The artwork in this set is really terrible. It feels like Seb McKinnon and Kiran Yanner (who did Ral's pack art) are the only ones who tried. Everything else looks so heavily digital and rendered, its art is about as artificial as Ravnica itself. There are a few standout pieces of course, but as a whole, this set feels like a precipitous decline in quality. There are some cards I do like, but many of them look like Yugioh cards.
I can't complain though. I'm too busy with Arixmethes to notice this whole plane and set.
Godless Shrine is nice, and Temple Garden from the first set was too, otherwise, I'd go with Expeditions over any of these, and for Hallowed Fountain, I'd go with the RTR one.
Dimir is delivering! I am liking this guild more and more. I love the Film Noir aspect this time around. Didn't expect to like a few cards in Ravnica, but I kinda feel it
These spirits are making me regret taking apart my spirit tribal EDH. I'm tempted to rebuild it... but I don't want to get Spell Queller and Mausoleum Warder again >_>
I couldn't even finish reading. This entire Viven Reid segment is probably the worst MTG lore I've ever read. It managed to capture everything that I hate about MTG lore at once. The writing quality felt like fanfiction. It was exhausting to get through, and I eventually stopped trying. The motives were shallow and pointless. The character, if developed at all, turned out to be generic and loathsome. I found myself rooting for the vampires and Luneau the whole time, because of how one-dimensional and bland the main character was, that I'd have sooner seen her dead for there to be one interesting stake in the story. And frankly, Luneau looked a whole lot more interesting than Viven Reid or Skalla ever will. Worst of all, it made zero sense. So what, Viven had her plane destroyed by a malicious creature, so she goes around now doing the same to other planes, and considers herself doing justice, while resenting her plane's fate all the while? Viven just seems like a very stupid character, like an angry little girl's fantasy about getting revenge on her parents for spanking her after wetting the bed again.
The most grave of crimes committed by these three stories however, is the single most critical complaint I have in MTG lore. A single, ignorant, meaningless mortal Planeswalker can level an entire developed city in a world foreign to them, full of powerful mages that have built a ruling society of conquerors and explorers backed by a monarchy and church that are somehow helpless, because Planeswalkers. It's really a wonder that, considering how many Planeswalkers are out there, that we don't have more Viven Reids out here, traveling from plane to plane destroying entire civilizations, creating more of themselves. Perhaps we'll get lucky and see her humbling more planar overlords and laying waste to entire continents next time, because Planeswalker.
At this point, I'm just going to say "because Planeswalker" to critique horrible stories like these. I can't believe we departed from Kate Elliott's brilliant work to something this reductive.
Is there a rule that the PW deck promo artwork needs to be below average? I noticed for example, the Jace one was sub-par, yet the deck had amazing Chris Rahn art for Castaway's Despair (one of my favorite MTG artworks). Here, Ral's card is basic, yet Ral's Dispersal has quality art. So my question is, why do the face cards end up being a lot less invested in compared to the main set art of the walkers? Ral's two other new cards, Izzet Viceroy and its promo, look great compared to this version. Then again, Vraska's PW deck card has solid art, so IDK.
I'm really surprised. Kieran Yanner did my favorite Jace art of all (Cunning Castaway) which was a major feat for sure. But his take on Ral isn't so great.
That said, the art of Ral's Dispersal is brilliant. Love it. Shame I'll have to use this Ral with it instead of the main set one, that actually has great art.
But I can't complain, Ral from the main set and his promo both look awesome, and I love the art on Ral's Dispersal, so it's alright. I do wish these tutors could search *any* PW with that sub-type, although I understand how that's broken. I am toying with the idea of adding red to my U/W deck in order to accomodate Ral, but if I don't, I may just use Ral's Dispersal in it anyway
I can't say... but I will admit I really want new art for Cyclonic Rift. Preferably one that actually makes it look like a hurricane. And not Ravnica themed. Zendikar would be a good plane to have this thematically.
Thank you for posting the clear image of the cards!
Elspeth looks stunning. I love the Greek hero behind her, the mask and the torches from Rescue from the Underworld. Now we have another Theros themed Elspeth! Beautiful art.
Ral's art on this promo is excellent. I love both this promo and his standard card art. They both looks great!
I'm happy they did this unique take on planeswalkers. The alternate arts alone are cool.
No Green because they probably don't want to spoil the new Vraska yet.
Tapped Arixmethes for UG, used it for Thrasios with Training Grounds. Scry, hit a land, came into play tapped, used Coralhelm to untap Arixmethes.
I literally got 9 straight lands into play doing this before drawing a card instead. On my turn, I was so insanely ahead that I won with 75 damage on the board between all my sea monsters, 12 of which was my darling.
It´s a story spotlight card but doesn´t mention how many of the story cards there will be and it doesn´t have any flavor text to give context as to why it´s important for the story.
It is implied Jace will recruit Niv to outsmart Bolas.
Actually, this article is the entire problem. Neo-Nazis? Really? Way to buy into propaganda. And the Trump reference about "locker room talk" - way to push your political agendas on a card game forum and assume your opinions are the status quo, and the only right way to think. That's why everyone is sick of liberals and SJWs. Arrogance and ignorance. No one gives a damn bro, we're here for card games. Get over yourselves and off your righteous soapbox.
I can't complain though. I'm too busy with Arixmethes to notice this whole plane and set.
Jace cards.
Theros things.
The most grave of crimes committed by these three stories however, is the single most critical complaint I have in MTG lore. A single, ignorant, meaningless mortal Planeswalker can level an entire developed city in a world foreign to them, full of powerful mages that have built a ruling society of conquerors and explorers backed by a monarchy and church that are somehow helpless, because Planeswalkers. It's really a wonder that, considering how many Planeswalkers are out there, that we don't have more Viven Reids out here, traveling from plane to plane destroying entire civilizations, creating more of themselves. Perhaps we'll get lucky and see her humbling more planar overlords and laying waste to entire continents next time, because Planeswalker.
At this point, I'm just going to say "because Planeswalker" to critique horrible stories like these. I can't believe we departed from Kate Elliott's brilliant work to something this reductive.
That said, the art of Ral's Dispersal is brilliant. Love it. Shame I'll have to use this Ral with it instead of the main set one, that actually has great art.
But I can't complain, Ral from the main set and his promo both look awesome, and I love the art on Ral's Dispersal, so it's alright. I do wish these tutors could search *any* PW with that sub-type, although I understand how that's broken. I am toying with the idea of adding red to my U/W deck in order to accomodate Ral, but if I don't, I may just use Ral's Dispersal in it anyway
Elspeth looks stunning. I love the Greek hero behind her, the mask and the torches from Rescue from the Underworld. Now we have another Theros themed Elspeth! Beautiful art.
Ral's art on this promo is excellent. I love both this promo and his standard card art. They both looks great!
I'm happy they did this unique take on planeswalkers. The alternate arts alone are cool.
No Green because they probably don't want to spoil the new Vraska yet.
I had a board of Thrasios, Triton Hero, Training Grounds, Retreat to Coralhelm and Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle as a creature.
Tapped Arixmethes for UG, used it for Thrasios with Training Grounds. Scry, hit a land, came into play tapped, used Coralhelm to untap Arixmethes.
I literally got 9 straight lands into play doing this before drawing a card instead. On my turn, I was so insanely ahead that I won with 75 damage on the board between all my sea monsters, 12 of which was my darling.