MTG Salvation

I like the new Chrome Mox (I've wanted a Volkan Baga Chrome Mox for a long time) and the new Daze too. I'm hoping for a Fireblast with the Vintage Masters art.

As someone who likes modern framed non foil cards this set is huge for me.

I get to sell of my legends Sylvan Library, change my sneak attack, change my force of will, updage my chrome mox, update my maze of ith and wasteland. Also get to change my BBE art.

Hoping to get a strip mine (seems unlikely with wasteland in the set). Ravages of War and Imperial Recruiter would be amazing (would get to replace my last two proxies), but I would be happy with a modern face Armageddon. Land Tax seems like a very likely printing in this set as does Mind Twist. I'm hoping the print Chain Lightning instead of Lightning Bolt in this set. I also wouldn't mind a non foil printing of the FTV Fyndhorn Elves.

Looks the foiling process will be normal expansion style pack foiling.


Also new art for Enlightened Tutor! Not bad, and I think there are a few people out there who don't like the original art. If the other tutors also see reprints, I'll probably still be sticking with my old Mirage block tutors for sentimental value.

Maze of Ith with FTV art and Mana Crypt with Judge Art also spoiled, the Mana Crypt is nice since this version doesn't have the DCI stamp in the art.

I'm definitely not replacing my Daze, unless I open a foil (still have a nonfoil). I am considering swaps for:
-Bloodbraid Elf - Currently running a signed promo, but I like this art so much.
-Enlightened Tutor - I'm super torn about this, as I have an Arena foil right now, but this art is just so pretty.

This wave of EMA spoilers looks promising.

I really like the new art for Enlightened Tutor. I wouldn't cut an Arena foil for this because old frame foils are fantastic, but since I'm currently running a World Championship edition of ET I'll probably get the new foil for my rare cube and demote the gold-bordered one to my Peasant cube.

The new art on Bloodbraid Elf's way better than the original, but not as good as the Steve Argyle art on the Planechase/FNM promo.

I'm also looking forward to foiling out Sylvan Library, and I really like the cleaner wording on this version.

Looks like we might be getting a full set of tutors after all.


I'm a bit glad that they didn't use a strong cycle for the arts on these tutor reprints because that probably would have influenced me into getting a set.

Enlightened Tutor actually has an interesting story behind it's art. Dan Frazier was originally tabbed to do an art for a Mox Crystal that never saw print. Weirdly, he came up with this instead of something more in line with every other mox that he did. WotC decided they liked the art well enough that they recycled it into the tutor we know and love. Dan Frazier even said that the intern who tabbed him to do the work for Mox Crystal didn't realize he was the one who did the art for all the prior moxen.

I didn't know the backstory behind Enlightened Tutor's art! I've always felt that the card wasn't a great match for the card, and that's probably the reason why. The original piece was meant to evoke a different feel and have a different focus.

Another Cube staple gets new art!


Do we have a new champion when it comes to best Control Magic art? Terese Nielsen has been killing it! In addition, the flavor text is pretty snazzy!

I don't think I'll be replacing my Beta Control Magic with the new version either, if only because of the sentimental value of the old art. I feel like I've been saying that about a lot of these reprints, which is a bit sad but at the same time good for my wallet.

Speaking of which, here's another reprint that's high quality but probably won't be replacing the version in my Cube:

Art on this one is nice! The coloring gives it a more old-fashioned feel that may appeal to some. I think I like the card art as an art piece more than the original guy-with-a-shovel-Entomb, but I also think this art makes less sense in the context of what this card is supposed to represent. These dudes in the robes did a pretty poor job of burying this guy if they just left his hand sticking out like that. I like the flavor text on this one a lot more than the original too, but this version definitely won't be replacing my old frame foil.

Man yeah we are getting some sweet new options for staple cards in this new set. I'll be keen to pick up a new Control Magic for sure. Should be cheap too.

Two new options for Cube-worthy cards.


I like it about the same as the Graveborn version. Animate Dead is weird in the fact that having the actual Oracle text may actually make the card a bit more confusing. As far as I'm aware, I don't think there's a way to abuse the way the card works either, so there might not be much logistical benefit to running one of the new versions over a Beta / CE copy.


The new art is nice, but I strongly prefer the original version.

I do like the new art on Animate Dead, but I don't think it's worth it for that atrocious wording even if it is the Oracle text. I'll be sticking with my white bordered copy until I can find a CE version.

I'm actually not crazy about the new Control Magic art. I do like some of her pieces in that style, like Call to Mind, but this one just doesn't do it for me for some reason.

Here's an interesting one, because despite very many different arts I don't think there's any kind of consensus on which is the "best" version of this card.


The original no. At common, no less. That art will probably look pretty good in foil, and I don't think the art for this one can be said to be any better or worse than any of the other versions. The single line of centered text is pretty cool, very fitting for such a basic and fundamental version of the effect. I'm torn as to whether the clean text box is worth the trade-off for Ertai's flavor text, which is one of the advantages that the FNM Counterspell has over the Beta / CE version.

Also, is it just me or is EMA pretty much Cube: The Limited Set? From what's been spoiled so far, these are some of the most powerful cards to have ever been printed, drafting this set is going to be nuts. Counterspell in a set at common! Never thought I'd see this again!

Quote from avaricious_magpie »

Here's an interesting one, because despite very many different arts I don't think there's any kind of consensus on which is the "best" version of this card.

The original no. At common, no less. That art will probably look pretty good in foil, and I don't think the art for this one can be said to be any better or worse than any of the other versions. The single line of centered text is pretty cool, very fitting for such a basic and fundamental version of the effect. I'm torn as to whether the clean text box is worth the trade-off for Ertai's flavor text, which is one of the advantages that the FNM Counterspell has over the Beta / CE version.

Also, is it just me or is EMA pretty much Cube: The Limited Set? From what's been spoiled so far, these are some of the most powerful cards to have ever been printed, drafting this set is going to be nuts. Counterspell in a set at common! Never thought I'd see this again!

Yeah so far it is looking as good (or better) for cubes as MM1. If you recall, MM1 had a ridiculously large number of cube staples. I count 40 cards in MM1 that I still run in my cube. I hope EMA is that good!

Which version of Auramancer should I include? The normal Rebecca Guay one or the WPN Promo (Auramancer)?

Quote from NoobinCube »

Which version of Auramancer should I include? The normal Rebecca Guay one or the WPN Promo (Auramancer)?

Rebecca Guay obviously. Odyssey foil.

I like the Guay artwork better

Quote from avaricious_magpie »

Here's an interesting one, because despite very many different arts I don't think there's any kind of consensus on which is the "best" version of this card.

The original no. At common, no less. That art will probably look pretty good in foil, and I don't think the art for this one can be said to be any better or worse than any of the other versions. The single line of centered text is pretty cool, very fitting for such a basic and fundamental version of the effect. I'm torn as to whether the clean text box is worth the trade-off for Ertai's flavor text, which is one of the advantages that the FNM Counterspell has over the Beta / CE version.

Also, is it just me or is EMA pretty much Cube: The Limited Set? From what's been spoiled so far, these are some of the most powerful cards to have ever been printed, drafting this set is going to be nuts. Counterspell in a set at common! Never thought I'd see this again!

I'm considering making the swap. I currently have the Jace duel deck version which has okay art IMO, but I think I like this one better.

The original Guay Auramancer has beautiful art. It's a no-brainer.

Plus you can get it with the old border (Odyssey)

New Counterspell is the only new art thus far that I'd remotely consider, but it's definitely not going to push my Masques foil out. Still a pretty one, though.

Quote from Pringlesman »

As someone who likes modern framed non foil cards this set is huge for me.

I am totally with you on this one.

EMA Counterspell or JvC Counterspell? Tough pick. Or should I just stick with my Mercadian Masques Counterspell, even though it is old border?

The new Mystical Tutor finally gives me an option for a black bordered non-foil version that doesn't list two obsolete card types.

EMA Balance gives me the greatest Balance art on a non-foil. Fantastic!

I really hope that Winter Orb is in this set. It is the last white bordered card in my cube (besides the ten dual lands) and I am dying to get a black bordered version of this staple.

This one is a bit of a surprise.


Not as iconic as the original but I like it better than the judge promo. I'm still running a white-bordered version of this one, maybe it's worth picking up a black-bordered copy...?

Nice! Maybe it'll drop the price on some of the Sandra Ervingham ones for my 93/94 decks.

Foil winter orbs!!!