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Premier Draft RNA 13.januar 2021

13 January 08:31 - ambush_party 7 Wins - 1 Losses
Maindeck
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (15)
1 Dovin's Acuity image
1 Azorius Locket image
1 Cry of the Carnarium image
1 Shimmer of Possibility image
1 Consecrate // Consume image
2 Sphinx's Insight image
2 Clear the Mind image
1 Undercity's Embrace image
1 Sagittars' Volley image
1 Scrabbling Claws image
1 Mortify image
1 Arrester's Admonition image
1 Consign to the Pit image
Creature (8)
2 Senate Courier image
1 Biogenic Ooze image
1 Spirit of the Spires image
1 Archway Angel image
2 Wall of Lost Thoughts image
1 Gate Colossus image
Land (17)
1 Orzhov Guildgate image
2 Plains image
4 Island image
2 Forest image
1 Gruul Guildgate image
3 Gateway Plaza image
3 Rakdos Guildgate image
1 Azorius Guildgate image
Sideboard
1 Concordia Pegasus image
1 Catacomb Crocodile image
1 Cult Guildmage image
1 Sage's Row Savant image
1 Bloodmist Infiltrator image
1 Prowling Caracal image
1 Plague Wight image
1 Watchful Giant image
2 Undercity's Embrace image
1 Bring to Trial image
1 Deface image
1 High Alert image

Pack 1 Pick 1: Biogenic Ooze
Biogenic Ooze image 5.0 This is a great bomb. If it is allowed to come in play and is left unchecked, It will quickly populate the board with massive Oozes. What really makes it nice, though, is that no matter what you’re going to get at least some value out of it. Even if your opponent kills it right away, you’re going to have a single 2/2 Ooze – which usually means you’re looking at a 2-for-1. So, the floor here is that this is a nice 2-for-1, and the ceiling is that it wins you the game.
Dagger Caster image 2.0 This can sometimes come down and kill some stuff, but most of the time it feels like it just pings the opponent for one damage. It is pretty sweet to combine with Bladebrand, though!
Vindictive Vampire image 3.0 This trigger is always strong, as it just really alters combat math for your opponent. It gets even better in a deck with good ways to sacrifice creatures, and the Rakdos deck in this format has enough ways to do that this is pretty sweet.
Biogenic Upgrade image 2.5 This can really help you close out a game, and is even pretty nice at just upgrading your board. And that’s a big deal, because if it was only good at winning you the game the turn you cast it, it would be far too narrow. Having a single copy of this at the top of your curve in both Gruul and Simic decks is pretty solid, though you don’t want to have more than that.
Undercity's Embrace image 1.5 Edict effects are always pretty underwhelming in Limited, since board states tend to be pretty clogged up, especially in this format. If you really need removal, and have a decent number of creatures with 4 or more power, it is a decent card, but it is basically never more than that.
Impassioned Orator image 2.5 The incidental life gain this provides really adds up over the course of a game, and is nice upside to have on a 2-mana 2/2.
Open the Gates image 2.5 This can be some pretty nice fixing if you’re in the market for that, and you often are in this format because the mana – and the Gate decks – are so good.
Mammoth Spider image 2.0 This is a nice defensive creature if you’re in the market for one, and Green really does have a hard time with Flyers in this set, so having one of these around isn’t too bad.
Frenzied Arynx image 3.5 Whichever option you choose here, you end up with a very effective creature. I think that the +1/+1 counter option is typically the one you choose, but sometimes getting it with this right away is well worth it. The ability makes sure that by the late game, this is still a formidable attacker.
Humongulus image 1.5 You mostly only play this if you can really take advantage of Hexproof. You can do this with +1/+1 counters and Auras and stuff like that. Otherwise, it is just sort of an inefficient blocker.
Rafter Demon image 2.0 This is less impressive than most of the Spectacle cards. Without Spectacle, it is a horrendous 4-mana 4/2. It does get a pretty real upgrade if you do get Spectacle going, as a 5-mana 4/2 that forces a discard isn’t too bad, but it has some diminishing values as the game goes on.
Territorial Boar image 3.0 This ends up attacking as a 3/3 with Vigilance pretty often, and while that’s not the kind of size that is relevant all game long, it end sup being able to attack effectively for quite a while in most decks.
Quench image 1.5 This can feel okay in the early game, but because your opponent is more likely to have mana around in the later part of the game, it has a pretty steep drop off.
Ghor-Clan Wrecker image 1.5 Neither option here is fairly appealing, but the flexibility isn’t too bad.
Rakdos Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 1 Pick 2: Sphinx's Insight
Gyre Engineer image 3.0 This is incredibly fragile, and you’ll find it often dies to a very cheap removal spell before you untap with it. But if you do untap, you get a pretty nice mana boost.
Regenesis image 1.5 Getting two things back from your graveyard can be nice, but 5 mana is a big cost to pay, even at Instant speed.
Angelic Exaltation image 1.0 This costs a lot of mana for something that doesn’t add a body to the board, and while it does effect it as soon you attack alone with something, it requires further set up beyond that to really be relevant.
Undercity Scavenger image 2.0 This is a decent sacrifice outlet, as you end up with a 4-mana 5/5 that improves your next couple of draws. It isn’t that impressive, though, and you often won’t really feel like making the sacrifice is worth it.
Sphinx's Insight image 2.5 Both options on this have their place. Sometimes you want to cast it during your opponents turn so that you can untap and play the new things you drew, but sometimes that additional life is great.
Blade Juggler image 3.5 This is pretty good even without Spectacle, and if you can cast it with Spectacle it feels incredible. A 3-mana 3/2 that draws you a card is an amazing rate, and will virtually always give you a 2-for-1.
Bring to Trial image 1.5 As usual, there aren’t really enough big creatures in this format for this to be anything special. Its not a disaster if you run one, but it is definitely better out of the sideboard.
Gift of Strength image 1.5 This trick is always fine. It allows a creature to win combat, but like all tricks it is a bit too situational.
Titanic Brawl image 3.5 Your creature doesn’t get any sort of boost out of Titanic Brawl, but the fact that you can play this for only a single Green is pretty nice – especially because both Simic and Gruul are so into +1/+1 counters that already increase the size of your creatures anyway.
Syndicate Messenger image 2.5 This has almost-passable stats, so adding Afterlife 1 to the card is pretty nice! Like a lot of them, it can trade and then leave behind a token, which feels pretty good.
Ill-Gotten Inheritance image 2.5 This card is a major overperformer, and another card that can really help control decks do their thing in this format. It looks like an Enchantment that doesn’t do enough up front, but the life drain it provides really makes it hard for your opponent to take you down. Basically, it will help you stabilize, and then gradually turn into your win condition in many games. Now, sometimes not adding to the board can be a real reliability against aggro decks, but this still does good work most of the time.
Faerie Duelist image 3.0 This is a big overperformer. It can really alter combat in your favor, both during your turn and your opponents, while adding a pretty decent body to the board. It’s a great common.
Feral Maaka image 1.0 If you need a two drop well..that’s what this is, but you’ll only be playing this in an emergency.
Azorius Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 1 Pick 3: Gruul Guildgate
Gutterbones image 3.0 This being recursive can be pretty nice late, as it can almost be a free attacker. And, early, it can chip in for a few damage.
Skatewing Spy image 3.0 4-mana for a 3/2 definitely isn’t great, but if your board already has some counters lying around, it will immediately give flying to some of your creatures, and obviously it can eventually adapt and become a Flyer itself. However, if your whole plan is adapting this, it isn’t great. You really need some other +1/+1 counters around for it to feel worth the investment – luckily, that’s not too hard to do if you’re in the Simic deck.
Resolute Watchdog image 2.0 This can come down and block reasonably well in the early game, and being able to make a better creature indestructible is decent upside.
Azorius Knight-Arbiter image 2.5 This isn’t a bad win condition for Azorius control decks in this format. It is an excellent blocker that can give you inevitability while chipping away at the opponent’s life total.
Gravel-Hide Goblin image 2.5 This has decent starting stats and an ability that can allow it to attack pretty much all game long, even if the ability is a little costly.
Faerie Duelist image 3.0 This is a big overperformer. It can really alter combat in your favor, both during your turn and your opponents, while adding a pretty decent body to the board. It’s a great common.
Thirsting Shade image 1.5 This thing demands a ton of mana to be relevant, and it isn’t usually going to be worth it. It can pump itself, but on most boards it just isn’t able to attack.
Humongulus image 1.5 You mostly only play this if you can really take advantage of Hexproof. You can do this with +1/+1 counters and Auras and stuff like that. Otherwise, it is just sort of an inefficient blocker.
Noxious Groodion image 2.0 This trades with everything as most death touchers do. Costing three mana does mean it is harder to trade up with it consistently, but it can still trade with everything.
Sauroform Hybrid image 3.5 This is one of Green’s best Commons. It starts out as a 2-mana 2/2, and then in the late game it can become a formidable 6/6 that gets all kinds of +1/+1 countery payoffs.
Quench image 1.5 This can feel okay in the early game, but because your opponent is more likely to have mana around in the later part of the game, it has a pretty steep drop off.
Concordia Pegasus image 1.5 This is a French Vanilla flyer with decent stats. Most of the time you hope you don’t play it, but it isn’t a disaster if you do.
Gruul Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 1 Pick 4: Clear the Mind
Amplifire image 2.0 This thing has a big text box, but mostly this ends up being a pretty mediocre vanilla creature. Sometimes it will get pretty big, but a lack of any sort of evasion doesn’t make that a huge deal in a format with plenty of creature tokens. And the flip side is that sometimes it is really small – and there is always a window where it a very vulnerable 1/1.
Knight of the Last Breath image 2.0 This is mostly too clunky. A 7-mana 4/4 is just bad, even if it does leave behind three 1/1 tokens and the ability to generate more tokens. It isn’t unplayable, but you’ll find yourself cutting it a lot.
Rubblebelt Runner image 2.5 This has decent stats and evasion that actually comes up sometimes.
Knight of Sorrows image 1.5 Afterlife is always nice, but this has such inefficient stats when it comes down that it still feels incredibly clunky.
Steeple Creeper image 2.5 This might be the best of this cycle of Commons. A 3-mana 4/2 is already almost passable, so the ability to gain flying in the mid-to-late game is pretty nice.
Sphinx's Insight image 2.5 Both options on this have their place. Sometimes you want to cast it during your opponents turn so that you can untap and play the new things you drew, but sometimes that additional life is great.
Skewer the Critics image 4.0 This is often just one Red mana for a Sorcery-speed Lightning Bolt, and that’s amazing. Even if you could only ever pay 3 for this card, it would be premium removal, so the upside of only costing one Red really makes it an excellent card, and one of the best Commons in the set.
Clear the Mind image 0.0 // 2.5 This card would be an F in most formats, but this format actually has real enough control decks that you can end up in a deck where Clear the Mind is sort of your win condition, since it keeps you from milling yourself out, while your opponent won’t be so lucky. You do generally need at least two of them to keep things going, but you’d be surprised how real of a strategy it is in this format.
Sagittars' Volley image 0.5 This is a solid sideboard card, but there aren’t really enough flyers to justify sticking this in your main deck.
Rubblebelt Recluse image 2.0 This is pretty big for the cost. And…well, yeah that’s pretty much all it has going for it! But that kind of size is a decent thing to have around in some decks.
Gateway Plaza image 2.5 This comes with the “Gate” type, which means you’ll want it in many decks, and it also does a decent job of fixing.
Gruul Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 1 Pick 5: Gateway Plaza
Forbidding Spirit image 3.0 The ETB ability doesn’t always do something here, but its still a 3-mana 3/3 with upside, and the times where the ability does cause your opponent to have problems are pretty nice.
Sphinx of New Prahv image 3.5 This has nice stats that can win the game on its own, and it is a little harder to kill than it looks at first glance thanks to its ability.
Prowling Caracal image 1.5 This is a vanilla 2-mana 3/1. If you’re in an aggro deck and don’t have enough two drops, you’ll probably play it.
Gateway Plaza image 2.5 This comes with the “Gate” type, which means you’ll want it in many decks, and it also does a decent job of fixing.
Saruli Caretaker image 1.5 The cost of tapping both the Caretaker and another creature for mana ends up being pretty real, but if you are interested in fixing and ramp, this can certainly do it.
Burn Bright image 1.0 // 2.0 If you’re really going wide, this isn’t a terrible inclusion, but only the most aggressive decks are going to be interested in this.
Blade Juggler image 3.5 This is pretty good even without Spectacle, and if you can cast it with Spectacle it feels incredible. A 3-mana 3/2 that draws you a card is an amazing rate, and will virtually always give you a 2-for-1.
Humongulus image 1.5 You mostly only play this if you can really take advantage of Hexproof. You can do this with +1/+1 counters and Auras and stuff like that. Otherwise, it is just sort of an inefficient blocker.
Plague Wight image 2.5 This is a solid little two-drop that is pretty hard for your opponent to block effectively in the early game.
Storm Strike image 1.5 This is a decent trick if you’re in the market. +1/+0 and First Strike always plays pretty well in terms of helping a creature win combat, and its nice to have Scry 1 tacked on.
Azorius Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 1 Pick 6: Sphinx's Insight
Scrabbling Claws image 0.5 This is mostly a sideboard card to bring in against graveyard decks, and there aren’t really that many of those in this format anyway.
Pteramander image 3.5 This starts out as a one mana 1/1 Flyer, which isn’t that exciting – but it does mean it’s a good attacker in the very early game, and then in the later game adapting it becomes increasingly easy, and at that point it basically becomes a dragon that can end the game quickly.
Silhana Wayfinder image 2.0 This just give you some card selection. And, that’s nice – but it is something people tend to overrate. The difference between drawing a card and putting one on top of your library is massive. This is a fine card, but don’t overrate it.
Spikewheel Acrobat image 1.5 The idea here is that this can set up your cards that have Spectacle. And, it can do that for sure, but its body is otherwise a pretty big liability, and the Rakdos decks don’t have that hard of a time of making sure Spectacle is online anyway. If your deck is really leading hard into the mechanic, Spear Spewer is a worthy inclusion, but it is by no means a necessity for those types of decks. 118 - Spikewheel Acrobat – 1.5 This really only feels worth it if you get the Spectacle going, and even then it isn’t exactly amazing, as most 2 drops in the set can still trade for it.
Sphinx's Insight image 2.5 Both options on this have their place. Sometimes you want to cast it during your opponents turn so that you can untap and play the new things you drew, but sometimes that additional life is great.
Feral Maaka image 1.0 If you need a two drop well..that’s what this is, but you’ll only be playing this in an emergency.
Senate Courier image 2.0 This has decent stats, and the ability to gain vigilance actually comes up in the later part of games.
Consign to the Pit image 2.5 Its expensive, but it does answer everything, and the two damage you get out of it is decent upside.
Humongulus image 1.5 You mostly only play this if you can really take advantage of Hexproof. You can do this with +1/+1 counters and Auras and stuff like that. Otherwise, it is just sort of an inefficient blocker.
Gruul Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 1 Pick 7: Rakdos Guildgate
Macabre Mockery image 1.5 Most cards that are just temporary reanimation spells don’t tend to be very good, and that’s pretty much the case here. Sure, you can get something back and get a big swing in sometimes, but what you get often isn’t worth the card you spend.
Gravel-Hide Goblin image 2.5 This has decent starting stats and an ability that can allow it to attack pretty much all game long, even if the ability is a little costly.
Rakdos Trumpeter image 2.5 This little creature can be a real menace for your opponent to deal with. It doesn’t pump itself efficiently, but in the late game it is a pretty nice attacker that your opponent will really hate blocking, and obviously it is hard to block early too – though it doesn’t exactly hit hard.
Impassioned Orator image 2.5 The incidental life gain this provides really adds up over the course of a game, and is nice upside to have on a 2-mana 2/2.
Open the Gates image 2.5 This can be some pretty nice fixing if you’re in the market for that, and you often are in this format because the mana – and the Gate decks – are so good.
Debtors' Transport image 2.0 While Afterlife 2 is pretty nice, the cost and base stats of this are bad enough that it isn’t that exciting. It can definitely trade and leave some bodies behind, which is fine, but it isn’t a very impressive card.
Catacomb Crocodile image 1.0 If you need a defensive vanilla creature…I guess you can have this card, but I’m not sure why you would ever need one of those.
Persistent Petitioners image 1.0 You’ll play this if you need a two-mana 1/3, but you aren’t going to assemble a mill deck with this thing.
Rakdos Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 1 Pick 8: Spirit of the Spires
Smelt-Ward Ignus image 1.5 This has mediocre stats and an ability that is just way too costly and narrow. But, it isn’t a complete disaster if you have to play it.
Cavalcade of Calamity image 0.0 This card is very sweet, but it is very difficult to consistently build around it in Limited. You just won’t have enough small creatures.
Spirit of the Spires image 2.5 This has decent stats and okay upside, especially if your deck has a decent number of fliers.
Gravel-Hide Goblin image 2.5 This has decent starting stats and an ability that can allow it to attack pretty much all game long, even if the ability is a little costly.
Arrester's Zeal image 1.5 This is a decent trick that has the upside of letting you do lethal in the air sometimes.
Sagittars' Volley image 0.5 This is a solid sideboard card, but there aren’t really enough flyers to justify sticking this in your main deck.
Burn Bright image 1.0 // 2.0 If you’re really going wide, this isn’t a terrible inclusion, but only the most aggressive decks are going to be interested in this.
Rakdos Roustabout image 2.0 The upside this card has doesn’t really do enough to overcome the bad stat-line. It does help you get Spectacle going, but so does just attacking with a more efficient creature!
Pack 1 Pick 9: Undercity's Embrace
Vindictive Vampire image 3.0 This trigger is always strong, as it just really alters combat math for your opponent. It gets even better in a deck with good ways to sacrifice creatures, and the Rakdos deck in this format has enough ways to do that this is pretty sweet.
Undercity's Embrace image 1.5 Edict effects are always pretty underwhelming in Limited, since board states tend to be pretty clogged up, especially in this format. If you really need removal, and have a decent number of creatures with 4 or more power, it is a decent card, but it is basically never more than that.
Open the Gates image 2.5 This can be some pretty nice fixing if you’re in the market for that, and you often are in this format because the mana – and the Gate decks – are so good.
Humongulus image 1.5 You mostly only play this if you can really take advantage of Hexproof. You can do this with +1/+1 counters and Auras and stuff like that. Otherwise, it is just sort of an inefficient blocker.
Rafter Demon image 2.0 This is less impressive than most of the Spectacle cards. Without Spectacle, it is a horrendous 4-mana 4/2. It does get a pretty real upgrade if you do get Spectacle going, as a 5-mana 4/2 that forces a discard isn’t too bad, but it has some diminishing values as the game goes on.
Quench image 1.5 This can feel okay in the early game, but because your opponent is more likely to have mana around in the later part of the game, it has a pretty steep drop off.
Ghor-Clan Wrecker image 1.5 Neither option here is fairly appealing, but the flexibility isn’t too bad.
Pack 1 Pick 10: Azorius Guildgate
Bring to Trial image 1.5 As usual, there aren’t really enough big creatures in this format for this to be anything special. Its not a disaster if you run one, but it is definitely better out of the sideboard.
Gift of Strength image 1.5 This trick is always fine. It allows a creature to win combat, but like all tricks it is a bit too situational.
Syndicate Messenger image 2.5 This has almost-passable stats, so adding Afterlife 1 to the card is pretty nice! Like a lot of them, it can trade and then leave behind a token, which feels pretty good.
Ill-Gotten Inheritance image 2.5 This card is a major overperformer, and another card that can really help control decks do their thing in this format. It looks like an Enchantment that doesn’t do enough up front, but the life drain it provides really makes it hard for your opponent to take you down. Basically, it will help you stabilize, and then gradually turn into your win condition in many games. Now, sometimes not adding to the board can be a real reliability against aggro decks, but this still does good work most of the time.
Feral Maaka image 1.0 If you need a two drop well..that’s what this is, but you’ll only be playing this in an emergency.
Azorius Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 1 Pick 11: Concordia Pegasus
Thirsting Shade image 1.5 This thing demands a ton of mana to be relevant, and it isn’t usually going to be worth it. It can pump itself, but on most boards it just isn’t able to attack.
Humongulus image 1.5 You mostly only play this if you can really take advantage of Hexproof. You can do this with +1/+1 counters and Auras and stuff like that. Otherwise, it is just sort of an inefficient blocker.
Noxious Groodion image 2.0 This trades with everything as most death touchers do. Costing three mana does mean it is harder to trade up with it consistently, but it can still trade with everything.
Quench image 1.5 This can feel okay in the early game, but because your opponent is more likely to have mana around in the later part of the game, it has a pretty steep drop off.
Concordia Pegasus image 1.5 This is a French Vanilla flyer with decent stats. Most of the time you hope you don’t play it, but it isn’t a disaster if you do.
Pack 1 Pick 12: Sagittars' Volley
Rubblebelt Runner image 2.5 This has decent stats and evasion that actually comes up sometimes.
Knight of Sorrows image 1.5 Afterlife is always nice, but this has such inefficient stats when it comes down that it still feels incredibly clunky.
Sagittars' Volley image 0.5 This is a solid sideboard card, but there aren’t really enough flyers to justify sticking this in your main deck.
Rubblebelt Recluse image 2.0 This is pretty big for the cost. And…well, yeah that’s pretty much all it has going for it! But that kind of size is a decent thing to have around in some decks.
Pack 1 Pick 13: Prowling Caracal
Prowling Caracal image 1.5 This is a vanilla 2-mana 3/1. If you’re in an aggro deck and don’t have enough two drops, you’ll probably play it.
Burn Bright image 1.0 // 2.0 If you’re really going wide, this isn’t a terrible inclusion, but only the most aggressive decks are going to be interested in this.
Humongulus image 1.5 You mostly only play this if you can really take advantage of Hexproof. You can do this with +1/+1 counters and Auras and stuff like that. Otherwise, it is just sort of an inefficient blocker.
Pack 1 Pick 14: Scrabbling Claws
Scrabbling Claws image 0.5 This is mostly a sideboard card to bring in against graveyard decks, and there aren’t really that many of those in this format anyway.
Humongulus image 1.5 You mostly only play this if you can really take advantage of Hexproof. You can do this with +1/+1 counters and Auras and stuff like that. Otherwise, it is just sort of an inefficient blocker.
Pack 1 Pick 15: Catacomb Crocodile
Catacomb Crocodile image 1.0 If you need a defensive vanilla creature…I guess you can have this card, but I’m not sure why you would ever need one of those.
Pack 2 Pick 1: Mortify
Rampage of the Clans image 0.0 This is the kind of card that was designed with EDH in mind. It isn’t here for Limited players. You have way too little control over what this ends up doing.
Cult Guildmage image 3.5 The second ability is where most of the value is on this one, since pinging your opponent for only a single Red is a pretty darn good deal, and also sets up all of your Spectacle. Its nice you can disrupt your opponent’s hand in the late game too.
Tower Defense image 0.0 This is mostly just a really fancy version of Fog, something that is just never worth it in Limited. You don’t want to go down a card just to buy yourself a single turn in this format.
Mortify image 4.0 This is obviously great, as it can very efficiently destroy two different permanent types.
Bladebrand image 2.5 This lets any creature trade with anything, while drawing you a card, so you don’t 2-for-1 yourself in the end. Of course, you’re still only 1-for-1ing, and using a kind of risky card. If your opponent destroys the creature you target it can be especially devastating.
Impassioned Orator image 2.5 The incidental life gain this provides really adds up over the course of a game, and is nice upside to have on a 2-mana 2/2.
Bring to Trial image 1.5 As usual, there aren’t really enough big creatures in this format for this to be anything special. Its not a disaster if you run one, but it is definitely better out of the sideboard.
Summary Judgment image 2.5 Its conditional, but its also pretty efficient. Its more efficient if you use it during your main phase, but if you can kill a creature before it hits you with the 3 damage, that’s obviously a little bit better.
Spear Spewer image 1.5 The idea here is that this can set up your cards that have Spectacle. And, it can do that for sure, but its body is otherwise a pretty big liability, and the Rakdos decks don’t have that hard of a time of making sure Spectacle is online anyway. If your deck is really leading hard into the mechanic, Spear Spewer is a worthy inclusion, but it is by no means a necessity for those types of decks.
Scorchmark image 2.5 Two mana for two damage at instant speed isn’t quite premium removal – but it is solid -- and the fact that this can exile stuff does come up sometimes.
Territorial Boar image 3.0 This ends up attacking as a 3/3 with Vigilance pretty often, and while that’s not the kind of size that is relevant all game long, it end sup being able to attack effectively for quite a while in most decks.
Clear the Mind image 0.0 // 2.5 This card would be an F in most formats, but this format actually has real enough control decks that you can end up in a deck where Clear the Mind is sort of your win condition, since it keeps you from milling yourself out, while your opponent won’t be so lucky. You do generally need at least two of them to keep things going, but you’d be surprised how real of a strategy it is in this format.
Skitter Eel image 2.0 You’ll play this in decks that can really take advantage of +1/+1 counter synergy, but it isn’t that great in other decks, where its just inefficient – both before and after adapting.
Thirsting Shade image 1.5 This thing demands a ton of mana to be relevant, and it isn’t usually going to be worth it. It can pump itself, but on most boards it just isn’t able to attack.
Rakdos Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 2 Pick 2: Arrester's Admonition
Judith, the Scourge Diva image 4.5 Judith comes down and drastically improves just about any board state. The power boost can make a big difference, but what really pushes her into the bomb range is the fact that she let you ping anything when one of your nontoken creatures dies. This really messes with how combat is going to go for your opponent. Simply playing her and attacking with your board is often going to end the game in your favor in the mid to late game, and in the early game she also causes all kinds of problems.
Rhythm of the Wild image 2.5 This is powerful if you drop it on turn three, but significantly less impressive when you get it in the late game. It doe still upgrade all future creatures you draw, but when you are drawing one card a turn and not hitting creatures, it can be pretty rough.
Clan Guildmage image 3.0 This guildmage might be the most underwhelming of the group, but its still pretty good! One problem is that both of the abilities kind of do the same thing, so it isn’t as flexible as the others. Turning off a blocker can really allow you to get in for huge damage, and animating a land for a turn can do that too.
Bankrupt in Blood image 2.0 If you have expendable creatures around, this is pretty spicy, but it isn’t something that all decks can take advantage of.
Chillbringer image 3.5 Creatures that come down and have an immediate effect on the board are great, and Chillbringer freezes a creature down while giving you a pretty real flying body. This is an excellent Common, even as a five drop, you’d be happy to play as many as four of these. They just tend to swing the common in your favor way more often than your typical Common.
Ill-Gotten Inheritance image 2.5 This card is a major overperformer, and another card that can really help control decks do their thing in this format. It looks like an Enchantment that doesn’t do enough up front, but the life drain it provides really makes it hard for your opponent to take you down. Basically, it will help you stabilize, and then gradually turn into your win condition in many games. Now, sometimes not adding to the board can be a real reliability against aggro decks, but this still does good work most of the time.
Arrester's Admonition image 3.0 Casting this with the Addendum feels pretty good, as you end up breaking even on cards and getting some pretty good tempo, and you can of course cast it without the Addendum in a pinch – like if your opponent is trying to use a combat trick or something.
Axebane Beast image 1.5 This has sort of passable stats. If you need a reasonably efficient medium-sized body, this is it.
Sagittars' Volley image 0.5 This is a solid sideboard card, but there aren’t really enough flyers to justify sticking this in your main deck.
Bring to Trial image 1.5 As usual, there aren’t really enough big creatures in this format for this to be anything special. Its not a disaster if you run one, but it is definitely better out of the sideboard.
Storm Strike image 1.5 This is a decent trick if you’re in the market. +1/+0 and First Strike always plays pretty well in terms of helping a creature win combat, and its nice to have Scry 1 tacked on.
Applied Biomancy image 2.5 This can generate some serious blowouts on occasions when both options are useful, and on most boards it is at least capable of doing something for you.
Debtors' Transport image 2.0 While Afterlife 2 is pretty nice, the cost and base stats of this are bad enough that it isn’t that exciting. It can definitely trade and leave some bodies behind, which is fine, but it isn’t a very impressive card.
Simic Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 2 Pick 3: Archway Angel
Senate Guildmage image 4.0 I think this is the best of the Guildmages in this set. Both of its abilities are pretty nice, and easily usable. You end up just having a random mana around a lot in Limited! You can gain life if you really need to stabilize, or you can dig deeper in your deck if you need to find removal or press your advantage.
Archway Angel image 3.5 Gate decks are pretty real in this format, and Archway Angel is one of the best payoffs, as it can come down, giving you a significant body, and gain you enough life to stabilize in many cases.
Swirling Torrent image 1.5 This can have a big effect sometimes, as it lets you return two things, but it is a very costly card, and the fact it costs so much makes it a lot harder to come out ahead tempo-wise. Its not a bad thing to have a one-of in some decks, as it can really break a game open for you late, but that’s only for more controlling decks.
Territorial Boar image 3.0 This ends up attacking as a 3/3 with Vigilance pretty often, and while that’s not the kind of size that is relevant all game long, it end sup being able to attack effectively for quite a while in most decks.
Saruli Caretaker image 1.5 The cost of tapping both the Caretaker and another creature for mana ends up being pretty real, but if you are interested in fixing and ramp, this can certainly do it.
Spear Spewer image 1.5 The idea here is that this can set up your cards that have Spectacle. And, it can do that for sure, but its body is otherwise a pretty big liability, and the Rakdos decks don’t have that hard of a time of making sure Spectacle is online anyway. If your deck is really leading hard into the mechanic, Spear Spewer is a worthy inclusion, but it is by no means a necessity for those types of decks.
Sage's Row Savant image 1.5 This has alright stats and an alright ETB ability, but you’re usually hoping you have a different two drop.
Twilight Panther image 2.5 If you’re in Black/White, this plays like most one mana death touchers. It can trade for anything, and that’s always nice.
Rubble Slinger image 2.0 If you don’t have any good ways to block flyers – this can certainly do it, though it isn’t exactly efficient.
Rakdos Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Senate Griffin image 2.5 This is a nice little flyer. The stats are fine, and Scrying is always a good way to smooth out your draws.
Rubble Reading image 0.5 People play some ambitious mana bases in this format, but even then, this isn’t a great sideboard card.
Simic Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 2 Pick 4: Clear the Mind
Code of Constraint image 2.0 This is another card that gets an impressive boost from the Addendum, as it straight up freezes a card down. It is a little weird that the other effect basically doesn’t matter if you do the Addendum, so this card mostly feels like a split card with two options, and the Addendum option is way better. Adding “draw a card” to both effects is pretty nice in the right deck.
Wall of Lost Thoughts image 2.0 Mill is a real strategy in this format, and the Wall isn’t bad in the decks that aim to do that. It slows down aggressive decks and allows you to pick away at the opposing library.
Senate Guildmage image 4.0 I think this is the best of the Guildmages in this set. Both of its abilities are pretty nice, and easily usable. You end up just having a random mana around a lot in Limited! You can gain life if you really need to stabilize, or you can dig deeper in your deck if you need to find removal or press your advantage.
Rubblebelt Runner image 2.5 This has decent stats and evasion that actually comes up sometimes.
Faerie Duelist image 3.0 This is a big overperformer. It can really alter combat in your favor, both during your turn and your opponents, while adding a pretty decent body to the board. It’s a great common.
Tenth District Veteran image 1.5 This has mediocre stats and a pretty mediocre ability. Untapping one of your other creatures just doesn’t make a huge difference most of the time.
Rafter Demon image 2.0 This is less impressive than most of the Spectacle cards. Without Spectacle, it is a horrendous 4-mana 4/2. It does get a pretty real upgrade if you do get Spectacle going, as a 5-mana 4/2 that forces a discard isn’t too bad, but it has some diminishing values as the game goes on.
Final Payment image 3.0 Two mana to destroy a creature is a great rate, and I love the options that you get here. Paying 5 life is often the preferable one, but you can also find ways to sacrifice stuff for value. It is difficult to run more than one of these, because you can’t be paying 5 life multiple times in most games, but the first copy is great.
Clear the Mind image 0.0 // 2.5 This card would be an F in most formats, but this format actually has real enough control decks that you can end up in a deck where Clear the Mind is sort of your win condition, since it keeps you from milling yourself out, while your opponent won’t be so lucky. You do generally need at least two of them to keep things going, but you’d be surprised how real of a strategy it is in this format.
Aeromunculus image 3.5 This starts with solid stats, so the fact that the amplify ability only grants a single counter isn’t a big deal. It has a great baseline and comes with the upside of getting bigger later in the game.
Senate Griffin image 2.5 This is a nice little flyer. The stats are fine, and Scrying is always a good way to smooth out your draws.
Burn Bright image 1.0 // 2.0 If you’re really going wide, this isn’t a terrible inclusion, but only the most aggressive decks are going to be interested in this.
Pack 2 Pick 5: Rakdos Guildgate
Biomancer's Familiar image 2.5 You will actually end up being able to set this up to use its abilities on occasion, but not nearly often enough for this to be anything more than solid.
Clan Guildmage image 3.0 This guildmage might be the most underwhelming of the group, but its still pretty good! One problem is that both of the abilities kind of do the same thing, so it isn’t as flexible as the others. Turning off a blocker can really allow you to get in for huge damage, and animating a land for a turn can do that too.
Orzhov Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Deface image 0.5 There aren’t enough artifacts or defenders in this format for this to be main deck material.
Debtors' Transport image 2.0 While Afterlife 2 is pretty nice, the cost and base stats of this are bad enough that it isn’t that exciting. It can definitely trade and leave some bodies behind, which is fine, but it isn’t a very impressive card.
Clear the Mind image 0.0 // 2.5 This card would be an F in most formats, but this format actually has real enough control decks that you can end up in a deck where Clear the Mind is sort of your win condition, since it keeps you from milling yourself out, while your opponent won’t be so lucky. You do generally need at least two of them to keep things going, but you’d be surprised how real of a strategy it is in this format.
Undercity's Embrace image 1.5 Edict effects are always pretty underwhelming in Limited, since board states tend to be pretty clogged up, especially in this format. If you really need removal, and have a decent number of creatures with 4 or more power, it is a decent card, but it is basically never more than that.
Territorial Boar image 3.0 This ends up attacking as a 3/3 with Vigilance pretty often, and while that’s not the kind of size that is relevant all game long, it end sup being able to attack effectively for quite a while in most decks.
Syndicate Messenger image 2.5 This has almost-passable stats, so adding Afterlife 1 to the card is pretty nice! Like a lot of them, it can trade and then leave behind a token, which feels pretty good.
Knight of Sorrows image 1.5 Afterlife is always nice, but this has such inefficient stats when it comes down that it still feels incredibly clunky.
Rakdos Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 2 Pick 6: Gateway Plaza
Wall of Lost Thoughts image 2.0 Mill is a real strategy in this format, and the Wall isn’t bad in the decks that aim to do that. It slows down aggressive decks and allows you to pick away at the opposing library.
Twilight Panther image 2.5 If you’re in Black/White, this plays like most one mana death touchers. It can trade for anything, and that’s always nice.
Saruli Caretaker image 1.5 The cost of tapping both the Caretaker and another creature for mana ends up being pretty real, but if you are interested in fixing and ramp, this can certainly do it.
Sage's Row Savant image 1.5 This has alright stats and an alright ETB ability, but you’re usually hoping you have a different two drop.
Rubblebelt Recluse image 2.0 This is pretty big for the cost. And…well, yeah that’s pretty much all it has going for it! But that kind of size is a decent thing to have around in some decks.
Noxious Groodion image 2.0 This trades with everything as most death touchers do. Costing three mana does mean it is harder to trade up with it consistently, but it can still trade with everything.
Rampaging Rendhorn image 2.5 This is a solid 5-drop with two pretty decent options. You know, like most Riot creatures.
Gateway Plaza image 2.5 This comes with the “Gate” type, which means you’ll want it in many decks, and it also does a decent job of fixing.
Civic Stalwart image 2.5 A Hill Giant that pumps your whole board is always pretty decent, as it allows you to add to the board and also significantly improve your attacks.
Azorius Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 2 Pick 7: Consign to the Pit
Fireblade Artist image 4.0 This is one of the most aggressive cards in the format, and it can generate massive amounts of damage. A lot of the decks in the format are very slow, and this can really devastate most of those decks if it comes down early. Rakdos has enough sacrifice fodder that this can really work out, and it of course also gets Spectacle going.
Persistent Petitioners image 1.0 You’ll play this if you need a two-mana 1/3, but you aren’t going to assemble a mill deck with this thing.
Saruli Caretaker image 1.5 The cost of tapping both the Caretaker and another creature for mana ends up being pretty real, but if you are interested in fixing and ramp, this can certainly do it.
Noxious Groodion image 2.0 This trades with everything as most death touchers do. Costing three mana does mean it is harder to trade up with it consistently, but it can still trade with everything.
Rakdos Roustabout image 2.0 The upside this card has doesn’t really do enough to overcome the bad stat-line. It does help you get Spectacle going, but so does just attacking with a more efficient creature!
Footlight Fiend image 2.0 This can sometimes generate a 2-for-1, and at the very least it really makes life difficult for any opponent that has an X/1 in play. It is also pretty good sacrifice fodder, and gets Spectacle going. It is a surprisingly effective one drop!
Consign to the Pit image 2.5 Its expensive, but it does answer everything, and the two damage you get out of it is decent upside.
Rubblebelt Recluse image 2.0 This is pretty big for the cost. And…well, yeah that’s pretty much all it has going for it! But that kind of size is a decent thing to have around in some decks.
Deface image 0.5 There aren’t enough artifacts or defenders in this format for this to be main deck material.
Pack 2 Pick 8: Rakdos Guildgate
Essence Capture image 2.0 Because this is two mana, it’s a pretty reasonable counterspell, even if it does only hit creatures. Limited decks have tons of creatures, so it works out, and adding the counter even has a bit of synergy within the Simic deck.
Civic Stalwart image 2.5 A Hill Giant that pumps your whole board is always pretty decent, as it allows you to add to the board and also significantly improve your attacks.
Dead Revels image 2.5 As usual, this type of card is something you want one of most of the time in Black. Returning two things to your hand late is a good way to keep the gas going, and because you can get Spectacle going on this, you’ll sometimes even be able to cast the things you bring back right away!
Imperious Oligarch image 3.5 This has nice base stats and comes with the very nice Afterlife mechanic. Two mana for a 2/1 with Vigilance and a 1/1 Flyer is a pretty great deal, even if you aren’t getting them both at the same time.
Open the Gates image 2.5 This can be some pretty nice fixing if you’re in the market for that, and you often are in this format because the mana – and the Gate decks – are so good.
Rubble Reading image 0.5 People play some ambitious mana bases in this format, but even then, this isn’t a great sideboard card.
Rakdos Trumpeter image 2.5 This little creature can be a real menace for your opponent to deal with. It doesn’t pump itself efficiently, but in the late game it is a pretty nice attacker that your opponent will really hate blocking, and obviously it is hard to block early too – though it doesn’t exactly hit hard.
Rakdos Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 2 Pick 9: Cult Guildmage
Rampage of the Clans image 0.0 This is the kind of card that was designed with EDH in mind. It isn’t here for Limited players. You have way too little control over what this ends up doing.
Cult Guildmage image 3.5 The second ability is where most of the value is on this one, since pinging your opponent for only a single Red is a pretty darn good deal, and also sets up all of your Spectacle. Its nice you can disrupt your opponent’s hand in the late game too.
Tower Defense image 0.0 This is mostly just a really fancy version of Fog, something that is just never worth it in Limited. You don’t want to go down a card just to buy yourself a single turn in this format.
Impassioned Orator image 2.5 The incidental life gain this provides really adds up over the course of a game, and is nice upside to have on a 2-mana 2/2.
Bring to Trial image 1.5 As usual, there aren’t really enough big creatures in this format for this to be anything special. Its not a disaster if you run one, but it is definitely better out of the sideboard.
Spear Spewer image 1.5 The idea here is that this can set up your cards that have Spectacle. And, it can do that for sure, but its body is otherwise a pretty big liability, and the Rakdos decks don’t have that hard of a time of making sure Spectacle is online anyway. If your deck is really leading hard into the mechanic, Spear Spewer is a worthy inclusion, but it is by no means a necessity for those types of decks.
Thirsting Shade image 1.5 This thing demands a ton of mana to be relevant, and it isn’t usually going to be worth it. It can pump itself, but on most boards it just isn’t able to attack.
Pack 2 Pick 10: Bring to Trial
Bankrupt in Blood image 2.0 If you have expendable creatures around, this is pretty spicy, but it isn’t something that all decks can take advantage of.
Axebane Beast image 1.5 This has sort of passable stats. If you need a reasonably efficient medium-sized body, this is it.
Sagittars' Volley image 0.5 This is a solid sideboard card, but there aren’t really enough flyers to justify sticking this in your main deck.
Bring to Trial image 1.5 As usual, there aren’t really enough big creatures in this format for this to be anything special. Its not a disaster if you run one, but it is definitely better out of the sideboard.
Storm Strike image 1.5 This is a decent trick if you’re in the market. +1/+0 and First Strike always plays pretty well in terms of helping a creature win combat, and its nice to have Scry 1 tacked on.
Debtors' Transport image 2.0 While Afterlife 2 is pretty nice, the cost and base stats of this are bad enough that it isn’t that exciting. It can definitely trade and leave some bodies behind, which is fine, but it isn’t a very impressive card.
Pack 2 Pick 11: Sage's Row Savant
Saruli Caretaker image 1.5 The cost of tapping both the Caretaker and another creature for mana ends up being pretty real, but if you are interested in fixing and ramp, this can certainly do it.
Spear Spewer image 1.5 The idea here is that this can set up your cards that have Spectacle. And, it can do that for sure, but its body is otherwise a pretty big liability, and the Rakdos decks don’t have that hard of a time of making sure Spectacle is online anyway. If your deck is really leading hard into the mechanic, Spear Spewer is a worthy inclusion, but it is by no means a necessity for those types of decks.
Sage's Row Savant image 1.5 This has alright stats and an alright ETB ability, but you’re usually hoping you have a different two drop.
Rakdos Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Rubble Reading image 0.5 People play some ambitious mana bases in this format, but even then, this isn’t a great sideboard card.
Pack 2 Pick 12: Wall of Lost Thoughts
Wall of Lost Thoughts image 2.0 Mill is a real strategy in this format, and the Wall isn’t bad in the decks that aim to do that. It slows down aggressive decks and allows you to pick away at the opposing library.
Tenth District Veteran image 1.5 This has mediocre stats and a pretty mediocre ability. Untapping one of your other creatures just doesn’t make a huge difference most of the time.
Rafter Demon image 2.0 This is less impressive than most of the Spectacle cards. Without Spectacle, it is a horrendous 4-mana 4/2. It does get a pretty real upgrade if you do get Spectacle going, as a 5-mana 4/2 that forces a discard isn’t too bad, but it has some diminishing values as the game goes on.
Burn Bright image 1.0 // 2.0 If you’re really going wide, this isn’t a terrible inclusion, but only the most aggressive decks are going to be interested in this.
Pack 2 Pick 13: Undercity's Embrace
Debtors' Transport image 2.0 While Afterlife 2 is pretty nice, the cost and base stats of this are bad enough that it isn’t that exciting. It can definitely trade and leave some bodies behind, which is fine, but it isn’t a very impressive card.
Undercity's Embrace image 1.5 Edict effects are always pretty underwhelming in Limited, since board states tend to be pretty clogged up, especially in this format. If you really need removal, and have a decent number of creatures with 4 or more power, it is a decent card, but it is basically never more than that.
Knight of Sorrows image 1.5 Afterlife is always nice, but this has such inefficient stats when it comes down that it still feels incredibly clunky.
Pack 2 Pick 14: Wall of Lost Thoughts
Wall of Lost Thoughts image 2.0 Mill is a real strategy in this format, and the Wall isn’t bad in the decks that aim to do that. It slows down aggressive decks and allows you to pick away at the opposing library.
Noxious Groodion image 2.0 This trades with everything as most death touchers do. Costing three mana does mean it is harder to trade up with it consistently, but it can still trade with everything.
Pack 2 Pick 15: Deface
Deface image 0.5 There aren’t enough artifacts or defenders in this format for this to be main deck material.
Pack 3 Pick 1: Gateway Plaza
Biomancer's Familiar image 2.5 You will actually end up being able to set this up to use its abilities on occasion, but not nearly often enough for this to be anything more than solid.
Sunder Shaman image 3.5 This is hard to block effectively, and this format has enough artifacts and enchantments around that its ability to threaten those is a pretty big deal.
Windstorm Drake image 2.5 A 5-mana 3/3 Flyer isn’t great, but this does buff your other flyers, and that does enough to make this a pretty reasonable playable in most Blue decks.
Trollbred Guardian image 4.0 This thing is a monster. It starts out with good stats, and then gets bigger and gains Trample – while also granting trample to a significant portion of your board. It is an excellent Uncommon for all Green decks.
Open the Gates image 2.5 This can be some pretty nice fixing if you’re in the market for that, and you often are in this format because the mana – and the Gate decks – are so good.
Vizkopa Vampire image 2.0 This often just ends up trading for something and gaining you some life, which is fine, but not exactly exciting either.
Grotesque Demise image 3.5 This efficiently deals with a whole lot of creatures in the format, and with many of them, you even get to trade up.
Justiciar's Portal image 0.5 As usual, this kind of card is a little too situational to be worth using. Blinking just doesn’t do enough often enough, even when you add first strike to the mix.
Goblin Gathering image 1.0 // 3.0 If you just have one of these, it is playable – but just barely. Once you have multiples, though, it can be a pretty impressive way to go wide.
Gateway Plaza image 2.5 This comes with the “Gate” type, which means you’ll want it in many decks, and it also does a decent job of fixing.
Senate Courier image 2.0 This has decent stats, and the ability to gain vigilance actually comes up in the later part of games.
Persistent Petitioners image 1.0 You’ll play this if you need a two-mana 1/3, but you aren’t going to assemble a mill deck with this thing.
Simic Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Rubblebelt Recluse image 2.0 This is pretty big for the cost. And…well, yeah that’s pretty much all it has going for it! But that kind of size is a decent thing to have around in some decks.
Gruul Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 3 Pick 2: Gate Colossus
Basilica Bell-Haunt image 3.5 This whole cycle is pretty powerful, and that’s certainly the case here! This gives you a solid body, usually nets you a 2-for-1, and even gives you some life! The one downside is the mana cost, which even in an Orzhov deck won’t always be easy to produce. Still, you’ll usually be able to hit a card when it ETBs.
Gate Colossus image 4.0 This thing is an absolute monster in this format. Obviously you need some gates, but you can get those easily enough, and when you do, it end sup being a heavily discounted 8/8 that can’t be chump blocked by little guys. And then, if your opponent does deal with it, you will ultimately get it back later in the game and star the whole thing over. This is worth taking very highly, and it really feels like an absolute bomb in the right deck.
Carnival image 2.5 There are enough X/1s in the format that Carnival can do some stuff. Carnage can be pretty nice when your opponent has the cards to hit with it.
Rubble Slinger image 2.0 If you don’t have any good ways to block flyers – this can certainly do it, though it isn’t exactly efficient.
Humongulus image 1.5 You mostly only play this if you can really take advantage of Hexproof. You can do this with +1/+1 counters and Auras and stuff like that. Otherwise, it is just sort of an inefficient blocker.
Debtors' Transport image 2.0 While Afterlife 2 is pretty nice, the cost and base stats of this are bad enough that it isn’t that exciting. It can definitely trade and leave some bodies behind, which is fine, but it isn’t a very impressive card.
Orzhov Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Open the Gates image 2.5 This can be some pretty nice fixing if you’re in the market for that, and you often are in this format because the mana – and the Gate decks – are so good.
Haazda Officer image 2.0 The ETB ability doesn’t always do something here, but its still a 3-mana 3/3 with upside, and the times where the ability does cause your opponent to have problems are pretty nice. 10 – Haazda Officer – 2.0 This adds a reasonable body to the board while buffing a creature, theoretically allowing you to attack more effectively the turn it comes down. That said, +1/+1 isn’t always enough to make that happen.
Rakdos Roustabout image 2.0 The upside this card has doesn’t really do enough to overcome the bad stat-line. It does help you get Spectacle going, but so does just attacking with a more efficient creature!
Sylvan Brushstrider image 2.0 This is an alright 3-drop. The stats are pretty mediocre, but the 2 life helps off-set that a little bit.
Spear Spewer image 1.5 The idea here is that this can set up your cards that have Spectacle. And, it can do that for sure, but its body is otherwise a pretty big liability, and the Rakdos decks don’t have that hard of a time of making sure Spectacle is online anyway. If your deck is really leading hard into the mechanic, Spear Spewer is a worthy inclusion, but it is by no means a necessity for those types of decks.
Senate Courier image 2.0 This has decent stats, and the ability to gain vigilance actually comes up in the later part of games.
Simic Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 3 Pick 3: Consecrate
Bloodmist Infiltrator image 3.0 This is one of the better sacrifice outlets around, as 3 unblockable damage a turn can really add up. It does die to…pretty much everything, but if your deck is capable of producing fodder for it, it is a pretty formidable creature.
Consecrate image 3.0 Consecrate is pretty situational and won’t come up a ton, but Consume is pretty nice most of the time. Your opponents’ creature with the highest power won’t always be their best, but it will be often enough that Consume ends up feeling pretty amazing most of the time.
Wilderness Reclamation image 0.0 This was a famously powerful card in constructed – in Limited, it is pretty much unplayable. You just won’t have anything to do with all the mana it gives you, even in a format with Adapt. Basically, you end up going down a card for no effect at all if you play this.
Prowling Caracal image 1.5 This is a vanilla 2-mana 3/1. If you’re in an aggro deck and don’t have enough two drops, you’ll probably play it.
Azorius Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Thought Collapse image 1.5 Cancel is never great in Limited, but the mill upside this gives you does matter a little bit in this format.
Sylvan Brushstrider image 2.0 This is an alright 3-drop. The stats are pretty mediocre, but the 2 life helps off-set that a little bit.
Gift of Strength image 1.5 This trick is always fine. It allows a creature to win combat, but like all tricks it is a bit too situational.
Prying Eyes image 1.5 This is way overcosted for a card that only nets you two cards, but it does dig you pretty deep, and if your deck is controlling enough, you can run a copy.
Bladebrand image 2.5 This lets any creature trade with anything, while drawing you a card, so you don’t 2-for-1 yourself in the end. Of course, you’re still only 1-for-1ing, and using a kind of risky card. If your opponent destroys the creature you target it can be especially devastating.
Vizkopa Vampire image 2.0 This often just ends up trading for something and gaining you some life, which is fine, but not exactly exciting either.
Coral Commando image 1.0 This is an unimpressive vanilla creature that you’ll really only run if you’re desperate.
Azorius Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 3 Pick 4: Dovin's Acuity
Dovin's Acuity image 3.5 This is a very real card in the format, and it generates some insane value that really makes Azorius control decks into monsters in the late game. Sure, casting your Instants like they are Sorceries isn’t always ideal, but the cards and life you get from this really pay you off for going for the significantly clunkier play. The format is slow enough that Dovin’s Acuity is a very real card that will win you the game in the long run.
Combine Guildmage image 3.5 There are a whole lot of counters in this set, so both abilities on the Guildmage end up coming up a lot in the mid-to-late game, and its pretty powerful to threaten to move counters around, or add additional counters to your creatures.
High Alert image 0.0 // 3.0 Obviously enough, this is a build around, but it is one that its possible to make work in the format. There are enough defensive creatures in the format, and this combines particularly well with the unblockable 2/5 with Vigilance. It is going to be terrible in most Azorius decks, though.
Justiciar's Portal image 0.5 As usual, this kind of card is a little too situational to be worth using. Blinking just doesn’t do enough often enough, even when you add first strike to the mix.
Spikewheel Acrobat image 1.5 The idea here is that this can set up your cards that have Spectacle. And, it can do that for sure, but its body is otherwise a pretty big liability, and the Rakdos decks don’t have that hard of a time of making sure Spectacle is online anyway. If your deck is really leading hard into the mechanic, Spear Spewer is a worthy inclusion, but it is by no means a necessity for those types of decks. 118 - Spikewheel Acrobat – 1.5 This really only feels worth it if you get the Spectacle going, and even then it isn’t exactly amazing, as most 2 drops in the set can still trade for it.
Sphinx's Insight image 2.5 Both options on this have their place. Sometimes you want to cast it during your opponents turn so that you can untap and play the new things you drew, but sometimes that additional life is great.
Aeromunculus image 3.5 This starts with solid stats, so the fact that the amplify ability only grants a single counter isn’t a big deal. It has a great baseline and comes with the upside of getting bigger later in the game.
Lawmage's Binding image 4.0 This is an excellent Common that lets you completely shut down just about any creature in the format, and Flash means you can do it at instant speed!
Rafter Demon image 2.0 This is less impressive than most of the Spectacle cards. Without Spectacle, it is a horrendous 4-mana 4/2. It does get a pretty real upgrade if you do get Spectacle going, as a 5-mana 4/2 that forces a discard isn’t too bad, but it has some diminishing values as the game goes on.
Orzhov Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Faerie Duelist image 3.0 This is a big overperformer. It can really alter combat in your favor, both during your turn and your opponents, while adding a pretty decent body to the board. It’s a great common.
Orzhov Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 3 Pick 5: Shimmer of Possibility
Bedevil image 3.5 This is just great removal. This format doesn’t have very many artifacts or planeswalkers, so it often feels like a hard-to-cast Murder, but its still pretty good.
Bankrupt in Blood image 2.0 If you have expendable creatures around, this is pretty spicy, but it isn’t something that all decks can take advantage of.
Undercity's Embrace image 1.5 Edict effects are always pretty underwhelming in Limited, since board states tend to be pretty clogged up, especially in this format. If you really need removal, and have a decent number of creatures with 4 or more power, it is a decent card, but it is basically never more than that.
Shimmer of Possibility image 1.5 If you’re in the spell deck, this can be worth playing, otherwise casting this isn’t very impactful.
Sage's Row Savant image 1.5 This has alright stats and an alright ETB ability, but you’re usually hoping you have a different two drop.
Bring to Trial image 1.5 As usual, there aren’t really enough big creatures in this format for this to be anything special. Its not a disaster if you run one, but it is definitely better out of the sideboard.
Coral Commando image 1.0 This is an unimpressive vanilla creature that you’ll really only run if you’re desperate.
Saruli Caretaker image 1.5 The cost of tapping both the Caretaker and another creature for mana ends up being pretty real, but if you are interested in fixing and ramp, this can certainly do it.
Bladebrand image 2.5 This lets any creature trade with anything, while drawing you a card, so you don’t 2-for-1 yourself in the end. Of course, you’re still only 1-for-1ing, and using a kind of risky card. If your opponent destroys the creature you target it can be especially devastating.
Civic Stalwart image 2.5 A Hill Giant that pumps your whole board is always pretty decent, as it allows you to add to the board and also significantly improve your attacks.
Sagittars' Volley image 0.5 This is a solid sideboard card, but there aren’t really enough flyers to justify sticking this in your main deck.
Pack 3 Pick 6: Cry of the Carnarium
Cry of the Carnarium image 0.5 // 3.0 In this format, you can end up in some pretty defensive and controlling decks, and in them, you don’t have very many creatures who die to this. If you’re one of those decks, this thing is a power house, as it can completely derail aggro decks in the early game, virtually guaranteeing you win. But there are lots of decks in this format that shouldn’t be interested in this in the main deck.
Skitter Eel image 2.0 You’ll play this in decks that can really take advantage of +1/+1 counter synergy, but it isn’t that great in other decks, where its just inefficient – both before and after adapting.
Watchful Giant image 1.0 This doesn’t really give you enough for the mana you spend on it. The two bodies are nice I guess, but neither of them is that significant.
Wrecking Beast image 2.0 This is some fine top-curve to have in both Simic and Gruul decks. It hits hard whichever option you choose.
Gravel-Hide Goblin image 2.5 This has decent starting stats and an ability that can allow it to attack pretty much all game long, even if the ability is a little costly.
Bladebrand image 2.5 This lets any creature trade with anything, while drawing you a card, so you don’t 2-for-1 yourself in the end. Of course, you’re still only 1-for-1ing, and using a kind of risky card. If your opponent destroys the creature you target it can be especially devastating.
Senate Courier image 2.0 This has decent stats, and the ability to gain vigilance actually comes up in the later part of games.
Dead Revels image 2.5 As usual, this type of card is something you want one of most of the time in Black. Returning two things to your hand late is a good way to keep the gas going, and because you can get Spectacle going on this, you’ll sometimes even be able to cast the things you bring back right away!
Twilight Panther image 2.5 If you’re in Black/White, this plays like most one mana death touchers. It can trade for anything, and that’s always nice.
Gruul Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 3 Pick 7: Azorius Locket
Rally to Battle image 1.0 This is too expensive for a mass pump effect that only boosts power by 1. You can try to use it to ambush your opponent, but if that’s your main plan with something like this, you’re going to be pretty disappointed, because it becomes far more situational when that’s the case.
Drill Bit image 1.0 Most spells that are just 1-for-1 discard effects aren’t great in Limited. If you could always cast this for a single Black mana it would be pretty nice, but it will cost 3 mana way too often to be worth it in most cases.
Rakdos Firewheeler image 3.5 A 4-mana 4/3 that kills a small creature and shocks the opponent is always a great deal!
Final Payment image 3.0 Two mana to destroy a creature is a great rate, and I love the options that you get here. Paying 5 life is often the preferable one, but you can also find ways to sacrifice stuff for value. It is difficult to run more than one of these, because you can’t be paying 5 life multiple times in most games, but the first copy is great.
Plague Wight image 2.5 This is a solid little two-drop that is pretty hard for your opponent to block effectively in the early game.
Sage's Row Savant image 1.5 This has alright stats and an alright ETB ability, but you’re usually hoping you have a different two drop.
Arrester's Zeal image 1.5 This is a decent trick that has the upside of letting you do lethal in the air sometimes.
Azorius Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Growth Spiral image 2.0 This is nice in Limited, but not the busted thing it is in constructed. You won’t always be able to take advantage of the extra land effect after the early game, but that still means it’s a cantrip, which isn’t too shabby.
Pack 3 Pick 8: Orzhov Guildgate
Knight of the Last Breath image 2.0 This is mostly too clunky. A 7-mana 4/4 is just bad, even if it does leave behind three 1/1 tokens and the ability to generate more tokens. It isn’t unplayable, but you’ll find yourself cutting it a lot.
Rubblebelt Runner image 2.5 This has decent stats and evasion that actually comes up sometimes.
Prying Eyes image 1.5 This is way overcosted for a card that only nets you two cards, but it does dig you pretty deep, and if your deck is controlling enough, you can run a copy.
Expose to Daylight image 0.5 This is mostly a sideboard card in this format. There just aren’t quite enough targets.
Burning-Tree Vandal image 2.0 Rummaging when it attacks is fine, and because of Riot it can do it for you right away sometimes. The option of also making it a 3/2 is pretty sweet.
Concordia Pegasus image 1.5 This is a French Vanilla flyer with decent stats. Most of the time you hope you don’t play it, but it isn’t a disaster if you do.
Dead Revels image 2.5 As usual, this type of card is something you want one of most of the time in Black. Returning two things to your hand late is a good way to keep the gas going, and because you can get Spectacle going on this, you’ll sometimes even be able to cast the things you bring back right away!
Orzhov Guildgate image 2.5 These are pretty important in this format. As usual fixing is always nice, but this format also has a ton of excellent gate payoffs. Its kind of funny, but in this Limited format, the Gates are actually a little better than Shocklands, since the payoffs you can get for playing Gates are so good.
Pack 3 Pick 9: Senate Courier
Open the Gates image 2.5 This can be some pretty nice fixing if you’re in the market for that, and you often are in this format because the mana – and the Gate decks – are so good.
Vizkopa Vampire image 2.0 This often just ends up trading for something and gaining you some life, which is fine, but not exactly exciting either.
Justiciar's Portal image 0.5 As usual, this kind of card is a little too situational to be worth using. Blinking just doesn’t do enough often enough, even when you add first strike to the mix.
Goblin Gathering image 1.0 // 3.0 If you just have one of these, it is playable – but just barely. Once you have multiples, though, it can be a pretty impressive way to go wide.
Senate Courier image 2.0 This has decent stats, and the ability to gain vigilance actually comes up in the later part of games.
Simic Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Rubblebelt Recluse image 2.0 This is pretty big for the cost. And…well, yeah that’s pretty much all it has going for it! But that kind of size is a decent thing to have around in some decks.
Pack 3 Pick 10: Senate Courier
Humongulus image 1.5 You mostly only play this if you can really take advantage of Hexproof. You can do this with +1/+1 counters and Auras and stuff like that. Otherwise, it is just sort of an inefficient blocker.
Debtors' Transport image 2.0 While Afterlife 2 is pretty nice, the cost and base stats of this are bad enough that it isn’t that exciting. It can definitely trade and leave some bodies behind, which is fine, but it isn’t a very impressive card.
Haazda Officer image 2.0 The ETB ability doesn’t always do something here, but its still a 3-mana 3/3 with upside, and the times where the ability does cause your opponent to have problems are pretty nice. 10 – Haazda Officer – 2.0 This adds a reasonable body to the board while buffing a creature, theoretically allowing you to attack more effectively the turn it comes down. That said, +1/+1 isn’t always enough to make that happen.
Rakdos Roustabout image 2.0 The upside this card has doesn’t really do enough to overcome the bad stat-line. It does help you get Spectacle going, but so does just attacking with a more efficient creature!
Spear Spewer image 1.5 The idea here is that this can set up your cards that have Spectacle. And, it can do that for sure, but its body is otherwise a pretty big liability, and the Rakdos decks don’t have that hard of a time of making sure Spectacle is online anyway. If your deck is really leading hard into the mechanic, Spear Spewer is a worthy inclusion, but it is by no means a necessity for those types of decks.
Senate Courier image 2.0 This has decent stats, and the ability to gain vigilance actually comes up in the later part of games.
Pack 3 Pick 11: Bloodmist Infiltrator
Bloodmist Infiltrator image 3.0 This is one of the better sacrifice outlets around, as 3 unblockable damage a turn can really add up. It does die to…pretty much everything, but if your deck is capable of producing fodder for it, it is a pretty formidable creature.
Wilderness Reclamation image 0.0 This was a famously powerful card in constructed – in Limited, it is pretty much unplayable. You just won’t have anything to do with all the mana it gives you, even in a format with Adapt. Basically, you end up going down a card for no effect at all if you play this.
Prowling Caracal image 1.5 This is a vanilla 2-mana 3/1. If you’re in an aggro deck and don’t have enough two drops, you’ll probably play it.
Bladebrand image 2.5 This lets any creature trade with anything, while drawing you a card, so you don’t 2-for-1 yourself in the end. Of course, you’re still only 1-for-1ing, and using a kind of risky card. If your opponent destroys the creature you target it can be especially devastating.
Coral Commando image 1.0 This is an unimpressive vanilla creature that you’ll really only run if you’re desperate.
Pack 3 Pick 12: High Alert
High Alert image 0.0 // 3.0 Obviously enough, this is a build around, but it is one that its possible to make work in the format. There are enough defensive creatures in the format, and this combines particularly well with the unblockable 2/5 with Vigilance. It is going to be terrible in most Azorius decks, though.
Justiciar's Portal image 0.5 As usual, this kind of card is a little too situational to be worth using. Blinking just doesn’t do enough often enough, even when you add first strike to the mix.
Rafter Demon image 2.0 This is less impressive than most of the Spectacle cards. Without Spectacle, it is a horrendous 4-mana 4/2. It does get a pretty real upgrade if you do get Spectacle going, as a 5-mana 4/2 that forces a discard isn’t too bad, but it has some diminishing values as the game goes on.
Orzhov Locket image 2.0 If you need fixing, these are fine. Some mana rocks are pretty big duds once you have enough mana or the mana that you need, but its nice you can throw these away to get some cards.
Pack 3 Pick 13: Undercity's Embrace
Undercity's Embrace image 1.5 Edict effects are always pretty underwhelming in Limited, since board states tend to be pretty clogged up, especially in this format. If you really need removal, and have a decent number of creatures with 4 or more power, it is a decent card, but it is basically never more than that.
Coral Commando image 1.0 This is an unimpressive vanilla creature that you’ll really only run if you’re desperate.
Bladebrand image 2.5 This lets any creature trade with anything, while drawing you a card, so you don’t 2-for-1 yourself in the end. Of course, you’re still only 1-for-1ing, and using a kind of risky card. If your opponent destroys the creature you target it can be especially devastating.
Pack 3 Pick 14: Watchful Giant
Watchful Giant image 1.0 This doesn’t really give you enough for the mana you spend on it. The two bodies are nice I guess, but neither of them is that significant.
Twilight Panther image 2.5 If you’re in Black/White, this plays like most one mana death touchers. It can trade for anything, and that’s always nice.
Pack 3 Pick 15: Plague Wight
Plague Wight image 2.5 This is a solid little two-drop that is pretty hard for your opponent to block effectively in the early game.
Draft Pick Overview