I'm guessing the theme for the next block of Masterpieces will be biblical/plague or mummy/graveyard based. It won't necessarily be only a specific card type represented. I expect to see Damnation, Plague Wind, Lord of the Undead, Pestilence, Treasure Cruise, Ancient Tomb, Wasteland, and Desert.
I'm also looking forward to "mummy" zombies, traps, and curses. Hopefully it is a spiritual sequel to pre-Eldrazi Zendikar.
I can see enemy fetches returning as well. Arid Mesa can be an Indiana Jones 3-style deserted temple thing. Misty Rainforest can be an oasis. Verdant Catacombs can be an elaborate lush pharaoh tomb. Marsh Flats can be near the river delta. And Scalding Tarn can be some kind of hot springs near a mountain or pyramid.
Nicol Bolas: " It's going to be great. I'm going to put my giant gold trademark on the top of every Amonkhet tower. You won't believe how much these towers are going to win. I love winning. "
Mutagenic Growth is an awesome card against other Aggro and Tempo decks that run burn removal like Lightning Bolt. If played in response to a Bolt it essentially counters what would kill a creature of yours. And your creature is bigger on the attack.
Example:
I'm attacking my opponent with an unblocked 1/2 Monastery Swiftspear.
They respond by casting Lightning Bolt targeting my Monastery Swiftspear, which will kill it.
In response to that spell being cast I play Mutagenic Growth targeting my Monastery Swiftspear. Because I cast a spell and it has Prowess it gets a +1/+1 on the stack.
They don't respond.
My Prowess trigger resolves. My Monastery Swiftspear becomes a 2/3. The Mutagenic Growth resolves. The Monastery Swiftspear becomes a 4/5.
The Lightning Bolt resolves. It deals 3 damage to my 4/5 Swiftspear.
My Swiftspear deals 4 damage to my opponent and at end of turn damage wears off and it is a 1/2 again.
I basically paid 1 green or 2 life (if I have no untapped lands to pay for it, this is a good combat trick) to prevent my creature from dying, make them waste a Lightning Bolt, and end up dealing 4 damage to them that I otherwise wouldn't have. And now I will probably attack them with the same Swiftspear another turn.
This card is a great finisher for Modern Burn. Obviously it's not playable early on but you need to play a few spells before you can cast this anyways. I'll probably drop my Wild Nacatl to test this.
Wasteland is 248/249 so the 249 land slot may be either Windbrisk Heights if that cycle is in or else it could be Zoetic Cavern.
Zendikar enemy fetches aren't ruled out yet by the number crunch but I find their inclusion to be unlikely. Wouldn't that be too many rare lands in the set? There looks only to be 15 land slots and I don't think they'd all be rares.
I can see enemy fetches returning as well. Arid Mesa can be an Indiana Jones 3-style deserted temple thing. Misty Rainforest can be an oasis. Verdant Catacombs can be an elaborate lush pharaoh tomb. Marsh Flats can be near the river delta. And Scalding Tarn can be some kind of hot springs near a mountain or pyramid.
Typical Nicol Bolas.
Example:
I'm attacking my opponent with an unblocked 1/2 Monastery Swiftspear.
They respond by casting Lightning Bolt targeting my Monastery Swiftspear, which will kill it.
In response to that spell being cast I play Mutagenic Growth targeting my Monastery Swiftspear. Because I cast a spell and it has Prowess it gets a +1/+1 on the stack.
They don't respond.
My Prowess trigger resolves. My Monastery Swiftspear becomes a 2/3. The Mutagenic Growth resolves. The Monastery Swiftspear becomes a 4/5.
The Lightning Bolt resolves. It deals 3 damage to my 4/5 Swiftspear.
My Swiftspear deals 4 damage to my opponent and at end of turn damage wears off and it is a 1/2 again.
I basically paid 1 green or 2 life (if I have no untapped lands to pay for it, this is a good combat trick) to prevent my creature from dying, make them waste a Lightning Bolt, and end up dealing 4 damage to them that I otherwise wouldn't have. And now I will probably attack them with the same Swiftspear another turn.
Zendikar enemy fetches aren't ruled out yet by the number crunch but I find their inclusion to be unlikely. Wouldn't that be too many rare lands in the set? There looks only to be 15 land slots and I don't think they'd all be rares.
Baleful Strix
Dark Ritual
Rishadan Port
Show and Tell
Brainstorm
OUT:
Arid Mesa
Xantid Swarm
Entreat the Angels
Eidolon of the Great Revel
Swan Song