; they have mostly avoided repeating value cards from other decks and it was in Venser v. Koth, but I say "mostly" because we just got Goblin Warchief again in a different context. I'd still bet no on it though. If there's a value card in Elspeth, I'm thinking it will be Mother of Runes, Felidar Umbra, Spirit Mantle, or possibly Resurrection as a cheeky bit of foreshadowing.
3) Jace repeated unavoidable mechanical stuff (bounce, counters, draw, fliers) but mostly avoided repeating cards and themes to show personality stuff - Jace in JvV uses Illusion tribal, mill, and "control magic" effects to show his mind mastery and cleverness instead of using Morph and "alternate cost" spells. As a result, I expect to see white weenie and combat tricks and maybe even a repeat of Raise the Alarm, Mighty Leap, and Elite Vanguard in Elspeth's deck, but I think they'll shy away from outright Soldier tribal, Convoke, or the Reinforce mechanic.
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
If the Elspeth deck does in fact use Heroic, then some cards I'm seeing them using right now are Ethereal Armor, Blessing, Chosen by Heliod, Eidolon of Countless Battles, Armored Ascension, and Auramancer. Daily Regimen would be a neat compliment to the +1/+1 counter Heroic effects. One upside to an enchantment-heavy Elspeth deck is that they'd have an excuse to include Kiora's Dismissal in the Kiora deck, one of currently two cards named after her.
Another reason I don't think Heroic Elspeth is likely is because Kiora's already about playing fatties, Heroic Elspeth would end up with a similar strategy, different path. Sure, she's using anthem effects to boost her creatures, but the focus is on the army, not building up a Hercules to wrestle sea monsters, fitting though that might be.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
I don't think Heroic is really a good fit though, maybe one or two dudes with it, but not really as an Elspeth fitting theme. She seems more of a 'last minute struggle against that thing I don't really want to be the one to fight' type.
First Response, Gather the Townsfolk, and Timely Reinforcements seem to fit her flavor more.
Dunes of Zairo
SHANDALAR
Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.