Before previews for The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle Earth ™ officially begin, I thought it would be fun to do another of my Duelist-style teasers where I give tiny hints of things to come. Note that I’m only giving you partial information.
First up, here are some things you can expect:
• five different card types get the legendary supertype
• a decently sized “legendary matters” theme
• new nonmana ward costs
• a mechanic returns but now references a different creature type
• a card that makes a Smaug creature token
• two three-color and one four-color legendary creature to go along with the five-color one already previewed
• a lot of one-of “creature type matters” cards
• a mechanic returns that I had to fight tooth and nail to get into the set it premiered in
• a new creature type gets its own equip cost
• some counters in the set: burden, deathtouch, first strike, hope, indestructible, influence, lifelink, lore, stun, verse, vigilance, and +1/+1
Next, here are some rules text that will be showing up on cards:
• “Whenever you attack with Merry and another legendary creature,”
• “Then create a Food token for each creature you control.”
• “Remove an indestructible counter from Arwen:”
• “Copy any number of target instant and/or sorcery spells.”
• “Whenever you draw a card during an opponent’s turn, create a 1/1 blue Tentacle creature token.”
• “Whenever a creature an opponent control dies, put a +1/+1 counter on Legolas.”
• “Target opponent gains control of target Horse you control.”
• “When this ability resolves for the third time this turn, Gimli fights up to one target creature you don’t control.”
• “You may pay 0 rather than pay the equip cost of the first equip ability you activate during each of your turns.”
• “Whenever you put one or more counters on Aragorn, put one of each of those kinds of counters on up to one other target creature.”
Finally, here are some card names from the set:
• Birthday Escape
• Breaking of the Fellowship
• Fear, Fire, Foes!
• Grond, the Gatebreaker
• Horses of the Bruinen
• Lembas
• One Ring to Rule Them All
• Oliphaunt
• Second Breakfast
• There and Back Again
Find out about some of these cards and more in The Lord of The Rings: Tales of Middle-earth™ debut 9:00 am PT on Tuesday, May 30th at twitch.tv/Magic or on our official YouTube channel.
five different card types get the legendary supertype
So, we have 9 traditional card types: Land, Creature, Artifact, Enchantment, Planeswalker, Instant, Sorceries, Tribal and Battles.
We know that WotC said that no planeswalkers will be on the set, so we remove this.
It's also extremely unlikely we got more legendary sorceries or instant, they were received very poorly from the players and plays bad gameplay wise.
tribal is even much more unlikely than that.
That leave us with creature, land, artifact, enchantment and battle. Now while there's no surprise and we're actually 100% sure to have legendaries to the first 4 card types, this could be the first time we see a Legendary Battle. That sound fitting extremely well for LoTR setting, even the typeline itself sounds right and it's very probably the battle of the "Return of the King" part of the book.
I kinda hate that we both have Specter and Wraith as creature types, they should just abandon one of the two and errata the other one and make finally a decent lord legend for both (Yes I know that they coul also batch them together, but come on, the 2 words are basically syinonimous and overlap too much, we don't need such over-specialization, it's damaging for gameplay purposes). Because seems clear that Nazgul here are Wraiths while the traditional Specters in Dominaria are exactly the magic counterpart of LotR Nazguls, on both flavor, appereance and mechanics and now this mismatch really bothers me for tribal purposes.
I'm guessing these are Merry & Pippin during the events of Return of the King.
• Legendary Creature – Halfling Knight
• Legendary Creature – Halfling Soldier
• Legendary Creature – Kraken - The Watcher in the Water
• Legendary Creature – Nymph - Goldberry
I don't necessarily agree with this lore wise but it's my best guess.
• Legendary Creature – Spirit Noble - King of the Dead Men in Dwimorberg
It's funny when they introduce a mechanic that should've had a parameter in it from the start (and people said it back then, I said it back then) and then when it returns it gains the parameter.
I kind of expect the same to happen with mutate if we ever get it outside of Ikoria. (Technically it makes perfect sense in the simic but is probably a bit too complex for a guild mechanic.)
The difference betweem Specter and Wraith is like the difference between Knight and Soldier -- Specters are mounted.
Wraith isn't even worth to be a creature type. There's exactly six wraiths of 25.000+ cards in all 30 years of Magic History. https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&order=name&q=type:wraith (game:paper)
If your distinction is true they all can be errated as Spirits as well.
I really hope the "Wraith Noble" aren't really the Nazguls (which are mounted) or that would be infuriating.
I believe that WotC wants it so that players can naturally know what a creature's type is without having to look at Gatherer. (For the most part). So they aren't likely to change all the Wraiths to Specters or vice versa without reason. So it seems unlikely they'll do that. Also, to me, Specters are more substantial, mounted kind of creatures. Wraiths are somewhat insubstantial, almost illusory creatures.
believe that WotC wants it so that players can naturally know what a creature's type is without having to look at Gatherer. (For the most part).
They were never been consistent with that criteria. How do you tell without looking the gatherer if an old card is a phyrexian or no for example? There's no universal trait based on art, color or mechanics, and that's why didn't want phyrexian to be a creature type for almost 30 years, because there was no consistent way to tell it without knowing the specific lore of the creature. And all Kaladesh Rebels that have Rebels even in their name don't also have the Rebel typeline, despite their names (Quicksmith Rebel, Frontline Rebel, Vengeful Rebel etc.). And when they introduced the Dinosaur type, they errated an aribtrary amount to Lizard to stop being lizards and be just Dinosaurs but not others. So without looking the Gatherer, how I should tell that Lathnu Sailback is not a Dinosaur but just a lizard, despite the fact that it's very similar visually to Etali, Primal Storm or Snapping Sailback that are dinosaurs or that Alpha Tyrannax should be a Dinosaur and not just a Beast? I could go for hours to search for inconsistencies but I'll stop here. I would forgive wizard if was actually extremely consistent and strict on her own rules, but as we see, it's on the contrary, very sloppy and inchoerent, so it's basically impossible to be 100% sure what you're looking at an old card without checking the gatherer anyway.
Also, to me, Specters are more substantial, mounted kind of creatures. Wraiths are somewhat insubstantial, almost illusory creatures.
So, for your criterias Nazguls should be Wraiths or Specters?
The difference betweem Specter and Wraith is like the difference between Knight and Soldier -- Specters are mounted.
Wraith isn't even worth to be a creature type. There's exactly six wraiths of 25.000+ cards in all 30 years of Magic History. https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&order=name&q=type:wraith (game:paper)
If your distinction is true they all can be errated as Spirits as well.
I really hope the "Wraith Noble" aren't really the Nazguls (which are mounted) or that would be infuriating.
I think it would be fine to batch a few things, but I am not man about the RingWRAITHS being wraiths for the same basic reason I'm fine with Frodo not being a human or Kithkin or something. They should be btched, but if it's in the name or key to what it is, it should get the appropriate type.
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Wizards has said that they usually assign creature types by feel, rather than hard logic, which means that sometimes the distribution of creature types can be arbitrary and weird and not very consistent.
Not that I agree with it, but there we go.
Personally I wish spirits would have been split into nature spirits, like kami, and undead spirits, like geists and, well, wraiths. Probably a bit late for that now, but it would make so much sense.
Specters are their own thing for the same reason archons are their own thing. They're just supernatural manifestations of mana that for some reason always include a mount. (The archon is the rider AND the mount, not just the former. I assume the same to be true for specters.)
Specters are their own thing for the same reason archons are their own thing. They're just supernatural manifestations of mana that for some reason always include a mount. (The archon is the rider AND the mount, not just the former. I assume the same to be true for specters.)
So I believe that you would agree with me that Nazguls, by this logic should be Specters and NOT Wraiths, since they are spectral Knights that literally mounts also flying creatures exactly like Magic Specters are depicted.
Specters are their own thing for the same reason archons are their own thing. They're just supernatural manifestations of mana that for some reason always include a mount. (The archon is the rider AND the mount, not just the former. I assume the same to be true for specters.)
So I believe that you would agree with me that Nazguls, by this logic should be Specters and NOT Wraiths, since they are spectral Knights that literally mounts also flying creatures exactly like Magic Specters are depicted.
I mean, Nazgul aren't manifestations of mana. Their beasts are made of flesh and blood (I think?) that they simply mount. And rider and beast are not the same entity, as it is with archons (and presumably specters) in Magic.
Ultimately this is a bit of a problem we will have with universes beyond in general. I mean they made Gargoyle Flock a literal gargoyle, just because it's named that way in the original franchise. (It's like making the firebat in Star Craft a literal bat lmfao.)
With specters and wraiths it's a lot more fuzzy because the definitions what's what differs from franchise to franchise. So when franchises cross, what do you do?
With specters and wraiths it's a lot more fuzzy because the definitions what's what differs from franchise to franchise. So when franchises cross, what do you do?
If Nazguls aren't called anywhere by Tolkien works "wraiths" I don't see where's the problem to do them as Specters. At that point of the spectrum is WotC that is free to call and define "specter" whatever they likes, and that would at least make more sense than making a God Tom Bombadil even if tolkiens letters would actually suggest to discourage that.
If Nazguls aren't called anywhere by Tolkien works "wraiths" I don't see where's the problem to do them as Specters.
Does the name Ringwraiths ring a bell? ;P
Ok that's fair. But now search on scryfall or gatherer any random Wraith and any random Specter and tell what visually is closer to them
Tricky question here, it's Dread Rider, which is a spirit!
The original Bog Wraith art is also quite close, but lacks an ominous steed.
Generally, the better way to distinguish the various black apparitions is mechanical. Shades have a pump ability, specters fly and can make you discard cards when they deal combat damage, wraiths have swampwalk and everything else is a spirit.
If Nazguls aren't called anywhere by Tolkien works "wraiths" I don't see where's the problem to do them as Specters.
Does the name Ringwraiths ring a bell? ;P
Ok that's fair. But now search on scryfall or gatherer any random Wraith and any random Specter and tell what visually is closer to them
Tricky question here, it's Dread Rider, which is a spirit!
The original Bog Wraith art is also quite close, but lacks an ominous steed.
Generally, the better way to distinguish the various black apparitions is mechanical. Shades have a pump ability, specters fly and can make you discard cards when they deal combat damage, wraiths have swampwalk and everything else is a spirit.
If they are going to depict the Nazguls during the battle of Gondor, they should be Specters since they were literally riding flying creatures in that moment. Discarding or messing with people hands seems also fitting flavorfully with them.
If Nazguls aren't called anywhere by Tolkien works "wraiths" I don't see where's the problem to do them as Specters.
Does the name Ringwraiths ring a bell? ;P
Ok that's fair. But now search on scryfall or gatherer any random Wraith and any random Specter and tell what visually is closer to them
Tricky question here, it's Dread Rider, which is a spirit!
The original Bog Wraith art is also quite close, but lacks an ominous steed.
Generally, the better way to distinguish the various black apparitions is mechanical. Shades have a pump ability, specters fly and can make you discard cards when they deal combat damage, wraiths have swampwalk and everything else is a spirit.
If they are going to depict the Nazguls during the battle of Gondor, they should be Specters since they were literally riding flying creatures in that moment. Discarding or messing with people hands seems also fitting flavorfully with them.
What if they do both, as they seem to be for several characters? Is the Witch King at Weathertop not the same sort of being as the Witch King at Pelennor Fields?
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Spoiler EditorLegendary Creature – Avatar Demon = the Balrog
Legendary Creature – Bird Noble = Gwaihir (most likely) or possibly Landroval/Meneldor
Legendary Creature – Horse = Shadowfax and maybe Bill the Pony
Legendary Creature – Spider Demon = Shelob
Legendary Creature – Wraith Noble = The Witch King
a mechanic returns but now references a different creature type = Prowl, possibly for goblins or orcs or a thief?
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five different card types get the legendary supertype
So, we have 9 traditional card types: Land, Creature, Artifact, Enchantment, Planeswalker, Instant, Sorceries, Tribal and Battles.
We know that WotC said that no planeswalkers will be on the set, so we remove this.
It's also extremely unlikely we got more legendary sorceries or instant, they were received very poorly from the players and plays bad gameplay wise.
tribal is even much more unlikely than that.
That leave us with creature, land, artifact, enchantment and battle. Now while there's no surprise and we're actually 100% sure to have legendaries to the first 4 card types, this could be the first time we see a Legendary Battle. That sound fitting extremely well for LoTR setting, even the typeline itself sounds right and it's very probably the battle of the "Return of the King" part of the book.
I kinda hate that we both have Specter and Wraith as creature types, they should just abandon one of the two and errata the other one and make finally a decent lord legend for both (Yes I know that they coul also batch them together, but come on, the 2 words are basically syinonimous and overlap too much, we don't need such over-specialization, it's damaging for gameplay purposes). Because seems clear that Nazgul here are Wraiths while the traditional Specters in Dominaria are exactly the magic counterpart of LotR Nazguls, on both flavor, appereance and mechanics and now this mismatch really bothers me for tribal purposes.
I thought that's the difference between Specter and Spirit.
Finally a good white villain quote: "So, do I ever re-evaluate my life choices? Never, because I know what I'm doing is a righteous cause."
Factions: Sleeping
Remnants: Valheim
Legendary Journey: Heroes & Planeswalkers
Saga: Shards of Rabiah
Legends: The Elder Dragons
Read up on Red Flags & NWO
• Legendary Creature – Halfling Knight
• Legendary Creature – Halfling Soldier
• Legendary Creature – Kraken - The Watcher in the Water
• Legendary Creature – Nymph - Goldberry
I don't necessarily agree with this lore wise but it's my best guess.
• Legendary Creature – Spirit Noble - King of the Dead Men in Dwimorberg
We might have a leak from commander deck that shows the mechanic
if you look at the cast trigger from Sauron
it includes “Amass Orcs 5”
so “Amass” is the mechanic and they may have changed it to include a creature type so it’s easier to do
I kind of expect the same to happen with mutate if we ever get it outside of Ikoria. (Technically it makes perfect sense in the simic but is probably a bit too complex for a guild mechanic.)
Wraith isn't even worth to be a creature type. There's exactly six wraiths of 25.000+ cards in all 30 years of Magic History.
https://scryfall.com/search?as=grid&order=name&q=type:wraith (game:paper)
If your distinction is true they all can be errated as Spirits as well.
I really hope the "Wraith Noble" aren't really the Nazguls (which are mounted) or that would be infuriating.
They were never been consistent with that criteria. How do you tell without looking the gatherer if an old card is a phyrexian or no for example? There's no universal trait based on art, color or mechanics, and that's why didn't want phyrexian to be a creature type for almost 30 years, because there was no consistent way to tell it without knowing the specific lore of the creature. And all Kaladesh Rebels that have Rebels even in their name don't also have the Rebel typeline, despite their names (Quicksmith Rebel, Frontline Rebel, Vengeful Rebel etc.). And when they introduced the Dinosaur type, they errated an aribtrary amount to Lizard to stop being lizards and be just Dinosaurs but not others. So without looking the Gatherer, how I should tell that Lathnu Sailback is not a Dinosaur but just a lizard, despite the fact that it's very similar visually to Etali, Primal Storm or Snapping Sailback that are dinosaurs or that Alpha Tyrannax should be a Dinosaur and not just a Beast? I could go for hours to search for inconsistencies but I'll stop here. I would forgive wizard if was actually extremely consistent and strict on her own rules, but as we see, it's on the contrary, very sloppy and inchoerent, so it's basically impossible to be 100% sure what you're looking at an old card without checking the gatherer anyway.
So, for your criterias Nazguls should be Wraiths or Specters?
I think it would be fine to batch a few things, but I am not man about the RingWRAITHS being wraiths for the same basic reason I'm fine with Frodo not being a human or Kithkin or something. They should be btched, but if it's in the name or key to what it is, it should get the appropriate type.
Not jumping spiders. I never seen a single arachnophobic in my life afraid of them.
Memes have turned Grond into easily my favorite LOTR character. The orcs love Grond so much. Bring Grondposting back. Legendary Juggernaut?
Looks like its Amass Orcs.
Not that I agree with it, but there we go.
Personally I wish spirits would have been split into nature spirits, like kami, and undead spirits, like geists and, well, wraiths. Probably a bit late for that now, but it would make so much sense.
Specters are their own thing for the same reason archons are their own thing. They're just supernatural manifestations of mana that for some reason always include a mount. (The archon is the rider AND the mount, not just the former. I assume the same to be true for specters.)
So I believe that you would agree with me that Nazguls, by this logic should be Specters and NOT Wraiths, since they are spectral Knights that literally mounts also flying creatures exactly like Magic Specters are depicted.
I mean, Nazgul aren't manifestations of mana. Their beasts are made of flesh and blood (I think?) that they simply mount. And rider and beast are not the same entity, as it is with archons (and presumably specters) in Magic.
Ultimately this is a bit of a problem we will have with universes beyond in general. I mean they made Gargoyle Flock a literal gargoyle, just because it's named that way in the original franchise. (It's like making the firebat in Star Craft a literal bat lmfao.)
With specters and wraiths it's a lot more fuzzy because the definitions what's what differs from franchise to franchise. So when franchises cross, what do you do?
If Nazguls aren't called anywhere by Tolkien works "wraiths" I don't see where's the problem to do them as Specters. At that point of the spectrum is WotC that is free to call and define "specter" whatever they likes, and that would at least make more sense than making a God Tom Bombadil even if tolkiens letters would actually suggest to discourage that.
Does the name Ringwraiths ring a bell? ;P
Ok that's fair. But now search on scryfall or gatherer any random Wraith and any random Specter and tell what visually is closer to them
Tricky question here, it's Dread Rider, which is a spirit!
The original Bog Wraith art is also quite close, but lacks an ominous steed.
Generally, the better way to distinguish the various black apparitions is mechanical. Shades have a pump ability, specters fly and can make you discard cards when they deal combat damage, wraiths have swampwalk and everything else is a spirit.
If they are going to depict the Nazguls during the battle of Gondor, they should be Specters since they were literally riding flying creatures in that moment. Discarding or messing with people hands seems also fitting flavorfully with them.
What if they do both, as they seem to be for several characters? Is the Witch King at Weathertop not the same sort of being as the Witch King at Pelennor Fields?