I know, it is still early, but I can't help but speculate...
Let's start with the assumption that the walkers will be balanced among colors, with 1 - 1.5 planeswalker per color (0.5 representing multicolor).
Now, who we have so far?
Chandra - making Kaladesh without her would be incredibly dumb, as well as making her something else than mono-R
Saheeli - judging from the art and setting, probably UR or maybe Jeskai. Considering that three-color walkers are considered very narrow, I will go with UR.
Those two we know for sure. There is some speculation about Tezzeret, who would be great flavor fit. There is an argument about his colors being either UB, Esper or Grixis. Considering that red is already crowded, Grixis can be taken out.
That leaves us with two free slots and followin color distribution:
White - maybe 0.5
Blue - 1
Black - 0.5
Red - 1.5
Green - 0
We need to fill one green, half to one white and half black. I think that it is safe to assume that at least one of those will be another returning character, itroducing three new walkers would be a bit too much.
Who would fit the best?
Concerning green, the best fit is probably Nissa, since she at least has some connection to Chandra. Other possible candidates are Garruk or Vraska, neither of whom has any known reason to show up.
Concerning white, I am still hoping for Dwarves and a Dwarf planeswalker. Or maybe Gideon because Gatewatch. Other candidates would be Ajani or Narset, but again, no reason.
Concerning black, I am kinda at a loss here.
The Mardu horde is part white, and I think it was MaRo on Blogatog who said that they use white means to achieve non-white ends. It could be similar in case of Tezzeret. Actually, it could be argued that the way he established himself in New Phyrexia - relying on the existing system to rise through its ranks - is part white. At least, I don't think it is something a UBR character would do...
I doubt we will get Chandra/Nissa and Gideon/Jace, it seems somewhat unlikely. Though I don't really see why statistical odds matter, they're just averages after all. If they really wanted to do both they'd need to spread it out and get others to join the Gatewatch, though how long we have until more join is up in the air. Part of me hopes it's something like one per block, but that seems like it would get bloated really fast.
Statistical odds matter from the storytelling point of view, highly improbable events should not be used just for the sake of being there. That said, if the story demands it (although I currently can't imagine how), statistical odds are the last thing to care about...
As far as showing all of the gatewatchers in WUBRG order, I don't really think that follows. Gideon is the face of Battle, Nissa the face of Oath, Jace the face of Shadows, Liliana the face of Moon, Chandra logically being the face of Kaladesh just completes the cycle. Of course Nissa/Gideon being where they are is rather odd for a couple reasons, but I don't really see why they'd cycle back to Nissa and have her be there twice.
Oops, my bad. I read the theory about showcasing gatewatchers somewhere months ago and I guess I somehow clung to it despite evidence...
I expect to see Nissa in Aether Revolt, to showcase all the gatewatchers in WUBRG order (so far it fits - Gideon on Zendikar, Jace and Lili on Innistrad, Chandra most probably on Kaladesh), so if this is right there will definitely be an opportunity to explore her relationship witch Chandra. After all, they both represent natural forces, as opposed to the technology-based government on Kaladesh.
Having at the same time the Jace/Gideon romance would imo be too much, though. I mean, what are the odds? The multiverse doesn't seem to have the distribution of romantic preferences dramatically different from our world. Also, imagine the flood of "Gaywatch" jokes...
Tezzeret is Esper colors, not Grixis. The only card that acknowledged that so far was Brilliant Ultimatum, but he used some white spells in the novels and his deck in the "Duels of the Planeswalkers" game is WUB. Coincidentally, Tamiyo got a GWU investigate deck in this game long before Tamiyo, Field Researcher was revealed. One might thing they're foreshadowing...
Esper Tezzeret would fit right into the color balance in Kaladesh. So far, I think that Chandra is a safe bet and Saheeli seems to be UR or maybe WUR (judging from the art and setting only). Also, I expect to see Nissa in Aether Revolt, so that each gatewatcher gets "his" set in WUBRG order. That leaves two planeswalker slots to fill with white, black and at least half blue. And I still have fingers crossed for a dwarf planeswalker, who would be at least partially white...
On the other hand, Tezzeret does have some unfinished business in New Phyrexia, and it would be unlike him to just (planes)walk away from the position of power he holds there...
Yes those copies will turn other creatures into copies. all will be 1/3 with the ability to turn other creatures into copies as well. equipment, enchantments and counters will stay on however
it's one of the coolest dudes ever, no question about it...
but if you look closely, that ability is mainly just bad deathtouch.
It gets around indestructible and death triggers though. So in the end, I guess it is "just" a decent situational utility creature. Turning everything into its copies (and then maybe cast a Declaration in Stone) no doubt sounds cool but it would be kinda hard to pull off...
Permeating massG
Creature - spirit, 1/3
Whenever Permeating Mass deals combat Damage to a creature, that creature becomes a copy of Permeating Mass
What do you think about this... thing? Tempts me to try to build a deck with it, just because how weird it is. Too bad it is just combat damage, otherwise it could be hilarious with fights...
A four-drop that stops 95% of attackers dead, has evasion and is impossible to race. Wow! I can only hope a Lightning Bolt-quality removal spell is printed, or this card will wreak havoc in standard.
Ulamog devours everything in his path, like some vampire on steroids. Kozilek warps unliving matter and reality itself, producing weird colored rocks, almost like some sort of mad lithomancer. If only there was a vampire and a lithomancer planeswalker for Emrakul to eldrazify as a replacement...
As a side note, Wretched Gryff's mana cost was probably set so that he interacts with Emrakul's Influence, giving you a total of 3 cards on cast. It shouldn't matter what you actually pay, since Emrakul's Influence cares only about CMC. If "CMC matters" is a bigger thing here (Brisela cares about it too), we can expect more emerge cards with purposefully bloated normal price. Also, such creatures feed well into other emerge creatures...
Following all the clues I think the third Eldrazi titan is the only entity it could be. There is a page on the MTG website pointing out all the clues on the cards in SOI. Also in the story Nahiri is obsessed with getting back at Sorin. The best way would be to lure the last of the Eldrazi titans to Sorin's plane, so he would go through what she had to.
I wouldn't take the article too seriously. It was written by a freelancer and really goes out of its way to shove Emrakul down our throats, to the point that I suspect a red herring. And Nahiri would have to be totally nuts to want to deal with Eldrazi again. On the other hand, she did spend a millenium in the Helvault...
There's not enough evidence to claim that it's happening to all werewolves just yet. So far, we've only had that sole exception.
I am not saying that it happens to all, just that it's possible. And if it is possible (assuming more than one single case), it is just a matter of time when a ghoulcaller or a stitcher hears about it...
Another question is how does the current weirdness interact with zombification. It might very well make it impossible.
Let's start with the assumption that the walkers will be balanced among colors, with 1 - 1.5 planeswalker per color (0.5 representing multicolor).
Now, who we have so far?
Chandra - making Kaladesh without her would be incredibly dumb, as well as making her something else than mono-R
Saheeli - judging from the art and setting, probably UR or maybe Jeskai. Considering that three-color walkers are considered very narrow, I will go with UR.
Those two we know for sure. There is some speculation about Tezzeret, who would be great flavor fit. There is an argument about his colors being either UB, Esper or Grixis. Considering that red is already crowded, Grixis can be taken out.
That leaves us with two free slots and followin color distribution:
White - maybe 0.5
Blue - 1
Black - 0.5
Red - 1.5
Green - 0
We need to fill one green, half to one white and half black. I think that it is safe to assume that at least one of those will be another returning character, itroducing three new walkers would be a bit too much.
Who would fit the best?
Concerning green, the best fit is probably Nissa, since she at least has some connection to Chandra. Other possible candidates are Garruk or Vraska, neither of whom has any known reason to show up.
Concerning white, I am still hoping for Dwarves and a Dwarf planeswalker. Or maybe Gideon because Gatewatch. Other candidates would be Ajani or Narset, but again, no reason.
Concerning black, I am kinda at a loss here.
So what do you think? Let the speculations begin!
Statistical odds matter from the storytelling point of view, highly improbable events should not be used just for the sake of being there. That said, if the story demands it (although I currently can't imagine how), statistical odds are the last thing to care about...
Oops, my bad. I read the theory about showcasing gatewatchers somewhere months ago and I guess I somehow clung to it despite evidence...
Having at the same time the Jace/Gideon romance would imo be too much, though. I mean, what are the odds? The multiverse doesn't seem to have the distribution of romantic preferences dramatically different from our world. Also, imagine the flood of "Gaywatch" jokes...
Esper Tezzeret would fit right into the color balance in Kaladesh. So far, I think that Chandra is a safe bet and Saheeli seems to be UR or maybe WUR (judging from the art and setting only). Also, I expect to see Nissa in Aether Revolt, so that each gatewatcher gets "his" set in WUBRG order. That leaves two planeswalker slots to fill with white, black and at least half blue. And I still have fingers crossed for a dwarf planeswalker, who would be at least partially white...
On the other hand, Tezzeret does have some unfinished business in New Phyrexia, and it would be unlike him to just (planes)walk away from the position of power he holds there...
All shall be permeated!
It gets around indestructible and death triggers though. So in the end, I guess it is "just" a decent situational utility creature. Turning everything into its copies (and then maybe cast a Declaration in Stone) no doubt sounds cool but it would be kinda hard to pull off...
Creature - spirit, 1/3
Whenever Permeating Mass deals combat Damage to a creature, that creature becomes a copy of Permeating Mass
What do you think about this... thing? Tempts me to try to build a deck with it, just because how weird it is. Too bad it is just combat damage, otherwise it could be hilarious with fights...
Galvanic Bombardment would like a word...
Galvanic Bombardment will do the trick when you get one in your yard.
She couldn't do anything to the Helvault, we don't know if she can manipulate Moonsilver in general.
I wouldn't take the article too seriously. It was written by a freelancer and really goes out of its way to shove Emrakul down our throats, to the point that I suspect a red herring. And Nahiri would have to be totally nuts to want to deal with Eldrazi again. On the other hand, she did spend a millenium in the Helvault...
I am not saying that it happens to all, just that it's possible. And if it is possible (assuming more than one single case), it is just a matter of time when a ghoulcaller or a stitcher hears about it...
Another question is how does the current weirdness interact with zombification. It might very well make it impossible.