M12 Previews! New Lightning Greaves. New Old Planeswalkers? More!

Hello and welcome again for spoiler season! It's a quick turnaround this time, going quickly from Commander to Magic 2012. Thankfully, Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 has helped us a little bit in what we know about the set. So with a video game and some sample decks to help us out, let's get rolling!

When Duels of the Planeswalkers came out for XBox 360 a couple years ago, WotC put out small 30-card "sample decks" for new players to run and get to feel out the game quickly. They've done the same for the relase of Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012. Each deck has cards mostly from M12. A majority of cards are reprints, but a few took people by surprise. Like, oh, I don't know, Goblin Grenade!?!?!?

Image from MTGSalvation.com

You'll have to look on the very bottom row to the left, but it's there. We lost Lightning Bolt, but we gained Goblin Grenade. I'd say in the fast burn department, that's a decent tradeoff. And with some pretty decent Goblins still in Standard, it may not be a bad time to trade out those Lightning Bolts for Goblin Grenades to get a few extra points through.


Hmm...still not amazed? Alright...how about a Lightning Greaves remake? I'm pleased to announce SWIFTFOOT BOOTS!

Image from MTGSalvation.com

Yes, folks, we have a Lightning Greaves upgrade. It's still 2 mana to cast, it still gives haste, but it has 2 important distinctions. For one, it has an actual equip cost now of 1. That may be bad...or it may be good. Look at the next difference. Notice the new keyword Hexproof? That's right! No longer do you need to leave your creature exposed to targeted removal when you're trying to do something to your otherwise Lightning Graved creature! Just leave the boots on and target away with your own stuff while being protected from your opponent.

I have a feeling that as long as this is in Standard it'll be the equivalent of Lightning Greaves is in casual: VERY fast, VERY efficient, and VERY worth the mana.


And finally, we have confirmation that both Sorin Markov and Gideon Jura are being reprinted. (Gideon's confirmation came from a WotC preview session during Pro Tour - Nagoya this past weekend.) So we assumed the other original Planeswalker characters would also be getting reprinted: Jace Beleren, Chandra Nalaar, and Garruk Wildspeaker.

HOWEVER, a video in Japan apparently talking about Gideon's story has revealed something interesting about the 3 Lorwyn 'walker characters still around: Their names in Japanese writing don't match up to their Lorwyn equivalents. (For example, Garruk has no symbols above his name in the Lorwyn version, but for M12 it seems it does).

So potentially, we could have new Planeswalker cards for the 3 "surviving" Planeswalkers from Lorwyn! Woo-hoo!


That's all for today. Tune in next week when I start doing preview posts for 1 card in each rarity per post. Until then, take care, and we hope to see you at the SOM block draft tomorrow!

"New" Keyword and New Shorthand Coming Throughout June PLUS M12 PREVIEWS

(NOTE: All images come from today's front page articles from dailymtg.com)

Today, "the mothership" (well, it sounds better than "the official MTG website", anyway) previewed a few cards in Magic 2012 Core Set. No, there were no leaks this time.

Magic 2012 Core Set will debut a "new" keyword and new terminology shorthand that'll be seen in releases throughout June.

So without further ado, let's get to the new stuff!

First off, let's look at the "new" keyword. You remember when they shorthanded "Can't be the target of spells or abilities" into the more succinct "Shroud" keyword?

They're doing the same thing now for what's been popularly known as "Troll Shroud".

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce you to Hexproof!

Hexproof is the "new" keyword debuting in the Commander Theme Decks and continued in Magic 2012 Core Set. There is no functional change; anything that had "[this] can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control" will just be errata'd to have Hexproof. Further, any future printings of cards like Troll Ascetic will have Hexproof, possibly with the reminder text.


As well, similar to "Exile" and "Cast", we're getting a new verb that's shorthand for a long string of words in Magic.

When a creature goes to the graveyard from the battlefield, what do you normally say? "When it dies...", correct?

Now that's what the official templating will say. Introducing a reprint from Eventide to demonstrate the change!

"When [this] dies" is the exact same as "When [this] is put into a graveyard from the battlefield" and will only apply to creatures. Other permanents will still use "When [this] is put into a graveyard from the battlefield" because, well, when have you ever seen an Enchantment die?

Again, this will work similarly to "Exile" and "Cast": They both refer to old multi-word actions and have no functional changes compared to their original multi-word uses. And it makes casual talk more formal. How's that for change? :p


As a bonus, they've also unveiled one more reprint and one more brand-new card to M12.

First, it was unveiled in a Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 promotional image that the 5 Planeswalkers for the game would be Jace, Chandra, Garruk, Gideon, and Sorin. Also coming with it was the announcement that Magic 2012 Core Set and the new Duels of the Planeswalkers were very closely tied together...so closely together, you can bet every card in Magic 2012 Core Set will see use in the new Duels of the Planeswalkers.

That also meant that the Planeswalkers showcased for Duels of the Planeswalkers would more than likely be the Planeswalkers used for Magic 2012 Core Set.

Today, we got that confirmed. Re-introducing everyone's favorite Vampire Planeswalker, Sorin Markov!

Sorin didn't get through without a facelift, though. Notice his last ability?

In Zendikar, it read simply as "You control target player's next turn." But that leads to rulings issues, like "So what can and can't I do during that player's turn?" Plus, it's kind of incorrect. You never control turns, you control players during that person's turn.

I believe the M12 version seeks to alleviate that a bit. It now reads "You control target player during that player's next turn." Is it as fun to read? Nope. I'll probably be trading M12 versions for Zendikar versions if I can. But at least now it's clear: You control the player, which means anything they could have done you can now do.


We also have a brand new card. It's the cheapest non-Changeling Phoenix in the game now (beating Worldheart Phoenix by 1 total mana), and it references red Planeswalkers as a potential source of damage for its "resurrection" effect. Introducing Chandra's new pet, Chandra's Phoenix!

Chandra's Phoenix is already playable as far as I can see. 3 mana for a 2/2 hasty Flying creature is pretty nice in and of itself! But it gets a little burn help. If a red instant or sorcery or a red Planeswalker you control deals damage to an opponent, you return the Phoenix to your hand from the graveyard! I know, 3 mana for 2 damage may not be a good trade, but if the burn is cheap enough it could buy you a potential blocker so you can burn your opponent out next turn. It may be worth considering...maybe?

That's all I have for you today. Enjoy the previews, and feel free to post a comment about these. I'd like to see your take on the news of the day.

Thanks for reading!