I'm cool with the new frame, and I prefer the KTK art to the original Urza's Saga art so I made the switch as soon as I got a KTK Arc Lightning. I've gotten an offer to trade a KTK pack foil for the Ugin's Fate alt art of Arc Lightning, which is why I'm asking specifically about those two versions.
The Arena foil may be older and rarer, so I don't blame anyone who prefers it, but the only thing that I actually like better on it is the flavor text.
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I'm cool with the new frame, and I prefer the KTK art to the original Urza's Saga art so I made the switch as soon as I got a KTK Arc Lightning. I've gotten an offer to trade a KTK pack foil for the Ugin's Fate alt art of Arc Lightning, which is why I'm asking specifically about those two versions.
The Arena foil may be older and rarer, so I don't blame anyone who prefers it, but the only thing that I actually like better on it is the flavor text.
I'm a huge fan of old framed cards, which are dwindling in numbers in most cubes. I like to keep as many as I can in my cube, for nostalgic reasons. In some cases for my cube, it means running non pimped/foil versions of some cards, such as Reflecting Pool and Maze of Ith. For newer players I imagine it probably doesn't matter much.
My priorities on card aesthetics are odd. If the card comes in old border and new border and has the same art in both, then old border wins, even if there's a foil of the new version. If there are different arts available, then I may take the new version based on how sweet the newer art is. Swords is one of those instances. The Terese Nielsen art on that Swords is fantastic. It's a very sweet budget foil version of the card.
I use the Coldsnap precon one just because it's so weird. A modern frame version of an Ice Age card with the Ice Age art and the Ice Age expansion symbol, from a Precon that was constructed on the false premise of a three set block comprised of Ice Age, Alliances, and Coldsnap. Disenchant, Swords, and Incinerate I specifically use the Coldsnap Precon versions just as a reminder of that weirdness.
I'm with Calibretto, I like the Terese Nielsen StP art so much I got a border-extension alter of it for my cube. My vote's with the Conspiracy foil or the FTV 20 foil, which was the first version with that art.
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The Nielsen art for StP is great. I took the promo foil old border one out my Cube for the Conspiracy foil (which is a set with good foils, unlike FTV).
I love the Urza's Saga version. Being card type "Mana Source" instead of "Instant" is annoying though. The reprint from the Phyrexia vs The Coalition dual deck has the correct card type, but a modern border, so it is out of the running (for you). If you want a proper "Instant" Dark Ritual, I would go the Mercadian Masques one, even though I slighty prefer the Saga art.
I run the Mirage version. It's actually depicting a ritual, which is a plus (unlike the ABU, Tempest or FTV versions which feel too generic). That and its almost as OG as the ABU art, so there's the nostalgia component too. I do also love the Urza's art, though.
For art, I love the Urza's Saga version. To me, it's the best by a healthy margin. Tempest is good. I despise the Masques art. And it's annoying that the dreadful 5E art keeps getting reprinted in things like FTV: 20.
It's hard to be more pimp than the Alpha or Beta version, but I'm with Starslayer on the wording issues. I wound up swapping my OG Ice Age Fyndhorn Elves for the FTV version just because I got sick of having to explain what "interrupt" means. So I really like the Mercadian Masques edition. Not only does it have that cool Rebecca Guay artwork, but it's also the oldest version of Dark Ritual to have the current oracle text wording.
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I say go with the Tempest version. One of the better arts (though the JR one is the only one I'd call actively bad for Dark Ritual), and the best flavor text. Beta is also (always) a legit choice.
The Arena foil may be older and rarer, so I don't blame anyone who prefers it, but the only thing that I actually like better on it is the flavor text.
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I'm a huge fan of old framed cards, which are dwindling in numbers in most cubes. I like to keep as many as I can in my cube, for nostalgic reasons. In some cases for my cube, it means running non pimped/foil versions of some cards, such as Reflecting Pool and Maze of Ith. For newer players I imagine it probably doesn't matter much.
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Between the modern border precon version and foil Conspiracy, though, I'd go with the foil.
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Beta. If you don't want to go with the old-school version, Masques has the best art.
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Uril, the Miststalker RGW -- Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre C -- Vhati il-Dal BG -- Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer RW -- Animar, Soul of Elements URG
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker R -- Maga, Traitor to Mortals B -- Ghave, Guru of Spores BGW -- Sliver Hivelord WUBRG
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For art, I love the Urza's Saga version. To me, it's the best by a healthy margin. Tempest is good. I despise the Masques art. And it's annoying that the dreadful 5E art keeps getting reprinted in things like FTV: 20.
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