I think we'll get cards with the names of the planeswalker's in them involving the planeswalkers in the set, such as Jace's SomethingOrOther or Chandra's ThisAndThat, given the themes involved and focus on their origin stories, but these cards will primarily be lower cmc ones outside of black, since we are focusing on their 'baby-walker' times. Black would be the exception with high cmc stuff allowed since Liliana started off as an oldwalker, as she was supposed to have ascended before the mending.
I also think we might get the enemy color cycles to the Flinthoof Boar and Sunblade Elf cycles, so a full cycle of 10 cards, enemy colors only going both 'directions', rather than cycles of 5, since they won't be able to go back to having core sets after this for easy putting in simpler things like this.
I'm guessing that the mechanic for the 'player' leveling up will be some non-planeswalker card method to get emblems, probably with some difficult hoops to jump through, along the lines of enchantments that have to be filled up with quest counters somehow, like Luminarch Ascension. They'll make these mostly relatively weak emblems, but somewhat easier to get than the average emblem from most planeswalkers. They might also have some instant or sorcery versions that offer relatively weak emblems that normally aren't constructed viable as enchantments, like perhaps one that offers the effects of Telepathy.
I'm guessing we'll also get a new cycle of 'iconic' critters (Angel, Sphinx, Demon, Dragon, and Hydra) that are relatively pushed for a final hurrah of core-set-i-ness.
Spectral Knight2W Creature - Spirit Knight
Flying, First Strike
Spectral Knight gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Swamp. 1BB: Spectral Knight gets Lifelink and Deathtouch until end of turn. 1/3
Plateau MarshallW Creature - Human Soldier
Vigilance
Plateau Marshall gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Mountain. R: Plateau Marshall gets First strike until end of turn. 1/1
Spire GaleU Creature - Elemental
Flying
Spire Gale gets +1/+1 as long as you control a mountain. R: Spire Gale gets +1/+0 until end of turn. 0/2
Shimmerscale Drake2U Creature - Drake
Flying
Shimmerscale Drake gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Forest. G: Shimmerscale Drake gets hexproof until end of turn. 1/3
Paranoid Noble1B Creature - Human Advisor
Deathtouch
Paranoid Noble gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Plains. W: Paranoid Noble gets First strike until end of turn, untap it. 1/1
Ouroboros1B Creature - Snake Spirit
Deathtouch
Ouroboros gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Forest. G: Regenerate Ouroboros. 1/2
Windblade Dancer1R Creature - Human Wizard Monk
First Strike
Windblade Dancer gets +1/+1 as long as you control an Island. U: Windblade Dancer gains flying until end of turn. 1/1
Holy Phoenix3R Creature - Phoenix
Flying
Holy Phoenix gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Plains. 2W: Return Holy Phoenix from your graveyard to your hand and gain 4 life. 2/3
Mirror Weaver1G Creature - Spider Beast
Reach
Mirror Weaver gets +1/+1 as long as you control an Island. U: Mirror Weaver and another target creature you control gain hexproof until end of turn, untap Mirror Weaver. 0/3
Wandering Troll2G Creature - Troll
Wandering Troll gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Swamp. B: Regenerate Wandering Troll. 2/2
---
Gideon's IrregularWW Creature - Human Soldier
Vigilance, First Strike One of the first skills Gideon developed as a planeswalker was summoning soldiers patterned off his old comrades. 2/2
Gideon's TacticsWW Enchantment
Creatures you control have Vigilance and First strike.
Jace's BrainstormingUU Instant
Look at target player's hand, then draw two cards, then put one card from your hand on the top or bottom of your library. The thoughts of others could serve as inspiration for the young Jace.
Jace's FigmentU Creature - Illusion
Hexproof It's true location does not match what is in your mind. 1/1
Liliana's Curse1BB Instant
Target player discards a card at random then sacrifices a creature at random.
Liliana's Revivification1BBB Instant
Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield, it enters the battlefield tapped, it gains the Zombie type in addition to it's other types.
Chandra's Practice FireR Sorcery
Chandra's Practice Fire deals 3 damage to target creature or player, and 2 damage to you. "Ooops! Ow!"
Chandra's Inspiration1R Sorcery
Exile the top two cards of your library. Choose one of them, until end of turn, you may play that card exiled this way. (If you cast a spell this way, you still pay its costs. You can play a land this way only if you have an available land play remaining.)
Nissa's Elite1G Creature - Elf Archer
Reach
Nissa's Elite gets +0/+2 if you control at least two other Elf creatures and/or a Planeswalker Nissa.
If Nissa's Elite would enter the graveyard from anywhere, you may put it on the bottom of your library instead. 2/2
Nissa's Elvish SecretsGG Sorcery
Return target card from your graveyard to your hand. Gain 2 life.
Since there will be a theme of players leveling up, perhaps we'll get something similar to the Ascension cycle from Zendikar? Another idea that springs to mind is skill counters for players, where your spells grow in strength with each skill counter you accumulate. Something like "You get a skill counter, then Burn Spell deals damage equal to the number of skill counters you have to target creature or player."
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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.
Blessed One4WWW Creature - Angel
Flash
Flying, Vigilance, Lifelink, First strike, Protection from Red and from Black.
You have hexproof. 5/5
Guardian of the Mystery3UUU Creature - Sphinx
Flash
Flying, Hexproof
When Guardian of the Mystery leaves the battlefield, draw a card.
If a spell or ability an opponent controls would cause you to discard Guardian of the Mystery from your hand, you may put it onto the battlefield instead, if you do, skip your next draw step. 4/4
Exchanger of Souls2BBBB Creature - Demon
As an additional cost to cast Exchanger of Souls, sacrifice a creature and pay 2 life.
Flying, Haste, First Strike, Lifelink
Whenever ~ attacks, each opponent sacrifices a creature.
Sacrifice a creature: Regenerate Exchanger of Souls. 5/4
Stubborn Firelord3RRRR Creature - Dragon
Stubborn Firelord can't be countered.
Flying, Haste, Protection from White and from Blue.
Whenever Stubborn Firelord attacks or when it dies, Stubborn Firelord deals 6 damage to target creature an opponent controls. 6/5
Long-Necks PredatorxGGGGG Creature - Hydra
Long-Necks Predator can't be countered.
Vigilance, Trample, Reach, Hexproof
Long-Necks Predator enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it.
Remove two +1/+1 counters from Long-Necks Predator: Regenerate Long-Necks Predator. 5/5
Perfected Guardian7 Creature - Golem
Indestructible, Vigilance.
You have hexproof as long as Perfected Guardian is not tapped.
Perfected Guardian can't be blocked by creatures with toughness 3 or less.
Perfected Guardian can't be tapped by spells or abilities you don't control. 4/5
Jace, Conjurer of Thought 2UU Legendary Creature - Human Wizard
Flash
When Jace, Conjurer of Thought enters the battlefield counter target spell an opponent controls unless they pay 2. Whenever a spell or ability an opponent controls is countered by a spell or ability you control, exile Jace, Conjurer or thought, then return him to the battle field transformed under his owner's control. 2/2
Jace, Master Manipulator Planeswalker - Jace
+1: Look at the top 2 cards of target players library, you may put any number of them on the bottom of that players library.
-2: Look at the top 4 cards of your library and put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom in any order.
-8: Target Opponent shuffles his or her hand into their library, then look at the top 10 cards of that player's library and put them back in any order. 4 Loyalty
Might be busted but I would love a flash counterspell that flips a Jace 'walker.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Currently playing: Legacy: RUB Grixis Delver | RUGB 4c Control Modern: UR Affinity | RWG Burn EDH: R Krenko Combo | UR Mizzix WomboCombo | U Arcum Daggson Combo | WUBG Atraxa Dumpster Fire French Duels EDH: BUG Leovold, Emissary of Trest Prison Standard: Standard Sucks
Kytheon IoraWW Legendary Creature - Human Soldier Rogue
First strike, vigilance
If Kytheon Iora would die to to combat damage, you may exile him instead, then return him to the battlefield transformed under his owner's control. If you do, put a 1/1 white soldier creature token onto the battlefield. 2/2
Gideon, Wandering Lawkeeper Planeswalker - Gideon
+1 - Tap target creature, it doesn't untap during it's controller's next untap step.
-1 - Target planeswalker can't activate abilities until your next turn.
-5 - You gain an emblem with: "Creatures you control get +2/+2, vigilance, and first strike." 2 Loyalty
Jace, Telepathic ProdigyUU Legendary Creature - Human Wizard
Your opponents play with their hands revealed.
Sacrifice a blue wizard creature with converted mana cost 3 or more: Exile Jace, Telepathic Prodigy then return him to the battlefield transformed under his owner's control. If you do draw a card. 1/4
Jace, Mind Rending Genius Planeswalker - Jace
+1 - Put a 1/1 blue illusion fish creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
+0 - You gain an emblem with: "Your opponents play with their hands revealed."
-6 - Each opponent reveals their hand to you, you select one card from it, they put the rest on the bottom of their library in any order, then they gain an emblem with: "At the start of your end step, put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library." 3 Loyalty
Chandra, Pyromancy Dabbler1R Legendary Creature - Human Shaman R, t: Chandra, Pyromancy Dabbler deal 1 damage to target creature you don't control or target opponent, then 1 damage to a creature on the battlefield chosen at random.
If Chandra, Pyromancy Dabbler deals damage to another creature you control, exile her, then return her to the battlefield transformed. If you do, deal 1 damage to each creature on the battlefield. 1/2
Chandra, Mysterious Fire Adept Planeswalker - Chandra
+1 - Deal 1 damage to target creature or player.
-1 - Destroy target artifact.
-7 - You gain an emblem with: "At the start of your upkeep, deal 2 damage to target creature or player." 4 Loyalty
Nissa, Elvish Exile1GG Legendary Creature - Elf Druid
Reach
When Nissa, Elvish Exile enters the battlefield and at the start of your upkeep, put a 1/1 green sapproling creature token onto the battlefield.
At the start of your end step, if you control no sapprolings, exile Nissa, Evlish Exile, then return her to the battlefield transformed. If you do, put a 2/3 green elf archer creature token with reach onto the battlefield. 1/4
Nissa, Elf Elite Planeswalker - Nissa
+1 - Add G to your mana pool.
-1 - Put a 2/3 green elf archer creature token with reach onto the battlefield.
-7 - You gain an emblem with: "Elves you control get +2/+2 and hexproof." 4 Loyalty
I also think we might get the enemy color cycles to the Flinthoof Boar and Sunblade Elf cycles, so a full cycle of 10 cards, enemy colors only going both 'directions', rather than cycles of 5, since they won't be able to go back to having core sets after this for easy putting in simpler things like this.
I'm guessing that the mechanic for the 'player' leveling up will be some non-planeswalker card method to get emblems, probably with some difficult hoops to jump through, along the lines of enchantments that have to be filled up with quest counters somehow, like Luminarch Ascension. They'll make these mostly relatively weak emblems, but somewhat easier to get than the average emblem from most planeswalkers. They might also have some instant or sorcery versions that offer relatively weak emblems that normally aren't constructed viable as enchantments, like perhaps one that offers the effects of Telepathy.
I'm guessing we'll also get a new cycle of 'iconic' critters (Angel, Sphinx, Demon, Dragon, and Hydra) that are relatively pushed for a final hurrah of core-set-i-ness.
I'll put some samples in my next post.
Creature - Spirit Knight
Flying, First Strike
Spectral Knight gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Swamp.
1BB: Spectral Knight gets Lifelink and Deathtouch until end of turn.
1/3
Plateau Marshall W
Creature - Human Soldier
Vigilance
Plateau Marshall gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Mountain.
R: Plateau Marshall gets First strike until end of turn.
1/1
Spire Gale U
Creature - Elemental
Flying
Spire Gale gets +1/+1 as long as you control a mountain.
R: Spire Gale gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
0/2
Shimmerscale Drake 2U
Creature - Drake
Flying
Shimmerscale Drake gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Forest.
G: Shimmerscale Drake gets hexproof until end of turn.
1/3
Paranoid Noble 1B
Creature - Human Advisor
Deathtouch
Paranoid Noble gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Plains.
W: Paranoid Noble gets First strike until end of turn, untap it.
1/1
Ouroboros 1B
Creature - Snake Spirit
Deathtouch
Ouroboros gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Forest.
G: Regenerate Ouroboros.
1/2
Windblade Dancer 1R
Creature - Human Wizard Monk
First Strike
Windblade Dancer gets +1/+1 as long as you control an Island.
U: Windblade Dancer gains flying until end of turn.
1/1
Holy Phoenix 3R
Creature - Phoenix
Flying
Holy Phoenix gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Plains.
2W: Return Holy Phoenix from your graveyard to your hand and gain 4 life.
2/3
Mirror Weaver 1G
Creature - Spider Beast
Reach
Mirror Weaver gets +1/+1 as long as you control an Island.
U: Mirror Weaver and another target creature you control gain hexproof until end of turn, untap Mirror Weaver.
0/3
Wandering Troll 2G
Creature - Troll
Wandering Troll gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Swamp.
B: Regenerate Wandering Troll.
2/2
---
Gideon's Irregular WW
Creature - Human Soldier
Vigilance, First Strike
One of the first skills Gideon developed as a planeswalker was summoning soldiers patterned off his old comrades.
2/2
Gideon's Tactics WW
Enchantment
Creatures you control have Vigilance and First strike.
Jace's Brainstorming UU
Instant
Look at target player's hand, then draw two cards, then put one card from your hand on the top or bottom of your library.
The thoughts of others could serve as inspiration for the young Jace.
Jace's Figment U
Creature - Illusion
Hexproof
It's true location does not match what is in your mind.
1/1
Liliana's Curse 1BB
Instant
Target player discards a card at random then sacrifices a creature at random.
Liliana's Revivification 1BBB
Instant
Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield, it enters the battlefield tapped, it gains the Zombie type in addition to it's other types.
Chandra's Practice Fire R
Sorcery
Chandra's Practice Fire deals 3 damage to target creature or player, and 2 damage to you.
"Ooops! Ow!"
Chandra's Inspiration 1R
Sorcery
Exile the top two cards of your library. Choose one of them, until end of turn, you may play that card exiled this way. (If you cast a spell this way, you still pay its costs. You can play a land this way only if you have an available land play remaining.)
Nissa's Elite 1G
Creature - Elf Archer
Reach
Nissa's Elite gets +0/+2 if you control at least two other Elf creatures and/or a Planeswalker Nissa.
If Nissa's Elite would enter the graveyard from anywhere, you may put it on the bottom of your library instead.
2/2
Nissa's Elvish Secrets GG
Sorcery
Return target card from your graveyard to your hand. Gain 2 life.
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.
Blessed One 4WWW
Creature - Angel
Flash
Flying, Vigilance, Lifelink, First strike, Protection from Red and from Black.
You have hexproof.
5/5
Guardian of the Mystery 3UUU
Creature - Sphinx
Flash
Flying, Hexproof
When Guardian of the Mystery leaves the battlefield, draw a card.
If a spell or ability an opponent controls would cause you to discard Guardian of the Mystery from your hand, you may put it onto the battlefield instead, if you do, skip your next draw step.
4/4
Exchanger of Souls 2BBBB
Creature - Demon
As an additional cost to cast Exchanger of Souls, sacrifice a creature and pay 2 life.
Flying, Haste, First Strike, Lifelink
Whenever ~ attacks, each opponent sacrifices a creature.
Sacrifice a creature: Regenerate Exchanger of Souls.
5/4
Stubborn Firelord 3RRRR
Creature - Dragon
Stubborn Firelord can't be countered.
Flying, Haste, Protection from White and from Blue.
Whenever Stubborn Firelord attacks or when it dies, Stubborn Firelord deals 6 damage to target creature an opponent controls.
6/5
Long-Necks Predator xGGGGG
Creature - Hydra
Long-Necks Predator can't be countered.
Vigilance, Trample, Reach, Hexproof
Long-Necks Predator enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it.
Remove two +1/+1 counters from Long-Necks Predator: Regenerate Long-Necks Predator.
5/5
Perfected Guardian 7
Creature - Golem
Indestructible, Vigilance.
You have hexproof as long as Perfected Guardian is not tapped.
Perfected Guardian can't be blocked by creatures with toughness 3 or less.
Perfected Guardian can't be tapped by spells or abilities you don't control.
4/5
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard
Flash
When Jace, Conjurer of Thought enters the battlefield counter target spell an opponent controls unless they pay 2. Whenever a spell or ability an opponent controls is countered by a spell or ability you control, exile Jace, Conjurer or thought, then return him to the battle field transformed under his owner's control.
2/2
Jace, Master Manipulator
Planeswalker - Jace
+1: Look at the top 2 cards of target players library, you may put any number of them on the bottom of that players library.
-2: Look at the top 4 cards of your library and put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom in any order.
-8: Target Opponent shuffles his or her hand into their library, then look at the top 10 cards of that player's library and put them back in any order.
4 Loyalty
Might be busted but I would love a flash counterspell that flips a Jace 'walker.
Legacy:
RUB Grixis Delver | RUGB 4c Control
Modern:
UR Affinity | RWG Burn
EDH:
R Krenko Combo | UR Mizzix WomboCombo | U Arcum Daggson Combo | WUBG Atraxa Dumpster Fire
French Duels EDH:
BUG Leovold, Emissary of Trest Prison
Standard:
Standard Sucks
Legendary Creature - Human Soldier Rogue
First strike, vigilance
If Kytheon Iora would die to to combat damage, you may exile him instead, then return him to the battlefield transformed under his owner's control. If you do, put a 1/1 white soldier creature token onto the battlefield.
2/2
Gideon, Wandering Lawkeeper
Planeswalker - Gideon
+1 - Tap target creature, it doesn't untap during it's controller's next untap step.
-1 - Target planeswalker can't activate abilities until your next turn.
-5 - You gain an emblem with: "Creatures you control get +2/+2, vigilance, and first strike."
2 Loyalty
Jace, Telepathic Prodigy UU
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard
Your opponents play with their hands revealed.
Sacrifice a blue wizard creature with converted mana cost 3 or more: Exile Jace, Telepathic Prodigy then return him to the battlefield transformed under his owner's control. If you do draw a card.
1/4
Jace, Mind Rending Genius
Planeswalker - Jace
+1 - Put a 1/1 blue illusion fish creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
+0 - You gain an emblem with: "Your opponents play with their hands revealed."
-6 - Each opponent reveals their hand to you, you select one card from it, they put the rest on the bottom of their library in any order, then they gain an emblem with: "At the start of your end step, put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library."
3 Loyalty
Chandra, Pyromancy Dabbler 1R
Legendary Creature - Human Shaman
R, t: Chandra, Pyromancy Dabbler deal 1 damage to target creature you don't control or target opponent, then 1 damage to a creature on the battlefield chosen at random.
If Chandra, Pyromancy Dabbler deals damage to another creature you control, exile her, then return her to the battlefield transformed. If you do, deal 1 damage to each creature on the battlefield.
1/2
Chandra, Mysterious Fire Adept
Planeswalker - Chandra
+1 - Deal 1 damage to target creature or player.
-1 - Destroy target artifact.
-7 - You gain an emblem with: "At the start of your upkeep, deal 2 damage to target creature or player."
4 Loyalty
Nissa, Elvish Exile 1GG
Legendary Creature - Elf Druid
Reach
When Nissa, Elvish Exile enters the battlefield and at the start of your upkeep, put a 1/1 green sapproling creature token onto the battlefield.
At the start of your end step, if you control no sapprolings, exile Nissa, Evlish Exile, then return her to the battlefield transformed. If you do, put a 2/3 green elf archer creature token with reach onto the battlefield.
1/4
Nissa, Elf Elite
Planeswalker - Nissa
+1 - Add G to your mana pool.
-1 - Put a 2/3 green elf archer creature token with reach onto the battlefield.
-7 - You gain an emblem with: "Elves you control get +2/+2 and hexproof."
4 Loyalty