Hydras are massive creatures that can grow in size, armed with multiple maws. They're like hungry dinosaurs crossed with trees. They're everything green wants in an iconic. Plus the public at large identified Hydras with green more than any other iconic candidate. They've tried other types; Elementals, Treefolk, Wurms. Hydras won out.
As you said, Manticores are poisonous, thus why they'd probably be a better fit for black even than red, much like wyverns. Part of it is the fact black gets flying far more often than green. If Manticores had to have a third color, then it would probably be green, but they are nowhere near iconic status for green.
That wolf is certaily pushed for a common, especially with trample tacked on.
The 3 pigs are too weak though, but super flavorful in that they become Food when they die.
It's kinda the point that they're weak, makes them easy to kill and turn into Food. Just remember you get three creatures for Convoking, three artifacts for Improvising, and 9 life, all for 4GG.
Still artifact creatures. I wonder when we'll get nonartifact Gnomes? I'm leaning towards RGW for their color identity, maybe blue in worlds where they have a knack for artifice.
Shiansatsu started out as a BR Demon Samurai, a counterpart of sorts to Silent-Blade Oni. Over time he developed into an Ogre Samurai with a Demon tribal effect like many Kamigawa Ogres have. As a bonus, he has an associated Equipment named Kuromasa, a reference to Muramasa.
Shiansatsu, Oni's Ronin2RR
Legendary Creature — Ogre Samurai
Bushido 4, haste
~ attacks each turn if able.
At the beginning of your end step, if a creature didn't die this turn, ~ deals 4 damage to you. 1B, Sacrifice another creature: Draw a card. Activate this ability only if you control a Demon.
4/4
Kuromasa, Oni's Blade4
Legendary Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature gets +4/+0 and has first strike.
At the beginning of your end step, if equipped creature didn't deal damage this turn, it deals 4 damage to you.
Equip—Sacrifice a creature.
You might notice the number 4 shows up a lot on these cards. That's because in Japan, the number 4 has an infamous association with death due to their kanji sounding similar.
I'm fairly certain that the holy grail of their world is connected to the black court for some reason. So we should expect that; it healed garruk of his corruption. I don't recall a mention of what the green court had but it could be their Stonehenge teleportation circle.
Crazy thought, but what if the chalice is the green artifact? Would be rather fitting for a green artifact to cleanse a green planeswalker of a black curse.
Cool to hear the curse on Garruk is truly broken, now. Hopefully he can be the iconic green nature hero he was meant to be? Maybe even join the Gatewatch? I mean, Ajani, Jace, Liliana, and Chandra are all part of Gatewatch. It would only be fitting for the remaining member of the Lorwyn 5 to join at this point. Hey, if they ever do go back to Lorwyn, what if Ajani, Jace, Liliana, Chandra, and Garruk all play a role and get new cards?
Back on topic, it's kinda surprising the Magic Mirror wasn't the black part of the cycle, what with the theme of vanity and all. Of course it's also surprising the Excalibur stand-in is red rather than white.
Ma chere Mademoiselle, it is with deepest pride, and greatest pleasure that we welcome you tonight, and now we invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair, as the dining room proudly presents - your dinner!
Be...our...guest
Be our guest
Put our service to the test
Tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie
And we provide the rest
Soup du jour
Hot hors d'oeuvres
Why, we only live to serve
Try the grey stuff, it's delicious
Don't believe me? Ask the dishes
They can sing
They can dance
After all, Miss, this is France
And a dinner here is never second best
Go on, unfold your menu
Take a glance and then you'll
Be our guest
Oui, our guest
Be our guest
Beef ragout
Cheese souffle
Pie and pudding "en flambe"
We'll prepare and serve with flair
A culinary cabaret
You're alone
And you're scared
But the banquet's all prepared
No one's gloomy or complaining
While the flatware's entertaining
We tell jokes, I do tricks
With my fellow candlesticks
And it's all in perfect taste that you can bet
Come on and lift your glass
You've won your own free pass
To be our guest
If you're stressed
It's fine dining we suggest
Be our guest
Be our guest
Be our guest
Life is so unnerving
For a servant who's not serving
He's not whole without a soul to wait upon
Ah, those good old days when we were useful
Suddenly those good old days are gone
Ten years we've been rusting
Needing so much more than dusting
Needing exercise, a chance to use our skills
Most days we just lay around the castle
Flabby, fat and lazy
You walked in and oops-a-daisy!
It's a guest, it's a guest
Sakes alive, well I'll be blessed
Wine's been poured and thank the Lord
I've had the napkins freshly pressed
With dessert, she'll want tea
And my dear that's fine with me
While the cups do their soft shoeing
I'll be bubbling, I'll be brewing
I'll get warm, piping hot
Heaven's sakes! Is that a spot?
Clean it up! We want the company impressed
We've got a lot to do
Is it one lump or two
For you, our guest
She's our guest
She's our guest
She's our guest
Be our guest, be our guest
Our command is your request
It's ten years since we had anybody here
And we're obsessed
With your meal, with your ease
Yes, indeed, we aim to please
While the candlelight's still glowing
Let us help you, we'll keep going
Course by course, one by one
'Til you shout, "Enough, I'm done!"
Then we'll sing you off to sleep as you digest
Tonight you'll prop your feet up
But for now, let's eat up
Be our guest
Be our guest
Be our guest
Please, be our
GUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEST!
Oathsworn Knight: I'm aggressively guarding this cave.
As you said, Manticores are poisonous, thus why they'd probably be a better fit for black even than red, much like wyverns. Part of it is the fact black gets flying far more often than green. If Manticores had to have a third color, then it would probably be green, but they are nowhere near iconic status for green.
It's kinda the point that they're weak, makes them easy to kill and turn into Food. Just remember you get three creatures for Convoking, three artifacts for Improvising, and 9 life, all for 4GG.
They're even more flavorful with barbecue sauce.
Shiansatsu, Oni's Ronin 2RR
Legendary Creature — Ogre Samurai
Bushido 4, haste
~ attacks each turn if able.
At the beginning of your end step, if a creature didn't die this turn, ~ deals 4 damage to you.
1B, Sacrifice another creature: Draw a card. Activate this ability only if you control a Demon.
4/4
Kuromasa, Oni's Blade 4
Legendary Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature gets +4/+0 and has first strike.
At the beginning of your end step, if equipped creature didn't deal damage this turn, it deals 4 damage to you.
Equip—Sacrifice a creature.
You might notice the number 4 shows up a lot on these cards. That's because in Japan, the number 4 has an infamous association with death due to their kanji sounding similar.
No, this one's smart enough to know that having power 4 or greater paints a big ol' bullseye on your back.
Crazy thought, but what if the chalice is the green artifact? Would be rather fitting for a green artifact to cleanse a green planeswalker of a black curse.
Cool to hear the curse on Garruk is truly broken, now. Hopefully he can be the iconic green nature hero he was meant to be? Maybe even join the Gatewatch? I mean, Ajani, Jace, Liliana, and Chandra are all part of Gatewatch. It would only be fitting for the remaining member of the Lorwyn 5 to join at this point. Hey, if they ever do go back to Lorwyn, what if Ajani, Jace, Liliana, Chandra, and Garruk all play a role and get new cards?
Back on topic, it's kinda surprising the Magic Mirror wasn't the black part of the cycle, what with the theme of vanity and all. Of course it's also surprising the Excalibur stand-in is red rather than white.
Gotta love the fact the Giant's "Adventure" is stepping on somebody.
Lovestruck Beast: I met the woman of my heart's desire.
Giant Killer: I slew a giant by chopping down the beanstalk he was climbing!
Animating Faerie: I brought a puppet to life.
Smitten Swordmaster: I curried the favor of Lady Ayara.
Bonecrusher Giant: I stomped on a Knight!
"It's dangerous to go alone. Take this."
Into my mouth for dinner I'm shovin'~
Be our guest
Put our service to the test
Tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie
And we provide the rest
Soup du jour
Hot hors d'oeuvres
Why, we only live to serve
Try the grey stuff, it's delicious
Don't believe me? Ask the dishes
They can sing
They can dance
After all, Miss, this is France
And a dinner here is never second best
Go on, unfold your menu
Take a glance and then you'll
Be our guest
Oui, our guest
Be our guest
Beef ragout
Cheese souffle
Pie and pudding "en flambe"
We'll prepare and serve with flair
A culinary cabaret
You're alone
And you're scared
But the banquet's all prepared
No one's gloomy or complaining
While the flatware's entertaining
We tell jokes, I do tricks
With my fellow candlesticks
And it's all in perfect taste that you can bet
Come on and lift your glass
You've won your own free pass
To be our guest
If you're stressed
It's fine dining we suggest
Be our guest
Be our guest
Be our guest
Life is so unnerving
For a servant who's not serving
He's not whole without a soul to wait upon
Ah, those good old days when we were useful
Suddenly those good old days are gone
Ten years we've been rusting
Needing so much more than dusting
Needing exercise, a chance to use our skills
Most days we just lay around the castle
Flabby, fat and lazy
You walked in and oops-a-daisy!
It's a guest, it's a guest
Sakes alive, well I'll be blessed
Wine's been poured and thank the Lord
I've had the napkins freshly pressed
With dessert, she'll want tea
And my dear that's fine with me
While the cups do their soft shoeing
I'll be bubbling, I'll be brewing
I'll get warm, piping hot
Heaven's sakes! Is that a spot?
Clean it up! We want the company impressed
We've got a lot to do
Is it one lump or two
For you, our guest
She's our guest
She's our guest
She's our guest
Be our guest, be our guest
Our command is your request
It's ten years since we had anybody here
And we're obsessed
With your meal, with your ease
Yes, indeed, we aim to please
While the candlelight's still glowing
Let us help you, we'll keep going
Course by course, one by one
'Til you shout, "Enough, I'm done!"
Then we'll sing you off to sleep as you digest
Tonight you'll prop your feet up
But for now, let's eat up
Be our guest
Be our guest
Be our guest
Please, be our
GUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEST!
A pity Scorching Dragonfire doesn't have any Dragon tribal effects.