Mythic:
Stormbreath Dragon - will be played in modern
purphoros - I bet he will show up in a modern combo deck possibly involving empty the warrens and other stuff
Rare:
Thoughtseize - obvious
Ashen Rider - legacy upgrade over the angel
Swan Song - likely going to be at least in sideboards across all formats and main decked in decks like TwinExarch in modern
Hero's Downfall - is viable for POX and variants in legacy and will be for spin offs in modern - mono black is not that far away of possibly becoming a thing
Steam Augury - should be played in modern especially by aggressive U/R lists
Collossus of Akros - could be viable in Tron lists
Anger of the gods - should see some modern play
Soldier of the Pantheon - puts modern human a step closer to being viable
Bow of Nylea, Fleecemane Lion, Master of Waves, nykthos are all sure to see some modern play at some point
Chained to the Rocks is a good card too and could make boros more viable.
Uncommon:
Spellheart Chimera - should see play in modern U/R tempo lists and grixis tempo in legacy
There is no Deathrite Shaman in the set but so what, there are a lot of good rares that are good cards and will sooner or later see play.
If I am disapointed it is that all gods look near unplayable except for Purphoros.
If you exclude DRS and Shock Duals from RTR that set has almost no relevant cards. Sphinx's Revelation only sees fringe play in modern, Loxodon Smiter some, Rest in Peace and Counterflux in sideboards across formats.
I like that you pointed out some cards, but I'm going play devil's advocate here for a bit.
Stormbreath Dragon - Why are we playing this over thundermaw in modern? Pro white is suppose but even so I see no reason to run this in that slot.
Purphoros - Interesting take on the slot for modern, but I don't think storm can afford the extra slot to place him in there. U/R Young pyromancer maybe but even then it's sketchy.
Thoughtseize - Reprint.
Ashen Rider - Agreed
Swan Song - Oh boy is this a card. Foils should be very hot, extremely playable in all formats. It is insane in the vintage oath mirror, very strong in legacy and modern.
Hero's Downfall - Pox was seeing marginal play in modern but I don't think this is the card that puts it over the top. It's a 3 mana kill spell, not what the deck is looking for at the moment. Standard, however, it will be very strong for its life cycle.
Steam Augury - This card interests me. I really don't know how to take it in yet. Need more time to playtest but could very well find a home in modern. FoF was insanely strong, and while not as good this is still a spell to keep in mind moving forward.
Colossus of Akros - No. Tron is actually my modern deck of choice and there is no way I would ever run this. If I wanted another giant creature I could tutor for that ends the game other then Emmy I'd play Blightsteel Colossus. Bulk rare in my opinion.
Anger of the Gods - Exile is a nice upgrade, but slagstorm has seen very little modern play. UWR might pick it up over the hallowed burial slot but I don't see it sweeping the format as a whole.
Soldier of the Pantheon - Fine I suppose. Will see play and be popular among the kitchen tables, can see it similar in price to Champion of the Parish.
Bow of Nylea - I don't see this seeing modern play at all. What deck wants this effect? Or any of them for that matter? Standard, maybe a niche sideboard card? Not excited about this.
Fleecemane Lion - Upgrade over watchwolf, but watchwolf isn't the card Modern wants right now. Could see play in G/W hate bears as a 2 of, but not a star. Standard 4 of for G/W next to Voice of Resurgence.
Master of the Waves - Not the card Merfolk wanted. Sideboard play as a 1 or 2 of possibly for Mono Red matchup but not a main deck worthy card.
Nykthos? - I like it in the G/B modern deck and maybe spawns Mono black, but I'm not high on it either.
Chained to the Rocks - Fine removal spell but Path of exile/Swords to Plowshares are still premium over this.
Spellheart Chimera - Can get very big, but dies to bolt which is a huge modern card. I know, the dies to removal argument isn't valid but when your gameplan is a 3 drop, it has to withstand a lot. Might see initial play but will fall off in the long term.
Just my 2 cents so far. The set is fine as a whole but nothing revolutionizing. Cheers
I'm heavily into Jace atm.. not even quite sure how many I have at this point..
I'm also playing him as a 4 of in Standard and he's amazing. Every time I'm flipping 3 cards the other person is commenting about how they can't believe nobody is running him.
Because right now he's not very good if you're under the gun from the aggressive decks. Can't tap out for AOT if you're dead on board turn 4/5. Yes, supreme verdict handles that most of the time, but tapping out for Jace isn't that great when they can play another creature or Primal Hunter.
That said, I still really like him post rotation. U/x is looking primed for a good run between Jace, Sphinx's Rev, Ral, Verdict, etc.
5 colorless lands is pushing it a bit. You're going to have too many openers that won't be able to cast your spells early and then just die to an onslaught of flinthoof boars and the like holding supreme verdict.
High Preist of Pennance is in the Pre-con. This kills the value somewhat, but Camping fork (Jitte) example can prove otherwise.
Except Jitte was a literal 4 of in every deck, even in board just to kill opponents Jittes. High Priest of Pennance is no where near this level. A better example would be Wolfir Silverheart and Zealous Conscripts. Both were intro rares and have seen varying amounts of standard play. I don't think Priest is as good as these two cards and don't like it as a speculation target. At best it's a board card against Mono Red or aggro variants as it can be an occasional 2 for 1.
See, here's one I'm not so sure on. Standard wise if you ever untap with him, I can't see you losing the game as you get to draw a ton of cards. Outside of that, look at the price of the other Niv-Mizzet. A solid $10. I feel this one could very well go up and at the very least hold his price.
Cedric (11th) and AJ Sachar (16th) both played decks with Thundermaw at the invitational and finished in the top 16. AJ played one copy and Cedric played two copies.
So three copies out of a top 16? That's not exactly promising numbers. Thundermaw beat up on lingering souls decks, but with a lack of lingering souls in the format he gets outclassed by the other 5 drops in those decks (ie Wolfir Silverheart, Thragtusk). There is potential for him in the new meta, but honestly he just feels like sub $10 card to me.
One of the reasons Unnatural Predation is so good in infect is that it forces the opponent to use their tragic slip/gut shot before attackers, which lets infect respond with a pump spell.
Just sayin.
But you can't cut 4 lands for 4 Unnatural Predation can you? The cathedral pump is free, at the cost of a land coming into play tapped, but will continue to be useful throughout the game.
One of the reasons Cathedral is so good in infect is that it forces the opponent to use their tragic slip/gut shot before attackers, which lets infect respond with a pump spell.
I've got this sleeved up and ready to go for this week, and after playing a couple games I enjoy it quite a bit. But I'm worried that rancor can just run this over. What is the game plan against G/r or Mono G? Hope to hit a terminus or BSZ before you die?
Just hit up my local Wal-Marts and no indication that there were stock of the commander repacks. Just blisters with the Broodmate Promo. Nice heads up though
This is my stuff Pile A I'm looking to get pile B so I can start getting into modern. Sure I should probably have more of a focus but the biggest gorilla in the room are the shock lands, and you basically need all of them. I'd rather trade for a deck but this would allow me to make up my mind to any deck or color pool I want. Plus I would be trading away cards all of which will not be reprinted any time soon and all of these lands will be. And they all went up what, 5,6,7 times their original value?
Pile A
2 Sword of War and Peace $40=80
2 sea chrome $20=40
3 Sword of feast and famine $30=90
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite $30
1Phyrexian Obliterator $30
3 Isolated Chapel$10=$30
1 Elspeth Tirel $20
$320
Pile B
I hope I got all of the shock lands listed.
That’s 5 swords there, that is not chump change, and they aren’t going to be reprinted soon, like the shock lands. Obviously getting someone to do that trade, don’t know is anyone would. But I’d like to put it out there. I could add other stuff. I really like to walk around with a binder full of shocklands for a few weeks showing them off to people, I have all of the Zen lands, and it just feels cool.
If you can get someone to do it, then do it. But you don't actually need playsets of Shocklands, most decks only run 1-2 of each. The Fetch lands are more important to acquire
I like that you pointed out some cards, but I'm going play devil's advocate here for a bit.
Stormbreath Dragon - Why are we playing this over thundermaw in modern? Pro white is suppose but even so I see no reason to run this in that slot.
Purphoros - Interesting take on the slot for modern, but I don't think storm can afford the extra slot to place him in there. U/R Young pyromancer maybe but even then it's sketchy.
Thoughtseize - Reprint.
Ashen Rider - Agreed
Swan Song - Oh boy is this a card. Foils should be very hot, extremely playable in all formats. It is insane in the vintage oath mirror, very strong in legacy and modern.
Hero's Downfall - Pox was seeing marginal play in modern but I don't think this is the card that puts it over the top. It's a 3 mana kill spell, not what the deck is looking for at the moment. Standard, however, it will be very strong for its life cycle.
Steam Augury - This card interests me. I really don't know how to take it in yet. Need more time to playtest but could very well find a home in modern. FoF was insanely strong, and while not as good this is still a spell to keep in mind moving forward.
Colossus of Akros - No. Tron is actually my modern deck of choice and there is no way I would ever run this. If I wanted another giant creature I could tutor for that ends the game other then Emmy I'd play Blightsteel Colossus. Bulk rare in my opinion.
Anger of the Gods - Exile is a nice upgrade, but slagstorm has seen very little modern play. UWR might pick it up over the hallowed burial slot but I don't see it sweeping the format as a whole.
Soldier of the Pantheon - Fine I suppose. Will see play and be popular among the kitchen tables, can see it similar in price to Champion of the Parish.
Bow of Nylea - I don't see this seeing modern play at all. What deck wants this effect? Or any of them for that matter? Standard, maybe a niche sideboard card? Not excited about this.
Fleecemane Lion - Upgrade over watchwolf, but watchwolf isn't the card Modern wants right now. Could see play in G/W hate bears as a 2 of, but not a star. Standard 4 of for G/W next to Voice of Resurgence.
Master of the Waves - Not the card Merfolk wanted. Sideboard play as a 1 or 2 of possibly for Mono Red matchup but not a main deck worthy card.
Nykthos? - I like it in the G/B modern deck and maybe spawns Mono black, but I'm not high on it either.
Chained to the Rocks - Fine removal spell but Path of exile/Swords to Plowshares are still premium over this.
Spellheart Chimera - Can get very big, but dies to bolt which is a huge modern card. I know, the dies to removal argument isn't valid but when your gameplan is a 3 drop, it has to withstand a lot. Might see initial play but will fall off in the long term.
Just my 2 cents so far. The set is fine as a whole but nothing revolutionizing. Cheers
3x Snapcaster Mage
B:
1x Scalding Tarn
2x Steam Vents
1x Godless Shrine
Was offered this, I would be giving A. I was looking at getting back fetches, but is it worth giving up the snapcasters?
Because right now he's not very good if you're under the gun from the aggressive decks. Can't tap out for AOT if you're dead on board turn 4/5. Yes, supreme verdict handles that most of the time, but tapping out for Jace isn't that great when they can play another creature or Primal Hunter.
That said, I still really like him post rotation. U/x is looking primed for a good run between Jace, Sphinx's Rev, Ral, Verdict, etc.
5 colorless lands is pushing it a bit. You're going to have too many openers that won't be able to cast your spells early and then just die to an onslaught of flinthoof boars and the like holding supreme verdict.
Except Jitte was a literal 4 of in every deck, even in board just to kill opponents Jittes. High Priest of Pennance is no where near this level. A better example would be Wolfir Silverheart and Zealous Conscripts. Both were intro rares and have seen varying amounts of standard play. I don't think Priest is as good as these two cards and don't like it as a speculation target. At best it's a board card against Mono Red or aggro variants as it can be an occasional 2 for 1.
See, here's one I'm not so sure on. Standard wise if you ever untap with him, I can't see you losing the game as you get to draw a ton of cards. Outside of that, look at the price of the other Niv-Mizzet. A solid $10. I feel this one could very well go up and at the very least hold his price.
I buy here.
Take the elspeths. Multiformat staple and solid value. Mothers are nice as well.
So three copies out of a top 16? That's not exactly promising numbers. Thundermaw beat up on lingering souls decks, but with a lack of lingering souls in the format he gets outclassed by the other 5 drops in those decks (ie Wolfir Silverheart, Thragtusk). There is potential for him in the new meta, but honestly he just feels like sub $10 card to me.
A:
3x Liliana of the Veil
B:
3x Tamiyo, the Moon Sage
1x Restoration Angel
More or less even across, but would you rather have the Tamiyos or Lilianas?
But you can't cut 4 lands for 4 Unnatural Predation can you? The cathedral pump is free, at the cost of a land coming into play tapped, but will continue to be useful throughout the game.
If you can get someone to do it, then do it. But you don't actually need playsets of Shocklands, most decks only run 1-2 of each. The Fetch lands are more important to acquire