Tracker App

Premier Draft RNA 10.januar 2021

10 January 10:13 - Ashnod1727 7 Wins - 2 Losses
Maindeck
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (12)
1 Lawmage's Binding image
1 Tome of the Guildpact image
1 Mortify image
1 Angelic Exaltation image
2 Bring to Trial image
2 Arrester's Zeal image
1 Depose // Deploy image
2 Final Payment image
1 Ill-Gotten Inheritance image
Creature (17)
1 Azorius Knight-Arbiter image
1 Senate Griffin image
1 Vizkopa Vampire image
1 Grasping Thrull image
1 Basilica Bell-Haunt image
2 Thirsting Shade image
2 Plague Wight image
2 Pitiless Pontiff image
3 Faerie Duelist image
1 Tenth District Veteran image
1 Sphinx of Foresight image
1 Imperious Oligarch image
Land (17)
5 Plains image
6 Island image
5 Swamp image
1 Gateway Plaza image
Sideboard
1 Grasping Thrull image
1 Thirsting Shade image
1 Impassioned Orator image
1 Knight of Sorrows image
1 Noxious Groodion image
1 Prowling Caracal image
1 Debtors' Transport image
1 Feral Maaka image
1 Saruli Caretaker image
1 Bring to Trial image
1 Consign to the Pit image
1 Undercity's Embrace image
1 Azorius Locket image
1 Shimmer of Possibility image
1 Justiciar's Portal image

Pack 1 Pick 1: Senate Griffin
Growth-Chamber Guardian image 3.0 You probably won’t have a second Growth-Chamber Guardian, but that’s okay, because a two mana 2/2 that can become a 4/4 later on in the game is a good Limited card anyway! If you do have more than one, it gets really silly.
Sky Tether image 2.5 If your deck has a lot of fliers this can be pretty good. If it doesn’t, it can be pretty mediocre, because the creature you put it on can still do everything apart from attack.
Flames of the Raze-Boar image 3.0 6 mana to do 4 to a creature isn’t great, but if you have a 4+ power creature, this can turn into a pretty impressive sweeper, taking down multiple things! Its expensive, and the set up is real – but its upside is massive.
Eyes Everywhere image 1.0 This isn’t really worth it. The Scry isn’t enough, and playing a silly mini-game with it to steal your opponent’s stuff is rough. If your opponent has no way at all to produce Blue mana it definitely gets a little more interesting, but this format has such good mana that I wouldn’t count on them not having it.
Catacomb Crocodile image 1.0 If you need a defensive vanilla creature…I guess you can have this card, but I’m not sure why you would ever need one of those.
Act of Treason image 1.0 // 3.0 As usually, if you’re in a deck with enough Sacrifice outlets, this is really sweet. Stealing an opposing creature, attacking them with it, and then sacrificing it is one of the sweetest feelings there is! But you are going to need to have a few different cards that allow you to cheaply sacrifice a creatures to make it worth it, and it isn’t something you really want in any other deck.
Titanic Brawl image 3.5 Your creature doesn’t get any sort of boost out of Titanic Brawl, but the fact that you can play this for only a single Green is pretty nice – especially because both Simic and Gruul are so into +1/+1 counters that already increase the size of your creatures anyway.
Footlight Fiend image 2.0 This can sometimes generate a 2-for-1, and at the very least it really makes life difficult for any opponent that has an X/1 in play. It is also pretty good sacrifice fodder, and gets Spectacle going. It is a surprisingly effective one drop!
Rubble Slinger image 2.0 If you don’t have any good ways to block flyers – this can certainly do it, though it isn’t exactly efficient.
Rakdos Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Prying Eyes image 1.5 This is way overcosted for a card that only nets you two cards, but it does dig you pretty deep, and if your deck is controlling enough, you can run a copy.
Senate Griffin image 2.5 This is a nice little flyer. The stats are fine, and Scrying is always a good way to smooth out your draws.
Bring to Trial image 1.5 As usual, there aren’t really enough big creatures in this format for this to be anything special. Its not a disaster if you run one, but it is definitely better out of the sideboard.
Chillbringer image 3.5 Creatures that come down and have an immediate effect on the board are great, and Chillbringer freezes a creature down while giving you a pretty real flying body. This is an excellent Common, even as a five drop, you’d be happy to play as many as four of these. They just tend to swing the common in your favor way more often than your typical Common.
Orzhov Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 1 Pick 2: Vizkopa Vampire
Absorb image 2.0 Three mana counterspells don’t tend to be great in Limited, and while it is nice this give you some life, it is also pretty challenging to cast. And sure, you’ll get the mana for it eventually, but you want to be able to cast this as soon as possible in most cases, and that just won’t happen.
Combine Guildmage image 3.5 There are a whole lot of counters in this set, so both abilities on the Guildmage end up coming up a lot in the mid-to-late game, and its pretty powerful to threaten to move counters around, or add additional counters to your creatures.
High Alert image 0.0 // 3.0 Obviously enough, this is a build around, but it is one that its possible to make work in the format. There are enough defensive creatures in the format, and this combines particularly well with the unblockable 2/5 with Vigilance. It is going to be terrible in most Azorius decks, though.
Rafter Demon image 2.0 This is less impressive than most of the Spectacle cards. Without Spectacle, it is a horrendous 4-mana 4/2. It does get a pretty real upgrade if you do get Spectacle going, as a 5-mana 4/2 that forces a discard isn’t too bad, but it has some diminishing values as the game goes on.
Steeple Creeper image 2.5 This might be the best of this cycle of Commons. A 3-mana 4/2 is already almost passable, so the ability to gain flying in the mid-to-late game is pretty nice.
Clear the Mind image 0.0 // 2.5 This card would be an F in most formats, but this format actually has real enough control decks that you can end up in a deck where Clear the Mind is sort of your win condition, since it keeps you from milling yourself out, while your opponent won’t be so lucky. You do generally need at least two of them to keep things going, but you’d be surprised how real of a strategy it is in this format.
Vizkopa Vampire image 2.0 This often just ends up trading for something and gaining you some life, which is fine, but not exactly exciting either.
Bring to Trial image 1.5 As usual, there aren’t really enough big creatures in this format for this to be anything special. Its not a disaster if you run one, but it is definitely better out of the sideboard.
Sphinx's Insight image 2.5 Both options on this have their place. Sometimes you want to cast it during your opponents turn so that you can untap and play the new things you drew, but sometimes that additional life is great.
Scuttlegator image 1.5 This isn’t very good. A 6-mana 6/6 with Defender can block pretty well, but you need your six drop to do more than that! It can eventually adapt into a huge creature that can attack, but it still feels too clunky most of the time.
Burning-Tree Vandal image 2.0 Rummaging when it attacks is fine, and because of Riot it can do it for you right away sometimes. The option of also making it a 3/2 is pretty sweet.
Burn Bright image 1.0 // 2.0 If you’re really going wide, this isn’t a terrible inclusion, but only the most aggressive decks are going to be interested in this.
Scorchmark image 2.5 Two mana for two damage at instant speed isn’t quite premium removal – but it is solid -- and the fact that this can exile stuff does come up sometimes.
Gruul Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 1 Pick 3: Angelic Exaltation
Angelic Exaltation image 1.0 This costs a lot of mana for something that doesn’t add a body to the board, and while it does effect it as soon you attack alone with something, it requires further set up beyond that to really be relevant.
Sentinel's Mark image 2.5 This thing really overperforms. If you can flash it in and use it like a combat trick, that tends to feel pretty good, and if you play it during your main phase for Addendum, it also feels pretty nice.
Thought Collapse image 1.5 Cancel is never great in Limited, but the mill upside this gives you does matter a little bit in this format.
Knight of Sorrows image 1.5 Afterlife is always nice, but this has such inefficient stats when it comes down that it still feels incredibly clunky.
Rubblebelt Runner image 2.5 This has decent stats and evasion that actually comes up sometimes.
Vizkopa Vampire image 2.0 This often just ends up trading for something and gaining you some life, which is fine, but not exactly exciting either.
Simic Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Undercity's Embrace image 1.5 Edict effects are always pretty underwhelming in Limited, since board states tend to be pretty clogged up, especially in this format. If you really need removal, and have a decent number of creatures with 4 or more power, it is a decent card, but it is basically never more than that.
Gift of Strength image 1.5 This trick is always fine. It allows a creature to win combat, but like all tricks it is a bit too situational.
Clear the Mind image 0.0 // 2.5 This card would be an F in most formats, but this format actually has real enough control decks that you can end up in a deck where Clear the Mind is sort of your win condition, since it keeps you from milling yourself out, while your opponent won’t be so lucky. You do generally need at least two of them to keep things going, but you’d be surprised how real of a strategy it is in this format.
Skewer the Critics image 4.0 This is often just one Red mana for a Sorcery-speed Lightning Bolt, and that’s amazing. Even if you could only ever pay 3 for this card, it would be premium removal, so the upside of only costing one Red really makes it an excellent card, and one of the best Commons in the set.
Dead Revels image 2.5 As usual, this type of card is something you want one of most of the time in Black. Returning two things to your hand late is a good way to keep the gas going, and because you can get Spectacle going on this, you’ll sometimes even be able to cast the things you bring back right away!
Rakdos Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 1 Pick 4: Grasping Thrull
Orzhov Enforcer image 3.5 Now THIS is a death toucher. It can trade with anything as a two mana card, and it even leaves behind a very relevant 1/1 Flyer that can really matter all game long.
Essence Capture image 2.0 Because this is two mana, it’s a pretty reasonable counterspell, even if it does only hit creatures. Limited decks have tons of creatures, so it works out, and adding the counter even has a bit of synergy within the Simic deck.
Plague Wight image 2.5 This is a solid little two-drop that is pretty hard for your opponent to block effectively in the early game.
Stony Strength image 1.5 This kind of trick is almost never worth it. That’s even true in a set with some +1/+1 counter stuff going on. The stats boost isn’t enough, even if it is permanent.
Grasping Thrull image 3.5 This is a really great common for Orzhov decks. It is sort of a mini-Siege Rhino with Flying. And yeah, obviously it isn’t quite that good, but it is a very real flyer that immediately generates a 4-point life swing, and it turns out that’s a big deal.
Gift of Strength image 1.5 This trick is always fine. It allows a creature to win combat, but like all tricks it is a bit too situational.
Sylvan Brushstrider image 2.0 This is an alright 3-drop. The stats are pretty mediocre, but the 2 life helps off-set that a little bit.
Faerie Duelist image 3.0 This is a big overperformer. It can really alter combat in your favor, both during your turn and your opponents, while adding a pretty decent body to the board. It’s a great common.
Thirsting Shade image 1.5 This thing demands a ton of mana to be relevant, and it isn’t usually going to be worth it. It can pump itself, but on most boards it just isn’t able to attack.
Footlight Fiend image 2.0 This can sometimes generate a 2-for-1, and at the very least it really makes life difficult for any opponent that has an X/1 in play. It is also pretty good sacrifice fodder, and gets Spectacle going. It is a surprisingly effective one drop!
Spikewheel Acrobat image 1.5 The idea here is that this can set up your cards that have Spectacle. And, it can do that for sure, but its body is otherwise a pretty big liability, and the Rakdos decks don’t have that hard of a time of making sure Spectacle is online anyway. If your deck is really leading hard into the mechanic, Spear Spewer is a worthy inclusion, but it is by no means a necessity for those types of decks. 118 - Spikewheel Acrobat – 1.5 This really only feels worth it if you get the Spectacle going, and even then it isn’t exactly amazing, as most 2 drops in the set can still trade for it.
Rakdos Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 1 Pick 5: Impassioned Orator
Electrodominance image 3.5 So, when you kill something with this, it doesn’t feel very efficient, since you have to pay two Red in addition to X. However, the fact it can target anything – including players, does make it a pretty nice card. Especially because if you have a card in your hand with the right mana value, you can cast it from your hand! Now, that second part sounds really exciting, but most of the time by the time you want to be casting this, you aren’t going to be getting that much value out of that effect. Still, it is upside on a card that is already pretty reasonable, and it is nice that you can use this early to kill an X/2 and play a 2-drop.
Plague Wight image 2.5 This is a solid little two-drop that is pretty hard for your opponent to block effectively in the early game.
Shimmer of Possibility image 1.5 If you’re in the spell deck, this can be worth playing, otherwise casting this isn’t very impactful.
Gateway Plaza image 2.5 This comes with the “Gate” type, which means you’ll want it in many decks, and it also does a decent job of fixing.
Growth Spiral image 2.0 This is nice in Limited, but not the busted thing it is in constructed. You won’t always be able to take advantage of the extra land effect after the early game, but that still means it’s a cantrip, which isn’t too shabby.
Coral Commando image 1.0 This is an unimpressive vanilla creature that you’ll really only run if you’re desperate.
Impassioned Orator image 2.5 The incidental life gain this provides really adds up over the course of a game, and is nice upside to have on a 2-mana 2/2.
Rubble Reading image 0.5 People play some ambitious mana bases in this format, but even then, this isn’t a great sideboard card.
Knight of Sorrows image 1.5 Afterlife is always nice, but this has such inefficient stats when it comes down that it still feels incredibly clunky.
Thought Collapse image 1.5 Cancel is never great in Limited, but the mill upside this gives you does matter a little bit in this format.
Rakdos Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 1 Pick 6: Bring to Trial
Blood Crypt image 2.5 This offer some very nice fixing, and if you’re in the market for that they are definitely nice. They are worth taking any time you are splashing a color or they are in both of your colors.
Rumbling Ruin image 3.5 If you’re in Gruul, this 6-mana 6/6 can often come down and turn off a number of blockers, which will often allow your creatures who already in play to get in for some significant damage. It won’t always get to do its thing, but this has a floor of a vanilla 6-mana 6/6 and a very impressive ceiling.
Fireblade Artist image 4.0 This is one of the most aggressive cards in the format, and it can generate massive amounts of damage. A lot of the decks in the format are very slow, and this can really devastate most of those decks if it comes down early. Rakdos has enough sacrifice fodder that this can really work out, and it of course also gets Spectacle going.
Bring to Trial image 1.5 As usual, there aren’t really enough big creatures in this format for this to be anything special. Its not a disaster if you run one, but it is definitely better out of the sideboard.
Scorchmark image 2.5 Two mana for two damage at instant speed isn’t quite premium removal – but it is solid -- and the fact that this can exile stuff does come up sometimes.
Persistent Petitioners image 1.0 You’ll play this if you need a two-mana 1/3, but you aren’t going to assemble a mill deck with this thing.
Noxious Groodion image 2.0 This trades with everything as most death touchers do. Costing three mana does mean it is harder to trade up with it consistently, but it can still trade with everything.
Mammoth Spider image 2.0 This is a nice defensive creature if you’re in the market for one, and Green really does have a hard time with Flyers in this set, so having one of these around isn’t too bad.
Prying Eyes image 1.5 This is way overcosted for a card that only nets you two cards, but it does dig you pretty deep, and if your deck is controlling enough, you can run a copy.
Stony Strength image 1.5 This kind of trick is almost never worth it. That’s even true in a set with some +1/+1 counter stuff going on. The stats boost isn’t enough, even if it is permanent.
Pack 1 Pick 7: Basilica Bell-Haunt
Light Up the Stage image 3.5 This jus tends up feeling like a one mana Divination a huge chunk of the time, and even casting it for three isn’t a disaster. The card advantage it grants you is just great.
Basilica Bell-Haunt image 3.5 This whole cycle is pretty powerful, and that’s certainly the case here! This gives you a solid body, usually nets you a 2-for-1, and even gives you some life! The one downside is the mana cost, which even in an Orzhov deck won’t always be easy to produce. Still, you’ll usually be able to hit a card when it ETBs.
Shimmer of Possibility image 1.5 If you’re in the spell deck, this can be worth playing, otherwise casting this isn’t very impactful.
Haazda Officer image 2.0 The ETB ability doesn’t always do something here, but its still a 3-mana 3/3 with upside, and the times where the ability does cause your opponent to have problems are pretty nice. 10 – Haazda Officer – 2.0 This adds a reasonable body to the board while buffing a creature, theoretically allowing you to attack more effectively the turn it comes down. That said, +1/+1 isn’t always enough to make that happen.
Tenth District Veteran image 1.5 This has mediocre stats and a pretty mediocre ability. Untapping one of your other creatures just doesn’t make a huge difference most of the time.
Steeple Creeper image 2.5 This might be the best of this cycle of Commons. A 3-mana 4/2 is already almost passable, so the ability to gain flying in the mid-to-late game is pretty nice.
Storm Strike image 1.5 This is a decent trick if you’re in the market. +1/+0 and First Strike always plays pretty well in terms of helping a creature win combat, and its nice to have Scry 1 tacked on.
Prowling Caracal image 1.5 This is a vanilla 2-mana 3/1. If you’re in an aggro deck and don’t have enough two drops, you’ll probably play it.
Sagittars' Volley image 0.5 This is a solid sideboard card, but there aren’t really enough flyers to justify sticking this in your main deck.
Pack 1 Pick 8: Arrester's Zeal
Mirror March image 0.0 Yeah, you don’t want to put your games in the hands of a coin-flipping Enchantment that costs 6 mana and likely won’t do anything until you untap the next turn anyway.
Regenesis image 1.5 Getting two things back from your graveyard can be nice, but 5 mana is a big cost to pay, even at Instant speed.
Arrester's Zeal image 1.5 This is a decent trick that has the upside of letting you do lethal in the air sometimes.
Stony Strength image 1.5 This kind of trick is almost never worth it. That’s even true in a set with some +1/+1 counter stuff going on. The stats boost isn’t enough, even if it is permanent.
Root Snare image 0.0 As usual, fogs are bad in Limited.
Prying Eyes image 1.5 This is way overcosted for a card that only nets you two cards, but it does dig you pretty deep, and if your deck is controlling enough, you can run a copy.
Burn Bright image 1.0 // 2.0 If you’re really going wide, this isn’t a terrible inclusion, but only the most aggressive decks are going to be interested in this.
Rakdos Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Pack 1 Pick 9: Bring to Trial
Sky Tether image 2.5 If your deck has a lot of fliers this can be pretty good. If it doesn’t, it can be pretty mediocre, because the creature you put it on can still do everything apart from attack.
Eyes Everywhere image 1.0 This isn’t really worth it. The Scry isn’t enough, and playing a silly mini-game with it to steal your opponent’s stuff is rough. If your opponent has no way at all to produce Blue mana it definitely gets a little more interesting, but this format has such good mana that I wouldn’t count on them not having it.
Catacomb Crocodile image 1.0 If you need a defensive vanilla creature…I guess you can have this card, but I’m not sure why you would ever need one of those.
Footlight Fiend image 2.0 This can sometimes generate a 2-for-1, and at the very least it really makes life difficult for any opponent that has an X/1 in play. It is also pretty good sacrifice fodder, and gets Spectacle going. It is a surprisingly effective one drop!
Rubble Slinger image 2.0 If you don’t have any good ways to block flyers – this can certainly do it, though it isn’t exactly efficient.
Prying Eyes image 1.5 This is way overcosted for a card that only nets you two cards, but it does dig you pretty deep, and if your deck is controlling enough, you can run a copy.
Bring to Trial image 1.5 As usual, there aren’t really enough big creatures in this format for this to be anything special. Its not a disaster if you run one, but it is definitely better out of the sideboard.
Pack 1 Pick 10: Bring to Trial
Rafter Demon image 2.0 This is less impressive than most of the Spectacle cards. Without Spectacle, it is a horrendous 4-mana 4/2. It does get a pretty real upgrade if you do get Spectacle going, as a 5-mana 4/2 that forces a discard isn’t too bad, but it has some diminishing values as the game goes on.
Clear the Mind image 0.0 // 2.5 This card would be an F in most formats, but this format actually has real enough control decks that you can end up in a deck where Clear the Mind is sort of your win condition, since it keeps you from milling yourself out, while your opponent won’t be so lucky. You do generally need at least two of them to keep things going, but you’d be surprised how real of a strategy it is in this format.
Bring to Trial image 1.5 As usual, there aren’t really enough big creatures in this format for this to be anything special. Its not a disaster if you run one, but it is definitely better out of the sideboard.
Sphinx's Insight image 2.5 Both options on this have their place. Sometimes you want to cast it during your opponents turn so that you can untap and play the new things you drew, but sometimes that additional life is great.
Scuttlegator image 1.5 This isn’t very good. A 6-mana 6/6 with Defender can block pretty well, but you need your six drop to do more than that! It can eventually adapt into a huge creature that can attack, but it still feels too clunky most of the time.
Scorchmark image 2.5 Two mana for two damage at instant speed isn’t quite premium removal – but it is solid -- and the fact that this can exile stuff does come up sometimes.
Pack 1 Pick 11: Knight of Sorrows
Sentinel's Mark image 2.5 This thing really overperforms. If you can flash it in and use it like a combat trick, that tends to feel pretty good, and if you play it during your main phase for Addendum, it also feels pretty nice.
Knight of Sorrows image 1.5 Afterlife is always nice, but this has such inefficient stats when it comes down that it still feels incredibly clunky.
Simic Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Undercity's Embrace image 1.5 Edict effects are always pretty underwhelming in Limited, since board states tend to be pretty clogged up, especially in this format. If you really need removal, and have a decent number of creatures with 4 or more power, it is a decent card, but it is basically never more than that.
Clear the Mind image 0.0 // 2.5 This card would be an F in most formats, but this format actually has real enough control decks that you can end up in a deck where Clear the Mind is sort of your win condition, since it keeps you from milling yourself out, while your opponent won’t be so lucky. You do generally need at least two of them to keep things going, but you’d be surprised how real of a strategy it is in this format.
Pack 1 Pick 12: Thirsting Shade
Stony Strength image 1.5 This kind of trick is almost never worth it. That’s even true in a set with some +1/+1 counter stuff going on. The stats boost isn’t enough, even if it is permanent.
Gift of Strength image 1.5 This trick is always fine. It allows a creature to win combat, but like all tricks it is a bit too situational.
Thirsting Shade image 1.5 This thing demands a ton of mana to be relevant, and it isn’t usually going to be worth it. It can pump itself, but on most boards it just isn’t able to attack.
Footlight Fiend image 2.0 This can sometimes generate a 2-for-1, and at the very least it really makes life difficult for any opponent that has an X/1 in play. It is also pretty good sacrifice fodder, and gets Spectacle going. It is a surprisingly effective one drop!
Pack 1 Pick 13: Plague Wight
Plague Wight image 2.5 This is a solid little two-drop that is pretty hard for your opponent to block effectively in the early game.
Coral Commando image 1.0 This is an unimpressive vanilla creature that you’ll really only run if you’re desperate.
Rubble Reading image 0.5 People play some ambitious mana bases in this format, but even then, this isn’t a great sideboard card.
Pack 1 Pick 14: Noxious Groodion
Rumbling Ruin image 3.5 If you’re in Gruul, this 6-mana 6/6 can often come down and turn off a number of blockers, which will often allow your creatures who already in play to get in for some significant damage. It won’t always get to do its thing, but this has a floor of a vanilla 6-mana 6/6 and a very impressive ceiling.
Noxious Groodion image 2.0 This trades with everything as most death touchers do. Costing three mana does mean it is harder to trade up with it consistently, but it can still trade with everything.
Pack 1 Pick 15: Prowling Caracal
Prowling Caracal image 1.5 This is a vanilla 2-mana 3/1. If you’re in an aggro deck and don’t have enough two drops, you’ll probably play it.
Pack 2 Pick 1: Depose
Cindervines image 0.5 This is a decent sideboard card. You’re really only going to want to bring it in against decks with artifacts and enchantments worth targeting, though. The other ability isn’t enough on its own.
Depose image 3.5 The Deploy side here is where most of the value is – and boy, it end sup being a lot of value! At worst, you get two 1/1 flyers and gain 2 life – and that’s about a 2.5, and this often ends up gaining you significantly more life. Having the Depose option is nice too, as sometimes you can use it to find a way to get through for lethal.
Cult Guildmage image 3.5 The second ability is where most of the value is on this one, since pinging your opponent for only a single Red is a pretty darn good deal, and also sets up all of your Spectacle. Its nice you can disrupt your opponent’s hand in the late game too.
Tower Defense image 0.0 This is mostly just a really fancy version of Fog, something that is just never worth it in Limited. You don’t want to go down a card just to buy yourself a single turn in this format.
Thirsting Shade image 1.5 This thing demands a ton of mana to be relevant, and it isn’t usually going to be worth it. It can pump itself, but on most boards it just isn’t able to attack.
Debtors' Transport image 2.0 While Afterlife 2 is pretty nice, the cost and base stats of this are bad enough that it isn’t that exciting. It can definitely trade and leave some bodies behind, which is fine, but it isn’t a very impressive card.
Prowling Caracal image 1.5 This is a vanilla 2-mana 3/1. If you’re in an aggro deck and don’t have enough two drops, you’ll probably play it.
Senate Griffin image 2.5 This is a nice little flyer. The stats are fine, and Scrying is always a good way to smooth out your draws.
Gruul Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Open the Gates image 2.5 This can be some pretty nice fixing if you’re in the market for that, and you often are in this format because the mana – and the Gate decks – are so good.
Syndicate Messenger image 2.5 This has almost-passable stats, so adding Afterlife 1 to the card is pretty nice! Like a lot of them, it can trade and then leave behind a token, which feels pretty good.
Get the Point image 3.5 This is great removal, kills everything no questions asked, and increases the chance that the card you’re going to draw will be what you want!
Quench image 1.5 This can feel okay in the early game, but because your opponent is more likely to have mana around in the later part of the game, it has a pretty steep drop off.
Simic Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Orzhov Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 2 Pick 2: Tome of the Guildpact
Tome of the Guildpact image 3.5 This can be really powerful. Obviously you need a decent number of multicolored cards, but that’s very doable in the format. This will net you a ton of cards in most decks. The main downside is the fact that you have to play this clunky 5-mana artifact and hope that you get to untap and start getting those cards.
Gyre Engineer image 3.0 This is incredibly fragile, and you’ll find it often dies to a very cheap removal spell before you untap with it. But if you do untap, you get a pretty nice mana boost.
Regenesis image 1.5 Getting two things back from your graveyard can be nice, but 5 mana is a big cost to pay, even at Instant speed.
Angelic Exaltation image 1.0 This costs a lot of mana for something that doesn’t add a body to the board, and while it does effect it as soon you attack alone with something, it requires further set up beyond that to really be relevant.
Rakdos Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Bladebrand image 2.5 This lets any creature trade with anything, while drawing you a card, so you don’t 2-for-1 yourself in the end. Of course, you’re still only 1-for-1ing, and using a kind of risky card. If your opponent destroys the creature you target it can be especially devastating.
Mammoth Spider image 2.0 This is a nice defensive creature if you’re in the market for one, and Green really does have a hard time with Flyers in this set, so having one of these around isn’t too bad.
Sagittars' Volley image 0.5 This is a solid sideboard card, but there aren’t really enough flyers to justify sticking this in your main deck.
Expose to Daylight image 0.5 This is mostly a sideboard card in this format. There just aren’t quite enough targets.
Skewer the Critics image 4.0 This is often just one Red mana for a Sorcery-speed Lightning Bolt, and that’s amazing. Even if you could only ever pay 3 for this card, it would be premium removal, so the upside of only costing one Red really makes it an excellent card, and one of the best Commons in the set.
Grasping Thrull image 3.5 This is a really great common for Orzhov decks. It is sort of a mini-Siege Rhino with Flying. And yeah, obviously it isn’t quite that good, but it is a very real flyer that immediately generates a 4-point life swing, and it turns out that’s a big deal.
Gateway Plaza image 2.5 This comes with the “Gate” type, which means you’ll want it in many decks, and it also does a decent job of fixing.
Tenth District Veteran image 1.5 This has mediocre stats and a pretty mediocre ability. Untapping one of your other creatures just doesn’t make a huge difference most of the time.
Gruul Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 2 Pick 3: Pitiless Pontiff
Macabre Mockery image 1.5 Most cards that are just temporary reanimation spells don’t tend to be very good, and that’s pretty much the case here. Sure, you can get something back and get a big swing in sometimes, but what you get often isn’t worth the card you spend.
Pitiless Pontiff image 4.0 This thing is a nightmare to play against if you don’t have any Flyers. It will kill virtually anything it tangles with in combat. Deathtouch and indestructible is a nasty combination. And yeah, you do have to give up a creature to make that happen, but Orzhov has plenty of expendable creatures thanks to Afterlife.
Bolrac-Clan Crusher image 2.5 Turning counters into damage is nice, but this card’s clunky stats aren’t, and you’ll often find yourself in situations where just keeping your counters around is better!
Scuttlegator image 1.5 This isn’t very good. A 6-mana 6/6 with Defender can block pretty well, but you need your six drop to do more than that! It can eventually adapt into a huge creature that can attack, but it still feels too clunky most of the time.
Rubblebelt Recluse image 2.0 This is pretty big for the cost. And…well, yeah that’s pretty much all it has going for it! But that kind of size is a decent thing to have around in some decks.
Wrecking Beast image 2.0 This is some fine top-curve to have in both Simic and Gruul decks. It hits hard whichever option you choose.
Plague Wight image 2.5 This is a solid little two-drop that is pretty hard for your opponent to block effectively in the early game.
Skewer the Critics image 4.0 This is often just one Red mana for a Sorcery-speed Lightning Bolt, and that’s amazing. Even if you could only ever pay 3 for this card, it would be premium removal, so the upside of only costing one Red really makes it an excellent card, and one of the best Commons in the set.
Azorius Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Summary Judgment image 2.5 Its conditional, but its also pretty efficient. Its more efficient if you use it during your main phase, but if you can kill a creature before it hits you with the 3 damage, that’s obviously a little bit better.
Sagittars' Volley image 0.5 This is a solid sideboard card, but there aren’t really enough flyers to justify sticking this in your main deck.
Dead Revels image 2.5 As usual, this type of card is something you want one of most of the time in Black. Returning two things to your hand late is a good way to keep the gas going, and because you can get Spectacle going on this, you’ll sometimes even be able to cast the things you bring back right away!
Rakdos Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 2 Pick 4: Faerie Duelist
Resolute Watchdog image 2.0 This can come down and block reasonably well in the early game, and being able to make a better creature indestructible is decent upside.
Rhythm of the Wild image 2.5 This is powerful if you drop it on turn three, but significantly less impressive when you get it in the late game. It doe still upgrade all future creatures you draw, but when you are drawing one card a turn and not hitting creatures, it can be pretty rough.
Arrester's Zeal image 1.5 This is a decent trick that has the upside of letting you do lethal in the air sometimes.
Thirsting Shade image 1.5 This thing demands a ton of mana to be relevant, and it isn’t usually going to be worth it. It can pump itself, but on most boards it just isn’t able to attack.
Bladebrand image 2.5 This lets any creature trade with anything, while drawing you a card, so you don’t 2-for-1 yourself in the end. Of course, you’re still only 1-for-1ing, and using a kind of risky card. If your opponent destroys the creature you target it can be especially devastating.
Rubble Slinger image 2.0 If you don’t have any good ways to block flyers – this can certainly do it, though it isn’t exactly efficient.
Watchful Giant image 1.0 This doesn’t really give you enough for the mana you spend on it. The two bodies are nice I guess, but neither of them is that significant.
Applied Biomancy image 2.5 This can generate some serious blowouts on occasions when both options are useful, and on most boards it is at least capable of doing something for you.
Territorial Boar image 3.0 This ends up attacking as a 3/3 with Vigilance pretty often, and while that’s not the kind of size that is relevant all game long, it end sup being able to attack effectively for quite a while in most decks.
Spear Spewer image 1.5 The idea here is that this can set up your cards that have Spectacle. And, it can do that for sure, but its body is otherwise a pretty big liability, and the Rakdos decks don’t have that hard of a time of making sure Spectacle is online anyway. If your deck is really leading hard into the mechanic, Spear Spewer is a worthy inclusion, but it is by no means a necessity for those types of decks.
Faerie Duelist image 3.0 This is a big overperformer. It can really alter combat in your favor, both during your turn and your opponents, while adding a pretty decent body to the board. It’s a great common.
Orzhov Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 2 Pick 5: Final Payment
Dovin's Acuity image 3.5 This is a very real card in the format, and it generates some insane value that really makes Azorius control decks into monsters in the late game. Sure, casting your Instants like they are Sorceries isn’t always ideal, but the cards and life you get from this really pay you off for going for the significantly clunkier play. The format is slow enough that Dovin’s Acuity is a very real card that will win you the game in the long run.
Coral Commando image 1.0 This is an unimpressive vanilla creature that you’ll really only run if you’re desperate.
Rubblebelt Runner image 2.5 This has decent stats and evasion that actually comes up sometimes.
Growth Spiral image 2.0 This is nice in Limited, but not the busted thing it is in constructed. You won’t always be able to take advantage of the extra land effect after the early game, but that still means it’s a cantrip, which isn’t too shabby.
Rakdos Roustabout image 2.0 The upside this card has doesn’t really do enough to overcome the bad stat-line. It does help you get Spectacle going, but so does just attacking with a more efficient creature!
Final Payment image 3.0 Two mana to destroy a creature is a great rate, and I love the options that you get here. Paying 5 life is often the preferable one, but you can also find ways to sacrifice stuff for value. It is difficult to run more than one of these, because you can’t be paying 5 life multiple times in most games, but the first copy is great.
Gateway Plaza image 2.5 This comes with the “Gate” type, which means you’ll want it in many decks, and it also does a decent job of fixing.
Faerie Duelist image 3.0 This is a big overperformer. It can really alter combat in your favor, both during your turn and your opponents, while adding a pretty decent body to the board. It’s a great common.
Grotesque Demise image 3.5 This efficiently deals with a whole lot of creatures in the format, and with many of them, you even get to trade up.
Sphinx's Insight image 2.5 Both options on this have their place. Sometimes you want to cast it during your opponents turn so that you can untap and play the new things you drew, but sometimes that additional life is great.
Simic Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 2 Pick 6: Faerie Duelist
Tower Defense image 0.0 This is mostly just a really fancy version of Fog, something that is just never worth it in Limited. You don’t want to go down a card just to buy yourself a single turn in this format.
Faerie Duelist image 3.0 This is a big overperformer. It can really alter combat in your favor, both during your turn and your opponents, while adding a pretty decent body to the board. It’s a great common.
Undercity's Embrace image 1.5 Edict effects are always pretty underwhelming in Limited, since board states tend to be pretty clogged up, especially in this format. If you really need removal, and have a decent number of creatures with 4 or more power, it is a decent card, but it is basically never more than that.
Savage Smash image 3.5 The stats boost plus the Fight is massive, especially in situations where you can use this to kill a blocker and swing the thing you fought with. As always with Fight spells, you need to be a little bit cautious about when you cast it, since your opponent doing something in response often wrecks you.
Arrester's Zeal image 1.5 This is a decent trick that has the upside of letting you do lethal in the air sometimes.
Rampaging Rendhorn image 2.5 This is a solid 5-drop with two pretty decent options. You know, like most Riot creatures.
Catacomb Crocodile image 1.0 If you need a defensive vanilla creature…I guess you can have this card, but I’m not sure why you would ever need one of those.
Bladebrand image 2.5 This lets any creature trade with anything, while drawing you a card, so you don’t 2-for-1 yourself in the end. Of course, you’re still only 1-for-1ing, and using a kind of risky card. If your opponent destroys the creature you target it can be especially devastating.
Rubble Slinger image 2.0 If you don’t have any good ways to block flyers – this can certainly do it, though it isn’t exactly efficient.
Simic Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 2 Pick 7: Tenth District Veteran
Plaza of Harmony image 0.0 // 2.5 If your deck has enough gates in it, this is a pretty reasonable land, as the 3 life is really helpful. But you probably need 7+ gates before you should consider playing it.
Cavalcade of Calamity image 0.0 This card is very sweet, but it is very difficult to consistently build around it in Limited. You just won’t have enough small creatures.
Axebane Beast image 1.5 This has sort of passable stats. If you need a reasonably efficient medium-sized body, this is it.
Clear the Mind image 0.0 // 2.5 This card would be an F in most formats, but this format actually has real enough control decks that you can end up in a deck where Clear the Mind is sort of your win condition, since it keeps you from milling yourself out, while your opponent won’t be so lucky. You do generally need at least two of them to keep things going, but you’d be surprised how real of a strategy it is in this format.
Tenth District Veteran image 1.5 This has mediocre stats and a pretty mediocre ability. Untapping one of your other creatures just doesn’t make a huge difference most of the time.
Feral Maaka image 1.0 If you need a two drop well..that’s what this is, but you’ll only be playing this in an emergency.
Prying Eyes image 1.5 This is way overcosted for a card that only nets you two cards, but it does dig you pretty deep, and if your deck is controlling enough, you can run a copy.
Rakdos Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Gruul Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 2 Pick 8: Consign to the Pit
Lavinia, Azorius Renegade image 1.0 In Limited, this is mostly a hard-to-cast 2/2, and you don’t really need that.
Scrabbling Claws image 0.5 This is mostly a sideboard card to bring in against graveyard decks, and there aren’t really that many of those in this format anyway.
Gravel-Hide Goblin image 2.5 This has decent starting stats and an ability that can allow it to attack pretty much all game long, even if the ability is a little costly.
Gift of Strength image 1.5 This trick is always fine. It allows a creature to win combat, but like all tricks it is a bit too situational.
Watchful Giant image 1.0 This doesn’t really give you enough for the mana you spend on it. The two bodies are nice I guess, but neither of them is that significant.
Scuttlegator image 1.5 This isn’t very good. A 6-mana 6/6 with Defender can block pretty well, but you need your six drop to do more than that! It can eventually adapt into a huge creature that can attack, but it still feels too clunky most of the time.
Rubblebelt Runner image 2.5 This has decent stats and evasion that actually comes up sometimes.
Consign to the Pit image 2.5 Its expensive, but it does answer everything, and the two damage you get out of it is decent upside.
Pack 2 Pick 9: Debtors' Transport
Cindervines image 0.5 This is a decent sideboard card. You’re really only going to want to bring it in against decks with artifacts and enchantments worth targeting, though. The other ability isn’t enough on its own.
Tower Defense image 0.0 This is mostly just a really fancy version of Fog, something that is just never worth it in Limited. You don’t want to go down a card just to buy yourself a single turn in this format.
Thirsting Shade image 1.5 This thing demands a ton of mana to be relevant, and it isn’t usually going to be worth it. It can pump itself, but on most boards it just isn’t able to attack.
Debtors' Transport image 2.0 While Afterlife 2 is pretty nice, the cost and base stats of this are bad enough that it isn’t that exciting. It can definitely trade and leave some bodies behind, which is fine, but it isn’t a very impressive card.
Prowling Caracal image 1.5 This is a vanilla 2-mana 3/1. If you’re in an aggro deck and don’t have enough two drops, you’ll probably play it.
Gruul Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Simic Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Pack 2 Pick 10: Grasping Thrull
Rakdos Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Sagittars' Volley image 0.5 This is a solid sideboard card, but there aren’t really enough flyers to justify sticking this in your main deck.
Grasping Thrull image 3.5 This is a really great common for Orzhov decks. It is sort of a mini-Siege Rhino with Flying. And yeah, obviously it isn’t quite that good, but it is a very real flyer that immediately generates a 4-point life swing, and it turns out that’s a big deal.
Gateway Plaza image 2.5 This comes with the “Gate” type, which means you’ll want it in many decks, and it also does a decent job of fixing.
Tenth District Veteran image 1.5 This has mediocre stats and a pretty mediocre ability. Untapping one of your other creatures just doesn’t make a huge difference most of the time.
Gruul Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 2 Pick 11: Plague Wight
Bolrac-Clan Crusher image 2.5 Turning counters into damage is nice, but this card’s clunky stats aren’t, and you’ll often find yourself in situations where just keeping your counters around is better!
Scuttlegator image 1.5 This isn’t very good. A 6-mana 6/6 with Defender can block pretty well, but you need your six drop to do more than that! It can eventually adapt into a huge creature that can attack, but it still feels too clunky most of the time.
Plague Wight image 2.5 This is a solid little two-drop that is pretty hard for your opponent to block effectively in the early game.
Sagittars' Volley image 0.5 This is a solid sideboard card, but there aren’t really enough flyers to justify sticking this in your main deck.
Rakdos Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 2 Pick 12: Arrester's Zeal
Arrester's Zeal image 1.5 This is a decent trick that has the upside of letting you do lethal in the air sometimes.
Thirsting Shade image 1.5 This thing demands a ton of mana to be relevant, and it isn’t usually going to be worth it. It can pump itself, but on most boards it just isn’t able to attack.
Rubble Slinger image 2.0 If you don’t have any good ways to block flyers – this can certainly do it, though it isn’t exactly efficient.
Watchful Giant image 1.0 This doesn’t really give you enough for the mana you spend on it. The two bodies are nice I guess, but neither of them is that significant.
Pack 2 Pick 13: Gateway Plaza
Coral Commando image 1.0 This is an unimpressive vanilla creature that you’ll really only run if you’re desperate.
Rubblebelt Runner image 2.5 This has decent stats and evasion that actually comes up sometimes.
Gateway Plaza image 2.5 This comes with the “Gate” type, which means you’ll want it in many decks, and it also does a decent job of fixing.
Pack 2 Pick 14: Undercity's Embrace
Undercity's Embrace image 1.5 Edict effects are always pretty underwhelming in Limited, since board states tend to be pretty clogged up, especially in this format. If you really need removal, and have a decent number of creatures with 4 or more power, it is a decent card, but it is basically never more than that.
Catacomb Crocodile image 1.0 If you need a defensive vanilla creature…I guess you can have this card, but I’m not sure why you would ever need one of those.
Pack 2 Pick 15: Feral Maaka
Feral Maaka image 1.0 If you need a two drop well..that’s what this is, but you’ll only be playing this in an emergency.
Pack 3 Pick 1: Sphinx of Foresight
Sphinx of Foresight image 4.5 This has great stats, and improves the quality of your draws. Getting it in your opening hand really makes it insane, since it can let you Scry before the game even begins, and that’s something that can give you a very really early game advantage.
Basilica Bell-Haunt image 3.5 This whole cycle is pretty powerful, and that’s certainly the case here! This gives you a solid body, usually nets you a 2-for-1, and even gives you some life! The one downside is the mana cost, which even in an Orzhov deck won’t always be easy to produce. Still, you’ll usually be able to hit a card when it ETBs.
Gate Colossus image 4.0 This thing is an absolute monster in this format. Obviously you need some gates, but you can get those easily enough, and when you do, it end sup being a heavily discounted 8/8 that can’t be chump blocked by little guys. And then, if your opponent does deal with it, you will ultimately get it back later in the game and star the whole thing over. This is worth taking very highly, and it really feels like an absolute bomb in the right deck.
Carnival image 2.5 There are enough X/1s in the format that Carnival can do some stuff. Carnage can be pretty nice when your opponent has the cards to hit with it.
Senate Courier image 2.0 This has decent stats, and the ability to gain vigilance actually comes up in the later part of games.
Azorius Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Sagittars' Volley image 0.5 This is a solid sideboard card, but there aren’t really enough flyers to justify sticking this in your main deck.
Concordia Pegasus image 1.5 This is a French Vanilla flyer with decent stats. Most of the time you hope you don’t play it, but it isn’t a disaster if you do.
Bladebrand image 2.5 This lets any creature trade with anything, while drawing you a card, so you don’t 2-for-1 yourself in the end. Of course, you’re still only 1-for-1ing, and using a kind of risky card. If your opponent destroys the creature you target it can be especially devastating.
Plague Wight image 2.5 This is a solid little two-drop that is pretty hard for your opponent to block effectively in the early game.
Gruul Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Coral Commando image 1.0 This is an unimpressive vanilla creature that you’ll really only run if you’re desperate.
Senate Griffin image 2.5 This is a nice little flyer. The stats are fine, and Scrying is always a good way to smooth out your draws.
Rakdos Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Azorius Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 3 Pick 2: Final Payment
Benthic Biomancer image 2.5 At worst, this is a 3-mana 2/2 that lets you loot. That’s not an amazing card, but that’s sort of the baseline here. If you find other ways to put counters on it, you can keep on looting!
Silhana Wayfinder image 2.0 This just give you some card selection. And, that’s nice – but it is something people tend to overrate. The difference between drawing a card and putting one on top of your library is massive. This is a fine card, but don’t overrate it.
Smelt-Ward Ignus image 1.5 This has mediocre stats and an ability that is just way too costly and narrow. But, it isn’t a complete disaster if you have to play it.
Cavalcade of Calamity image 0.0 This card is very sweet, but it is very difficult to consistently build around it in Limited. You just won’t have enough small creatures.
Gravel-Hide Goblin image 2.5 This has decent starting stats and an ability that can allow it to attack pretty much all game long, even if the ability is a little costly.
Thirsting Shade image 1.5 This thing demands a ton of mana to be relevant, and it isn’t usually going to be worth it. It can pump itself, but on most boards it just isn’t able to attack.
Gruul Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Concordia Pegasus image 1.5 This is a French Vanilla flyer with decent stats. Most of the time you hope you don’t play it, but it isn’t a disaster if you do.
Gateway Plaza image 2.5 This comes with the “Gate” type, which means you’ll want it in many decks, and it also does a decent job of fixing.
Haazda Officer image 2.0 The ETB ability doesn’t always do something here, but its still a 3-mana 3/3 with upside, and the times where the ability does cause your opponent to have problems are pretty nice. 10 – Haazda Officer – 2.0 This adds a reasonable body to the board while buffing a creature, theoretically allowing you to attack more effectively the turn it comes down. That said, +1/+1 isn’t always enough to make that happen.
Faerie Duelist image 3.0 This is a big overperformer. It can really alter combat in your favor, both during your turn and your opponents, while adding a pretty decent body to the board. It’s a great common.
Final Payment image 3.0 Two mana to destroy a creature is a great rate, and I love the options that you get here. Paying 5 life is often the preferable one, but you can also find ways to sacrifice stuff for value. It is difficult to run more than one of these, because you can’t be paying 5 life multiple times in most games, but the first copy is great.
Dead Revels image 2.5 As usual, this type of card is something you want one of most of the time in Black. Returning two things to your hand late is a good way to keep the gas going, and because you can get Spectacle going on this, you’ll sometimes even be able to cast the things you bring back right away!
Orzhov Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 3 Pick 3: Ill-Gotten Inheritance
Enraged Ceratok image 3.5 This has really nice stats and is surprisingly difficult to block easily.
Rhythm of the Wild image 2.5 This is powerful if you drop it on turn three, but significantly less impressive when you get it in the late game. It doe still upgrade all future creatures you draw, but when you are drawing one card a turn and not hitting creatures, it can be pretty rough.
Clan Guildmage image 3.0 This guildmage might be the most underwhelming of the group, but its still pretty good! One problem is that both of the abilities kind of do the same thing, so it isn’t as flexible as the others. Turning off a blocker can really allow you to get in for huge damage, and animating a land for a turn can do that too.
Savage Smash image 3.5 The stats boost plus the Fight is massive, especially in situations where you can use this to kill a blocker and swing the thing you fought with. As always with Fight spells, you need to be a little bit cautious about when you cast it, since your opponent doing something in response often wrecks you.
Justiciar's Portal image 0.5 As usual, this kind of card is a little too situational to be worth using. Blinking just doesn’t do enough often enough, even when you add first strike to the mix.
Shimmer of Possibility image 1.5 If you’re in the spell deck, this can be worth playing, otherwise casting this isn’t very impactful.
Deface image 0.5 There aren’t enough artifacts or defenders in this format for this to be main deck material.
Ill-Gotten Inheritance image 2.5 This card is a major overperformer, and another card that can really help control decks do their thing in this format. It looks like an Enchantment that doesn’t do enough up front, but the life drain it provides really makes it hard for your opponent to take you down. Basically, it will help you stabilize, and then gradually turn into your win condition in many games. Now, sometimes not adding to the board can be a real reliability against aggro decks, but this still does good work most of the time.
Rubblebelt Recluse image 2.0 This is pretty big for the cost. And…well, yeah that’s pretty much all it has going for it! But that kind of size is a decent thing to have around in some decks.
Sage's Row Savant image 1.5 This has alright stats and an alright ETB ability, but you’re usually hoping you have a different two drop.
Sylvan Brushstrider image 2.0 This is an alright 3-drop. The stats are pretty mediocre, but the 2 life helps off-set that a little bit.
Footlight Fiend image 2.0 This can sometimes generate a 2-for-1, and at the very least it really makes life difficult for any opponent that has an X/1 in play. It is also pretty good sacrifice fodder, and gets Spectacle going. It is a surprisingly effective one drop!
Azorius Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 3 Pick 4: Pitiless Pontiff
Incubation image 2.0 This isn’t as impressive as the rest of this cycle. Both sides can be nice in certain situations, but even when you have both options, neither ends up feeling too great a big chunk of the time. Paying one to get a bit of card selection isn’t great, and neither is paying 3 to kill something and give its controller a 3/3. This is certainly playable, but not remotely impressive.
Macabre Mockery image 1.5 Most cards that are just temporary reanimation spells don’t tend to be very good, and that’s pretty much the case here. Sure, you can get something back and get a big swing in sometimes, but what you get often isn’t worth the card you spend.
Pitiless Pontiff image 4.0 This thing is a nightmare to play against if you don’t have any Flyers. It will kill virtually anything it tangles with in combat. Deathtouch and indestructible is a nasty combination. And yeah, you do have to give up a creature to make that happen, but Orzhov has plenty of expendable creatures thanks to Afterlife.
Justiciar's Portal image 0.5 As usual, this kind of card is a little too situational to be worth using. Blinking just doesn’t do enough often enough, even when you add first strike to the mix.
Rakdos Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Bladebrand image 2.5 This lets any creature trade with anything, while drawing you a card, so you don’t 2-for-1 yourself in the end. Of course, you’re still only 1-for-1ing, and using a kind of risky card. If your opponent destroys the creature you target it can be especially devastating.
Axebane Beast image 1.5 This has sort of passable stats. If you need a reasonably efficient medium-sized body, this is it.
Gateway Plaza image 2.5 This comes with the “Gate” type, which means you’ll want it in many decks, and it also does a decent job of fixing.
Frenzied Arynx image 3.5 Whichever option you choose here, you end up with a very effective creature. I think that the +1/+1 counter option is typically the one you choose, but sometimes getting it with this right away is well worth it. The ability makes sure that by the late game, this is still a formidable attacker.
Stony Strength image 1.5 This kind of trick is almost never worth it. That’s even true in a set with some +1/+1 counter stuff going on. The stats boost isn’t enough, even if it is permanent.
Rampaging Rendhorn image 2.5 This is a solid 5-drop with two pretty decent options. You know, like most Riot creatures.
Azorius Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 3 Pick 5: Mortify
Mortify image 4.0 This is obviously great, as it can very efficiently destroy two different permanent types.
Clamor Shaman image 3.5 This thing is incredible if you’re an aggro deck. As always, making something unable to block is a big deal, and can often really open the floodgates on your opponent. Because of Riot, the Shaman can swing right away, and really alter the race. If she can’t attack your opponent does get a window to kill her, but making her a 2/2 and swinging on the next turn still feels pretty good.
Orzhov Racketeers image 2.5 This has some bad starting stats for the cost, but it does have some nice stuff going on. On a base level, you can simply trade this for something and enjoy your 1/1 tokens. But you’ll find yourself in a situation sometimes where your opponent just has to take this, because they don’t really want to give you the flyers, and when they do take it, they have to lose a card, which is pretty nice.
Scuttlegator image 1.5 This isn’t very good. A 6-mana 6/6 with Defender can block pretty well, but you need your six drop to do more than that! It can eventually adapt into a huge creature that can attack, but it still feels too clunky most of the time.
Simic Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Act of Treason image 1.0 // 3.0 As usually, if you’re in a deck with enough Sacrifice outlets, this is really sweet. Stealing an opposing creature, attacking them with it, and then sacrificing it is one of the sweetest feelings there is! But you are going to need to have a few different cards that allow you to cheaply sacrifice a creatures to make it worth it, and it isn’t something you really want in any other deck.
Civic Stalwart image 2.5 A Hill Giant that pumps your whole board is always pretty decent, as it allows you to add to the board and also significantly improve your attacks.
Vizkopa Vampire image 2.0 This often just ends up trading for something and gaining you some life, which is fine, but not exactly exciting either.
Thirsting Shade image 1.5 This thing demands a ton of mana to be relevant, and it isn’t usually going to be worth it. It can pump itself, but on most boards it just isn’t able to attack.
Rubble Reading image 0.5 People play some ambitious mana bases in this format, but even then, this isn’t a great sideboard card.
Noxious Groodion image 2.0 This trades with everything as most death touchers do. Costing three mana does mean it is harder to trade up with it consistently, but it can still trade with everything.
Pack 3 Pick 6: Imperious Oligarch
Light Up the Stage image 3.5 This jus tends up feeling like a one mana Divination a huge chunk of the time, and even casting it for three isn’t a disaster. The card advantage it grants you is just great.
Undercity Scavenger image 2.0 This is a decent sacrifice outlet, as you end up with a 4-mana 5/5 that improves your next couple of draws. It isn’t that impressive, though, and you often won’t really feel like making the sacrifice is worth it.
Watchful Giant image 1.0 This doesn’t really give you enough for the mana you spend on it. The two bodies are nice I guess, but neither of them is that significant.
Clear the Mind image 0.0 // 2.5 This card would be an F in most formats, but this format actually has real enough control decks that you can end up in a deck where Clear the Mind is sort of your win condition, since it keeps you from milling yourself out, while your opponent won’t be so lucky. You do generally need at least two of them to keep things going, but you’d be surprised how real of a strategy it is in this format.
Imperious Oligarch image 3.5 This has nice base stats and comes with the very nice Afterlife mechanic. Two mana for a 2/1 with Vigilance and a 1/1 Flyer is a pretty great deal, even if you aren’t getting them both at the same time.
Thirsting Shade image 1.5 This thing demands a ton of mana to be relevant, and it isn’t usually going to be worth it. It can pump itself, but on most boards it just isn’t able to attack.
Burn Bright image 1.0 // 2.0 If you’re really going wide, this isn’t a terrible inclusion, but only the most aggressive decks are going to be interested in this.
Faerie Duelist image 3.0 This is a big overperformer. It can really alter combat in your favor, both during your turn and your opponents, while adding a pretty decent body to the board. It’s a great common.
Storm Strike image 1.5 This is a decent trick if you’re in the market. +1/+0 and First Strike always plays pretty well in terms of helping a creature win combat, and its nice to have Scry 1 tacked on.
Azorius Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 3 Pick 7: Lawmage's Binding
Depose image 3.5 The Deploy side here is where most of the value is – and boy, it end sup being a lot of value! At worst, you get two 1/1 flyers and gain 2 life – and that’s about a 2.5, and this often ends up gaining you significantly more life. Having the Depose option is nice too, as sometimes you can use it to find a way to get through for lethal.
Skitter Eel image 2.0 You’ll play this in decks that can really take advantage of +1/+1 counter synergy, but it isn’t that great in other decks, where its just inefficient – both before and after adapting.
Arrester's Admonition image 3.0 Casting this with the Addendum feels pretty good, as you end up breaking even on cards and getting some pretty good tempo, and you can of course cast it without the Addendum in a pinch – like if your opponent is trying to use a combat trick or something.
Saruli Caretaker image 1.5 The cost of tapping both the Caretaker and another creature for mana ends up being pretty real, but if you are interested in fixing and ramp, this can certainly do it.
Knight of Sorrows image 1.5 Afterlife is always nice, but this has such inefficient stats when it comes down that it still feels incredibly clunky.
Lawmage's Binding image 4.0 This is an excellent Common that lets you completely shut down just about any creature in the format, and Flash means you can do it at instant speed!
Consign to the Pit image 2.5 Its expensive, but it does answer everything, and the two damage you get out of it is decent upside.
Spear Spewer image 1.5 The idea here is that this can set up your cards that have Spectacle. And, it can do that for sure, but its body is otherwise a pretty big liability, and the Rakdos decks don’t have that hard of a time of making sure Spectacle is online anyway. If your deck is really leading hard into the mechanic, Spear Spewer is a worthy inclusion, but it is by no means a necessity for those types of decks.
Axebane Beast image 1.5 This has sort of passable stats. If you need a reasonably efficient medium-sized body, this is it.
Pack 3 Pick 8: Azorius Knight-Arbiter
Spirit of the Spires image 2.5 This has decent stats and okay upside, especially if your deck has a decent number of fliers.
Gateway Plaza image 2.5 This comes with the “Gate” type, which means you’ll want it in many decks, and it also does a decent job of fixing.
Azorius Knight-Arbiter image 2.5 This isn’t a bad win condition for Azorius control decks in this format. It is an excellent blocker that can give you inevitability while chipping away at the opponent’s life total.
Axebane Beast image 1.5 This has sort of passable stats. If you need a reasonably efficient medium-sized body, this is it.
Twilight Panther image 2.5 If you’re in Black/White, this plays like most one mana death touchers. It can trade for anything, and that’s always nice.
Rubblebelt Runner image 2.5 This has decent stats and evasion that actually comes up sometimes.
Concordia Pegasus image 1.5 This is a French Vanilla flyer with decent stats. Most of the time you hope you don’t play it, but it isn’t a disaster if you do.
Rakdos Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Pack 3 Pick 9: Azorius Locket
Azorius Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Sagittars' Volley image 0.5 This is a solid sideboard card, but there aren’t really enough flyers to justify sticking this in your main deck.
Concordia Pegasus image 1.5 This is a French Vanilla flyer with decent stats. Most of the time you hope you don’t play it, but it isn’t a disaster if you do.
Bladebrand image 2.5 This lets any creature trade with anything, while drawing you a card, so you don’t 2-for-1 yourself in the end. Of course, you’re still only 1-for-1ing, and using a kind of risky card. If your opponent destroys the creature you target it can be especially devastating.
Gruul Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Coral Commando image 1.0 This is an unimpressive vanilla creature that you’ll really only run if you’re desperate.
Rakdos Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Pack 3 Pick 10: Faerie Duelist
Gravel-Hide Goblin image 2.5 This has decent starting stats and an ability that can allow it to attack pretty much all game long, even if the ability is a little costly.
Thirsting Shade image 1.5 This thing demands a ton of mana to be relevant, and it isn’t usually going to be worth it. It can pump itself, but on most boards it just isn’t able to attack.
Gruul Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Gateway Plaza image 2.5 This comes with the “Gate” type, which means you’ll want it in many decks, and it also does a decent job of fixing.
Haazda Officer image 2.0 The ETB ability doesn’t always do something here, but its still a 3-mana 3/3 with upside, and the times where the ability does cause your opponent to have problems are pretty nice. 10 – Haazda Officer – 2.0 This adds a reasonable body to the board while buffing a creature, theoretically allowing you to attack more effectively the turn it comes down. That said, +1/+1 isn’t always enough to make that happen.
Faerie Duelist image 3.0 This is a big overperformer. It can really alter combat in your favor, both during your turn and your opponents, while adding a pretty decent body to the board. It’s a great common.
Pack 3 Pick 11: Shimmer of Possibility
Rhythm of the Wild image 2.5 This is powerful if you drop it on turn three, but significantly less impressive when you get it in the late game. It doe still upgrade all future creatures you draw, but when you are drawing one card a turn and not hitting creatures, it can be pretty rough.
Justiciar's Portal image 0.5 As usual, this kind of card is a little too situational to be worth using. Blinking just doesn’t do enough often enough, even when you add first strike to the mix.
Shimmer of Possibility image 1.5 If you’re in the spell deck, this can be worth playing, otherwise casting this isn’t very impactful.
Deface image 0.5 There aren’t enough artifacts or defenders in this format for this to be main deck material.
Sylvan Brushstrider image 2.0 This is an alright 3-drop. The stats are pretty mediocre, but the 2 life helps off-set that a little bit.
Pack 3 Pick 12: Justiciar's Portal
Justiciar's Portal image 0.5 As usual, this kind of card is a little too situational to be worth using. Blinking just doesn’t do enough often enough, even when you add first strike to the mix.
Rakdos Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Bladebrand image 2.5 This lets any creature trade with anything, while drawing you a card, so you don’t 2-for-1 yourself in the end. Of course, you’re still only 1-for-1ing, and using a kind of risky card. If your opponent destroys the creature you target it can be especially devastating.
Stony Strength image 1.5 This kind of trick is almost never worth it. That’s even true in a set with some +1/+1 counter stuff going on. The stats boost isn’t enough, even if it is permanent.
Pack 3 Pick 13: Thirsting Shade
Act of Treason image 1.0 // 3.0 As usually, if you’re in a deck with enough Sacrifice outlets, this is really sweet. Stealing an opposing creature, attacking them with it, and then sacrificing it is one of the sweetest feelings there is! But you are going to need to have a few different cards that allow you to cheaply sacrifice a creatures to make it worth it, and it isn’t something you really want in any other deck.
Civic Stalwart image 2.5 A Hill Giant that pumps your whole board is always pretty decent, as it allows you to add to the board and also significantly improve your attacks.
Thirsting Shade image 1.5 This thing demands a ton of mana to be relevant, and it isn’t usually going to be worth it. It can pump itself, but on most boards it just isn’t able to attack.
Pack 3 Pick 14: Thirsting Shade
Undercity Scavenger image 2.0 This is a decent sacrifice outlet, as you end up with a 4-mana 5/5 that improves your next couple of draws. It isn’t that impressive, though, and you often won’t really feel like making the sacrifice is worth it.
Thirsting Shade image 1.5 This thing demands a ton of mana to be relevant, and it isn’t usually going to be worth it. It can pump itself, but on most boards it just isn’t able to attack.
Pack 3 Pick 15: Saruli Caretaker
Saruli Caretaker image 1.5 The cost of tapping both the Caretaker and another creature for mana ends up being pretty real, but if you are interested in fixing and ramp, this can certainly do it.
Draft Pick Overview