On the subject of Split cards, I could also see the reverse showing up. Maybe not Meld, exactly, but something more like Augment from Unstable, allowing you to pair monocolor cards in some way. But this is a topic for another conversation.
What about if you play a card that's one half of a guild pairing, and then if you play another one (like a W spell followed with a U one), it has a keyword on one that rewards you with an extra effect for playing both colors in a single turn?
Example: if you play both a white spell and a blue spell in the same turn, tap target creature an opponent controls and it doesn't untap during their next upkeep.
If you play both a red spell and a green spell in the same turn, target creature you control gets +1/+0 and gains haste/trample.
Etc, etc.
Beyond redoing old cycles, we could see straight up reprints, but I don't think that's very likely.
I would hope they'd reprint as much as they dare, given that C19 hasn't had a huge amount of necessary reprints.
I really hope we see some cool mana rocks this time around. I really like the key runes (early game mana, late game creature) and hope we get something similar.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“There are no weak Jews. I am descended from those who wrestle angels and kill giants. We were chosen by God. You were chosen by a pathetic little man who can't seem to grow a full mustache"
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
I think a cycle of Guild books would be neat. Likely they'd be tied to card draw, though I would also love to see them function as spell books. Maybe with modal abilities? Then they're filling in for rocks, Guildmages, and Charms all at once, maybe Gates as well. I'd love if they introduced a Book artifact subtype, along with cards that care about Books. There's quite a number of existing artifacts that would easily qualify, too.
Otherworld Atlas and Mercadian Atlascould also qualify, but to me an Atlas qualifies as a map moreso than a Book, and there's always a chance those cards could be reprinted in a much more map-like form. Of course, I just plain love subtypes, especially for artifacts, so Maps would be a welcome addition too.
Speaking of which, they should totally have a City Map artifact this time. In a city as big as Ravnica, you need one. Could be another Gate tutor, but I'd love for it to be a tweak on Expedition Map, or even a functional reprint.
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
I think a cycle of Guild books would be neat. Likely they'd be tied to card draw, though I would also love to see them function as spell books. Maybe with modal abilities? Then they're filling in for rocks, Guildmages, and Charms all at once, maybe Gates as well. I'd love if they introduced a Book artifact subtype, along with cards that care about Books. There's quite a number of existing artifacts that would easily qualify, too.
Otherworld Atlas and Mercadian Atlascould also qualify, but to me an Atlas qualifies as a map moreso than a Book, and there's always a chance those cards could be reprinted in a much more map-like form. Of course, I just plain love subtypes, especially for artifacts, so Maps would be a welcome addition too.
Speaking of which, they should totally have a City Map artifact this time. In a city as big as Ravnica, you need one. Could be another Gate tutor, but I'd love for it to be a tweak on Expedition Map, or even a functional reprint.
I have actually been tinkering around with that concept in custom card creation (not on the forums though), but I used the word "Tome" rather than book, as I feel it is more inclusive than book, as well as give it an air of mysticism that fits better with MTG.
Of course, then you'd also need a few cards that care about the new artifact subtype, but that shouldn't be hard to do, a tutor for them in blue, a card that uses them in some way in black, and a card that destroys them in red, and you'd be good to go.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
It's about time for the reserved list to die, for the sake of Vintage and Legacy (And Commander).
You could also have Book tokens that work exactly like Clue tokens, paying 2 and saccing them to draw a card. SOI gave us Clues in green, white, and blue, and in theory they could also have appeared in black and red. Same deal with Books. Heck, I could see a cycle of Author creatures that each produce a Book, and have a second ability involving Books. But that's getting off topic.
Being that Shocks have appeared twice before in Ravnica blocks, not to mention the full Checkcycle was Standard legal lasttime we visited Ravnica, I think Shock reprints are 90% likely.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
You could also have Book tokens that work exactly like Clue tokens, paying 2 and saccing them to draw a card. SOI gave us Clues in green, white, and blue, and in theory they could also have appeared in black and red. Same deal with Books. Heck, I could see a cycle of Author creatures that each produce a Book, and have a second ability involving Books. But that's getting off topic.
Being that Shocks have appeared twice before in Ravnica blocks, not to mention the full Checkcycle was Standard legal lasttime we visited Ravnica, I think Shock reprints are 90% likely.
More like 99% certain, with a 1% margin of error. Because WotC are well aware that people would complain, loudly, if we didn't get shocks. Ravnica blocks are the perfect place to reprint them in to keep their prices affordable on the secondary market. And as long as we don't get fetches in the same standard, they aren't degenerate for the format either.
So according to Maro Jace will be UW or UB if he gets a second color. Interesting potential if every guild getting a Walker turns out to be true.
White-blue is the most likely, there is an argument that could be made for UB, both for his previous relationship with Lily and his recent one with Vraska. However, if anything his adventure on Ixalan should have cemented him as WU due to a sense of duty that being the living guildpact entails. Heck, he even used the full power he has gained from it to punish Azor for his hubris. That is *if* he picks up a second color, as the blue posterboy for magic, he is more likely to stay monoblue, at least in standard legal sets. But then again, Nissa did pick up a little blue on Amonkhet.
But then thing is, very few planeswalkers are limited to one color, even fiery hothead Chandra has tempered her flame with some green in the Dominaria story. And I could see Jace use both or either white and/or black mana to augment his blue in story. The best way for WotC to show this is in the Planeswalker decks. The Chandra planeswalker deck from Dominaria for example contained both red and green.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
It's about time for the reserved list to die, for the sake of Vintage and Legacy (And Commander).
Oh I don't think it be a permanent I am thinking more as a one off. Granted you got Teferi and Tezz around for UW and UB so its not really needed. I will say B fits quite well in terms of most cards that deal with minds are U and B.
My hypothesis is that each Guild will be able to play at least one planeswalker between the three sets, but not every guild will necessarily get a planeswalker of its own color combination. Monocolor PWs are handy for being able to play with any of the four guilds that use their color, and Gideon and Jace both are highly likely to be monocolor for that reason. I've posted my list elsewhere before, but these are the PWs I consider most likely for the three sets:
GRN W Gideon - He'd work very well with Boros and Selesnya, so it'd be nice if he could make an appearance here. I could see him being pushed off to RNA or Set 3 if necessary, though. U Jace - As the Living Guildpact, Jace probably should be present from the get-go. UR Ral Zarek - He won't make sense in RNA, and Set 3 is very likely to have Bolas in it, so he fits best here. BG Vraska - Like Ral, Vraska's guild is in this set, and she'll likely be the leader this time, so she pretty much has to be printed here.
RNA B Liliana - Now that she's a minion of Bolas, it's time to see how she operates. Does she actively turn against the Gatewatch? Or does she instead seek to undermine Bolas discreetly? R Chandra - It's been a while since Chandra's had an in-set card, so it's about time for her to return. WU Narset - I could see her returning as an ally called upon by Ajani
Set 3 GW Ajani - As the Gatewatch's main recruiter, he needs to make an appearance by the third set. UBR Nicol Bolas - As the big bad guy of the arc, he should make an appearance as well. Although, since Bolas likely intends to have the Immortal Sun brought to Ravnica along with his Eternal army, he may not deign to appear in person. But he could still get a card.
Now there is the matter of Tamiyo getting art depicting her on Ravnica as well. She's been GWU in the past, so either Azorius or Simic are possible pairs for her. She, too, knows Ajani, so she may appear either as the WU PW in place of Narset, or possibly as a GU PW accompanying Narset. And if Narset were to appear, Sarkhan would likely follow her as he's loyal to her.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
I say UG is more likely with Teferi joining the Gatewatch and being made UW to keep Jace as the U Walker of choice. Still
WU: Teferi, Jace and Tamiyo with Teferi most likely
WB: Open, Gideon is wielding the Blackblade, Elspeth is coming back soon
WR: Gideon is most associated here was well, Narset could be here she is Jeskai
WG: Ajani
UR: Ral Zarek
UB: Open Could Be Jace, I should note the Dimir tend to dress like Jace lol.
UG: Tamiyo, Nissa if she comes back
BR: Open for Ravnica, Could be Lili I guess she is the emotional sort
BG: Vraska obviously
RG: Chandra seems like she is leaning this direction also Domri Rade
I say Rakdos and Orzhov are the hardest fits especially Rakdos.
Gotta figure every Gatewatcher gets card over 3 Ravnica Arcs.
I think it is fairly reasonable that we will get no less than five different planeswalkers in each set, that may seem like a lot, but hear me out. It is obvious by now that there will be a lot of planeswalkers involved on both sides during Bolas's invasion, both that we know of (and likely a few out of the left field, metaphorically speaking). As such, I think we will get three planeswalkers in boosters and two different planeswalkers in the associated planeswalker decks for each set, bringing the total to 15. I think it likely that over the three sets we will be getting each current member of the gatewatch (Ajani, Chandra, Gideon, Jace, and Ajani), Bolas and his minions (Ral Zarek, Liliana, Vraska, Tezzeret), and a number of wild cards/allies (Domri Rade and Tamiyo obviously, but I would not be surprised if Ugin, Nissa, Jaya, Samut, Sarkhan, and/or Kaya made an appearance).
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
It's about time for the reserved list to die, for the sake of Vintage and Legacy (And Commander).
All of this kind of makes one wonder where the story will go after Ravnica Allegiance/Ravnica III.
'buster
Bolas, if he survives (and he has a knack for surviving), will probably retreat to lick his wounds. And a "new" villain will take center stage for a while. Both Phyrexia and Ob Nixilis are still active for example, as is Ashiok. And there are plenty of old, iconic, villains that are viable, such as the good Baron for example. He does have a portal to another world in his Basement after all...
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
It's about time for the reserved list to die, for the sake of Vintage and Legacy (And Commander).
Revisiting Phyrexia would mean the return of Phyrexian mana, and that simply won't happen. And since it won't happen, that's off the table. And infect as well - a very strong, very difficult ability to work around.
I think they should revisit the Eldrazi just so the following exchange can take place:
Kozilek and Ulamog loomed on the horizon. Gideon tried manfully not to cry, while Nissa and Chandra just stood there, stunned. Jace was in Ravnica, eating grapes and laughing to himself.
"But we killed them!" Gideon yelled.
Then the two titans teleported themselves right behind the three planeswalkers and ripped them apart.
THAT WAS FUN, BIG BRO said Ulamog.
YEAH, THAT WAS INCREDIBLY SATISFACTORY replied Kozilek. NOW LETS GO EAT THAT GUY AT WIZARDS WHO JUMPED THE SHARK AND RUINED OUR LORE.
I'd personally like to see Nahiri return because of the MANY different storyline relations she has the the gatewatch, on the one hand they saved Zendikar and are acting in a similar manner to her, Sorin and Ugin (teaming up to fight multi-planar threats) and all of them don't like Ob, on the other hand 2/6ish of the current members, as well as Nissa, helped to unseal the eldrzi and helped Emrakul seal herself in the moon and saving Innistrad.
Revisiting Phyrexia would mean the return of Phyrexian mana, and that simply won't happen. And since it won't happen, that's off the table. And infect as well - a very strong, very difficult ability to work around.
No it doesn't, like return to Mirrodin didn't have affinity, Return to Ravnica didn't have dredge and the eldrzi didn't use annihilator in BtZ.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“There are no weak Jews. I am descended from those who wrestle angels and kill giants. We were chosen by God. You were chosen by a pathetic little man who can't seem to grow a full mustache"
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
I'd be interested in Nahiri meeting the Gatewatch as well. I wonder if she knows about Ob re-sparking? I doubt it. But those two squaring off would be nice. I had really hoped Kiora and Gideon would have had a chance to speak more in depth. He was going to ask her questions when Jori En arrived. Bummer. I wanted to see what he was going to ask her.
Revisiting Phyrexia would mean the return of Phyrexian mana, and that simply won't happen. And since it won't happen, that's off the table. And infect as well - a very strong, very difficult ability to work around.
I think they should revisit the Eldrazi just so the following exchange can take place:
Kozilek and Ulamog loomed on the horizon. Gideon tried manfully not to cry, while Nissa and Chandra just stood there, stunned. Jace was in Ravnica, eating grapes and laughing to himself.
"But we killed them!" Gideon yelled.
Then the two titans teleported themselves right behind the three planeswalkers and ripped them apart.
THAT WAS FUN, BIG BRO said Ulamog.
YEAH, THAT WAS INCREDIBLY SATISFACTORY replied Kozilek. NOW LETS GO EAT THAT GUY AT WIZARDS WHO JUMPED THE SHARK AND RUINED OUR LORE.
Phyrexian mana wasn't the problem, the problem was that the spells were undercosted for what they did. Same with the cards with infect. The infect mechanic is like a five on the storm scale if I recall correctly, and phyrexian mana is somewhere around an eight. Both can feasibly return, but neither are a necessity for a set involving Phyrexians. Remember, Mirrodin/New Phyrexia is only *one* world in which the Phyrexians have a presence, there are many others, like Mercadia, and Elspeth's home plane.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
It's about time for the reserved list to die, for the sake of Vintage and Legacy (And Commander).
Revisiting Phyrexia would mean the return of Phyrexian mana, and that simply won't happen. And since it won't happen, that's off the table. And infect as well - a very strong, very difficult ability to work around.
No it doesn't, like return to Mirrodin didn't have affinity, Return to Ravnica didn't have dredge and the eldrzi didn't use annihilator in BtZ.
Without Phyrexian mana, it'll be difficult to convince people to be interested, particularly speculators and Spike players. Since the Mirran resistance is more or less over with, a return to New Phyrexia will probably revolve around in-fighting among the Praetors and/or ambitions of spreading compleation to other planes. I'd expect them to have Tezzeret going there, getting compleated, and then exploiting his knowledge of the Planar Bridge to that end.
Artifacts matters is obviously a theme for it. Since there's almost nothing left to infect, I wouldn't expect it to show up. Phyrexian mana won't. Neither will affinity for artifacts, although we did get a variation of that with Improvise. I don't think we'd see that in the return, though - it goes without saying that the Phyrexians are adaptable and clever, I just don't see why they'd need to improvise anything when they've bent the world to their will. Possibly something with sacrificing artifacts? Or exiling them?
Revisiting Phyrexia would mean the return of Phyrexian mana, and that simply won't happen. And since it won't happen, that's off the table. And infect as well - a very strong, very difficult ability to work around.
No it doesn't, like return to Mirrodin didn't have affinity, Return to Ravnica didn't have dredge and the eldrzi didn't use annihilator in BtZ.
Without Phyrexian mana, it'll be difficult to convince people to be interested, particularly speculators and Spike players. Since the Mirran resistance is more or less over with, a return to New Phyrexia will probably revolve around in-fighting among the Praetors and/or ambitions of spreading compleation to other planes. I'd expect them to have Tezzeret going there, getting compleated, and then exploiting his knowledge of the Planar Bridge to that end.
Artifacts matters is obviously a theme for it. Since there's almost nothing left to infect, I wouldn't expect it to show up. Phyrexian mana won't. Neither will affinity for artifacts, although we did get a variation of that with Improvise. I don't think we'd see that in the return, though - it goes without saying that the Phyrexians are adaptable and clever, I just don't see why they'd need to improvise anything when they've bent the world to their will. Possibly something with sacrificing artifacts? Or exiling them?
Speculators are not players, therefore their opinion on the matter is completely irrelevant. As for spikes, not every card, nor every set is designed for every player characteristic. That said, a theoretical return to New Phyrexia would likely include cards that would excite all levels of player.
But do be aware that just because Phyrexians are involved, it does not mean it is necessarily New Phyrexia, there are a lot of Phyrexian remnants throughout the multiverse (like on Mercadia), and Karn tracked the glistening oil to a lot of worlds.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
It's about time for the reserved list to die, for the sake of Vintage and Legacy (And Commander).
Revisiting Phyrexia would mean the return of Phyrexian mana, and that simply won't happen. And since it won't happen, that's off the table. And infect as well - a very strong, very difficult ability to work around.
No it doesn't, like return to Mirrodin didn't have affinity, Return to Ravnica didn't have dredge and the eldrzi didn't use annihilator in BtZ.
Without Phyrexian mana, it'll be difficult to convince people to be interested, particularly speculators and Spike players. Since the Mirran resistance is more or less over with, a return to New Phyrexia will probably revolve around in-fighting among the Praetors and/or ambitions of spreading compleation to other planes. I'd expect them to have Tezzeret going there, getting compleated, and then exploiting his knowledge of the Planar Bridge to that end.
Artifacts matters is obviously a theme for it. Since there's almost nothing left to infect, I wouldn't expect it to show up. Phyrexian mana won't. Neither will affinity for artifacts, although we did get a variation of that with Improvise. I don't think we'd see that in the return, though - it goes without saying that the Phyrexians are adaptable and clever, I just don't see why they'd need to improvise anything when they've bent the world to their will. Possibly something with sacrificing artifacts? Or exiling them?
Phyrexia was thing long before Phyrexian mana and neither is the flavor or mechanical identity of Phyrexia dependent on Phyrexia mana and its rather silly to claim without it we won't get a return to Phyrexia and that without it spikes wouldn't want to play.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“There are no weak Jews. I am descended from those who wrestle angels and kill giants. We were chosen by God. You were chosen by a pathetic little man who can't seem to grow a full mustache"
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
If from what I can recall what was said earlier about new planes and revisiting old ones, we should be getting a new plane after Ravnica, no? What other planes are there to go to that the story hasn't been completely wrapped up? Theros?
I also don't think we'll get nearly as many planeswalkers in Ravnica 3.0 as everyone is speculating on. That's a lot of PW's in standard.
Well yeah, since GRN and RNA will likely already give us 3-4 apiece, I'm mostly just expecting Ajani and Bolas in Set 3.
But, what does any of that have to do with Ravnica cycles speculation? Don't we have a topic for discussing planeswalkers in Ravnica 3?
So, guaranteed cycles:
Guild Leaders - Not necessarily all legendary creatures, as Vraska will be the Golgari Guild Leader.
Common Guild Lands - Possibly Gates again, or something else.
Mana Rocks - Either common or uncommon, able to tap for one or both of their guild's colors.
Hybrid cards - One each for common, uncommon, and rare.
Likely cycles:
Shocklands - Closely associated with Ravnica, perfect companions for Checklands in Standard. I could see them trying something different, but at this point I think there's an expectation that Shocklands be printed with each return to Ravnica. If not Shocklands, then they have to be something really cool to make up for it.
Possible cycles:
Guildmages - They are a Ravnica tradition, but the two most obvious approaches have already been done. They might try something different for the third round.
Rare artifacts with guild color abilities - The original Ravnica block had a cycle like this, but RTR didn't. I could see them using hybrid mana this time since being colorless artifacts kinda encourages playing them outside their guild anyway. Or they could be multicolored artifacts a la Esper.
Utility lands with guild color abilities - There's some potential for a new cycle of guild utility lands; the main reason RTR didn't have any is because Innistrad had just given us ten such lands (okay, RTR did have Grove of the Guardian). Maybe a new cycle of creature lands?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
Eh its Planeswalkers War and WOTC needs to pump sales. Not that it especially matters most Walkers are unlikely to be strong enough to do much.
As for what is next New Phyrexia and Theros are on deck.
What do you guys make of the Chandra Comic? Seems overblown to me I seriously doubt WOTC has the balls to do anything major on Ravnica. Maybe Bolas will cross out Jaya but I seriously doubt he is destroying most of Ravnica and killing half the Gatewatch.
Where is everybody getting from that WotC is doing bad/needs to pump sales? I have seen multiple people claiming that recently. Is there actual data for that or are people just making stuff up?
For the guildmage cycle: Maybe they'll do tap abilities this time around? That way they could keep the "one ability for each color" template while putting a slight spin on it.
What about if you play a card that's one half of a guild pairing, and then if you play another one (like a W spell followed with a U one), it has a keyword on one that rewards you with an extra effect for playing both colors in a single turn?
Example: if you play both a white spell and a blue spell in the same turn, tap target creature an opponent controls and it doesn't untap during their next upkeep.
If you play both a red spell and a green spell in the same turn, target creature you control gets +1/+0 and gains haste/trample.
Etc, etc.
I would hope they'd reprint as much as they dare, given that C19 hasn't had a huge amount of necessary reprints.
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
Otherworld Atlas and Mercadian Atlas could also qualify, but to me an Atlas qualifies as a map moreso than a Book, and there's always a chance those cards could be reprinted in a much more map-like form. Of course, I just plain love subtypes, especially for artifacts, so Maps would be a welcome addition too.
Speaking of which, they should totally have a City Map artifact this time. In a city as big as Ravnica, you need one. Could be another Gate tutor, but I'd love for it to be a tweak on Expedition Map, or even a functional reprint.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
I have actually been tinkering around with that concept in custom card creation (not on the forums though), but I used the word "Tome" rather than book, as I feel it is more inclusive than book, as well as give it an air of mysticism that fits better with MTG.
Of course, then you'd also need a few cards that care about the new artifact subtype, but that shouldn't be hard to do, a tutor for them in blue, a card that uses them in some way in black, and a card that destroys them in red, and you'd be good to go.
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.
Being that Shocks have appeared twice before in Ravnica blocks, not to mention the full Check cycle was Standard legal last time we visited Ravnica, I think Shock reprints are 90% likely.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
More like 99% certain, with a 1% margin of error. Because WotC are well aware that people would complain, loudly, if we didn't get shocks. Ravnica blocks are the perfect place to reprint them in to keep their prices affordable on the secondary market. And as long as we don't get fetches in the same standard, they aren't degenerate for the format either.
White-blue is the most likely, there is an argument that could be made for UB, both for his previous relationship with Lily and his recent one with Vraska. However, if anything his adventure on Ixalan should have cemented him as WU due to a sense of duty that being the living guildpact entails. Heck, he even used the full power he has gained from it to punish Azor for his hubris. That is *if* he picks up a second color, as the blue posterboy for magic, he is more likely to stay monoblue, at least in standard legal sets. But then again, Nissa did pick up a little blue on Amonkhet.
But then thing is, very few planeswalkers are limited to one color, even fiery hothead Chandra has tempered her flame with some green in the Dominaria story. And I could see Jace use both or either white and/or black mana to augment his blue in story. The best way for WotC to show this is in the Planeswalker decks. The Chandra planeswalker deck from Dominaria for example contained both red and green.
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.
GRN
W Gideon - He'd work very well with Boros and Selesnya, so it'd be nice if he could make an appearance here. I could see him being pushed off to RNA or Set 3 if necessary, though.
U Jace - As the Living Guildpact, Jace probably should be present from the get-go.
UR Ral Zarek - He won't make sense in RNA, and Set 3 is very likely to have Bolas in it, so he fits best here.
BG Vraska - Like Ral, Vraska's guild is in this set, and she'll likely be the leader this time, so she pretty much has to be printed here.
RNA
B Liliana - Now that she's a minion of Bolas, it's time to see how she operates. Does she actively turn against the Gatewatch? Or does she instead seek to undermine Bolas discreetly?
R Chandra - It's been a while since Chandra's had an in-set card, so it's about time for her to return.
WU Narset - I could see her returning as an ally called upon by Ajani
Set 3
GW Ajani - As the Gatewatch's main recruiter, he needs to make an appearance by the third set.
UBR Nicol Bolas - As the big bad guy of the arc, he should make an appearance as well. Although, since Bolas likely intends to have the Immortal Sun brought to Ravnica along with his Eternal army, he may not deign to appear in person. But he could still get a card.
Now there is the matter of Tamiyo getting art depicting her on Ravnica as well. She's been GWU in the past, so either Azorius or Simic are possible pairs for her. She, too, knows Ajani, so she may appear either as the WU PW in place of Narset, or possibly as a GU PW accompanying Narset. And if Narset were to appear, Sarkhan would likely follow her as he's loyal to her.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
WU: Teferi, Jace and Tamiyo with Teferi most likely
WB: Open, Gideon is wielding the Blackblade, Elspeth is coming back soon
WR: Gideon is most associated here was well, Narset could be here she is Jeskai
WG: Ajani
UR: Ral Zarek
UB: Open Could Be Jace, I should note the Dimir tend to dress like Jace lol.
UG: Tamiyo, Nissa if she comes back
BR: Open for Ravnica, Could be Lili I guess she is the emotional sort
BG: Vraska obviously
RG: Chandra seems like she is leaning this direction also Domri Rade
I say Rakdos and Orzhov are the hardest fits especially Rakdos.
Gotta figure every Gatewatcher gets card over 3 Ravnica Arcs.
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.
'buster
HR Analyst. Gamer. Activist | Fearless, and forthright | Aggro-control is a mindset.
Elspeth and Jhoira rock my world.
Bolas, if he survives (and he has a knack for surviving), will probably retreat to lick his wounds. And a "new" villain will take center stage for a while. Both Phyrexia and Ob Nixilis are still active for example, as is Ashiok. And there are plenty of old, iconic, villains that are viable, such as the good Baron for example. He does have a portal to another world in his Basement after all...
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.
I think they should revisit the Eldrazi just so the following exchange can take place:
Kozilek and Ulamog loomed on the horizon. Gideon tried manfully not to cry, while Nissa and Chandra just stood there, stunned. Jace was in Ravnica, eating grapes and laughing to himself.
"But we killed them!" Gideon yelled.
Then the two titans teleported themselves right behind the three planeswalkers and ripped them apart.
THAT WAS FUN, BIG BRO said Ulamog.
YEAH, THAT WAS INCREDIBLY SATISFACTORY replied Kozilek. NOW LETS GO EAT THAT GUY AT WIZARDS WHO JUMPED THE SHARK AND RUINED OUR LORE.
No it doesn't, like return to Mirrodin didn't have affinity, Return to Ravnica didn't have dredge and the eldrzi didn't use annihilator in BtZ.
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
Phyrexian mana wasn't the problem, the problem was that the spells were undercosted for what they did. Same with the cards with infect. The infect mechanic is like a five on the storm scale if I recall correctly, and phyrexian mana is somewhere around an eight. Both can feasibly return, but neither are a necessity for a set involving Phyrexians. Remember, Mirrodin/New Phyrexia is only *one* world in which the Phyrexians have a presence, there are many others, like Mercadia, and Elspeth's home plane.
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.
Without Phyrexian mana, it'll be difficult to convince people to be interested, particularly speculators and Spike players. Since the Mirran resistance is more or less over with, a return to New Phyrexia will probably revolve around in-fighting among the Praetors and/or ambitions of spreading compleation to other planes. I'd expect them to have Tezzeret going there, getting compleated, and then exploiting his knowledge of the Planar Bridge to that end.
Artifacts matters is obviously a theme for it. Since there's almost nothing left to infect, I wouldn't expect it to show up. Phyrexian mana won't. Neither will affinity for artifacts, although we did get a variation of that with Improvise. I don't think we'd see that in the return, though - it goes without saying that the Phyrexians are adaptable and clever, I just don't see why they'd need to improvise anything when they've bent the world to their will. Possibly something with sacrificing artifacts? Or exiling them?
Speculators are not players, therefore their opinion on the matter is completely irrelevant. As for spikes, not every card, nor every set is designed for every player characteristic. That said, a theoretical return to New Phyrexia would likely include cards that would excite all levels of player.
But do be aware that just because Phyrexians are involved, it does not mean it is necessarily New Phyrexia, there are a lot of Phyrexian remnants throughout the multiverse (like on Mercadia), and Karn tracked the glistening oil to a lot of worlds.
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.
Phyrexia was thing long before Phyrexian mana and neither is the flavor or mechanical identity of Phyrexia dependent on Phyrexia mana and its rather silly to claim without it we won't get a return to Phyrexia and that without it spikes wouldn't want to play.
"You can tell how dumb someone is by how they use Mary Sue"
I also don't think we'll get nearly as many planeswalkers in Ravnica 3.0 as everyone is speculating on. That's a lot of PW's in standard.
Lymphoma Cancer Survivor!
But, what does any of that have to do with Ravnica cycles speculation? Don't we have a topic for discussing planeswalkers in Ravnica 3?
So, guaranteed cycles:
Guild Leaders - Not necessarily all legendary creatures, as Vraska will be the Golgari Guild Leader.
Common Guild Lands - Possibly Gates again, or something else.
Mana Rocks - Either common or uncommon, able to tap for one or both of their guild's colors.
Hybrid cards - One each for common, uncommon, and rare.
Likely cycles:
Shocklands - Closely associated with Ravnica, perfect companions for Checklands in Standard. I could see them trying something different, but at this point I think there's an expectation that Shocklands be printed with each return to Ravnica. If not Shocklands, then they have to be something really cool to make up for it.
Possible cycles:
Guildmages - They are a Ravnica tradition, but the two most obvious approaches have already been done. They might try something different for the third round.
Rare artifacts with guild color abilities - The original Ravnica block had a cycle like this, but RTR didn't. I could see them using hybrid mana this time since being colorless artifacts kinda encourages playing them outside their guild anyway. Or they could be multicolored artifacts a la Esper.
Utility lands with guild color abilities - There's some potential for a new cycle of guild utility lands; the main reason RTR didn't have any is because Innistrad had just given us ten such lands (okay, RTR did have Grove of the Guardian). Maybe a new cycle of creature lands?
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
As for what is next New Phyrexia and Theros are on deck.
What do you guys make of the Chandra Comic? Seems overblown to me I seriously doubt WOTC has the balls to do anything major on Ravnica. Maybe Bolas will cross out Jaya but I seriously doubt he is destroying most of Ravnica and killing half the Gatewatch.
For the guildmage cycle: Maybe they'll do tap abilities this time around? That way they could keep the "one ability for each color" template while putting a slight spin on it.