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Quick Draft VOW 11 March 2023

11 March 12:51 - ThereminCrow 7 Wins - 1 Losses
Maindeck
Creature (14)
1 Katilda, Dawnhart Martyr // Katilda's Rising Dawn image
1 Kindly Ancestor // Ancestor's Embrace image
1 Diregraf Scavenger image
1 Panicked Bystander // Cackling Culprit image
1 Dawnhart Geist image
1 Heron-Blessed Geist image
1 Foreboding Statue // Foresaken Thresher image
1 Heron of Hope image
1 Rot-Tide Gargantua image
1 Bloodcrazed Socialite image
1 Doomed Dissenter image
1 Ragged Recluse // Odious Witch image
1 Parish-Blade Trainee image
1 Estwald Shieldbasher image
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (9)
2 Bleed Dry image
1 Sigarda's Imprisonment image
1 Hero's Downfall image
1 By Invitation Only image
1 Circle of Confinement image
1 Grisly Ritual image
1 Fierce Retribution image
1 Gift of Fangs image
Land (17)
2 Evolving Wilds image
8 Swamp image
7 Plains image
Sideboard
1 Flourishing Hunter image
1 Unholy Officiant image
1 Nebelgast Beguiler image
1 Vampire Slayer image
1 Supernatural Rescue image
1 Lacerate Flesh image
1 Honored Heirloom image
1 Sure Strike image
2 Bramble Armor image
1 Wedding Invitation image
1 Aim for the Head image
1 Witch's Web image
1 Vampire's Kiss image
1 Arm the Cathars image
1 Massive Might image
1 Sundown Pass image

Pack 1 Pick 1: Katilda, Dawnhart Martyr
Katilda, Dawnhart Martyr image 4.5 So, let’s assume your deck has 0 other Enchantments or Spirits -- that won’t be the case, but its a good place to start! In that deck, she would be a three mana 1/1 with Flying, Lifelink, and protection from a relevant creature that, which can disturb into an Aura that gives +1/+1 flying, lifelink, and protection from Vampires. That would already be a playable card. The aura granting those key words and stats boost is especially nice -- and the thing is, your deck is going to have way more spirits and Enchantments than that! Even just having her be a 2/2 or the Aura give +2/+2 is a huge upgrade. She’s obviously at her best in UW, which is the most Spirit and Enchantment happy, but because the baseline is so reasonable, you can probably play her in any White deck and be reasonably happy. I think it is going to be a real pain to deal with either side of this. I think she’s a bomb.
Markov Waltzer image 3.5 This adds three power to the board the turn it comes down, and it will always be really enhancing your attacks, which is exactly what you want to be doing in RW, a color pair all about aggro.
Skulking Killer image 2.5 The design here is pretty cool, and if you were able to trigger that ETB ability consistently, it would be an incredible card. Problem is, in games of Limited your opponent will frequently have more than a single creature. Even if you play this as early as possible, on turn 4, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to get value out of the ability, in which case you’re talking about a 4-mana 4/2, which is pretty horrendous. It basically gets better the more removal you have, since it will be easier for you to control the board, but that’s a lot of set up.
Sigardian Paladin image 3.5 This is another great signpost Uncommon. It has a baseline of being a 4-mana 4/4, and brings all kinds of amazing additional value. The one bummer about the card is it doesn’t also bring a +1/+1 counter along with it, but there are so many of them in this format that it will really do some serious work.
Ragged Recluse image 2.5 This format has enough ways to discard – Blood tokens in particular – that transforming this thing into a witch is very doable, and once you do you have a pretty nice creature., although it isn’t exactly a world breaker.
Massive Might image 2.0 It feels like the last few sets have had some pretty legit tricks, and this is definitely another one. One mana tricks tend to be pretty nice in aggressive decks, as you get some serious tempo when you use them to win combat, and this one definitely gives you enough of a boost to be worth running in those decks. Now, it IS still a track, and those always come with significant risks, but I think this is one you’ll play the first copy of reasonably often, provided you’re aggro.
Lacerate Flesh image 1.5 This is some pretty mediocre removal. 5 for 4 damage just isn’t much, and you’ll often be trading drown with it. Getting some Blood doesn’t really save it from mediocrity. It is still removal and brings some Blood and Spell synergy, so it’s something you’ll play sometimes.
Honored Heirloom image 1.5 3 mana mana rocks are very rarely good in Limited, even if they add mana of any color. This one luckily comes with some additional value, as exiling stuff from graveyards does legitimately matter in this format. Still, you probably don’t play this unless you’re splashing a third color, as it is still very low impact.
Heron-Blessed Geist image 2.5 A 5-mana 3/3 Flyer isn’t very good, but the fact it can make 1/1 flyers from the graveyard is big, and will often feel like you’re getting a 2-for-1. You do need to have an Enchantment in play to use that ability, which is a little annoying, but seems doable enough.
Spore Crawler image 3.0 I like this. It doesn’t do anything fancy, but it has 2-for-1 written all over it, and I always like Commons that can produce those easily.
Doomed Dissenter image 3.0 This is a reprint, and a nice one to have in a set with Exploit. This is a great thing to sacrifice, and even apart from that, it can be a really obnoxious creature that just makes all X/1s really sad, since it just trades and gives you a 2/2. You get 3/3 of stats out of this for only two mana in the end, and that’s pretty nice.
Repository Skaab image 3.0 A Hill Giant that sometimes rebuys you an Instant or Sorcery is decent. Obviously, you don’t really want to give up a real creature for the effect all the time, otherwise it is a roundabout way of rummaging, but recurring removal spells is especially potent, and giving up a creature for that is often going to be worth it, especially if you sacrifice a card that brings you some value when it dies.
Estwald Shieldbasher image 2.5 This doesn’t have great stats for the cost, but the ability to become indestructible when it attacks makes up for that. It’s a nice place to put +1/+1 counters and Auras, and those are very real things in this format.
Wedding Invitation image 1.5 This replaces itself, and that’s good, because the effect it has wouldn’t be worth anywhere close to worth an entire card. But yeah, since it replaces itself, the effect is pretty decent, especially on a vampire, as lifelink can really alter races. Still isn’t a great card, though. It will be pretty easy to cut since it is so low impact.
Pack 1 Pick 2: Bleed Dry
Blood Hypnotist image 3.0 This looks pretty good to me. Sure, it can’t Block, but the fact it can make opposing things unable to block when you sacrifice Treasure is pretty big for aggressive decks. This can really be part of a pretty devastating curve out. Obviously, you need Blood, but if you’re in Red, you’ll have access to enough that this will be worth playing.
Child of the Pack image 3.5 A 4-mana 2/5 that can crank out 2/2s is a nice mana sink, and it actually combos pretty well with itself, since you can just choose to use that ability rather than cast spells, and that allows you to still add to the board while getting to transform the Child into its werewolf form, which will be making that same token into a 3/2 -- and pumping your whole board in generally is pretty nice!
Spiked Ripsaw image 3.0 This reminds me a lot of Plate Armor, and that’s pretty good company to keep, because that was a very powerful piece of Equipment. It costs the same to play and equip and gives the same stats boost, though Plate Armor also granted Ward and could reduce its equip cost. In place of that, though, Spiked Ripjaw can make your creature have trample, which is pretty nice. But yeah, this big of a stats boost can make almost any creature into a threat, and that’s what makes this so nice.
Wretched Throng image 0.0 // 3.5 I always really like collect ‘em all cards in Limited, they make for interesting picks, and this is a fun take on that. The main idea here is that you can keep getting Exploit fodder if you have multiple copies, but just the fact that it can block and trade and get you another Throng is actually pretty good too. A card like this always needs a range of grades. If you have one of these, you’re never going to play it, but as soon as you have two, you’re looking at a 2.5, if you have 3, it is 3.0, if you have 4 or more, it’s a 3.5.
Moldgraf Millipede image 2.0 This is a decent payoff for the UG deck in the format, which likes milling. It is hard to overlook how bad this will feel if you only end up with one or two creatures, but I think if its at least a 4/4 you feel okay about it, and sometimes it will be much bigger. It is still just a big vanilla creature, though.
Snarling Wolf image 1.5 This is another reprint from Midnight Hunt. It was solid there, as it could come down early and help set up Pack Tactics. It will probably be about the same here, except it will help set up Training. Still nothing special though, and not something you even always run. There are a lot of two drops that are just way better.
Supernatural Rescue image 1.0 This has a neat design, and is obviously really geared toward the UW deck, which is about Auras and Spirits. This having Flash will be particularly attractive, as you can use it to prevent one round of attacks and blocks when you do, and you can also get the stats boost at Instant speed, which isn’t too shabby. When it doesn’t have Flash, it is pretty clunky, though tapping down a couple of things can often make some more attacks possible. Still, the mana cost is pretty high here, and you won’t have much reason to run Auras like this when you can just run creatures with Disturb who are far more useful up front. Even with the Spirit upside, I don’t see myself playing this very often.
Hungry Ridgewolf image 2.5 This isn’t the most exciting payoff ever, but it has decent base stats and will sometimes be a 3/2 with Trample, which is especially nice.
Dreadlight Monstrosity image 1.5 This doesn’t seem very good. A 6-mana 5/5 is an ugly rate, even with Ward 2, and yeah – it can become unblockable, but only for a huge chunk of mana, and only if you have a card in exile. Now, by the time you can use the ability it is reasonably likely you have something in exile because of Disturb, but there will be times where that just isn’t the case, and without that ability, this card is really not good. You’ll play it if you’re desperate for a finisher I guess, but you’re hoping for something better.
Bleed Dry image 4.0 This is pretty much unconditional, and exiling the thing you kill is a nice bonus. This is premium removal for sure, and maybe Black’s best Common.
Weaver of Blossoms image 2.5 This is a nice source of fixing and ramp with decent stats, and sometimes those stats are more than decent and it ramps even more!
Dawnhart Disciple image 2.5 This is a nice two drop, one that will often be a 3/3 when you’re just curving out.
Unhallowed Phalanx image 1.0 // 2.5 The idea here is that you play this in the toughness matters deck, and I think you’ll play this reasonably often there, but you won’t really be playing it anywhere else. Sure, it can block well, but a 1/13 just isn’t that exciting -- it won’t be able to kill anything in combat, and the fact it can’t block right away is pretty brutal. There are some sweet combos to pull off with this in BG, like sacrificing this to the flipped Catapult creature.
Pack 1 Pick 3: Kindly Ancestor
Lunar Rejection image 2.5 We’ve seen this card before without the werewolf hate side of things, and it was pretty solid. Bouncing a thing doesn’t usually give you a 1-or-1 trade, but because you draw a card, that’s what this amounts to, and you’re usually coming out ahead on tempo. Obviously, the Werewolf hosing upside will feel insane.
Geistlight Snare image 1.5 I’m always a bit skeptical of counter magic in Limited. This is a bad mana leak a big chunk of the time, and sometimes it will cost two or one, which will obviously feel much better, but you still have to hold it up at the right time for it to do its thing, and it has waning value as the game goes on and players have more mana.
Sanctify image 0.5 This is good at destroying Artifacts and Enchantments, and I think there are enough of them that this might make your main deck sometimes. While there are lots of Auras, keep in mind, blowing up the disturbed side of a card isn’t really going to be a one-for-one and won’t feel that great, and I think that limits how good this is in your main deck. You mostly want this out of your sideboard.
Falkenrath Celebrants image 2.5 This is a decent 5-drop. A 5-mana 4/4 with Menace is A 2.0 at best, but the two blood tokens it gives you can fuel some stuff or improve your hand.
Cradle of Safety image 2.0 This is functionally identical to Starlit Mantle, a card we saw fairly recently that overperformed. This Aura doesn’t give the most amazing boost for the cost, but hexproof can be used to counter spells and it will feel really swingy when you can do that. It will be especially nice in the UW deck, which pays you off for Auras. I think this will be a fine playable, just like the mantle was.
Sure Strike image 1.5 This is a trick we see a lot. It can make almost any creature win combat which is nice, but because it doesn’t raise toughness it doesn’t have the additional value of helping you save a creature from removal – but the main purpose of tricks is using them in combat anyway. You’ll play this in aggro decks for sure, but probably not anywhere else.
Witch's Web image 1.5 We see this trick a lot, and its always passable in aggressive decks. It gives enough of a boost that the creature usually wins combat, and it can even be used to ambush an attacking flyer, though typically you’d rather use this aggressively than defensively.
Skywarp Skaab image 2.5 If this always drew you a card, I’d be pretty pumped about this! It probably only ends up drawing you a card around half the time though, which is substantially worse, as a 5-mana 2/5 Flyer isn’t anything special.
Lacerate Flesh image 1.5 This is some pretty mediocre removal. 5 for 4 damage just isn’t much, and you’ll often be trading drown with it. Getting some Blood doesn’t really save it from mediocrity. It is still removal and brings some Blood and Spell synergy, so it’s something you’ll play sometimes.
Kindly Ancestor image 3.0 This seems like a nice Common. A 3-mana ⅔ with Lifelink would be a 2.5, so adding the Disturb upside is pretty nice! Giving lifelink to evasive creatures is especially nasty, as life gain just utterly alters races. Its nice that it will also work pretty well in GW, as putting +1/+1 counters on a lifelinker tends to feel pretty good.
Hungry Ridgewolf image 2.5 This isn’t the most exciting payoff ever, but it has decent base stats and will sometimes be a 3/2 with Trample, which is especially nice.
Mindleech Ghoul image 2.0 This is a bear with some pretty nice upside, as sometimes taking away a card from your opponent’s hand will be worth losing the creature. Its nice that the card is exiled too, because you know, graveyard stuff.
Pack 1 Pick 4: Diregraf Scavenger
Lunar Rejection image 2.5 We’ve seen this card before without the werewolf hate side of things, and it was pretty solid. Bouncing a thing doesn’t usually give you a 1-or-1 trade, but because you draw a card, that’s what this amounts to, and you’re usually coming out ahead on tempo. Obviously, the Werewolf hosing upside will feel insane.
Bloodsworn Squire image 2.5 So, the front side of this would be a kind of playable card already, as being able to threaten indestructibility is a pretty big deal, and makes it hard for your opponent to interact with it. Mana AND a card is pretty real cost, though. Transforming this won’t be the easiest thing in the world, especially because a lot of the time, holding on to a creature in your hand will be worth way more than using this thing’s ability and trying to transform it. However, by the late game, it is likely to transform and be a pretty decent size, while still having that indestructible ability.
Diregraf Scavenger image 2.5 This looks decent. Death touchers do tend to get a little less impressive the more mana you spend on them, because the fact they can trade with anything is less attractive when they are trading down, but the ETB ability here definitely does enough to make up for that. Draining your opponent 2 life with this will be fairly commonplace, and that means you get to hate on the opposing graveyard while also triggering your life gain stuff, and you are adding a pretty obnoxious creature to the board at the same time.
Skywarp Skaab image 2.5 If this always drew you a card, I’d be pretty pumped about this! It probably only ends up drawing you a card around half the time though, which is substantially worse, as a 5-mana 2/5 Flyer isn’t anything special.
Ragged Recluse image 2.5 This format has enough ways to discard – Blood tokens in particular – that transforming this thing into a witch is very doable, and once you do you have a pretty nice creature., although it isn’t exactly a world breaker.
Blood Servitor image 1.0 If you’re really interested in Blood, you might play this, but there are plenty of other cards in the set that make blood that are more efficient.
Selhoff Entomber image 1.5 Forcing you to discard a specific card type really devalues the effectiveness of a rummage or loot effect. The idea here is to discard something you want in the graveyard, like if it has disturb, but a lot of the time you’d rather just cast both halves of the card.
Sure Strike image 1.5 This is a trick we see a lot. It can make almost any creature win combat which is nice, but because it doesn’t raise toughness it doesn’t have the additional value of helping you save a creature from removal – but the main purpose of tricks is using them in combat anyway. You’ll play this in aggro decks for sure, but probably not anywhere else.
Mulch image 1.0 // 2.5 This is a reprint, and one that stands a good chance at impacting constructed! In Limited, it is probably only worth it in a deck that is interesting in loading the graveyard, which mostly seems to be UG this time around. It does give you a good shot at hitting a land drop or two, which is fine. Still, I think most decks won’t play this apart from UG.
Honored Heirloom image 1.5 3 mana mana rocks are very rarely good in Limited, even if they add mana of any color. This one luckily comes with some additional value, as exiling stuff from graveyards does legitimately matter in this format. Still, you probably don’t play this unless you’re splashing a third color, as it is still very low impact.
Estwald Shieldbasher image 2.5 This doesn’t have great stats for the cost, but the ability to become indestructible when it attacks makes up for that. It’s a nice place to put +1/+1 counters and Auras, and those are very real things in this format.
Pack 1 Pick 5: Panicked Bystander
Honeymoon Hearse image 2.5 This Vehicle doesn’t need to be crewed exactly -- though tapping down two creatures isn’t that far off from crewing. For three mana, it brings some pretty nice stats and an evasive keyword ability, and it will definitely be nice to tap a couple of small creatures who couldn’t attack anyway to put this thing into action. You won’t always have those creatures, though, and sometimes you’ll just have some larger creatures where attacking with them just makes more sense.
Panicked Bystander image 3.5 You would always play a two mana 2/2 that gains you life every time a creature you control dies, especially in a deck with a life gain archetype! I always loved Limited cards that help you do the thing and then pay off for the thing, because that means they can fuel themselves, and that’s certainly what we have here. Gaining 3 life and transforming this is a very doable thing once you add a little more life gain to the mix, and this thing is a pretty tough customer once its a ⅗ that can gain death touch.
Sure Strike image 1.5 This is a trick we see a lot. It can make almost any creature win combat which is nice, but because it doesn’t raise toughness it doesn’t have the additional value of helping you save a creature from removal – but the main purpose of tricks is using them in combat anyway. You’ll play this in aggro decks for sure, but probably not anywhere else.
Syphon Essence image 1.5 This not being able to counter noncreature nonplaneswalkers definitely matters, but it does counter the card type people tend to have the most of, and getting that Blood is nice upside. Still, it’s a narrow enough counterspell that you’ll cut it a lot.
Fear of Death image 2.5 This kind of removal is nowhere close to being premium. Only reducing a creature’s power just doesn’t do enough. The thing can still block with its full toughness and use abilities, so you don’t even get rid of a whole card with it on some creatures. That, combined with the necessary set up, makes this a fairly unimpressive card. It does mill you, which is important, but it isn’t anything more than a decent playable.
Dawnhart Disciple image 2.5 This is a nice two drop, one that will often be a 3/3 when you’re just curving out.
Heron of Hope image 2.5 This doesn’t have the best base stats, but it is a nice little life gain enhancer, and the fact it can gain life gain itself means it does stuff even if its your only life gain card -- and generally, it won’t be.
Aim for the Head image 1.5 It seems like we get a new take on Mind Rot every set, and this one is a bit interesting. 3 mana to get rid of two of your opponent’s cards is of course a 2-for-1 – but not impacting the board can be a pretty real cost, and an effect like this definitely has diminishing returns as the game goes on. It is a big deal that this exiles the cards though, because of the graveyard stuff in the format, and the alternate mode where it is a Zombie removal spell is nice too. That’s not to say this card is GOOD or anything, but it IS good as far as Mind Rots go.
Kessig Flamebreather image 2.0 Every time we’ve seen a noncreature spell payoff that pings the opponent, it has ended up being better than it looks. It will tend to do enough incidental damage throughout the game that it ends up being a pretty nice payoff.
Spore Crawler image 3.0 I like this. It doesn’t do anything fancy, but it has 2-for-1 written all over it, and I always like Commons that can produce those easily.
Pack 1 Pick 6: Dawnhart Geist
Dawnhart Geist image 2.5 This has passable stats and an ability that will gain you some life. There are a decent number of Enchantments in White, so I think you’ll pretty much always end up playing it. The life gain is welcome in the BW deck, and the Enchantment payoff is welcome in UW, but I don’t think you’re overjoyed for it in either.
Bramble Armor image 1.0 We just saw this in the last set. It wasn’t very good last time around, even with the free Equip, and really kind of underperformed. While this format has Training, which this can help with, the last format had Coven, which this could have helped with, and it still wasn’t a card you ran very often.
Mulch image 1.0 // 2.5 This is a reprint, and one that stands a good chance at impacting constructed! In Limited, it is probably only worth it in a deck that is interesting in loading the graveyard, which mostly seems to be UG this time around. It does give you a good shot at hitting a land drop or two, which is fine. Still, I think most decks won’t play this apart from UG.
End the Festivities image 0.5 Yeah. No thanks. This is a sideboard card, there aren’t enough X/1s in this format that you want to be doing this.
Desperate Farmer image 2.5 This starts out with a pretty ugly stat-line – a Gray Ogre with life link just isn’t worth three mana, but it has the ability to turn into a 4/3 with Lifelink, which is obviously pretty good for three mana! And transforming it isn’t’ super hard, something just has to die, so you can just play this and offer a trade for example. You can also exploit something to transform it.
Massive Might image 2.0 It feels like the last few sets have had some pretty legit tricks, and this is definitely another one. One mana tricks tend to be pretty nice in aggressive decks, as you get some serious tempo when you use them to win combat, and this one definitely gives you enough of a boost to be worth running in those decks. Now, it IS still a track, and those always come with significant risks, but I think this is one you’ll play the first copy of reasonably often, provided you’re aggro.
Adamant Will image 1.5 We’ve seen this card a few times now, it’s a pretty reasonable trick. The boost it gives is enough to win just about any combat, and the indestructibility means you can even use it to save a creature from removal. It is still a trick and comes with all the inherent downsides those come with – like being situational and sometimes risky.
Gift of Fangs image 3.0 So, this is basically Dead Weight that has both Vampire upside, and downside, depending on what you’re trying to do. If you really need to kill an opposing vampire, it will be pretty frustrating that this can’t do it – but +2/+2 on one of your vampires for only one mana is pretty nice upside on Dead Weight. Dead Weight is normally a 3.0, and I think this will still end up there. It kills a whole lot of things efficiently, after all.
Lightning Wolf image 1.5 This is pretty underwhelming. A 4-mana 4/3 isn’t a great place to start these days, and while its ability will make it harder to block, its also really frustrating its only Sorcery speed.
Pack 1 Pick 7: Wedding Invitation
Blood Hypnotist image 3.0 This looks pretty good to me. Sure, it can’t Block, but the fact it can make opposing things unable to block when you sacrifice Treasure is pretty big for aggressive decks. This can really be part of a pretty devastating curve out. Obviously, you need Blood, but if you’re in Red, you’ll have access to enough that this will be worth playing.
Chill of the Grave image 2.5 This sort of effect is always pretty decent when paired with a draw. If you can pay two for this consistently, it will feel especially good. It looks reasonably well suited for both the UB and UR decks, which are Zombies and spells respectively. You generally want to use this type of effect aggressively to alter the race, but it isn’t the worst thing defensively.
Repository Skaab image 3.0 A Hill Giant that sometimes rebuys you an Instant or Sorcery is decent. Obviously, you don’t really want to give up a real creature for the effect all the time, otherwise it is a roundabout way of rummaging, but recurring removal spells is especially potent, and giving up a creature for that is often going to be worth it, especially if you sacrifice a card that brings you some value when it dies.
Doomed Dissenter image 3.0 This is a reprint, and a nice one to have in a set with Exploit. This is a great thing to sacrifice, and even apart from that, it can be a really obnoxious creature that just makes all X/1s really sad, since it just trades and gives you a 2/2. You get 3/3 of stats out of this for only two mana in the end, and that’s pretty nice.
Wedding Invitation image 1.5 This replaces itself, and that’s good, because the effect it has wouldn’t be worth anywhere close to worth an entire card. But yeah, since it replaces itself, the effect is pretty decent, especially on a vampire, as lifelink can really alter races. Still isn’t a great card, though. It will be pretty easy to cut since it is so low impact.
Mindleech Ghoul image 2.0 This is a bear with some pretty nice upside, as sometimes taking away a card from your opponent’s hand will be worth losing the creature. Its nice that the card is exiled too, because you know, graveyard stuff.
Supernatural Rescue image 1.0 This has a neat design, and is obviously really geared toward the UW deck, which is about Auras and Spirits. This having Flash will be particularly attractive, as you can use it to prevent one round of attacks and blocks when you do, and you can also get the stats boost at Instant speed, which isn’t too shabby. When it doesn’t have Flash, it is pretty clunky, though tapping down a couple of things can often make some more attacks possible. Still, the mana cost is pretty high here, and you won’t have much reason to run Auras like this when you can just run creatures with Disturb who are far more useful up front. Even with the Spirit upside, I don’t see myself playing this very often.
Pyre Spawn image 2.0 This doesn’t have good stats, but the fact it bolts a thing when it dies does usually mean you can get a 2-for-1, and if your opponent’s life is low they are going to be sweating this a ton. I think this is a decent top curve card.
Pack 1 Pick 8: Heron-Blessed Geist
Lantern of the Lost image 1.5 This does a real good job hating on the graveyard, and it also replaces itself with its activated ability. While this format feels a little less graveyard centric than Midnight Hunt -- after all, there’s no Flashback here -- graveyards are still a big enough deal in this format that I think you’ll main deck this sometimes. Because it replaces itself, the cost of doing so isn’t massive. I still think in an ideal world, you’re not playing it in your main deck though, as you’d rather have some other cards that have incidental graveyard hate than a card that only hates on graveyards. It will be the best in the UR deck, as it will trigger all your non-creature stuff and replace itself, which is exactly what that deck wants.
Fearful Villager image 2.0 This has alright base stats and some decent upside, but its nothing special.
Heron-Blessed Geist image 2.5 A 5-mana 3/3 Flyer isn’t very good, but the fact it can make 1/1 flyers from the graveyard is big, and will often feel like you’re getting a 2-for-1. You do need to have an Enchantment in play to use that ability, which is a little annoying, but seems doable enough.
Militia Rallier image 2.5 This has efficient stats, even if it can’t attack alone. The good news is it can block alone, and it does a good job of that! And as long as he has some friends, he can rumble too, while untapping a creature, so it has pseudo-vigilance. On top of that, its a nice size for training other creatures.
Voldaren Epicure image 2.0 This does a bunch of little things, and I think they add up enough to make this a decent card. I don’t think you’ll always play it, but chances are good you’ll be interested in the Blood if yo’ure in Red, and especially Black/Red, and getting it on turn one seems like it will fuel some stuff.
Aim for the Head image 1.5 It seems like we get a new take on Mind Rot every set, and this one is a bit interesting. 3 mana to get rid of two of your opponent’s cards is of course a 2-for-1 – but not impacting the board can be a pretty real cost, and an effect like this definitely has diminishing returns as the game goes on. It is a big deal that this exiles the cards though, because of the graveyard stuff in the format, and the alternate mode where it is a Zombie removal spell is nice too. That’s not to say this card is GOOD or anything, but it IS good as far as Mind Rots go.
Sheltering Boughs image 1.0 This Aura replaces itself, which definitely upgrades it, but the stats boost isn’t pretty. I think you’ll cut this more than you play it.
Pack 1 Pick 9: Doomed Dissenter
Ragged Recluse image 2.5 This format has enough ways to discard – Blood tokens in particular – that transforming this thing into a witch is very doable, and once you do you have a pretty nice creature., although it isn’t exactly a world breaker.
Massive Might image 2.0 It feels like the last few sets have had some pretty legit tricks, and this is definitely another one. One mana tricks tend to be pretty nice in aggressive decks, as you get some serious tempo when you use them to win combat, and this one definitely gives you enough of a boost to be worth running in those decks. Now, it IS still a track, and those always come with significant risks, but I think this is one you’ll play the first copy of reasonably often, provided you’re aggro.
Lacerate Flesh image 1.5 This is some pretty mediocre removal. 5 for 4 damage just isn’t much, and you’ll often be trading drown with it. Getting some Blood doesn’t really save it from mediocrity. It is still removal and brings some Blood and Spell synergy, so it’s something you’ll play sometimes.
Honored Heirloom image 1.5 3 mana mana rocks are very rarely good in Limited, even if they add mana of any color. This one luckily comes with some additional value, as exiling stuff from graveyards does legitimately matter in this format. Still, you probably don’t play this unless you’re splashing a third color, as it is still very low impact.
Doomed Dissenter image 3.0 This is a reprint, and a nice one to have in a set with Exploit. This is a great thing to sacrifice, and even apart from that, it can be a really obnoxious creature that just makes all X/1s really sad, since it just trades and gives you a 2/2. You get 3/3 of stats out of this for only two mana in the end, and that’s pretty nice.
Wedding Invitation image 1.5 This replaces itself, and that’s good, because the effect it has wouldn’t be worth anywhere close to worth an entire card. But yeah, since it replaces itself, the effect is pretty decent, especially on a vampire, as lifelink can really alter races. Still isn’t a great card, though. It will be pretty easy to cut since it is so low impact.
Pack 1 Pick 10: Supernatural Rescue
Spiked Ripsaw image 3.0 This reminds me a lot of Plate Armor, and that’s pretty good company to keep, because that was a very powerful piece of Equipment. It costs the same to play and equip and gives the same stats boost, though Plate Armor also granted Ward and could reduce its equip cost. In place of that, though, Spiked Ripjaw can make your creature have trample, which is pretty nice. But yeah, this big of a stats boost can make almost any creature into a threat, and that’s what makes this so nice.
Moldgraf Millipede image 2.0 This is a decent payoff for the UG deck in the format, which likes milling. It is hard to overlook how bad this will feel if you only end up with one or two creatures, but I think if its at least a 4/4 you feel okay about it, and sometimes it will be much bigger. It is still just a big vanilla creature, though.
Snarling Wolf image 1.5 This is another reprint from Midnight Hunt. It was solid there, as it could come down early and help set up Pack Tactics. It will probably be about the same here, except it will help set up Training. Still nothing special though, and not something you even always run. There are a lot of two drops that are just way better.
Supernatural Rescue image 1.0 This has a neat design, and is obviously really geared toward the UW deck, which is about Auras and Spirits. This having Flash will be particularly attractive, as you can use it to prevent one round of attacks and blocks when you do, and you can also get the stats boost at Instant speed, which isn’t too shabby. When it doesn’t have Flash, it is pretty clunky, though tapping down a couple of things can often make some more attacks possible. Still, the mana cost is pretty high here, and you won’t have much reason to run Auras like this when you can just run creatures with Disturb who are far more useful up front. Even with the Spirit upside, I don’t see myself playing this very often.
Dreadlight Monstrosity image 1.5 This doesn’t seem very good. A 6-mana 5/5 is an ugly rate, even with Ward 2, and yeah – it can become unblockable, but only for a huge chunk of mana, and only if you have a card in exile. Now, by the time you can use the ability it is reasonably likely you have something in exile because of Disturb, but there will be times where that just isn’t the case, and without that ability, this card is really not good. You’ll play it if you’re desperate for a finisher I guess, but you’re hoping for something better.
Pack 1 Pick 11: Lacerate Flesh
Sanctify image 0.5 This is good at destroying Artifacts and Enchantments, and I think there are enough of them that this might make your main deck sometimes. While there are lots of Auras, keep in mind, blowing up the disturbed side of a card isn’t really going to be a one-for-one and won’t feel that great, and I think that limits how good this is in your main deck. You mostly want this out of your sideboard.
Sure Strike image 1.5 This is a trick we see a lot. It can make almost any creature win combat which is nice, but because it doesn’t raise toughness it doesn’t have the additional value of helping you save a creature from removal – but the main purpose of tricks is using them in combat anyway. You’ll play this in aggro decks for sure, but probably not anywhere else.
Lacerate Flesh image 1.5 This is some pretty mediocre removal. 5 for 4 damage just isn’t much, and you’ll often be trading drown with it. Getting some Blood doesn’t really save it from mediocrity. It is still removal and brings some Blood and Spell synergy, so it’s something you’ll play sometimes.
Hungry Ridgewolf image 2.5 This isn’t the most exciting payoff ever, but it has decent base stats and will sometimes be a 3/2 with Trample, which is especially nice.
Pack 1 Pick 12: Honored Heirloom
Blood Servitor image 1.0 If you’re really interested in Blood, you might play this, but there are plenty of other cards in the set that make blood that are more efficient.
Selhoff Entomber image 1.5 Forcing you to discard a specific card type really devalues the effectiveness of a rummage or loot effect. The idea here is to discard something you want in the graveyard, like if it has disturb, but a lot of the time you’d rather just cast both halves of the card.
Honored Heirloom image 1.5 3 mana mana rocks are very rarely good in Limited, even if they add mana of any color. This one luckily comes with some additional value, as exiling stuff from graveyards does legitimately matter in this format. Still, you probably don’t play this unless you’re splashing a third color, as it is still very low impact.
Pack 1 Pick 13: Sure Strike
Sure Strike image 1.5 This is a trick we see a lot. It can make almost any creature win combat which is nice, but because it doesn’t raise toughness it doesn’t have the additional value of helping you save a creature from removal – but the main purpose of tricks is using them in combat anyway. You’ll play this in aggro decks for sure, but probably not anywhere else.
Fear of Death image 2.5 This kind of removal is nowhere close to being premium. Only reducing a creature’s power just doesn’t do enough. The thing can still block with its full toughness and use abilities, so you don’t even get rid of a whole card with it on some creatures. That, combined with the necessary set up, makes this a fairly unimpressive card. It does mill you, which is important, but it isn’t anything more than a decent playable.
Pack 1 Pick 14: Bramble Armor
Bramble Armor image 1.0 We just saw this in the last set. It wasn’t very good last time around, even with the free Equip, and really kind of underperformed. While this format has Training, which this can help with, the last format had Coven, which this could have helped with, and it still wasn’t a card you ran very often.
Pack 2 Pick 1: Sigarda's Imprisonment
Inspired Idea image 3.0 This is an interesting card. If it is the last card in your hand just casting it for three is probably best, because it is likely you will be able to play some of the cards you'll draw, and that mana will be useful. But obviously, if you are casting it at any other time, you'll need to Cleave it or be in some trouble. Still, three mana to draw three is big, and in the later part of the game you probably won't have more than four cards in your hand anyway. I think this has enough upside that I would play it in most Blue decks, and especially in aggressive ones that empty their hand quickly.
Diver Skaab image 3.5 This has a nice Exploit trigger, as it lets you trade whatever you Sacrifice for a full card, while still adding a 5-mana ⅗ body to the board, and that’s going to do a whole lot to stabilize you or pull you ahead.
Voltaic Visionary image 3.0 This has a neat design. Ideally, it will be a two mana 4/3 that can’t block that draws you a card for 2 life, and that’s something you’d always play! The problem is sometimes it’ll exile a card you can’t play, but if your curve is low enough or its late, it shouldn’t be too hard for this to net you that card. The downside is that, since it can’t block, trading won’t be super easy. Sometimes you will be able to assign it as a blocker then use the ability to transform it. In those situations, you’ll be more likely to get the 2-for-1, but yeah. This can lead to some aggressive starts or draw you a card late while adding to the board, and I like that.
Screaming Swarm image 2.5 6 mana for a 4/4 Flyer isn’t a great rate, but this does do some other stuff. Generally, you’ll probably be milling yourself with the attack trigger, since this format does have graveyard stuff -- especially in Blue. But in a pinch, it can mill the opponent if that matters, and on rare occasions it will. This is expensive and slow, but it does load up your graveyard and it can make sure it keeps coming back, although that’s not that exciting. Remember, it will be replacing a card, not giving you card advantage when you use its ability to put it back into your deck.
Sporeback Wolf image 2.5 We’ve seen two mana 2/2s with this box of text before, and its fine. Being a 2/4 is decent enough upside on a bear.
Nature's Embrace image 1.5 This has a pretty interesting design. Its either a mediocre aura or a mediocre way to fix and ramp. Each card individually is probably a 1.0 at best – and you probably won’t play this at all if you don’t need fixing, so I think it’s a 1.5.
Wanderlight Spirit image 2.5 This is a reasonably aggressive flyer. Not being able to block ground creatures isn’t a huge deal.
Flourishing Hunter image 2.5 It is pretty likely that this gains you 3 or more life, and that will feel pretty good if you’re trying to stabilize against an aggressive deck. . Seems like a solid card to have in the Colossal Dreadmaw/Honey Mammoth.
Sigarda's Imprisonment image 3.0 This is White’s usual aura-based premium removal. Now, there’s a very real chance this is worse than normal, since Exploit is in the format, but I still think the efficiency of the card is worth it -- 3 mana completely removes the card from combat, allowing you to attack and take advantage right away, and its nice that in the late game you can get rid of the creature entirely and get a Blood token out of the deal.
Bloody Betrayal image 1.0 It takes a special format for Threaten effects to be good – and I don’t really foresee that in this format. You either need a legit sacrifice deck in Red or an incredibly aggressive format for it to work out, since it is the kind of effect that doesn’t give you anything permanently, the Blood token notwithstanding. You could maybe combine it with Exploit if you’re in Black or Blue, and that could be spicy, but you’ll need a significant amount of mana to make that happen most of the time.
Aim for the Head image 1.5 It seems like we get a new take on Mind Rot every set, and this one is a bit interesting. 3 mana to get rid of two of your opponent’s cards is of course a 2-for-1 – but not impacting the board can be a pretty real cost, and an effect like this definitely has diminishing returns as the game goes on. It is a big deal that this exiles the cards though, because of the graveyard stuff in the format, and the alternate mode where it is a Zombie removal spell is nice too. That’s not to say this card is GOOD or anything, but it IS good as far as Mind Rots go.
Lantern Bearer image 3.5 This looks like a pretty good Common. A one mana 1/1 Flyer isn’t something that is worth it in a lot of formats all on its own, but it is a pretty decent play on turn one, as it can chip in for some real damage. Unlike most one mana 1/1 flyers though, once this become outclassed, you can just chump block with it and then Disturb it to get a pretty nice Aura! +1/+1 and Flying can turn almost any creature into a very real threat, and sure, 3 mana for that isn’t amazing, but remember that you also got a one mana 1/1 Flyer earlier in the game, and that sounds pretty good to me.
Sanctify image 0.5 This is good at destroying Artifacts and Enchantments, and I think there are enough of them that this might make your main deck sometimes. While there are lots of Auras, keep in mind, blowing up the disturbed side of a card isn’t really going to be a one-for-one and won’t feel that great, and I think that limits how good this is in your main deck. You mostly want this out of your sideboard.
Cradle of Safety image 2.0 This is functionally identical to Starlit Mantle, a card we saw fairly recently that overperformed. This Aura doesn’t give the most amazing boost for the cost, but hexproof can be used to counter spells and it will feel really swingy when you can do that. It will be especially nice in the UW deck, which pays you off for Auras. I think this will be a fine playable, just like the mantle was.
Pack 2 Pick 2: Sundown Pass
Sundown Pass image 3.0 As usual, two color duals tend to be pretty nice fixing. You don’t really want to go after them hard, but you’ll always play them if you’re in their colors or you’re splashing something
Dread Fugue image 0.0 // 1.0 Neither side of this card is very good in Limited. If you just cast it normally, there’s a good chance you hit nothing, and the 3-mana effect is just Coercion, a card that generally isn’t playable in Limited. You’ve got to be adding to the board meaningfully in most Limited formats, and this doesn’t do that, and it will often do nothing. It gets a little better as a sideboard card, but its probably still just a 1 there.
Thirst for Discovery image 3.0 3 mana to draw 3 at instant speed and discard a land is a pretty good deal, and in some decks in this format, discarding nonlands will also be beneficial. It doesn’t impact the board of course, and you don’t want to jam too many cards like that into your deck, but I think this looks pretty good overall, and would value the first copy fairly high.
Spore Crawler image 3.0 I like this. It doesn’t do anything fancy, but it has 2-for-1 written all over it, and I always like Commons that can produce those easily.
Militia Rallier image 2.5 This has efficient stats, even if it can’t attack alone. The good news is it can block alone, and it does a good job of that! And as long as he has some friends, he can rumble too, while untapping a creature, so it has pseudo-vigilance. On top of that, its a nice size for training other creatures.
Gluttonous Guest image 2.5 This is a decent Common that slots in well into multiple Black decks. It has high toughness, which BG likes, it gains you life, which BW likes, and it makes Blood tokens, which BR likes! Now, it doesn’t exactly blow you away with what it does in any of those decks, but it is a solid card in all of them.
Persistent Specimen image 1.0 // 2.5 Like many Skeletons who came before it, the idea here is to recur this so that you can keep sacrificing it to exploit triggers and other stuff. I think that really makes this a build around, as you don’t want to play it at all in a deck that doesn’t really take advantage of its recursion, as getting back a 1/1 over and over again just isn’t very good for most decks.
Blood Petal Celebrant image 3.0 This is a nice Common. We’ve seen two mana 2/1s who have first strike when they attack before, and they are always good two-drop aggro creatures, and this one gives you some Blood when it goes down. I don’t imagine you’ll cut this in Red decks.
Sure Strike image 1.5 This is a trick we see a lot. It can make almost any creature win combat which is nice, but because it doesn’t raise toughness it doesn’t have the additional value of helping you save a creature from removal – but the main purpose of tricks is using them in combat anyway. You’ll play this in aggro decks for sure, but probably not anywhere else.
Bloodcrazed Socialite image 3.5 A 4-mana 3/3 with Menace isn’t amazing -- it is probably a 2.0 at best -- however -- this brings a blood token along with it, and I think I’d already be playing that card a reasonable chunk of the time, but it also has the impressive upside of making itself into a 5/5 when it attacks, provided you have blood. Because the Socialite brings a Blood token with it, you’ll get to do it at least once, and if you have other blood lying around, this will be a beating.
Reckless Impulse image 2.5 I like that we’re seeing more of these so-called “impulsive draw” effects, seeing one at Common is neat! Anyway, this can sometimes feel like two mana to draw 2, which is quite good. Other times, you’ll hit two lands, and that won’t feel so good, but I think most of the time getting two cards of value out of this is going to happen, especially if you don’t play a land before you play it -- and you pretty much never should.
Bramble Armor image 1.0 We just saw this in the last set. It wasn’t very good last time around, even with the free Equip, and really kind of underperformed. While this format has Training, which this can help with, the last format had Coven, which this could have helped with, and it still wasn’t a card you ran very often.
Lantern Bearer image 3.5 This looks like a pretty good Common. A one mana 1/1 Flyer isn’t something that is worth it in a lot of formats all on its own, but it is a pretty decent play on turn one, as it can chip in for some real damage. Unlike most one mana 1/1 flyers though, once this become outclassed, you can just chump block with it and then Disturb it to get a pretty nice Aura! +1/+1 and Flying can turn almost any creature into a very real threat, and sure, 3 mana for that isn’t amazing, but remember that you also got a one mana 1/1 Flyer earlier in the game, and that sounds pretty good to me.
Pack 2 Pick 3: Bleed Dry
Fell Stinger image 4.0 This looks like a great uncommon to me. This is basically the Black Mulldrifter! Without Exploit, this is a card that always makes the cut. It has decent stats and the ability to trade with anything. With Exploit, it becomes a pretty high pick, as adding draw two to this is pretty massive. Giving up one creature for that still has you come out ahead, and that is even more true if you sacrifice something ideal. It can even sacrifice itself, and sometimes that will be worth doing. I think this is one of the best Uncommons in the set.
Retrieve image 1.5 This doesn’t look great. It won’t be easy actually getting back two cards with this. Sure, having a creature in your graveyard is a foregone conclusion, but having a noncreature permanent is not. In Limited, that means we’re talking Lands, Artifacts, and Enchantments, and those things don’t routinely end up in the graveyard! Unless, of course, you’re in a self mill deck. In a deck like that, getting a land + creature will be pretty easy, and not a bad deal. Still, this is going to only be good in some pretty specific decks, and even then it won’t be that great.
Foreboding Statue image 3.5 This is basically a way better version of Mystic Skull from the last set. Both are cards that fix your mana and then turn into creatures, but the Statue is way, way better on the front! For one thing its a creature, and for another it doesn’t just filter your mana -- it actually ramps you too. Then, once it transforms, it becomes a pretty imposing creature that still fixes your mana. This looks like a nice card that all but the most aggressive of decks would play and take fairly highly.
Hookhand Mariner image 3.0 This is a nice Common werewolf, something they could have used in the last set! A 4-mana 4/4 is pretty close to a C, and when this transforms it is hard to block.
Sheltering Boughs image 1.0 This Aura replaces itself, which definitely upgrades it, but the stats boost isn’t pretty. I think you’ll cut this more than you play it.
Bleed Dry image 4.0 This is pretty much unconditional, and exiling the thing you kill is a nice bonus. This is premium removal for sure, and maybe Black’s best Common.
Lacerate Flesh image 1.5 This is some pretty mediocre removal. 5 for 4 damage just isn’t much, and you’ll often be trading drown with it. Getting some Blood doesn’t really save it from mediocrity. It is still removal and brings some Blood and Spell synergy, so it’s something you’ll play sometimes.
Steelclad Spirit image 2.0 Two mana 3/3s with Defender are surprisingly not completely terrible. This is because they block pretty impressively early, and have enough size that your opponent is usually just going to have to trade. This has the nice upside of being an attacker sometimes.
Nurturing Presence image 1.5 This gives you a 1/1 Flyer no matter what, and that helps mitigate the risk of playing it. It’s too bad the rest of the card isn’t very good. The stats boost is situational and unimpressive. The turn you play it will giving +1/+1 to the thing, but still – you’re not really doing a great job with that.
Evolving Wilds image 3.0 We see this all the time, and its always a pretty nice land. It does an excellent job of fixing for you. If you’re splashing something, just a single Wilds and a basic land in that splash color is enough, and that’s pretty great! Its at pretty much the same level as the Rare dual lands we just saw.
Mulch image 1.0 // 2.5 This is a reprint, and one that stands a good chance at impacting constructed! In Limited, it is probably only worth it in a deck that is interesting in loading the graveyard, which mostly seems to be UG this time around. It does give you a good shot at hitting a land drop or two, which is fine. Still, I think most decks won’t play this apart from UG.
Dreadlight Monstrosity image 1.5 This doesn’t seem very good. A 6-mana 5/5 is an ugly rate, even with Ward 2, and yeah – it can become unblockable, but only for a huge chunk of mana, and only if you have a card in exile. Now, by the time you can use the ability it is reasonably likely you have something in exile because of Disturb, but there will be times where that just isn’t the case, and without that ability, this card is really not good. You’ll play it if you’re desperate for a finisher I guess, but you’re hoping for something better.
Pack 2 Pick 4: Hero's Downfall
Hero's Downfall image 4.0 This was a Rare last time we saw it, and that goes a long way towards explaining how removal has gone back to being really good at lower rarities lately! And yeah, this is. It is strictly better Murder coming with the occasionally useful upside of dealing with planeswalkers. The double black in the cost is something that matters, because it isn’t as splashable as some other premium removal, but its still incredibly good.
Bloodsworn Squire image 2.5 So, the front side of this would be a kind of playable card already, as being able to threaten indestructibility is a pretty big deal, and makes it hard for your opponent to interact with it. Mana AND a card is pretty real cost, though. Transforming this won’t be the easiest thing in the world, especially because a lot of the time, holding on to a creature in your hand will be worth way more than using this thing’s ability and trying to transform it. However, by the late game, it is likely to transform and be a pretty decent size, while still having that indestructible ability.
Bramble Wurm image 3.5 This is a pretty nice thing to ramp into, and a good finisher in general, as it will really allow you to stabilize between its size and the life it gains you. Its too bad it doesn’t draw you a card, like some other big Wurms we’ve seen, but even without that, this looks like a nice top curve for slower decks.
Bleed Dry image 4.0 This is pretty much unconditional, and exiling the thing you kill is a nice bonus. This is premium removal for sure, and maybe Black’s best Common.
Cradle of Safety image 2.0 This is functionally identical to Starlit Mantle, a card we saw fairly recently that overperformed. This Aura doesn’t give the most amazing boost for the cost, but hexproof can be used to counter spells and it will feel really swingy when you can do that. It will be especially nice in the UW deck, which pays you off for Auras. I think this will be a fine playable, just like the mantle was.
Rural Recruit image 3.0 This is a pretty good Common. 4/2 worth of stats spread across two bodies isn’t too bad for 4 mana, and it comes with the means to train itself right away. This turning into a 2/2 isn’t exactly amazing, but it will definitely make your attacks on the turn after you play it feel pretty good.
Reckless Impulse image 2.5 I like that we’re seeing more of these so-called “impulsive draw” effects, seeing one at Common is neat! Anyway, this can sometimes feel like two mana to draw 2, which is quite good. Other times, you’ll hit two lands, and that won’t feel so good, but I think most of the time getting two cards of value out of this is going to happen, especially if you don’t play a land before you play it -- and you pretty much never should.
Wolf Strike image 3.5 This is quite good. Even if it isn’t night time, this will be good in your Green decks, as the creature doesn’t fight, it just does damage equal to its power, so its one-sided! If it is night-time, it gets wayyy better, as it can make your creature take down a wider variety of creatures, and even offer you the opportunity to attack more effectively with the creature after it kills something else. You do have to be careful with this kind of card since you can get blown out if you don’t pick your spot carefully, but because its an Instant, you can pick your spot pretty effectively. Its definitely premium removal.
Vampire's Kiss image 1.0 I don’t like cards like this. Sure, it alters the race a little bit and gives you those blood tokens, which the BR deck is certainly interested in, but it just won’t feel like this is giving you a full card of value very often. It doesn’t impact the board meaningfully, and I can’t see myself wanting to jam something like it into my deck.
Weary Prisoner image 1.5 This reminds me a whole lot of Tavern Brawler, a card that ended up being super underwhelming in Midnight Hunt. On one side it is a defensive creature, and on the other it is an aggressively costed big creature. Those two things are a bit awkward together, and if you played Midnight Hunt you know that completely controlling day and night how you want it isn’t always easy. This might end up being better than the Brawler -- Midnight Hunt did have an unusual amount of good common removal that made big vanilla creatures bad -- but for now I’m pretty skeptical.
Supernatural Rescue image 1.0 This has a neat design, and is obviously really geared toward the UW deck, which is about Auras and Spirits. This having Flash will be particularly attractive, as you can use it to prevent one round of attacks and blocks when you do, and you can also get the stats boost at Instant speed, which isn’t too shabby. When it doesn’t have Flash, it is pretty clunky, though tapping down a couple of things can often make some more attacks possible. Still, the mana cost is pretty high here, and you won’t have much reason to run Auras like this when you can just run creatures with Disturb who are far more useful up front. Even with the Spirit upside, I don’t see myself playing this very often.
Pack 2 Pick 5: Foreboding Statue
Foreboding Statue image 3.5 This is basically a way better version of Mystic Skull from the last set. Both are cards that fix your mana and then turn into creatures, but the Statue is way, way better on the front! For one thing its a creature, and for another it doesn’t just filter your mana -- it actually ramps you too. Then, once it transforms, it becomes a pretty imposing creature that still fixes your mana. This looks like a nice card that all but the most aggressive of decks would play and take fairly highly.
Undead Butler image 3.0 This is pretty nice at setting stuff up in your graveyard, and also a great creature to sacrifice to Exploit. Its pretty interesting, because it is pretty close to being a better Gravedigger for half the mana -- and Gravedigger is usually a pretty nice limited card. But there are a few things that I actually don’t think make it better than the digger. First, only having one power is a big deal, because creating a 2-for-1 this becomes much harder. Second, it exiles itself, so you can’t loop them together. I still think this is pretty good, especially in a set with Exploit, but I don’t quite think it is first pickable.
Flourishing Hunter image 2.5 It is pretty likely that this gains you 3 or more life, and that will feel pretty good if you’re trying to stabilize against an aggressive deck. . Seems like a solid card to have in the Colossal Dreadmaw/Honey Mammoth.
Vampire Slayer image 1.5 This set has a lot of vampires, but not so many that a two mana 2/2 that kills Vampires in combat is that great. This is especially true because many vampires are already kind of small and this can trade with them.
Blood Fountain image 2.5 I always like to have one copy of the the Black card that gets you two creatures back from the graveyard, and that’s what we have here. For 5 mana you get those two creatures and a blood token, and that’s a pretty reasonable rate, especially because you’re paying it in two installments, and can pay the larger part at instant speed! You don’t normally want to overdo it with copies of this kind of card because they tend to not be great early, but this offsets that a bit since it does give you Blood before the other part of the card becomes useful. But yeah, getting two creatures back late can often give you what you need to win the game. I think the first copy of this is a 2.5, with diminishing returns after that.
Scattered Thoughts image 2.0 It is pretty funny to compare this card to Organ Hoarder from the last set, which was the same mana cost, but put a 3/2 body into play and only let you grab one card from the top three, but yeah, way better either way. Anyway, this might not be the best Common in the whole set like the Hoarder was, but it seems like a solid playable. Looking at 4 cards is pretty nice for the cost, and loading up the graveyard is worth doing too.
Toxic Scorpion image 3.0 This looks nice. A two mana 1/1 with Deathtouch is probably already a 2.0 or 2.5, since it can trade for anything and really represent a problem all game long. So, being able to give death touch to another creature on the ETB is nice, and gives it even more utility in the later game.
Steelclad Spirit image 2.0 Two mana 3/3s with Defender are surprisingly not completely terrible. This is because they block pretty impressively early, and have enough size that your opponent is usually just going to have to trade. This has the nice upside of being an attacker sometimes.
Syphon Essence image 1.5 This not being able to counter noncreature nonplaneswalkers definitely matters, but it does counter the card type people tend to have the most of, and getting that Blood is nice upside. Still, it’s a narrow enough counterspell that you’ll cut it a lot.
Sheltering Boughs image 1.0 This Aura replaces itself, which definitely upgrades it, but the stats boost isn’t pretty. I think you’ll cut this more than you play it.
Pack 2 Pick 6: Evolving Wilds
Repository Skaab image 3.0 A Hill Giant that sometimes rebuys you an Instant or Sorcery is decent. Obviously, you don’t really want to give up a real creature for the effect all the time, otherwise it is a roundabout way of rummaging, but recurring removal spells is especially potent, and giving up a creature for that is often going to be worth it, especially if you sacrifice a card that brings you some value when it dies.
Mulch image 1.0 // 2.5 This is a reprint, and one that stands a good chance at impacting constructed! In Limited, it is probably only worth it in a deck that is interesting in loading the graveyard, which mostly seems to be UG this time around. It does give you a good shot at hitting a land drop or two, which is fine. Still, I think most decks won’t play this apart from UG.
Persistent Specimen image 1.0 // 2.5 Like many Skeletons who came before it, the idea here is to recur this so that you can keep sacrificing it to exploit triggers and other stuff. I think that really makes this a build around, as you don’t want to play it at all in a deck that doesn’t really take advantage of its recursion, as getting back a 1/1 over and over again just isn’t very good for most decks.
Adamant Will image 1.5 We’ve seen this card a few times now, it’s a pretty reasonable trick. The boost it gives is enough to win just about any combat, and the indestructibility means you can even use it to save a creature from removal. It is still a trick and comes with all the inherent downsides those come with – like being situational and sometimes risky.
Sure Strike image 1.5 This is a trick we see a lot. It can make almost any creature win combat which is nice, but because it doesn’t raise toughness it doesn’t have the additional value of helping you save a creature from removal – but the main purpose of tricks is using them in combat anyway. You’ll play this in aggro decks for sure, but probably not anywhere else.
Ceremonial Knife image 1.5 This gives a very small boost, especially for an Equip cost of 2, and the fact you get Blood out of it isn’t really enough to make me excited about this.
Hookhand Mariner image 3.0 This is a nice Common werewolf, something they could have used in the last set! A 4-mana 4/4 is pretty close to a C, and when this transforms it is hard to block.
Evolving Wilds image 3.0 We see this all the time, and its always a pretty nice land. It does an excellent job of fixing for you. If you’re splashing something, just a single Wilds and a basic land in that splash color is enough, and that’s pretty great! Its at pretty much the same level as the Rare dual lands we just saw.
Witch's Web image 1.5 We see this trick a lot, and its always passable in aggressive decks. It gives enough of a boost that the creature usually wins combat, and it can even be used to ambush an attacking flyer, though typically you’d rather use this aggressively than defensively.
Pack 2 Pick 7: Heron of Hope
Sanguine Statuette image 2.0 On its own, you’ll be able to activate this once -- and while that’s not amazing, it is nice that it can do a thing without any other help, unlike some payoffs. Plus, you can play this and sac the token for an additional mana, and rumble right away with it which will certainly come up. You do probably need a critical mass of Blood to really get it going, but I think most Red decks will have like 5 ways to make blood without trying super hard.
Daybreak Combatants image 2.5 This adds a pretty significant amount of power to the board out of nowhere, thanks to Haste. The boost is going to be enough to enable some attacks you may just not have had before, and the fact it can get in there too seems pretty nice. In a pinch, you can also make this into a 4/2 the turn it comes down, a 4/2 with Haste for three isn’t too shabby.
Fear of Death image 2.5 This kind of removal is nowhere close to being premium. Only reducing a creature’s power just doesn’t do enough. The thing can still block with its full toughness and use abilities, so you don’t even get rid of a whole card with it on some creatures. That, combined with the necessary set up, makes this a fairly unimpressive card. It does mill you, which is important, but it isn’t anything more than a decent playable.
Dawnhart Disciple image 2.5 This is a nice two drop, one that will often be a 3/3 when you’re just curving out.
Heron of Hope image 2.5 This doesn’t have the best base stats, but it is a nice little life gain enhancer, and the fact it can gain life gain itself means it does stuff even if its your only life gain card -- and generally, it won’t be.
Rural Recruit image 3.0 This is a pretty good Common. 4/2 worth of stats spread across two bodies isn’t too bad for 4 mana, and it comes with the means to train itself right away. This turning into a 2/2 isn’t exactly amazing, but it will definitely make your attacks on the turn after you play it feel pretty good.
Serpentine Ambush image 0.0 This kind of card is always awful in Limited. It is easy to imagine scenarios where it does what you want – like when you use it as a combat trick to ambush something, but situations where you actually get to trade this for a card are few and far between, and this is something we’ve seen repeatedly.
Alchemist's Retrieval image 2.0 We see this card a lot, and its always kind of alright. This one is nice because if you want to bounce your own thing you can pay less, and paying two to bounce a nonland permanent either player controls is kind of what we expect. Its never anything special, but the first copy often makes the cut in Blue decks.
Pack 2 Pick 8: Rot-Tide Gargantua
Ragged Recluse image 2.5 This format has enough ways to discard – Blood tokens in particular – that transforming this thing into a witch is very doable, and once you do you have a pretty nice creature., although it isn’t exactly a world breaker.
Toxic Scorpion image 3.0 This looks nice. A two mana 1/1 with Deathtouch is probably already a 2.0 or 2.5, since it can trade for anything and really represent a problem all game long. So, being able to give death touch to another creature on the ETB is nice, and gives it even more utility in the later game.
Nurturing Presence image 1.5 This gives you a 1/1 Flyer no matter what, and that helps mitigate the risk of playing it. It’s too bad the rest of the card isn’t very good. The stats boost is situational and unimpressive. The turn you play it will giving +1/+1 to the thing, but still – you’re not really doing a great job with that.
Rot-Tide Gargantua image 2.5 Sometimes, the Edict effect here won’t actually do a whole lot, and when that’s the case, its just a 5-mana 5/4, which isn’t really worth it. The upside is definitely real, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t see this being super impressive in most situations.
Ceremonial Knife image 1.5 This gives a very small boost, especially for an Equip cost of 2, and the fact you get Blood out of it isn’t really enough to make me excited about this.
Wolf Strike image 3.5 This is quite good. Even if it isn’t night time, this will be good in your Green decks, as the creature doesn’t fight, it just does damage equal to its power, so its one-sided! If it is night-time, it gets wayyy better, as it can make your creature take down a wider variety of creatures, and even offer you the opportunity to attack more effectively with the creature after it kills something else. You do have to be careful with this kind of card since you can get blown out if you don’t pick your spot carefully, but because its an Instant, you can pick your spot pretty effectively. Its definitely premium removal.
Alchemist's Retrieval image 2.0 We see this card a lot, and its always kind of alright. This one is nice because if you want to bounce your own thing you can pay less, and paying two to bounce a nonland permanent either player controls is kind of what we expect. Its never anything special, but the first copy often makes the cut in Blue decks.
Pack 2 Pick 9: Aim for the Head
Sporeback Wolf image 2.5 We’ve seen two mana 2/2s with this box of text before, and its fine. Being a 2/4 is decent enough upside on a bear.
Nature's Embrace image 1.5 This has a pretty interesting design. Its either a mediocre aura or a mediocre way to fix and ramp. Each card individually is probably a 1.0 at best – and you probably won’t play this at all if you don’t need fixing, so I think it’s a 1.5.
Flourishing Hunter image 2.5 It is pretty likely that this gains you 3 or more life, and that will feel pretty good if you’re trying to stabilize against an aggressive deck. . Seems like a solid card to have in the Colossal Dreadmaw/Honey Mammoth.
Aim for the Head image 1.5 It seems like we get a new take on Mind Rot every set, and this one is a bit interesting. 3 mana to get rid of two of your opponent’s cards is of course a 2-for-1 – but not impacting the board can be a pretty real cost, and an effect like this definitely has diminishing returns as the game goes on. It is a big deal that this exiles the cards though, because of the graveyard stuff in the format, and the alternate mode where it is a Zombie removal spell is nice too. That’s not to say this card is GOOD or anything, but it IS good as far as Mind Rots go.
Sanctify image 0.5 This is good at destroying Artifacts and Enchantments, and I think there are enough of them that this might make your main deck sometimes. While there are lots of Auras, keep in mind, blowing up the disturbed side of a card isn’t really going to be a one-for-one and won’t feel that great, and I think that limits how good this is in your main deck. You mostly want this out of your sideboard.
Cradle of Safety image 2.0 This is functionally identical to Starlit Mantle, a card we saw fairly recently that overperformed. This Aura doesn’t give the most amazing boost for the cost, but hexproof can be used to counter spells and it will feel really swingy when you can do that. It will be especially nice in the UW deck, which pays you off for Auras. I think this will be a fine playable, just like the mantle was.
Pack 2 Pick 10: Bloodcrazed Socialite
Dread Fugue image 0.0 // 1.0 Neither side of this card is very good in Limited. If you just cast it normally, there’s a good chance you hit nothing, and the 3-mana effect is just Coercion, a card that generally isn’t playable in Limited. You’ve got to be adding to the board meaningfully in most Limited formats, and this doesn’t do that, and it will often do nothing. It gets a little better as a sideboard card, but its probably still just a 1 there.
Militia Rallier image 2.5 This has efficient stats, even if it can’t attack alone. The good news is it can block alone, and it does a good job of that! And as long as he has some friends, he can rumble too, while untapping a creature, so it has pseudo-vigilance. On top of that, its a nice size for training other creatures.
Persistent Specimen image 1.0 // 2.5 Like many Skeletons who came before it, the idea here is to recur this so that you can keep sacrificing it to exploit triggers and other stuff. I think that really makes this a build around, as you don’t want to play it at all in a deck that doesn’t really take advantage of its recursion, as getting back a 1/1 over and over again just isn’t very good for most decks.
Bloodcrazed Socialite image 3.5 A 4-mana 3/3 with Menace isn’t amazing -- it is probably a 2.0 at best -- however -- this brings a blood token along with it, and I think I’d already be playing that card a reasonable chunk of the time, but it also has the impressive upside of making itself into a 5/5 when it attacks, provided you have blood. Because the Socialite brings a Blood token with it, you’ll get to do it at least once, and if you have other blood lying around, this will be a beating.
Bramble Armor image 1.0 We just saw this in the last set. It wasn’t very good last time around, even with the free Equip, and really kind of underperformed. While this format has Training, which this can help with, the last format had Coven, which this could have helped with, and it still wasn’t a card you ran very often.
Pack 2 Pick 11: Evolving Wilds
Hookhand Mariner image 3.0 This is a nice Common werewolf, something they could have used in the last set! A 4-mana 4/4 is pretty close to a C, and when this transforms it is hard to block.
Sheltering Boughs image 1.0 This Aura replaces itself, which definitely upgrades it, but the stats boost isn’t pretty. I think you’ll cut this more than you play it.
Evolving Wilds image 3.0 We see this all the time, and its always a pretty nice land. It does an excellent job of fixing for you. If you’re splashing something, just a single Wilds and a basic land in that splash color is enough, and that’s pretty great! Its at pretty much the same level as the Rare dual lands we just saw.
Mulch image 1.0 // 2.5 This is a reprint, and one that stands a good chance at impacting constructed! In Limited, it is probably only worth it in a deck that is interesting in loading the graveyard, which mostly seems to be UG this time around. It does give you a good shot at hitting a land drop or two, which is fine. Still, I think most decks won’t play this apart from UG.
Pack 2 Pick 12: Vampire's Kiss
Bramble Wurm image 3.5 This is a pretty nice thing to ramp into, and a good finisher in general, as it will really allow you to stabilize between its size and the life it gains you. Its too bad it doesn’t draw you a card, like some other big Wurms we’ve seen, but even without that, this looks like a nice top curve for slower decks.
Rural Recruit image 3.0 This is a pretty good Common. 4/2 worth of stats spread across two bodies isn’t too bad for 4 mana, and it comes with the means to train itself right away. This turning into a 2/2 isn’t exactly amazing, but it will definitely make your attacks on the turn after you play it feel pretty good.
Vampire's Kiss image 1.0 I don’t like cards like this. Sure, it alters the race a little bit and gives you those blood tokens, which the BR deck is certainly interested in, but it just won’t feel like this is giving you a full card of value very often. It doesn’t impact the board meaningfully, and I can’t see myself wanting to jam something like it into my deck.
Pack 2 Pick 13: Flourishing Hunter
Flourishing Hunter image 2.5 It is pretty likely that this gains you 3 or more life, and that will feel pretty good if you’re trying to stabilize against an aggressive deck. . Seems like a solid card to have in the Colossal Dreadmaw/Honey Mammoth.
Sheltering Boughs image 1.0 This Aura replaces itself, which definitely upgrades it, but the stats boost isn’t pretty. I think you’ll cut this more than you play it.
Pack 2 Pick 14: Witch's Web
Witch's Web image 1.5 We see this trick a lot, and its always passable in aggressive decks. It gives enough of a boost that the creature usually wins combat, and it can even be used to ambush an attacking flyer, though typically you’d rather use this aggressively than defensively.
Pack 3 Pick 1: By Invitation Only
By Invitation Only image 5.0 This is an entirely customizable Wrath effect, and that seems very powerful. If you just want a straight up Wrath, pick 13. What makes it extra great, though, is that you can use it in situations where your creatures outnumber your opponents already, to wipe their whole board and hold on to some of your stuff. Basically, you’re going to get a reset button to bail you out of an unwinnable situation, or you can use it to put yourself way ahead of your opponent on the board. That’s definitely a bomb.
Undead Butler image 3.0 This is pretty nice at setting stuff up in your graveyard, and also a great creature to sacrifice to Exploit. Its pretty interesting, because it is pretty close to being a better Gravedigger for half the mana -- and Gravedigger is usually a pretty nice limited card. But there are a few things that I actually don’t think make it better than the digger. First, only having one power is a big deal, because creating a 2-for-1 this becomes much harder. Second, it exiles itself, so you can’t loop them together. I still think this is pretty good, especially in a set with Exploit, but I don’t quite think it is first pickable.
Lunar Rejection image 2.5 We’ve seen this card before without the werewolf hate side of things, and it was pretty solid. Bouncing a thing doesn’t usually give you a 1-or-1 trade, but because you draw a card, that’s what this amounts to, and you’re usually coming out ahead on tempo. Obviously, the Werewolf hosing upside will feel insane.
Wolfkin Outcast image 3.5 If you can curve out with a wolf on one of your first few turns, this is going to be pretty nasty on turn 4 as a 5/4. Especially because once its night time, it comes with a pretty powerful werewolf payoff that makes sure you get to 2-for-1 your opponent when they die. Note, by the way, if its already night, you still get the discount on the 6/5.
Estwald Shieldbasher image 2.5 This doesn’t have great stats for the cost, but the ability to become indestructible when it attacks makes up for that. It’s a nice place to put +1/+1 counters and Auras, and those are very real things in this format.
Blood Petal Celebrant image 3.0 This is a nice Common. We’ve seen two mana 2/1s who have first strike when they attack before, and they are always good two-drop aggro creatures, and this one gives you some Blood when it goes down. I don’t imagine you’ll cut this in Red decks.
Gluttonous Guest image 2.5 This is a decent Common that slots in well into multiple Black decks. It has high toughness, which BG likes, it gains you life, which BW likes, and it makes Blood tokens, which BR likes! Now, it doesn’t exactly blow you away with what it does in any of those decks, but it is a solid card in all of them.
Drogskol Infantry image 3.0 This looks like a nice Common to me! It is a bear on one side, and then can come back as a pretty nice Aura late. Look at it as a creature who can trade and leave an Aura behind, and that sounds pretty good.
Pointed Discussion image 1.5 Black always gets a draw spell like this, and the vast majority of them are pretty mediocre. Two cards for three mana and two life will be something worth paying in grindier decks, and the blood is nice upside. You won’t ever play it in more aggressive decks, though
Toxic Scorpion image 3.0 This looks nice. A two mana 1/1 with Deathtouch is probably already a 2.0 or 2.5, since it can trade for anything and really represent a problem all game long. So, being able to give death touch to another creature on the ETB is nice, and gives it even more utility in the later game.
Pyre Spawn image 2.0 This doesn’t have good stats, but the fact it bolts a thing when it dies does usually mean you can get a 2-for-1, and if your opponent’s life is low they are going to be sweating this a ton. I think this is a decent top curve card.
Cruel Witness image 3.5 A 4-mana 3/3 Flyer always feels pretty good, and this lets you surveil every time you play a noncreature spell. That’s not the most exciting payoff ever, but it does improve your draws over time while also loading the graveyard, and the fact it starts out with such a good baseline is pretty nice.
Undying Malice image 1.5 It seems like they give Black an Instant like this in every set these days, and they are always a little too situational and mediocre, especially if they don’t provide a stats boost up front to help the creature win combat. Supernatural Stamina, this is not. However, it does have some interesting applications in this set, especially alongside Exploit. You can use it to rebuy a creature you were sacrificing to Exploit, or to rebuy an Exploit trigger in the first place, and that seems like it might be worth doing. If you just have this in your deck as a way to save a creature from dying in combat or as way to counter removal, it probably won’t be worth it, but yeah – if ETBs and Exploit abound in your deck, it seems serviceable.
Gift of Fangs image 3.0 So, this is basically Dead Weight that has both Vampire upside, and downside, depending on what you’re trying to do. If you really need to kill an opposing vampire, it will be pretty frustrating that this can’t do it – but +2/+2 on one of your vampires for only one mana is pretty nice upside on Dead Weight. Dead Weight is normally a 3.0, and I think this will still end up there. It kills a whole lot of things efficiently, after all.
Pack 3 Pick 2: Circle of Confinement
Circle of Confinement image 3.0 The vampire part of the card mostly won’t matter in Limited -- you have to be exiling something your opponent has multiple copies of, after all. Mostly, this is a two mana removal spell that gets rid of mana value 3 or less things for two mana. That’s probably just enough to be premium removal, especially in a set with Disturb creatures, most of which are small enough that this can exile.
Lunar Rejection image 2.5 We’ve seen this card before without the werewolf hate side of things, and it was pretty solid. Bouncing a thing doesn’t usually give you a 1-or-1 trade, but because you draw a card, that’s what this amounts to, and you’re usually coming out ahead on tempo. Obviously, the Werewolf hosing upside will feel insane.
Skulking Killer image 2.5 The design here is pretty cool, and if you were able to trigger that ETB ability consistently, it would be an incredible card. Problem is, in games of Limited your opponent will frequently have more than a single creature. Even if you play this as early as possible, on turn 4, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to get value out of the ability, in which case you’re talking about a 4-mana 4/2, which is pretty horrendous. It basically gets better the more removal you have, since it will be easier for you to control the board, but that’s a lot of set up.
Hookhand Mariner image 3.0 This is a nice Common werewolf, something they could have used in the last set! A 4-mana 4/4 is pretty close to a C, and when this transforms it is hard to block.
Dawnhart Disciple image 2.5 This is a nice two drop, one that will often be a 3/3 when you’re just curving out.
Steelclad Spirit image 2.0 Two mana 3/3s with Defender are surprisingly not completely terrible. This is because they block pretty impressively early, and have enough size that your opponent is usually just going to have to trade. This has the nice upside of being an attacker sometimes.
Estwald Shieldbasher image 2.5 This doesn’t have great stats for the cost, but the ability to become indestructible when it attacks makes up for that. It’s a nice place to put +1/+1 counters and Auras, and those are very real things in this format.
Diregraf Scavenger image 2.5 This looks decent. Death touchers do tend to get a little less impressive the more mana you spend on them, because the fact they can trade with anything is less attractive when they are trading down, but the ETB ability here definitely does enough to make up for that. Draining your opponent 2 life with this will be fairly commonplace, and that means you get to hate on the opposing graveyard while also triggering your life gain stuff, and you are adding a pretty obnoxious creature to the board at the same time.
Ancestral Anger image 1.0 I like collect ‘em all cards, but just pumping power at Sorcery speed just isn’t that great, even with Trample. Now, I do think it has a little bit of value in the UR deck, since it is a spell that cantrips, but I’m still not very impressed.
Nurturing Presence image 1.5 This gives you a 1/1 Flyer no matter what, and that helps mitigate the risk of playing it. It’s too bad the rest of the card isn’t very good. The stats boost is situational and unimpressive. The turn you play it will giving +1/+1 to the thing, but still – you’re not really doing a great job with that.
Witch's Web image 1.5 We see this trick a lot, and its always passable in aggressive decks. It gives enough of a boost that the creature usually wins combat, and it can even be used to ambush an attacking flyer, though typically you’d rather use this aggressively than defensively.
Spore Crawler image 3.0 I like this. It doesn’t do anything fancy, but it has 2-for-1 written all over it, and I always like Commons that can produce those easily.
Flame-Blessed Bolt image 3.5 This is premium removal. One mana for 2 at Instant speed always is, as you can very easily trade up. The exile clause definitely matters because of the disturb mechanic too.
Pack 3 Pick 3: Arm the Cathars
Honeymoon Hearse image 2.5 This Vehicle doesn’t need to be crewed exactly -- though tapping down two creatures isn’t that far off from crewing. For three mana, it brings some pretty nice stats and an evasive keyword ability, and it will definitely be nice to tap a couple of small creatures who couldn’t attack anyway to put this thing into action. You won’t always have those creatures, though, and sometimes you’ll just have some larger creatures where attacking with them just makes more sense.
Arm the Cathars image 3.0 +6/+6 worth of stats spread across three creatures and Vigilance is going to be enough to enable attacks on a whole lot of boards, between the stats and the fact that you can still have the creatures hang back to block, which really matters in a race. Sure, you need a board state for this to do its thing, and you have to be a little cautious about when you use it, but it seems like this can bust a game wide open early, and break through a stalled board late, and that seems like a pretty nice overall.
Weaver of Blossoms image 2.5 This is a nice source of fixing and ramp with decent stats, and sometimes those stats are more than decent and it ramps even more!
Persistent Specimen image 1.0 // 2.5 Like many Skeletons who came before it, the idea here is to recur this so that you can keep sacrificing it to exploit triggers and other stuff. I think that really makes this a build around, as you don’t want to play it at all in a deck that doesn’t really take advantage of its recursion, as getting back a 1/1 over and over again just isn’t very good for most decks.
Unholy Officiant image 2.0 A one mana ½ with Vigilance is not a very good card. Its the kind of card people often overrate, because they think “One mana is only enough to get a 1/1 most of the time!” and while that’s sort of true, the problem in Limited is that this kind of card will get outclassed pretty quickly. That said, it comes with an ability that actually does something in the late game, even if 5 is a lot for a single counter. Its also a decent place to put counters thanks to its keyword ability. So, yeah. This is an alright one drop that you’ll play in your most aggressive GW decks, but it doesn’t look that great anywhere else.
Fear of Death image 2.5 This kind of removal is nowhere close to being premium. Only reducing a creature’s power just doesn’t do enough. The thing can still block with its full toughness and use abilities, so you don’t even get rid of a whole card with it on some creatures. That, combined with the necessary set up, makes this a fairly unimpressive card. It does mill you, which is important, but it isn’t anything more than a decent playable.
Abrade image 4.0 Woo boy, this is a very powerful reprint, and its one that was UNCOMMON last time, so the downshift is pretty exciting. Two to do 3 to something is always premium, and having the other mode is nice too, even if this format isn’t exactly filled to the brim with Artifacts.
Pyre Spawn image 2.0 This doesn’t have good stats, but the fact it bolts a thing when it dies does usually mean you can get a 2-for-1, and if your opponent’s life is low they are going to be sweating this a ton. I think this is a decent top curve card.
Nurturing Presence image 1.5 This gives you a 1/1 Flyer no matter what, and that helps mitigate the risk of playing it. It’s too bad the rest of the card isn’t very good. The stats boost is situational and unimpressive. The turn you play it will giving +1/+1 to the thing, but still – you’re not really doing a great job with that.
Syncopate image 2.5 This is a reprint, and actually a pretty reasonable counterspell. XU counterspells are nicely customizable, and you’ll find yourself able to counter a spell much more frequently without going out of your way to leave some amount of mana up as a result. Exiling the thing you counters certainly matters in this format too. Now, it is still a counterspell, and having to have the mana up at the exact right time just for this to trade 1-for-1 still isn’t awesome, but unlike a lot of counterspells, this one is worth it in Limited.
Ancestral Anger image 1.0 I like collect ‘em all cards, but just pumping power at Sorcery speed just isn’t that great, even with Trample. Now, I do think it has a little bit of value in the UR deck, since it is a spell that cantrips, but I’m still not very impressed.
Snarling Wolf image 1.5 This is another reprint from Midnight Hunt. It was solid there, as it could come down early and help set up Pack Tactics. It will probably be about the same here, except it will help set up Training. Still nothing special though, and not something you even always run. There are a lot of two drops that are just way better.
Pack 3 Pick 4: Ragged Recluse
Cartographer's Survey image 1.5 This is an interesting version of Explosive Vegetation! Most of the time when you cast this you will be getting two lands. The thing that makes it worse than Vegetation and other cards like it, is that this won’t reliably help you fix your mana or anything like that. It definitely improves your chances of course, but because you usually run about one land that produces splash mana, your chances aren’t great. So mostly, I’m looking at this as a ramp spell -- and it is good at that, even if it is pretty clunky. Casting this on turn four in some games just won’t be something you can do if your opponent is aggressive. Right now, I don’t see myself playing this other than in the rampiest of decks.
Blood Hypnotist image 3.0 This looks pretty good to me. Sure, it can’t Block, but the fact it can make opposing things unable to block when you sacrifice Treasure is pretty big for aggressive decks. This can really be part of a pretty devastating curve out. Obviously, you need Blood, but if you’re in Red, you’ll have access to enough that this will be worth playing.
Wolf Strike image 3.5 This is quite good. Even if it isn’t night time, this will be good in your Green decks, as the creature doesn’t fight, it just does damage equal to its power, so its one-sided! If it is night-time, it gets wayyy better, as it can make your creature take down a wider variety of creatures, and even offer you the opportunity to attack more effectively with the creature after it kills something else. You do have to be careful with this kind of card since you can get blown out if you don’t pick your spot carefully, but because its an Instant, you can pick your spot pretty effectively. Its definitely premium removal.
Adamant Will image 1.5 We’ve seen this card a few times now, it’s a pretty reasonable trick. The boost it gives is enough to win just about any combat, and the indestructibility means you can even use it to save a creature from removal. It is still a trick and comes with all the inherent downsides those come with – like being situational and sometimes risky.
Ragged Recluse image 2.5 This format has enough ways to discard – Blood tokens in particular – that transforming this thing into a witch is very doable, and once you do you have a pretty nice creature., although it isn’t exactly a world breaker.
Rural Recruit image 3.0 This is a pretty good Common. 4/2 worth of stats spread across two bodies isn’t too bad for 4 mana, and it comes with the means to train itself right away. This turning into a 2/2 isn’t exactly amazing, but it will definitely make your attacks on the turn after you play it feel pretty good.
Bloody Betrayal image 1.0 It takes a special format for Threaten effects to be good – and I don’t really foresee that in this format. You either need a legit sacrifice deck in Red or an incredibly aggressive format for it to work out, since it is the kind of effect that doesn’t give you anything permanently, the Blood token notwithstanding. You could maybe combine it with Exploit if you’re in Black or Blue, and that could be spicy, but you’ll need a significant amount of mana to make that happen most of the time.
Unholy Officiant image 2.0 A one mana ½ with Vigilance is not a very good card. Its the kind of card people often overrate, because they think “One mana is only enough to get a 1/1 most of the time!” and while that’s sort of true, the problem in Limited is that this kind of card will get outclassed pretty quickly. That said, it comes with an ability that actually does something in the late game, even if 5 is a lot for a single counter. Its also a decent place to put counters thanks to its keyword ability. So, yeah. This is an alright one drop that you’ll play in your most aggressive GW decks, but it doesn’t look that great anywhere else.
Massive Might image 2.0 It feels like the last few sets have had some pretty legit tricks, and this is definitely another one. One mana tricks tend to be pretty nice in aggressive decks, as you get some serious tempo when you use them to win combat, and this one definitely gives you enough of a boost to be worth running in those decks. Now, it IS still a track, and those always come with significant risks, but I think this is one you’ll play the first copy of reasonably often, provided you’re aggro.
Alchemist's Retrieval image 2.0 We see this card a lot, and its always kind of alright. This one is nice because if you want to bounce your own thing you can pay less, and paying two to bounce a nonland permanent either player controls is kind of what we expect. Its never anything special, but the first copy often makes the cut in Blue decks.
Lacerate Flesh image 1.5 This is some pretty mediocre removal. 5 for 4 damage just isn’t much, and you’ll often be trading drown with it. Getting some Blood doesn’t really save it from mediocrity. It is still removal and brings some Blood and Spell synergy, so it’s something you’ll play sometimes.
Pack 3 Pick 5: Grisly Ritual
Spiked Ripsaw image 3.0 This reminds me a lot of Plate Armor, and that’s pretty good company to keep, because that was a very powerful piece of Equipment. It costs the same to play and equip and gives the same stats boost, though Plate Armor also granted Ward and could reduce its equip cost. In place of that, though, Spiked Ripjaw can make your creature have trample, which is pretty nice. But yeah, this big of a stats boost can make almost any creature into a threat, and that’s what makes this so nice.
Nature's Embrace image 1.5 This has a pretty interesting design. Its either a mediocre aura or a mediocre way to fix and ramp. Each card individually is probably a 1.0 at best – and you probably won’t play this at all if you don’t need fixing, so I think it’s a 1.5.
Nebelgast Beguiler image 2.0 Master Decoy-type effects tend to play pretty well in Limited, sort of becoming like removal in the late part of the game. The creature here is very clunky and unimpressive, though. Having a defensive creature who has to tap to use its ability is a bit annoying, and I think you’ll cut this a decent chunk of the time.
Repository Skaab image 3.0 A Hill Giant that sometimes rebuys you an Instant or Sorcery is decent. Obviously, you don’t really want to give up a real creature for the effect all the time, otherwise it is a roundabout way of rummaging, but recurring removal spells is especially potent, and giving up a creature for that is often going to be worth it, especially if you sacrifice a card that brings you some value when it dies.
Binding Geist image 2.0 So, the attack trigger here won’t usually make it so the Geist won’t die in combat, but it does let you force your opponent into situations where the best they can do is trade, and that’s not too bad… though it isn’t great either. 1 toughness is a just a big hurdle on a 3-mana creature. Having that ability in Aura form isn’t exactly exciting either when you disturb it.
Evolving Wilds image 3.0 We see this all the time, and its always a pretty nice land. It does an excellent job of fixing for you. If you’re splashing something, just a single Wilds and a basic land in that splash color is enough, and that’s pretty great! Its at pretty much the same level as the Rare dual lands we just saw.
Wedding Invitation image 1.5 This replaces itself, and that’s good, because the effect it has wouldn’t be worth anywhere close to worth an entire card. But yeah, since it replaces itself, the effect is pretty decent, especially on a vampire, as lifelink can really alter races. Still isn’t a great card, though. It will be pretty easy to cut since it is so low impact.
Flame-Blessed Bolt image 3.5 This is premium removal. One mana for 2 at Instant speed always is, as you can very easily trade up. The exile clause definitely matters because of the disturb mechanic too.
Sporeback Wolf image 2.5 We’ve seen two mana 2/2s with this box of text before, and its fine. Being a 2/4 is decent enough upside on a bear.
Grisly Ritual image 2.5 A 6 mana sorcery that kills something is certainly not premium. You almost always spend more mana, and having to tap all of your mana on your own turn is pretty brutal. Still, it is unconditional and gives you a couple of Blood tokens, so it isn’t bad. It just isn’t good either.
Pack 3 Pick 6: Parish-Blade Trainee
Wash Away image 1.5 So, without Cleaving this, you will be able to counter things like Disturb, but that’s way too narrow and not worth a card. Even with Cleave, this is just Cancel, and that’s usually a card that’s not worth it in Limited. The Double Blue can be kind of rough, as it decreases the frequency with which you’ll be able to leave mana up to counter a thing, and that’s incredibly frustrating, as well as inefficient.
Ceremonial Knife image 1.5 This gives a very small boost, especially for an Equip cost of 2, and the fact you get Blood out of it isn’t really enough to make me excited about this.
Parish-Blade Trainee image 2.5 This will get bigger relatively easy since it starts with one power. One kind of awkward thing about it, though, is the fact that if you play this as your two drop, it almost definitely won’t be growing on turn three. It is nice that it pays you off for counter stuff more generally too, but this seems pretty awkward to curve out with, and I think that hurts its grade a little.
Hookhand Mariner image 3.0 This is a nice Common werewolf, something they could have used in the last set! A 4-mana 4/4 is pretty close to a C, and when this transforms it is hard to block.
Belligerent Guest image 2.5 This has alright stats and is going to make you blood sometimes, both are welcome.
Bramble Armor image 1.0 We just saw this in the last set. It wasn’t very good last time around, even with the free Equip, and really kind of underperformed. While this format has Training, which this can help with, the last format had Coven, which this could have helped with, and it still wasn’t a card you ran very often.
Syphon Essence image 1.5 This not being able to counter noncreature nonplaneswalkers definitely matters, but it does counter the card type people tend to have the most of, and getting that Blood is nice upside. Still, it’s a narrow enough counterspell that you’ll cut it a lot.
Falkenrath Celebrants image 2.5 This is a decent 5-drop. A 5-mana 4/4 with Menace is A 2.0 at best, but the two blood tokens it gives you can fuel some stuff or improve your hand.
Crushing Canopy image 0.5 There are flyers and Enchantments in this set of course, but not really enough of either to main deck this in most cases. Even blowing up a disturb Aura isn’t great, as most of the time you’re trading a whole card for half of one.
Pack 3 Pick 7: Vampire Slayer
Lantern of the Lost image 1.5 This does a real good job hating on the graveyard, and it also replaces itself with its activated ability. While this format feels a little less graveyard centric than Midnight Hunt -- after all, there’s no Flashback here -- graveyards are still a big enough deal in this format that I think you’ll main deck this sometimes. Because it replaces itself, the cost of doing so isn’t massive. I still think in an ideal world, you’re not playing it in your main deck though, as you’d rather have some other cards that have incidental graveyard hate than a card that only hates on graveyards. It will be the best in the UR deck, as it will trigger all your non-creature stuff and replace itself, which is exactly what that deck wants.
Wolf Strike image 3.5 This is quite good. Even if it isn’t night time, this will be good in your Green decks, as the creature doesn’t fight, it just does damage equal to its power, so its one-sided! If it is night-time, it gets wayyy better, as it can make your creature take down a wider variety of creatures, and even offer you the opportunity to attack more effectively with the creature after it kills something else. You do have to be careful with this kind of card since you can get blown out if you don’t pick your spot carefully, but because its an Instant, you can pick your spot pretty effectively. Its definitely premium removal.
Flourishing Hunter image 2.5 It is pretty likely that this gains you 3 or more life, and that will feel pretty good if you’re trying to stabilize against an aggressive deck. . Seems like a solid card to have in the Colossal Dreadmaw/Honey Mammoth.
Lightning Wolf image 1.5 This is pretty underwhelming. A 4-mana 4/3 isn’t a great place to start these days, and while its ability will make it harder to block, its also really frustrating its only Sorcery speed.
Falkenrath Celebrants image 2.5 This is a decent 5-drop. A 5-mana 4/4 with Menace is A 2.0 at best, but the two blood tokens it gives you can fuel some stuff or improve your hand.
Voldaren Epicure image 2.0 This does a bunch of little things, and I think they add up enough to make this a decent card. I don’t think you’ll always play it, but chances are good you’ll be interested in the Blood if yo’ure in Red, and especially Black/Red, and getting it on turn one seems like it will fuel some stuff.
Vampire Slayer image 1.5 This set has a lot of vampires, but not so many that a two mana 2/2 that kills Vampires in combat is that great. This is especially true because many vampires are already kind of small and this can trade with them.
Sheltering Boughs image 1.0 This Aura replaces itself, which definitely upgrades it, but the stats boost isn’t pretty. I think you’ll cut this more than you play it.
Pack 3 Pick 8: Fierce Retribution
Repository Skaab image 3.0 A Hill Giant that sometimes rebuys you an Instant or Sorcery is decent. Obviously, you don’t really want to give up a real creature for the effect all the time, otherwise it is a roundabout way of rummaging, but recurring removal spells is especially potent, and giving up a creature for that is often going to be worth it, especially if you sacrifice a card that brings you some value when it dies.
Unhallowed Phalanx image 1.0 // 2.5 The idea here is that you play this in the toughness matters deck, and I think you’ll play this reasonably often there, but you won’t really be playing it anywhere else. Sure, it can block well, but a 1/13 just isn’t that exciting -- it won’t be able to kill anything in combat, and the fact it can’t block right away is pretty brutal. There are some sweet combos to pull off with this in BG, like sacrificing this to the flipped Catapult creature.
Witch's Web image 1.5 We see this trick a lot, and its always passable in aggressive decks. It gives enough of a boost that the creature usually wins combat, and it can even be used to ambush an attacking flyer, though typically you’d rather use this aggressively than defensively.
Adamant Will image 1.5 We’ve seen this card a few times now, it’s a pretty reasonable trick. The boost it gives is enough to win just about any combat, and the indestructibility means you can even use it to save a creature from removal. It is still a trick and comes with all the inherent downsides those come with – like being situational and sometimes risky.
Militia Rallier image 2.5 This has efficient stats, even if it can’t attack alone. The good news is it can block alone, and it does a good job of that! And as long as he has some friends, he can rumble too, while untapping a creature, so it has pseudo-vigilance. On top of that, its a nice size for training other creatures.
Fierce Retribution image 3.0 This is a nice Common. Two mana to kill an attacking creature is often a card that makes the cut. You don’t love it if you’re aggressive because it doesn’t get blockers out of the way, but it is efficient enough to be fine. Adding the Cleave upside means that in the late game it can deal with anything, and that’s nice.
Traveling Minister image 1.5 This common gains life, which BW likes, and it can set up training a little better, which GW likes. But it doesn’t do either thing that well, and as a one mana 1/1 it isn’t exactly impactful. The Sorcery speed only thing is killer!
Pack 3 Pick 9: Gift of Fangs
Estwald Shieldbasher image 2.5 This doesn’t have great stats for the cost, but the ability to become indestructible when it attacks makes up for that. It’s a nice place to put +1/+1 counters and Auras, and those are very real things in this format.
Gluttonous Guest image 2.5 This is a decent Common that slots in well into multiple Black decks. It has high toughness, which BG likes, it gains you life, which BW likes, and it makes Blood tokens, which BR likes! Now, it doesn’t exactly blow you away with what it does in any of those decks, but it is a solid card in all of them.
Toxic Scorpion image 3.0 This looks nice. A two mana 1/1 with Deathtouch is probably already a 2.0 or 2.5, since it can trade for anything and really represent a problem all game long. So, being able to give death touch to another creature on the ETB is nice, and gives it even more utility in the later game.
Pyre Spawn image 2.0 This doesn’t have good stats, but the fact it bolts a thing when it dies does usually mean you can get a 2-for-1, and if your opponent’s life is low they are going to be sweating this a ton. I think this is a decent top curve card.
Undying Malice image 1.5 It seems like they give Black an Instant like this in every set these days, and they are always a little too situational and mediocre, especially if they don’t provide a stats boost up front to help the creature win combat. Supernatural Stamina, this is not. However, it does have some interesting applications in this set, especially alongside Exploit. You can use it to rebuy a creature you were sacrificing to Exploit, or to rebuy an Exploit trigger in the first place, and that seems like it might be worth doing. If you just have this in your deck as a way to save a creature from dying in combat or as way to counter removal, it probably won’t be worth it, but yeah – if ETBs and Exploit abound in your deck, it seems serviceable.
Gift of Fangs image 3.0 So, this is basically Dead Weight that has both Vampire upside, and downside, depending on what you’re trying to do. If you really need to kill an opposing vampire, it will be pretty frustrating that this can’t do it – but +2/+2 on one of your vampires for only one mana is pretty nice upside on Dead Weight. Dead Weight is normally a 3.0, and I think this will still end up there. It kills a whole lot of things efficiently, after all.
Pack 3 Pick 10: Estwald Shieldbasher
Hookhand Mariner image 3.0 This is a nice Common werewolf, something they could have used in the last set! A 4-mana 4/4 is pretty close to a C, and when this transforms it is hard to block.
Dawnhart Disciple image 2.5 This is a nice two drop, one that will often be a 3/3 when you’re just curving out.
Estwald Shieldbasher image 2.5 This doesn’t have great stats for the cost, but the ability to become indestructible when it attacks makes up for that. It’s a nice place to put +1/+1 counters and Auras, and those are very real things in this format.
Nurturing Presence image 1.5 This gives you a 1/1 Flyer no matter what, and that helps mitigate the risk of playing it. It’s too bad the rest of the card isn’t very good. The stats boost is situational and unimpressive. The turn you play it will giving +1/+1 to the thing, but still – you’re not really doing a great job with that.
Witch's Web image 1.5 We see this trick a lot, and its always passable in aggressive decks. It gives enough of a boost that the creature usually wins combat, and it can even be used to ambush an attacking flyer, though typically you’d rather use this aggressively than defensively.
Pack 3 Pick 11: Unholy Officiant
Unholy Officiant image 2.0 A one mana ½ with Vigilance is not a very good card. Its the kind of card people often overrate, because they think “One mana is only enough to get a 1/1 most of the time!” and while that’s sort of true, the problem in Limited is that this kind of card will get outclassed pretty quickly. That said, it comes with an ability that actually does something in the late game, even if 5 is a lot for a single counter. Its also a decent place to put counters thanks to its keyword ability. So, yeah. This is an alright one drop that you’ll play in your most aggressive GW decks, but it doesn’t look that great anywhere else.
Pyre Spawn image 2.0 This doesn’t have good stats, but the fact it bolts a thing when it dies does usually mean you can get a 2-for-1, and if your opponent’s life is low they are going to be sweating this a ton. I think this is a decent top curve card.
Ancestral Anger image 1.0 I like collect ‘em all cards, but just pumping power at Sorcery speed just isn’t that great, even with Trample. Now, I do think it has a little bit of value in the UR deck, since it is a spell that cantrips, but I’m still not very impressed.
Snarling Wolf image 1.5 This is another reprint from Midnight Hunt. It was solid there, as it could come down early and help set up Pack Tactics. It will probably be about the same here, except it will help set up Training. Still nothing special though, and not something you even always run. There are a lot of two drops that are just way better.
Pack 3 Pick 12: Massive Might
Cartographer's Survey image 1.5 This is an interesting version of Explosive Vegetation! Most of the time when you cast this you will be getting two lands. The thing that makes it worse than Vegetation and other cards like it, is that this won’t reliably help you fix your mana or anything like that. It definitely improves your chances of course, but because you usually run about one land that produces splash mana, your chances aren’t great. So mostly, I’m looking at this as a ramp spell -- and it is good at that, even if it is pretty clunky. Casting this on turn four in some games just won’t be something you can do if your opponent is aggressive. Right now, I don’t see myself playing this other than in the rampiest of decks.
Bloody Betrayal image 1.0 It takes a special format for Threaten effects to be good – and I don’t really foresee that in this format. You either need a legit sacrifice deck in Red or an incredibly aggressive format for it to work out, since it is the kind of effect that doesn’t give you anything permanently, the Blood token notwithstanding. You could maybe combine it with Exploit if you’re in Black or Blue, and that could be spicy, but you’ll need a significant amount of mana to make that happen most of the time.
Massive Might image 2.0 It feels like the last few sets have had some pretty legit tricks, and this is definitely another one. One mana tricks tend to be pretty nice in aggressive decks, as you get some serious tempo when you use them to win combat, and this one definitely gives you enough of a boost to be worth running in those decks. Now, it IS still a track, and those always come with significant risks, but I think this is one you’ll play the first copy of reasonably often, provided you’re aggro.
Pack 3 Pick 13: Nebelgast Beguiler
Nature's Embrace image 1.5 This has a pretty interesting design. Its either a mediocre aura or a mediocre way to fix and ramp. Each card individually is probably a 1.0 at best – and you probably won’t play this at all if you don’t need fixing, so I think it’s a 1.5.
Nebelgast Beguiler image 2.0 Master Decoy-type effects tend to play pretty well in Limited, sort of becoming like removal in the late part of the game. The creature here is very clunky and unimpressive, though. Having a defensive creature who has to tap to use its ability is a bit annoying, and I think you’ll cut this a decent chunk of the time.
Pack 3 Pick 14: Bramble Armor
Bramble Armor image 1.0 We just saw this in the last set. It wasn’t very good last time around, even with the free Equip, and really kind of underperformed. While this format has Training, which this can help with, the last format had Coven, which this could have helped with, and it still wasn’t a card you ran very often.
Draft Pick Overview