More M12 Previews: White's Answer to Blue, New "Ancestral Recall", New Chandra!

Hello all, and we're back with a few more Magic Core Set 2012 previews! Today we have a White "bear" that keeps Blue off your back, a new Blue Instant that could act like an Ancestral Recall, and a new Chandra that might see some play in Standard. Ready to get going?

We have the first preview card, Grand Abolisher!

Image from StarCityGames.com

Wow...if you ever feared removal on your turn, you don't have to any more. White Weenie could easily use this to fend of some Lightning Bolts, Volt Charges, and Vapor Snags that would prevent you from winning. But this also means you can't be counterspelled on your turn! WHOAH! That could be a HUGE deal! And for only WW? I think I'd take it, especially if I'm running some kind of combo deck that can't afford to be countered or disrupted in any way on your turn. I have a feeling he'll be a casual favorite if Blue or Red are heavy colors at your casual tables, otherwise I could see it in tournament decks while Red is popular and possibly when/if Blue steps in its place one Zendikar block rotates out.

Next up we have Wizards of the Coast's newest take on Ancestral Recall. Remember back in Time Spiral we got Ancestral Vision, a Suspend-enabled version and a direct descendent of Ancestral Recall. In Magic 2012, with milling being a popular theme, we get a situationally similar card in Visions of Beyond.

Image courtesy DailyMTG.com Visual Spoiler

The speculation is heating up that Innistrad, the next block to come out, will be a Graveyard-themed block thanks to some leaked cards found in the code of Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012. With the previously spoiled Jace, Memory Adept allowing you to mill 10 cards for just 5 mana on the first hit, it's hard to NOT get a graveyard to have 20 or more cards in it. And if Innistrad block is a graveyard-themed block, I'd say this will act more like Ancestral Recall than a 1-mana draw-a-card Instant.

Of course, early game you could use it as a deck thinner, in essence making your deck 56 cards instead of 60. But I think milling a player would be a bit better. ;)


Finally, we have another new Planeswalker version. We've had as many as 2 different versions of any Planeswalker character up until Magic 2012 which sees Jace's 3rd version. Now, we have another 3rd-version Planeswalker. Let me introduce you to Chandra, the Firebrand!

Image courtesy of DailyMTG.com Visual Spoiler

Yes, you read the mana cost correctly. 3R is the mana cost. This marks the first Planeswalker to not use at least 2 colored mana symbols in its mana cost. This should allow some decks to splash Red to run her. Hmm...I kinda like that idea. Let me think how I can abuse her...

Her +1 is an improvement on the original Chandra. Instead of just hitting a player, you can use it to hit a creature. Not bad. 4 mana and we already have her +1 ability being better than Chandra Nalaar's.

Her -2 ability is very intriguing. She sets up a Twincast on your next instant or sorcery. Now surely, at -2 you can't do that for long, right? He he he...WRONG!! Remember we have some nice Proliferate spells that work nicely with that -2. Volt Charge is an instant that deals 3 damage and Proliferates, so copying it lets you get back both counters you used to copy Volt Charge. How about refilling your hand? Tezzeret's Gambit literally goes into any deck, and when copied you're spending 3 mana and 2 life to draw 4 and make Chandra's -2 mean nothing. NOW...combine it with other Planeswalkers. Use her -2, Volt Charge a Titan to kill it, and Proliferate 2 counters onto the new Jace. Now he's within a turn of "going ultimate", drawing everyone 20 cards and potentially killing them at that.

Chandra's "ultimate" is a nice bonus if you stick with building her up. At -6 (so most likely 4 turns after you cast her), you get to do 6 damage to EACH of UP TO SIX target creatures and/or players. SIX!!!!! And it's not "split evenly", it's TO EACH OF. Whoah! I like the original Chandra's ultimate better, but for Multiplayer, this will rock just like Jace 3.0's ultimate could if it hits at the right time. And in single player, it might just clear the board for an alpha strike for the win.


What do you think about these previews? Anything that's too strong? Not strong enough? Overly hyped? Not hyped enough? Feel free to give me your thoughts! :)

M12 Previews 2! Blue Goes Hexproof, Favorite 1-Cost Red Creature Returns

Good morning, Magic nuts! Today I'll be looking at some surprises that came from the posting of the M12 Card Gallery spoiling some already-known cards and, apparently, some Duels of the Planeswalkers new cards meant for dual use in Duels of the Planeswalkers and M12.

(NOTE: All scans/pics come from the DailyMTG website's Card Gallery for M12)

First off, how would you like for a Blue creature to be untargetable instead of "When this is targeted, destroy it"? We have our answer now in a brand-new card, Aven Fleetwing!!

I don't know about you, but I'm kinda happy to finally have a Blue creature in M12 that doesn't die just because it's targeted. ha ha! Instead, this little birdy does quite the opposite: your opponents can't target him! I can see this being a casual favorite and possibly even a Commander near-staple if Hexproof has enough love, but in competitive Magic it may be a toss-up. Hexproof flying is good, but 4 mana for a 2/2? It may be too slow, and there may be better stuff to do at 3 mana (Jace, maybe? ;)  )


Next up is a surprising reprint at Uncommon. I don't know if anyone ever thought about it coming back since it was released in Ravnica, but I guess blue Mill is the flavor of the decade for WotC. Re-introducing Belltower Sphinx!!

I was so unfamiliar with this card, I thought it was new when I first looked at it. For 5 mana you get a 2/5 flier that mills whenever an opponent's source deals damage to it (similar to how Phyrexian Obliterator does for permanents in general). I'd guess mill decks wouldn't mind this for a blocker so when your opponent DOES alpha strike you he can mill a good chunk of cards on the block. Hopefully by then you'll be able to survive and mill out the rest of their deck with no problem. Again, casual ground maybe but I don't see much more than that except as a Limited format good flier.


And finally in the Rare slot we have a true surprise. He's a 1-casting-cost Red creature and iconic in a number of Legacy decks. He's making his Standard return in about little over a month. Please welcome back with open arms GRIM LAVAMANCER!!!

Yes, folks, we have Grim Lavamancer making his Core Set debut and his re-introduction into Standard and Extended since the days Torment was legal. And with Lightning Bolt, Goblin Grenade, and other cheap burn being in Standard for even the smallest of time with him, I feel confident Grim Lavamancer will be a force to be reckoned with as a finisher in Mono-Red.

Commander Deck Reprint News: Sol Ring and Lightning Greaves!

This week MTGCommander.net is previewing some cards from the new Magic: The Gathering: Commander theme decks coming out in June.

Today, they and "the mothership" previewed 2 reprints. 1 goes into every Commander theme deck, while the other we're not sure how often it'll appear.

The card that will appear in every Commander theme deck?

SOL RING!

(image from WotC's Arcana for June 1st)

If you remember the From the Vault: Relics set from last year, you'll remember that this is the artwork used on that version of Sol Ring. Will the original drop in price? Most likely. But part of Commander/EDH is "pimping your deck", so either a From the Vault version or old Alpha/Beta/Unlimited/Revised versions could hold some value for being original art or foil (or in the case of the DCI Judge promo verison, both!).


The other card is one we're very familiar with but is about a $4-$5 Uncommon already...Lightning Greaves!

(preview image from MTGCommander.net forums)

These 2 are practically universal additions to a Commander deck if you've got these cards. Sol Ring is just a fast mana accelerator at best and a decent mana accelerator at worst.


Tomorrow I'll show a preview of a new Commander card...and a new Commander for those U/G decks. :)

SOM Preview 3! How far can a 0-mana creature go? And more!

Welcome back all!

I haven't had much time to update during spoiler season (stupid classes...), but I've cut into the day a bit and found some stuff to give you that you might enjoy!

First off, though, I've gotta give you hints.

1) Counterspell may yet see the light of day in Standard...thanks to a new mechanic.
2) See the title of this post.

3) Could Sleeping be dangerous for your opponent? They may wake up to find nothing left.
4) Masticore reincarnated? Hmm...it looks like we found a way around the Reserved List, then...





The previews and impressions...after the jump!

Scars Previews Day 2! Planeswalker, New and Returning Mechanics

I told ya I'd be back today with more previews. Seriously, you've got to trust me a bit more on getting fast updates done. (hears from the crowd "Yeah right!"...and they'd have a point.)

Today I'm doing the same format as the last update: 1 Common, 1 Uncommon, 1 Rare, and 1 Mythic Rare.

And aren't you all in for a doozy!

But first, some hints to get you to want to read on (not like the promise of spoilers isn't enough, but this makes it just a tad bit more exciting!)

1) A new mechanics that, like Affinity, cares about how many artifacts you control.
2) A Mirrodin mechanic makes its return here...and no, I'm not cheating with using a mechanic that simply originated in Mirrodin.
3) A functional reprint of a favorite Kamigawa block Sorcery.
4) This Planeswalker's been seen in different forms in the storyline...but now our Shaper Savant gets his well-deserved spark.

Find out what these hints mean...after the jump!

Scars of Mirrodin Previews

It's that time again! That time that comes every 3-4 months when a new set comes around.

Time for Scars of Mirrodin spoilers!

The next few days, I'll get one card each at Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Mythic Rare to preview per post.

We've already had a few hints as to what'll come around, so here are a few teasers for you over the next few days to keep you watching:

1) An original Mirrodin mechanic comes back.
2) Of course we have new Planeswalkers! One may even use a recent new templating to allow you to do something Celestial Purge could only do conditionally.
3) A small creature that's never been done before. (HINT: It might involve the word "Free" in one way or another)
4) Of course we have new mechanics, too. One even requires you to keep track of your artifact count.
5) The Pre-Release promo is an upgrade on a recent Magic 2011 new card.

We present you with the first batch of official spoilers...after the jump!

Scars of Mirrodin "Leak": Mana Myr Cycle Returns

Those who got advanced copies of Duel Decks: Elspeth vs. Tezzeret I don't think noticed this little tidbit.

Well, no one but one of the MTGSalvation posters.

Take a look at part of the deck sheet for Tezzeret's side of the deck. (Picture from this MTGSalvation post):

See it yet?

Look 4 cards down at Silver Myr.

Now look at what sets the sheet says it's from.

Yeah buddy! A Scars of Mirrodin preview!

It looks like we'll be getting the "Myr Moxen" back from Mirrodin.

Say hello to him and his little friends!

Because they're reprints in a new set, they'll probably have new artwork. It'll be fun to see what they do with the Myr in Scars of Mirrodin, AKA "Mirrans vs. Phyrexia".

M11 Pre-Release and Release Promos

Hey guys!

Today Wizards of the Coast previewed the M11 Pre-Release and Release promo cards. And I've gotta say, the pre-release one looks outstanding! Let me give you a small preview: What if you could take one of the cheapest Planeswalkers that died earlier in the game and could return it directly to play...and get a decent creature out of the deal?

Find out what it and the Release card are...after the jump!

Some New M11 Previews

So the spoilers are starting to hit faster and faster, which means I may not get to each one.

But I'll do what I can!

We've got some interesting Commons today, and one more keyword retemplating. Find out what it may mean...AFTER the Jump!

BREAKING: M11 Changes Deathtouch Slightly

New previews means more BREAKING NEWS!

Someone's got their hands on real M11 cards (way ahead of schedule, but they are authentic) and posted a few new Green cards.

Among them (and this is word-for-word, no shorthand notations or simplifications)...

Greater Basilisk
3GG
Creature - Basilisk
Deathtouch (Any amount of damage this deals to a creature is enough to destroy it.)
5/3
Common


So you're wondering, "What does this mean for how Deathtouch works in combat? With the template change, there's no mention of being able to break the "creature queue" set up in M10."

Even though we don't have the official Deathtouch change rules summary, I'd hazard a guess to say there's little to no change.


The current template is way too long. I mean, read it:
Deathtouch (Creatures dealt damage by this creature are destroyed. You can divide this creature's combat damage among any of the creatures blocking or blocked by it.)

The current version explicitly states how you treat Deathtouch damage. Which is nice...if it's the only ability on the card.

On Vampire Nighthawk, that takes a total of 4 lines of text. AND they had to fit Flying and Lifelink (with reminder text on Lifelink) in the same text box. If it were shortened up a bit, it wouldn't look as cluttered and confusing for a creature that basically reads "Flying, deathtouch, lifelink".

Plus, reminder text doesn't catch every little nuance of the rules behind the reminder text. It should, however, give enough to guide you through most situations.


Under the current template, you still get 1 point of damage being able to destroy a creature. That's fine.

But unlike the current Deathtouch template that explicitly breaks the "creature queue" rule, this version is more subtle but does the same thing. Normally, a creature takes lethal damage when it takes damage greater than or equal to its toughness. Deathtouch seems to re-define "lethal damage" ("any amount of damage...is enough to destroy it."). As such, when you have to deal "lethal damage" to creatures in the queue in order to move on to the next creature in line, Deathtouch will say that just 1 damage will be enough and lets you move on.

Whether you'll get to jump around at will or not I don't know. Under the current template, if you have 5 creatures in the queue blocking a Deathtouch creature, that creature could assign its damage to the 4th and 5th creatures in line when it normally had to go straight through the first 3 to even have a chance of hitting that far back.

Either that, or the official rules will take back the ability to skip around in the creature queue and force you to go in order as long as you have enough Power to go through the "queue."

So wait until official word hits about how Deathtouch will work, but also keep in mind this shorter template will be around starting with M11 in July.

Reactions? Leave them in the comments here!

Until later,
Preston