Metallurgic Summonings with Mechanized Production seems fun. You don't even need to enchant one of the constructs for this to work since it just cares that you have 8 of any artifact with the same name.
I love this with Trophy Mage and the blue spell that searches for an artifact and puts it directly into play. I see potential in a consistent combo deck.
Not too excited about the card, but oh well. Lets hope we get Ashiok in Amonkhet and we get an Oath of Ashiok. Yeah, never gonna happen, but I can dream.
With a significant part of the story focussing on time left to live, I wonder if we will see fading return as a mechanic? It would fit the flavor if cards like whatever Yahinne will be fade, but can put more fade counters on themselves via creature interactions of some sort.
Just a little speculation on my part. The story seems so far to be about Tezzy stealing the portal technology for some devious purpose. Next block we know Bolas is involved. I do not think it is too far of a stretch to believe that Bolas is using Tezzy to get the technology so he can then use it to manipulate the Phyrexians as an army for his goals.
With the release of the commander decks, we see one character named Ravos, Soultender. The background info on him reads.
"As an oracle of Athreos, the god of passage, Ravos knew the fleeting nature of life. Even so, watching his beloved perish in battle was too much for Ravos to bear, and he struck a deal with the god. Ravos swore to help Athreos guide the dead to the Underworld in exchange for seeing his dead lover once each year. In the interim, Ravos plots her rescue and secretly defies Athreos by escorting his wards back to the land of the living."
It is certainly speculation, but I think in the next block, Bolas will succeed in his goals of manipulating the Phyrexians to be his "army" by giving them the ability to planeswalk under his direction. In other words, he will pick where they can planeswalk to. Elspeth is of course dead on Theros. The Jastus squad, with Ajani and Gideon as lead roles in the block, will work out a deal with Ravos to help free his dead lover and Elspeth. After that block, we will then have a battle to save a world fighting an invasion by the Phyrexians. Elspeth will shine as the lead character.
Partner seems to be something that is very easily abused - or the powerlevel of individual cards needs to be actually subpar. But having not 1, but two commanders is means you can do so many more combos.
I'm wondering though - how does it work with commander tax?
Also with amount of keywords atraxa, praetor's voice got she lends herself perfectly for a voltron deck? Heck even without that proliferate she is quite mana efficient and "good stuff". And, did they just print a card with flanking? I thought that was retired long ago.
It explains commander text in the wizards article. Taxes are paid tracking the individual commanders. So if Commander A died once, you would pay 2 extra for it, but if you haven't yet cast Commander B, you aren't paying the tax on it. Commander damage is also tracked separately. The individual commander needs to deal 21. If you do 20 with A and 1 with B, you still haven't finished the job.
I must say, I am pleased by the Partner mechanic. If Wizards has the guts to continue with it into future sets, it would allow greater customization of decks. Assuming it goes on 2 color creatures, it could allow for 2, 3, or 4 color decks. If there ever turns out to be 2 commanders with the ability and good synergy, it will be even more of a bonus. Turn Commander into WWE Tag Team.
Bottom line is: Rotation is back to once per year, in late September/early October when the 1st set of a new block arrives.
In practice this means that:
BFZ and OGW got +6 months each. They would be rotating with Amonkhet, but now will rotate only in fall 2017.
Shadows and EMN stay the same. They would be rotating by the end of 2017 and will still do.
Fall 2017: We lose BFZ, OGW, SOI, EMN.
Fall 2018: We lose Kaladesh, Aether Revolt, Amonkhet and Hour of Devastation.
It also means we get larger card pools for the last 6 months before rotation compared to what we would have if rotation stayed the same. Larger card pools means more to brew. More to brew means I can play more jank.
oops, yes thank you.
With the release of the commander decks, we see one character named Ravos, Soultender. The background info on him reads.
It is certainly speculation, but I think in the next block, Bolas will succeed in his goals of manipulating the Phyrexians to be his "army" by giving them the ability to planeswalk under his direction. In other words, he will pick where they can planeswalk to. Elspeth is of course dead on Theros. The Jastus squad, with Ajani and Gideon as lead roles in the block, will work out a deal with Ravos to help free his dead lover and Elspeth. After that block, we will then have a battle to save a world fighting an invasion by the Phyrexians. Elspeth will shine as the lead character.
It will be called Magus of the Force.
It explains commander text in the wizards article. Taxes are paid tracking the individual commanders. So if Commander A died once, you would pay 2 extra for it, but if you haven't yet cast Commander B, you aren't paying the tax on it. Commander damage is also tracked separately. The individual commander needs to deal 21. If you do 20 with A and 1 with B, you still haven't finished the job.
It also means we get larger card pools for the last 6 months before rotation compared to what we would have if rotation stayed the same. Larger card pools means more to brew. More to brew means I can play more jank.