Foreshadow {cost}(Pay {cost} and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
Scry X(To scry X, look at the top X cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
Oases
Oasis is a new land subtype. Some cards care about you controlling an Oasis.
Beginnings introduces two new mechanics:
Paradoxic creatures
Due to the widespread time paradoxes, multiple versions of one person may exist at the same time. Paradoxic creatures are two creature cards on one card and work similarly to ordinary split cards. You may cast either half of the split card as a creature spell. While on the stack or battlefield, only that half of the creature card exists. If a split creature would enter the battlefield from anywhere but the stack, you choose which half of the creature card enters the battlefield. If both halves of the split creature are legendary, you may control one copy of each half at the same time. In Commander, you may use a legendary split creature as your general, and its color identity is the union of the color identities of both halves.
Flashback {cost}(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
In Beginnings, we delve into the very past. Flashback is returning in Beginnings and replaces Epitaph as the graveyard mechanic of the set.
To be written.
Beginnings is the 2nd set in the Esparand block. Both the first and the third set are already finished.
Esparand block is supposed to be drafted in reverse order: ETE BGI ESP
Beginnings plays millennia before the main events of Esparand. The world is supposed to feel different, but related. Because of that, only a few of the mechanics from Esparand return. Eternity will again be more similar to Esparand, as we will be in the "present" again.
Absolute Silence1W
Instant (R)
Absolute Silence can’t be countered.
Exile all cards from all graveyards. In the beginnings, the preservers watched not over time, but the souls of the dead.
Adamant DefenseW
Instant (U)
Foreshadow 1W(Pay 1W and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to target creature this turn. If damage is prevented this way and Adamant Defense was foreshadowed, it deals that much damage to target creature or player.
Angel of Infinity7W
Creature — Angel (U)
Flying
When Angel of Infinity enters the battlefield, scry 3. (To scry 3, look at the top three cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
7/7
Battlefield Chronomancer1WW
Creature — Human Wizard (R)
First strike
At the end of combat, if Battlefield Chronomancer attacked or blocked this combat, choose target creature card in your graveyard that was put there from the battlefield this turn. You may return that card to the battlefield.
3/3
Breath of Life3W
Sorcery (C)
Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. “The storm may have taken your life, but it was not his to claim. I give back to you what is rightfully yours.”
—Nual, saint of ankhal
Collapse Reality1W
Instant (C)
Exile target creature you control, then return that card to the battlefield under its owner’s control. Scry 1. (To scry 1, look at the top card of your library, then you may put that card on the bottom of your library.)
Flying Palace2WW
Creature — Wall (C)
Flying Jaron observed a colossal city flying over the outland. He landed on its highest tower to meet the wizard controlling it. To his surprise, the halls where completely empty. The city had to be its own master.
3/3
Illuminated One2W
Creature — Human Monk (C)
When Illuminated One dies, put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying onto the battlefield. “I learned that death is relative a long time ago.”
2/2
Illusions of MortalityXWW
Sorcery (R)
Return target creature card with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. Put X +1/+1 counters on it. “Death is only an illusion. Refuse to accept the fate the sands have foreseen for you.”
—Nual, saint of ankhal
Lanuznari Guide1W
Creature — Spirit (C)
Lanuznari Guide has lifelink as long as you control an Oasis. Drink from her sacred waters, and find eternal youth bestowed upon you.
2/2
Last Breath1W
Instant (C)
Exile target creature with power 2 or less. Its controller gains 4 life. The stormborn revel in every breath they draw, for their existence could end at any moment.
LightspawnW
Creature — Elemental (C) 2W, T: Tap target creature. A twisted apparition, created from the divine light that rests inside the crypts of Ankhal.
0/3
Palace Guardian4W
Creature — Cat (C)
Foreshadow W(Pay W and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
You may cast Palace Guardian as though it had flash as long as it’s foreshadowed. “Eaten by a hungry lion... Rewind, REWIND!”
—Tarashal, master thief
3/5
Soul’s Invocation1W
Sorcery (C)
Put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
Flashback W(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Vanished in the StormW
Instant (U)
Exile target creature an opponent controls. Its controller takes an extra turn after this one. The people of Esparand gave up on exact historiography a long time ago.
Wasteland Mastodon2W
Creature — Elephant (U)
Whenever Wasteland Mastodon attacks, it gets +0/+2 until end of turn for each Oasis you control The mastodons are old enough to remember the times when flowers bloomed in these barren wastes.
3/2
Weary Travels1W
Sorcery (U)
Creatures you control get +1/+3 and gain vigilance until end of turn.
Flashback 3W(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.) After the last green was swept away by the storm, the Gul-Shad traveled east.
Azrar, Mistress of Air2WW
Legendary Creature — Elemental (M)
Flying
Other creatures you control have flying. “May my breath uncover what this world was meant to be...”
3/3
/// Azrar Unbound5WW
Legendary Creature — Elemental (M)
Flying
Whenever Azrar Unbound attacks, destroy all creatures without flying. “...and destroy everything else in its wake.”
5/5
Judge3W
Creature — Angel (U)
Flying
Whenever Judge attacks, you may tap target creature.
2/2
/// Executioner4WW
Creature — Angel (U)
Flying, first strike “Sister, is justice merely a vessel for revenge to you?”
4/4
Archaeomancer2UU
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
When Archaeomancer enters the battlefield, return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand. “Before we solve this last puzzle, we must know what pieces we are looking for.”
1/2
Cosmic Entity5U
Creature — Elemental (U)
Flying “We were all born from the cosmos. Consider it a gift to look upon its face before you fade into its dark again.”
—Eldres, the aeon wanderer
4/5
Deliberate Duplication2UU
Instant (R)
Exile target creature you control. Put a token onto the battlefield that’s a copy of that creature, then return that card to the battlefield under your control. “You’ve brought shame upon yourself, student. Now, should I punish you or the both of you?”
—Khelan, time traveler
Erase History2U
Sorcery (C)
Target player puts the top seven cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard. Scry 2. (To scry 2, look at the top two cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
Expose Reality5U
Instant (U)
Return up to two target nonland permanents to their owner’s hands. Scry 3. (To scry 3, look at the top three cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
Illusions of FinitudeXUUU
Sorcery (R)
Scry X, then draw X cards. (To scry X, look at the top X cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.) “Every possible future revealed... It is too much for my mind to fathom.”
—Niusha of the Spires
Merfolk Tideblade2U
Creature — Merfolk Warrior (C)
Foreshadow 2U(Pay 2U and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
When Merfolk Tideblade enters the battlefield, if it was foreshadowed, return target creature to its owner’s hand.
2/3
Midnight Thief3U
Creature — Human Rogue (C)
Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)
Midnight Thief can’t be blocked. The full moon was the only witness.
2/2
Oracle of Yual Oasis5U
Creature — Elemental (C)
When Oracle of Yual Oasis enters the battlefield, if you control an Oasis, draw a card. The elves used to travel to the yual oasis to ask the ancient spirits for guidance, but now they remain silent.
4/5
Paradoxic Vision2U
Sorcery (C)
Draw two cards, then discard a card.
Flashback 3U(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.) “I have seen death itself come to life.”
—Mirza, the shaper
Spell PierceU
Instant (U)
Counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays 2. “Time out!”
—Doman Gul of the spires
Stormborn Nihilus3UU
Creature — Elemental (C)
Flying
When Stormborn Nihilus enters the battlefield, you may exile another target creature you control until the beginning of the next end step. A giant hand emerged from the cloud and pulled Khelan right into nonexistence.
3/3
Strangler of Logic
Creature — Kraken (R)
When Strangler of Logic enters the battlefield, at the beginning of your next upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay UUUUUUUU.
Islandwalk
All lands are Islands in addition to their other types.
7/8
Telar, the Aeon Wanderer3UU
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard (M)
At the beginning of your upkeep, if Telar, the Aeon Wanderer is exiled, scry 1. 2U, T: Exile Telar and put three time counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter from it. Then, if it has no time counters on it, return it to the battlefield under your control. If you do, take an extra turn after this one.
3/4
Temporal Convergence1U
Instant (U)
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell this turn, return target nonland permanent to its owner’s hand. “Everything has led us to this point in time. This is its source. Destroy it and destroy the storm of time.”
—Telar, to Niusha
Temporal LockU
Instant (C)
Tap target creature. It doesn’t untap during its controller’s next untap step.
Flashback 4U(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Trap in the Void2UU
Enchantment — Aura (U)
Enchant creature
When Trap in the Void enters the battlefield, tap enchanted creature.
Enchanted creature doesn’t untap during its controller’s untap step and has “At the beginning of your upkeep, put the top card of your library into your graveyard.”
Young Time Traveler1U
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
When Young Time Traveler enters the battlefield, scry 2. (To scry 2, look at the top two cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.) “Now go and duplicate yourself. Maybe she will be more useful than you are.”
—Khelan, time traveler
2/1
Master3UU
Creature — Wizard Avatar (U)
Flying “What we believe to know is so insignificant in the grand scheme of things...”
5/2
/// Apprentice2U
Creature — Human Wizard (U)
When Apprentice enters the battlefield, draw a card. “...In time, you will understand as I have.”
1/3
Acolyte of the Unnamed3B
Creature — Vampire Shaman (C)
Sacrifice another creature: Acolyte of the Unnamed gets +2/+2 until end of turn. “The Beholder, the Unnamed... they are all one single paradoxic entity. We call it ‘He Who Defies Logic.’”
—Telar, magus of the aeons
3/2
Amkhat Summoner3BB
Creature — Zombie Wizard (R)
You may choose not to untap Amkhat Summoner during your untap step. 1B, T: Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. When Amkhat Summoner becomes untapped, exile that creature.
4/4
Beguile Death1B
Sorcery (U)
Put a 2/2 black Zombie creature token onto the battlefield.
Flashback—Sacrifice a creature. (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.) “My spell proved to be irresistible.”
—Liliana Vess
Bind in Eternity5BB
Sorcery (M)
Target opponent takes an extra turn after this one. You control that player during that turn. “Don’t blame yourself for creating me, Telar. I made sure that you would.”
—The Beholder
Cut of the Scythe1BB
Instant (U)
Destroy target creature. Scry 1. (To scry 1, look at the top card of your library, then you may put that card on the bottom of your library.) “Fate demands another sacrifice.”
—The Beholder
Echo Hunter2B
Creature — Bat (C)
Flying
Echo Hunter can’t block. The constant temporal storms induced a noise background that their sense of hearing wasn’t built for.
2/3
Entropic Wind1B
Instant (C)
Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
Flashback 2B(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.) “If the living need their flesh to live, why is it so easily removed?”
—Xural, lich lord
Grave to CradleB
Sorcery (C)
Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand. Scry 1. (To scry 1, look at the top card of your library, then you may put that card on the bottom of your library.) Even the wicked hear the call of fate.
Herald of Sethek2B
Creature — Snake Shaman (C)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put the top card of your library into your graveyard. “We are the children of sethek. Soon, the great one will enter this world and give birth to our race.”
2/3
Illusions of ImpotenceXBBB
Sorcery (R)
All creatures get -X/-X until end of turn. Each opponent loses X life. You gain life equal to the life lost this way. “This being wields powers beyond anyone’s comprehension. What are you mortals hoping to achieve?”
—Princess Mina, to Telar
Limits of Sanity1BB
Sorcery (U)
Target player reveals his or her hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card. Add BBB to your mana pool. There’s only so much the mortal mind can fathom.
Master of Scorpions4BB
Creature — Human Shaman (R)
When Master of Scorpions enters the battlefield, put a 1/1 black Scorpion creature token with deathtouch onto the battlefield for each creature card in your graveyard. Nature has its way of creating life. The Gul-Shad have another way.
2/3
Plague of AmkhatB
Creature — Insect (C)
Foreshadow 1B(Pay 1B and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
When Plague of Amkhat enters the battlefield, if it was foreshadowed, each player sacrifices a creature.
1/1
Raise Empires7B
Sorcery (C)
Raise Empires costs 1 less to cast for each creature card in your graveyard.
Put three 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens onto the battlefield. Empires rise and fall. Several times if they must.
Scion of the Unreal5B
Creature — Elemental (C)
When Scion of the Unreal enters the battlefield, target player puts the top five cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard. “It is their greatest flaw that mortals have such an incomplete perception of reality.”
—The Beholder
4/5
Test-Tube Scorpion3B
Creature — Human Shaman (U)
Deathtouch
When Test-Tube Scorpion enters the battlefield, scry 3. (To scry 3, look at the top three cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
2/2
Tomb Desecration3B
Sorcery (U)
Each opponent loses life equal to the highest power among creature cards in your graveyard. You gain life equal to the life lost this way.
Flashback 5BB(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Vampire Hedonist1B
Creature — Vampire (C)
Lifelink “Everything good in life the humans either declare as illegal or as sin.”
1/3
Liar2B
Creature — Vampire Wizard (U)
When Liar enters the battlefield, reveal the top card of your library and put it into your hand. You lose life equal to its converted mana cost.
2/2
/// Betrayer3BB
Creature — Vampire Rogue (U)
Sacrifice another creature: Regenerate Betrayer. Aziz was held responsible for all the crimes his other selfs had committed.
4/2
Chronocharged Bolt2R
Sorcery (C)
Foreshadow 2R(Pay 2R and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
Chronocharged Bolt deals 3 damage to target creature or player. It deals 5 damage to that creature or player instead if it was foreshadowed.
Crescent Crusader1R
Creature — Human Monk (C)
If a creature dealt damage by Crescent Crusader this turn would die, exile it instead. The crusaders of Ankhal are so thorough that even the storm of time cannot resurrect their enemies.
2/1
Illusions of BoundariesXXRR
Sorcery (R)
Put X 1/1 red Elemental creature tokens with haste onto the battlefield. Creatures you control get +X/+0 until end of turn. “The storm is life and death. Its power scintillates within me. Now I am a god.”
—Dario Ahlan, Gul-Shad stormspeaker
Minotaur Siegebreaker3R
Creature — Minotaur Berserker (C)
Foreshadow R(Pay R and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
Haste
When Minotaur Siegebreaker enters the battlefield, if it was foreshadowed, target creature blocks it this turn if able.
3/3
Nosedive Harpy4R
Creature — Harpy Rogue (C)
Flying, haste
When Nosedive Harpy enters the battlefield, it gets +2/+0 until end of turn. “Why would it evolve? Nature has made the harpy just as it intended it to be.”
—Journal entry of Charius Nair, page 7
2/2
Objectionable Tactics3R
Sorcery (C)
Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn.
Flashback 6R(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Overlord of the Wastes3RR
Creature — Giant Warrior (R)
Trample
Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, it gets +2/+0 and gains trample and haste until end of turn. Sacrifice it at the beginning of your next end step.
6/3
Primordial Hellkite2RR
Creature — Dragon (M)
Flying 1R: Primordial Hellkite deals 1 damage to target player. Put a flame counter on Primordial Hellkite. 1R, Remove three flame counters from Primordial Hellkite: Primordial Hellkite deals 3 damage to target creature. 1R, Remove six flame counters from Primordial Hellkite: Primordial Hellkite deals 6 damage to each other creature.
4/4
Reckless Graverobber1R
Creature — Human Warrior (C)
Reckless Graverobber attacks each turn if able.
When Reckless Graverobber dies, put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard. “What is worth the horrors you unleashed?”
—Teras, tomb guardian
2/3
Riddle of Lightning3RR
Instant (U)
Choose target creature or player. Scry 3, then reveal the top card of your library. Riddle of Lightning deals damage equal to that card’s converted mana cost to that creature or player. (To scry 3, look at the top three cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
Savage ChargeR
Instant (C)
Target attacking creature gets +2/+2 and gains trample until end of turn. On Esparand, the moment of surprise is an unreliable advantage. Therefore, most warriors rely on pure strength instead.
Sentient Storm3RR
Creature — Elemental (U)
Trample
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, put a +1/+1 counter on Sentient Storm. A consciousness formed inside the storm. It was as confused as the witnesses of its birth.
3/4
Stormborn Infernus5R
Creature — Elemental (C)
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, Stormborn Infernus gets +2/+0 and gains trample until end of turn. “Why do I exist? I like existing, so why would I choose not to exist?”
5/4
Touch of Ignition2R
Enchantment — Aura (R)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has “T: Target instant or sorcery card in your graveyard gains flashback until end of turn. The flashback cost is equal to its mana cost.” (You may cast that card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Underground Expedition1R
Sorcery (U)
Put two 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Flashback 3RR(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.) Shiny things are the only things that can get a goblin’s mind off smashing things.
Violent Backlash3R
Instant (U)
Until end of turn, creatures you control gain “Whenever this creature is dealt damage, it deals that much damage to target creature or player.” “That’s it! Everybody dies!” —Chandra
“No! Violence is no option.” —Chandra
Wildfire Celebration5R
Sorcery (U)
Target opponent sacrifices a land. Wildfire Celebration deals 2 damage to each creature that player controls. “The people are much more... spirited in these times.”
—Mirza, the shaper
Window of OpportunityR
Sorcery (C)
Reveal the top three cards of your library. You may play a card from among them. Put the rest into your graveyard. “It was as if the storm itself told me to enter.”
—Khelan, time traveler
Leader2RR
Creature — Goblin (U)
Whenever Leader attacks, other creatures you control get +1/+0 until end of turn. Grix had no qualms leading his army to their certain death.
3/3
/// FollowerR
Creature — Goblin (U)
Follower can’t attack or block alone. Even though it was comprised of mostly himself.
2/1
Delve into the Jungle4GG
Sorcery (R)
Reveal the top six cards of your library. You may put a creature card from among them onto the battlefield. Put the rest into your graveyard.
Flashback 6GG(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Destructor Wurm7G
Creature — Wurm (C)
Destructor Wurm costs 1 less to cast for each creature card in your graveyard.
Trample Temportal storms are the primary cause of property damage on Esparand. Wurms are a close second.
6/6
Eight-Legged Horror3GG
Creature — Spider Archer (C)
Intimidate, reach “The creations of the storm are as macabre as they are deadly.”
—Eldres, the aeon wanderer
3/4
Embrace of SethekG
Enchantment — Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has deathtouch. 4G: Return Embrace of Sethek from your graveyard to your hand. Sethek’s influence began long before he began to exist.
Gift of the LandG
Instant (C)
Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
Flashback 2G(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.) “We took nature’s gifts for granted. Now the land is dying around us.”
—Nandes, elvish druid
Illusions of FinalityXXGG
Sorcery (R)
Return up to X target permanent cards from your graveyard to your hand. Search your library for up to X basic land cards, and put them onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library. “In its essence, nature is cyclic, just like time.”
—Eldres, the aeon wanderer
Merchant of Dekara2G
Creature — Elephant (C)
When Merchant of Dekara enters the battlefield, if you control an Oasis, you gain 3 life. Cross the Dekara desert only in the 14th millennium. In earlier ages, the desert is ruled by dangerous warlords. In later ages, all the oases along the way have dried out.
3/2
Millennium Crown3G
Creature — Treefolk (C)
Defender
When Millennium Crown enters the battlefield, scry 1. (To scry 1, look at the top card of your library, then you may put that card on the bottom of your library.) The trunk is always growing, writing down history on its bark.
4/4
Mournful Dryad2G
Creature — Dryad (U)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put the top card of your library into your graveyard. T: Add G to your mana pool. A journey through her vale lets you forget everything; everything but your sorrow.
1/3
Ophidian Ambush4G
Instant (C)
Target creature you control gains deathtouch until end of turn. It fights target creature you don’t control. The bandits were expecting an ambush in the Dekara desert, but an ambush of a different kind.
Revel in Power1GG
Instant (U)
Target creature gets +5/+5 until end of turn. Scry 3. (To scry 3, look at the top three cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
Season of FertilityG
Sorcery (R)
Foreshadow 1G(Pay 1G and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. If Season of Fertility was foreshadowed, instead add three mana of any one color to your mana pool and return Season of Fertility to its owner’s hand.
Shadina Grovewalker2G
Creature — Elf Shaman (C)
Foreshadow G(Pay G and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
Flash
When Shadina Grovewalker enters the battlefield, if it was foreshadowed, target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
2/2
Soul of Awakening6GG
Creature — Elemental (M)
Indestructible
Lands you control are 4/4 Elemental creatures with trample. They’re still lands. Its vigor is ever fading, knowing that it no longer has a place in this changing world.
0/6
Sualan Patriarch2G
Creature — Elephant (U)
Other Elephant creatures you control get +1/+1 and have trample. “They are so carefree, oblivious of what is to come. I wish I could swap places with them.”
—Qezal, primordial hunter
3/3
Temple Explorer1G
Creature — Human Scout (C)
When Temple Explorer enters the battlefield, reveal the top three cards of your library. You may put a land card from among them into your hand. Put the rest into your graveyard. “The question isn’t ‘where is the entrance?’ but ‘when is it?’”
1/3
Vanquished by Time2G
Instant (U)
Destroy target noncreature, nonland permanent. “Nature will endure, even when faced with the enemy of all life.”
—Nandes, elvish druid
WindstormXG
Instant (U)
Windstorm deals X damage to each creature with flying. “In the beginning of time, the sky was mine and it will be mine again.”
—Azrar, mistress of air
Hunter3GG
Creature — Elf Warrior (U)
Trample “I prefer the solitude of the wilds to the chaos of civilization.”
4/4
/// Gatherer1G
Creature — Elf Druid (U) T: Add G to your mana pool. “So do I.”
1/1
Chandra, Chronomaster2WU
Planeswalker — Chandra (M)
+1: Until your next turn, whenever a creature an opponent controls deals combat damage to target planeswalker or player, return that creature to its owner’s hand.
-2: Count the number of cards in your hand. At the beginning of your next upkeep, if you have less than that many cards in hand, draw cards equal to the difference.
-8: You get an emblem with “Each opponent skips his or her untap step.”
{4}
Time TouristWU
Creature — Human Wizard (R)
Reveal Time Tourist from your hand: You win the game. Activate this ability only if you control a creature named Time Tourist, a card named Time Tourist is in your graveyard, and you own an exiled card named Time Tourist. “Not another one of you! We’re out of rooms.”
—Dareos, innkeeper
2/2
Secretive AlchemistUB
Creature — Human Wizard (R)
Secretive Alchemist has hexproof as long as it’s untapped. T: Target creature gets +1/+0 and gains deathtouch until end of turn. The alchemist’s guild was always one step ahead, until the investigators started consulting their future selves.
1/1
Turuk, Outland MercenaryBR
Legendary Creature — Goblin Warrior (R)
Haste
Turuk, Outland Mercenary can’t block.
At the beginning of your upkeep, starting with you, each player may pay any amount of mana. If a player paid more mana this way than any other player, he or she gains control of Turuk.
3/3
Stormhaven Behemoth2RG
Creature — Elemental Rhino (R)
Trample
If an opponent would begin an extra turn, that player skips that turn instead. While the storm of time spreads across space and time, the mystical haven Lanuznari is the last place unaffected.
5/4
Sylvan Giftgiver3GW
Creature — Dryad (R)
Foreshadow 5GW(Pay 5GW and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
When Sylvan Giftgiver enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on each other creature you control. If Sylvan Giftgiver was foreshadowed, put five +1/+1 counters on those creatures instead.
5/5
Beauty1RR
Creature — Human (U)
When Beauty enters the battlefield, target creature an opponent controls attacks during its controller’s next turn if able. To prevent any threats to her claim of the throne...
3/1
/// Beast4G
Creature — Human Warrior (U)
All creatures able to block Beast do so. ...Princess Razma’s other self was abandoned in the wilds when she was still young.
3/3
Predator5GG
Creature — Lizard Beast (U)
When Predator enters the battlefield, it fights target creature an opponent controls.
4/5
/// Prey2W
Creature — Lizard (U)
Defender The natural order becomes more complicated when time travel is involved.
0/4
Princess Mina2GU
Legendary Creature — Human (M)
Flash
When Princess Mina enters the battlefield, for each creature card that was put into your graveyard from anywhere this turn, you draw a card and you gain 1 life.
2/4
/// Shadow of MinaUB
Legendary Creature — Spirit (M)
Flying
When Shadow of Mina dies, return this card to its owner’s hand. Princess Mina lived many lives. Not all of them were happy ones.
1/1
Sethek, the Progenitor1BG
Legendary Creature — Snake (M)
Other Snake creatures you control have deathtouch.
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a 1/1 green Snake creature token onto the battlefield.
2/2
/// Sethek, the Devourer4BB
Legendary Creature — Snake (M)
Whenever Sethek, the Devourer attacks, defending player loses 3 life and you gain 3 life. 1B, Sacrifice another creature: Regenerate Sethek, the Devourer.
2/7
Shadow4BB
Creature — Spirit (U)
Intimidate Although ankhal is an unholy crypt...
4/4
/// Light2R
Creature — Spirit (U) R: Light gets +1/+0 until end of turn. ...it is an everlasting source of divine light.
1/3
Thief1UU
Creature — Human Rogue (U)
Whenever Thief deals combat damage to a player, draw a card. In all the timelines, Jamos was a scoundrel...
2/2
/// Murderer4B
Creature — Human Assassin (U)
When Murderer enters the battlefield, destroy target tapped creature. ...In some more than in others.
3/2
Worker2WW
Creature — Human Soldier (U)
Vigilance “To think that I could live a life of such mediocrity...”
—Ellya, the visionary
3/4
/// Thinker1U
Creature — Human Wizard (U) T: Scry 1. (To scry 1, look at the top card of your library, then you may put that card on the bottom of your library.)
1/1
Candle of Lanuznari2
Artifact — Equipment (R)
Equipped creature has indestructible as long as it’s your turn. Otherwise, it has hexproof.
Equip 2 “The light of Auria will still shine when all other lights go out.”
—Princess Mina
Orb of Remembrance2
Artifact (U)
When Orb of Remembrance enters the battlefield, draw a card. T, Sacrifice Orb of Remembrance: Put target card from a graveyard on the bottom of its owner’s library. A thousand memories caged inside.
Perpetuum Mobile4
Artifact (C)
When Perpetuum Mobile enters the battlefield, draw a card. T: Add 1 to your mana pool. “There’s a certain ingenuity that I recognize. It must be of my design.”
—Mirza, the shaper
Pithing Needle1
Artifact (R)
As Pithing Needle enters the battlefield, name a card.
Activated abilities of sources with the chosen name can’t be activated unless they’re mana abilities. “To watch helplessly as the aeons unfold. A fate worse than death.”
Ancestral Shrine
Land (R) T: Add 1 to your mana pool. T, Pay 1 life: Add G or W to your mana pool. Hidden among the vast expanses of the Talchar jungle are places of perfect tranquility.
Ancient Caverns
Land (R) T: Add 1 to your mana pool. T, Pay 1 life: Add U or B to your mana pool. “Tread carefully. Time is woven into the very architecture of this place.”
—Mirza, the shaper
Antique Palace
Land (R) T: Add 1 to your mana pool. T, Pay 1 life: Add W or U to your mana pool. “I used to live here when I still was a child. Maybe I should visit her sometime.”
—Princess Mina
Dateless Tomb
Land (R) T: Add 1 to your mana pool. T, Pay 1 life: Add B or R to your mana pool. “Whoever built this tomb, they wanted their ancestors to stay dead for good.”
—Touraj, tomb robber
Evolving Wilds
Land (C) T, Sacrifice Evolving Wilds: Search your library for a basic land card, and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library. “The Storm of Time will turn this entire continent to dust if we allow it to.”
—Kijaro, scholar of Azshadi
Pools of Cleansing
Land — Oasis (C) T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
When Pools of Cleansing enters the battlefield, you may exile target card from a graveyard. “The process might... change you.”
—Shara Adun, ankhal priestess
Pools of Prophecy
Land — Oasis (C) T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
When Pools of Prophecy enters the battlefield, scry 1. (To scry 1, look at the top card of your library, then you may put that card on the bottom of your library.)
Primordial Temple
Land (R) T: Add 1 to your mana pool. T, Pay 1 life: Add R or G to your mana pool. A hub of cultural exchange between various species.
I wasn't able to be involved much the other two sets - I hope to be able to post more now and in the foreseeable future so I can help give feedback on this one, at least!
Adamant Defense I like the idea here, but the foreshadowed effect breaks the color pie too much for my tastes. Now if you made the cost for foreshadowing it 1R...
Last Breath I think this could cost W and be fine...
Vanished in the Storm ...except this card exists, and two 1cmc white 'kill' spells might be too much. (I really like this card by the way)
Deliberate Duplication - I. Love. This. Card.
Not much else to say about blue for the moment.
Bind In Eternity - Oh man. I love this card so much. Very awesome. I could almost see it costing 5BBB but that may not matter much.
Into the Dark Realms - I'm not a fan of black getting straight up ramp, even if it's slightly inefficiently costed. I'd like to see this have a smaller mana cost and instead require you to sac a creature or lose life.
Limits of Sanity - In essence this is a free distress. Not a fan.
Chronocharged bolt - Love it. This is a great use of foreshadow at common.
Window of Opportunity - would this need "up to one card"?
Illusions of Finality - This feels fairly underwhelming compared to the other cards in this cycle.
Naturalize - WHAT IS THIS OP CARD SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD NEVER BE PRINTED!
Time Tourist - Man your wacky cards are making happy. I worried that this one might not work because it's an activated ability in your hand, but then I realized forecast already did this, so yeah.
Secretive Alchemist - I think I've shown you, but that mechanic (has hexproof as long as it's untapped) is something I've played with a lot (I called it stealth). It plays well, and this card should be very awesome.
Ajani Savage - I like that he doesn't have an 'ultimate', at least not one that kills him off, but I don't think the -3 really feels like Ajani. I like the 0 ability, though it feels more like something Chandra would do rather than Ajani. Overall this is a cool walker, it just doesn't say Ajani to me.
There are a lot of dual cards here and I'm purposely not giving feedback on them - I still don't really know what to think about these. I'll chime in later on.
Candle of Lanuznari Should probably cost a bit more. This card makes things fairly hard to answer. If you keep it cheap, make sure to have plenty of answers to artifacts for balance, I would think.
Looks great, very excited to see more. Very excited to play with this block once all three sets are done as well!
Into the Dark Realms will probably see some changes before the final version. The goal is to make it have a role in limited without it competing with green ramp in constructed. Losing life is always a possibility.
Your Window of Opportunity wording would definitely not be correct, but I am not sure if mine is correct either. Will figure this out.
The green illusion was the last one I designed, and the one I like the least. But I have to test it and see if there is a deck that wants to play it.
I will talk about Ajani when I get to him in the next blog post, but basically this guy is just a placeholder for some shaman dude this guy should represent. I thought this planeswalker concept is really cool, but in testing he's not been that great, so it's likely that I will replace him with someone entirely different.
I disagree on Candle of Lanuznari. It's just Whispersilk Cloak, nothing to get too excited about.
It still feels like that card + Vanished in the Storm just play in the same space too much. They're both relatively cheap removal that give your opponent an upside. Just feels redundant though that may not matter too much once the whole set takes shape.
I don't regard Vanished in the Storm as playable, it's more a gimmick/flavor card than a removal spell, so it didn't impact the decision to include Last Breath in the set. I think I will promote Vanished in the Storm to a rare, so that you see less of all these exile spells in drafts, and because extra turns should be rare anyway.
As always, updates delivered in small, digestable numbers of cards. The visual spoiler is updated accordingly. The text versions are not updated until the set is finished.
Illuminated One2W
Creature — Human Monk (C)
When Illuminated One dies, put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying onto the battlefield. “I learned that death is relative a long time ago.”
2/2
Angel of Infinity7W
Creature — Angel (U)
Flying
When Angel of Infinity enters the battlefield, scry 3. (To scry 3, look at the top three cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
7/7
Vanished in the StormW(New version)
Instant (R)
Exile target creature an opponent controls. Its controller takes an extra turn after this one. The people of Esparand gave up on exact historiography a long time ago.
//Up from uncommon.
Violent Backlash2R
Instant (U)
Until end of turn, creatures you control gain “Whenever this creature is dealt damage, it deals that much damage to target creature or player.” “That’s it! Everybody dies!”
—Chandra Nalaar
Chandra, the Twinflame2RR
Legendary Creature — Human Shaman (M) 1R: Chandra, the Twinflame deals 1 damage to target player. Put an anger counter on Chandra, the Twinflame. 1R, Remove three anger counters from Chandra: Chandra deals 3 damage to target creature. 1R, Remove six anger counters from Chandra: Chandra deals 6 damage to each other creature.
4/4
//"As Chandra departed from Esparand, her essence was torn in half. A duplicate remained on the plane, her spark lost forever in the vortex of time."
Shadina Grovewalker2G
Creature — Elf Shaman (C)
Foreshadow G(Pay G and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
Flash
When Shadina Grovewalker enters the battlefield, if it was foreshadowed, target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
2/2
—Ajani Savage removed.
Eldres, Aeon Wanderer2GU
Planeswalker — Eldres (M)
Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)
+1: Until your next turn, you may cast nonland cards as though they had flash.
-2: Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control this turn, you may draw a card.
-7: You get an emblem with “Each creature you control enters the battlefield with seven additional +1/+1 counters on it.”
{3}
//"Eldres is an elder of the elvish Mayeli tribe, who acted as a guide through the storm of time. During a storm, he had to watch helplessly as his people were sucked into a temporal vortex. This traumatic experience triggered his spark. Now he is traveling restlessly, only staying briefly in every aeon, always looking for his lost people."
Eldres, Aeon Wanderer2GU
Planeswalker — Eldres (M)
Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)
+1: Until your next turn, you may cast nonland cards as though they had flash.
-2: Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control this turn, you may draw a card.
-7: You get an emblem with “Each creature you control enters the battlefield with seven additional +1/+1 counters on it.”
{3}
//"Eldres is an elder of the elvish Mayeli tribe, who acted as a guide through the storm of time. During a storm, he had to watch helplessly as his people were sucked into a temporal vortex. This traumatic experience triggered his spark. Now he is traveling restlessly, only staying briefly in every aeon, always looking for his lost people."
What about if his ultimate symbolized him finding his lost tribe and summoning them back into reality?
-7: Cast up to _ Creature cards you own from outside the game without paying their mana costs.
Absolute Silence1W
Instant (R)
Absolute Silence can’t be countered.
Exile all cards from all graveyards. In the beginnings, the preservers watched not over time, but the souls of the dead.
Lanuznari Guide1W
Creature — Spirit (C)
Lanuznari Guide has lifelink as long as you control an Oasis. Drink from her sacred waters, and find eternal youth bestowed upon you.
2/2
Distress Call3U
Sorcery (U)
Choose target creature. Whenever that creature deals combat damage to a player this turn, put a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying onto the battlefield. “You must reach the beacon before the Beholder finds you. Now our fate depends on you alone.”
—Telar, to Niusha
Erase History2U
Sorcery (C)
Target player puts the top seven cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard. Scry 2. (To scry 2, look at the top two cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
Expose Reality5U
Instant (U)
Return up to two target nonland permanents to their owner’s hands. Scry 3. (To scry 3, look at the top three cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
Midnight Thief3U
Creature — Human Rogue (C)
Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)
Midnight Thief can’t be blocked. The full moon was the only witness.
2/2
Oracle of Yual Oasis5U
Creature — Elemental (C)
When Oracle of Yual Oasis enters the battlefield, if you control an Oasis, draw a card. The elves used to travel to the yual oasis to ask the ancient spirits for guidance, but now they remain silent.
4/5
Stormborn Nihilus3UU
Creature — Elemental (C)
Flying
When Stormborn Nihilus enters the battlefield, exile another target creature you control until the beginning of the next end step. A giant hand emerged from the cloud and pulled Khelan right into nonexistence.
3/3
Entropic Wind1B
Instant (C)
Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
Flashback 2B(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.) “If the living need their flesh to live, why is it so easily removed?”
—Xural, lich lord
Herald of Sethek3B
Creature — Snake Shaman (C)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put the top card of your library into your graveyard. “We are the children of sethek. Soon, the great one will enter this world and give birth to our race.”
2/4
Tomb Desecration3B
Sorcery (U)
Each opponent loses life equal to the highest power among creature cards in your graveyard. You gain life equal to the life lost this way.
Flashback 5BB(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Vampire Hedonist1B
Creature — Vampire (C)
Lifelink “Everything good in life the humans either declare as illegal or as sin.”
1/3
Daabar Brawler2RR
Creature — Cat Berserker (U)
Foreshadow 2R(Pay 2R and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
When Daabar Brawler enters the battlefield, if it was foreshadowed, it fights target creature an opponent controls.
4/3
Sentient Storm3RR
Creature — Elemental (U)
Trample
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, put a +1/+1 counter on Sentient Storm. A consciousness formed inside the storm. It was as confused as the witnesses of its birth.
3/3
Touch of Ignition2R
Enchantment — Aura (R)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has “T: Target instant or sorcery card in your graveyard gains flashback until end of turn. The flashback cost is equal to its mana cost.” (You may cast that card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Leader2RR
Creature — Goblin (U)
Whenever Leader attacks, other creatures you control get +1/+0 until end of turn. Grix had no qualms sending his army to their certain death.
3/3
/// Follower1R
Creature — Goblin (U)
Follower can’t attack or block alone. Even though it was comprised of mostly himself.
2/2
—Naturalize removed.
Crumbling Ruin2G
Instant (U)
Destroy target noncreature, nonland permanent. “Nature will endure, even when faced with the enemy of all life.”
—Nandes, elvish druid
Mournful Dryad2G
Creature — Dryad (U)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put the top card of your library into your graveyard. T: Add G to your mana pool. A journey through her vale lets you forget everything; everything but your sorrow.
1/3
Sualan Patriarch2G
Creature — Elephant (U)
Other Elephant creatures you control get +1/+1. “They are so carefree, oblivious of what is to come. I wish I could swap places with them.”
—Qezal, primordial hunter
3/3
Prophetic Pools
Land — Oasis (C) T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
When Prophetic Pools enters the battlefield, scry 1. (To scry 1, look at the top card of your library, then you may put that card on the bottom of your library.)
Revel in Power was very pushed. I asked a friend about it and he said he would be ok with it if it cost 1GG, so I'll go with that change.
I really want to give trample on the Elephant lord. I want Elephants to be a thing in block Constructed, and so because of curve reasons he has to cost 3, as another good Elephant costs 4. Put trample on top of that card without any cost increase?
Revel in Power was very pushed. I asked a friend about it and he said he would be ok with it if it cost 1GG, so I'll go with that change.
I really want to give trample on the Elephant lord. I want Elephants to be a thing in block Constructed, and so because of curve reasons he has to cost 3, as another good Elephant costs 4. Put trample on top of that card without any cost increase?
At rare, I think adding trample would be fine, especially if it were 1GG. At uncommon... that's a bit much but it might be ok if you kept an eye on it in testing.
Stompy 3RR
Creature - Beast (U)
Sacrifice a land: Stompy gets +2/+2 and gains trample until end of turn.
3/3
\ \ \
Sneaky 2GG
Creature - Beast (U)
Sneaky has hexproof so long as it is untapped.
Sneaky must be blocked by exactly one creature, if able.
3/2
I can't get this thought out of my mind though obviously the names are ridiculous.
I've managed to come up with one other name. The black-red one will be Liar and Betrayer. Liar draws cards and loses life or something, and Betrayer is a Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers dude.
Well, I have been a bit unenthusiastic about finishing this set in the last months and spent my creative energy on other sets, but the last week I sat down and finally finished this set. That means that Esparand block is now completed!
Work on the set is far from done. I mainly focused on getting all the card slots filled and bringing the set into a presentable form. I rushed some cards and ended up with "Eh, good enough" on many of them. I want to improve the name, flavor text, and artwork on many of the cards. I might also swap some cards entirely, especially rares. But first, some testing and reviews.
Here are two preview cards. An alternate-reality Chandra and the third installment of Telar, the main protagonist of the block:
He lives!
You should post more on your blog. I'm always sad when it isn't updated for a while.
I really like the two preview cards above. They do a really good job of capturing the time travel madness that is going on.
I'll try and do some card by card comments in the next few days.
Links
Other sets of the block:
You can read about the design of the set on our blog:
You can download a .pdf-document with card images:
Other files:
For text versions see post #2.
Overview
Beginnings retains three mechanics from Esparand:
Foreshadow {cost} (Pay {cost} and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
Scry X (To scry X, look at the top X cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
Oases
Oasis is a new land subtype. Some cards care about you controlling an Oasis.
Beginnings introduces two new mechanics:
Paradoxic creatures
Due to the widespread time paradoxes, multiple versions of one person may exist at the same time. Paradoxic creatures are two creature cards on one card and work similarly to ordinary split cards. You may cast either half of the split card as a creature spell. While on the stack or battlefield, only that half of the creature card exists. If a split creature would enter the battlefield from anywhere but the stack, you choose which half of the creature card enters the battlefield. If both halves of the split creature are legendary, you may control one copy of each half at the same time. In Commander, you may use a legendary split creature as your general, and its color identity is the union of the color identities of both halves.
Flashback {cost} (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
In Beginnings, we delve into the very past. Flashback is returning in Beginnings and replaces Epitaph as the graveyard mechanic of the set.
To be written.
Beginnings is the 2nd set in the Esparand block. Both the first and the third set are already finished.
Esparand block is supposed to be drafted in reverse order:
ETE BGI ESP
Beginnings plays millennia before the main events of Esparand. The world is supposed to feel different, but related. Because of that, only a few of the mechanics from Esparand return. Eternity will again be more similar to Esparand, as we will be in the "present" again.
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
Absolute Silence 1W
Instant (R)
Absolute Silence can’t be countered.
Exile all cards from all graveyards.
In the beginnings, the preservers watched not over time, but the souls of the dead.
Adamant Defense W
Instant (U)
Foreshadow 1W (Pay 1W and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to target creature this turn. If damage is prevented this way and Adamant Defense was foreshadowed, it deals that much damage to target creature or player.
Angel of Infinity 7W
Creature — Angel (U)
Flying
When Angel of Infinity enters the battlefield, scry 3. (To scry 3, look at the top three cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
7/7
Battlefield Chronomancer 1WW
Creature — Human Wizard (R)
First strike
At the end of combat, if Battlefield Chronomancer attacked or blocked this combat, choose target creature card in your graveyard that was put there from the battlefield this turn. You may return that card to the battlefield.
3/3
Breath of Life 3W
Sorcery (C)
Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
“The storm may have taken your life, but it was not his to claim. I give back to you what is rightfully yours.”
—Nual, saint of ankhal
Collapse Reality 1W
Instant (C)
Exile target creature you control, then return that card to the battlefield under its owner’s control. Scry 1. (To scry 1, look at the top card of your library, then you may put that card on the bottom of your library.)
Flying Palace 2WW
Creature — Wall (C)
Flying
Jaron observed a colossal city flying over the outland. He landed on its highest tower to meet the wizard controlling it. To his surprise, the halls where completely empty. The city had to be its own master.
3/3
Illuminated One 2W
Creature — Human Monk (C)
When Illuminated One dies, put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
“I learned that death is relative a long time ago.”
2/2
Illusions of Mortality XWW
Sorcery (R)
Return target creature card with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to the battlefield. Put X +1/+1 counters on it.
“Death is only an illusion. Refuse to accept the fate the sands have foreseen for you.”
—Nual, saint of ankhal
Lanuznari Guide 1W
Creature — Spirit (C)
Lanuznari Guide has lifelink as long as you control an Oasis.
Drink from her sacred waters, and find eternal youth bestowed upon you.
2/2
Last Breath 1W
Instant (C)
Exile target creature with power 2 or less. Its controller gains 4 life.
The stormborn revel in every breath they draw, for their existence could end at any moment.
Lightspawn W
Creature — Elemental (C)
2W, T: Tap target creature.
A twisted apparition, created from the divine light that rests inside the crypts of Ankhal.
0/3
Palace Guardian 4W
Creature — Cat (C)
Foreshadow W (Pay W and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
You may cast Palace Guardian as though it had flash as long as it’s foreshadowed.
“Eaten by a hungry lion... Rewind, REWIND!”
—Tarashal, master thief
3/5
Soul’s Invocation 1W
Sorcery (C)
Put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
Flashback W (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Vanished in the Storm W
Instant (U)
Exile target creature an opponent controls. Its controller takes an extra turn after this one.
The people of Esparand gave up on exact historiography a long time ago.
Wasteland Mastodon 2W
Creature — Elephant (U)
Whenever Wasteland Mastodon attacks, it gets +0/+2 until end of turn for each Oasis you control
The mastodons are old enough to remember the times when flowers bloomed in these barren wastes.
3/2
Weary Travels 1W
Sorcery (U)
Creatures you control get +1/+3 and gain vigilance until end of turn.
Flashback 3W (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
After the last green was swept away by the storm, the Gul-Shad traveled east.
Azrar, Mistress of Air 2WW
Legendary Creature — Elemental (M)
Flying
Other creatures you control have flying.
“May my breath uncover what this world was meant to be...”
3/3
///
Azrar Unbound 5WW
Legendary Creature — Elemental (M)
Flying
Whenever Azrar Unbound attacks, destroy all creatures without flying.
“...and destroy everything else in its wake.”
5/5
Judge 3W
Creature — Angel (U)
Flying
Whenever Judge attacks, you may tap target creature.
2/2
///
Executioner 4WW
Creature — Angel (U)
Flying, first strike
“Sister, is justice merely a vessel for revenge to you?”
4/4
Archaeomancer 2UU
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
When Archaeomancer enters the battlefield, return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand.
“Before we solve this last puzzle, we must know what pieces we are looking for.”
1/2
Cosmic Entity 5U
Creature — Elemental (U)
Flying
“We were all born from the cosmos. Consider it a gift to look upon its face before you fade into its dark again.”
—Eldres, the aeon wanderer
4/5
Deliberate Duplication 2UU
Instant (R)
Exile target creature you control. Put a token onto the battlefield that’s a copy of that creature, then return that card to the battlefield under your control.
“You’ve brought shame upon yourself, student. Now, should I punish you or the both of you?”
—Khelan, time traveler
Erase History 2U
Sorcery (C)
Target player puts the top seven cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard. Scry 2. (To scry 2, look at the top two cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
Expose Reality 5U
Instant (U)
Return up to two target nonland permanents to their owner’s hands. Scry 3. (To scry 3, look at the top three cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
Illusions of Finitude XUUU
Sorcery (R)
Scry X, then draw X cards. (To scry X, look at the top X cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
“Every possible future revealed... It is too much for my mind to fathom.”
—Niusha of the Spires
Merfolk Tideblade 2U
Creature — Merfolk Warrior (C)
Foreshadow 2U (Pay 2U and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
When Merfolk Tideblade enters the battlefield, if it was foreshadowed, return target creature to its owner’s hand.
2/3
Midnight Thief 3U
Creature — Human Rogue (C)
Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)
Midnight Thief can’t be blocked.
The full moon was the only witness.
2/2
Oracle of Yual Oasis 5U
Creature — Elemental (C)
When Oracle of Yual Oasis enters the battlefield, if you control an Oasis, draw a card.
The elves used to travel to the yual oasis to ask the ancient spirits for guidance, but now they remain silent.
4/5
Paradoxic Vision 2U
Sorcery (C)
Draw two cards, then discard a card.
Flashback 3U (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
“I have seen death itself come to life.”
—Mirza, the shaper
Spell Pierce U
Instant (U)
Counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays 2.
“Time out!”
—Doman Gul of the spires
Stormborn Nihilus 3UU
Creature — Elemental (C)
Flying
When Stormborn Nihilus enters the battlefield, you may exile another target creature you control until the beginning of the next end step.
A giant hand emerged from the cloud and pulled Khelan right into nonexistence.
3/3
Strangler of Logic
Creature — Kraken (R)
When Strangler of Logic enters the battlefield, at the beginning of your next upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay UUUUUUUU.
Islandwalk
All lands are Islands in addition to their other types.
7/8
Telar, the Aeon Wanderer 3UU
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard (M)
At the beginning of your upkeep, if Telar, the Aeon Wanderer is exiled, scry 1.
2U, T: Exile Telar and put three time counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter from it. Then, if it has no time counters on it, return it to the battlefield under your control. If you do, take an extra turn after this one.
3/4
Temporal Convergence 1U
Instant (U)
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell this turn, return target nonland permanent to its owner’s hand.
“Everything has led us to this point in time. This is its source. Destroy it and destroy the storm of time.”
—Telar, to Niusha
Temporal Lock U
Instant (C)
Tap target creature. It doesn’t untap during its controller’s next untap step.
Flashback 4U (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Trap in the Void 2UU
Enchantment — Aura (U)
Enchant creature
When Trap in the Void enters the battlefield, tap enchanted creature.
Enchanted creature doesn’t untap during its controller’s untap step and has “At the beginning of your upkeep, put the top card of your library into your graveyard.”
Young Time Traveler 1U
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
When Young Time Traveler enters the battlefield, scry 2. (To scry 2, look at the top two cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
“Now go and duplicate yourself. Maybe she will be more useful than you are.”
—Khelan, time traveler
2/1
Master 3UU
Creature — Wizard Avatar (U)
Flying
“What we believe to know is so insignificant in the grand scheme of things...”
5/2
///
Apprentice 2U
Creature — Human Wizard (U)
When Apprentice enters the battlefield, draw a card.
“...In time, you will understand as I have.”
1/3
Acolyte of the Unnamed 3B
Creature — Vampire Shaman (C)
Sacrifice another creature: Acolyte of the Unnamed gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
“The Beholder, the Unnamed... they are all one single paradoxic entity. We call it ‘He Who Defies Logic.’”
—Telar, magus of the aeons
3/2
Amkhat Summoner 3BB
Creature — Zombie Wizard (R)
You may choose not to untap Amkhat Summoner during your untap step.
1B, T: Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. When Amkhat Summoner becomes untapped, exile that creature.
4/4
Beguile Death 1B
Sorcery (U)
Put a 2/2 black Zombie creature token onto the battlefield.
Flashback—Sacrifice a creature. (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
“My spell proved to be irresistible.”
—Liliana Vess
Bind in Eternity 5BB
Sorcery (M)
Target opponent takes an extra turn after this one. You control that player during that turn.
“Don’t blame yourself for creating me, Telar. I made sure that you would.”
—The Beholder
Cut of the Scythe 1BB
Instant (U)
Destroy target creature. Scry 1. (To scry 1, look at the top card of your library, then you may put that card on the bottom of your library.)
“Fate demands another sacrifice.”
—The Beholder
Echo Hunter 2B
Creature — Bat (C)
Flying
Echo Hunter can’t block.
The constant temporal storms induced a noise background that their sense of hearing wasn’t built for.
2/3
Entropic Wind 1B
Instant (C)
Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
Flashback 2B (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
“If the living need their flesh to live, why is it so easily removed?”
—Xural, lich lord
Grave to Cradle B
Sorcery (C)
Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand. Scry 1. (To scry 1, look at the top card of your library, then you may put that card on the bottom of your library.)
Even the wicked hear the call of fate.
Herald of Sethek 2B
Creature — Snake Shaman (C)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put the top card of your library into your graveyard.
“We are the children of sethek. Soon, the great one will enter this world and give birth to our race.”
2/3
Illusions of Impotence XBBB
Sorcery (R)
All creatures get -X/-X until end of turn. Each opponent loses X life. You gain life equal to the life lost this way.
“This being wields powers beyond anyone’s comprehension. What are you mortals hoping to achieve?”
—Princess Mina, to Telar
Limits of Sanity 1BB
Sorcery (U)
Target player reveals his or her hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card. Add BBB to your mana pool.
There’s only so much the mortal mind can fathom.
Master of Scorpions 4BB
Creature — Human Shaman (R)
When Master of Scorpions enters the battlefield, put a 1/1 black Scorpion creature token with deathtouch onto the battlefield for each creature card in your graveyard.
Nature has its way of creating life. The Gul-Shad have another way.
2/3
Plague of Amkhat B
Creature — Insect (C)
Foreshadow 1B (Pay 1B and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
When Plague of Amkhat enters the battlefield, if it was foreshadowed, each player sacrifices a creature.
1/1
Raise Empires 7B
Sorcery (C)
Raise Empires costs 1 less to cast for each creature card in your graveyard.
Put three 2/2 black Zombie creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Empires rise and fall. Several times if they must.
Scion of the Unreal 5B
Creature — Elemental (C)
When Scion of the Unreal enters the battlefield, target player puts the top five cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
“It is their greatest flaw that mortals have such an incomplete perception of reality.”
—The Beholder
4/5
Test-Tube Scorpion 3B
Creature — Human Shaman (U)
Deathtouch
When Test-Tube Scorpion enters the battlefield, scry 3. (To scry 3, look at the top three cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
2/2
Tomb Desecration 3B
Sorcery (U)
Each opponent loses life equal to the highest power among creature cards in your graveyard. You gain life equal to the life lost this way.
Flashback 5BB (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Vampire Hedonist 1B
Creature — Vampire (C)
Lifelink
“Everything good in life the humans either declare as illegal or as sin.”
1/3
Liar 2B
Creature — Vampire Wizard (U)
When Liar enters the battlefield, reveal the top card of your library and put it into your hand. You lose life equal to its converted mana cost.
2/2
///
Betrayer 3BB
Creature — Vampire Rogue (U)
Sacrifice another creature: Regenerate Betrayer.
Aziz was held responsible for all the crimes his other selfs had committed.
4/2
Chronocharged Bolt 2R
Sorcery (C)
Foreshadow 2R (Pay 2R and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
Chronocharged Bolt deals 3 damage to target creature or player. It deals 5 damage to that creature or player instead if it was foreshadowed.
Crescent Crusader 1R
Creature — Human Monk (C)
If a creature dealt damage by Crescent Crusader this turn would die, exile it instead.
The crusaders of Ankhal are so thorough that even the storm of time cannot resurrect their enemies.
2/1
Illusions of Boundaries XXRR
Sorcery (R)
Put X 1/1 red Elemental creature tokens with haste onto the battlefield. Creatures you control get +X/+0 until end of turn.
“The storm is life and death. Its power scintillates within me. Now I am a god.”
—Dario Ahlan, Gul-Shad stormspeaker
Minotaur Siegebreaker 3R
Creature — Minotaur Berserker (C)
Foreshadow R (Pay R and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
Haste
When Minotaur Siegebreaker enters the battlefield, if it was foreshadowed, target creature blocks it this turn if able.
3/3
Nosedive Harpy 4R
Creature — Harpy Rogue (C)
Flying, haste
When Nosedive Harpy enters the battlefield, it gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
“Why would it evolve? Nature has made the harpy just as it intended it to be.”
—Journal entry of Charius Nair, page 7
2/2
Objectionable Tactics 3R
Sorcery (C)
Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn.
Flashback 6R (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Overlord of the Wastes 3RR
Creature — Giant Warrior (R)
Trample
Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, it gets +2/+0 and gains trample and haste until end of turn. Sacrifice it at the beginning of your next end step.
6/3
Primordial Hellkite 2RR
Creature — Dragon (M)
Flying
1R: Primordial Hellkite deals 1 damage to target player. Put a flame counter on Primordial Hellkite.
1R, Remove three flame counters from Primordial Hellkite: Primordial Hellkite deals 3 damage to target creature.
1R, Remove six flame counters from Primordial Hellkite: Primordial Hellkite deals 6 damage to each other creature.
4/4
Reckless Graverobber 1R
Creature — Human Warrior (C)
Reckless Graverobber attacks each turn if able.
When Reckless Graverobber dies, put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard.
“What is worth the horrors you unleashed?”
—Teras, tomb guardian
2/3
Riddle of Lightning 3RR
Instant (U)
Choose target creature or player. Scry 3, then reveal the top card of your library. Riddle of Lightning deals damage equal to that card’s converted mana cost to that creature or player. (To scry 3, look at the top three cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
Savage Charge R
Instant (C)
Target attacking creature gets +2/+2 and gains trample until end of turn.
On Esparand, the moment of surprise is an unreliable advantage. Therefore, most warriors rely on pure strength instead.
Sentient Storm 3RR
Creature — Elemental (U)
Trample
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, put a +1/+1 counter on Sentient Storm.
A consciousness formed inside the storm. It was as confused as the witnesses of its birth.
3/4
Stormborn Infernus 5R
Creature — Elemental (C)
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, Stormborn Infernus gets +2/+0 and gains trample until end of turn.
“Why do I exist? I like existing, so why would I choose not to exist?”
5/4
Touch of Ignition 2R
Enchantment — Aura (R)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has “T: Target instant or sorcery card in your graveyard gains flashback until end of turn. The flashback cost is equal to its mana cost.” (You may cast that card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Underground Expedition 1R
Sorcery (U)
Put two 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Flashback 3RR (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Shiny things are the only things that can get a goblin’s mind off smashing things.
Violent Backlash 3R
Instant (U)
Until end of turn, creatures you control gain “Whenever this creature is dealt damage, it deals that much damage to target creature or player.”
“That’s it! Everybody dies!” —Chandra
“No! Violence is no option.” —Chandra
Wildfire Celebration 5R
Sorcery (U)
Target opponent sacrifices a land. Wildfire Celebration deals 2 damage to each creature that player controls.
“The people are much more... spirited in these times.”
—Mirza, the shaper
Window of Opportunity R
Sorcery (C)
Reveal the top three cards of your library. You may play a card from among them. Put the rest into your graveyard.
“It was as if the storm itself told me to enter.”
—Khelan, time traveler
Leader 2RR
Creature — Goblin (U)
Whenever Leader attacks, other creatures you control get +1/+0 until end of turn.
Grix had no qualms leading his army to their certain death.
3/3
///
Follower R
Creature — Goblin (U)
Follower can’t attack or block alone.
Even though it was comprised of mostly himself.
2/1
Delve into the Jungle 4GG
Sorcery (R)
Reveal the top six cards of your library. You may put a creature card from among them onto the battlefield. Put the rest into your graveyard.
Flashback 6GG (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Destructor Wurm 7G
Creature — Wurm (C)
Destructor Wurm costs 1 less to cast for each creature card in your graveyard.
Trample
Temportal storms are the primary cause of property damage on Esparand. Wurms are a close second.
6/6
Eight-Legged Horror 3GG
Creature — Spider Archer (C)
Intimidate, reach
“The creations of the storm are as macabre as they are deadly.”
—Eldres, the aeon wanderer
3/4
Embrace of Sethek G
Enchantment — Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has deathtouch.
4G: Return Embrace of Sethek from your graveyard to your hand.
Sethek’s influence began long before he began to exist.
Gift of the Land G
Instant (C)
Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
Flashback 2G (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
“We took nature’s gifts for granted. Now the land is dying around us.”
—Nandes, elvish druid
Illusions of Finality XXGG
Sorcery (R)
Return up to X target permanent cards from your graveyard to your hand. Search your library for up to X basic land cards, and put them onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library.
“In its essence, nature is cyclic, just like time.”
—Eldres, the aeon wanderer
Merchant of Dekara 2G
Creature — Elephant (C)
When Merchant of Dekara enters the battlefield, if you control an Oasis, you gain 3 life.
Cross the Dekara desert only in the 14th millennium. In earlier ages, the desert is ruled by dangerous warlords. In later ages, all the oases along the way have dried out.
3/2
Millennium Crown 3G
Creature — Treefolk (C)
Defender
When Millennium Crown enters the battlefield, scry 1. (To scry 1, look at the top card of your library, then you may put that card on the bottom of your library.)
The trunk is always growing, writing down history on its bark.
4/4
Mournful Dryad 2G
Creature — Dryad (U)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put the top card of your library into your graveyard.
T: Add G to your mana pool.
A journey through her vale lets you forget everything; everything but your sorrow.
1/3
Ophidian Ambush 4G
Instant (C)
Target creature you control gains deathtouch until end of turn. It fights target creature you don’t control.
The bandits were expecting an ambush in the Dekara desert, but an ambush of a different kind.
Revel in Power 1GG
Instant (U)
Target creature gets +5/+5 until end of turn. Scry 3. (To scry 3, look at the top three cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
Season of Fertility G
Sorcery (R)
Foreshadow 1G (Pay 1G and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. If Season of Fertility was foreshadowed, instead add three mana of any one color to your mana pool and return Season of Fertility to its owner’s hand.
Shadina Grovewalker 2G
Creature — Elf Shaman (C)
Foreshadow G (Pay G and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
Flash
When Shadina Grovewalker enters the battlefield, if it was foreshadowed, target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
2/2
Soul of Awakening 6GG
Creature — Elemental (M)
Indestructible
Lands you control are 4/4 Elemental creatures with trample. They’re still lands.
Its vigor is ever fading, knowing that it no longer has a place in this changing world.
0/6
Sualan Patriarch 2G
Creature — Elephant (U)
Other Elephant creatures you control get +1/+1 and have trample.
“They are so carefree, oblivious of what is to come. I wish I could swap places with them.”
—Qezal, primordial hunter
3/3
Temple Explorer 1G
Creature — Human Scout (C)
When Temple Explorer enters the battlefield, reveal the top three cards of your library. You may put a land card from among them into your hand. Put the rest into your graveyard.
“The question isn’t ‘where is the entrance?’ but ‘when is it?’”
1/3
Vanquished by Time 2G
Instant (U)
Destroy target noncreature, nonland permanent.
“Nature will endure, even when faced with the enemy of all life.”
—Nandes, elvish druid
Windstorm XG
Instant (U)
Windstorm deals X damage to each creature with flying.
“In the beginning of time, the sky was mine and it will be mine again.”
—Azrar, mistress of air
Hunter 3GG
Creature — Elf Warrior (U)
Trample
“I prefer the solitude of the wilds to the chaos of civilization.”
4/4
///
Gatherer 1G
Creature — Elf Druid (U)
T: Add G to your mana pool.
“So do I.”
1/1
Chandra, Chronomaster 2WU
Planeswalker — Chandra (M)
+1: Until your next turn, whenever a creature an opponent controls deals combat damage to target planeswalker or player, return that creature to its owner’s hand.
-2: Count the number of cards in your hand. At the beginning of your next upkeep, if you have less than that many cards in hand, draw cards equal to the difference.
-8: You get an emblem with “Each opponent skips his or her untap step.”
{4}
Time Tourist WU
Creature — Human Wizard (R)
Reveal Time Tourist from your hand: You win the game. Activate this ability only if you control a creature named Time Tourist, a card named Time Tourist is in your graveyard, and you own an exiled card named Time Tourist.
“Not another one of you! We’re out of rooms.”
—Dareos, innkeeper
2/2
Secretive Alchemist UB
Creature — Human Wizard (R)
Secretive Alchemist has hexproof as long as it’s untapped.
T: Target creature gets +1/+0 and gains deathtouch until end of turn.
The alchemist’s guild was always one step ahead, until the investigators started consulting their future selves.
1/1
Turuk, Outland Mercenary BR
Legendary Creature — Goblin Warrior (R)
Haste
Turuk, Outland Mercenary can’t block.
At the beginning of your upkeep, starting with you, each player may pay any amount of mana. If a player paid more mana this way than any other player, he or she gains control of Turuk.
3/3
Stormhaven Behemoth 2RG
Creature — Elemental Rhino (R)
Trample
If an opponent would begin an extra turn, that player skips that turn instead.
While the storm of time spreads across space and time, the mystical haven Lanuznari is the last place unaffected.
5/4
Sylvan Giftgiver 3GW
Creature — Dryad (R)
Foreshadow 5GW (Pay 5GW and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
When Sylvan Giftgiver enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on each other creature you control. If Sylvan Giftgiver was foreshadowed, put five +1/+1 counters on those creatures instead.
5/5
Beauty 1RR
Creature — Human (U)
When Beauty enters the battlefield, target creature an opponent controls attacks during its controller’s next turn if able.
To prevent any threats to her claim of the throne...
3/1
///
Beast 4G
Creature — Human Warrior (U)
All creatures able to block Beast do so.
...Princess Razma’s other self was abandoned in the wilds when she was still young.
3/3
Predator 5GG
Creature — Lizard Beast (U)
When Predator enters the battlefield, it fights target creature an opponent controls.
4/5
///
Prey 2W
Creature — Lizard (U)
Defender
The natural order becomes more complicated when time travel is involved.
0/4
Princess Mina 2GU
Legendary Creature — Human (M)
Flash
When Princess Mina enters the battlefield, for each creature card that was put into your graveyard from anywhere this turn, you draw a card and you gain 1 life.
2/4
///
Shadow of Mina UB
Legendary Creature — Spirit (M)
Flying
When Shadow of Mina dies, return this card to its owner’s hand.
Princess Mina lived many lives. Not all of them were happy ones.
1/1
Sethek, the Progenitor 1BG
Legendary Creature — Snake (M)
Other Snake creatures you control have deathtouch.
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a 1/1 green Snake creature token onto the battlefield.
2/2
///
Sethek, the Devourer 4BB
Legendary Creature — Snake (M)
Whenever Sethek, the Devourer attacks, defending player loses 3 life and you gain 3 life.
1B, Sacrifice another creature: Regenerate Sethek, the Devourer.
2/7
Shadow 4BB
Creature — Spirit (U)
Intimidate
Although ankhal is an unholy crypt...
4/4
///
Light 2R
Creature — Spirit (U)
R: Light gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
...it is an everlasting source of divine light.
1/3
Thief 1UU
Creature — Human Rogue (U)
Whenever Thief deals combat damage to a player, draw a card.
In all the timelines, Jamos was a scoundrel...
2/2
///
Murderer 4B
Creature — Human Assassin (U)
When Murderer enters the battlefield, destroy target tapped creature.
...In some more than in others.
3/2
Worker 2WW
Creature — Human Soldier (U)
Vigilance
“To think that I could live a life of such mediocrity...”
—Ellya, the visionary
3/4
///
Thinker 1U
Creature — Human Wizard (U)
T: Scry 1. (To scry 1, look at the top card of your library, then you may put that card on the bottom of your library.)
1/1
Candle of Lanuznari 2
Artifact — Equipment (R)
Equipped creature has indestructible as long as it’s your turn. Otherwise, it has hexproof.
Equip 2
“The light of Auria will still shine when all other lights go out.”
—Princess Mina
Orb of Remembrance 2
Artifact (U)
When Orb of Remembrance enters the battlefield, draw a card.
T, Sacrifice Orb of Remembrance: Put target card from a graveyard on the bottom of its owner’s library.
A thousand memories caged inside.
Perpetuum Mobile 4
Artifact (C)
When Perpetuum Mobile enters the battlefield, draw a card.
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
“There’s a certain ingenuity that I recognize. It must be of my design.”
—Mirza, the shaper
Pithing Needle 1
Artifact (R)
As Pithing Needle enters the battlefield, name a card.
Activated abilities of sources with the chosen name can’t be activated unless they’re mana abilities.
“To watch helplessly as the aeons unfold. A fate worse than death.”
Ancestral Shrine
Land (R)
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
T, Pay 1 life: Add G or W to your mana pool.
Hidden among the vast expanses of the Talchar jungle are places of perfect tranquility.
Ancient Caverns
Land (R)
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
T, Pay 1 life: Add U or B to your mana pool.
“Tread carefully. Time is woven into the very architecture of this place.”
—Mirza, the shaper
Antique Palace
Land (R)
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
T, Pay 1 life: Add W or U to your mana pool.
“I used to live here when I still was a child. Maybe I should visit her sometime.”
—Princess Mina
Dateless Tomb
Land (R)
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
T, Pay 1 life: Add B or R to your mana pool.
“Whoever built this tomb, they wanted their ancestors to stay dead for good.”
—Touraj, tomb robber
Evolving Wilds
Land (C)
T, Sacrifice Evolving Wilds: Search your library for a basic land card, and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library.
“The Storm of Time will turn this entire continent to dust if we allow it to.”
—Kijaro, scholar of Azshadi
Pools of Cleansing
Land — Oasis (C)
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
When Pools of Cleansing enters the battlefield, you may exile target card from a graveyard.
“The process might... change you.”
—Shara Adun, ankhal priestess
Pools of Prophecy
Land — Oasis (C)
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
When Pools of Prophecy enters the battlefield, scry 1. (To scry 1, look at the top card of your library, then you may put that card on the bottom of your library.)
Primordial Temple
Land (R)
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
T, Pay 1 life: Add R or G to your mana pool.
A hub of cultural exchange between various species.
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
I wasn't able to be involved much the other two sets - I hope to be able to post more now and in the foreseeable future so I can help give feedback on this one, at least!
Adamant Defense I like the idea here, but the foreshadowed effect breaks the color pie too much for my tastes. Now if you made the cost for foreshadowing it 1R...
Last Breath I think this could cost W and be fine...
Vanished in the Storm ...except this card exists, and two 1cmc white 'kill' spells might be too much. (I really like this card by the way)
Deliberate Duplication - I. Love. This. Card.
Not much else to say about blue for the moment.
Bind In Eternity - Oh man. I love this card so much. Very awesome. I could almost see it costing 5BBB but that may not matter much.
Into the Dark Realms - I'm not a fan of black getting straight up ramp, even if it's slightly inefficiently costed. I'd like to see this have a smaller mana cost and instead require you to sac a creature or lose life.
Limits of Sanity - In essence this is a free distress. Not a fan.
Chronocharged bolt - Love it. This is a great use of foreshadow at common.
Window of Opportunity - would this need "up to one card"?
Illusions of Finality - This feels fairly underwhelming compared to the other cards in this cycle.
Naturalize - WHAT IS THIS OP CARD SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD NEVER BE PRINTED!
Time Tourist - Man your wacky cards are making happy. I worried that this one might not work because it's an activated ability in your hand, but then I realized forecast already did this, so yeah.
Secretive Alchemist - I think I've shown you, but that mechanic (has hexproof as long as it's untapped) is something I've played with a lot (I called it stealth). It plays well, and this card should be very awesome.
Ajani Savage - I like that he doesn't have an 'ultimate', at least not one that kills him off, but I don't think the -3 really feels like Ajani. I like the 0 ability, though it feels more like something Chandra would do rather than Ajani. Overall this is a cool walker, it just doesn't say Ajani to me.
There are a lot of dual cards here and I'm purposely not giving feedback on them - I still don't really know what to think about these. I'll chime in later on.
Candle of Lanuznari Should probably cost a bit more. This card makes things fairly hard to answer. If you keep it cheap, make sure to have plenty of answers to artifacts for balance, I would think.
Looks great, very excited to see more. Very excited to play with this block once all three sets are done as well!
My custom sets:
Caeia Block (Released - Beta)
Generals of Dareth (In Design)
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
Ahh gotcha. I wasn't familiar with the card.
It still feels like that card + Vanished in the Storm just play in the same space too much. They're both relatively cheap removal that give your opponent an upside. Just feels redundant though that may not matter too much once the whole set takes shape.
My custom sets:
Caeia Block (Released - Beta)
Generals of Dareth (In Design)
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
Illuminated One 2W
Creature — Human Monk (C)
When Illuminated One dies, put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
“I learned that death is relative a long time ago.”
2/2
Angel of Infinity 7W
Creature — Angel (U)
Flying
When Angel of Infinity enters the battlefield, scry 3. (To scry 3, look at the top three cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
7/7
Vanished in the Storm W (New version)
Instant (R)
Exile target creature an opponent controls. Its controller takes an extra turn after this one.
The people of Esparand gave up on exact historiography a long time ago.
//Up from uncommon.
Violent Backlash 2R
Instant (U)
Until end of turn, creatures you control gain “Whenever this creature is dealt damage, it deals that much damage to target creature or player.”
“That’s it! Everybody dies!”
—Chandra Nalaar
Chandra, the Twinflame 2RR
Legendary Creature — Human Shaman (M)
1R: Chandra, the Twinflame deals 1 damage to target player. Put an anger counter on Chandra, the Twinflame.
1R, Remove three anger counters from Chandra: Chandra deals 3 damage to target creature.
1R, Remove six anger counters from Chandra: Chandra deals 6 damage to each other creature.
4/4
//"As Chandra departed from Esparand, her essence was torn in half. A duplicate remained on the plane, her spark lost forever in the vortex of time."
Shadina Grovewalker 2G
Creature — Elf Shaman (C)
Foreshadow G (Pay G and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
Flash
When Shadina Grovewalker enters the battlefield, if it was foreshadowed, target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
2/2
—Ajani Savage removed.
Eldres, Aeon Wanderer 2GU
Planeswalker — Eldres (M)
Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)
+1: Until your next turn, you may cast nonland cards as though they had flash.
-2: Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control this turn, you may draw a card.
-7: You get an emblem with “Each creature you control enters the battlefield with seven additional +1/+1 counters on it.”
{3}
//"Eldres is an elder of the elvish Mayeli tribe, who acted as a guide through the storm of time. During a storm, he had to watch helplessly as his people were sucked into a temporal vortex. This traumatic experience triggered his spark. Now he is traveling restlessly, only staying briefly in every aeon, always looking for his lost people."
//Will probably get another ultimate.
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
What about if his ultimate symbolized him finding his lost tribe and summoning them back into reality?
-7: Cast up to _ Creature cards you own from outside the game without paying their mana costs.
My custom sets:
Caeia Block (Released - Beta)
Generals of Dareth (In Design)
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
Absolute Silence 1W
Instant (R)
Absolute Silence can’t be countered.
Exile all cards from all graveyards.
In the beginnings, the preservers watched not over time, but the souls of the dead.
Lanuznari Guide 1W
Creature — Spirit (C)
Lanuznari Guide has lifelink as long as you control an Oasis.
Drink from her sacred waters, and find eternal youth bestowed upon you.
2/2
Distress Call 3U
Sorcery (U)
Choose target creature. Whenever that creature deals combat damage to a player this turn, put a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
“You must reach the beacon before the Beholder finds you. Now our fate depends on you alone.”
—Telar, to Niusha
Erase History 2U
Sorcery (C)
Target player puts the top seven cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard. Scry 2. (To scry 2, look at the top two cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
Expose Reality 5U
Instant (U)
Return up to two target nonland permanents to their owner’s hands. Scry 3. (To scry 3, look at the top three cards of your library. Put any number of them on the bottom of your library in any order and the rest on top in any order.)
Midnight Thief 3U
Creature — Human Rogue (C)
Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)
Midnight Thief can’t be blocked.
The full moon was the only witness.
2/2
Oracle of Yual Oasis 5U
Creature — Elemental (C)
When Oracle of Yual Oasis enters the battlefield, if you control an Oasis, draw a card.
The elves used to travel to the yual oasis to ask the ancient spirits for guidance, but now they remain silent.
4/5
Stormborn Nihilus 3UU
Creature — Elemental (C)
Flying
When Stormborn Nihilus enters the battlefield, exile another target creature you control until the beginning of the next end step.
A giant hand emerged from the cloud and pulled Khelan right into nonexistence.
3/3
Entropic Wind 1B
Instant (C)
Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
Flashback 2B (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
“If the living need their flesh to live, why is it so easily removed?”
—Xural, lich lord
Herald of Sethek 3B
Creature — Snake Shaman (C)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put the top card of your library into your graveyard.
“We are the children of sethek. Soon, the great one will enter this world and give birth to our race.”
2/4
Tomb Desecration 3B
Sorcery (U)
Each opponent loses life equal to the highest power among creature cards in your graveyard. You gain life equal to the life lost this way.
Flashback 5BB (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Vampire Hedonist 1B
Creature — Vampire (C)
Lifelink
“Everything good in life the humans either declare as illegal or as sin.”
1/3
Daabar Brawler 2RR
Creature — Cat Berserker (U)
Foreshadow 2R (Pay 2R and play with this card revealed from your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
When Daabar Brawler enters the battlefield, if it was foreshadowed, it fights target creature an opponent controls.
4/3
Sentient Storm 3RR
Creature — Elemental (U)
Trample
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, put a +1/+1 counter on Sentient Storm.
A consciousness formed inside the storm. It was as confused as the witnesses of its birth.
3/3
Touch of Ignition 2R
Enchantment — Aura (R)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has “T: Target instant or sorcery card in your graveyard gains flashback until end of turn. The flashback cost is equal to its mana cost.” (You may cast that card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Leader 2RR
Creature — Goblin (U)
Whenever Leader attacks, other creatures you control get +1/+0 until end of turn.
Grix had no qualms sending his army to their certain death.
3/3
///
Follower 1R
Creature — Goblin (U)
Follower can’t attack or block alone.
Even though it was comprised of mostly himself.
2/2
—Naturalize removed.
Crumbling Ruin 2G
Instant (U)
Destroy target noncreature, nonland permanent.
“Nature will endure, even when faced with the enemy of all life.”
—Nandes, elvish druid
Mournful Dryad 2G
Creature — Dryad (U)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put the top card of your library into your graveyard.
T: Add G to your mana pool.
A journey through her vale lets you forget everything; everything but your sorrow.
1/3
Sualan Patriarch 2G
Creature — Elephant (U)
Other Elephant creatures you control get +1/+1.
“They are so carefree, oblivious of what is to come. I wish I could swap places with them.”
—Qezal, primordial hunter
3/3
Prophetic Pools
Land — Oasis (C)
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
When Prophetic Pools enters the battlefield, scry 1. (To scry 1, look at the top card of your library, then you may put that card on the bottom of your library.)
//Moved over from Esparand.
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
The Elephant lord really should cost more and grant trample. Elephants should be able to trample.
I really want to give trample on the Elephant lord. I want Elephants to be a thing in block Constructed, and so because of curve reasons he has to cost 3, as another good Elephant costs 4. Put trample on top of that card without any cost increase?
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
At rare, I think adding trample would be fine, especially if it were 1GG. At uncommon... that's a bit much but it might be ok if you kept an eye on it in testing.
EDIT: Hey, this was my 1,000th post!
My custom sets:
Caeia Block (Released - Beta)
Generals of Dareth (In Design)
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
Stompy 3RR
Creature - Beast (U)
Sacrifice a land: Stompy gets +2/+2 and gains trample until end of turn.
3/3
\ \ \
Sneaky 2GG
Creature - Beast (U)
Sneaky has hexproof so long as it is untapped.
Sneaky must be blocked by exactly one creature, if able.
3/2
I can't get this thought out of my mind though obviously the names are ridiculous.
My custom sets:
Caeia Block (Released - Beta)
Generals of Dareth (In Design)
I've managed to come up with one other name. The black-red one will be Liar and Betrayer. Liar draws cards and loses life or something, and Betrayer is a Smelt-Ward Gatekeepers dude.
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
Here is the Beginnings spoiler:
Images // Text versions
Work on the set is far from done. I mainly focused on getting all the card slots filled and bringing the set into a presentable form. I rushed some cards and ended up with "Eh, good enough" on many of them. I want to improve the name, flavor text, and artwork on many of the cards. I might also swap some cards entirely, especially rares. But first, some testing and reviews.
Here are two preview cards. An alternate-reality Chandra and the third installment of Telar, the main protagonist of the block:
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
You should post more on your blog. I'm always sad when it isn't updated for a while.
I really like the two preview cards above. They do a really good job of capturing the time travel madness that is going on.
I'll try and do some card by card comments in the next few days.
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Anyway, thanks, and if you are interested in another wording check session for your Noctus set, send me a note .
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
I wrote something the Esparand Constructed format. Check it out!
Esparand Constructed Primer
If anyone is interested in playtesting on Magic Workstation or Cockatrice, let me know!
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!