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Quick Draft ONE 25 February 2023

25 February 04:06 - raistlinknight 7 Wins - 2 Losses
Maindeck
Creature (16)
1 Flensing Raptor image
1 Bilious Skulldweller image
4 Pestilent Syphoner image
2 Duelist of Deep Faith image
2 Blightbelly Rat image
1 Jawbone Duelist image
2 Ambulatory Edifice image
1 Sheoldred's Headcleaver image
1 Stinging Hivemaster image
1 Ravenous Necrotitan image
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (9)
1 Charge of the Mites image
1 Zealot's Conviction image
1 Hexgold Hoverwings image
1 Infectious Inquiry image
1 Whisper of the Dross image
1 Offer Immortality image
1 Vraska's Fall image
1 Planar Disruption image
1 Annihilating Glare image
Land (15)
7 Plains image
8 Swamp image
Sideboard
1 Dune Mover image
2 Cruel Grimnarch image
1 Hexgold Halberd image
1 Sheoldred's Edict image
1 Molten Rebuke image
1 Maze Skullbomb image
1 Infectious Inquiry image
1 Vraska's Fall image
1 Offer Immortality image
1 Plated Onslaught image
1 Whisper of the Dross image
1 Vat Emergence image
1 Infectious Bite image
1 Resistance Reunited image
1 Sylvok Battle-Chair image
1 Prosthetic Injector image

Pack 1 Pick 1: Flensing Raptor
Ichormoon Gauntlet image 0.0 Pretty much every set has an unplayable Planeswalker buildaround, and that’s certainly what we have here! This does have an effect that does something with any permanent with counters on it, but it is just a way worse version of Proliferate, so you’re not going to be interested.
Vivisection Evangelist image 4.0 A 5-mana 4/4 with Vigilance isn’t great, but obviously if you can get the ETB going here this is an absolutely incredible card. The upside is huge, the baseline is fine, and I think getting that upside is pretty accessible.
Exuberant Fuseling image 2.0 If you play this on turn one, and can back it up with tricks, Equipment, and the like, it is going to be a real problem. But that’s a lot of stuff you have to do, and if you draw this late it is going to be pretty terrible.
Feed the Infection image 1.5 Lately, Sorcery-speed card draw effects that make you lose life have felt pretty bad, since you spend a significant amount of mana, don’t add to the board, and actually help out your aggressive opponent. However, I do think making your opponent lose 3 as well is a significant upgrade, but it still might be too slow
Goldwarden's Helm image 2.0 You get a three mana 2/3 up front here, which isn’t the worst baseline – especially when you have Equipment and Artifact payoffs in the format. The Boost this offers on its own is certainly very meager, though.
Blightbelly Rat image 3.0 A two mana 2/2 is a passable place to start – so adding both Toxic and a nice death trigger to the mix probably makes this one of the best Black Commons
Terramorphic Expanse image 2.5 This always provides some solid fixing, even for two color decks. It can be particularly appealing when you are splashing one card, as just a single basic land and the Expanse are often enough to make that work.
Chrome Prowler image 1.5 None of what this does feels especially meaningful. It has mediocre stats and an ETB ability that is underwhelming. A 3/2 with Flash can ambush block stuff, but not that effectively – it just ends up being a surprise trade or chump block. The tap effect will be nice at times, but this just doesn’t feel like it has enough of an impact to make the cut consistently.
Thrill of Possibility image 1.5 We’ve seen this before, and it is often the kind of card that spell decks will run, but no one else really wants to play, and even the spell decks would be happier with a lot of other instants and sorceries that draw them cards!
Incisor Glider image 2.5 This looks like a pretty nice common! A two mana ⅓ with Flying is sort of passable to begin with, and this has a really nice Corrupted Trigger, as buffing the whole board can really change combat. It also doesn’t hurt that cheap Flyers go really well with all the Equipment in the set.
Ruthless Predation image 3.5 This is basically Epic Confrontation, which is a great Limited Common. +1/+2 enables a lot more of your creatures to Fight successfully, and you can often knock a blocker out of the way and swing in with your buffed creature.
Dross Skullbomb image 2.5 This one can get a creature back from your graveyard and draw you a card, and once it does that you get a pretty nice 2-for-1
Phyrexian Atlas image 1.5 In most formats, a three mana mana rock just isn’t worth it. You need to add more meaningfully to the board, and using a card to get a small mana boost can be pretty rough. In theory, this does start doing something in the middle part of the game, but I’m still not in on this.
Flensing Raptor image 2.5 You’ll often have another Toxic creature around, and when you do this ETB ability is some serious business. When you don’t, you still get a Wind Drake with Toxic 1. I’m giving this a 2.5
Pack 1 Pick 2: Hexgold Halberd
Hexgold Halberd image 3.5 This looks pretty nice! It is a two mana 2/2 that has First Strike and trample on your turn, and that makes for a pretty good attacker early and a solid presence all game long. That’s sort of the floor here too, because you can move the Halberd to other stuff that can take more advantage of it!
Ichorplate Golem image 4.0 An easy to cast three mana ⅔ isn’t a terrible starting point, and the oil counter upside here feels pretty real in this format. It does probably mean that it is at its best in a UR or RG deck, but I think even if you have 2+ creatures that do something with oil tokens, you’re playing this.
Churning Reservoir image 1.0 // 3.0 This feels like it has the potential to be quite the value engine, as there are lots of Red cards that can do some stuff with oil counters. The token creation effect certainly isn’t the most efficient thing ever, but I can see some decks finding a way to utilize it on turns when they can. This probably needs a buildaround though, as you really need to have a critical mass of oil counters and oil counter payoffs or this just won’t do enough to be worth a card
Molten Rebuke image 2.0 This is red’s usual really mediocre modal removal spell. 5 mana for 5 damage at Sorcery speed isn’t anywhere close to premium – it is super clunky and firing it off on something that is cheaper than it is rough. Destroying Equipment matters a little for sure, but the fact that most Equipment in this format has “For Mirrodin!” probably means you don’t even get a full card of value if you do that
Goldwarden's Helm image 2.0 You get a three mana 2/3 up front here, which isn’t the worst baseline – especially when you have Equipment and Artifact payoffs in the format. The Boost this offers on its own is certainly very meager, though.
Vraska's Fall image 1.5 This will have its moments, but this format also has a lot of tokens and creatures who give you value when they die, and when your opponent has those to sacrifice this won’t feel worth a card at all, even with the poison counter on top
Dune Mover image 2.0 This kind of fixing usually isn’t great, because putting the card on top is a pretty massive difference from getting it in your hand or something. But it does have solid stats and brings Toxic to the table.
Mirran Bardiche image 2.0 This one gives you a 5-mana 4/3 with Vigilance up front. As is the case for most of the Common For Mirrodin! Artifacts, that rate wouldn’t really be acceptable all on its own – but being able to move the boost around when you need to is nice.
Predation Steward image 2.0 This seems like a fine two drop. The ability isn’t exactly efficient, and it is definitely clunky as a sorcery speed only effect, but it can certainly allow you to send in an attacker that couldn’t attack otherwise.
Dross Skullbomb image 2.5 This one can get a creature back from your graveyard and draw you a card, and once it does that you get a pretty nice 2-for-1
Compleat Devotion image 2.0 Two mana for +2/+2 is a mediocre boost, but the 2-for-1 upside you get when you use this on a Toxic creature is definitely real upside. There’s enough Toxic in White that I feel like this is a 2.0
Mesmerizing Dose image 3.0 This looks really good to me. Three mana to lock a creature down is usually a playable card. Sure, it doesn’t fully remove a creature, and that can be a liability sometimes – and there are lots of ways your opponent can get around this card – like by bouncing their creature. Adding Proliferate is pretty serious, though!
Terramorphic Expanse image 2.5 This always provides some solid fixing, even for two color decks. It can be particularly appealing when you are splashing one card, as just a single basic land and the Expanse are often enough to make that work.
Pack 1 Pick 3: Bilious Skulldweller
Bilious Skulldweller image 2.5 A one mana 1/1 with Deathtouch is usually solid. Gets interesting with Fight effects too. So, adding Toxic 1 to this is a nice upgrade, as it makes it more of a problem as an attacker.
Sheoldred's Edict image 2.0 Edict effects aren’t nearly as good in Limited as in constructed, mostly because most decks have multiples of things in play and can really minimize the downside. This one is an instant, and it gives you three options that should, in theory, allow you to maximize what it can do, but I’m still not overly impressed with this. It is better early, and pretty bad the longer the game goes on
Gitaxian Anatomist image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/5 is passable, and having the option to Proliferate can be nice, especially because Blue has lots of oil counters running around – and some poison too! It is definitely awkward you have to tap this to Proliferate, since the thing this card is best at in terms of combat is blocking, and not being able to do that for a turn might be a liability.
Rustvine Cultivator image 1.5 This doesn’t look very good. The best thing about a mana dork is that it can play you more powerful spells every turn. This can’t do that. It will finally untap a land on turn three, and while the boost is nice, the fact you had to tap this twice to get it is no small thing. Sure, you can proliferate and stuff to have to tap it less, but you’re jumping through some pretty serious hoops to make your one drop work.
Annihilating Glare image 3.5 This is reminiscent of Eaten Alive, a Common removal spell that played really well in a format that had lots of expendable tokens to sacrifice. You know what this format also has? That’s right, lots of expendable tokens – especially if you’re in Black/White and have access to lots of Mites.
Ichorspit Basilisk image 1.5 A three mana 1/3 Deathtouch isn’t the most impressive thing ever, but it does provide a pretty good road block. Adding Toxic to a death toucher is nice upside, since blocking this can be a real pain
Sawblade Scamp image 2.5 This is kind of close to being Thermo-Alchemist, and that card has been great in spell decks in several different formats at this point. This does die super easy, but it only costs one, so your opponent won’t really be able to trade up for it or anything, and if it sits around in play in your spell-heavy deck, it is going to chip in for a ton of damage. Now, it is worse that the Alchemist, because the Alchemist can do damage without the help of spells, it just does more when you have them. The Scamp doesn’t do anything when you can’t find your spells, which happens
Blightbelly Rat image 3.0 A two mana 2/2 is a passable place to start – so adding both Toxic and a nice death trigger to the mix probably makes this one of the best Black Commons
Ichor Synthesizer image 1.5 A two mana 1/3 is below-rate these days, but this does eventually become an unblockable 3/3, and that’s certainly something your opponent has to contend with. What I don’t like, is that if you don’t get this down early, your chances of getting to four oil counters are significantly curtailed, in which case you’re just playing something that is pretty close to a two mana 1/3, and I don’t like that.
Fleshless Gladiator image 3.0 This seems like a solid Common. You can play it early as a bear, and then in the mid to late game it can start coming back from your graveyard, which can net you a very real advantage
Titanic Growth image 2.0 +4/+4 will win you most combats, and two mana isn’t a terrible amount to spend for the boost. It can also sneak in lethal out of nowhere.
Orthodoxy Enforcer image 2.0 This is a decent Common payoff for having Artifacts, as a 4-mana 4/4 with Vigilance is a formidable body all game long. When you don’t get that going, though, this will feel pretty bad
Pack 1 Pick 4: Pestilent Syphoner
Atmosphere Surgeon image 4.0 This is a great payoff for casting spells. It can give itself flying, and you can store up the counters to use them once you have great stuff to give flying to. Works great with Proliferate too!
Resistance Skywarden image 3.0 This is a pretty nice rate! Menace and Reach can be a bit awkward together, since one is an aggressive keyword and the other is defensive, but it also means that this can do a reasonable job as an attacker and a reasonable job as a blocker. It certainly isn’t exciting, but seems like a solid 5-drop.
Vulshok Splitter image 2.0 So, this is effectively a 4-mana 4/2 when it comes down – one that leaves behind a pretty clunky piece of equipment. Neither of these things is that impressive for 4 mana, but the initial creature you get out of this definitely softens the blow, especially in a format with lots of payoffs for Equipment.
Molten Rebuke image 2.0 This is red’s usual really mediocre modal removal spell. 5 mana for 5 damage at Sorcery speed isn’t anywhere close to premium – it is super clunky and firing it off on something that is cheaper than it is rough. Destroying Equipment matters a little for sure, but the fact that most Equipment in this format has “For Mirrodin!” probably means you don’t even get a full card of value if you do that
Fleshless Gladiator image 3.0 This seems like a solid Common. You can play it early as a bear, and then in the mid to late game it can start coming back from your graveyard, which can net you a very real advantage
Sawblade Scamp image 2.5 This is kind of close to being Thermo-Alchemist, and that card has been great in spell decks in several different formats at this point. This does die super easy, but it only costs one, so your opponent won’t really be able to trade up for it or anything, and if it sits around in play in your spell-heavy deck, it is going to chip in for a ton of damage. Now, it is worse that the Alchemist, because the Alchemist can do damage without the help of spells, it just does more when you have them. The Scamp doesn’t do anything when you can’t find your spells, which happens
Myr Kinsmith image 0.0 // 2.0 There aren’t really that many Myrs in the set, so I mostly don’t see this getting off the ground. If you have at least three Myr, it is probably worth playing, as it will be able to generate a 2-for-1. And if you have Myr Convert, this will sort of fix your mana too. It is probably unplayable in most Limited decks, and playable if you have a couple of Converts.
Vanish into Eternity image 1.5 Six mana to exile a creature is pretty far from an ideal rate, even on an instant. It just isn’t easy for a spell that expensive to ever be premium, because you will usually overpay to kill a cheaper creature. But the fact that this can deal with other permanent types much more efficiently helps things even out. Basically this is going to be a more expensive Disenchant early, and late it can deal with anything. It definitely isn’t premium, even with its modality, but I think the first copy will make the cut in a lot of White decks.
Rustvine Cultivator image 1.5 This doesn’t look very good. The best thing about a mana dork is that it can play you more powerful spells every turn. This can’t do that. It will finally untap a land on turn three, and while the boost is nice, the fact you had to tap this twice to get it is no small thing. Sure, you can proliferate and stuff to have to tap it less, but you’re jumping through some pretty serious hoops to make your one drop work.
Incisor Glider image 2.5 This looks like a pretty nice common! A two mana ⅓ with Flying is sort of passable to begin with, and this has a really nice Corrupted Trigger, as buffing the whole board can really change combat. It also doesn’t hurt that cheap Flyers go really well with all the Equipment in the set.
Pestilent Syphoner image 2.0 This seems solid enough. It represents a real threat thanks to toxic, and is likely to contribute a few poison early. Some decks will just want to turn on their corrupted effects and not actually win with poison, and this will probably be at its best in that type of deck
Pack 1 Pick 5: Duelist of Deep Faith
Awaken the Sleeper image 1.0 // 3.0 Here’s the usual Threaten effect! It is interesting its an Uncommon, which means consistently getting it when you have sacrifice outlets is going to be harder than normal. It is also kind of a bummer that it destroys the equipment immediately, instead of you getting a swing in first. But hey, the Equipment destruction angle does mean that you get to trade 1-for-1 in that situation, and that’s not too bad on top of all the other things that this can allow. As usual, this kind of a card is a build around. If you can’t consistently get that full card of value – by destroying Equipment or by sacrificing what you steal – you’re looking at a card that is pretty much only useful in one situation: When you can use it and win on the spot
Nimraiser Paladin image 3.0 This will often grant you a 2-for-1, which is always nice, and the 5-mana 4/4 body it gives you isn’t completely terrible. Lots of ways to take advantage of Toxic too! Still feels a little to inefficient – and a little too specific about what it can return to your hand – to be great, but I think the first copy will usually make the cut.
Tainted Observer image 3.5 This is another strong signpost Uncommon. A three mana ⅔ Flyer with Toxic 1 is something you’ll always play, and the Proliferate upside here is pretty sweet, especially because it works with the Poison counters. You generally won’t have the mana available to proliferate until the mid or late game, but the baseline here is great
Forgehammer Centurion image 2.5 This isn’t as good as some Common Red cards that can make something unable to block, because the set up is fairly significant, but when it can use that ability it will really open the floodgates on your opponent.
Duelist of Deep Faith image 3.0 This is going to be a pain to block all game long, and that goes really well alongside Toxic. That makes this a pretty high quality Common
Axiom Engraver image 1.5 This has a mediocre stat-line, and a card that can rummage a couple of times isn’t exactly something you’re going to go after. You’ll probably play this when you’re desperate for a two drop or some oil counters, but otherwise it won’t make the cut.
Surgical Skullbomb image 2.5 Like the others, this cycles at worst, and can have a real impact on the board that still nets you a card.
Maze Skullbomb image 2.5 have the time to use the ability.
Dross Skullbomb image 2.5 This one can get a creature back from your graveyard and draw you a card, and once it does that you get a pretty nice 2-for-1
Stinging Hivemaster image 3.5 This is a very nice common. A three mana 3/2 with Toxic 1 is already probably playable, so the fact it spits out a Mite when it dies is sweet. It is worth noting that the token’s inability to block does lower the value of the token – more than adding Toxic 1 makes up for
Pack 1 Pick 6: Charge of the Mites
Ribskiff image 2.5 A 4-mana 4/4 vehicles with Crew 3 is not especially good, but this does replace itself, and Toxic has some real upside. The 2-for-1 potential is very real.
Necrogen Communion image 1.0 I don’t like this very much. It is rare that an Aura that brings a creature back when it dies is worth it, and I don’t think adding Toxic 2 is quite enough to make a difference. Both of these effects are only good if your creature is already quite good, and that’s never how you want to do Auras.
Cruel Grimnarch image 1.5 Oftentimes a creature that makes your opponent discard really drops off in the late game, because your opponent is in top deck mode. So, its nice that this can gain you 4 life in that situation. We’re still talking about a creature that is fairly below-rate. Adding deathtouch to a 5/5 isn’t a huge upgrade, and if your opponent just holds on to a land in the late game this will still have the usual downside this type of card has
The Surgical Bay image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Skyscythe Engulfer image 1.5 If you’re behind, it can hang back and block even flyers, and if you’re ahead, it can attack pretty hard. I wish there was some sort of ETB associated with it so you got some permanent value, though. Six mana is a lot to not get something like that!
Ichorspit Basilisk image 1.5 A three mana 1/3 Deathtouch isn’t the most impressive thing ever, but it does provide a pretty good road block. Adding Toxic to a death toucher is nice upside, since blocking this can be a real pain
Charge of the Mites image 2.5 While you’re overpaying a bit for each of these modes individually, the modality here is definitely nice! If you’re good at going wide – and if you’re in White you probably are – it can be a reasonable removal spell. If you’re having a hard time getting your board going, it can give you a couple of mites!
Basilica Skullbomb image 2.0 Glad to see a Phyrexian variant of the Mirrodin Spellbomb! At worst, these all cycle away while giving you some artifact synergy, and that makes it hard for them to be terrible. Then, when you have the mana, it does something reasonably significant while still replacing itself. +2/+2 and Flying is the kind of boost that matters a big chunk of the time.
Aspirant's Ascent image 2.0 One mana tricks have been some pretty serious business of late, and I think this looks like another solid one. This kind of gives you two separate uses, which is great for such a low cost! First it can be used as a traditional trick to help your creature win combat with the +1/+3 boost – but you can also use it before your opponent blocks to make a big creature take to the air and crack in for a bunch of damage – along with some toxic upside
Pack 1 Pick 7: Zealot's Conviction
Noxious Assault image 1.0 This is an interesting take on a mass pump effect. There will certainly be times where this puts your opponent in a lose-lose situation, since they can neither take all the damage or get the poison counters, but most of the time they can probably find a way to mix and match and survive. Five mana for this sorcery speed boost is normally just not a very good card in Limited and I don’t feel like the poison counter upside is enough for me to want to play this in this format. It is definitely hard to evaluate, as the poison vs. damage choice can definitely be powerful, but I think this is probably still too situational to be very good.
Plated Onslaught image 1.5 // 3.0 Here is your big payoff for going wide with Mites! Your artifacts make it cheaper, and having a bunch of artifact creatures is going to feel really good when you have a +2/+1 boost. This sort of card usually needs a build around grade, because if you don’t have enough ways to go really wide, you can’t really play it – but when you’re in the right deck, this ends a lot of games
Cutthroat Centurion image 2.0 This can threaten to become a 4/4 any time it swings, which is pretty nice. This kind of card often gets through without you actually having to sacrifice anything to it, because the opponent just can’t muster a good block. This also combines well with the various sacrifice synergies, and being a free Sacrifice effect means it has the upside of working really well with Red’s usual Threaten effect.
Phyrexian Atlas image 1.5 In most formats, a three mana mana rock just isn’t worth it. You need to add more meaningfully to the board, and using a card to get a small mana boost can be pretty rough. In theory, this does start doing something in the middle part of the game, but I’m still not in on this.
Copper Longlegs image 1.5 A two mana 1/3 Reach isn’t very good. This can give itself up to Proliferate which is nice, since it will often not be a very relevant body on the board. Still, it doesn’t seem like this will be making the cut with regularity
Mandible Justiciar image 3.0 A two mana 2/1 with Lifelink is usually playable anyway, and this will often be a 3/2 or larger on your turn. Seems like a great two drop for aggressive decks that care about artifacts.
Ruthless Predation image 3.5 This is basically Epic Confrontation, which is a great Limited Common. +1/+2 enables a lot more of your creatures to Fight successfully, and you can often knock a blocker out of the way and swing in with your buffed creature.
Zealot's Conviction image 2.5 A one mana Aura with Flash that gives +1/+1 is already somewhat acceptable. The boost isn’t massive, so it can’t win that many combats, but the fact that it leaves a permanent buff behind really matters, because it means you effect the board in the short-term and long-term when you can win combat. Then, when you get Corrupted going, this becomes really good, as +2/+1 and First Strike is going to win you most combats, and the boost is once again permanent! One mana tricks really tend to overperform, even when the lack the ability to save a creature from most removal like this
Pack 1 Pick 8: Duelist of Deep Faith
Serum Snare image 2.5 This sort of bounce effect is usually solid card – not usually amazing because it is card disadvantage, but in a lot of decks the tempo is big – and when you can use it to trade 1-for-1 and get tempo it feels pretty absurd. You can do this if you cast it in response to a combat trick or something like that. The Proliferate upside is nice, as bouncing something expensive is usually the best thing to do to get the most tempo, but if you have enough counters around, or you feel the need to fire it off early, you get some upside
Thrill of Possibility image 1.5 We’ve seen this before, and it is often the kind of card that spell decks will run, but no one else really wants to play, and even the spell decks would be happier with a lot of other instants and sorceries that draw them cards!
Myr Kinsmith image 0.0 // 2.0 There aren’t really that many Myrs in the set, so I mostly don’t see this getting off the ground. If you have at least three Myr, it is probably worth playing, as it will be able to generate a 2-for-1. And if you have Myr Convert, this will sort of fix your mana too. It is probably unplayable in most Limited decks, and playable if you have a couple of Converts.
Maze's Mantle image 2.0 A three mana Flash Aura that gives +2/+2 is a card we’ve seen before, and it was playable. If you look at this only as a combat trick it doesn’t seem that efficient, as you can usually get +2/+2 for a single mana. However, the fact this stays around to enhance that creature beyond that turn makes a big difference. The hexproof upside is going to come up sometimes too!
Experimental Augury image 2.5 Anticipate usually isn’t great in Limited, but tacking Proliferate on to is a pretty big deal. There are lots of counters in this set, and even payoffs for prolfierating specifically! On top of that, UR likes spells, and this kind of instant that replaces itself always gets a boost there. Basically, this will actually effect the board reasonably often thanks to the synergies in the set, while also giving you some solid card selection.
Terramorphic Expanse image 2.5 This always provides some solid fixing, even for two color decks. It can be particularly appealing when you are splashing one card, as just a single basic land and the Expanse are often enough to make that work.
Duelist of Deep Faith image 3.0 This is going to be a pain to block all game long, and that goes really well alongside Toxic. That makes this a pretty high quality Common
Pack 1 Pick 9: Blightbelly Rat
Blightbelly Rat image 3.0 A two mana 2/2 is a passable place to start – so adding both Toxic and a nice death trigger to the mix probably makes this one of the best Black Commons
Terramorphic Expanse image 2.5 This always provides some solid fixing, even for two color decks. It can be particularly appealing when you are splashing one card, as just a single basic land and the Expanse are often enough to make that work.
Thrill of Possibility image 1.5 We’ve seen this before, and it is often the kind of card that spell decks will run, but no one else really wants to play, and even the spell decks would be happier with a lot of other instants and sorceries that draw them cards!
Incisor Glider image 2.5 This looks like a pretty nice common! A two mana ⅓ with Flying is sort of passable to begin with, and this has a really nice Corrupted Trigger, as buffing the whole board can really change combat. It also doesn’t hurt that cheap Flyers go really well with all the Equipment in the set.
Dross Skullbomb image 2.5 This one can get a creature back from your graveyard and draw you a card, and once it does that you get a pretty nice 2-for-1
Phyrexian Atlas image 1.5 In most formats, a three mana mana rock just isn’t worth it. You need to add more meaningfully to the board, and using a card to get a small mana boost can be pretty rough. In theory, this does start doing something in the middle part of the game, but I’m still not in on this.
Pack 1 Pick 10: Dune Mover
Ichorplate Golem image 4.0 An easy to cast three mana ⅔ isn’t a terrible starting point, and the oil counter upside here feels pretty real in this format. It does probably mean that it is at its best in a UR or RG deck, but I think even if you have 2+ creatures that do something with oil tokens, you’re playing this.
Molten Rebuke image 2.0 This is red’s usual really mediocre modal removal spell. 5 mana for 5 damage at Sorcery speed isn’t anywhere close to premium – it is super clunky and firing it off on something that is cheaper than it is rough. Destroying Equipment matters a little for sure, but the fact that most Equipment in this format has “For Mirrodin!” probably means you don’t even get a full card of value if you do that
Goldwarden's Helm image 2.0 You get a three mana 2/3 up front here, which isn’t the worst baseline – especially when you have Equipment and Artifact payoffs in the format. The Boost this offers on its own is certainly very meager, though.
Dune Mover image 2.0 This kind of fixing usually isn’t great, because putting the card on top is a pretty massive difference from getting it in your hand or something. But it does have solid stats and brings Toxic to the table.
Mirran Bardiche image 2.0 This one gives you a 5-mana 4/3 with Vigilance up front. As is the case for most of the Common For Mirrodin! Artifacts, that rate wouldn’t really be acceptable all on its own – but being able to move the boost around when you need to is nice.
Pack 1 Pick 11: Sheoldred's Edict
Sheoldred's Edict image 2.0 Edict effects aren’t nearly as good in Limited as in constructed, mostly because most decks have multiples of things in play and can really minimize the downside. This one is an instant, and it gives you three options that should, in theory, allow you to maximize what it can do, but I’m still not overly impressed with this. It is better early, and pretty bad the longer the game goes on
Gitaxian Anatomist image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/5 is passable, and having the option to Proliferate can be nice, especially because Blue has lots of oil counters running around – and some poison too! It is definitely awkward you have to tap this to Proliferate, since the thing this card is best at in terms of combat is blocking, and not being able to do that for a turn might be a liability.
Rustvine Cultivator image 1.5 This doesn’t look very good. The best thing about a mana dork is that it can play you more powerful spells every turn. This can’t do that. It will finally untap a land on turn three, and while the boost is nice, the fact you had to tap this twice to get it is no small thing. Sure, you can proliferate and stuff to have to tap it less, but you’re jumping through some pretty serious hoops to make your one drop work.
Fleshless Gladiator image 3.0 This seems like a solid Common. You can play it early as a bear, and then in the mid to late game it can start coming back from your graveyard, which can net you a very real advantage
Pack 1 Pick 12: Molten Rebuke
Molten Rebuke image 2.0 This is red’s usual really mediocre modal removal spell. 5 mana for 5 damage at Sorcery speed isn’t anywhere close to premium – it is super clunky and firing it off on something that is cheaper than it is rough. Destroying Equipment matters a little for sure, but the fact that most Equipment in this format has “For Mirrodin!” probably means you don’t even get a full card of value if you do that
Sawblade Scamp image 2.5 This is kind of close to being Thermo-Alchemist, and that card has been great in spell decks in several different formats at this point. This does die super easy, but it only costs one, so your opponent won’t really be able to trade up for it or anything, and if it sits around in play in your spell-heavy deck, it is going to chip in for a ton of damage. Now, it is worse that the Alchemist, because the Alchemist can do damage without the help of spells, it just does more when you have them. The Scamp doesn’t do anything when you can’t find your spells, which happens
Rustvine Cultivator image 1.5 This doesn’t look very good. The best thing about a mana dork is that it can play you more powerful spells every turn. This can’t do that. It will finally untap a land on turn three, and while the boost is nice, the fact you had to tap this twice to get it is no small thing. Sure, you can proliferate and stuff to have to tap it less, but you’re jumping through some pretty serious hoops to make your one drop work.
Pack 1 Pick 13: Maze Skullbomb
Awaken the Sleeper image 1.0 // 3.0 Here’s the usual Threaten effect! It is interesting its an Uncommon, which means consistently getting it when you have sacrifice outlets is going to be harder than normal. It is also kind of a bummer that it destroys the equipment immediately, instead of you getting a swing in first. But hey, the Equipment destruction angle does mean that you get to trade 1-for-1 in that situation, and that’s not too bad on top of all the other things that this can allow. As usual, this kind of a card is a build around. If you can’t consistently get that full card of value – by destroying Equipment or by sacrificing what you steal – you’re looking at a card that is pretty much only useful in one situation: When you can use it and win on the spot
Maze Skullbomb image 2.5 have the time to use the ability.
Pack 1 Pick 14: Cruel Grimnarch
Cruel Grimnarch image 1.5 Oftentimes a creature that makes your opponent discard really drops off in the late game, because your opponent is in top deck mode. So, its nice that this can gain you 4 life in that situation. We’re still talking about a creature that is fairly below-rate. Adding deathtouch to a 5/5 isn’t a huge upgrade, and if your opponent just holds on to a land in the late game this will still have the usual downside this type of card has
Pack 2 Pick 1: Jawbone Duelist
The Mycosynth Gardens image 3.0 I am not normally a fan of filter lands, they tend to be super clunky at fixing your mana – and that’s certainly true here. But, the upside here is pregit legit. I think there are enough artifact creatures in this set that it will feel like a creature land a significant chunk of the time, and those always perform well, since it lets you turn a land into something that actually impacts the board. It obviously has more flexibility than a creature land too! So basically, this is a powerful utility land that can also fix your mana, and I think I’m in for that.
Veil of Assimilation image 3.0 This offers a nice buff up front, and there are enough artifacts in the set that triggering this on most turns won’t be a challenge for White decks.
Jawbone Duelist image 3.5 A two mana 1/1 Double Strike always plays really well – it does a great job against other X/1s, and can trade for X/2s, while having all kinds of additional upside with Equipment, tricks, and other buffs. So, adding Toxic 1 to the mix is pretty sweet – especially because it means this will give the opponent two poison each time it goes unblocked. This will also hold all the Equipment in the set really well.
Evolving Adaptive image 3.5 If you play it early, it is going to get absolutely massive, and is a one drop that can potentially take the game over. It does get worse the later you play it, but it is still likely to grow basically any time you play a creature at that point
Infectious Inquiry image 2.0 Black usually gets a three mana Common that does some version of draw 2 lose 2, and it is usually a passable card. Not adding to the board can be a liability, and this format does feel like it will be a fast one – so you never really want more than one of these. That first copy seems alright, though.
Prophetic Prism image 2.5 We’ve seen this before and it is always surprisingly good. Filtering mana is of course in efficient, and this doesn’t actually net you mana – but the fact this fixes your mana and replaces itself is no small thing. Actually getting a card worth of value is a big deal.
Zealot's Conviction image 2.5 A one mana Aura with Flash that gives +1/+1 is already somewhat acceptable. The boost isn’t massive, so it can’t win that many combats, but the fact that it leaves a permanent buff behind really matters, because it means you effect the board in the short-term and long-term when you can win combat. Then, when you get Corrupted going, this becomes really good, as +2/+1 and First Strike is going to win you most combats, and the boost is once again permanent! One mana tricks really tend to overperform, even when the lack the ability to save a creature from most removal like this
Maze's Mantle image 2.0 A three mana Flash Aura that gives +2/+2 is a card we’ve seen before, and it was playable. If you look at this only as a combat trick it doesn’t seem that efficient, as you can usually get +2/+2 for a single mana. However, the fact this stays around to enhance that creature beyond that turn makes a big difference. The hexproof upside is going to come up sometimes too!
Tyrranax Atrocity image 2.5 Toxic 3 is a lot, as it will immediately give you Corrupted if you don’t already have it, and if you do already have it 3 poison is going to get your opponent in the red zone. Toxic pairs really well with Haste too, as it makes it easier to get in that first time, or at the very least set up a situation where your opponent’s options are a bad chump block or taking the hit.
Thirsting Roots image 2.5 This is a solid modal card. It can help you fix your mana or just hit a land drop, and it is the kind of card that can almost stand in for a land in your deck, since it is almost a modal double-faced land card! Once you have the lands you need, you can Proliferate for some nice value. Sometimes neither mode will be useful, which is a bummer – but most of the time you’ll be getting something worthwhile for the investment.
Terramorphic Expanse image 2.5 This always provides some solid fixing, even for two color decks. It can be particularly appealing when you are splashing one card, as just a single basic land and the Expanse are often enough to make that work.
Duelist of Deep Faith image 3.0 This is going to be a pain to block all game long, and that goes really well alongside Toxic. That makes this a pretty high quality Common
Vivisurgeon's Insight image 1.5 Man, I have a hard time believing paying 5 to draw three and Proliferate is going to be worth it here. I love the card advantage of course, but paying that much and likely having only a minimal impact on the board seems like a really bad idea
Free from Flesh image 2.0 One mana for +2/+2 tends to be a pretty solid boost, as you can very cheaply allow your creature to win a lot of combats. The oil counters really matter for some cards too, though sometimes you’ll end up adding oil counters on something that can’t really do anything with them.
Pack 2 Pick 2: Pestilent Syphoner
Ovika, Enigma Goliath image 4.5 This is expensive, but it does give you quite the impressive creature. Ward 3 and pay three life is pretty legit, as it makes it harder for your opponent to efficiently deal with the Goliath, and they are going to take a hit in terms of their life no matter what they do – and that’s the fail case here. Then, if you untap with it and cast some noncreature spell, the game is pretty much over, since you make an army of tokens that can either allow you to finish your opponent off or gain a massive advantage on the board. You won’t always find yourself able to do that of course, but you’re still talking about a 6/6 Flyer that is an absolute pain to kill. I think this sneaks into the lower “bomb” range, since it gives you solid value even if the worst-case thing happens, and if it sticks around, you’re just going to win.
Urabrask's Anointer image 1.5 // 4.0 So, the stat-line is bad enough here that you probably want to consistently do 2 or more with this, and that probably makes this a build around. Oil counters are definitely around, especially in Blue-Red, but I don’t feel super confident that your typical deck in the format will have enough of them to make this acceptable. If you do 0 with it, it will be awful – 1 with it is semi-passable, and once you’re at 2 or more you’re going to really feel like you’re really doing it, because you can consistently get a 2-for-1 at that point.
Thrummingbird image 3.5 This was a nice card last time we saw it, and it certainly will be here. Multiplying poison and oil is going to be something Blue decks want to do
Slaughter Singer image 4.0 So, GW is about Toxic aggro – and A two mana 2/2 with Toxic 2 is already pretty solid, so offering a boost to all of your toxic creatures is nice – and will feel especially good with the tokens in the format. If you get it early it will allow you to be really aggressive, and if you get it late it can still have a pretty real and immediate impact
Vraska's Fall image 1.5 This will have its moments, but this format also has a lot of tokens and creatures who give you value when they die, and when your opponent has those to sacrifice this won’t feel worth a card at all, even with the poison counter on top
Predation Steward image 2.0 This seems like a fine two drop. The ability isn’t exactly efficient, and it is definitely clunky as a sorcery speed only effect, but it can certainly allow you to send in an attacker that couldn’t attack otherwise.
Cutthroat Centurion image 2.0 This can threaten to become a 4/4 any time it swings, which is pretty nice. This kind of card often gets through without you actually having to sacrifice anything to it, because the opponent just can’t muster a good block. This also combines well with the various sacrifice synergies, and being a free Sacrifice effect means it has the upside of working really well with Red’s usual Threaten effect.
Pestilent Syphoner image 2.0 This seems solid enough. It represents a real threat thanks to toxic, and is likely to contribute a few poison early. Some decks will just want to turn on their corrupted effects and not actually win with poison, and this will probably be at its best in that type of deck
Bladegraft Aspirant image 2.5 A three mana 2/3 with Menace is usuallya lready playable, but this also gives you some big Equipment upside! Making it cheaper to play and cheaper to put on the Aspirant is pretty serious. A menace creature is great for suiting up too
Incisor Glider image 2.5 This looks like a pretty nice common! A two mana ⅓ with Flying is sort of passable to begin with, and this has a really nice Corrupted Trigger, as buffing the whole board can really change combat. It also doesn’t hurt that cheap Flyers go really well with all the Equipment in the set.
Mesmerizing Dose image 3.0 This looks really good to me. Three mana to lock a creature down is usually a playable card. Sure, it doesn’t fully remove a creature, and that can be a liability sometimes – and there are lots of ways your opponent can get around this card – like by bouncing their creature. Adding Proliferate is pretty serious, though!
Whisper of the Dross image 1.5 If you can kill something with this, or have it help you win combat, it will feel pretty good since you’re only spending a single mana! Problem is, those situations won’t be that easy to manufacture
The Autonomous Furnace image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Pack 2 Pick 3: Hexgold Hoverwings
Bladehold War-Whip image 3.5 This gives you a three mana 2/2 with double strike up front, and that’s great, as is reducing the cost of your other Equipment. The bad news is that once that 2/2 goes down, you have to pay five to put this on something. That’s a downside, but it will still feel pretty close to a 2-for-1.
Hexgold Hoverwings image 3.5 This gives you a 4-mana 3/2 Flyer up front, which is a passable card, so the additional upside here is great. Buffing all your Equipped creatures is going to come up, especially in RW – and just being able to move this Equipment around to whatever creature benefits most from it is pretty great.
Plated Onslaught image 1.5 // 3.0 Here is your big payoff for going wide with Mites! Your artifacts make it cheaper, and having a bunch of artifact creatures is going to feel really good when you have a +2/+1 boost. This sort of card usually needs a build around grade, because if you don’t have enough ways to go really wide, you can’t really play it – but when you’re in the right deck, this ends a lot of games
Predation Steward image 2.0 This seems like a fine two drop. The ability isn’t exactly efficient, and it is definitely clunky as a sorcery speed only effect, but it can certainly allow you to send in an attacker that couldn’t attack otherwise.
Orthodoxy Enforcer image 2.0 This is a decent Common payoff for having Artifacts, as a 4-mana 4/4 with Vigilance is a formidable body all game long. When you don’t get that going, though, this will feel pretty bad
Cutthroat Centurion image 2.0 This can threaten to become a 4/4 any time it swings, which is pretty nice. This kind of card often gets through without you actually having to sacrifice anything to it, because the opponent just can’t muster a good block. This also combines well with the various sacrifice synergies, and being a free Sacrifice effect means it has the upside of working really well with Red’s usual Threaten effect.
Kuldotha Cackler image 2.5 This will be able to attack with higher power a decent chunk of the time for sure, but the times where it is just a lowly 2/3 will feel pretty rough.
Chimney Rabble image 3.0 I like the rate here. 4/4 of stats for 4, including 3 power that rumbles right away. Going wide is definitely a thing in this format, too
Incisor Glider image 2.5 This looks like a pretty nice common! A two mana ⅓ with Flying is sort of passable to begin with, and this has a really nice Corrupted Trigger, as buffing the whole board can really change combat. It also doesn’t hurt that cheap Flyers go really well with all the Equipment in the set.
Hexgold Slash image 3.5 Even without the Toxic-hating upside this card has, it would be quite good! One mana for 2 damage just tends to be a great deal, even allowing you to trade up for lots of 3 and 4 mana cards. Toxic is really everywhere in the format too, so you’re going to be able to do the 4 damage with this at some point in most games.
Prophetic Prism image 2.5 We’ve seen this before and it is always surprisingly good. Filtering mana is of course in efficient, and this doesn’t actually net you mana – but the fact this fixes your mana and replaces itself is no small thing. Actually getting a card worth of value is a big deal.
Meldweb Curator image 1.5 This has a mediocre stat-line, and its ability isn’t that impressive either. Getting back removal is nice of course, but putting it on top of your library isn’t that powerful. You’ll usually have to wait a turn to get it, and if you didn’t have something worth getting out of the graveyard, you’re even more out of luck.
Pack 2 Pick 4: Ambulatory Edifice
Ambulatory Edifice image 3.0 When you can kill something with the -1/-1 this will feel pretty good. When you can’t, it will feel pretty mediocre. Sometimes you’ll be able to weaken something in a way that is beneficial for you, but you definitely want to be killing stuff with it.
Infested Fleshcutter image 1.5 I don’t love the cost of casting and equipping this, but the fact it spits out a token is pretty nice. Of course, that token can’t block – but it does mean you have somewhere to stick this thing on the next turn. +2/+0 is enough to make a lot of creatures problematic too. I obviously think this is worse than all the For Mirrodin! Equipment, because with that you get the body right away – but this kind of does a similar thing in the end, since it adds a body to the board
Vat of Rebirth image 1.0 This seems like it takes too much work. If you play it early it will definitely build up counters and then reanimate something at some point, but if you get it in the mid to late game, it is likely to be a little too slow to actually do anything, and that’s a huge downside
Sawblade Scamp image 2.5 This is kind of close to being Thermo-Alchemist, and that card has been great in spell decks in several different formats at this point. This does die super easy, but it only costs one, so your opponent won’t really be able to trade up for it or anything, and if it sits around in play in your spell-heavy deck, it is going to chip in for a ton of damage. Now, it is worse that the Alchemist, because the Alchemist can do damage without the help of spells, it just does more when you have them. The Scamp doesn’t do anything when you can’t find your spells, which happens
Molten Rebuke image 2.0 This is red’s usual really mediocre modal removal spell. 5 mana for 5 damage at Sorcery speed isn’t anywhere close to premium – it is super clunky and firing it off on something that is cheaper than it is rough. Destroying Equipment matters a little for sure, but the fact that most Equipment in this format has “For Mirrodin!” probably means you don’t even get a full card of value if you do that
Thrill of Possibility image 1.5 We’ve seen this before, and it is often the kind of card that spell decks will run, but no one else really wants to play, and even the spell decks would be happier with a lot of other instants and sorceries that draw them cards!
Stinging Hivemaster image 3.5 This is a very nice common. A three mana 3/2 with Toxic 1 is already probably playable, so the fact it spits out a Mite when it dies is sweet. It is worth noting that the token’s inability to block does lower the value of the token – more than adding Toxic 1 makes up for
Meldweb Strider image 2.0 A 5-mana 5/5 Vigilance Vehicle with Crew 3 is probably a 1.5. That’s just not a very good rate for a card that isn’t a creature unless you do some extra work! The fact this comes with an oil counter does matter though, as it does make it so this can be a creature all on its one for one turn, and if you proliferate it can become a real problem. Of course, the upside there is still that this is just a 5-mana 5/5 with Vigilance – which is nice, but again – there is work to be done to even get it to the point where it does that consistently.
Vanish into Eternity image 1.5 Six mana to exile a creature is pretty far from an ideal rate, even on an instant. It just isn’t easy for a spell that expensive to ever be premium, because you will usually overpay to kill a cheaper creature. But the fact that this can deal with other permanent types much more efficiently helps things even out. Basically this is going to be a more expensive Disenchant early, and late it can deal with anything. It definitely isn’t premium, even with its modality, but I think the first copy will make the cut in a lot of White decks.
Titanic Growth image 2.0 +4/+4 will win you most combats, and two mana isn’t a terrible amount to spend for the boost. It can also sneak in lethal out of nowhere.
Lattice-Blade Mantis image 3.0 This seems pretty strong for a Common. A 4-mana 4/3 is almost passable, so adding the ability to use oil counters to buff it up to a 5/4 that untaps is really nice. This can hit pretty hard while playing both offense and defense.
Pack 2 Pick 5: Sheoldred's Headcleaver
Cacophony Scamp image 3.5 A one mana 1/1 that does 1 to something when it dies is usually a playable card – it can trade up for X/2s and it can get 2-for-1s against two X/1s! On top of that, this has proliferate upside. Getting in with this and sacrificing it to get a couple extra counters – while also pinging something for 1, is going to feel pretty good. Enhancing it with Equipment, tricks, and auras will feel especially great.
Leonin Lightbringer image 2.5 Equipping this won’t be particularly hard in this format, but it isn’t like the payoff here is amazing or anything. Ward 2 does make it a nice place to put Equipment too, since it feels awful if your opponent kills something in response to you Equipping it, and this makes that a lot harder.
Carnivorous Canopy image 1.5 There are enough Artifacts and Enchantments in this set that this it probably isn’t a disaster to run this, especially with that Proliferate upside. It is a bit of a bummer that all this Artifact spot removal is a little worse in a world with the “For Mirrodin!” mechanic, because your opponent still holds on to a token, and being a Sorcery is pretty rough too. This is mostly a sideboard card, though. I think you’ll be disappointed if this makes your main deck.
Offer Immortality image 2.5 This trick is always decent. It doesn’t have the upside of helping you do more damage to your opponent, but it trades that in for the flexibility of winning virtually any combat and saving your creature from most removal
Predation Steward image 2.0 This seems like a fine two drop. The ability isn’t exactly efficient, and it is definitely clunky as a sorcery speed only effect, but it can certainly allow you to send in an attacker that couldn’t attack otherwise.
Sheoldred's Headcleaver image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/4 with Menace is probably a 1.0 at best, and while adding Toxic to the mix is nice, this still dies to a whole lot of common double blocks
Vulshok Splitter image 2.0 So, this is effectively a 4-mana 4/2 when it comes down – one that leaves behind a pretty clunky piece of equipment. Neither of these things is that impressive for 4 mana, but the initial creature you get out of this definitely softens the blow, especially in a format with lots of payoffs for Equipment.
Cutthroat Centurion image 2.0 This can threaten to become a 4/4 any time it swings, which is pretty nice. This kind of card often gets through without you actually having to sacrifice anything to it, because the opponent just can’t muster a good block. This also combines well with the various sacrifice synergies, and being a free Sacrifice effect means it has the upside of working really well with Red’s usual Threaten effect.
Aspirant's Ascent image 2.0 One mana tricks have been some pretty serious business of late, and I think this looks like another solid one. This kind of gives you two separate uses, which is great for such a low cost! First it can be used as a traditional trick to help your creature win combat with the +1/+3 boost – but you can also use it before your opponent blocks to make a big creature take to the air and crack in for a bunch of damage – along with some toxic upside
Vanish into Eternity image 1.5 Six mana to exile a creature is pretty far from an ideal rate, even on an instant. It just isn’t easy for a spell that expensive to ever be premium, because you will usually overpay to kill a cheaper creature. But the fact that this can deal with other permanent types much more efficiently helps things even out. Basically this is going to be a more expensive Disenchant early, and late it can deal with anything. It definitely isn’t premium, even with its modality, but I think the first copy will make the cut in a lot of White decks.
Pack 2 Pick 6: Pestilent Syphoner
Trawler Drake image 3.0 A three mana 1/1 Flyer isn’t good, but there are enough ways to grow this – between casting spells and Proliferating, that it won’t be that hard to make this a good investment. The big downside is that it will die to pretty much everything the turn it comes down.
Slaughter Singer image 4.0 So, GW is about Toxic aggro – and A two mana 2/2 with Toxic 2 is already pretty solid, so offering a boost to all of your toxic creatures is nice – and will feel especially good with the tokens in the format. If you get it early it will allow you to be really aggressive, and if you get it late it can still have a pretty real and immediate impact
Mesmerizing Dose image 3.0 This looks really good to me. Three mana to lock a creature down is usually a playable card. Sure, it doesn’t fully remove a creature, and that can be a liability sometimes – and there are lots of ways your opponent can get around this card – like by bouncing their creature. Adding Proliferate is pretty serious, though!
Prophetic Prism image 2.5 We’ve seen this before and it is always surprisingly good. Filtering mana is of course in efficient, and this doesn’t actually net you mana – but the fact this fixes your mana and replaces itself is no small thing. Actually getting a card worth of value is a big deal.
Pestilent Syphoner image 2.0 This seems solid enough. It represents a real threat thanks to toxic, and is likely to contribute a few poison early. Some decks will just want to turn on their corrupted effects and not actually win with poison, and this will probably be at its best in that type of deck
Maze Skullbomb image 2.5 have the time to use the ability.
Bladegraft Aspirant image 2.5 A three mana 2/3 with Menace is usuallya lready playable, but this also gives you some big Equipment upside! Making it cheaper to play and cheaper to put on the Aspirant is pretty serious. A menace creature is great for suiting up too
Vraska's Fall image 1.5 This will have its moments, but this format also has a lot of tokens and creatures who give you value when they die, and when your opponent has those to sacrifice this won’t feel worth a card at all, even with the poison counter on top
Myr Custodian image 1.5 If this only Scried 2 for you, it would probably be a 2.5. Scry 2 is pretty nice card selection Letting your opponent also Scry 1 obviously makes it worse, especially because your opponent can take advantage of their Scry before you can.
Pack 2 Pick 7: Blightbelly Rat
Against All Odds image 1.0 // 2.5 Individually, each of these effects is situational and not worth four mana, especially at Sorcery speed. Blinking a creature is only going to do something in a few situations: like if you have a creature with an ETB ability, or a creature shut down by an Aura. It can give you pseudo-vigilance too, but that really isn’t worth 4 mana. Obviously, reanimating something small only does something when you have a target. Both of these things are far from guaranteed! However, you do have the option of getting both, and I think if you can do something meaningful with both parts, this seems like a fine card. This can be especially true with Enter the Battlefield abilities, because you can potentially get 2 of them going at the same time. There are only a few decks that are super interested in running this, so it probably needs a build around grade.
Tamiyo's Logbook image 1.0 // 3.5 This reminds me a lot of Jodah’s Codex. It can give you some unbeatable card advantage, but there is some serious work you need to do to get there. You’re going to have to get the cost way down on this significantly or it won’t be worth playing. While there are lots of artifacts in the set, I’m skeptical that just any Blue deck can turn this into a card worth playing, so it feels like this needs a buildaround grade.
Offer Immortality image 2.5 This trick is always decent. It doesn’t have the upside of helping you do more damage to your opponent, but it trades that in for the flexibility of winning virtually any combat and saving your creature from most removal
Vulshok Splitter image 2.0 So, this is effectively a 4-mana 4/2 when it comes down – one that leaves behind a pretty clunky piece of equipment. Neither of these things is that impressive for 4 mana, but the initial creature you get out of this definitely softens the blow, especially in a format with lots of payoffs for Equipment.
Vanish into Eternity image 1.5 Six mana to exile a creature is pretty far from an ideal rate, even on an instant. It just isn’t easy for a spell that expensive to ever be premium, because you will usually overpay to kill a cheaper creature. But the fact that this can deal with other permanent types much more efficiently helps things even out. Basically this is going to be a more expensive Disenchant early, and late it can deal with anything. It definitely isn’t premium, even with its modality, but I think the first copy will make the cut in a lot of White decks.
Blightbelly Rat image 3.0 A two mana 2/2 is a passable place to start – so adding both Toxic and a nice death trigger to the mix probably makes this one of the best Black Commons
Furnace Strider image 3.0 A 5-mana 4/5 isn’t the worst rate ever, especially because this can give itself haste! On your next turn whatever you cast gains haste too if you want it to, so it feels like you’re getting a pretty solid return on your investment with this.
Cutthroat Centurion image 2.0 This can threaten to become a 4/4 any time it swings, which is pretty nice. This kind of card often gets through without you actually having to sacrifice anything to it, because the opponent just can’t muster a good block. This also combines well with the various sacrifice synergies, and being a free Sacrifice effect means it has the upside of working really well with Red’s usual Threaten effect.
Pack 2 Pick 8: Pestilent Syphoner
Gleeful Demolition image 3.0 This format has a lot of Artifacts including Artifact creatures, so a card that can destroy them for one mana is already a card you’ll always play. That is definitely the mode you’re going to choose most frequently, but sometimes destroying your own thing is more beneficial. Like if you need extra bodies to go wide to win the game, or if you need those bodies to block
Duress image 0.5 This is a sideboard card. Against someone who isn’t a creature heavy deck, it is worth using. Against your typical Limited deck, though, it isn’t. It will just wiff far too often, and going down a card for no effect is brutal.
Surgical Skullbomb image 2.5 Like the others, this cycles at worst, and can have a real impact on the board that still nets you a card.
Orthodoxy Enforcer image 2.0 This is a decent Common payoff for having Artifacts, as a 4-mana 4/4 with Vigilance is a formidable body all game long. When you don’t get that going, though, this will feel pretty bad
Shrapnel Slinger image 2.5 This can kill a decent number of creatures in the format, and there’s also plenty of noncreature artifacts it can deal with too. Sacrificing a Mite or something else expendable seems particularly nice. You also have a baseline of a 2-mana 2/2, which you’ll certainly be wanting if you don’t have something else to do on turn two
Thrill of Possibility image 1.5 We’ve seen this before, and it is often the kind of card that spell decks will run, but no one else really wants to play, and even the spell decks would be happier with a lot of other instants and sorceries that draw them cards!
Pestilent Syphoner image 2.0 This seems solid enough. It represents a real threat thanks to toxic, and is likely to contribute a few poison early. Some decks will just want to turn on their corrupted effects and not actually win with poison, and this will probably be at its best in that type of deck
Pack 2 Pick 9: Infectious Inquiry
Veil of Assimilation image 3.0 This offers a nice buff up front, and there are enough artifacts in the set that triggering this on most turns won’t be a challenge for White decks.
Infectious Inquiry image 2.0 Black usually gets a three mana Common that does some version of draw 2 lose 2, and it is usually a passable card. Not adding to the board can be a liability, and this format does feel like it will be a fast one – so you never really want more than one of these. That first copy seems alright, though.
Zealot's Conviction image 2.5 A one mana Aura with Flash that gives +1/+1 is already somewhat acceptable. The boost isn’t massive, so it can’t win that many combats, but the fact that it leaves a permanent buff behind really matters, because it means you effect the board in the short-term and long-term when you can win combat. Then, when you get Corrupted going, this becomes really good, as +2/+1 and First Strike is going to win you most combats, and the boost is once again permanent! One mana tricks really tend to overperform, even when the lack the ability to save a creature from most removal like this
Maze's Mantle image 2.0 A three mana Flash Aura that gives +2/+2 is a card we’ve seen before, and it was playable. If you look at this only as a combat trick it doesn’t seem that efficient, as you can usually get +2/+2 for a single mana. However, the fact this stays around to enhance that creature beyond that turn makes a big difference. The hexproof upside is going to come up sometimes too!
Thirsting Roots image 2.5 This is a solid modal card. It can help you fix your mana or just hit a land drop, and it is the kind of card that can almost stand in for a land in your deck, since it is almost a modal double-faced land card! Once you have the lands you need, you can Proliferate for some nice value. Sometimes neither mode will be useful, which is a bummer – but most of the time you’ll be getting something worthwhile for the investment.
Free from Flesh image 2.0 One mana for +2/+2 tends to be a pretty solid boost, as you can very cheaply allow your creature to win a lot of combats. The oil counters really matter for some cards too, though sometimes you’ll end up adding oil counters on something that can’t really do anything with them.
Pack 2 Pick 10: Whisper of the Dross
Slaughter Singer image 4.0 So, GW is about Toxic aggro – and A two mana 2/2 with Toxic 2 is already pretty solid, so offering a boost to all of your toxic creatures is nice – and will feel especially good with the tokens in the format. If you get it early it will allow you to be really aggressive, and if you get it late it can still have a pretty real and immediate impact
Vraska's Fall image 1.5 This will have its moments, but this format also has a lot of tokens and creatures who give you value when they die, and when your opponent has those to sacrifice this won’t feel worth a card at all, even with the poison counter on top
Cutthroat Centurion image 2.0 This can threaten to become a 4/4 any time it swings, which is pretty nice. This kind of card often gets through without you actually having to sacrifice anything to it, because the opponent just can’t muster a good block. This also combines well with the various sacrifice synergies, and being a free Sacrifice effect means it has the upside of working really well with Red’s usual Threaten effect.
Bladegraft Aspirant image 2.5 A three mana 2/3 with Menace is usuallya lready playable, but this also gives you some big Equipment upside! Making it cheaper to play and cheaper to put on the Aspirant is pretty serious. A menace creature is great for suiting up too
Whisper of the Dross image 1.5 If you can kill something with this, or have it help you win combat, it will feel pretty good since you’re only spending a single mana! Problem is, those situations won’t be that easy to manufacture
Pack 2 Pick 11: Plated Onslaught
Plated Onslaught image 1.5 // 3.0 Here is your big payoff for going wide with Mites! Your artifacts make it cheaper, and having a bunch of artifact creatures is going to feel really good when you have a +2/+1 boost. This sort of card usually needs a build around grade, because if you don’t have enough ways to go really wide, you can’t really play it – but when you’re in the right deck, this ends a lot of games
Predation Steward image 2.0 This seems like a fine two drop. The ability isn’t exactly efficient, and it is definitely clunky as a sorcery speed only effect, but it can certainly allow you to send in an attacker that couldn’t attack otherwise.
Cutthroat Centurion image 2.0 This can threaten to become a 4/4 any time it swings, which is pretty nice. This kind of card often gets through without you actually having to sacrifice anything to it, because the opponent just can’t muster a good block. This also combines well with the various sacrifice synergies, and being a free Sacrifice effect means it has the upside of working really well with Red’s usual Threaten effect.
Kuldotha Cackler image 2.5 This will be able to attack with higher power a decent chunk of the time for sure, but the times where it is just a lowly 2/3 will feel pretty rough.
Pack 2 Pick 12: Stinging Hivemaster
Molten Rebuke image 2.0 This is red’s usual really mediocre modal removal spell. 5 mana for 5 damage at Sorcery speed isn’t anywhere close to premium – it is super clunky and firing it off on something that is cheaper than it is rough. Destroying Equipment matters a little for sure, but the fact that most Equipment in this format has “For Mirrodin!” probably means you don’t even get a full card of value if you do that
Thrill of Possibility image 1.5 We’ve seen this before, and it is often the kind of card that spell decks will run, but no one else really wants to play, and even the spell decks would be happier with a lot of other instants and sorceries that draw them cards!
Stinging Hivemaster image 3.5 This is a very nice common. A three mana 3/2 with Toxic 1 is already probably playable, so the fact it spits out a Mite when it dies is sweet. It is worth noting that the token’s inability to block does lower the value of the token – more than adding Toxic 1 makes up for
Pack 2 Pick 13: Offer Immortality
Offer Immortality image 2.5 This trick is always decent. It doesn’t have the upside of helping you do more damage to your opponent, but it trades that in for the flexibility of winning virtually any combat and saving your creature from most removal
Aspirant's Ascent image 2.0 One mana tricks have been some pretty serious business of late, and I think this looks like another solid one. This kind of gives you two separate uses, which is great for such a low cost! First it can be used as a traditional trick to help your creature win combat with the +1/+3 boost – but you can also use it before your opponent blocks to make a big creature take to the air and crack in for a bunch of damage – along with some toxic upside
Pack 2 Pick 14: Vraska's Fall
Vraska's Fall image 1.5 This will have its moments, but this format also has a lot of tokens and creatures who give you value when they die, and when your opponent has those to sacrifice this won’t feel worth a card at all, even with the poison counter on top
Pack 3 Pick 1: Offer Immortality
Green Sun's Twilight image 3.5 I think you’ll have to pay 3 for X for this to get you two cards consistently, which means this is often a more expensive Green Divination which isn’t…great. After all, it won’t really add to the board. Obviously if you can 5 for X, you’re likely to get a land and a creature on to the battlefield, and at that point we’re talking about something that’s way better, since it gives you something on the board immediately. There will be times where you don’t get six mana’s worth of value out of it, but most of the time you’ll do alright. It is a little awkward that the more mana you spend, the less likely you’re going to get a good return on your investment – this isn’t really true of the other cards in this cycle
Watchful Blisterzoa image 2.5 So, this is basically a 6-mana 4/4 Flyer that draws you a card when it dies, and that’s a 2-for-1.. Sometimes you’ll get more oil on it and draw more cards too. That’s a reasonable enough card, even if that stat-line has felt pretty bad lately. As much as I love 2-for-1s, paying this much mana for one that doesn’t leave behind any board presence at all – and dies to lots of cheap removal – is going to feel rough sometimes. If you need a 6-drop that can finish the game and have some upside, you could do worse than this – but you can probably do better too
Magmatic Sprinter image 3.5 This looks really good. A three mana 3/2 with Haste is easily a C, and this comes with some pretty real upside! You can use this to put oil counters all over the place by casting it every turn, and there are definitely reasons to do that. Or, you can choose to have this stick in play for a couple of turns at a time if you need the board presence
Vat Emergence image 2.0 We have seen many 5 mana reanimation spells be complete duds. There’s one at Uncommon in most sets! They tend to underwhelm because it is hard to consistently get something back that is actually worth that hefty investment. However, there are two things going on here that that really change things. The first is Proliferate, which has synergy everywhere in the format. More importantly, though, is the fact that this lets you get something from any graveyard. That effectively doubles your chances of finding something to reanimate that is worth the mana, and that’s a big deal!
Maze's Mantle image 2.0 A three mana Flash Aura that gives +2/+2 is a card we’ve seen before, and it was playable. If you look at this only as a combat trick it doesn’t seem that efficient, as you can usually get +2/+2 for a single mana. However, the fact this stays around to enhance that creature beyond that turn makes a big difference. The hexproof upside is going to come up sometimes too!
Chimney Rabble image 3.0 I like the rate here. 4/4 of stats for 4, including 3 power that rumbles right away. Going wide is definitely a thing in this format, too
Prophetic Prism image 2.5 We’ve seen this before and it is always surprisingly good. Filtering mana is of course in efficient, and this doesn’t actually net you mana – but the fact this fixes your mana and replaces itself is no small thing. Actually getting a card worth of value is a big deal.
Offer Immortality image 2.5 This trick is always decent. It doesn’t have the upside of helping you do more damage to your opponent, but it trades that in for the flexibility of winning virtually any combat and saving your creature from most removal
Furnace Skullbomb image 1.5 I think this is probably the worst of the bunch, mostly because its effect is more niche than the others. If you don’t have a permanent that cares about oil counters, it doesn’t do anything, while the others have effects that pretty much always do something. It still can be cycled away easily, and when you can get value out of the counters it is fine, but it is a bit worse than the others.
Thrill of Possibility image 1.5 We’ve seen this before, and it is often the kind of card that spell decks will run, but no one else really wants to play, and even the spell decks would be happier with a lot of other instants and sorceries that draw them cards!
Malcator's Watcher image 2.0 I like cards that replace themselves, and this has a fairly relevant body by virtue of being evasive and an Artifact.
Orthodoxy Enforcer image 2.0 This is a decent Common payoff for having Artifacts, as a 4-mana 4/4 with Vigilance is a formidable body all game long. When you don’t get that going, though, this will feel pretty bad
Dross Skullbomb image 2.5 This one can get a creature back from your graveyard and draw you a card, and once it does that you get a pretty nice 2-for-1
Glistener Seer image 2.0 One mana 0/3s are pretty underwhelming. This one does Scry a few times though, and that can be useful all game long.
Pack 3 Pick 2: Planar Disruption
Infectious Bite image 4.0 Instant speed Rabid Bite is great, so tacking on Poison upside is pretty awesome. As always, you have to be a little careful about casting removal like this, but it will do the job really well most of the time.
Hexgold Hoverwings image 3.5 This gives you a 4-mana 3/2 Flyer up front, which is a passable card, so the additional upside here is great. Buffing all your Equipped creatures is going to come up, especially in RW – and just being able to move this Equipment around to whatever creature benefits most from it is pretty great.
Serum-Core Chimera image 3.0 As usual, Blue/Red is into spells – but there is an oil counter theme too! Like most signposts, this looks pretty nice. A 4-mana 2/4 Flyer isn’t amazing, but is actually a solid stat-line – so the upside of drawing a card and bolting a creature or planeswalker every three spells is pretty massive. The thing I don’t love here is that there are often going to be times where you just can’t get that third oil counter, even with proliferate around
Zealot's Conviction image 2.5 A one mana Aura with Flash that gives +1/+1 is already somewhat acceptable. The boost isn’t massive, so it can’t win that many combats, but the fact that it leaves a permanent buff behind really matters, because it means you effect the board in the short-term and long-term when you can win combat. Then, when you get Corrupted going, this becomes really good, as +2/+1 and First Strike is going to win you most combats, and the boost is once again permanent! One mana tricks really tend to overperform, even when the lack the ability to save a creature from most removal like this
The Dross Pits image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Experimental Augury image 2.5 Anticipate usually isn’t great in Limited, but tacking Proliferate on to is a pretty big deal. There are lots of counters in this set, and even payoffs for prolfierating specifically! On top of that, UR likes spells, and this kind of instant that replaces itself always gets a boost there. Basically, this will actually effect the board reasonably often thanks to the synergies in the set, while also giving you some solid card selection.
Planar Disruption image 1.5 This really leaves Pacifism and Arrest in the dust, and is a great removal spell for White. Regular Pacifism effects often have the downside of not shutting down activated abilities, so you can’t always completely remove a card – but you can do that with Planar Disruption. You still have to worry about static effects, but those are much rarer. Its great you can slap it on Artifacts and Planeswalkers too
The Fair Basilica image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Branchblight Stalker image 2.5 A two mana 3/1 with upside will usually make the cut in aggro decks, but it isn’t anything special
Offer Immortality image 2.5 This trick is always decent. It doesn’t have the upside of helping you do more damage to your opponent, but it trades that in for the flexibility of winning virtually any combat and saving your creature from most removal
Sinew Dancer image 2.0 So, if you don’t get Corrupted going, this is a pretty bad card. While Master Decoy-type creatures are nice, we’ve seen in the past that asking for four mana for such an effect is just too much, and not an effective way to use your mana on most turns. Obviously, if you can get some poison on your opponent, it gets a lot better – as one mana a turn to tap something often just feels like removal. There is some interesting synergy to be had here, as if you have three poison on your opponent, you probably have some Toxic creatures in play, in which case tapping down a blocker is going to be increasingly problematic for your opponent. That said, getting three poison on your opponent is significant set up, and the baseline card is pretty bad
Oil-Gorger Troll image 3.0 A 5-mana ¾ that gains you 3 life when it enters the battlefield is not especially good, so how good this card is comes down to how often you get to draw. I think it is definitely accessible, and one this card is gaining you life and netting you a card, it is going to feel pretty sweet. This is another Green card that feels like it can do a reasonable job of throwing a monkey wrench into the plans of aggro decks, as is often the case for creatures that gain life on ETB.
Forgehammer Centurion image 2.5 This isn’t as good as some Common Red cards that can make something unable to block, because the set up is fairly significant, but when it can use that ability it will really open the floodgates on your opponent.
Pack 3 Pick 3: Ambulatory Edifice
Ambulatory Edifice image 3.0 When you can kill something with the -1/-1 this will feel pretty good. When you can’t, it will feel pretty mediocre. Sometimes you’ll be able to weaken something in a way that is beneficial for you, but you definitely want to be killing stuff with it.
Awaken the Sleeper image 1.0 // 3.0 Here’s the usual Threaten effect! It is interesting its an Uncommon, which means consistently getting it when you have sacrifice outlets is going to be harder than normal. It is also kind of a bummer that it destroys the equipment immediately, instead of you getting a swing in first. But hey, the Equipment destruction angle does mean that you get to trade 1-for-1 in that situation, and that’s not too bad on top of all the other things that this can allow. As usual, this kind of a card is a build around. If you can’t consistently get that full card of value – by destroying Equipment or by sacrificing what you steal – you’re looking at a card that is pretty much only useful in one situation: When you can use it and win on the spot
Tyrranax Atrocity image 2.5 Toxic 3 is a lot, as it will immediately give you Corrupted if you don’t already have it, and if you do already have it 3 poison is going to get your opponent in the red zone. Toxic pairs really well with Haste too, as it makes it easier to get in that first time, or at the very least set up a situation where your opponent’s options are a bad chump block or taking the hit.
Gitaxian Anatomist image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/5 is passable, and having the option to Proliferate can be nice, especially because Blue has lots of oil counters running around – and some poison too! It is definitely awkward you have to tap this to Proliferate, since the thing this card is best at in terms of combat is blocking, and not being able to do that for a turn might be a liability.
Maze Skullbomb image 2.5 have the time to use the ability.
Whisper of the Dross image 1.5 If you can kill something with this, or have it help you win combat, it will feel pretty good since you’re only spending a single mana! Problem is, those situations won’t be that easy to manufacture
Hazardous Blast image 1.5 // 2.5 We’ve seen this card before, more or less, and in the right deck it can be a pretty good way to end the game, as turning off all blocking can really allow you to do a ton of damage. In a pinch, it can also sweep away a bunch of X/1s, like Mite tokens and the like – so it sort of has an alternate mode, but certainly the most powerful thing to do with it is use it to let you alpha strike for the win. With Toxic in the format, it may be easier than normal to set up lethal too, since you can threaten with both poison counters and damage
Duelist of Deep Faith image 3.0 This is going to be a pain to block all game long, and that goes really well alongside Toxic. That makes this a pretty high quality Common
Thirsting Roots image 2.5 This is a solid modal card. It can help you fix your mana or just hit a land drop, and it is the kind of card that can almost stand in for a land in your deck, since it is almost a modal double-faced land card! Once you have the lands you need, you can Proliferate for some nice value. Sometimes neither mode will be useful, which is a bummer – but most of the time you’ll be getting something worthwhile for the investment.
The Autonomous Furnace image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Prologue to Phyresis image 2.0 This isn’t especially powerful on its own, as a poison counter isn’t worth a ton on its own – but this is a spell that replaces itself, and the UR deck will make decent use of it
Furnace Skullbomb image 1.5 I think this is probably the worst of the bunch, mostly because its effect is more niche than the others. If you don’t have a permanent that cares about oil counters, it doesn’t do anything, while the others have effects that pretty much always do something. It still can be cycled away easily, and when you can get value out of the counters it is fine, but it is a bit worse than the others.
Pack 3 Pick 4: Annihilating Glare
Resistance Reunited image 1.5 +2/+2 can definitely win you some combats, but it isn’t that efficient and doesn’t have that much additional upside, and you need tricks to be flexible and powerful to counteract the downside of a 2-for-1 risk, and +2/+2 for 2 doesn’t really get you there. The Equipment upside is nice – and once you’re doing that, you can turn it in to a card that blanks removal too. Even in this set, with lots of Equipment, I think you’re going to cut this a decent chunk of the time
Churning Reservoir image 1.0 // 3.0 This feels like it has the potential to be quite the value engine, as there are lots of Red cards that can do some stuff with oil counters. The token creation effect certainly isn’t the most efficient thing ever, but I can see some decks finding a way to utilize it on turns when they can. This probably needs a buildaround though, as you really need to have a critical mass of oil counters and oil counter payoffs or this just won’t do enough to be worth a card
Cinderslash Ravager image 3.5 Paying five for this seems eminently doable, and I think that will feel like a pretty good deal! Sometimes you’ll be able to get it out there even earlier, and there are enough 1/1 tokens and X/1s in the set that you’ll get to pick off at least one creature a decent chunk of the time when you play this.
Charge of the Mites image 2.5 While you’re overpaying a bit for each of these modes individually, the modality here is definitely nice! If you’re good at going wide – and if you’re in White you probably are – it can be a reasonable removal spell. If you’re having a hard time getting your board going, it can give you a couple of mites!
Malcator's Watcher image 2.0 I like cards that replace themselves, and this has a fairly relevant body by virtue of being evasive and an Artifact.
The Dross Pits image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Duelist of Deep Faith image 3.0 This is going to be a pain to block all game long, and that goes really well alongside Toxic. That makes this a pretty high quality Common
Blazing Crescendo image 2.0 This is somewhat similar to Enthusiastic Study from Strixhaven, in that it gives a +3/+1 boost and draws you a card. Enthusiastic Study gave trample too, which makes it better, but I think this is still a nice trick. Now, a +3/+1 boost isn’t great, as many creatures will still die because the toughness boost is so low – but this offsets that downside by getting you that card back. And, if you do manage to make your creature survive and get the card, it will feel great
Annihilating Glare image 3.5 This is reminiscent of Eaten Alive, a Common removal spell that played really well in a format that had lots of expendable tokens to sacrifice. You know what this format also has? That’s right, lots of expendable tokens – especially if you’re in Black/White and have access to lots of Mites.
Ruthless Predation image 3.5 This is basically Epic Confrontation, which is a great Limited Common. +1/+2 enables a lot more of your creatures to Fight successfully, and you can often knock a blocker out of the way and swing in with your buffed creature.
Gitaxian Anatomist image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/5 is passable, and having the option to Proliferate can be nice, especially because Blue has lots of oil counters running around – and some poison too! It is definitely awkward you have to tap this to Proliferate, since the thing this card is best at in terms of combat is blocking, and not being able to do that for a turn might be a liability.
Pack 3 Pick 5: Infectious Inquiry
Incubation Sac image 3.5 This has the potential to be really good in Limited, especially because it has the ability to make three bodies at the very least! Now, it certainly isn’t efficient at doing it, but in a lot of Limited formats cards that simply let you outcard the opponent are what you need, and this will definitely do it. A three-for-one really isn’t out of the question, and that’s not something you find at lower rarities most of the time. It reminds me a little bit of Mask of the Jadecrafter from The Brothers’ War, which turned out to be pretty good. I’m going to start the format pretty high on this thing – though if it ends up being a format that is dominated by aggro, this will drop precipitously.
Expand the Sphere image 1.5 You have a pretty good chance of hitting two lands when you cast this, and that’s some pretty serious ramp – but I love that you can choose some combination of lands and proliferating when you cast this. Sometimes in the late game drawing your ramp spell is pretty awful, and this becomes a 4-mana Sorcery that Proliferates twice in that situation, and that’s often going to have a significant impact on the board. That said, format looks fast enough that there won’t be that many decks looking to take this.
Malcator's Watcher image 2.0 I like cards that replace themselves, and this has a fairly relevant body by virtue of being evasive and an Artifact.
Thrill of Possibility image 1.5 We’ve seen this before, and it is often the kind of card that spell decks will run, but no one else really wants to play, and even the spell decks would be happier with a lot of other instants and sorceries that draw them cards!
Cruel Grimnarch image 1.5 Oftentimes a creature that makes your opponent discard really drops off in the late game, because your opponent is in top deck mode. So, its nice that this can gain you 4 life in that situation. We’re still talking about a creature that is fairly below-rate. Adding deathtouch to a 5/5 isn’t a huge upgrade, and if your opponent just holds on to a land in the late game this will still have the usual downside this type of card has
Ruthless Predation image 3.5 This is basically Epic Confrontation, which is a great Limited Common. +1/+2 enables a lot more of your creatures to Fight successfully, and you can often knock a blocker out of the way and swing in with your buffed creature.
Surgical Skullbomb image 2.5 Like the others, this cycles at worst, and can have a real impact on the board that still nets you a card.
The Surgical Bay image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Infectious Inquiry image 2.0 Black usually gets a three mana Common that does some version of draw 2 lose 2, and it is usually a passable card. Not adding to the board can be a liability, and this format does feel like it will be a fast one – so you never really want more than one of these. That first copy seems alright, though.
Bladegraft Aspirant image 2.5 A three mana 2/3 with Menace is usuallya lready playable, but this also gives you some big Equipment upside! Making it cheaper to play and cheaper to put on the Aspirant is pretty serious. A menace creature is great for suiting up too
Pack 3 Pick 6: Vraska's Fall
Tyvar's Stand image 3.5 Two mana for +1/+1, hexproof, and indestructible is a pretty solid trick, and this has the upside of both scaling as the game goes on and being castable for only mana when that’s useful for you. The best tricks have the ability to win combat and protect a creature from removal, giving them broad situations where you want to use them, and this definitely does that, and can even give you lethal out of nowhere! This is one of the best Limited combat tricks we’ve ever seen.
Sylvok Battle-Chair image 3.0 This is Colossal Dreadmaw with upside, since it starts out as a 6-mana 6/6 Trampler. The Equip cost is obviously massive here, but once you reach a point where you can just slap this on whatever you want your opponent is going to be in serious trouble. Unlike the Engulfer we just saw, this does leave value on the board no matter what.
Prosthetic Injector image 1.5 This is cheap to play and Equip, but it doesn’t feel like it is worth a whole card to me. +0/+2 is a pretty meager boost, and while Toxic and Equipment have synergy in this format, there are better options for both of those of things that are also at lower rarities!
Skyscythe Engulfer image 1.5 If you’re behind, it can hang back and block even flyers, and if you’re ahead, it can attack pretty hard. I wish there was some sort of ETB associated with it so you got some permanent value, though. Six mana is a lot to not get something like that!
Sawblade Scamp image 2.5 This is kind of close to being Thermo-Alchemist, and that card has been great in spell decks in several different formats at this point. This does die super easy, but it only costs one, so your opponent won’t really be able to trade up for it or anything, and if it sits around in play in your spell-heavy deck, it is going to chip in for a ton of damage. Now, it is worse that the Alchemist, because the Alchemist can do damage without the help of spells, it just does more when you have them. The Scamp doesn’t do anything when you can’t find your spells, which happens
Free from Flesh image 2.0 One mana for +2/+2 tends to be a pretty solid boost, as you can very cheaply allow your creature to win a lot of combats. The oil counters really matter for some cards too, though sometimes you’ll end up adding oil counters on something that can’t really do anything with them.
Surgical Skullbomb image 2.5 Like the others, this cycles at worst, and can have a real impact on the board that still nets you a card.
Vraska's Fall image 1.5 This will have its moments, but this format also has a lot of tokens and creatures who give you value when they die, and when your opponent has those to sacrifice this won’t feel worth a card at all, even with the poison counter on top
Prologue to Phyresis image 2.0 This isn’t especially powerful on its own, as a poison counter isn’t worth a ton on its own – but this is a spell that replaces itself, and the UR deck will make decent use of it
Pack 3 Pick 7: Prosthetic Injector
Prosthetic Injector image 1.5 This is cheap to play and Equip, but it doesn’t feel like it is worth a whole card to me. +0/+2 is a pretty meager boost, and while Toxic and Equipment have synergy in this format, there are better options for both of those of things that are also at lower rarities!
Oxidda Finisher image 2.5 Paying 7 for this is bad, 6 is medium, and 5 is solid. Getting it lower than that is sort of unlikely, although with For Mirrodin!, it will be easier to play more Equipment in this format than in most. Normally you can’t run a ton of it because you need the creatures to put it on, but most of the Equipment in this set gives you both. Still, getting this to 5 is a reasonable expectation, getting below that probably isn’t.
Ichor Synthesizer image 1.5 A two mana 1/3 is below-rate these days, but this does eventually become an unblockable 3/3, and that’s certainly something your opponent has to contend with. What I don’t like, is that if you don’t get this down early, your chances of getting to four oil counters are significantly curtailed, in which case you’re just playing something that is pretty close to a two mana 1/3, and I don’t like that.
Zealot's Conviction image 2.5 A one mana Aura with Flash that gives +1/+1 is already somewhat acceptable. The boost isn’t massive, so it can’t win that many combats, but the fact that it leaves a permanent buff behind really matters, because it means you effect the board in the short-term and long-term when you can win combat. Then, when you get Corrupted going, this becomes really good, as +2/+1 and First Strike is going to win you most combats, and the boost is once again permanent! One mana tricks really tend to overperform, even when the lack the ability to save a creature from most removal like this
The Fair Basilica image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Carnivorous Canopy image 1.5 There are enough Artifacts and Enchantments in this set that this it probably isn’t a disaster to run this, especially with that Proliferate upside. It is a bit of a bummer that all this Artifact spot removal is a little worse in a world with the “For Mirrodin!” mechanic, because your opponent still holds on to a token, and being a Sorcery is pretty rough too. This is mostly a sideboard card, though. I think you’ll be disappointed if this makes your main deck.
Oil-Gorger Troll image 3.0 A 5-mana ¾ that gains you 3 life when it enters the battlefield is not especially good, so how good this card is comes down to how often you get to draw. I think it is definitely accessible, and one this card is gaining you life and netting you a card, it is going to feel pretty sweet. This is another Green card that feels like it can do a reasonable job of throwing a monkey wrench into the plans of aggro decks, as is often the case for creatures that gain life on ETB.
Maze Skullbomb image 2.5 have the time to use the ability.
Pack 3 Pick 8: Ravenous Necrotitan
Ravenous Necrotitan image 2.5 I’m not in love with this. A 4-mana 6/6 that always makes you sacrifice a creature when it enters isn’t worth it except in decks with good sacrifice fodder. And while its nice that sometimes this will just be a straight up 4-mana 6/6 with no downside, it will probably be at the point in the game where it isn’t nearly as imposing. We’re still just talking about a card that’s biggest upside is that it is a big vanilla creature, and that isn’t exciting.
Annihilating Glare image 3.5 This is reminiscent of Eaten Alive, a Common removal spell that played really well in a format that had lots of expendable tokens to sacrifice. You know what this format also has? That’s right, lots of expendable tokens – especially if you’re in Black/White and have access to lots of Mites.
Blazing Crescendo image 2.0 This is somewhat similar to Enthusiastic Study from Strixhaven, in that it gives a +3/+1 boost and draws you a card. Enthusiastic Study gave trample too, which makes it better, but I think this is still a nice trick. Now, a +3/+1 boost isn’t great, as many creatures will still die because the toughness boost is so low – but this offsets that downside by getting you that card back. And, if you do manage to make your creature survive and get the card, it will feel great
Whisper of the Dross image 1.5 If you can kill something with this, or have it help you win combat, it will feel pretty good since you’re only spending a single mana! Problem is, those situations won’t be that easy to manufacture
Indoctrination Attendant image 2.5 A 4-mana ¾ with Toxic is acceptable, and there are certainly some nice ETBs to rebuy in this format. Its nice that this can do that for you while also generating a Mite. You can even bounce a land if you want to get the 1/1!
Mirran Bardiche image 2.0 This one gives you a 5-mana 4/3 with Vigilance up front. As is the case for most of the Common For Mirrodin! Artifacts, that rate wouldn’t really be acceptable all on its own – but being able to move the boost around when you need to is nice.
Fleshless Gladiator image 3.0 This seems like a solid Common. You can play it early as a bear, and then in the mid to late game it can start coming back from your graveyard, which can net you a very real advantage
Pack 3 Pick 9: Vat Emergence
Magmatic Sprinter image 3.5 This looks really good. A three mana 3/2 with Haste is easily a C, and this comes with some pretty real upside! You can use this to put oil counters all over the place by casting it every turn, and there are definitely reasons to do that. Or, you can choose to have this stick in play for a couple of turns at a time if you need the board presence
Vat Emergence image 2.0 We have seen many 5 mana reanimation spells be complete duds. There’s one at Uncommon in most sets! They tend to underwhelm because it is hard to consistently get something back that is actually worth that hefty investment. However, there are two things going on here that that really change things. The first is Proliferate, which has synergy everywhere in the format. More importantly, though, is the fact that this lets you get something from any graveyard. That effectively doubles your chances of finding something to reanimate that is worth the mana, and that’s a big deal!
Maze's Mantle image 2.0 A three mana Flash Aura that gives +2/+2 is a card we’ve seen before, and it was playable. If you look at this only as a combat trick it doesn’t seem that efficient, as you can usually get +2/+2 for a single mana. However, the fact this stays around to enhance that creature beyond that turn makes a big difference. The hexproof upside is going to come up sometimes too!
Thrill of Possibility image 1.5 We’ve seen this before, and it is often the kind of card that spell decks will run, but no one else really wants to play, and even the spell decks would be happier with a lot of other instants and sorceries that draw them cards!
Malcator's Watcher image 2.0 I like cards that replace themselves, and this has a fairly relevant body by virtue of being evasive and an Artifact.
Glistener Seer image 2.0 One mana 0/3s are pretty underwhelming. This one does Scry a few times though, and that can be useful all game long.
Pack 3 Pick 10: Infectious Bite
Infectious Bite image 4.0 Instant speed Rabid Bite is great, so tacking on Poison upside is pretty awesome. As always, you have to be a little careful about casting removal like this, but it will do the job really well most of the time.
Zealot's Conviction image 2.5 A one mana Aura with Flash that gives +1/+1 is already somewhat acceptable. The boost isn’t massive, so it can’t win that many combats, but the fact that it leaves a permanent buff behind really matters, because it means you effect the board in the short-term and long-term when you can win combat. Then, when you get Corrupted going, this becomes really good, as +2/+1 and First Strike is going to win you most combats, and the boost is once again permanent! One mana tricks really tend to overperform, even when the lack the ability to save a creature from most removal like this
Experimental Augury image 2.5 Anticipate usually isn’t great in Limited, but tacking Proliferate on to is a pretty big deal. There are lots of counters in this set, and even payoffs for prolfierating specifically! On top of that, UR likes spells, and this kind of instant that replaces itself always gets a boost there. Basically, this will actually effect the board reasonably often thanks to the synergies in the set, while also giving you some solid card selection.
Offer Immortality image 2.5 This trick is always decent. It doesn’t have the upside of helping you do more damage to your opponent, but it trades that in for the flexibility of winning virtually any combat and saving your creature from most removal
Forgehammer Centurion image 2.5 This isn’t as good as some Common Red cards that can make something unable to block, because the set up is fairly significant, but when it can use that ability it will really open the floodgates on your opponent.
Pack 3 Pick 11: Whisper of the Dross
Awaken the Sleeper image 1.0 // 3.0 Here’s the usual Threaten effect! It is interesting its an Uncommon, which means consistently getting it when you have sacrifice outlets is going to be harder than normal. It is also kind of a bummer that it destroys the equipment immediately, instead of you getting a swing in first. But hey, the Equipment destruction angle does mean that you get to trade 1-for-1 in that situation, and that’s not too bad on top of all the other things that this can allow. As usual, this kind of a card is a build around. If you can’t consistently get that full card of value – by destroying Equipment or by sacrificing what you steal – you’re looking at a card that is pretty much only useful in one situation: When you can use it and win on the spot
Whisper of the Dross image 1.5 If you can kill something with this, or have it help you win combat, it will feel pretty good since you’re only spending a single mana! Problem is, those situations won’t be that easy to manufacture
Hazardous Blast image 1.5 // 2.5 We’ve seen this card before, more or less, and in the right deck it can be a pretty good way to end the game, as turning off all blocking can really allow you to do a ton of damage. In a pinch, it can also sweep away a bunch of X/1s, like Mite tokens and the like – so it sort of has an alternate mode, but certainly the most powerful thing to do with it is use it to let you alpha strike for the win. With Toxic in the format, it may be easier than normal to set up lethal too, since you can threaten with both poison counters and damage
Thirsting Roots image 2.5 This is a solid modal card. It can help you fix your mana or just hit a land drop, and it is the kind of card that can almost stand in for a land in your deck, since it is almost a modal double-faced land card! Once you have the lands you need, you can Proliferate for some nice value. Sometimes neither mode will be useful, which is a bummer – but most of the time you’ll be getting something worthwhile for the investment.
Pack 3 Pick 12: Resistance Reunited
Resistance Reunited image 1.5 +2/+2 can definitely win you some combats, but it isn’t that efficient and doesn’t have that much additional upside, and you need tricks to be flexible and powerful to counteract the downside of a 2-for-1 risk, and +2/+2 for 2 doesn’t really get you there. The Equipment upside is nice – and once you’re doing that, you can turn it in to a card that blanks removal too. Even in this set, with lots of Equipment, I think you’re going to cut this a decent chunk of the time
Blazing Crescendo image 2.0 This is somewhat similar to Enthusiastic Study from Strixhaven, in that it gives a +3/+1 boost and draws you a card. Enthusiastic Study gave trample too, which makes it better, but I think this is still a nice trick. Now, a +3/+1 boost isn’t great, as many creatures will still die because the toughness boost is so low – but this offsets that downside by getting you that card back. And, if you do manage to make your creature survive and get the card, it will feel great
Gitaxian Anatomist image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/5 is passable, and having the option to Proliferate can be nice, especially because Blue has lots of oil counters running around – and some poison too! It is definitely awkward you have to tap this to Proliferate, since the thing this card is best at in terms of combat is blocking, and not being able to do that for a turn might be a liability.
Pack 3 Pick 13: Cruel Grimnarch
Thrill of Possibility image 1.5 We’ve seen this before, and it is often the kind of card that spell decks will run, but no one else really wants to play, and even the spell decks would be happier with a lot of other instants and sorceries that draw them cards!
Cruel Grimnarch image 1.5 Oftentimes a creature that makes your opponent discard really drops off in the late game, because your opponent is in top deck mode. So, its nice that this can gain you 4 life in that situation. We’re still talking about a creature that is fairly below-rate. Adding deathtouch to a 5/5 isn’t a huge upgrade, and if your opponent just holds on to a land in the late game this will still have the usual downside this type of card has
Pack 3 Pick 14: Sylvok Battle-Chair
Sylvok Battle-Chair image 3.0 This is Colossal Dreadmaw with upside, since it starts out as a 6-mana 6/6 Trampler. The Equip cost is obviously massive here, but once you reach a point where you can just slap this on whatever you want your opponent is going to be in serious trouble. Unlike the Engulfer we just saw, this does leave value on the board no matter what.
Draft Pick Overview