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Quick Draft ONE 26 April 2023

26 April 11:34 - farhad7 7 Wins - 2 Losses
Maindeck
Planeswalker (1)
1 Jace, the Perfected Mind image
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (8)
2 Volt Charge image
2 Hexgold Slash image
1 Gleeful Demolition image
2 Phyrexian Atlas image
1 Experimental Augury image
Creature (14)
2 Myr Convert image
2 Scheming Aspirant image
2 Gitaxian Anatomist image
1 Shrapnel Slinger image
1 Dune Mover image
1 Glissa Sunslayer image
2 Furnace Strider image
1 Gulping Scraptrap image
1 Sawblade Scamp image
1 Chimney Rabble image
Land (17)
2 Terramorphic Expanse image
1 Mirrex image
1 Blackcleave Cliffs image
1 Forest image
6 Mountain image
3 Swamp image
3 Island image
Sideboard
2 Indoctrination Attendant image
1 Bladed Ambassador image
1 Myr Kinsmith image
1 Porcelain Zealot image
1 Dune Mover image
1 Meldweb Curator image
1 Copper Longlegs image
1 Awaken the Sleeper image
1 Offer Immortality image
1 Duress image
1 Goldwarden's Helm image
1 Carnivorous Canopy image
2 Barbed Batterfist image

Pack 1 Pick 1: Jace, the Perfected Mind
Jace, the Perfected Mind image 3.5 His +1 makes it harder to take him down, his -2 will let you either load your own graveyard or try to mill out your opponent. I think most of the time you’ll actually choose the latter, especially because it synergizes better with his -X, which feels like the biggest threat. If you pay the full 4 mana for him, he can come down and immediately mill 15 cards, which can get pretty close to milling your opponent out, especially by the late game. If you play him early, he can build up his loyalty with +1 while protecting himself, before you fire off the -X. It really seems like this is one card that can singlehandedly mill the opponent out. The problem, though, is that he isn’t that great at protecting himself, especially if your opponent is even remotely ahead of you, so keeping his loyalty high will be tough. Stil, the upside of just coming down and milling 15 is pretty real in Limited. He may not always be able to stick around, but that ability on its own is enough for this card to be pretty powerful.
Voidwing Hybrid image 3.5 This, our last signpost Uncommon, is another good one! A two mana 2/1 with Toxic 1 and Flying is quite nice, and the fact that you can get this back when you Proliferate is big, especially because Proliferate seems plentiful in the format. If this is in the graveyard, it effectively adds “draw a card” to your Proliferate trigger, which is going to feel great.
Ribskiff image 2.5 A 4-mana 4/4 vehicles with Crew 3 is not especially good, but this does replace itself, and Toxic has some real upside. The 2-for-1 potential is very real.
Necrogen Communion image 1.0 I don’t like this very much. It is rare that an Aura that brings a creature back when it dies is worth it, and I don’t think adding Toxic 2 is quite enough to make a difference. Both of these effects are only good if your creature is already quite good, and that’s never how you want to do Auras.
Compleat Devotion image 2.0 Two mana for +2/+2 is a mediocre boost, but the 2-for-1 upside you get when you use this on a Toxic creature is definitely real upside. There’s enough Toxic in White that I feel like this is a 2.0
Vulshok Splitter image 2.0 So, this is effectively a 4-mana 4/2 when it comes down – one that leaves behind a pretty clunky piece of equipment. Neither of these things is that impressive for 4 mana, but the initial creature you get out of this definitely softens the blow, especially in a format with lots of payoffs for Equipment.
Ruthless Predation image 3.5 This is basically Epic Confrontation, which is a great Limited Common. +1/+2 enables a lot more of your creatures to Fight successfully, and you can often knock a blocker out of the way and swing in with your buffed creature.
Sheoldred's Headcleaver image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/4 with Menace is probably a 1.0 at best, and while adding Toxic to the mix is nice, this still dies to a whole lot of common double blocks
Sawblade Scamp image 2.5 This is kind of close to being Thermo-Alchemist, and that card has been great in spell decks in several different formats at this point. This does die super easy, but it only costs one, so your opponent won’t really be able to trade up for it or anything, and if it sits around in play in your spell-heavy deck, it is going to chip in for a ton of damage. Now, it is worse that the Alchemist, because the Alchemist can do damage without the help of spells, it just does more when you have them. The Scamp doesn’t do anything when you can’t find your spells, which happens
Thirsting Roots image 2.5 This is a solid modal card. It can help you fix your mana or just hit a land drop, and it is the kind of card that can almost stand in for a land in your deck, since it is almost a modal double-faced land card! Once you have the lands you need, you can Proliferate for some nice value. Sometimes neither mode will be useful, which is a bummer – but most of the time you’ll be getting something worthwhile for the investment.
Bladegraft Aspirant image 2.5 A three mana 2/3 with Menace is usuallya lready playable, but this also gives you some big Equipment upside! Making it cheaper to play and cheaper to put on the Aspirant is pretty serious. A menace creature is great for suiting up too
Cutthroat Centurion image 2.0 This can threaten to become a 4/4 any time it swings, which is pretty nice. This kind of card often gets through without you actually having to sacrifice anything to it, because the opponent just can’t muster a good block. This also combines well with the various sacrifice synergies, and being a free Sacrifice effect means it has the upside of working really well with Red’s usual Threaten effect.
Charge of the Mites image 2.5 While you’re overpaying a bit for each of these modes individually, the modality here is definitely nice! If you’re good at going wide – and if you’re in White you probably are – it can be a reasonable removal spell. If you’re having a hard time getting your board going, it can give you a couple of mites!
Gitaxian Anatomist image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/5 is passable, and having the option to Proliferate can be nice, especially because Blue has lots of oil counters running around – and some poison too! It is definitely awkward you have to tap this to Proliferate, since the thing this card is best at in terms of combat is blocking, and not being able to do that for a turn might be a liability.
Pack 1 Pick 2: Volt Charge
Awaken the Sleeper image 1.0 // 3.0 Here’s the usual Threaten effect! It is interesting its an Uncommon, which means consistently getting it when you have sacrifice outlets is going to be harder than normal. It is also kind of a bummer that it destroys the equipment immediately, instead of you getting a swing in first. But hey, the Equipment destruction angle does mean that you get to trade 1-for-1 in that situation, and that’s not too bad on top of all the other things that this can allow. As usual, this kind of a card is a build around. If you can’t consistently get that full card of value – by destroying Equipment or by sacrificing what you steal – you’re looking at a card that is pretty much only useful in one situation: When you can use it and win on the spot
Tainted Observer image 3.5 This is another strong signpost Uncommon. A three mana ⅔ Flyer with Toxic 1 is something you’ll always play, and the Proliferate upside here is pretty sweet, especially because it works with the Poison counters. You generally won’t have the mana available to proliferate until the mid or late game, but the baseline here is great
Unctus's Retrofitter image 3.5 This looks really good. A three mana 2/3 with Toxic 1 is already passable, so the fact that this can turn an artifact into a 4/4 is pretty awesome! You can animate a noncreature artifact, or upgrade an Artifact creature that is smaller than a 4/4. There are plenty of targets in the set, including things like Mite tokens, so this is often going to give you a big advantage for only three mana
Vanish into Eternity image 1.5 Six mana to exile a creature is pretty far from an ideal rate, even on an instant. It just isn’t easy for a spell that expensive to ever be premium, because you will usually overpay to kill a cheaper creature. But the fact that this can deal with other permanent types much more efficiently helps things even out. Basically this is going to be a more expensive Disenchant early, and late it can deal with anything. It definitely isn’t premium, even with its modality, but I think the first copy will make the cut in a lot of White decks.
Molten Rebuke image 2.0 This is red’s usual really mediocre modal removal spell. 5 mana for 5 damage at Sorcery speed isn’t anywhere close to premium – it is super clunky and firing it off on something that is cheaper than it is rough. Destroying Equipment matters a little for sure, but the fact that most Equipment in this format has “For Mirrodin!” probably means you don’t even get a full card of value if you do that
Titanic Growth image 2.0 +4/+4 will win you most combats, and two mana isn’t a terrible amount to spend for the boost. It can also sneak in lethal out of nowhere.
Myr Kinsmith image 0.0 // 2.0 There aren’t really that many Myrs in the set, so I mostly don’t see this getting off the ground. If you have at least three Myr, it is probably worth playing, as it will be able to generate a 2-for-1. And if you have Myr Convert, this will sort of fix your mana too. It is probably unplayable in most Limited decks, and playable if you have a couple of Converts.
Vulshok Splitter image 2.0 So, this is effectively a 4-mana 4/2 when it comes down – one that leaves behind a pretty clunky piece of equipment. Neither of these things is that impressive for 4 mana, but the initial creature you get out of this definitely softens the blow, especially in a format with lots of payoffs for Equipment.
Infectious Inquiry image 2.0 Black usually gets a three mana Common that does some version of draw 2 lose 2, and it is usually a passable card. Not adding to the board can be a liability, and this format does feel like it will be a fast one – so you never really want more than one of these. That first copy seems alright, though.
Prologue to Phyresis image 2.0 This isn’t especially powerful on its own, as a poison counter isn’t worth a ton on its own – but this is a spell that replaces itself, and the UR deck will make decent use of it
Aspirant's Ascent image 2.0 One mana tricks have been some pretty serious business of late, and I think this looks like another solid one. This kind of gives you two separate uses, which is great for such a low cost! First it can be used as a traditional trick to help your creature win combat with the +1/+3 boost – but you can also use it before your opponent blocks to make a big creature take to the air and crack in for a bunch of damage – along with some toxic upside
Volt Charge image 3.5 This is a reprint of a card that was great last time! Three mana for 3 damage at instant speed is usually premium. It isn’t always going to be able to trade up, but being able to go after your opponent and being Instant speed means you’re usually getting a good deal. Proliferate is a big addition, though, as this format has plenty of counters you can get an advantage out of.
Rustvine Cultivator image 1.5 This doesn’t look very good. The best thing about a mana dork is that it can play you more powerful spells every turn. This can’t do that. It will finally untap a land on turn three, and while the boost is nice, the fact you had to tap this twice to get it is no small thing. Sure, you can proliferate and stuff to have to tap it less, but you’re jumping through some pretty serious hoops to make your one drop work.
Pack 1 Pick 3: Indoctrination Attendant
Tyvar's Stand image 3.5 Two mana for +1/+1, hexproof, and indestructible is a pretty solid trick, and this has the upside of both scaling as the game goes on and being castable for only mana when that’s useful for you. The best tricks have the ability to win combat and protect a creature from removal, giving them broad situations where you want to use them, and this definitely does that, and can even give you lethal out of nowhere! This is one of the best Limited combat tricks we’ve ever seen.
Ribskiff image 2.5 A 4-mana 4/4 vehicles with Crew 3 is not especially good, but this does replace itself, and Toxic has some real upside. The 2-for-1 potential is very real.
Feed the Infection image 1.5 Lately, Sorcery-speed card draw effects that make you lose life have felt pretty bad, since you spend a significant amount of mana, don’t add to the board, and actually help out your aggressive opponent. However, I do think making your opponent lose 3 as well is a significant upgrade, but it still might be too slow
Adaptive Sporesinger image 2.5 Both of these triggers can be pretty nice. +2/+2 and Vigilance is a boost that can really allow you to have a much better turn, since it can allow a creature to attack more effectively and stay on defense, and when Proliferate can add a bunch of counters to stuff, that will feel good too.
Branchblight Stalker image 2.5 A two mana 3/1 with upside will usually make the cut in aggro decks, but it isn’t anything special
Leonin Lightbringer image 2.5 Equipping this won’t be particularly hard in this format, but it isn’t like the payoff here is amazing or anything. Ward 2 does make it a nice place to put Equipment too, since it feels awful if your opponent kills something in response to you Equipping it, and this makes that a lot harder.
Gulping Scraptrap image 2.5 This proliferates twice which is definitely some serious upside in this set. Of course, it also happens to a dismal 5-mana 4/4.
Ruthless Predation image 3.5 This is basically Epic Confrontation, which is a great Limited Common. +1/+2 enables a lot more of your creatures to Fight successfully, and you can often knock a blocker out of the way and swing in with your buffed creature.
Kuldotha Cackler image 2.5 This will be able to attack with higher power a decent chunk of the time for sure, but the times where it is just a lowly 2/3 will feel pretty rough.
Indoctrination Attendant image 2.5 A 4-mana ¾ with Toxic is acceptable, and there are certainly some nice ETBs to rebuy in this format. Its nice that this can do that for you while also generating a Mite. You can even bounce a land if you want to get the 1/1!
Phyrexian Atlas image 1.5 In most formats, a three mana mana rock just isn’t worth it. You need to add more meaningfully to the board, and using a card to get a small mana boost can be pretty rough. In theory, this does start doing something in the middle part of the game, but I’m still not in on this.
Gitaxian Anatomist image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/5 is passable, and having the option to Proliferate can be nice, especially because Blue has lots of oil counters running around – and some poison too! It is definitely awkward you have to tap this to Proliferate, since the thing this card is best at in terms of combat is blocking, and not being able to do that for a turn might be a liability.
Pack 1 Pick 4: Myr Convert
Myr Convert image 3.5 This seems pretty darn good. It ramps your mana, fixes your mana, and even has kind of a decent baseline as a two mana 2/1 with Infect 1. I think that whole package is worth a pretty early pick.
Prosthetic Injector image 1.5 This is cheap to play and Equip, but it doesn’t feel like it is worth a whole card to me. +0/+2 is a pretty meager boost, and while Toxic and Equipment have synergy in this format, there are better options for both of those of things that are also at lower rarities!
Trawler Drake image 3.0 A three mana 1/1 Flyer isn’t good, but there are enough ways to grow this – between casting spells and Proliferating, that it won’t be that hard to make this a good investment. The big downside is that it will die to pretty much everything the turn it comes down.
Prophetic Prism image 2.5 We’ve seen this before and it is always surprisingly good. Filtering mana is of course in efficient, and this doesn’t actually net you mana – but the fact this fixes your mana and replaces itself is no small thing. Actually getting a card worth of value is a big deal.
Sawblade Scamp image 2.5 This is kind of close to being Thermo-Alchemist, and that card has been great in spell decks in several different formats at this point. This does die super easy, but it only costs one, so your opponent won’t really be able to trade up for it or anything, and if it sits around in play in your spell-heavy deck, it is going to chip in for a ton of damage. Now, it is worse that the Alchemist, because the Alchemist can do damage without the help of spells, it just does more when you have them. The Scamp doesn’t do anything when you can’t find your spells, which happens
Terramorphic Expanse image 2.5 This always provides some solid fixing, even for two color decks. It can be particularly appealing when you are splashing one card, as just a single basic land and the Expanse are often enough to make that work.
Barbed Batterfist image 2.5 Two mana 3/1s tend to play pretty well in aggro decks, and that’s what you get up front here – and then you have the option of moving the Equipment to other stuff – like if you really want your token to be a 2/2, or if something else can benefit from the stat boost. +1/-1 certainly isn’t amazing, but this is really cheap to play and equip, which will be especially nice with Equipment payoffs in the set.
Chrome Prowler image 1.5 None of what this does feels especially meaningful. It has mediocre stats and an ETB ability that is underwhelming. A 3/2 with Flash can ambush block stuff, but not that effectively – it just ends up being a surprise trade or chump block. The tap effect will be nice at times, but this just doesn’t feel like it has enough of an impact to make the cut consistently.
Shrapnel Slinger image 2.5 This can kill a decent number of creatures in the format, and there’s also plenty of noncreature artifacts it can deal with too. Sacrificing a Mite or something else expendable seems particularly nice. You also have a baseline of a 2-mana 2/2, which you’ll certainly be wanting if you don’t have something else to do on turn two
Vraska's Fall image 1.5 This will have its moments, but this format also has a lot of tokens and creatures who give you value when they die, and when your opponent has those to sacrifice this won’t feel worth a card at all, even with the poison counter on top
Lattice-Blade Mantis image 3.0 This seems pretty strong for a Common. A 4-mana 4/3 is almost passable, so adding the ability to use oil counters to buff it up to a 5/4 that untaps is really nice. This can hit pretty hard while playing both offense and defense.
Pack 1 Pick 5: Scheming Aspirant
Scheming Aspirant image 3.5 Proliferate is already a good thing to be doing in this format, so the fact this also lets you drain your opponent for two when you do it is great. There’s enough proliferate in the format that I think this will be a good inclusion in most Black decks
Axiom Engraver image 1.5 This has a mediocre stat-line, and a card that can rummage a couple of times isn’t exactly something you’re going to go after. You’ll probably play this when you’re desperate for a two drop or some oil counters, but otherwise it won’t make the cut.
Offer Immortality image 2.5 This trick is always decent. It doesn’t have the upside of helping you do more damage to your opponent, but it trades that in for the flexibility of winning virtually any combat and saving your creature from most removal
Bladegraft Aspirant image 2.5 A three mana 2/3 with Menace is usuallya lready playable, but this also gives you some big Equipment upside! Making it cheaper to play and cheaper to put on the Aspirant is pretty serious. A menace creature is great for suiting up too
Charge of the Mites image 2.5 While you’re overpaying a bit for each of these modes individually, the modality here is definitely nice! If you’re good at going wide – and if you’re in White you probably are – it can be a reasonable removal spell. If you’re having a hard time getting your board going, it can give you a couple of mites!
Cutthroat Centurion image 2.0 This can threaten to become a 4/4 any time it swings, which is pretty nice. This kind of card often gets through without you actually having to sacrifice anything to it, because the opponent just can’t muster a good block. This also combines well with the various sacrifice synergies, and being a free Sacrifice effect means it has the upside of working really well with Red’s usual Threaten effect.
Aspirant's Ascent image 2.0 One mana tricks have been some pretty serious business of late, and I think this looks like another solid one. This kind of gives you two separate uses, which is great for such a low cost! First it can be used as a traditional trick to help your creature win combat with the +1/+3 boost – but you can also use it before your opponent blocks to make a big creature take to the air and crack in for a bunch of damage – along with some toxic upside
The Dross Pits image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Lattice-Blade Mantis image 3.0 This seems pretty strong for a Common. A 4-mana 4/3 is almost passable, so adding the ability to use oil counters to buff it up to a 5/4 that untaps is really nice. This can hit pretty hard while playing both offense and defense.
Surgical Skullbomb image 2.5 Like the others, this cycles at worst, and can have a real impact on the board that still nets you a card.
Pack 1 Pick 6: Hexgold Slash
Vat Emergence image 2.0 We have seen many 5 mana reanimation spells be complete duds. There’s one at Uncommon in most sets! They tend to underwhelm because it is hard to consistently get something back that is actually worth that hefty investment. However, there are two things going on here that that really change things. The first is Proliferate, which has synergy everywhere in the format. More importantly, though, is the fact that this lets you get something from any graveyard. That effectively doubles your chances of finding something to reanimate that is worth the mana, and that’s a big deal!
Orthodoxy Enforcer image 2.0 This is a decent Common payoff for having Artifacts, as a 4-mana 4/4 with Vigilance is a formidable body all game long. When you don’t get that going, though, this will feel pretty bad
Myr Custodian image 1.5 If this only Scried 2 for you, it would probably be a 2.5. Scry 2 is pretty nice card selection Letting your opponent also Scry 1 obviously makes it worse, especially because your opponent can take advantage of their Scry before you can.
Gitaxian Anatomist image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/5 is passable, and having the option to Proliferate can be nice, especially because Blue has lots of oil counters running around – and some poison too! It is definitely awkward you have to tap this to Proliferate, since the thing this card is best at in terms of combat is blocking, and not being able to do that for a turn might be a liability.
Chimney Rabble image 3.0 I like the rate here. 4/4 of stats for 4, including 3 power that rumbles right away. Going wide is definitely a thing in this format, too
Duress image 0.5 This is a sideboard card. Against someone who isn’t a creature heavy deck, it is worth using. Against your typical Limited deck, though, it isn’t. It will just wiff far too often, and going down a card for no effect is brutal.
Skyscythe Engulfer image 1.5 If you’re behind, it can hang back and block even flyers, and if you’re ahead, it can attack pretty hard. I wish there was some sort of ETB associated with it so you got some permanent value, though. Six mana is a lot to not get something like that!
Hexgold Slash image 3.5 Even without the Toxic-hating upside this card has, it would be quite good! One mana for 2 damage just tends to be a great deal, even allowing you to trade up for lots of 3 and 4 mana cards. Toxic is really everywhere in the format too, so you’re going to be able to do the 4 damage with this at some point in most games.
Cutthroat Centurion image 2.0 This can threaten to become a 4/4 any time it swings, which is pretty nice. This kind of card often gets through without you actually having to sacrifice anything to it, because the opponent just can’t muster a good block. This also combines well with the various sacrifice synergies, and being a free Sacrifice effect means it has the upside of working really well with Red’s usual Threaten effect.
Pack 1 Pick 7: Gleeful Demolition
Reject Imperfection image 2.0 Cancel ends up being a dud more often than not. The double Blue is surprisingly difficult to get at the right time, and leaving up three mana to counter something can horribly backfire if your opponent can play around it. It is nice that it triggers when you counter something cheap, as countering something that costs less than three feels particularly bad with this kind of card, so at least you get a consolation prize
Gleeful Demolition image 3.0 This format has a lot of Artifacts including Artifact creatures, so a card that can destroy them for one mana is already a card you’ll always play. That is definitely the mode you’re going to choose most frequently, but sometimes destroying your own thing is more beneficial. Like if you need extra bodies to go wide to win the game, or if you need those bodies to block
Bladegraft Aspirant image 2.5 A three mana 2/3 with Menace is usuallya lready playable, but this also gives you some big Equipment upside! Making it cheaper to play and cheaper to put on the Aspirant is pretty serious. A menace creature is great for suiting up too
Orthodoxy Enforcer image 2.0 This is a decent Common payoff for having Artifacts, as a 4-mana 4/4 with Vigilance is a formidable body all game long. When you don’t get that going, though, this will feel pretty bad
Prophetic Prism image 2.5 We’ve seen this before and it is always surprisingly good. Filtering mana is of course in efficient, and this doesn’t actually net you mana – but the fact this fixes your mana and replaces itself is no small thing. Actually getting a card worth of value is a big deal.
Blightbelly Rat image 3.0 A two mana 2/2 is a passable place to start – so adding both Toxic and a nice death trigger to the mix probably makes this one of the best Black Commons
Axiom Engraver image 1.5 This has a mediocre stat-line, and a card that can rummage a couple of times isn’t exactly something you’re going to go after. You’ll probably play this when you’re desperate for a two drop or some oil counters, but otherwise it won’t make the cut.
Forgehammer Centurion image 2.5 This isn’t as good as some Common Red cards that can make something unable to block, because the set up is fairly significant, but when it can use that ability it will really open the floodgates on your opponent.
Pack 1 Pick 8: Bladed Ambassador
Bladed Ambassador image 3.5 Like other recent two mana 3/1s that can become indestructible, this is going to be a great two drop. Sure, if you don’t proliferate or something, it can only use the ability once – but the great thing about this type of ability is the threat of activation is often enough for people to decide not to block or attack into it, because they end up getting 2-for-1’d in a ton of situations. So, even with only one oil counter, this will be good.
Plated Onslaught image 1.5 // 3.0 Here is your big payoff for going wide with Mites! Your artifacts make it cheaper, and having a bunch of artifact creatures is going to feel really good when you have a +2/+1 boost. This sort of card usually needs a build around grade, because if you don’t have enough ways to go really wide, you can’t really play it – but when you’re in the right deck, this ends a lot of games
Rustvine Cultivator image 1.5 This doesn’t look very good. The best thing about a mana dork is that it can play you more powerful spells every turn. This can’t do that. It will finally untap a land on turn three, and while the boost is nice, the fact you had to tap this twice to get it is no small thing. Sure, you can proliferate and stuff to have to tap it less, but you’re jumping through some pretty serious hoops to make your one drop work.
Prophetic Prism image 2.5 We’ve seen this before and it is always surprisingly good. Filtering mana is of course in efficient, and this doesn’t actually net you mana – but the fact this fixes your mana and replaces itself is no small thing. Actually getting a card worth of value is a big deal.
Gitaxian Anatomist image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/5 is passable, and having the option to Proliferate can be nice, especially because Blue has lots of oil counters running around – and some poison too! It is definitely awkward you have to tap this to Proliferate, since the thing this card is best at in terms of combat is blocking, and not being able to do that for a turn might be a liability.
Maze's Mantle image 2.0 A three mana Flash Aura that gives +2/+2 is a card we’ve seen before, and it was playable. If you look at this only as a combat trick it doesn’t seem that efficient, as you can usually get +2/+2 for a single mana. However, the fact this stays around to enhance that creature beyond that turn makes a big difference. The hexproof upside is going to come up sometimes too!
Molten Rebuke image 2.0 This is red’s usual really mediocre modal removal spell. 5 mana for 5 damage at Sorcery speed isn’t anywhere close to premium – it is super clunky and firing it off on something that is cheaper than it is rough. Destroying Equipment matters a little for sure, but the fact that most Equipment in this format has “For Mirrodin!” probably means you don’t even get a full card of value if you do that
Pack 1 Pick 9: Gitaxian Anatomist
Necrogen Communion image 1.0 I don’t like this very much. It is rare that an Aura that brings a creature back when it dies is worth it, and I don’t think adding Toxic 2 is quite enough to make a difference. Both of these effects are only good if your creature is already quite good, and that’s never how you want to do Auras.
Vulshok Splitter image 2.0 So, this is effectively a 4-mana 4/2 when it comes down – one that leaves behind a pretty clunky piece of equipment. Neither of these things is that impressive for 4 mana, but the initial creature you get out of this definitely softens the blow, especially in a format with lots of payoffs for Equipment.
Sheoldred's Headcleaver image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/4 with Menace is probably a 1.0 at best, and while adding Toxic to the mix is nice, this still dies to a whole lot of common double blocks
Sawblade Scamp image 2.5 This is kind of close to being Thermo-Alchemist, and that card has been great in spell decks in several different formats at this point. This does die super easy, but it only costs one, so your opponent won’t really be able to trade up for it or anything, and if it sits around in play in your spell-heavy deck, it is going to chip in for a ton of damage. Now, it is worse that the Alchemist, because the Alchemist can do damage without the help of spells, it just does more when you have them. The Scamp doesn’t do anything when you can’t find your spells, which happens
Cutthroat Centurion image 2.0 This can threaten to become a 4/4 any time it swings, which is pretty nice. This kind of card often gets through without you actually having to sacrifice anything to it, because the opponent just can’t muster a good block. This also combines well with the various sacrifice synergies, and being a free Sacrifice effect means it has the upside of working really well with Red’s usual Threaten effect.
Gitaxian Anatomist image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/5 is passable, and having the option to Proliferate can be nice, especially because Blue has lots of oil counters running around – and some poison too! It is definitely awkward you have to tap this to Proliferate, since the thing this card is best at in terms of combat is blocking, and not being able to do that for a turn might be a liability.
Pack 1 Pick 10: Awaken the Sleeper
Awaken the Sleeper image 1.0 // 3.0 Here’s the usual Threaten effect! It is interesting its an Uncommon, which means consistently getting it when you have sacrifice outlets is going to be harder than normal. It is also kind of a bummer that it destroys the equipment immediately, instead of you getting a swing in first. But hey, the Equipment destruction angle does mean that you get to trade 1-for-1 in that situation, and that’s not too bad on top of all the other things that this can allow. As usual, this kind of a card is a build around. If you can’t consistently get that full card of value – by destroying Equipment or by sacrificing what you steal – you’re looking at a card that is pretty much only useful in one situation: When you can use it and win on the spot
Titanic Growth image 2.0 +4/+4 will win you most combats, and two mana isn’t a terrible amount to spend for the boost. It can also sneak in lethal out of nowhere.
Myr Kinsmith image 0.0 // 2.0 There aren’t really that many Myrs in the set, so I mostly don’t see this getting off the ground. If you have at least three Myr, it is probably worth playing, as it will be able to generate a 2-for-1. And if you have Myr Convert, this will sort of fix your mana too. It is probably unplayable in most Limited decks, and playable if you have a couple of Converts.
Vulshok Splitter image 2.0 So, this is effectively a 4-mana 4/2 when it comes down – one that leaves behind a pretty clunky piece of equipment. Neither of these things is that impressive for 4 mana, but the initial creature you get out of this definitely softens the blow, especially in a format with lots of payoffs for Equipment.
Rustvine Cultivator image 1.5 This doesn’t look very good. The best thing about a mana dork is that it can play you more powerful spells every turn. This can’t do that. It will finally untap a land on turn three, and while the boost is nice, the fact you had to tap this twice to get it is no small thing. Sure, you can proliferate and stuff to have to tap it less, but you’re jumping through some pretty serious hoops to make your one drop work.
Pack 1 Pick 11: Gitaxian Anatomist
Feed the Infection image 1.5 Lately, Sorcery-speed card draw effects that make you lose life have felt pretty bad, since you spend a significant amount of mana, don’t add to the board, and actually help out your aggressive opponent. However, I do think making your opponent lose 3 as well is a significant upgrade, but it still might be too slow
Adaptive Sporesinger image 2.5 Both of these triggers can be pretty nice. +2/+2 and Vigilance is a boost that can really allow you to have a much better turn, since it can allow a creature to attack more effectively and stay on defense, and when Proliferate can add a bunch of counters to stuff, that will feel good too.
Phyrexian Atlas image 1.5 In most formats, a three mana mana rock just isn’t worth it. You need to add more meaningfully to the board, and using a card to get a small mana boost can be pretty rough. In theory, this does start doing something in the middle part of the game, but I’m still not in on this.
Gitaxian Anatomist image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/5 is passable, and having the option to Proliferate can be nice, especially because Blue has lots of oil counters running around – and some poison too! It is definitely awkward you have to tap this to Proliferate, since the thing this card is best at in terms of combat is blocking, and not being able to do that for a turn might be a liability.
Pack 1 Pick 12: Terramorphic Expanse
Sawblade Scamp image 2.5 This is kind of close to being Thermo-Alchemist, and that card has been great in spell decks in several different formats at this point. This does die super easy, but it only costs one, so your opponent won’t really be able to trade up for it or anything, and if it sits around in play in your spell-heavy deck, it is going to chip in for a ton of damage. Now, it is worse that the Alchemist, because the Alchemist can do damage without the help of spells, it just does more when you have them. The Scamp doesn’t do anything when you can’t find your spells, which happens
Terramorphic Expanse image 2.5 This always provides some solid fixing, even for two color decks. It can be particularly appealing when you are splashing one card, as just a single basic land and the Expanse are often enough to make that work.
Shrapnel Slinger image 2.5 This can kill a decent number of creatures in the format, and there’s also plenty of noncreature artifacts it can deal with too. Sacrificing a Mite or something else expendable seems particularly nice. You also have a baseline of a 2-mana 2/2, which you’ll certainly be wanting if you don’t have something else to do on turn two
Pack 1 Pick 13: Offer Immortality
Offer Immortality image 2.5 This trick is always decent. It doesn’t have the upside of helping you do more damage to your opponent, but it trades that in for the flexibility of winning virtually any combat and saving your creature from most removal
The Dross Pits image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Pack 1 Pick 14: Duress
Duress image 0.5 This is a sideboard card. Against someone who isn’t a creature heavy deck, it is worth using. Against your typical Limited deck, though, it isn’t. It will just wiff far too often, and going down a card for no effect is brutal.
Pack 2 Pick 1: Mirrex
Mirrex image 2.5 Well, this is interesting. The turn you play it, it is great at fixing mana. After that, it doesn’t do it at all! But it can still tap for colorless mana and crank out 1/1 pests. As I’ve noted, making it so tokens can’t block is a big downside, as that is usually the main thing 1/1s are doing in the mid-to-late game. But still, this can add to the board while you’re flooding out. I think it seems solid overall between the one-turn fixing it provides and its ability to make tokens.
Necrogen Communion image 1.0 I don’t like this very much. It is rare that an Aura that brings a creature back when it dies is worth it, and I don’t think adding Toxic 2 is quite enough to make a difference. Both of these effects are only good if your creature is already quite good, and that’s never how you want to do Auras.
Noxious Assault image 1.0 This is an interesting take on a mass pump effect. There will certainly be times where this puts your opponent in a lose-lose situation, since they can neither take all the damage or get the poison counters, but most of the time they can probably find a way to mix and match and survive. Five mana for this sorcery speed boost is normally just not a very good card in Limited and I don’t feel like the poison counter upside is enough for me to want to play this in this format. It is definitely hard to evaluate, as the poison vs. damage choice can definitely be powerful, but I think this is probably still too situational to be very good.
Thrummingbird image 3.5 This was a nice card last time we saw it, and it certainly will be here. Multiplying poison and oil is going to be something Blue decks want to do
Carnivorous Canopy image 1.5 There are enough Artifacts and Enchantments in this set that this it probably isn’t a disaster to run this, especially with that Proliferate upside. It is a bit of a bummer that all this Artifact spot removal is a little worse in a world with the “For Mirrodin!” mechanic, because your opponent still holds on to a token, and being a Sorcery is pretty rough too. This is mostly a sideboard card, though. I think you’ll be disappointed if this makes your main deck.
Indoctrination Attendant image 2.5 A 4-mana ¾ with Toxic is acceptable, and there are certainly some nice ETBs to rebuy in this format. Its nice that this can do that for you while also generating a Mite. You can even bounce a land if you want to get the 1/1!
Sinew Dancer image 2.0 So, if you don’t get Corrupted going, this is a pretty bad card. While Master Decoy-type creatures are nice, we’ve seen in the past that asking for four mana for such an effect is just too much, and not an effective way to use your mana on most turns. Obviously, if you can get some poison on your opponent, it gets a lot better – as one mana a turn to tap something often just feels like removal. There is some interesting synergy to be had here, as if you have three poison on your opponent, you probably have some Toxic creatures in play, in which case tapping down a blocker is going to be increasingly problematic for your opponent. That said, getting three poison on your opponent is significant set up, and the baseline card is pretty bad
Offer Immortality image 2.5 This trick is always decent. It doesn’t have the upside of helping you do more damage to your opponent, but it trades that in for the flexibility of winning virtually any combat and saving your creature from most removal
Volt Charge image 3.5 This is a reprint of a card that was great last time! Three mana for 3 damage at instant speed is usually premium. It isn’t always going to be able to trade up, but being able to go after your opponent and being Instant speed means you’re usually getting a good deal. Proliferate is a big addition, though, as this format has plenty of counters you can get an advantage out of.
Blightbelly Rat image 3.0 A two mana 2/2 is a passable place to start – so adding both Toxic and a nice death trigger to the mix probably makes this one of the best Black Commons
Adaptive Sporesinger image 2.5 Both of these triggers can be pretty nice. +2/+2 and Vigilance is a boost that can really allow you to have a much better turn, since it can allow a creature to attack more effectively and stay on defense, and when Proliferate can add a bunch of counters to stuff, that will feel good too.
Basilica Skullbomb image 2.0 Glad to see a Phyrexian variant of the Mirrodin Spellbomb! At worst, these all cycle away while giving you some artifact synergy, and that makes it hard for them to be terrible. Then, when you have the mana, it does something reasonably significant while still replacing itself. +2/+2 and Flying is the kind of boost that matters a big chunk of the time.
Whisper of the Dross image 1.5 If you can kill something with this, or have it help you win combat, it will feel pretty good since you’re only spending a single mana! Problem is, those situations won’t be that easy to manufacture
Malcator's Watcher image 2.0 I like cards that replace themselves, and this has a fairly relevant body by virtue of being evasive and an Artifact.
Pack 2 Pick 2: Volt Charge
Nahiri's Sacrifice image 1.0 Obviously this has some potential. Dividing damage is always great, as you get the ability to take down multiple things, but that certainly gets less attractive when you 2-for-1 yourself upfront, and that’s what you’ll be doing here. You can’t even do something like give up a token, since it won’t really do any damage. So, what you need to do here is sacrifice something with a high mana value that maybe has a death trigger or ETB ability. At that point, you’re mitigating against 2-for-1ing yourself – but that is still kind of a narrow subset of cards for you to sacrifice
Nimraiser Paladin image 3.0 This will often grant you a 2-for-1, which is always nice, and the 5-mana 4/4 body it gives you isn’t completely terrible. Lots of ways to take advantage of Toxic too! Still feels a little to inefficient – and a little too specific about what it can return to your hand – to be great, but I think the first copy will usually make the cut.
Tamiyo's Logbook image 1.0 // 3.5 This reminds me a lot of Jodah’s Codex. It can give you some unbeatable card advantage, but there is some serious work you need to do to get there. You’re going to have to get the cost way down on this significantly or it won’t be worth playing. While there are lots of artifacts in the set, I’m skeptical that just any Blue deck can turn this into a card worth playing, so it feels like this needs a buildaround grade.
Prologue to Phyresis image 2.0 This isn’t especially powerful on its own, as a poison counter isn’t worth a ton on its own – but this is a spell that replaces itself, and the UR deck will make decent use of it
Dune Mover image 2.0 This kind of fixing usually isn’t great, because putting the card on top is a pretty massive difference from getting it in your hand or something. But it does have solid stats and brings Toxic to the table.
Bladegraft Aspirant image 2.5 A three mana 2/3 with Menace is usuallya lready playable, but this also gives you some big Equipment upside! Making it cheaper to play and cheaper to put on the Aspirant is pretty serious. A menace creature is great for suiting up too
Volt Charge image 3.5 This is a reprint of a card that was great last time! Three mana for 3 damage at instant speed is usually premium. It isn’t always going to be able to trade up, but being able to go after your opponent and being Instant speed means you’re usually getting a good deal. Proliferate is a big addition, though, as this format has plenty of counters you can get an advantage out of.
Adaptive Sporesinger image 2.5 Both of these triggers can be pretty nice. +2/+2 and Vigilance is a boost that can really allow you to have a much better turn, since it can allow a creature to attack more effectively and stay on defense, and when Proliferate can add a bunch of counters to stuff, that will feel good too.
Mandible Justiciar image 3.0 A two mana 2/1 with Lifelink is usually playable anyway, and this will often be a 3/2 or larger on your turn. Seems like a great two drop for aggressive decks that care about artifacts.
Gitaxian Raptor image 3.0 A three mana ¼ flyer is an acceptable rate, so its nice that this has the upside of using oil counters to increase its power and lower its toughness. Three oil counters is a nice number to have, as just attacking with this and turning it into a 2/3 three turns in a row is going to feel pretty good.
Duress image 0.5 This is a sideboard card. Against someone who isn’t a creature heavy deck, it is worth using. Against your typical Limited deck, though, it isn’t. It will just wiff far too often, and going down a card for no effect is brutal.
Offer Immortality image 2.5 This trick is always decent. It doesn’t have the upside of helping you do more damage to your opponent, but it trades that in for the flexibility of winning virtually any combat and saving your creature from most removal
Axiom Engraver image 1.5 This has a mediocre stat-line, and a card that can rummage a couple of times isn’t exactly something you’re going to go after. You’ll probably play this when you’re desperate for a two drop or some oil counters, but otherwise it won’t make the cut.
Pack 2 Pick 3: Porcelain Zealot
Tamiyo's Logbook image 1.0 // 3.5 This reminds me a lot of Jodah’s Codex. It can give you some unbeatable card advantage, but there is some serious work you need to do to get there. You’re going to have to get the cost way down on this significantly or it won’t be worth playing. While there are lots of artifacts in the set, I’m skeptical that just any Blue deck can turn this into a card worth playing, so it feels like this needs a buildaround grade.
Porcelain Zealot image 3.5 This has bad base stats, but at least it can buff itself in a pinch! +1/+1 every turn can make a difference more often than you might think, and the +2/+2 boost you can give to Toxic creatures really matters, as making them harder to block profitably comes with extra value
Adaptive Sporesinger image 2.5 Both of these triggers can be pretty nice. +2/+2 and Vigilance is a boost that can really allow you to have a much better turn, since it can allow a creature to attack more effectively and stay on defense, and when Proliferate can add a bunch of counters to stuff, that will feel good too.
Phyrexian Atlas image 1.5 In most formats, a three mana mana rock just isn’t worth it. You need to add more meaningfully to the board, and using a card to get a small mana boost can be pretty rough. In theory, this does start doing something in the middle part of the game, but I’m still not in on this.
Quicksilver Fisher image 2.5 This has reasonable Flying stats and a solid ETB ability. Looting is always a nice effect to tack on to a reasonable creature.
Sinew Dancer image 2.0 So, if you don’t get Corrupted going, this is a pretty bad card. While Master Decoy-type creatures are nice, we’ve seen in the past that asking for four mana for such an effect is just too much, and not an effective way to use your mana on most turns. Obviously, if you can get some poison on your opponent, it gets a lot better – as one mana a turn to tap something often just feels like removal. There is some interesting synergy to be had here, as if you have three poison on your opponent, you probably have some Toxic creatures in play, in which case tapping down a blocker is going to be increasingly problematic for your opponent. That said, getting three poison on your opponent is significant set up, and the baseline card is pretty bad
Branchblight Stalker image 2.5 A two mana 3/1 with upside will usually make the cut in aggro decks, but it isn’t anything special
Maze's Mantle image 2.0 A three mana Flash Aura that gives +2/+2 is a card we’ve seen before, and it was playable. If you look at this only as a combat trick it doesn’t seem that efficient, as you can usually get +2/+2 for a single mana. However, the fact this stays around to enhance that creature beyond that turn makes a big difference. The hexproof upside is going to come up sometimes too!
Titanic Growth image 2.0 +4/+4 will win you most combats, and two mana isn’t a terrible amount to spend for the boost. It can also sneak in lethal out of nowhere.
Vulshok Splitter image 2.0 So, this is effectively a 4-mana 4/2 when it comes down – one that leaves behind a pretty clunky piece of equipment. Neither of these things is that impressive for 4 mana, but the initial creature you get out of this definitely softens the blow, especially in a format with lots of payoffs for Equipment.
Terramorphic Expanse image 2.5 This always provides some solid fixing, even for two color decks. It can be particularly appealing when you are splashing one card, as just a single basic land and the Expanse are often enough to make that work.
Offer Immortality image 2.5 This trick is always decent. It doesn’t have the upside of helping you do more damage to your opponent, but it trades that in for the flexibility of winning virtually any combat and saving your creature from most removal
Pack 2 Pick 4: Myr Convert
Apostle of Invasion image 2.5 A 6-mana 4/4 flyer isn’t enough to cut it these days, and is a card that you end up not playing more often than you do – it is something like a D+. That much mana for something that inefficient is a real liability these days. You just expect more for six mana! Now, Adding Double Strike to the mix is definitely interesting, and it seems like a decent number of White decks will have accomplished that by the time the Apostle comes down.
Ravenous Necrotitan image 2.5 I’m not in love with this. A 4-mana 6/6 that always makes you sacrifice a creature when it enters isn’t worth it except in decks with good sacrifice fodder. And while its nice that sometimes this will just be a straight up 4-mana 6/6 with no downside, it will probably be at the point in the game where it isn’t nearly as imposing. We’re still just talking about a card that’s biggest upside is that it is a big vanilla creature, and that isn’t exciting.
Myr Convert image 3.5 This seems pretty darn good. It ramps your mana, fixes your mana, and even has kind of a decent baseline as a two mana 2/1 with Infect 1. I think that whole package is worth a pretty early pick.
Experimental Augury image 2.5 Anticipate usually isn’t great in Limited, but tacking Proliferate on to is a pretty big deal. There are lots of counters in this set, and even payoffs for prolfierating specifically! On top of that, UR likes spells, and this kind of instant that replaces itself always gets a boost there. Basically, this will actually effect the board reasonably often thanks to the synergies in the set, while also giving you some solid card selection.
Goldwarden's Helm image 2.0 You get a three mana 2/3 up front here, which isn’t the worst baseline – especially when you have Equipment and Artifact payoffs in the format. The Boost this offers on its own is certainly very meager, though.
Indoctrination Attendant image 2.5 A 4-mana ¾ with Toxic is acceptable, and there are certainly some nice ETBs to rebuy in this format. Its nice that this can do that for you while also generating a Mite. You can even bounce a land if you want to get the 1/1!
Predation Steward image 2.0 This seems like a fine two drop. The ability isn’t exactly efficient, and it is definitely clunky as a sorcery speed only effect, but it can certainly allow you to send in an attacker that couldn’t attack otherwise.
Glistener Seer image 2.0 One mana 0/3s are pretty underwhelming. This one does Scry a few times though, and that can be useful all game long.
Prologue to Phyresis image 2.0 This isn’t especially powerful on its own, as a poison counter isn’t worth a ton on its own – but this is a spell that replaces itself, and the UR deck will make decent use of it
Duress image 0.5 This is a sideboard card. Against someone who isn’t a creature heavy deck, it is worth using. Against your typical Limited deck, though, it isn’t. It will just wiff far too often, and going down a card for no effect is brutal.
Molten Rebuke image 2.0 This is red’s usual really mediocre modal removal spell. 5 mana for 5 damage at Sorcery speed isn’t anywhere close to premium – it is super clunky and firing it off on something that is cheaper than it is rough. Destroying Equipment matters a little for sure, but the fact that most Equipment in this format has “For Mirrodin!” probably means you don’t even get a full card of value if you do that
Pack 2 Pick 5: Hexgold Slash
Necrosquito image 3.0 4-mana 2/2 Flyers have felt pretty bad lately – mostly because they can die to common one mana removal. However, this can grow quite quickly, especially if you combine it with sacrifice effects. But even combat can lead to this being an impressive flyer.
Expand the Sphere image 1.5 You have a pretty good chance of hitting two lands when you cast this, and that’s some pretty serious ramp – but I love that you can choose some combination of lands and proliferating when you cast this. Sometimes in the late game drawing your ramp spell is pretty awful, and this becomes a 4-mana Sorcery that Proliferates twice in that situation, and that’s often going to have a significant impact on the board. That said, format looks fast enough that there won’t be that many decks looking to take this.
The Fair Basilica image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Goldwarden's Helm image 2.0 You get a three mana 2/3 up front here, which isn’t the worst baseline – especially when you have Equipment and Artifact payoffs in the format. The Boost this offers on its own is certainly very meager, though.
Forgehammer Centurion image 2.5 This isn’t as good as some Common Red cards that can make something unable to block, because the set up is fairly significant, but when it can use that ability it will really open the floodgates on your opponent.
Blightbelly Rat image 3.0 A two mana 2/2 is a passable place to start – so adding both Toxic and a nice death trigger to the mix probably makes this one of the best Black Commons
Phyrexian Atlas image 1.5 In most formats, a three mana mana rock just isn’t worth it. You need to add more meaningfully to the board, and using a card to get a small mana boost can be pretty rough. In theory, this does start doing something in the middle part of the game, but I’m still not in on this.
Hexgold Slash image 3.5 Even without the Toxic-hating upside this card has, it would be quite good! One mana for 2 damage just tends to be a great deal, even allowing you to trade up for lots of 3 and 4 mana cards. Toxic is really everywhere in the format too, so you’re going to be able to do the 4 damage with this at some point in most games.
The Hunter Maze image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Chimney Rabble image 3.0 I like the rate here. 4/4 of stats for 4, including 3 power that rumbles right away. Going wide is definitely a thing in this format, too
Pack 2 Pick 6: Scheming Aspirant
Scheming Aspirant image 3.5 Proliferate is already a good thing to be doing in this format, so the fact this also lets you drain your opponent for two when you do it is great. There’s enough proliferate in the format that I think this will be a good inclusion in most Black decks
Vraska's Fall image 1.5 This will have its moments, but this format also has a lot of tokens and creatures who give you value when they die, and when your opponent has those to sacrifice this won’t feel worth a card at all, even with the poison counter on top
Orthodoxy Enforcer image 2.0 This is a decent Common payoff for having Artifacts, as a 4-mana 4/4 with Vigilance is a formidable body all game long. When you don’t get that going, though, this will feel pretty bad
Meldweb Strider image 2.0 A 5-mana 5/5 Vigilance Vehicle with Crew 3 is probably a 1.5. That’s just not a very good rate for a card that isn’t a creature unless you do some extra work! The fact this comes with an oil counter does matter though, as it does make it so this can be a creature all on its one for one turn, and if you proliferate it can become a real problem. Of course, the upside there is still that this is just a 5-mana 5/5 with Vigilance – which is nice, but again – there is work to be done to even get it to the point where it does that consistently.
Copper Longlegs image 1.5 A two mana 1/3 Reach isn’t very good. This can give itself up to Proliferate which is nice, since it will often not be a very relevant body on the board. Still, it doesn’t seem like this will be making the cut with regularity
Experimental Augury image 2.5 Anticipate usually isn’t great in Limited, but tacking Proliferate on to is a pretty big deal. There are lots of counters in this set, and even payoffs for prolfierating specifically! On top of that, UR likes spells, and this kind of instant that replaces itself always gets a boost there. Basically, this will actually effect the board reasonably often thanks to the synergies in the set, while also giving you some solid card selection.
Titanic Growth image 2.0 +4/+4 will win you most combats, and two mana isn’t a terrible amount to spend for the boost. It can also sneak in lethal out of nowhere.
Myr Kinsmith image 0.0 // 2.0 There aren’t really that many Myrs in the set, so I mostly don’t see this getting off the ground. If you have at least three Myr, it is probably worth playing, as it will be able to generate a 2-for-1. And if you have Myr Convert, this will sort of fix your mana too. It is probably unplayable in most Limited decks, and playable if you have a couple of Converts.
Infectious Inquiry image 2.0 Black usually gets a three mana Common that does some version of draw 2 lose 2, and it is usually a passable card. Not adding to the board can be a liability, and this format does feel like it will be a fast one – so you never really want more than one of these. That first copy seems alright, though.
Pack 2 Pick 7: Phyrexian Atlas
Stinging Hivemaster image 3.5 This is a very nice common. A three mana 3/2 with Toxic 1 is already probably playable, so the fact it spits out a Mite when it dies is sweet. It is worth noting that the token’s inability to block does lower the value of the token – more than adding Toxic 1 makes up for
Phyrexian Atlas image 1.5 In most formats, a three mana mana rock just isn’t worth it. You need to add more meaningfully to the board, and using a card to get a small mana boost can be pretty rough. In theory, this does start doing something in the middle part of the game, but I’m still not in on this.
Carnivorous Canopy image 1.5 There are enough Artifacts and Enchantments in this set that this it probably isn’t a disaster to run this, especially with that Proliferate upside. It is a bit of a bummer that all this Artifact spot removal is a little worse in a world with the “For Mirrodin!” mechanic, because your opponent still holds on to a token, and being a Sorcery is pretty rough too. This is mostly a sideboard card, though. I think you’ll be disappointed if this makes your main deck.
Kuldotha Cackler image 2.5 This will be able to attack with higher power a decent chunk of the time for sure, but the times where it is just a lowly 2/3 will feel pretty rough.
Quicksilver Fisher image 2.5 This has reasonable Flying stats and a solid ETB ability. Looting is always a nice effect to tack on to a reasonable creature.
Sheoldred's Headcleaver image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/4 with Menace is probably a 1.0 at best, and while adding Toxic to the mix is nice, this still dies to a whole lot of common double blocks
Lattice-Blade Mantis image 3.0 This seems pretty strong for a Common. A 4-mana 4/3 is almost passable, so adding the ability to use oil counters to buff it up to a 5/4 that untaps is really nice. This can hit pretty hard while playing both offense and defense.
Prologue to Phyresis image 2.0 This isn’t especially powerful on its own, as a poison counter isn’t worth a ton on its own – but this is a spell that replaces itself, and the UR deck will make decent use of it
Pack 2 Pick 8: Shrapnel Slinger
Shrapnel Slinger image 2.5 This can kill a decent number of creatures in the format, and there’s also plenty of noncreature artifacts it can deal with too. Sacrificing a Mite or something else expendable seems particularly nice. You also have a baseline of a 2-mana 2/2, which you’ll certainly be wanting if you don’t have something else to do on turn two
Eye of Malcator image 2.0 One of Blue’s big themes is Artifacts, and this is certainly a payoff for playing them. It is nice that it Scries up front, which means you can make sure you are more likely to hit Artifacts on your next couple turns. Still, most of these cards we see that aren’t always creatures but temporarily become creatures when X happens have been sort of underwhelming. Its just rough that the card is near irrelevant on your opponents’ turn, and often doesn’t do enough on your turn either.
Furnace Skullbomb image 1.5 I think this is probably the worst of the bunch, mostly because its effect is more niche than the others. If you don’t have a permanent that cares about oil counters, it doesn’t do anything, while the others have effects that pretty much always do something. It still can be cycled away easily, and when you can get value out of the counters it is fine, but it is a bit worse than the others.
Zealot's Conviction image 2.5 A one mana Aura with Flash that gives +1/+1 is already somewhat acceptable. The boost isn’t massive, so it can’t win that many combats, but the fact that it leaves a permanent buff behind really matters, because it means you effect the board in the short-term and long-term when you can win combat. Then, when you get Corrupted going, this becomes really good, as +2/+1 and First Strike is going to win you most combats, and the boost is once again permanent! One mana tricks really tend to overperform, even when the lack the ability to save a creature from most removal like this
Thirsting Roots image 2.5 This is a solid modal card. It can help you fix your mana or just hit a land drop, and it is the kind of card that can almost stand in for a land in your deck, since it is almost a modal double-faced land card! Once you have the lands you need, you can Proliferate for some nice value. Sometimes neither mode will be useful, which is a bummer – but most of the time you’ll be getting something worthwhile for the investment.
Dross Skullbomb image 2.5 This one can get a creature back from your graveyard and draw you a card, and once it does that you get a pretty nice 2-for-1
Copper Longlegs image 1.5 A two mana 1/3 Reach isn’t very good. This can give itself up to Proliferate which is nice, since it will often not be a very relevant body on the board. Still, it doesn’t seem like this will be making the cut with regularity
Pack 2 Pick 9: Indoctrination Attendant
Necrogen Communion image 1.0 I don’t like this very much. It is rare that an Aura that brings a creature back when it dies is worth it, and I don’t think adding Toxic 2 is quite enough to make a difference. Both of these effects are only good if your creature is already quite good, and that’s never how you want to do Auras.
Carnivorous Canopy image 1.5 There are enough Artifacts and Enchantments in this set that this it probably isn’t a disaster to run this, especially with that Proliferate upside. It is a bit of a bummer that all this Artifact spot removal is a little worse in a world with the “For Mirrodin!” mechanic, because your opponent still holds on to a token, and being a Sorcery is pretty rough too. This is mostly a sideboard card, though. I think you’ll be disappointed if this makes your main deck.
Indoctrination Attendant image 2.5 A 4-mana ¾ with Toxic is acceptable, and there are certainly some nice ETBs to rebuy in this format. Its nice that this can do that for you while also generating a Mite. You can even bounce a land if you want to get the 1/1!
Sinew Dancer image 2.0 So, if you don’t get Corrupted going, this is a pretty bad card. While Master Decoy-type creatures are nice, we’ve seen in the past that asking for four mana for such an effect is just too much, and not an effective way to use your mana on most turns. Obviously, if you can get some poison on your opponent, it gets a lot better – as one mana a turn to tap something often just feels like removal. There is some interesting synergy to be had here, as if you have three poison on your opponent, you probably have some Toxic creatures in play, in which case tapping down a blocker is going to be increasingly problematic for your opponent. That said, getting three poison on your opponent is significant set up, and the baseline card is pretty bad
Offer Immortality image 2.5 This trick is always decent. It doesn’t have the upside of helping you do more damage to your opponent, but it trades that in for the flexibility of winning virtually any combat and saving your creature from most removal
Basilica Skullbomb image 2.0 Glad to see a Phyrexian variant of the Mirrodin Spellbomb! At worst, these all cycle away while giving you some artifact synergy, and that makes it hard for them to be terrible. Then, when you have the mana, it does something reasonably significant while still replacing itself. +2/+2 and Flying is the kind of boost that matters a big chunk of the time.
Pack 2 Pick 10: Dune Mover
Nahiri's Sacrifice image 1.0 Obviously this has some potential. Dividing damage is always great, as you get the ability to take down multiple things, but that certainly gets less attractive when you 2-for-1 yourself upfront, and that’s what you’ll be doing here. You can’t even do something like give up a token, since it won’t really do any damage. So, what you need to do here is sacrifice something with a high mana value that maybe has a death trigger or ETB ability. At that point, you’re mitigating against 2-for-1ing yourself – but that is still kind of a narrow subset of cards for you to sacrifice
Dune Mover image 2.0 This kind of fixing usually isn’t great, because putting the card on top is a pretty massive difference from getting it in your hand or something. But it does have solid stats and brings Toxic to the table.
Duress image 0.5 This is a sideboard card. Against someone who isn’t a creature heavy deck, it is worth using. Against your typical Limited deck, though, it isn’t. It will just wiff far too often, and going down a card for no effect is brutal.
Offer Immortality image 2.5 This trick is always decent. It doesn’t have the upside of helping you do more damage to your opponent, but it trades that in for the flexibility of winning virtually any combat and saving your creature from most removal
Axiom Engraver image 1.5 This has a mediocre stat-line, and a card that can rummage a couple of times isn’t exactly something you’re going to go after. You’ll probably play this when you’re desperate for a two drop or some oil counters, but otherwise it won’t make the cut.
Pack 2 Pick 11: Terramorphic Expanse
Adaptive Sporesinger image 2.5 Both of these triggers can be pretty nice. +2/+2 and Vigilance is a boost that can really allow you to have a much better turn, since it can allow a creature to attack more effectively and stay on defense, and when Proliferate can add a bunch of counters to stuff, that will feel good too.
Phyrexian Atlas image 1.5 In most formats, a three mana mana rock just isn’t worth it. You need to add more meaningfully to the board, and using a card to get a small mana boost can be pretty rough. In theory, this does start doing something in the middle part of the game, but I’m still not in on this.
Titanic Growth image 2.0 +4/+4 will win you most combats, and two mana isn’t a terrible amount to spend for the boost. It can also sneak in lethal out of nowhere.
Terramorphic Expanse image 2.5 This always provides some solid fixing, even for two color decks. It can be particularly appealing when you are splashing one card, as just a single basic land and the Expanse are often enough to make that work.
Pack 2 Pick 12: Goldwarden's Helm
Goldwarden's Helm image 2.0 You get a three mana 2/3 up front here, which isn’t the worst baseline – especially when you have Equipment and Artifact payoffs in the format. The Boost this offers on its own is certainly very meager, though.
Prologue to Phyresis image 2.0 This isn’t especially powerful on its own, as a poison counter isn’t worth a ton on its own – but this is a spell that replaces itself, and the UR deck will make decent use of it
Duress image 0.5 This is a sideboard card. Against someone who isn’t a creature heavy deck, it is worth using. Against your typical Limited deck, though, it isn’t. It will just wiff far too often, and going down a card for no effect is brutal.
Pack 2 Pick 13: Phyrexian Atlas
Phyrexian Atlas image 1.5 In most formats, a three mana mana rock just isn’t worth it. You need to add more meaningfully to the board, and using a card to get a small mana boost can be pretty rough. In theory, this does start doing something in the middle part of the game, but I’m still not in on this.
The Hunter Maze image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Pack 2 Pick 14: Myr Kinsmith
Myr Kinsmith image 0.0 // 2.0 There aren’t really that many Myrs in the set, so I mostly don’t see this getting off the ground. If you have at least three Myr, it is probably worth playing, as it will be able to generate a 2-for-1. And if you have Myr Convert, this will sort of fix your mana too. It is probably unplayable in most Limited decks, and playable if you have a couple of Converts.
Pack 3 Pick 1: Blackcleave Cliffs
Blackcleave Cliffs image 2.5 These all offer great fixing, like most dual lands, and the fact that they enter untapped early is pretty nice.
Necrogen Rotpriest image 3.5 Black/Green is a grinder Toxic deck, as the Rotpriest shows you. It provides a medium defensive body, along with all kinds of toxic upside – you get to poison stuff more quickly, and granting death touch to toxic stuff is nice all game. On some boards, you’re going to put your opponent in a spot where they have to get a significant number of poison counters or set up an ugly block against your potential deathtouch creature. Threat of activation will be pretty real there!
Veil of Assimilation image 3.0 This offers a nice buff up front, and there are enough artifacts in the set that triggering this on most turns won’t be a challenge for White decks.
Urabrask's Anointer image 1.5 // 4.0 So, the stat-line is bad enough here that you probably want to consistently do 2 or more with this, and that probably makes this a build around. Oil counters are definitely around, especially in Blue-Red, but I don’t feel super confident that your typical deck in the format will have enough of them to make this acceptable. If you do 0 with it, it will be awful – 1 with it is semi-passable, and once you’re at 2 or more you’re going to really feel like you’re really doing it, because you can consistently get a 2-for-1 at that point.
Meldweb Curator image 1.5 This has a mediocre stat-line, and its ability isn’t that impressive either. Getting back removal is nice of course, but putting it on top of your library isn’t that powerful. You’ll usually have to wait a turn to get it, and if you didn’t have something worth getting out of the graveyard, you’re even more out of luck.
Furnace Strider image 3.0 A 5-mana 4/5 isn’t the worst rate ever, especially because this can give itself haste! On your next turn whatever you cast gains haste too if you want it to, so it feels like you’re getting a pretty solid return on your investment with this.
Chrome Prowler image 1.5 None of what this does feels especially meaningful. It has mediocre stats and an ETB ability that is underwhelming. A 3/2 with Flash can ambush block stuff, but not that effectively – it just ends up being a surprise trade or chump block. The tap effect will be nice at times, but this just doesn’t feel like it has enough of an impact to make the cut consistently.
Predation Steward image 2.0 This seems like a fine two drop. The ability isn’t exactly efficient, and it is definitely clunky as a sorcery speed only effect, but it can certainly allow you to send in an attacker that couldn’t attack otherwise.
Duelist of Deep Faith image 3.0 This is going to be a pain to block all game long, and that goes really well alongside Toxic. That makes this a pretty high quality Common
Sawblade Scamp image 2.5 This is kind of close to being Thermo-Alchemist, and that card has been great in spell decks in several different formats at this point. This does die super easy, but it only costs one, so your opponent won’t really be able to trade up for it or anything, and if it sits around in play in your spell-heavy deck, it is going to chip in for a ton of damage. Now, it is worse that the Alchemist, because the Alchemist can do damage without the help of spells, it just does more when you have them. The Scamp doesn’t do anything when you can’t find your spells, which happens
Anoint with Affliction image 4.0 This is great. Even without Corrupted, this would be a very nice removal spell – so, the fact that this will be able to remove anything by the mid-to-late game in most Black decks is great. This is certainly premium removal you can spent a high pick on..
Zealot's Conviction image 2.5 A one mana Aura with Flash that gives +1/+1 is already somewhat acceptable. The boost isn’t massive, so it can’t win that many combats, but the fact that it leaves a permanent buff behind really matters, because it means you effect the board in the short-term and long-term when you can win combat. Then, when you get Corrupted going, this becomes really good, as +2/+1 and First Strike is going to win you most combats, and the boost is once again permanent! One mana tricks really tend to overperform, even when the lack the ability to save a creature from most removal like this
The Hunter Maze image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Goldwarden's Helm image 2.0 You get a three mana 2/3 up front here, which isn’t the worst baseline – especially when you have Equipment and Artifact payoffs in the format. The Boost this offers on its own is certainly very meager, though.
Pack 3 Pick 2: Glissa Sunslayer
Glissa Sunslayer image 4.5 Glissa still has both First Strike and Death touch, which makes for a nasty combination! A three mana 3/3 with those two keywords is probably already a B, as it is near impossible to attack through or block. So, the fact she comes with big upside is great! She’s awful to block, but if your opponent lets her through, they are going to give you some serious value! Drawing the card is going to be the option you choose the most, but the other two are nice to have around. I think Glissa gets into the lower bomb range. She is great all game long, and probably takes over the game if left unchecked.
Transplant Theorist image 3.0 I’m already considering playing a 4-mana 2/4 that loots when it ETBs, so the additional artifact upside here is nice! The last ability doesn’t come up a ton, but sometimes if a game goes long, being able to put cards on the bottom of your library is a big deal. Not only can you outlast your opponent, but if you really run out of cards you can basically decide what you draw each turn! Still, about 99% of the card’s value comes from everything else about it, and not the graveyard ability
Oxidda Finisher image 2.5 Paying 7 for this is bad, 6 is medium, and 5 is solid. Getting it lower than that is sort of unlikely, although with For Mirrodin!, it will be easier to play more Equipment in this format than in most. Normally you can’t run a ton of it because you need the creatures to put it on, but most of the Equipment in this set gives you both. Still, getting this to 5 is a reasonable expectation, getting below that probably isn’t.
Compleat Devotion image 2.0 Two mana for +2/+2 is a mediocre boost, but the 2-for-1 upside you get when you use this on a Toxic creature is definitely real upside. There’s enough Toxic in White that I feel like this is a 2.0
Meldweb Strider image 2.0 A 5-mana 5/5 Vigilance Vehicle with Crew 3 is probably a 1.5. That’s just not a very good rate for a card that isn’t a creature unless you do some extra work! The fact this comes with an oil counter does matter though, as it does make it so this can be a creature all on its one for one turn, and if you proliferate it can become a real problem. Of course, the upside there is still that this is just a 5-mana 5/5 with Vigilance – which is nice, but again – there is work to be done to even get it to the point where it does that consistently.
Axiom Engraver image 1.5 This has a mediocre stat-line, and a card that can rummage a couple of times isn’t exactly something you’re going to go after. You’ll probably play this when you’re desperate for a two drop or some oil counters, but otherwise it won’t make the cut.
Sawblade Scamp image 2.5 This is kind of close to being Thermo-Alchemist, and that card has been great in spell decks in several different formats at this point. This does die super easy, but it only costs one, so your opponent won’t really be able to trade up for it or anything, and if it sits around in play in your spell-heavy deck, it is going to chip in for a ton of damage. Now, it is worse that the Alchemist, because the Alchemist can do damage without the help of spells, it just does more when you have them. The Scamp doesn’t do anything when you can’t find your spells, which happens
Charge of the Mites image 2.5 While you’re overpaying a bit for each of these modes individually, the modality here is definitely nice! If you’re good at going wide – and if you’re in White you probably are – it can be a reasonable removal spell. If you’re having a hard time getting your board going, it can give you a couple of mites!
The Surgical Bay image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Copper Longlegs image 1.5 A two mana 1/3 Reach isn’t very good. This can give itself up to Proliferate which is nice, since it will often not be a very relevant body on the board. Still, it doesn’t seem like this will be making the cut with regularity
Sheoldred's Headcleaver image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/4 with Menace is probably a 1.0 at best, and while adding Toxic to the mix is nice, this still dies to a whole lot of common double blocks
Free from Flesh image 2.0 One mana for +2/+2 tends to be a pretty solid boost, as you can very cheaply allow your creature to win a lot of combats. The oil counters really matter for some cards too, though sometimes you’ll end up adding oil counters on something that can’t really do anything with them.
Vivisurgeon's Insight image 1.5 Man, I have a hard time believing paying 5 to draw three and Proliferate is going to be worth it here. I love the card advantage of course, but paying that much and likely having only a minimal impact on the board seems like a really bad idea
Pack 3 Pick 3: Furnace Strider
Expand the Sphere image 1.5 You have a pretty good chance of hitting two lands when you cast this, and that’s some pretty serious ramp – but I love that you can choose some combination of lands and proliferating when you cast this. Sometimes in the late game drawing your ramp spell is pretty awful, and this becomes a 4-mana Sorcery that Proliferates twice in that situation, and that’s often going to have a significant impact on the board. That said, format looks fast enough that there won’t be that many decks looking to take this.
Tamiyo's Logbook image 1.0 // 3.5 This reminds me a lot of Jodah’s Codex. It can give you some unbeatable card advantage, but there is some serious work you need to do to get there. You’re going to have to get the cost way down on this significantly or it won’t be worth playing. While there are lots of artifacts in the set, I’m skeptical that just any Blue deck can turn this into a card worth playing, so it feels like this needs a buildaround grade.
Escaped Experiment image 2.0 On its own, this is a two mana 2/1 that gives -1/-0 to an opposing creature when it attacks, and its ability can lower power a lot more than that! This can often enable nice attacks not just for the Experiment, but the board. That said, it doesn’t really change the ability of your opponent’s creatures to block effectively. They may not be able to kill things they tussle with, but if they could already block your stuff and survive – that will still be true.
Bonepicker Skirge image 3.0 A three mana 2/2 Flyer isn’t quite as good as it used to be – but it is still decent enough, so adding some additional effects usually makes for a nice card, and that’s what we have here. If this always had deathtouch and lifelink it would be a 4.0, but you do have to jump through some hoops here.
Contagious Vorrac image 4.0 This is a great Common. If this could only proliferate, or only get a land from the top four, it would be a good Common – having the option between both is great. It can help you hit your land drop when you need it to, and then you can Proliferate in the later game and get some nice value.
Furnace Strider image 3.0 A 5-mana 4/5 isn’t the worst rate ever, especially because this can give itself haste! On your next turn whatever you cast gains haste too if you want it to, so it feels like you’re getting a pretty solid return on your investment with this.
Ichorspit Basilisk image 1.5 A three mana 1/3 Deathtouch isn’t the most impressive thing ever, but it does provide a pretty good road block. Adding Toxic to a death toucher is nice upside, since blocking this can be a real pain
Chimney Rabble image 3.0 I like the rate here. 4/4 of stats for 4, including 3 power that rumbles right away. Going wide is definitely a thing in this format, too
Prologue to Phyresis image 2.0 This isn’t especially powerful on its own, as a poison counter isn’t worth a ton on its own – but this is a spell that replaces itself, and the UR deck will make decent use of it
The Dross Pits image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Zealot's Conviction image 2.5 A one mana Aura with Flash that gives +1/+1 is already somewhat acceptable. The boost isn’t massive, so it can’t win that many combats, but the fact that it leaves a permanent buff behind really matters, because it means you effect the board in the short-term and long-term when you can win combat. Then, when you get Corrupted going, this becomes really good, as +2/+1 and First Strike is going to win you most combats, and the boost is once again permanent! One mana tricks really tend to overperform, even when the lack the ability to save a creature from most removal like this
Axiom Engraver image 1.5 This has a mediocre stat-line, and a card that can rummage a couple of times isn’t exactly something you’re going to go after. You’ll probably play this when you’re desperate for a two drop or some oil counters, but otherwise it won’t make the cut.
Pack 3 Pick 4: Dune Mover
Zenith Chronicler image 1.5 A two mana 3/1 isn’t a terrible baseline, and the Chronicler comes with an interesting effect. Obviously, it is going to be at its best in a deck with very multicolored cards, since you make the effect one sided. This is not a set with a huge multicolored theme, with only the signpost uncommons and some rares and mythics actually being multicolored, so the Chronicler’s effect will only be coming up zero to 2 times in most games. Once nice thing is that even if you do have multicolored cards of your own, you can play with that knowledge – in other words, you can trade it off or something so you don’t give your opponent a card. That’s something else that makes this feel more beneficial than not.
Necrogen Rotpriest image 3.5 Black/Green is a grinder Toxic deck, as the Rotpriest shows you. It provides a medium defensive body, along with all kinds of toxic upside – you get to poison stuff more quickly, and granting death touch to toxic stuff is nice all game. On some boards, you’re going to put your opponent in a spot where they have to get a significant number of poison counters or set up an ugly block against your potential deathtouch creature. Threat of activation will be pretty real there!
Distorted Curiosity image 3.0 Divination is a 1.5 level card a lot of the time – and that’s what the base form of this card is - not adding to the board is rough, but getting a 2-for-1 is nice, and this has the potential to only cost a single mana in the later stages of the game, which is pretty amazing. Early you can use this to help you hit a land drop or whatever, and then in the mid-to-late game you can cast this for one, and probably play at least one of the things you draw. At that point, it will feel like it is impacting the board.
Vat of Rebirth image 1.0 This seems like it takes too much work. If you play it early it will definitely build up counters and then reanimate something at some point, but if you get it in the mid to late game, it is likely to be a little too slow to actually do anything, and that’s a huge downside
Mandible Justiciar image 3.0 A two mana 2/1 with Lifelink is usually playable anyway, and this will often be a 3/2 or larger on your turn. Seems like a great two drop for aggressive decks that care about artifacts.
Myr Custodian image 1.5 If this only Scried 2 for you, it would probably be a 2.5. Scry 2 is pretty nice card selection Letting your opponent also Scry 1 obviously makes it worse, especially because your opponent can take advantage of their Scry before you can.
Maze Skullbomb image 2.5 have the time to use the ability.
Dune Mover image 2.0 This kind of fixing usually isn’t great, because putting the card on top is a pretty massive difference from getting it in your hand or something. But it does have solid stats and brings Toxic to the table.
Fleshless Gladiator image 3.0 This seems like a solid Common. You can play it early as a bear, and then in the mid to late game it can start coming back from your graveyard, which can net you a very real advantage
Carnivorous Canopy image 1.5 There are enough Artifacts and Enchantments in this set that this it probably isn’t a disaster to run this, especially with that Proliferate upside. It is a bit of a bummer that all this Artifact spot removal is a little worse in a world with the “For Mirrodin!” mechanic, because your opponent still holds on to a token, and being a Sorcery is pretty rough too. This is mostly a sideboard card, though. I think you’ll be disappointed if this makes your main deck.
Meldweb Strider image 2.0 A 5-mana 5/5 Vigilance Vehicle with Crew 3 is probably a 1.5. That’s just not a very good rate for a card that isn’t a creature unless you do some extra work! The fact this comes with an oil counter does matter though, as it does make it so this can be a creature all on its one for one turn, and if you proliferate it can become a real problem. Of course, the upside there is still that this is just a 5-mana 5/5 with Vigilance – which is nice, but again – there is work to be done to even get it to the point where it does that consistently.
Pack 3 Pick 5: Barbed Batterfist
Distorted Curiosity image 3.0 Divination is a 1.5 level card a lot of the time – and that’s what the base form of this card is - not adding to the board is rough, but getting a 2-for-1 is nice, and this has the potential to only cost a single mana in the later stages of the game, which is pretty amazing. Early you can use this to help you hit a land drop or whatever, and then in the mid-to-late game you can cast this for one, and probably play at least one of the things you draw. At that point, it will feel like it is impacting the board.
Indoctrination Attendant image 2.5 A 4-mana ¾ with Toxic is acceptable, and there are certainly some nice ETBs to rebuy in this format. Its nice that this can do that for you while also generating a Mite. You can even bounce a land if you want to get the 1/1!
Skyscythe Engulfer image 1.5 If you’re behind, it can hang back and block even flyers, and if you’re ahead, it can attack pretty hard. I wish there was some sort of ETB associated with it so you got some permanent value, though. Six mana is a lot to not get something like that!
Vivisurgeon's Insight image 1.5 Man, I have a hard time believing paying 5 to draw three and Proliferate is going to be worth it here. I love the card advantage of course, but paying that much and likely having only a minimal impact on the board seems like a really bad idea
Meldweb Curator image 1.5 This has a mediocre stat-line, and its ability isn’t that impressive either. Getting back removal is nice of course, but putting it on top of your library isn’t that powerful. You’ll usually have to wait a turn to get it, and if you didn’t have something worth getting out of the graveyard, you’re even more out of luck.
Zealot's Conviction image 2.5 A one mana Aura with Flash that gives +1/+1 is already somewhat acceptable. The boost isn’t massive, so it can’t win that many combats, but the fact that it leaves a permanent buff behind really matters, because it means you effect the board in the short-term and long-term when you can win combat. Then, when you get Corrupted going, this becomes really good, as +2/+1 and First Strike is going to win you most combats, and the boost is once again permanent! One mana tricks really tend to overperform, even when the lack the ability to save a creature from most removal like this
Bonepicker Skirge image 3.0 A three mana 2/2 Flyer isn’t quite as good as it used to be – but it is still decent enough, so adding some additional effects usually makes for a nice card, and that’s what we have here. If this always had deathtouch and lifelink it would be a 4.0, but you do have to jump through some hoops here.
Surgical Skullbomb image 2.5 Like the others, this cycles at worst, and can have a real impact on the board that still nets you a card.
Copper Longlegs image 1.5 A two mana 1/3 Reach isn’t very good. This can give itself up to Proliferate which is nice, since it will often not be a very relevant body on the board. Still, it doesn’t seem like this will be making the cut with regularity
Barbed Batterfist image 2.5 Two mana 3/1s tend to play pretty well in aggro decks, and that’s what you get up front here – and then you have the option of moving the Equipment to other stuff – like if you really want your token to be a 2/2, or if something else can benefit from the stat boost. +1/-1 certainly isn’t amazing, but this is really cheap to play and equip, which will be especially nice with Equipment payoffs in the set.
Pack 3 Pick 6: Experimental Augury
Vat of Rebirth image 1.0 This seems like it takes too much work. If you play it early it will definitely build up counters and then reanimate something at some point, but if you get it in the mid to late game, it is likely to be a little too slow to actually do anything, and that’s a huge downside
Experimental Augury image 2.5 Anticipate usually isn’t great in Limited, but tacking Proliferate on to is a pretty big deal. There are lots of counters in this set, and even payoffs for prolfierating specifically! On top of that, UR likes spells, and this kind of instant that replaces itself always gets a boost there. Basically, this will actually effect the board reasonably often thanks to the synergies in the set, while also giving you some solid card selection.
Aspirant's Ascent image 2.0 One mana tricks have been some pretty serious business of late, and I think this looks like another solid one. This kind of gives you two separate uses, which is great for such a low cost! First it can be used as a traditional trick to help your creature win combat with the +1/+3 boost – but you can also use it before your opponent blocks to make a big creature take to the air and crack in for a bunch of damage – along with some toxic upside
Copper Longlegs image 1.5 A two mana 1/3 Reach isn’t very good. This can give itself up to Proliferate which is nice, since it will often not be a very relevant body on the board. Still, it doesn’t seem like this will be making the cut with regularity
Dune Mover image 2.0 This kind of fixing usually isn’t great, because putting the card on top is a pretty massive difference from getting it in your hand or something. But it does have solid stats and brings Toxic to the table.
Prologue to Phyresis image 2.0 This isn’t especially powerful on its own, as a poison counter isn’t worth a ton on its own – but this is a spell that replaces itself, and the UR deck will make decent use of it
Kuldotha Cackler image 2.5 This will be able to attack with higher power a decent chunk of the time for sure, but the times where it is just a lowly 2/3 will feel pretty rough.
Sheoldred's Headcleaver image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/4 with Menace is probably a 1.0 at best, and while adding Toxic to the mix is nice, this still dies to a whole lot of common double blocks
Glistener Seer image 2.0 One mana 0/3s are pretty underwhelming. This one does Scry a few times though, and that can be useful all game long.
Pack 3 Pick 7: Barbed Batterfist
Prosthetic Injector image 1.5 This is cheap to play and Equip, but it doesn’t feel like it is worth a whole card to me. +0/+2 is a pretty meager boost, and while Toxic and Equipment have synergy in this format, there are better options for both of those of things that are also at lower rarities!
Barbed Batterfist image 2.5 Two mana 3/1s tend to play pretty well in aggro decks, and that’s what you get up front here – and then you have the option of moving the Equipment to other stuff – like if you really want your token to be a 2/2, or if something else can benefit from the stat boost. +1/-1 certainly isn’t amazing, but this is really cheap to play and equip, which will be especially nice with Equipment payoffs in the set.
Mirran Bardiche image 2.0 This one gives you a 5-mana 4/3 with Vigilance up front. As is the case for most of the Common For Mirrodin! Artifacts, that rate wouldn’t really be acceptable all on its own – but being able to move the boost around when you need to is nice.
Duress image 0.5 This is a sideboard card. Against someone who isn’t a creature heavy deck, it is worth using. Against your typical Limited deck, though, it isn’t. It will just wiff far too often, and going down a card for no effect is brutal.
The Hunter Maze image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Eye of Malcator image 2.0 One of Blue’s big themes is Artifacts, and this is certainly a payoff for playing them. It is nice that it Scries up front, which means you can make sure you are more likely to hit Artifacts on your next couple turns. Still, most of these cards we see that aren’t always creatures but temporarily become creatures when X happens have been sort of underwhelming. Its just rough that the card is near irrelevant on your opponents’ turn, and often doesn’t do enough on your turn either.
Tyrranax Atrocity image 2.5 Toxic 3 is a lot, as it will immediately give you Corrupted if you don’t already have it, and if you do already have it 3 poison is going to get your opponent in the red zone. Toxic pairs really well with Haste too, as it makes it easier to get in that first time, or at the very least set up a situation where your opponent’s options are a bad chump block or taking the hit.
Basilica Skullbomb image 2.0 Glad to see a Phyrexian variant of the Mirrodin Spellbomb! At worst, these all cycle away while giving you some artifact synergy, and that makes it hard for them to be terrible. Then, when you have the mana, it does something reasonably significant while still replacing itself. +2/+2 and Flying is the kind of boost that matters a big chunk of the time.
Pack 3 Pick 8: Gulping Scraptrap
Gulping Scraptrap image 2.5 This proliferates twice which is definitely some serious upside in this set. Of course, it also happens to a dismal 5-mana 4/4.
Oil-Gorger Troll image 3.0 A 5-mana ¾ that gains you 3 life when it enters the battlefield is not especially good, so how good this card is comes down to how often you get to draw. I think it is definitely accessible, and one this card is gaining you life and netting you a card, it is going to feel pretty sweet. This is another Green card that feels like it can do a reasonable job of throwing a monkey wrench into the plans of aggro decks, as is often the case for creatures that gain life on ETB.
Meldweb Strider image 2.0 A 5-mana 5/5 Vigilance Vehicle with Crew 3 is probably a 1.5. That’s just not a very good rate for a card that isn’t a creature unless you do some extra work! The fact this comes with an oil counter does matter though, as it does make it so this can be a creature all on its one for one turn, and if you proliferate it can become a real problem. Of course, the upside there is still that this is just a 5-mana 5/5 with Vigilance – which is nice, but again – there is work to be done to even get it to the point where it does that consistently.
Incisor Glider image 2.5 This looks like a pretty nice common! A two mana ⅓ with Flying is sort of passable to begin with, and this has a really nice Corrupted Trigger, as buffing the whole board can really change combat. It also doesn’t hurt that cheap Flyers go really well with all the Equipment in the set.
Shrapnel Slinger image 2.5 This can kill a decent number of creatures in the format, and there’s also plenty of noncreature artifacts it can deal with too. Sacrificing a Mite or something else expendable seems particularly nice. You also have a baseline of a 2-mana 2/2, which you’ll certainly be wanting if you don’t have something else to do on turn two
Furnace Skullbomb image 1.5 I think this is probably the worst of the bunch, mostly because its effect is more niche than the others. If you don’t have a permanent that cares about oil counters, it doesn’t do anything, while the others have effects that pretty much always do something. It still can be cycled away easily, and when you can get value out of the counters it is fine, but it is a bit worse than the others.
Gitaxian Anatomist image 1.5 A 4-mana 2/5 is passable, and having the option to Proliferate can be nice, especially because Blue has lots of oil counters running around – and some poison too! It is definitely awkward you have to tap this to Proliferate, since the thing this card is best at in terms of combat is blocking, and not being able to do that for a turn might be a liability.
Pack 3 Pick 9: Furnace Strider
Veil of Assimilation image 3.0 This offers a nice buff up front, and there are enough artifacts in the set that triggering this on most turns won’t be a challenge for White decks.
Meldweb Curator image 1.5 This has a mediocre stat-line, and its ability isn’t that impressive either. Getting back removal is nice of course, but putting it on top of your library isn’t that powerful. You’ll usually have to wait a turn to get it, and if you didn’t have something worth getting out of the graveyard, you’re even more out of luck.
Furnace Strider image 3.0 A 5-mana 4/5 isn’t the worst rate ever, especially because this can give itself haste! On your next turn whatever you cast gains haste too if you want it to, so it feels like you’re getting a pretty solid return on your investment with this.
Chrome Prowler image 1.5 None of what this does feels especially meaningful. It has mediocre stats and an ETB ability that is underwhelming. A 3/2 with Flash can ambush block stuff, but not that effectively – it just ends up being a surprise trade or chump block. The tap effect will be nice at times, but this just doesn’t feel like it has enough of an impact to make the cut consistently.
Zealot's Conviction image 2.5 A one mana Aura with Flash that gives +1/+1 is already somewhat acceptable. The boost isn’t massive, so it can’t win that many combats, but the fact that it leaves a permanent buff behind really matters, because it means you effect the board in the short-term and long-term when you can win combat. Then, when you get Corrupted going, this becomes really good, as +2/+1 and First Strike is going to win you most combats, and the boost is once again permanent! One mana tricks really tend to overperform, even when the lack the ability to save a creature from most removal like this
The Hunter Maze image 2.5 This seems like a solid utility land cycle. They enter tapped, so you don’t want too many of them, but the fact you can cash them in in the later stages of the game for a card is really nice, and can help when you’re flooding out.
Pack 3 Pick 10: Sawblade Scamp
Meldweb Strider image 2.0 A 5-mana 5/5 Vigilance Vehicle with Crew 3 is probably a 1.5. That’s just not a very good rate for a card that isn’t a creature unless you do some extra work! The fact this comes with an oil counter does matter though, as it does make it so this can be a creature all on its one for one turn, and if you proliferate it can become a real problem. Of course, the upside there is still that this is just a 5-mana 5/5 with Vigilance – which is nice, but again – there is work to be done to even get it to the point where it does that consistently.
Sawblade Scamp image 2.5 This is kind of close to being Thermo-Alchemist, and that card has been great in spell decks in several different formats at this point. This does die super easy, but it only costs one, so your opponent won’t really be able to trade up for it or anything, and if it sits around in play in your spell-heavy deck, it is going to chip in for a ton of damage. Now, it is worse that the Alchemist, because the Alchemist can do damage without the help of spells, it just does more when you have them. The Scamp doesn’t do anything when you can’t find your spells, which happens
Copper Longlegs image 1.5 A two mana 1/3 Reach isn’t very good. This can give itself up to Proliferate which is nice, since it will often not be a very relevant body on the board. Still, it doesn’t seem like this will be making the cut with regularity
Free from Flesh image 2.0 One mana for +2/+2 tends to be a pretty solid boost, as you can very cheaply allow your creature to win a lot of combats. The oil counters really matter for some cards too, though sometimes you’ll end up adding oil counters on something that can’t really do anything with them.
Vivisurgeon's Insight image 1.5 Man, I have a hard time believing paying 5 to draw three and Proliferate is going to be worth it here. I love the card advantage of course, but paying that much and likely having only a minimal impact on the board seems like a really bad idea
Pack 3 Pick 11: Chimney Rabble
Expand the Sphere image 1.5 You have a pretty good chance of hitting two lands when you cast this, and that’s some pretty serious ramp – but I love that you can choose some combination of lands and proliferating when you cast this. Sometimes in the late game drawing your ramp spell is pretty awful, and this becomes a 4-mana Sorcery that Proliferates twice in that situation, and that’s often going to have a significant impact on the board. That said, format looks fast enough that there won’t be that many decks looking to take this.
Escaped Experiment image 2.0 On its own, this is a two mana 2/1 that gives -1/-0 to an opposing creature when it attacks, and its ability can lower power a lot more than that! This can often enable nice attacks not just for the Experiment, but the board. That said, it doesn’t really change the ability of your opponent’s creatures to block effectively. They may not be able to kill things they tussle with, but if they could already block your stuff and survive – that will still be true.
Chimney Rabble image 3.0 I like the rate here. 4/4 of stats for 4, including 3 power that rumbles right away. Going wide is definitely a thing in this format, too
Prologue to Phyresis image 2.0 This isn’t especially powerful on its own, as a poison counter isn’t worth a ton on its own – but this is a spell that replaces itself, and the UR deck will make decent use of it
Pack 3 Pick 12: Carnivorous Canopy
Vat of Rebirth image 1.0 This seems like it takes too much work. If you play it early it will definitely build up counters and then reanimate something at some point, but if you get it in the mid to late game, it is likely to be a little too slow to actually do anything, and that’s a huge downside
Myr Custodian image 1.5 If this only Scried 2 for you, it would probably be a 2.5. Scry 2 is pretty nice card selection Letting your opponent also Scry 1 obviously makes it worse, especially because your opponent can take advantage of their Scry before you can.
Carnivorous Canopy image 1.5 There are enough Artifacts and Enchantments in this set that this it probably isn’t a disaster to run this, especially with that Proliferate upside. It is a bit of a bummer that all this Artifact spot removal is a little worse in a world with the “For Mirrodin!” mechanic, because your opponent still holds on to a token, and being a Sorcery is pretty rough too. This is mostly a sideboard card, though. I think you’ll be disappointed if this makes your main deck.
Pack 3 Pick 13: Meldweb Curator
Meldweb Curator image 1.5 This has a mediocre stat-line, and its ability isn’t that impressive either. Getting back removal is nice of course, but putting it on top of your library isn’t that powerful. You’ll usually have to wait a turn to get it, and if you didn’t have something worth getting out of the graveyard, you’re even more out of luck.
Zealot's Conviction image 2.5 A one mana Aura with Flash that gives +1/+1 is already somewhat acceptable. The boost isn’t massive, so it can’t win that many combats, but the fact that it leaves a permanent buff behind really matters, because it means you effect the board in the short-term and long-term when you can win combat. Then, when you get Corrupted going, this becomes really good, as +2/+1 and First Strike is going to win you most combats, and the boost is once again permanent! One mana tricks really tend to overperform, even when the lack the ability to save a creature from most removal like this
Pack 3 Pick 14: Copper Longlegs
Copper Longlegs image 1.5 A two mana 1/3 Reach isn’t very good. This can give itself up to Proliferate which is nice, since it will often not be a very relevant body on the board. Still, it doesn’t seem like this will be making the cut with regularity
Draft Pick Overview