MTG Salvation

Why were some non-Eldrazi cards in BFZ Allies but others weren't?

Since Sheyda isn't a strong card without having a deck built around it, it seems like it could see print. That being said, I took your advice and made it cost more Red mana.

I read somewhere on this website that if Battle for Zendikar had adhered more to the adventure world tropes that made Zendikar a success, it would have been a better set. So now I'm curious: what would you have done differently to make BFZ a better set.

For example, my takeaway was that BFZ would have benefitted from having more random legendary creatures, like original Zendikar, so I designed a few legendary creatures that seemed like they would be fun to play with (the names come from flavor text in original Zendikar). I don't have much so far so I'd love to see what designs other people have for this idea.

Valakut Flamekeepers 3RR
Legendary Creature - Human Shaman {R}
If another red source you control would deal damage to a permanent or player, you may discard a card. If you do, it deals that much damage plus 3 to that permanent or player instead.
3/4

Sole Survivor UB
Legendary Creature - Kor Warrior {R}
As long as you control exactly one creature, that creature gets +2/+0 and can't be blocked.
2/2

Nirthu, Lone Missionary 3G
Legendary Creature - Elf Shaman {R}
Whenever one or more +1/+1 counters are put on a creature you control, look at the top card of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield.
3/3

Yon Basrel, Minotaur Pathfinder RR
Legendary Creature - Minotaur Advisor {R}
Haste
Whenever Minotaur Pathfinder attacks, defending player reveals the top card of his or her library. If it's a land card, that player puts it into his or her hand.
3/3

Sheyda, Bringer of Flames 2RR
Legendary Creature - Elemental {R}
When Sandruu, Bringer of Flames enters the battlefield, it deals X damage to target creature or player, where X is the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard.
2/2

Samila of the Expedition GG
Legendary Creature - Elf Scout {R}
If you would search your library for a land card, instead search your library for a land card and an additional card that shares a type with it, then put them both into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
2/2

On an unrelated note, which mechanic do you prefer: Threshold or Delirium?

What other decks would this card shut down? Vehicles have high power and B/G decks have +1/+1 counters. Only cat combo is heavily affected by a -1/-0 handicap.

Curse of Disinterest 1U
Enchantment - Aura Curse {U}
Enchant Player
Attacking creatures enchanted player controls get -1/-0.

Mass Hysteria at common?
Ghostfire Blade at uncommon?

Firemane Angel is rare due to matters of complexity. I don't think they would put it at uncommon even in a Masters set.
Reborn Hero is like Bloodsoaked Champion, a recently printed card which was placed at Rare, so I don't think Wizards would downshift something so similar.
Sunblast Angel could potentially be uncommon, but a good comparison is Subjugator Angel, which is only uncommon because it's substantially weaker, so again it's unlikely that Wizards would downshift Sunblast Angel.
Unifying Theory is probably rare because it triggers off of spells any player casts, which is decently powerful. It's probably the card on this list most likely to see print at uncommon, but because it's any player the memory issues mean it would only be at uncommon in a Masters set.

Odyssey was a long time ago. Since then, WoTC has adopted a different policy in regards to tokens in which specific types of tokens have trademark power and toughness (Eldrazi Spawn are 0/1, Spirits are 1/1, Zombies are 2/2, etc). They rarely stray from this trademark and print tokens that are inconsistent with the precedent, which is why BFZ was criticized for having 1/1 Plant tokens which broke with the tradition of 0/1 Plants. Since Beasts have never been 4/2 and there are 3/3 Hippos in the set (I love the idea of Hippo tokens, btw), it doesn't make sense to make a 4/2 Beast token when it could just as easily have been a 3/3 Hippo. It's counterintuitive for newer players and takes up space that could have been used for Embalm tokens or any of the other new kinds of tokens in the set.

Why is Noble Hierarch rare? Aren't all mana-dorks uncommon or below?

Quote from Manite »

Of course, I can already see how this is going to play out: Maro will answer a comment on Blogatog responding to one of the vocal minority detractors answering that the frames received positive response from the majority of players

Mark Rosewater actually polled people on Social Media and the response was overwhelmingly negative. The main reaction was praise to Wizards for doing something different but criticism for how the Invocations looked nothing like Magic cards.

What does CCC stand for?

As a mana dork, couldn't Noble Hierarch see print as a common?

Since Mark Rosewater has repeatedly suggested that a supplemental set similar to Time Spiral might one day see print, I thought it might be nice to design some time-shifted versions of iconic cards. I'd love to see your suggestions, but in the meantime here are some of mine:

Ragecaster Sage 1R
Creature - Human Wizard {R}
Flash
When Ragecaster Sage enters the battlefield, target instant or sorcery card in your graveyard gains flashback until end of turn. The flashback cost is equal to its mana cost.
2/1

Primeval Resentment G
Instant {U}
Destroy target artifact.
Flashback R

Ancient Leviathan 1U
Creature - Leviathan {R}
Hexproof
Dungrove Elder's power and toughness are each equal to the number of Islands you control.
X/X

Precise Ruination WB
Instant {R}
Precise Ruination can't be countered by spells or abilities.
Destroy target nonland permanent with converted mana cost 3 or less.

Undesired Bestowal 3U
Instant {R}
Search your library for up to four cards with different names and reveal them. Target opponent chooses two of those cards. Put the chosen cards into your graveyard and the rest into your hand. Then shuffle your library.