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Premier Draft AKR 14 August 2021

14 August 08:08 - Redasky 7 Wins - 1 Losses
Maindeck
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (15)
1 Tormenting Voice image
1 Pursue Glory image
1 Magma Spray image
3 Open Fire image
3 Abrade image
2 Puncturing Blow image
1 Cartouche of Zeal image
1 Final Reward image
1 Wander in Death image
1 Claim // Fame image
Creature (9)
1 Thresher Lizard image
1 Ahn-Crop Crasher image
1 Merciless Javelineer image
1 Nef-Crop Entangler image
2 Khenra Scrapper image
1 Thorned Moloch image
1 Pathmaker Initiate image
1 Archfiend of Ifnir image
Land (17)
9 Mountain image
7 Swamp image
1 Desert of the Glorified image
Sideboard
2 Hooded Brawler image
1 Oasis Ritualist image
1 Quarry Hauler image
1 Ramunap Excavator image
1 Rhonas's Stalwart image
2 Hekma Sentinels image
2 Pouncing Cheetah image
1 Ancient Crab image
1 Shadowstorm Vizier image
1 Cartouche of Zeal image
1 Cartouche of Strength image
1 Liliana's Mastery image
1 Brute Strength image
1 In Oketra's Name image

Pack 1 Pick 1: Magma Spray
Imminent Doom image 0.0 This is too difficult to get going in Limited.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hieroglyphic Illumination image 2.5 4 mana to draw 2 at instant speed isn’t the greatest thing ever, but this has an alternate mode where you pay a single Blue to draw a card, and having both of those options is pretty nice.
Cartouche of Zeal image 3.0 There aren’t enough artifacts in this set for this to be remotely worth putting in your main deck.
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.
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.
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.
Khenra Scrapper image 3.0 Like a lot of these Exert creatures, once this starts Exerting itself, it is difficult to block effectively, and a 4/3 with Menace can do a ton of damage in a hurry.
Pack 1 Pick 2: Merciless Javelineer
Demonic Pact image 0.0 Mostly, I don’t think you play this. First, you pay four for a card that has no immediate effect on the board, then you get three separate effects in an order that you choose. And yeah, life drain, Mind Rot, and drawing two cards will feel pretty great for the 4 mana investment. But the problem is, after you get that third mode, you’ll just lose the game outright. And sure, those first three modes will increase your chances of winning the game, but they aren’t powerful enough to get you there often enough, especially because your opponent can just change their game plan to not die over the next several turns, since you will inevitably lose.
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.
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.
Blighted Bat image 2.0 A 3-mana 2/1 that can gain Haste is alright, and it comes with a useful creature type!
Soulstinger image 2.5 All on its own, Soulstinger is a 4-mana 2/3 that puts two -1/-1 counters on something when it dies. That’s the kind of card that can really create 2-for-1s, and that’s sort of the baseline here. You can also just play the Soulstinger as a larger creature if that’s what you need, and put the counters somewhere else.
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.
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.
Cartouche of Strength image 4.0 The whole Cartouche cycle is good, but Cartouche of Strength is the best of the bunch. Giving a creature +1/+1 and trample, and punching an opposing creature is amazing, and often enough to really change the complection of a game.
Dauntless Aven image 2.5 A 3-mana 2/1 flyer is reasonably playable already, so adding the ability to untap something definitely matters. You can use this on the Aven itself, or more ideally, use it on an Exert creature so it can attack and Exert again on the very next turn.
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.
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.
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.
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 1 Pick 3: Open Fire
Mouth image 3.5 3-mana to make a 3/3 token is a fine deal, and then in the later part of the game you can cast Feed from your graveyard to draw a few cards. That’s some nice value.
Edifice of Authority image 4.0 This is great, and one of the better non-rare first picks in the format since it is colorless and powerful. At first, it can only stop a creature from attacking, but it does for only one mana, so that’s not too bad! Eventually, it gets enough brick counters to reach the point where you can just completely shut down a creature until your next turn, and that’s pretty awesome. You can use it offensively or defensively, and it is basically removal that can move from creature to creature as needed, and that’s awesome.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Marauding Boneslasher image 2.0 This has decent stats and a useful creature type, so you’ll play it a decent amount of the time.
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.
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.
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.
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 4: Abrade
Oketra's Attendant image 3.5 A 5-mana 3/3 Flyer isn’t great, but this one has both Cycling and Embalm, and that makes it way better. Embalm tends to be pretty nice because it effectively gives you two cards worth of value over the course of the game, and the fact you can cycle this away early to find a land drop, and then still Embalm it late is pretty nice.
Crocodile of the Crossing image 3.0 On its own, this is basically a 4-mana 4/3 with Haste, something quite reasonable! And of course, like all of these -1/-1 counter cards, you can put the counter on a different creature to make the Crocodile even larger.
Abrade image 4.0 Two mana for 3 damage at Instant speed is always premium, and the added upside of hitting an Artifact with it sometimes is nice.
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.
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 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.
Fan Bearer image 3.5 Master Decoy-type creatures are good in most Limited formats, and this one comes with a relevant creature type.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pack 1 Pick 5: Puncturing Blow
Fervent Paincaster image 2.5 A 3-mana 3/1 that can ping the opponent is kind of okay, and adding the ability to exert to ping anything is pretty nice, and certainly a problem for any deck with lots of X/1s.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cartouche of Zeal image 3.0 There aren’t enough artifacts in this set for this to be remotely worth putting in your main deck.
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.
Pack 1 Pick 6: Cartouche of Zeal
Rest in Peace image 0.5 This is a sideboard card. One awkward thing here is that it is White and symmetrical, so the person playing it will usually have their own share of Embalm creatures and stuff they don’t want to exile.
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.
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.
Fan Bearer image 3.5 Master Decoy-type creatures are good in most Limited formats, and this one comes with a relevant creature type.
Cartouche of Zeal image 3.0 There aren’t enough artifacts in this set for this to be remotely worth putting in your main deck.
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.
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.
Dauntless Aven image 2.5 A 3-mana 2/1 flyer is reasonably playable already, so adding the ability to untap something definitely matters. You can use this on the Aven itself, or more ideally, use it on an Exert creature so it can attack and Exert again on the very next turn.
Solitary Camel image 2.0 A 3-mana 3/2 that will have lifelink a decent chunk of the time is fine.
Pack 1 Pick 7: Nef-Crop Entangler
By Force image 0.5 There aren’t enough artifacts in this set for this to be remotely worth putting in your main deck.
Marauding Boneslasher image 2.0 This has decent stats and a useful creature type, so you’ll play it a decent amount of the time.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pathmaker Initiate image 2.0 Making small creatures unblockable definitely has a place in this format, especially when you can exert them to make them bigger after you make them unblockable.
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 1 Pick 8: Khenra Scrapper
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Those Who Serve image 1.0 You’ll play this if you have enough Zombie synergies, but that’s pretty much it.
Khenra Scrapper image 3.0 Like a lot of these Exert creatures, once this starts Exerting itself, it is difficult to block effectively, and a 4/3 with Menace can do a ton of damage in a hurry.
Pack 1 Pick 9: Khenra Scrapper
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cartouche of Zeal image 3.0 There aren’t enough artifacts in this set for this to be remotely worth putting in your main deck.
Khenra Scrapper image 3.0 Like a lot of these Exert creatures, once this starts Exerting itself, it is difficult to block effectively, and a 4/3 with Menace can do a ton of damage in a hurry.
Pack 1 Pick 10: Puncturing Blow
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.
Blighted Bat image 2.0 A 3-mana 2/1 that can gain Haste is alright, and it comes with a useful creature type!
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.
Dauntless Aven image 2.5 A 3-mana 2/1 flyer is reasonably playable already, so adding the ability to untap something definitely matters. You can use this on the Aven itself, or more ideally, use it on an Exert creature so it can attack and Exert again on the very next turn.
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.
Pack 1 Pick 11: Thorned Moloch
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.
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.
Marauding Boneslasher image 2.0 This has decent stats and a useful creature type, so you’ll play it a decent amount 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.
Pack 1 Pick 12: Desert of the Glorified
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 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.
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.
Pack 1 Pick 13: Brute Strength
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.
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.
Pack 1 Pick 14: Hekma Sentinels
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 2 Pick 1: Final Reward
Majestic Myriarch image 4.0 So, if you have at least two more creatures in play, this is a 5-mana 6/6, and it might even be gaining some keywords, which is pretty sweet. And sometimes you’ll have way more creatures than that! The bad news is, sometimes you just don’t have those creatures, and the Myriarch is a pretty big dud if it isn’t at least a 6/6.
Vizier of the Anointed image 3.0 As long as you have at least a couple of Embalm/Eternalize creatures, Vizier of the Anointed is going ot be pretty darn good. He searches one of them up – ideally one you can use from the graveyard on your next turn, at which point you not only get value out of a card in your graveyard, you also get to draw an additional card! It isn’t that easy to turn the Vizier into a straight up engine – doing the card draw more than once doesn’t happen very often – but its pretty good even when that’s the case.
Doomfall image 2.5 This is either an overcasted edict effect or Coercion. While neither side is great on its own, there is some real value in putting both on the same card, since you can always choose the best option.
Claim image 1.5 Reanimating a small creature for only Black mana is kind of okay, though it is pretty darn restrictive on the mana cost. If you cast both halves in the same turn, you can reanimate a thing, and then also give it +2/+0 and Haste, which is kind of alright, but the reanimation being as restrictive as it is really limits how good this card can be.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fan Bearer image 3.5 Master Decoy-type creatures are good in most Limited formats, and this one comes with a relevant creature type.
Dune Beetle image 1.0 If you need a defensive two drop, you could do worse than this I guess.
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.
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.
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 2 Pick 2: Abrade
Abrade image 4.0 Two mana for 3 damage at Instant speed is always premium, and the added upside of hitting an Artifact with it sometimes is nice.
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.
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.
Quarry Hauler image 3.0 Quarry Hauler brings a decent body to the table, and its ETB trigger will be useful a surprising chunk of the time. You can use it to add -1/-1 counters to opposing things, subtract them from yours, add +1/+1 counters, and so forth.
Fan Bearer image 3.5 Master Decoy-type creatures are good in most Limited formats, and this one comes with a relevant creature type.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pack 2 Pick 3: Wander in Death
Farm image 3.5 This is a pretty impressive card. Neither half of these are exactly efficiently costed, but the fact that this card does both of these things is great. Farm lets you kill any attacking or blocking creature, and while htat’s somewhat restrictive, it does deal with anything that decides to enter combat in one way or another, and there’s a whole lot of that in this format. The Farm part likely would be a solid playable all on its own, so the Market half giving you a double loot effect in the later part of the game is really nice, and will improve your card quality.
Spring image 3.0 This can ramp and fix early, and draw you some much-needed gas late, and that’s something I really like.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Marauding Boneslasher image 2.0 This has decent stats and a useful creature type, so you’ll play it a decent amount of the time.
Pack 2 Pick 4: Cartouche of Strength
Refuse image 1.0 Both sides of this are situational and overcosted, and not really worth your time in Limited.
Vile Manifestation image 2.0 This underwhelms as a Cycling payoff for the most part. This is largely because it doesn’t have any evasion to speak of. It will often start life as a two mana 0/4 and slowly grow, which isn’t terrible of course, but it is a pretty intense build around with a pretty mediocre ceiling.
Supreme Will image 2.5 Neither mode here is an especially good card in Limited, but having the option between them really means you can utilize whichever one is optimal. Countering a spell when you can is great, but if that option doesn’t present itself, you’ll usually go for the card draw.
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.
Dauntless Aven image 2.5 A 3-mana 2/1 flyer is reasonably playable already, so adding the ability to untap something definitely matters. You can use this on the Aven itself, or more ideally, use it on an Exert creature so it can attack and Exert again on the very next turn.
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.
Those Who Serve image 1.0 You’ll play this if you have enough Zombie synergies, but that’s pretty much it.
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.
Cartouche of Strength image 4.0 The whole Cartouche cycle is good, but Cartouche of Strength is the best of the bunch. Giving a creature +1/+1 and trample, and punching an opposing creature is amazing, and often enough to really change the complection of a game.
Cartouche of Zeal image 3.0 There aren’t enough artifacts in this set for this to be remotely worth putting in your main deck.
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.
Pack 2 Pick 5: Hooded Brawler
Hazoret's Monument image 1.0 This mostly isn’t worth it. A cost reduction + rummaging just won’t matter that much.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Dune Beetle image 1.0 If you need a defensive two drop, you could do worse than this I guess.
Pack 2 Pick 6: Hooded Brawler
Fetid Pools 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.
Cast Out image 4.0 This is premium removal that comes with the minor upside of Cycling. Normally in Limited, you won’t be Cycling this of course, since it is likely one of your best cards and it can answer almost anything. However, sometimes you end up stuck on two lands or something, and being able to cycle this away in that desperate situation definitely matters.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cartouche of Zeal image 3.0 There aren’t enough artifacts in this set for this to be remotely worth putting in your main 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 2 Pick 7: Oasis Ritualist
Trial of Knowledge image 2.5 Paying four mana for an effect that doesn’t immediately impact the board isn’t great in this format, but this does give you a pretty nice effect.
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.
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!
Oketra's Avenger image 3.5 When this is Exerted, it is pretty darn hard to block – and that’s true pretty much all game long, making this an excellent two drop.
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.
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.
Quarry Hauler image 3.0 Quarry Hauler brings a decent body to the table, and its ETB trigger will be useful a surprising chunk of the time. You can use it to add -1/-1 counters to opposing things, subtract them from yours, add +1/+1 counters, and so forth.
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.
Pack 2 Pick 8: Pathmaker Initiate
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pathmaker Initiate image 2.0 Making small creatures unblockable definitely has a place in this format, especially when you can exert them to make them bigger after you make them unblockable.
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.
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 2 Pick 9: Claim
Claim image 1.5 Reanimating a small creature for only Black mana is kind of okay, though it is pretty darn restrictive on the mana cost. If you cast both halves in the same turn, you can reanimate a thing, and then also give it +2/+0 and Haste, which is kind of alright, but the reanimation being as restrictive as it is really limits how good this card can be.
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.
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.
Dune Beetle image 1.0 If you need a defensive two drop, you could do worse than this I guess.
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.
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 2 Pick 10: Quarry Hauler
Quarry Hauler image 3.0 Quarry Hauler brings a decent body to the table, and its ETB trigger will be useful a surprising chunk of the time. You can use it to add -1/-1 counters to opposing things, subtract them from yours, add +1/+1 counters, and so forth.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pack 2 Pick 11: Pouncing Cheetah
Spring image 3.0 This can ramp and fix early, and draw you some much-needed gas late, and that’s something I really like.
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.
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.
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.
Pack 2 Pick 12: Cartouche of Zeal
Supreme Will image 2.5 Neither mode here is an especially good card in Limited, but having the option between them really means you can utilize whichever one is optimal. Countering a spell when you can is great, but if that option doesn’t present itself, you’ll usually go for the card draw.
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.
Cartouche of Zeal image 3.0 There aren’t enough artifacts in this set for this to be remotely worth putting in your main deck.
Pack 2 Pick 13: Hekma Sentinels
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!
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 2 Pick 14: In Oketra's Name
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 1: Archfiend of Ifnir
Archfiend of Ifnir image 5.0 A 5-mana 5/4 Flyer is great, and the Archfiend comes with an absolutely insane cycling/discard payoff. -1/-1 to only your opponent’s side of the table is great, and can really bust open just about any combat, in addition to straight up killing all of their X/1s. In short, this can destroy your opponent in the air with its efficient flying body, and it can wreak havoc on their board in general. That’s certainly a bomb.
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.
Gravedigger image 3.5 Gravedigger is always a pretty nice card in Limited, as he is very easy to create 2-for-1s with. In this format, he also has a very nice creature type!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Festering Mummy image 1.5 This can create 2-for-1 situations on some board states – like when your opponent has two X/1s, and it has both Zombie and -1/-1 counter upside.
Dauntless Aven image 2.5 A 3-mana 2/1 flyer is reasonably playable already, so adding the ability to untap something definitely matters. You can use this on the Aven itself, or more ideally, use it on an Exert creature so it can attack and Exert again on the very next turn.
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.
Gust Walker image 3.5 This is an excellent two drop. It can simply attack as a two mana 2/2 early, and then once its necessary, it can start Exerting itself to continue attacking in the air. This two drop is relevant all game long, and is very nice in aggressive decks.
Pack 3 Pick 2: Liliana's Mastery
Liliana's Mastery image 4.0 On its own, this is 5 mana for two 3/3s, and that’s a great deal! The format is also loaded up with other Zombies, so it will often add more stats to the board than that.
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.
River Hoopoe image 3.0 If you can get to the part of the game where River Hoopoe can start using that ability, you’re going to feel pretty great. The life gain really helps you stabilize, and the cards you draw will allow you to ultimately overwhelm your opponent. The problem is, getting to that point of the game isn’t always easy, and if that’s the case, this is just a two mana 1/3 Flyer – and that’s not a body that is particularly good at blocking in this format. Still, the mid-to-late-game upside is very real.
Hashep Oasis image 3.0 These Desert utility lands are all pretty nice! In addition to counting as deserts for several cards in the set, they come into play completely untapped and can give you colored mana – even if you do have to pay life for it. If you don’t want that mana, it can also just tap for cololorless. Then, they can all do a thing by giving up a Desert. In this case, you get to pump a creature. And sure, it is only at Sorcery speed, but keep in mind that this thing has been a nice land for you all game, and in the late game it is having a very real impact! If you have enough deserts, you can do these effects repeatedly, which is sometimes nice.
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.
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.
Pathmaker Initiate image 2.0 Making small creatures unblockable definitely has a place in this format, especially when you can exert them to make them bigger after you make them unblockable.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Gust Walker image 3.5 This is an excellent two drop. It can simply attack as a two mana 2/2 early, and then once its necessary, it can start Exerting itself to continue attacking in the air. This two drop is relevant all game long, and is very nice in aggressive decks.
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.
Pack 3 Pick 3: Ahn-Crop Crasher
Ahn-Crop Crasher image 4.0 This guy is a beating, and will lead to a whole lot of games ending quickly. A 3-mana 3/2 with Haste is already fine, but his Exert trigger is where things really get silly. Making your opponent’s best blocker unable to block out of nowhere can just completely alter a game a huge chunk of the time, and if you ever get to attack with the Crasher again, its probably game over for your opponent.
Cryptic Serpent image 3.0 Lowering the cost of this to around 5 isn’t too difficult, and sometimes you’ll be able to go even lower. Still, it isn’t like you’ll be slamming this on turn three or four or anything like that.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
Dauntless Aven image 2.5 A 3-mana 2/1 flyer is reasonably playable already, so adding the ability to untap something definitely matters. You can use this on the Aven itself, or more ideally, use it on an Exert creature so it can attack and Exert again on the very next turn.
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.
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.
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.
Khenra Eternal image 2.5 This has okay stats, an okay keyword ability, and it’s a Zombie, so its perfectly fine.
Pack 3 Pick 4: Open Fire
Ahn-Crop Champion image 3.0 This has nice stats as a 4-mana 4/4, and its exert ability has some nice uses. One can simply use it to grant the other creatures something akin to vigilance, or more ideally, you can use it to untap exerted creatures, who will then be able to exert themselves and become better attackers on a subsequent turn.
Gate to the Afterlife image 1.0 Gaining 1 life and looting every time a creature dies is decent, though probably not something you would play very often. I think the only one this becomes worth playing is if you also have God-Pharaoh’s Gift, since it can search it up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dune Beetle image 1.0 If you need a defensive two drop, you could do worse than this I guess.
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.
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.
Pack 3 Pick 5: Open Fire
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.
Consign image 3.0 Thing thing really over performs. In the early game, you can bounce a problem permanent to slow your opponent down, or maybe blow them out when they try to use a trick or something, and then in the late game you have a Mind Rot sitting around in your graveyard. Basically, the consign half of this is already a solid playable, and the Oblivion half gives you some nice late game value. Now, your opponent won’t always have the cards to discard, but they do often enough that this card often feels like a steal.
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.
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.
Khenra Eternal image 2.5 This has okay stats, an okay keyword ability, and it’s a Zombie, so its perfectly fine.
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.
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.
Quarry Hauler image 3.0 Quarry Hauler brings a decent body to the table, and its ETB trigger will be useful a surprising chunk of the time. You can use it to add -1/-1 counters to opposing things, subtract them from yours, add +1/+1 counters, and so forth.
Fan Bearer image 3.5 Master Decoy-type creatures are good in most Limited formats, and this one comes with a relevant creature type.
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.
Pack 3 Pick 6: Abrade
Abrade image 4.0 Two mana for 3 damage at Instant speed is always premium, and the added upside of hitting an Artifact with it sometimes is nice.
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.
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.
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.
Gust Walker image 3.5 This is an excellent two drop. It can simply attack as a two mana 2/2 early, and then once its necessary, it can start Exerting itself to continue attacking in the air. This two drop is relevant all game long, and is very nice in aggressive decks.
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.
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.
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.
Those Who Serve image 1.0 You’ll play this if you have enough Zombie synergies, but that’s pretty much it.
Pack 3 Pick 7: Tormenting Voice
Ipnu Rivulet image 2.5 This is the weakest of the cycle, mostly because milling isn’t that relevant in the format, but it is still a desert with some upside.
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.
Seer of the Last Tomorrow image 1.0 Not really a mill deck in this format, and that makes this pretty bad.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pack 3 Pick 8: Ramunap Excavator
Ramunap Excavator image 2.5 Playing lands from the graveyard does matter a little in this format. Both the cycling deserts and the Uncommon desert cycle tend to end up in the graveyard, and getting those back can have some serious value.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Solitary Camel image 2.0 A 3-mana 3/2 that will have lifelink a decent chunk of the time is fine.
Pack 3 Pick 9: Pouncing Cheetah
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pack 3 Pick 10: Rhonas's Stalwart
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pack 3 Pick 11: Thresher Lizard
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.
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.
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!
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 12: Pursue Glory
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.
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.
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 3 Pick 13: Shadowstorm Vizier
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.
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.
Pack 3 Pick 14: Ancient Crab
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.
Draft Pick Overview