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Premier Draft AKR 11 August 2021

11 August 05:08 - ShadowRise 7 Wins - 2 Losses
Maindeck
Creature (9)
1 Merciless Javelineer image
1 Baleful Ammit image
1 Shimmerscale Drake image
1 Aerial Guide image
1 Spellweaver Eternal image
1 Nef-Crop Entangler image
1 Battlefield Scavenger image
1 Thorned Moloch image
1 Wasteland Scorpion image
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (13)
1 Brute Strength image
1 Puncturing Blow image
2 Countervailing Winds image
1 Magma Spray image
2 Open Fire image
2 Cartouche of Knowledge image
1 Trespasser's Curse image
1 Reduce // Rubble image
2 Censor image
Planeswalker (1)
1 Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh image
Land (17)
5 Mountain image
4 Swamp image
4 Island image
3 Evolving Wilds image
1 Desert of the Mindful image
Sideboard
2 Desert Cerodon image
2 Seeker of Insight image
1 Pride Sovereign image
1 Hooded Brawler image
1 Glory-Bound Initiate image
1 Seer of the Last Tomorrow image
1 Leave image
1 Shed Weakness image
1 Struggle image
1 Glorious End image
1 Supernatural Stamina image
1 Irrigated Farmland image
1 Sheltered Thicket image

Pack 1 Pick 1: Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh
Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh image 5.0 He might be three colors and cost 7 mana, but Nicol Bolas is well worth the price. He comes with several amazing abilities, and all of them allow him to take over a game pretty quickly. His +2 lets you basically draw a card and play it from free from your opponents library, his +1 goes after your opponents hand, and his -4 can kill basically everything in the set, in addition to being able to go after the opponent! Obviously, his ultimate is insane too, and getting there is actually kind of doable, though your opponent will probably be dead well before you get to that point.
Ominous Sphinx image 3.5 This has nice stats and a pretty decent Cycling payoff effect that can really wreak havoc on your opponent, especially during combat.
Watchers of the Dead image 2.0 This is a two-mana 2/2 that can hate on the graveyard a bit in a set that has graveyard stuff, so its fine.
Trial of Ambition image 3.0 Playing this on turn two to kill your opponent’s only creature feels great, and all game long it will at least subtract from the opposing board some. Because it is so cheap, it also isn’t that difficult to play a cartouche and replay the Trial in the same turn, which will feel pretty great.
Puncturing Blow image 3.5 This is definitely a clunky sorcery, but it also kills almost everything in the format, and the “Exile” clause actually matters in this format. This gets into the lower range of “premium” removal for me.
Djeru's Resolve image 1.0 Without Cycling, this would pretty much be unplayable. With cycling…well, you’ll play it on really rare occasions.
Pouncing Cheetah image 1.5 This is kind of okay. It can flash in and ambush block stuff, but there’s not much that it can survive blocking because of its mediocre stats.
In Oketra's Name image 1.5 This just doesn’t pan out most of the time. Sure, if you have a bunch of Zombies and you’re going wide, it gives a nice boost for the cost, but having both of those things happen isn’t guaranteed.
Ancient Crab image 1.0 This format has lots of cheap creature who can gain evasion or stats boosts as a result of exerting or other effects, and that makes Ancient Crab pretty unimpressive here.
Winds of Rebuke image 2.5 Two mana to bounce a nonland permanent is always an okay card in Limited. It doesn’t let you trade 1-for-1 all the time, but the tempo is sometimes worth it. On occasion, you may also mill something useful into your graveyard.
Desert of the Indomitable image 3.0 Deserts are pretty important in this format. Not only do they provide some significant flood insurance thanks to Cycling, they also power up several cards in the format that pay you off for having Deserts. As a result, you should actually value them relatively highly, taking them over most medium cards.
Spellweaver Eternal image 3.0 Afflict and Prowess on a two mana 2/1 is a pretty good deal. The Eternal will make sure it does damage to the opponent one way or another in most scenarios, and because of Prowess your opponent has to be pretty careful about how they block. This is yet another impressive two drop in a format that is loaded up with them!
Impeccable Timing image 2.5 This is too situational to be “premium” removal, but it does a pretty nice job in a format with lots of small creatures.
Final Reward image 3.0 This is expensive, but it also answers any creature – and because it exiles them, it can even shut down annoying cards with Embalm. This is premium removal.
Pack 1 Pick 2: Baleful Ammit
Pact of Negation image 1.5 Being able to counter any spell without leaving mana up can definitely feel pretty good, but of course this isn’t quite as flexible as that sounds, since you’d better have 5 mana in play on your next turn, or you risk losing the game.
Vizier of Deferment image 2.0 This can be nice in conjunction with ETB abilities, or to remove an Aura based removal spell from one of your creatures, but those things just don’t seem to happen enough for this to be especially good.
Baleful Ammit image 3.0 On its own, the Ammit is a 3-mana 3/2 with Lifelink, which is acceptable. In many situations, you’ll have somewhere else to put the counter though, and when that’s possible and you have somewhere good to put it, the Ammit can be quite the beating for your opponent.
Start image 3.5 Three mana for two 1/1 tokens with Vigilance isn’t a bad deal, and having an expensive Bone Splinters sitting around in your graveyard isn’t too shabby either. Because the Start half is an Instant, you can also pretty easily cast this on your opponent’s turn, and then untap and use Finish to give up one of those tokens and kill their best creature.
Desert of the Indomitable image 3.0 Deserts are pretty important in this format. Not only do they provide some significant flood insurance thanks to Cycling, they also power up several cards in the format that pay you off for having Deserts. As a result, you should actually value them relatively highly, taking them over most medium cards.
Lethal Sting image 2.5 This is a cheap way to kill any creature, and the downside can turn into upside in some situations. Still, the set up is real, and that makes it hard for it to be premium.
Pitiless Vizier image 2.5 This guy has a very real threat of activation. A 4/2 hits hard, and there aren’t that many creatuers that can block this and survive, and in those situations your opponent has to gauge whether or not you have the Cycling card that just blows them out entirely.
Desert Cerodon image 2.5 Like a lot of creatures with cycling, this doesn’t have great stats, but the fact you can throw it away for a new card when the 6/4 isn’t worth it makes it pretty solid.
Feral Prowler image 2.0 It is unfortunately pretty hard to trade Feral Prowler for anything, since basically all the best small creatures in the format can evade it or get to big when they are exerted. That doesn’t make it terrible, but it is definitely worse here than in most sets.
Seer of the Last Tomorrow image 1.0 Not really a mill deck in this format, and that makes this pretty bad.
Aven Initiate image 2.5 4-mana 3/2 flyers are okayish. Adding Embalm here is quite nice, since it will give you another copy of the Initiate in the late game, albeit at a very steep price.
Dissenter's Deliverance image 1.0 There aren’t a ton of Artifacts in this set, but this does Cycle, so you’ll put it in your main deck some.
Rhonas's Stalwart image 3.5 Look, yet another really good common two-drop with Exert! Like the others, this has a fine baseline that can attack reasonably well, and then in the later game in can start exerting to make itself larger and more evasive.
Pack 1 Pick 3: Open Fire
Honored Crop-Captain image 3.5 RW is very aggressive int his format, and Honored Crop-Captain is a big part of that! It has great stats as a two mana 3/2, and pumping the power of your whole board is quite potent, especially in combination with exert.
Liliana's Defeat image 0.5 This will be great against Black and terrible against everyone else. Leave this in your sideboard.
Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs image 2.0 As a 0/4, this can actually block many of the exerters in the format, and its Desert payoff ability isn’t the worst way to slowly win a game, either. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t great, but if you’re in a slower deck, this often ends up being a pretty solid card for you.
Wander in Death image 2.5 The first copy of this type of effect is solid in virtually every Limited format. This is because they give you some serious gas in the later part of the game. And, the nice thing here, is that you can cycle it when its useless in the earlier part of the game. There are some serious diminishing returns after that first copy though, even with Cycling.
Strategic Planning image 1.0 You just won’t want to do this most of the time. It has a very minimal effect that doesn’t impact on the board, and it is very replaceable.
Brute Strength image 1.5 This is a decent trick. The small toughness boost is a bit of a bummer, and means that sometimes you won’t be able to avert a 2-for-1 when you use it, but it can also result in a ton of unexpected damage for your opponent.
Stinging Shot image 1.5 This is good at hating on flyers, and because it has cycling, you can get away with in your main deck.
Dissenter's Deliverance image 1.0 There aren’t a ton of Artifacts in this set, but this does Cycle, so you’ll put it in your main deck some.
Shed Weakness image 1.5 This is an alright trick. One mana for +2/+2 is fairly passable, and sometimes you’ll also get rid of a -1/-1 counter, which will make it feel like Giant Growth!
Aven of Enduring Hope image 2.5 A 5-mana 3/3 flyer isn’t great, but the +3 life effect plays surprisingly well in this format, and can help you stabilize while adding a flying threat to the board.
Open Fire image 4.0 This kills a ton of creatures in this format, and it can even go to the dome, so its definitely premium removal.
Desert of the Indomitable image 3.0 Deserts are pretty important in this format. Not only do they provide some significant flood insurance thanks to Cycling, they also power up several cards in the format that pay you off for having Deserts. As a result, you should actually value them relatively highly, taking them over most medium cards.
Pack 1 Pick 4: Shimmerscale Drake
Leave image 0.5 This is incredibly difficult to set up in Limited, and should mostly be avoided.
Renewed Faith image 2.0 You will almost always end up cycling this. Two mana for 2 life and a card is pretty decent. Three mana for six life and no card isn’t, but you do have the option to do that, and sometimes you’ll want to – like if you’ll die without doing it.
Watchers of the Dead image 2.0 This is a two-mana 2/2 that can hate on the graveyard a bit in a set that has graveyard stuff, so its fine.
Miasmic Mummy image 1.5 The symmetrical discard isn’t something you’re all that interested in in the format, and this is just a 2/2. It is a Zombie, so that matters, but you won’t play this all that often.
Wander in Death image 2.5 The first copy of this type of effect is solid in virtually every Limited format. This is because they give you some serious gas in the later part of the game. And, the nice thing here, is that you can cycle it when its useless in the earlier part of the game. There are some serious diminishing returns after that first copy though, even with Cycling.
Brute Strength image 1.5 This is a decent trick. The small toughness boost is a bit of a bummer, and means that sometimes you won’t be able to avert a 2-for-1 when you use it, but it can also result in a ton of unexpected damage for your opponent.
Shimmerscale Drake image 3.0 A 5-mana ¾ flyer is solid, and you can cycle this one away in situations where that doesn’t help you.
Desert of the Glorified image 3.0 Deserts are pretty important in this format. Not only do they provide some significant flood insurance thanks to Cycling, they also power up several cards in the format that pay you off for having Deserts. As a result, you should actually value them relatively highly, taking them over most medium cards.
Dissenter's Deliverance image 1.0 There aren’t a ton of Artifacts in this set, but this does Cycle, so you’ll put it in your main deck some.
Tah-Crop Elite image 2.5 This has an Exert trigger that can be quite impressive on the right board. The downside is that the board won’t always be right for it. The fact it dies to pretty much all the removal in the set despite costing 4 mana is also pretty rough.
Mighty Leap image 1.5 This is always a decent trick that has the upside of giving you some reach in the late game.
Pack 1 Pick 5: Aerial Guide
Appeal image 2.0 If you can cast both halves of this in the same turn, this can have a pretty big impact, since one of your creatures will get a decent boost and trample, two opposing blockers will be tapped, and your creatures will have vigilance. Still, you did not some decent set up for this to do that ideal thing, including a decent number of creatures. And, in the end, you use up a card here for temporary effects that don’t permanently add to the board in any way, and I don’t love that.
Djeru's Resolve image 1.0 Without Cycling, this would pretty much be unplayable. With cycling…well, you’ll play it on really rare occasions.
Gilded Cerodon image 1.5 While effects that make something unable to block play pretty well in this format, the Cerodon is a little too expensive to be in the same class as something like Ahn-Crop Crasher.
Shed Weakness image 1.5 This is an alright trick. One mana for +2/+2 is fairly passable, and sometimes you’ll also get rid of a -1/-1 counter, which will make it feel like Giant Growth!
Aerial Guide image 3.5 This is a great Common. Wind Drake stats are kind of passable, and giving another attacker Flying is a pretty big deal, and Aerial Guide can quickly account for a ton of damage as a result of that ability.
Aven of Enduring Hope image 2.5 A 5-mana 3/3 flyer isn’t great, but the +3 life effect plays surprisingly well in this format, and can help you stabilize while adding a flying threat to the board.
Mighty Leap image 1.5 This is always a decent trick that has the upside of giving you some reach in the late game.
Desert of the Fervent image 3.0 Deserts are pretty important in this format. Not only do they provide some significant flood insurance thanks to Cycling, they also power up several cards in the format that pay you off for having Deserts. As a result, you should actually value them relatively highly, taking them over most medium cards.
Supernatural Stamina image 2.5 This is a pretty impressive combat trigger. The +2/+0 is enough to make many creatures capable of trading when they couldn’t before, and the additional effect on the card makes it so you get that creature back anyway. This can feel especially powerful on an ETB creature. The low cost here is great, and can really accomplish a lot.
Hekma Sentinels image 2.0 Opponents do have to respect that this might turn into a ¾ out of nowhere, but it isn’t exactly like a ¾ is a world beater to begin with.
Pack 1 Pick 6: Irrigated Farmland
Irrigated Farmland image 3.0 These all add two colors mana, which is great fixing, and if you get them at a point in the game where you no longer need lands, you can just Cycle them away. Don’t underestimate how good that is. Just imagine every time you’ve flooded out in a game of Magic, now imagine you can just throw away some of those lands for new cards, and you’ll know what I mean.
Seeker of Insight image 2.0 This doesn’t have the most impressive spell payoff effect there is, but looting with this sometimes is solid.
Ornery Kudu image 2.0 On its own, this is a 3-mana 2/3, which isn’t very good. If you put the -1/-1 counter somewhere else, especially somewhere where you get some nice value, it will feel pretty good.
Floodwaters image 1.5 This kind of card is always kind of unimpressive. Sure, it can really enable a great attack, but until the extreme late game it won’t really do anything, and even then bouncing two creatures just won’t matter often enough. However, because this has Cycling, you can utilize this card when it is at its best, and just Cycle it away when it isn’t.
Naga Oracle image 1.0 This isn’t very good. A 4-mana 2/4 needs to do something pretty relevant to be good, and it just doesn’t. It gives you a bit of card selection/graveyard stocking, but that’s not really enough.
Blighted Bat image 2.0 A 3-mana 2/1 that can gain Haste is alright, and it comes with a useful creature type!
Doomed Dissenter image 2.5 On the face of it, Doomed Dissenter is a solid little card – he gives you a 1/1 and a 2/2 for only two mana, and that’s quite the deal, even if you don’t get them both at the same time. In addition to that, he has some added utility in this format. First, he makes a Zombie – that means BW likes him. Second, he gives you value when you dies, and that makes him an awesome place to stick -1/-1 counters in the BG deck, where you’ll effectively get to ignore that downside on those creatures.
Tormenting Voice image 1.5 This kind of effect is always very replaceable, as you’re just getting some card selection and not impacting the board. It can be at its best, though, in UR spells, as it can trigger your spell payoffs while also hopefully finding you more spells.
Pursue Glory image 2.0 This is a very inefficient Trumpet Blast, but unlike Trumpet Blast it can actually do something even when you aren’t able to do lethal with it! You can cycle it away.
Pack 1 Pick 7: Cartouche of Knowledge
Brute Strength image 1.5 This is a decent trick. The small toughness boost is a bit of a bummer, and means that sometimes you won’t be able to avert a 2-for-1 when you use it, but it can also result in a ton of unexpected damage for your opponent.
Seeker of Insight image 2.0 This doesn’t have the most impressive spell payoff effect there is, but looting with this sometimes is solid.
Compelling Argument image 1.0 There’s not really a mill deck in this format, but this does cycle for only one Blue mana, so you’ll play it sometimes.
Naga Vitalist image 2.5 This is pretty decent at ramping you, and sometimes you’ll be interested in that.
Dune Beetle image 1.0 If you need a defensive two drop, you could do worse than this I guess.
Initiate's Companion image 2.0 Thing is fine. A two mana 3/1 is, as usual, a decent aggro creature, and its combat damage to a player effect kind of matters. Its most notable use is untapping an exerted creature.
Trespasser's Curse image 0.5 This doesn’t do anything apart from the life drain effect, and that just isn’t going to be worth a card most of the time.
Cartouche of Knowledge image 3.5 This Cartouche draws you a card to get around the risk of getting 2-for-1’d, and I’m all for that. This actually gives you a lot for only two mana, as Flying and +1/+1 is no joke.
Pack 1 Pick 8: Evolving Wilds
Onward image 1.0 It is temping to look at this thing as a card that will just end the game on the spot, but the sad thing is – it really won’t very often. Just pumping power a bunch isn’t that impressive – your creature already has to get through for damage or be able to win combat for it do anything, and then the Victory half is only a Sorcery, and that means you can’t also use it in the same turn unless you do everything pre-combat, and that’s pretty ugly.
Oasis Ritualist image 3.5 This card is really nice. It has enough toughness to stand up to most common Exert creatures, and it provides significant fixing and ramp.
Nimble-Blade Khenra image 2.0 This is fine if you have enough spells, but even when you do, it isn’t exactly the most incredible prowess creature.
Evolving Wilds image 3.0 As usual, the Wilds provides some nice fixing for you, and is even quite good for your mana in a two-color deck.
Naga Oracle image 1.0 This isn’t very good. A 4-mana 2/4 needs to do something pretty relevant to be good, and it just doesn’t. It gives you a bit of card selection/graveyard stocking, but that’s not really enough.
Desert of the Mindful image 3.0 Deserts are pretty important in this format. Not only do they provide some significant flood insurance thanks to Cycling, they also power up several cards in the format that pay you off for having Deserts. As a result, you should actually value them relatively highly, taking them over most medium cards.
Desert of the True image 3.0 Deserts are pretty important in this format. Not only do they provide some significant flood insurance thanks to Cycling, they also power up several cards in the format that pay you off for having Deserts. As a result, you should actually value them relatively highly, taking them over most medium cards.
Pack 1 Pick 9: Spellweaver Eternal
Watchers of the Dead image 2.0 This is a two-mana 2/2 that can hate on the graveyard a bit in a set that has graveyard stuff, so its fine.
Pouncing Cheetah image 1.5 This is kind of okay. It can flash in and ambush block stuff, but there’s not much that it can survive blocking because of its mediocre stats.
Ancient Crab image 1.0 This format has lots of cheap creature who can gain evasion or stats boosts as a result of exerting or other effects, and that makes Ancient Crab pretty unimpressive here.
Winds of Rebuke image 2.5 Two mana to bounce a nonland permanent is always an okay card in Limited. It doesn’t let you trade 1-for-1 all the time, but the tempo is sometimes worth it. On occasion, you may also mill something useful into your graveyard.
Desert of the Indomitable image 3.0 Deserts are pretty important in this format. Not only do they provide some significant flood insurance thanks to Cycling, they also power up several cards in the format that pay you off for having Deserts. As a result, you should actually value them relatively highly, taking them over most medium cards.
Spellweaver Eternal image 3.0 Afflict and Prowess on a two mana 2/1 is a pretty good deal. The Eternal will make sure it does damage to the opponent one way or another in most scenarios, and because of Prowess your opponent has to be pretty careful about how they block. This is yet another impressive two drop in a format that is loaded up with them!
Pack 1 Pick 10: Desert Cerodon
Desert Cerodon image 2.5 Like a lot of creatures with cycling, this doesn’t have great stats, but the fact you can throw it away for a new card when the 6/4 isn’t worth it makes it pretty solid.
Feral Prowler image 2.0 It is unfortunately pretty hard to trade Feral Prowler for anything, since basically all the best small creatures in the format can evade it or get to big when they are exerted. That doesn’t make it terrible, but it is definitely worse here than in most sets.
Seer of the Last Tomorrow image 1.0 Not really a mill deck in this format, and that makes this pretty bad.
Dissenter's Deliverance image 1.0 There aren’t a ton of Artifacts in this set, but this does Cycle, so you’ll put it in your main deck some.
Rhonas's Stalwart image 3.5 Look, yet another really good common two-drop with Exert! Like the others, this has a fine baseline that can attack reasonably well, and then in the later game in can start exerting to make itself larger and more evasive.
Pack 1 Pick 11: Brute Strength
Strategic Planning image 1.0 You just won’t want to do this most of the time. It has a very minimal effect that doesn’t impact on the board, and it is very replaceable.
Brute Strength image 1.5 This is a decent trick. The small toughness boost is a bit of a bummer, and means that sometimes you won’t be able to avert a 2-for-1 when you use it, but it can also result in a ton of unexpected damage for your opponent.
Dissenter's Deliverance image 1.0 There aren’t a ton of Artifacts in this set, but this does Cycle, so you’ll put it in your main deck some.
Shed Weakness image 1.5 This is an alright trick. One mana for +2/+2 is fairly passable, and sometimes you’ll also get rid of a -1/-1 counter, which will make it feel like Giant Growth!
Pack 1 Pick 12: Leave
Leave image 0.5 This is incredibly difficult to set up in Limited, and should mostly be avoided.
Watchers of the Dead image 2.0 This is a two-mana 2/2 that can hate on the graveyard a bit in a set that has graveyard stuff, so its fine.
Dissenter's Deliverance image 1.0 There aren’t a ton of Artifacts in this set, but this does Cycle, so you’ll put it in your main deck some.
Pack 1 Pick 13: Shed Weakness
Appeal image 2.0 If you can cast both halves of this in the same turn, this can have a pretty big impact, since one of your creatures will get a decent boost and trample, two opposing blockers will be tapped, and your creatures will have vigilance. Still, you did not some decent set up for this to do that ideal thing, including a decent number of creatures. And, in the end, you use up a card here for temporary effects that don’t permanently add to the board in any way, and I don’t love that.
Shed Weakness image 1.5 This is an alright trick. One mana for +2/+2 is fairly passable, and sometimes you’ll also get rid of a -1/-1 counter, which will make it feel like Giant Growth!
Pack 1 Pick 14: Seeker of Insight
Seeker of Insight image 2.0 This doesn’t have the most impressive spell payoff effect there is, but looting with this sometimes is solid.
Pack 2 Pick 1: Pride Sovereign
Pride Sovereign image 4.0 Obviously you have to be GW to get the most out of Pride Sovereign, but if you are, he gets out of hand in a hurry. He can very cheaply make 1/1 white cat tokens with lifelink, and when he does, he also buffs himself! This means you can assign him to block and then exert him, at which point he will grow to at least a 4/4. The Sovereign gets huge in the hurry and really makes you go wide. It is a bit fragile at first, and I think that makes it fall a bit short of being a bomb.
Defiant Greatmaw image 3.0 On its own, this is a 3-mana 2/3..which isn’t great, but the fact it can also remove other -1/-1 counters actually makes it pretty good in the BG deck.
Kefnet's Monument image 1.5 This isn’t that good. The cost reduction can help sometimes, but the “whenever you cast a creature” part of the card is super underwhelming, in large part because it doesn’t actually tap the creature. It has to already be tapped or the effect does nothing!
Ifnir Deadlands image 4.0 This is probably the best of this cycle in Limited since it can function as a removal spell, and a repeatable one if you have enough deserts!
Shed Weakness image 1.5 This is an alright trick. One mana for +2/+2 is fairly passable, and sometimes you’ll also get rid of a -1/-1 counter, which will make it feel like Giant Growth!
Aerial Guide image 3.5 This is a great Common. Wind Drake stats are kind of passable, and giving another attacker Flying is a pretty big deal, and Aerial Guide can quickly account for a ton of damage as a result of that ability.
Scarab Feast image 1.0 This format has a lot of graveyard stuff, but you still mostly won’t play this. The only reason it isn’t just a sideboard card is because of Cycling.
Brute Strength image 1.5 This is a decent trick. The small toughness boost is a bit of a bummer, and means that sometimes you won’t be able to avert a 2-for-1 when you use it, but it can also result in a ton of unexpected damage for your opponent.
Stinging Shot image 1.5 This is good at hating on flyers, and because it has cycling, you can get away with in your main deck.
Anointer Priest image 2.5 This is a solid little token/embalm payoff. A two mana 1/3 isn’t great, but the bit of life gain it gets + the fact it comes back from the graveyard in the late game is pretty nice.
Fan Bearer image 3.5 Master Decoy-type creatures are good in most Limited formats, and this one comes with a relevant creature type.
Blur of Blades image 1.5 Sometimes this will get a blocker out of the way and damage your opponent, and suddenly their dead to an Alpha strike. That makes it a reasonable inclusion in aggressive decks, especially because it will always have a pretty decent effect in those decks.
Firebrand Archer image 2.5 This performs surprisingly well as a spell payoff, and can really chip in a ton of additional damage, while also providing pretty good reach in the later part of the game.
Desert Cerodon image 2.5 Like a lot of creatures with cycling, this doesn’t have great stats, but the fact you can throw it away for a new card when the 6/4 isn’t worth it makes it pretty solid.
Pack 2 Pick 2: Desert of the Mindful
Lord of the Accursed image 3.0 This is a nice Zombie lord. It has okay stats and will often impact the board immediately – having the option of giving all your undead guys Menace is some nice added upside too.
Magmaroth image 2.5 Keeping this a 4-mana 5/5 or 4/4, even in a spell deck, isn’t always the easiest thing to do. And, even when you can, the card isn’t exactly a worldbeater.
Struggle image 4.0 The Struggle half is where almost all the value for this card comes from. It is a premium removal spell that scales all game long. The Survive half rarely comes up, but hey, sometimes you need to not draw the last card in your library.
Evolving Wilds image 3.0 As usual, the Wilds provides some nice fixing for you, and is even quite good for your mana in a two-color deck.
Thorned Moloch image 2.5 When this attacks, it isn’t very hard for it to be a 3/3 with First Strike, and that’s not an easy creature to block.
Impeccable Timing image 2.5 This is too situational to be “premium” removal, but it does a pretty nice job in a format with lots of small creatures.
Beneath the Sands image 2.0 This can help you fix and ramp, which some decks wants, and unlike a lot of ramp spells – which are terrible late game top decks – you can Cycle away Beneath the Sands.
Dissenter's Deliverance image 1.0 There aren’t a ton of Artifacts in this set, but this does Cycle, so you’ll put it in your main deck some.
Strategic Planning image 1.0 You just won’t want to do this most of the time. It has a very minimal effect that doesn’t impact on the board, and it is very replaceable.
Desert of the Mindful image 3.0 Deserts are pretty important in this format. Not only do they provide some significant flood insurance thanks to Cycling, they also power up several cards in the format that pay you off for having Deserts. As a result, you should actually value them relatively highly, taking them over most medium cards.
Blighted Bat image 2.0 A 3-mana 2/1 that can gain Haste is alright, and it comes with a useful creature type!
Fan Bearer image 3.5 Master Decoy-type creatures are good in most Limited formats, and this one comes with a relevant creature type.
Lethal Sting image 2.5 This is a cheap way to kill any creature, and the downside can turn into upside in some situations. Still, the set up is real, and that makes it hard for it to be premium.
Pack 2 Pick 3: Cartouche of Knowledge
Battlefield Scavenger image 2.5 On its own, this is a two mana 2/2 that can Exert itself to Rummage. If you have more Exert creatures, it will rummage even more! It isn’t exactly the biggest payoff for exerting, but its fine.
Labyrinth Guardian image 3.0 This dies to everything, but it gives you two pretty relevant bodies and its only one card, so if your opponent wants to use spells to kill both copies, you aren’t exactly going to be broken up about it.
Aven Initiate image 2.5 4-mana 3/2 flyers are okayish. Adding Embalm here is quite nice, since it will give you another copy of the Initiate in the late game, albeit at a very steep price.
Cartouche of Knowledge image 3.5 This Cartouche draws you a card to get around the risk of getting 2-for-1’d, and I’m all for that. This actually gives you a lot for only two mana, as Flying and +1/+1 is no joke.
Naga Vitalist image 2.5 This is pretty decent at ramping you, and sometimes you’ll be interested in that.
Striped Riverwinder image 2.5 A 7-mana 5/5 isn’t great, even with Hexproof, but the fact you can Cycle this away early is pretty awesome. Then, in the late game, it is pretty difficult to interact with and not the worst finisher ever.
Unburden image 2.0 Mind Rot usually isn’t very good in Limited, but you can use that part of the card when its good, and Cycle it away when its not, which makes it somewhat playable.
Zealot of the God-Pharaoh image 2.5 A 4-mana 4/3 is reasonable, and this has an ability that is a solid enough mana sink.
Binding Mummy image 3.0 This has a baseline of a 2-mana 2/2 and it has some very real upside. This set is loaded up with Zombies – and remember, anything that is Embalmed comes back as a zombie too, so the Binding Mummy tends to be quite good at tapping down blockers and letting you go all out.
Nef-Crop Entangler image 3.0 This is yet another Exert two-drop who, once it starts exerting itself, can attack pretty much all game long.
Miasmic Mummy image 1.5 The symmetrical discard isn’t something you’re all that interested in in the format, and this is just a 2/2. It is a Zombie, so that matters, but you won’t play this all that often.
Thresher Lizard image 2.0 This is a 3-mana 3/2 in the early game, and it becomes a 4/4 late. That’s fine, though not something you’ll always be playing in your red decks.
Pack 2 Pick 4: Evolving Wilds
Trial of Strength image 2.5 3-mana for a 4/2 is fine, and you might find yourself casting this more than once over the course of the game, which feels pretty nice.
Desert's Hold image 4.0 This is a premium removal spell, and one that it isn’t that hard to trigger the “Desert” clause on. This shuts down most creatures entirely and will gain you life like half the time, and that’s pretty great.
Thorned Moloch image 2.5 When this attacks, it isn’t very hard for it to be a 3/3 with First Strike, and that’s not an easy creature to block.
In Oketra's Name image 1.5 This just doesn’t pan out most of the time. Sure, if you have a bunch of Zombies and you’re going wide, it gives a nice boost for the cost, but having both of those things happen isn’t guaranteed.
Sunscorched Desert image 1.0 So, you mostly don’t play this Desert, since it isn’t good for your mana at all. However, sometimes you might end up in a mono-colored deck, and if its an aggressive mono-colored deck that has a few Desert payoffs, Sunscorched Desert actually makes the cut. That doesn’t happen a ton, but I’ve seen it happen a few times.
Seeker of Insight image 2.0 This doesn’t have the most impressive spell payoff effect there is, but looting with this sometimes is solid.
Ornery Kudu image 2.0 On its own, this is a 3-mana 2/3, which isn’t very good. If you put the -1/-1 counter somewhere else, especially somewhere where you get some nice value, it will feel pretty good.
Wall of Forgotten Pharaohs image 2.0 As a 0/4, this can actually block many of the exerters in the format, and its Desert payoff ability isn’t the worst way to slowly win a game, either. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t great, but if you’re in a slower deck, this often ends up being a pretty solid card for you.
Pitiless Vizier image 2.5 This guy has a very real threat of activation. A 4/2 hits hard, and there aren’t that many creatuers that can block this and survive, and in those situations your opponent has to gauge whether or not you have the Cycling card that just blows them out entirely.
Desert of the Mindful image 3.0 Deserts are pretty important in this format. Not only do they provide some significant flood insurance thanks to Cycling, they also power up several cards in the format that pay you off for having Deserts. As a result, you should actually value them relatively highly, taking them over most medium cards.
Evolving Wilds image 3.0 As usual, the Wilds provides some nice fixing for you, and is even quite good for your mana in a two-color deck.
Pack 2 Pick 5: Trespasser's Curse
Honored Crop-Captain image 3.5 RW is very aggressive int his format, and Honored Crop-Captain is a big part of that! It has great stats as a two mana 3/2, and pumping the power of your whole board is quite potent, especially in combination with exert.
Liliana's Defeat image 0.5 This will be great against Black and terrible against everyone else. Leave this in your sideboard.
Trespasser's Curse image 0.5 This doesn’t do anything apart from the life drain effect, and that just isn’t going to be worth a card most of the time.
Thorned Moloch image 2.5 When this attacks, it isn’t very hard for it to be a 3/3 with First Strike, and that’s not an easy creature to block.
Compulsory Rest image 3.5 This is a premium removal spell. It is a little bit worse than Pacifism, since you do give your opponent the option of sacrificing the creature and gaining life, but that’s mostly negligible. This shuts down most creatures very effectively.
Dune Beetle image 1.0 If you need a defensive two drop, you could do worse than this I guess.
Bloodlust Inciter image 2.5 This kind of card isn’t always very good, but this format is fast enough that the Inciter is actually pretty decent. Giving Haste to every creature you play is quite nice, especially the ones that have scary Exert effects.
Oasis Ritualist image 3.5 This card is really nice. It has enough toughness to stand up to most common Exert creatures, and it provides significant fixing and ramp.
Strategic Planning image 1.0 You just won’t want to do this most of the time. It has a very minimal effect that doesn’t impact on the board, and it is very replaceable.
Splendid Agony image 2.5 This is pretty solid, though not premium. There are enough small creatures in this set that it sometimes give you a 2-for-1, but it isn’t that impressive against larger creatures, though weakening them still has some value.
Pack 2 Pick 6: Evolving Wilds
By Force image 0.5 There aren’t enough artifacts in this set for this to be remotely worth putting in your main deck.
Supernatural Stamina image 2.5 This is a pretty impressive combat trigger. The +2/+0 is enough to make many creatures capable of trading when they couldn’t before, and the additional effect on the card makes it so you get that creature back anyway. This can feel especially powerful on an ETB creature. The low cost here is great, and can really accomplish a lot.
Greater Sandwurm image 2.5 This is a solid finisher, and when he’s not what you’re looking for, you can just cycle him away.
Hooded Brawler image 2.5 This 3-mana 3/2 can swing as a 5/4 once his base stats aren’t doing it for you anymore, and that’s enough size to be relevant all game long.
Cartouche of Solidarity image 3.0 The whole Cartouche cycle is quite nice. +1/+1 and First Strike is already the kind of boost that makes a creature significantly more formidable, and this also makes sure to give you a spare 1/1 body, which helps the threat of a 2-for-1 not loom quite as large.
Wander in Death image 2.5 The first copy of this type of effect is solid in virtually every Limited format. This is because they give you some serious gas in the later part of the game. And, the nice thing here, is that you can cycle it when its useless in the earlier part of the game. There are some serious diminishing returns after that first copy though, even with Cycling.
Evolving Wilds image 3.0 As usual, the Wilds provides some nice fixing for you, and is even quite good for your mana in a two-color deck.
Gilded Cerodon image 1.5 While effects that make something unable to block play pretty well in this format, the Cerodon is a little too expensive to be in the same class as something like Ahn-Crop Crasher.
Miasmic Mummy image 1.5 The symmetrical discard isn’t something you’re all that interested in in the format, and this is just a 2/2. It is a Zombie, so that matters, but you won’t play this all that often.
Pack 2 Pick 7: Nef-Crop Entangler
Dispossess image 0.0 These kinds of “Cranial Extractoin” effects are always terrible in Limited, and this one is even worse than usual, since it can only hit Artifacts!
Defiant Greatmaw image 3.0 On its own, this is a 3-mana 2/3..which isn’t great, but the fact it can also remove other -1/-1 counters actually makes it pretty good in the BG deck.
Sacred Cat image 2.5 A one mana 1/1 with lifelink isn’t usually anything special, but this effectively ends up being two mana for 2 1/1s with Lifelink, and that’s actually quite nice.
Desert of the Fervent image 3.0 Deserts are pretty important in this format. Not only do they provide some significant flood insurance thanks to Cycling, they also power up several cards in the format that pay you off for having Deserts. As a result, you should actually value them relatively highly, taking them over most medium cards.
Supply Caravan image 2.0 A 5-mana 3/5 isn’t something you want, but this will give you a 1/1 token like half of the time, and that makes it decent.
Sunscorched Desert image 1.0 So, you mostly don’t play this Desert, since it isn’t good for your mana at all. However, sometimes you might end up in a mono-colored deck, and if its an aggressive mono-colored deck that has a few Desert payoffs, Sunscorched Desert actually makes the cut. That doesn’t happen a ton, but I’ve seen it happen a few times.
Sidewinder Naga image 2.0 This will sometimes be a 4/2 with Trample, which is fine, but it wouldn’t be an incredible card even if it was always a 4/2 with trample.
Nef-Crop Entangler image 3.0 This is yet another Exert two-drop who, once it starts exerting itself, can attack pretty much all game long.
Pack 2 Pick 8: Reduce
Reduce image 1.5 On one side, you have a mediocre counterspell. On the other, you have a card that can deprive your opponent of mana for a single turn. While some of these cards overcome being inefficient or situational by being split cards, that doesn’t really happen here. Both sides are quite situational and expensive, with Rubble especially being useless a huge chunk of the time.
Forsake the Worldly image 1.5 Because of Cycling you can main deck this and have it be kind of okay. In an ideal world, you probably still start in your sideboard.
Desert of the True image 3.0 Deserts are pretty important in this format. Not only do they provide some significant flood insurance thanks to Cycling, they also power up several cards in the format that pay you off for having Deserts. As a result, you should actually value them relatively highly, taking them over most medium cards.
Haze of Pollen image 0.5 Fog effects are bad in Limited – usually unplayable. Even adding cycling doesn’t help that out a whole lot.
Nimble-Blade Khenra image 2.0 This is fine if you have enough spells, but even when you do, it isn’t exactly the most incredible prowess creature.
Rhonas's Stalwart image 3.5 Look, yet another really good common two-drop with Exert! Like the others, this has a fine baseline that can attack reasonably well, and then in the later game in can start exerting to make itself larger and more evasive.
Oashra Cultivator image 1.0 This isn’t very good. An 0/3 body just doesn’t stand up very well in this format, since all the Exert creatures can just manhandle it, and its ability to search up a basic land is clunky and slow. Sure, if you need fixing and/or ramp, you’ll play the cultivator, but you kind of hope you end up with some of the better ramp in the set, like Oasis Ritualist.
Pack 2 Pick 9: Desert Cerodon
Shed Weakness image 1.5 This is an alright trick. One mana for +2/+2 is fairly passable, and sometimes you’ll also get rid of a -1/-1 counter, which will make it feel like Giant Growth!
Brute Strength image 1.5 This is a decent trick. The small toughness boost is a bit of a bummer, and means that sometimes you won’t be able to avert a 2-for-1 when you use it, but it can also result in a ton of unexpected damage for your opponent.
Stinging Shot image 1.5 This is good at hating on flyers, and because it has cycling, you can get away with in your main deck.
Anointer Priest image 2.5 This is a solid little token/embalm payoff. A two mana 1/3 isn’t great, but the bit of life gain it gets + the fact it comes back from the graveyard in the late game is pretty nice.
Blur of Blades image 1.5 Sometimes this will get a blocker out of the way and damage your opponent, and suddenly their dead to an Alpha strike. That makes it a reasonable inclusion in aggressive decks, especially because it will always have a pretty decent effect in those decks.
Desert Cerodon image 2.5 Like a lot of creatures with cycling, this doesn’t have great stats, but the fact you can throw it away for a new card when the 6/4 isn’t worth it makes it pretty solid.
Pack 2 Pick 10: Struggle
Magmaroth image 2.5 Keeping this a 4-mana 5/5 or 4/4, even in a spell deck, isn’t always the easiest thing to do. And, even when you can, the card isn’t exactly a worldbeater.
Struggle image 4.0 The Struggle half is where almost all the value for this card comes from. It is a premium removal spell that scales all game long. The Survive half rarely comes up, but hey, sometimes you need to not draw the last card in your library.
Beneath the Sands image 2.0 This can help you fix and ramp, which some decks wants, and unlike a lot of ramp spells – which are terrible late game top decks – you can Cycle away Beneath the Sands.
Dissenter's Deliverance image 1.0 There aren’t a ton of Artifacts in this set, but this does Cycle, so you’ll put it in your main deck some.
Strategic Planning image 1.0 You just won’t want to do this most of the time. It has a very minimal effect that doesn’t impact on the board, and it is very replaceable.
Pack 2 Pick 11: Battlefield Scavenger
Battlefield Scavenger image 2.5 On its own, this is a two mana 2/2 that can Exert itself to Rummage. If you have more Exert creatures, it will rummage even more! It isn’t exactly the biggest payoff for exerting, but its fine.
Zealot of the God-Pharaoh image 2.5 A 4-mana 4/3 is reasonable, and this has an ability that is a solid enough mana sink.
Nef-Crop Entangler image 3.0 This is yet another Exert two-drop who, once it starts exerting itself, can attack pretty much all game long.
Thresher Lizard image 2.0 This is a 3-mana 3/2 in the early game, and it becomes a 4/4 late. That’s fine, though not something you’ll always be playing in your red decks.
Pack 2 Pick 12: Seeker of Insight
Seeker of Insight image 2.0 This doesn’t have the most impressive spell payoff effect there is, but looting with this sometimes is solid.
Ornery Kudu image 2.0 On its own, this is a 3-mana 2/3, which isn’t very good. If you put the -1/-1 counter somewhere else, especially somewhere where you get some nice value, it will feel pretty good.
Sunscorched Desert image 1.0 So, you mostly don’t play this Desert, since it isn’t good for your mana at all. However, sometimes you might end up in a mono-colored deck, and if its an aggressive mono-colored deck that has a few Desert payoffs, Sunscorched Desert actually makes the cut. That doesn’t happen a ton, but I’ve seen it happen a few times.
Pack 2 Pick 13: Thorned Moloch
Liliana's Defeat image 0.5 This will be great against Black and terrible against everyone else. Leave this in your sideboard.
Thorned Moloch image 2.5 When this attacks, it isn’t very hard for it to be a 3/3 with First Strike, and that’s not an easy creature to block.
Pack 2 Pick 14: Hooded Brawler
Hooded Brawler image 2.5 This 3-mana 3/2 can swing as a 5/4 once his base stats aren’t doing it for you anymore, and that’s enough size to be relevant all game long.
Pack 3 Pick 1: Glory-Bound Initiate
Glory-Bound Initiate image 4.0 When you attack with this on turn 3 as a 4/4 with Lifelink, there just won’t be anything that can stand up to it. Even in the late game, a 4/4 with Lifelink is still a really problematic attacker for your opponent.
Lay Claim image 4.0 Mind Control effects are hugely powerful in Limited, since they effectively kill your opponent’s best creature and give you a copy of it. 7 mana is a little steep to be sure, but since you can Cycle this away in a game where you need to find some more immediate action, it really overcomes that downside.
Sixth Sense image 1.0 This kind of Aura is always sort of hard to get behind. Because it gives no stats boost, the creature you put it on has to already be capable of getting in to draw you the card, and you’ll find yourself unable to create that situation pretty frequently.
Aven Wind Guide image 3.5 A 4-mana 2/3 with Flying and Vigilance is already a decent thing to have, so granting those keywords to all of your tokens is pretty nice – especially because embalmed and Eternalized things are creature tokens! And of course, the Wind Guide itself comes with Embalm too.
Djeru's Resolve image 1.0 Without Cycling, this would pretty much be unplayable. With cycling…well, you’ll play it on really rare occasions.
Horror of the Broken Lands image 3.0 In the early game, you can cycle this away, and in the late game it can be a very legitimate finisher in a deck with a reasonable amount of Cycling. It has a very reasonable floor, and a decent enough ceiling.
Nimble-Blade Khenra image 2.0 This is fine if you have enough spells, but even when you do, it isn’t exactly the most incredible prowess creature.
Tormenting Voice image 1.5 This kind of effect is always very replaceable, as you’re just getting some card selection and not impacting the board. It can be at its best, though, in UR spells, as it can trigger your spell payoffs while also hopefully finding you more spells.
Crash Through image 1.5 In the UR spell deck this is okay, as just triggering all your Prowess stuff and drawing a card, AND giving trample to your board is worth the one mana.
Solitary Camel image 2.0 A 3-mana 3/2 that will have lifelink a decent chunk of the time is fine.
Desert of the Mindful image 3.0 Deserts are pretty important in this format. Not only do they provide some significant flood insurance thanks to Cycling, they also power up several cards in the format that pay you off for having Deserts. As a result, you should actually value them relatively highly, taking them over most medium cards.
Oasis Ritualist image 3.5 This card is really nice. It has enough toughness to stand up to most common Exert creatures, and it provides significant fixing and ramp.
Countervailing Winds image 2.0 This will sometimes perform quite well as a counterspell, and if you’re in a situation where it doesn’t, you can just Cycle it away.
Striped Riverwinder image 2.5 A 7-mana 5/5 isn’t great, even with Hexproof, but the fact you can Cycle this away early is pretty awesome. Then, in the late game, it is pretty difficult to interact with and not the worst finisher ever.
Pack 3 Pick 2: Wasteland Scorpion
Shadowstorm Vizier image 3.0 This can do some decent damage in the air when combined with discard and cycling effects, and there are certainly enough of those in this format for the Vizier to be pretty good – though it may be the most underwhelming of this cycle of signpost uncommons.
Ruthless Sniper image 2.0 This is a solid Cycle/Discard payoff, as sticking -1/-1 counters on things can really cause problems for your opponent.
Vizier of Remedies image 1.0 This is a two mana 2/1 with some very minor upside for the format. You’ll play it if you really need a two drop, but that’s about it.
Sacred Cat image 2.5 A one mana 1/1 with lifelink isn’t usually anything special, but this effectively ends up being two mana for 2 1/1s with Lifelink, and that’s actually quite nice.
Disposal Mummy image 1.0 This set has a graveyard sub-theme, but Disposal Mummy is too inefficient and situational with its effect to really be worth it most of the time.
Crash Through image 1.5 In the UR spell deck this is okay, as just triggering all your Prowess stuff and drawing a card, AND giving trample to your board is worth the one mana.
Wasteland Scorpion image 2.5 Deathtouchers can trade with anything, and that’s pretty nice! That does mostly make this a defensive card, though. And, like a lot of cards in the set, you can also cycle this away when it isn’t very good.
Puncturing Blow image 3.5 This is definitely a clunky sorcery, but it also kills almost everything in the format, and the “Exile” clause actually matters in this format. This gets into the lower range of “premium” removal for me.
Winds of Rebuke image 2.5 Two mana to bounce a nonland permanent is always an okay card in Limited. It doesn’t let you trade 1-for-1 all the time, but the tempo is sometimes worth it. On occasion, you may also mill something useful into your graveyard.
Blighted Bat image 2.0 A 3-mana 2/1 that can gain Haste is alright, and it comes with a useful creature type!
Bitterbow Sharpshooters image 2.5 This thing has pretty good size to stop many of the creatures in this format, and also attacks pretty well.
Slither Blade image 1.5 This is a great place to put Cartouches and stuff like that since its unblockable, but it is pretty unimpressive in most other decks.
Life Goes On image 0.5 This is sideboard material that you might bring in against a really aggressive deck, where the life gain legitimately makes it hard for them to win. That’s not going to go down very often, though.
Pack 3 Pick 3: Censor
Baleful Ammit image 3.0 On its own, the Ammit is a 3-mana 3/2 with Lifelink, which is acceptable. In many situations, you’ll have somewhere else to put the counter though, and when that’s possible and you have somewhere good to put it, the Ammit can be quite the beating for your opponent.
Censor image 2.5 Counterspells that only ask the opponent to pay 1 to ignore them usually aren’t very good except for in the very early game. The nice thing here, is that once you get to the late game and Censor doesn’t look so good, you can just Cycle it away and get another card.
Protection of the Hekma image 1.0 If you play this, obviously you’ll be winning the game. Unfortunately, that’s a pretty big “if,” in this format.
Wasteland Scorpion image 2.5 Deathtouchers can trade with anything, and that’s pretty nice! That does mostly make this a defensive card, though. And, like a lot of cards in the set, you can also cycle this away when it isn’t very good.
Firebrand Archer image 2.5 This performs surprisingly well as a spell payoff, and can really chip in a ton of additional damage, while also providing pretty good reach in the later part of the game.
Blighted Bat image 2.0 A 3-mana 2/1 that can gain Haste is alright, and it comes with a useful creature type!
Supernatural Stamina image 2.5 This is a pretty impressive combat trigger. The +2/+0 is enough to make many creatures capable of trading when they couldn’t before, and the additional effect on the card makes it so you get that creature back anyway. This can feel especially powerful on an ETB creature. The low cost here is great, and can really accomplish a lot.
Supply Caravan image 2.0 A 5-mana 3/5 isn’t something you want, but this will give you a 1/1 token like half of the time, and that makes it decent.
Desert of the Indomitable image 3.0 Deserts are pretty important in this format. Not only do they provide some significant flood insurance thanks to Cycling, they also power up several cards in the format that pay you off for having Deserts. As a result, you should actually value them relatively highly, taking them over most medium cards.
Bloodlust Inciter image 2.5 This kind of card isn’t always very good, but this format is fast enough that the Inciter is actually pretty decent. Giving Haste to every creature you play is quite nice, especially the ones that have scary Exert effects.
Naga Vitalist image 2.5 This is pretty decent at ramping you, and sometimes you’ll be interested in that.
Aerial Guide image 3.5 This is a great Common. Wind Drake stats are kind of passable, and giving another attacker Flying is a pretty big deal, and Aerial Guide can quickly account for a ton of damage as a result of that ability.
Pack 3 Pick 4: Magma Spray
Vizier of Tumbling Sands image 3.0 The ability to untap permanents is pretty nice, as you can use it to help you ramp, or give creatures pseudo-vigilance, or ambush block an opponent. That’s especially nice because it also has Cycling, which will also let you untap a permanent. Sometimes – like in the late game – you just might not need the Vizier, so trying to find something else is pretty nice.
Hazoret's Monument image 1.0 This mostly isn’t worth it. A cost reduction + rummaging just won’t matter that much.
Trial of Strength image 2.5 3-mana for a 4/2 is fine, and you might find yourself casting this more than once over the course of the game, which feels pretty nice.
Tah-Crop Elite image 2.5 This has an Exert trigger that can be quite impressive on the right board. The downside is that the board won’t always be right for it. The fact it dies to pretty much all the removal in the set despite costing 4 mana is also pretty rough.
Blur of Blades image 1.5 Sometimes this will get a blocker out of the way and damage your opponent, and suddenly their dead to an Alpha strike. That makes it a reasonable inclusion in aggressive decks, especially because it will always have a pretty decent effect in those decks.
Countervailing Winds image 2.0 This will sometimes perform quite well as a counterspell, and if you’re in a situation where it doesn’t, you can just Cycle it away.
Magma Spray image 3.5 One mana for 2 damage is pretty much always premium, and Magma Spray can even deal with pesky embalm creatures permanently.
Haze of Pollen image 0.5 Fog effects are bad in Limited – usually unplayable. Even adding cycling doesn’t help that out a whole lot.
Open Fire image 4.0 This kills a ton of creatures in this format, and it can even go to the dome, so its definitely premium removal.
Cartouche of Knowledge image 3.5 This Cartouche draws you a card to get around the risk of getting 2-for-1’d, and I’m all for that. This actually gives you a lot for only two mana, as Flying and +1/+1 is no joke.
Beneath the Sands image 2.0 This can help you fix and ramp, which some decks wants, and unlike a lot of ramp spells – which are terrible late game top decks – you can Cycle away Beneath the Sands.
Pack 3 Pick 5: Merciless Javelineer
Merciless Javelineer image 3.0 This card is a little bit disappointing. It seems like it would be able to make your aggro deck do all kinds of awesome stuff, and sometimes it does – but both the mana and the card are very real costs, and you’ll find yourself in situations where you just don’t want to be doing that.
Destined image 2.5 The Destined side of this is a decent combat trick, though it isn’t quite as good as Supernatural Stamina. +1/+0 won’t win that many combats, but because of indestructibility, your creature will likely survive combat at least, and you can use it in response to removal, too. The Lead side also has some pretty nice uses, as Lure effects often do in very specific situations. Forcing everything to block one of your creatures means all of your other creatures will get through that turn, and that can often be game-ending. Obviously, casting both of these on the same turn on the same creature is also pretty powerful, but you’ll often find a use for Destined earlier in the game.
Desert of the Glorified image 3.0 Deserts are pretty important in this format. Not only do they provide some significant flood insurance thanks to Cycling, they also power up several cards in the format that pay you off for having Deserts. As a result, you should actually value them relatively highly, taking them over most medium cards.
Pitiless Vizier image 2.5 This guy has a very real threat of activation. A 4/2 hits hard, and there aren’t that many creatuers that can block this and survive, and in those situations your opponent has to gauge whether or not you have the Cycling card that just blows them out entirely.
Scarab Feast image 1.0 This format has a lot of graveyard stuff, but you still mostly won’t play this. The only reason it isn’t just a sideboard card is because of Cycling.
Seer of the Last Tomorrow image 1.0 Not really a mill deck in this format, and that makes this pretty bad.
Magma Spray image 3.5 One mana for 2 damage is pretty much always premium, and Magma Spray can even deal with pesky embalm creatures permanently.
Striped Riverwinder image 2.5 A 7-mana 5/5 isn’t great, even with Hexproof, but the fact you can Cycle this away early is pretty awesome. Then, in the late game, it is pretty difficult to interact with and not the worst finisher ever.
Tormenting Voice image 1.5 This kind of effect is always very replaceable, as you’re just getting some card selection and not impacting the board. It can be at its best, though, in UR spells, as it can trigger your spell payoffs while also hopefully finding you more spells.
Oashra Cultivator image 1.0 This isn’t very good. An 0/3 body just doesn’t stand up very well in this format, since all the Exert creatures can just manhandle it, and its ability to search up a basic land is clunky and slow. Sure, if you need fixing and/or ramp, you’ll play the cultivator, but you kind of hope you end up with some of the better ramp in the set, like Oasis Ritualist.
Pack 3 Pick 6: Sheltered Thicket
Sheltered Thicket image 3.0 These all add two colors mana, which is great fixing, and if you get them at a point in the game where you no longer need lands, you can just Cycle them away. Don’t underestimate how good that is. Just imagine every time you’ve flooded out in a game of Magic, now imagine you can just throw away some of those lands for new cards, and you’ll know what I mean.
Trial of Strength image 2.5 3-mana for a 4/2 is fine, and you might find yourself casting this more than once over the course of the game, which feels pretty nice.
Censor image 2.5 Counterspells that only ask the opponent to pay 1 to ignore them usually aren’t very good except for in the very early game. The nice thing here, is that once you get to the late game and Censor doesn’t look so good, you can just Cycle it away and get another card.
Striped Riverwinder image 2.5 A 7-mana 5/5 isn’t great, even with Hexproof, but the fact you can Cycle this away early is pretty awesome. Then, in the late game, it is pretty difficult to interact with and not the worst finisher ever.
Anointer Priest image 2.5 This is a solid little token/embalm payoff. A two mana 1/3 isn’t great, but the bit of life gain it gets + the fact it comes back from the graveyard in the late game is pretty nice.
Aerial Guide image 3.5 This is a great Common. Wind Drake stats are kind of passable, and giving another attacker Flying is a pretty big deal, and Aerial Guide can quickly account for a ton of damage as a result of that ability.
Mighty Leap image 1.5 This is always a decent trick that has the upside of giving you some reach in the late game.
Wander in Death image 2.5 The first copy of this type of effect is solid in virtually every Limited format. This is because they give you some serious gas in the later part of the game. And, the nice thing here, is that you can cycle it when its useless in the earlier part of the game. There are some serious diminishing returns after that first copy though, even with Cycling.
In Oketra's Name image 1.5 This just doesn’t pan out most of the time. Sure, if you have a bunch of Zombies and you’re going wide, it gives a nice boost for the cost, but having both of those things happen isn’t guaranteed.
Pack 3 Pick 7: Open Fire
Synchronized Strike image 2.5 Tricks with 2-for-1 potential are always nice, and that’s certainly what you have here. When you have this in your hand, you’ll be surprised how often you can just attack with everything and then use the Strike to blow up blockers and save your creatures. Because the creatures untap, it can also be used defensively, though that’s generally the sub-optimal use of the card.
Striped Riverwinder image 2.5 A 7-mana 5/5 isn’t great, even with Hexproof, but the fact you can Cycle this away early is pretty awesome. Then, in the late game, it is pretty difficult to interact with and not the worst finisher ever.
Unburden image 2.0 Mind Rot usually isn’t very good in Limited, but you can use that part of the card when its good, and Cycle it away when its not, which makes it somewhat playable.
Cartouche of Knowledge image 3.5 This Cartouche draws you a card to get around the risk of getting 2-for-1’d, and I’m all for that. This actually gives you a lot for only two mana, as Flying and +1/+1 is no joke.
Open Fire image 4.0 This kills a ton of creatures in this format, and it can even go to the dome, so its definitely premium removal.
Winds of Rebuke image 2.5 Two mana to bounce a nonland permanent is always an okay card in Limited. It doesn’t let you trade 1-for-1 all the time, but the tempo is sometimes worth it. On occasion, you may also mill something useful into your graveyard.
Evolving Wilds image 3.0 As usual, the Wilds provides some nice fixing for you, and is even quite good for your mana in a two-color deck.
In Oketra's Name image 1.5 This just doesn’t pan out most of the time. Sure, if you have a bunch of Zombies and you’re going wide, it gives a nice boost for the cost, but having both of those things happen isn’t guaranteed.
Pack 3 Pick 8: Glorious End
Glorious End image 0.0 The downside here is almost never worth it.
Pursue Glory image 2.0 This is a very inefficient Trumpet Blast, but unlike Trumpet Blast it can actually do something even when you aren’t able to do lethal with it! You can cycle it away.
Ancient Crab image 1.0 This format has lots of cheap creature who can gain evasion or stats boosts as a result of exerting or other effects, and that makes Ancient Crab pretty unimpressive here.
Seeker of Insight image 2.0 This doesn’t have the most impressive spell payoff effect there is, but looting with this sometimes is solid.
Puncturing Blow image 3.5 This is definitely a clunky sorcery, but it also kills almost everything in the format, and the “Exile” clause actually matters in this format. This gets into the lower range of “premium” removal for me.
Dissenter's Deliverance image 1.0 There aren’t a ton of Artifacts in this set, but this does Cycle, so you’ll put it in your main deck some.
Crash Through image 1.5 In the UR spell deck this is okay, as just triggering all your Prowess stuff and drawing a card, AND giving trample to your board is worth the one mana.
Pack 3 Pick 9: Countervailing Winds
Sixth Sense image 1.0 This kind of Aura is always sort of hard to get behind. Because it gives no stats boost, the creature you put it on has to already be capable of getting in to draw you the card, and you’ll find yourself unable to create that situation pretty frequently.
Djeru's Resolve image 1.0 Without Cycling, this would pretty much be unplayable. With cycling…well, you’ll play it on really rare occasions.
Nimble-Blade Khenra image 2.0 This is fine if you have enough spells, but even when you do, it isn’t exactly the most incredible prowess creature.
Crash Through image 1.5 In the UR spell deck this is okay, as just triggering all your Prowess stuff and drawing a card, AND giving trample to your board is worth the one mana.
Desert of the Mindful image 3.0 Deserts are pretty important in this format. Not only do they provide some significant flood insurance thanks to Cycling, they also power up several cards in the format that pay you off for having Deserts. As a result, you should actually value them relatively highly, taking them over most medium cards.
Countervailing Winds image 2.0 This will sometimes perform quite well as a counterspell, and if you’re in a situation where it doesn’t, you can just Cycle it away.
Pack 3 Pick 10: Puncturing Blow
Disposal Mummy image 1.0 This set has a graveyard sub-theme, but Disposal Mummy is too inefficient and situational with its effect to really be worth it most of the time.
Crash Through image 1.5 In the UR spell deck this is okay, as just triggering all your Prowess stuff and drawing a card, AND giving trample to your board is worth the one mana.
Puncturing Blow image 3.5 This is definitely a clunky sorcery, but it also kills almost everything in the format, and the “Exile” clause actually matters in this format. This gets into the lower range of “premium” removal for me.
Slither Blade image 1.5 This is a great place to put Cartouches and stuff like that since its unblockable, but it is pretty unimpressive in most other decks.
Life Goes On image 0.5 This is sideboard material that you might bring in against a really aggressive deck, where the life gain legitimately makes it hard for them to win. That’s not going to go down very often, though.
Pack 3 Pick 11: Supernatural Stamina
Supernatural Stamina image 2.5 This is a pretty impressive combat trigger. The +2/+0 is enough to make many creatures capable of trading when they couldn’t before, and the additional effect on the card makes it so you get that creature back anyway. This can feel especially powerful on an ETB creature. The low cost here is great, and can really accomplish a lot.
Desert of the Indomitable image 3.0 Deserts are pretty important in this format. Not only do they provide some significant flood insurance thanks to Cycling, they also power up several cards in the format that pay you off for having Deserts. As a result, you should actually value them relatively highly, taking them over most medium cards.
Bloodlust Inciter image 2.5 This kind of card isn’t always very good, but this format is fast enough that the Inciter is actually pretty decent. Giving Haste to every creature you play is quite nice, especially the ones that have scary Exert effects.
Naga Vitalist image 2.5 This is pretty decent at ramping you, and sometimes you’ll be interested in that.
Pack 3 Pick 12: Countervailing Winds
Countervailing Winds image 2.0 This will sometimes perform quite well as a counterspell, and if you’re in a situation where it doesn’t, you can just Cycle it away.
Haze of Pollen image 0.5 Fog effects are bad in Limited – usually unplayable. Even adding cycling doesn’t help that out a whole lot.
Beneath the Sands image 2.0 This can help you fix and ramp, which some decks wants, and unlike a lot of ramp spells – which are terrible late game top decks – you can Cycle away Beneath the Sands.
Pack 3 Pick 13: Seer of the Last Tomorrow
Seer of the Last Tomorrow image 1.0 Not really a mill deck in this format, and that makes this pretty bad.
Tormenting Voice image 1.5 This kind of effect is always very replaceable, as you’re just getting some card selection and not impacting the board. It can be at its best, though, in UR spells, as it can trigger your spell payoffs while also hopefully finding you more spells.
Pack 3 Pick 14: Censor
Censor image 2.5 Counterspells that only ask the opponent to pay 1 to ignore them usually aren’t very good except for in the very early game. The nice thing here, is that once you get to the late game and Censor doesn’t look so good, you can just Cycle it away and get another card.
Draft Pick Overview