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Premier Draft GRN 05.januar 2021

5 January 10:20 - AliasV 7 Wins - 1 Losses
Maindeck
Creature (14)
1 Goblin Banneret image
1 Muse Drake image
1 Passwall Adept image
1 Electrostatic Field image
1 Fire Urchin image
1 Leapfrog image
1 Vedalken Mesmerist image
1 Niv-Mizzet, Parun image
2 Wojek Bodyguard image
1 Wishcoin Crab image
2 Goblin Electromancer image
1 Smelt-Ward Minotaur image
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (8)
1 Hypothesizzle image
1 Radical Idea image
1 Cosmotronic Wave image
2 Capture Sphere image
1 Unexplained Disappearance image
1 Command the Storm image
1 Sonic Assault image
Planeswalker (1)
1 Ral, Izzet Viceroy image
Land (17)
7 Mountain image
7 Island image
1 Steam Vents image
2 Izzet Guildgate image
Sideboard
1 Dimir Spybug image
1 Thoughtbound Phantasm image
1 Wall of Mist image
2 Fearless Halberdier image
1 Rubblebelt Boar image
1 Hunted Witness image
1 Intrusive Packbeast image
1 Barging Sergeant image
1 Bartizan Bats image
1 Muse Drake image
1 Integrity image
1 Sinister Sabotage image
1 Maximize Velocity image
1 Devious Cover-Up image
1 Disdainful Stroke image
1 Gravitic Punch image
1 Street Riot image
1 Pause for Reflection image

Pack 1 Pick 1: Dimir Spybug
Omnispell Adept image 1.5 This has bad stats and a really expensive and situational ability. Basically, the ability gives you a discount on spells, and you can also sort of look at it as fixing for spells, but I wouldn’t rely on it as your only source of fixing for an off-color spell. You should probably have some lands that help you out too, but if you’re splashing a couple of spells it does get a little bit of extra value.
Dimir Spybug image 3.5 This is a great Surveil payoff that can grow quite rapidly. Flying and Menace are a nice combination, and it means the Spybug is incredibly difficult to block.
Integrity image 3.5 One side is a decent combat trick, and the other is Lightning Helix for twice the mana. The options here are pretty nice, with the Intervention half usually the more powerful one – but if the opportunity arises for you to use the trick effectively, don’t hesitate!
Conclave Cavalier image 4.0 This whole cycle is very strong, and Conclave Cavalier is no exception! I mean, when all is said and done you pay 4 mana for 8/8 worth of stats across three bodies! This can very realistically generate a 3-for-1. The one downside is the mana cost, but the mana in this format is good enough that it isn’t that hard ot manage.
Hammer Dropper image 2.0 This statline is pretty ugly, but the high power does mean it can Mentor pretty easily, and your opponent also kind of has to block it or things can get out of hand.
Vedalken Mesmerist image 1.5 It isn’t a complete disaster if you play this as your two drop, but it isn’t something you should be happy about either. Its attack trigger rarely does enough.
Golgari Locket image 2.0 These are all fine. They can help you splash a color, they ramp you a bit, and you can cash them in for cards in the late game, which is good – because drawing mana rocks great is pretty bad.
Ironshell Beetle image 2.5 This kind of card is always pretty nice. Early, it can just be the two mana 2/2 you need, and late it can come down and put the counter on something better.
Rhizome Lurcher image 2.0 This is another pretty disappointing Common Undergrowth card. It isn’t bad, but the upside here usually isn’t all that great by turn 4 – getting a 3/3 or a 4/4 is what you can expect.
Unexplained Disappearance image 2.5 Two mana instant bounce spells are always decent enough, especially when you can use them in response to a combat trick or something like that, and tacking on Surveil is pretty nice.
Garrison Sergeant image 1.5 In a deck with a lot of Gates this is a decent playable, though a 5-mana 3/3 with Double Strike isn’t exactly amazing either.
Severed Strands image 2.0 Making Bone Splinters cost an additional mana is a bummer, and one that isn’t solved by the life gain effect. Still, it can kill stuff pretty efficiently, and if you have expendable creatures it feels pretty good.
Spinal Centipede image 2.5 This has decent stats, and it leaves some value behind as long as you have another creature – and usually you do!
Luminous Bonds image 3.0 As it is most of the time, this is premium removal. Turning off attacking and blocking is pretty good for the cost.
Selesnya Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 1 Pick 2: Thoughtbound Phantasm
Response image 4.0 Response is a pretty efficient, if conditional, removal spell, and that’s what you’re going to use on this one the vast majority of the time. But having the upside of giving your whole board key word abilities and an extra combat phase late is no joke, and can win the game in some situations.
Thoughtbound Phantasm image 2.5 A one mana 2/2 with Defender is kind of an okay blocker in the early game that can at least trade, and then this is a pretty powerful Surveil payoff that can just get massive. Obviously, its at its best in UB, but it isn’t too bad in UW either.
Pilfering Imp image 2.0 If you play this early it does a good job of chipping in for some damage, and then it has a decent disruptive effect for later in the game.
Dimir Locket image 2.0 These are all fine. They can help you splash a color, they ramp you a bit, and you can cash them in for cards in the late game, which is good – because drawing mana rocks great is pretty bad.
Sure Strike image 2.0 As usual with this card that has been reprinted a ton, it is a reasonable trick that can help almost any creature win combat.
Radical Idea image 2.0 This is pretty nice in UR decks because of the spell-triggers, and it isn’t bad in UW control decks either.
Burglar Rat image 2.0 We see two mana 1/1s that make an opponent discard reasonably often, and they are always decent, though your opponent discarding a Jump-Start card to this can be a little painful.
Dazzling Lights image 1.5 This kind of effect is pretty underwhelming, as it just doesn’t accomplish enough most of the time. However, the fact that this format has a spell deck definitely upgrades it a bit, and Surveil isn’t too bad either.
Torch Courier image 1.5 This is a pretty mediocre one drop. A one mana 1/1 with Haste just doesn’t do enough these days – there are many boards where this is immediately irrelevant. The upside of giving Haste to something else is nice, but still not very impressive.
Fire Urchin image 2.0 Not too bad of a payoff if you’re in the aggressive Izzet deck, but certainly not one you go after very aggressively.
Healer's Hawk image 3.0 This is a really nice one-drop, especially in Boros, since it is such a great creature to Mentor. Putting counters on this can quickly put the game out of reach for your opponent.
Rhizome Lurcher image 2.0 This is another pretty disappointing Common Undergrowth card. It isn’t bad, but the upside here usually isn’t all that great by turn 4 – getting a 3/3 or a 4/4 is what you can expect.
Vernadi Shieldmate image 2.5 This has fine stats for a two drop and slots nicely into many decks in the format.
Selesnya Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 1 Pick 3: Radical Idea
Ochran Assassin image 2.5 This can create some nasty situations, since it draws the attention of all opposing blockers, which means you can get a pretty nice attack through. Because it has death touch, it also lets you kill at least one blocking creature. Still, this has horrible stats and can be dealt with very cheaply by your opponent.
Grappling Sundew image 0.5 This is mostly a sideboard card. Its activated ability is insanely expensive and really not that impressive, but it isn’t bad to side in against a deck with lots of fliers.
Radical Idea image 2.0 This is pretty nice in UR decks because of the spell-triggers, and it isn’t bad in UW control decks either.
Hammer Dropper image 2.0 This statline is pretty ugly, but the high power does mean it can Mentor pretty easily, and your opponent also kind of has to block it or things can get out of hand.
Vigorspore Wurm image 2.0 This is a passable Undergrowth payoff, as it usually gives a relevant stats boost. The fact it can’t be double blocked is pretty real too, and this creature is surprisingly difficult to stop in combat.
Sumala Woodshaper image 3.0 This will usually draw you a card, and that means it typically represents a 2-for-1, which goes a long way towards making up for its bad stats. You do want to make sure you have like 18 cards in your deck it can hit, but that’s not a big challenge.
Crushing Canopy image 0.5 This is mostly sideboard material.
Loxodon Restorer image 2.0 This is a decent way to stabilize against aggro decks, as the life gain and the body do a pretty good job of helping you hold on. If you’re a slower White deck, the first of these is usually going to make your deck. While, if you’re more aggressive you’re not going to have any reason to play it.
Vedalken Mesmerist image 1.5 It isn’t a complete disaster if you play this as your two drop, but it isn’t something you should be happy about either. Its attack trigger rarely does enough.
Parhelion Patrol image 2.5 Flying and Mentor go pretty well together, since it becomes easier for it to attack and survive. It can of course only Mentor 1 power creatures – at least at first – but that’s fine, and you can often end up training it too, in which case it can become a real monster.
Hunted Witness image 2.5 One mana 1/1s that leave behind 1/1s tend to be pretty decent in Limited, and that’s certainly the case here, especially with White aggro decks being so real in the format.
Moodmark Painter image 1.0 This Common is a big part of why Golgari decks in this format struggle, because it just isn’t very good, and its supposed to be a key Common for that deck! It has bad stats, and while the boost it offers can be nice, it usually isn’t enough for this card to be very good.
Izzet Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 1 Pick 4: Wall of Mist
Steam Vents image 2.5 These are good fixing.
Integrity image 3.5 One side is a decent combat trick, and the other is Lightning Helix for twice the mana. The options here are pretty nice, with the Intervention half usually the more powerful one – but if the opportunity arises for you to use the trick effectively, don’t hesitate!
Barrier of Bones image 1.5 0-mana 0/3s with Defender are rarely very good in Limited, and that doesn’t really change here, even with Surveil 1.
Torch Courier image 1.5 This is a pretty mediocre one drop. A one mana 1/1 with Haste just doesn’t do enough these days – there are many boards where this is immediately irrelevant. The upside of giving Haste to something else is nice, but still not very impressive.
Passwall Adept image 1.5 The Adept’s ability can definitely lead you to victory late in the right situation, but in the early game it is not a very impressive card.
Luminous Bonds image 3.0 As it is most of the time, this is premium removal. Turning off attacking and blocking is pretty good for the cost.
Disdainful Stroke image 1.5 This is mostly a sideboard card, though it isn’t a complete disaster to have one in your main deck, as most decks in this format have enough targets for it. The real problem is running into a RW deck, which doesn’t tend to have many targets.
Collar the Culprit image 1.5 This is clunky for how situational it is. Being an instant is nice, though.
Leapfrog image
Pitiless Gorgon image 2.0 Deathtouchers can trade with anything which is sweet – but the more they cost, the less impressive that becomes, since you won’t be getting a mana advantage out of a trade nearly as often.
Izzet Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 1 Pick 5: Steam Vents
Steam Vents image 2.5 These are good fixing.
Integrity image 3.5 One side is a decent combat trick, and the other is Lightning Helix for twice the mana. The options here are pretty nice, with the Intervention half usually the more powerful one – but if the opportunity arises for you to use the trick effectively, don’t hesitate!
Barrier of Bones image 1.5 0-mana 0/3s with Defender are rarely very good in Limited, and that doesn’t really change here, even with Surveil 1.
Torch Courier image 1.5 This is a pretty mediocre one drop. A one mana 1/1 with Haste just doesn’t do enough these days – there are many boards where this is immediately irrelevant. The upside of giving Haste to something else is nice, but still not very impressive.
Passwall Adept image 1.5 The Adept’s ability can definitely lead you to victory late in the right situation, but in the early game it is not a very impressive card.
Luminous Bonds image 3.0 As it is most of the time, this is premium removal. Turning off attacking and blocking is pretty good for the cost.
Disdainful Stroke image 1.5 This is mostly a sideboard card, though it isn’t a complete disaster to have one in your main deck, as most decks in this format have enough targets for it. The real problem is running into a RW deck, which doesn’t tend to have many targets.
Collar the Culprit image 1.5 This is clunky for how situational it is. Being an instant is nice, though.
Leapfrog image
Pitiless Gorgon image 2.0 Deathtouchers can trade with anything which is sweet – but the more they cost, the less impressive that becomes, since you won’t be getting a mana advantage out of a trade nearly as often.
Izzet Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 1 Pick 6: Passwall Adept
Beamsplitter Mage image 2.0 There aren’t really enough good ways to abuse the Mage’s ability, though there are a few, and at worse it is a two mana 2/2.
Barging Sergeant image 2.5 This can add a ton of damage to the board in a hurry, as it is capable of Mentoring most creatures. Its usually going to die during the attack, but the value it gives you is incredibly good.
Selesnya Locket image 2.0 These are all fine. They can help you splash a color, they ramp you a bit, and you can cash them in for cards in the late game, which is good – because drawing mana rocks great is pretty bad.
Hammer Dropper image 2.0 This statline is pretty ugly, but the high power does mean it can Mentor pretty easily, and your opponent also kind of has to block it or things can get out of hand.
Vicious Rumors image 1.0 This does a bunch of small stuff, but all of it is pretty irrelevant most of the time.
Passwall Adept image 1.5 The Adept’s ability can definitely lead you to victory late in the right situation, but in the early game it is not a very impressive card.
Pack's Favor image 1.5 This is a decent trick, and it is sweet that sometimes you can cast it when you seemingly have no mana.
Centaur Peacemaker image 2.0 While it isn’t great giving your opponent life, the fact that you both get it does mean you are coming out ahead from this card since..you know, you’re also getting this creature, so it isn’t as bad as it might seem.
Ledev Guardian image 1.5 This isn’t that great whether you cast it or power it out with Convoke.
Selesnya Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 1 Pick 7: Electrostatic Field
Guild Summit image 0.0 // 3.0 Guildgate decks are pretty legit in this format, and Guild Summit can be a powerhouse in the right deck, as turning your land drops into cantrips is pretty sweet. However, you need a lot of gates to make this work, and you can’t really play it otherwise.
Electrostatic Field image 3.0 This is nice in the more controlling Izzet decks, where you can play this defensive creature and chip away at your opponent.
Unexplained Disappearance image 2.5 Two mana instant bounce spells are always decent enough, especially when you can use them in response to a combat trick or something like that, and tacking on Surveil is pretty nice.
Ornery Goblin image 2.5 This is a surprisingly pesky two-drop that is pretty difficult to attack through or block profitably in the early game, and that’s pretty nice.
Passwall Adept image 1.5 The Adept’s ability can definitely lead you to victory late in the right situation, but in the early game it is not a very impressive card.
Gateway Plaza image 2.5 This is nice fixing that happens to be a Gate, though having to effectively pay one mana for it is a bit of a bummer.
Pack's Favor image 1.5 This is a decent trick, and it is sweet that sometimes you can cast it when you seemingly have no mana.
Cosmotronic Wave image 2.5 This is a really nice card for aggressive Izzet and Boros decks, as it often wins you the game. It is a key card in those decks, but also not something you want to go after super early, since it is pretty much only good in those decks – where you’ll always want 1-2 copies of it.
Sworn Companions image 2.0 If you’re interested in going wide, this does a decent job of it. You’re more likely to want to do that in GW.
Pack 1 Pick 8: Izzet Guildgate
Tenth District Guard image 1.5 This has okay starting stats, but its ETB ability is irrelevant about 90% of the time, and that means this isn’t that much better than a vanilla two mana 2/2.
Izzet Locket image 2.0 These are all fine. They can help you splash a color, they ramp you a bit, and you can cash them in for cards in the late game, which is good – because drawing mana rocks great is pretty bad.
Vigorspore Wurm image 2.0 This is a passable Undergrowth payoff, as it usually gives a relevant stats boost. The fact it can’t be double blocked is pretty real too, and this creature is surprisingly difficult to stop in combat.
Barging Sergeant image 2.5 This can add a ton of damage to the board in a hurry, as it is capable of Mentoring most creatures. Its usually going to die during the attack, but the value it gives you is incredibly good.
Hunted Witness image 2.5 One mana 1/1s that leave behind 1/1s tend to be pretty decent in Limited, and that’s certainly the case here, especially with White aggro decks being so real in the format.
Ironshell Beetle image 2.5 This kind of card is always pretty nice. Early, it can just be the two mana 2/2 you need, and late it can come down and put the counter on something better.
Skyline Scout image 2.0 Its nice that this can start going to sky once it can’t get in on the ground, but it isn’t exactly efficient as a creature, and paying two mana to make it Fly isn’t always something you’ll have the mana for.
Izzet Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 1 Pick 9: Integrity
Sure Strike image 2.0 As usual with this card that has been reprinted a ton, it is a reasonable trick that can help almost any creature win combat.
Radical Idea image 2.0 This is pretty nice in UR decks because of the spell-triggers, and it isn’t bad in UW control decks either.
Dazzling Lights image 1.5 This kind of effect is pretty underwhelming, as it just doesn’t accomplish enough most of the time. However, the fact that this format has a spell deck definitely upgrades it a bit, and Surveil isn’t too bad either.
Torch Courier image 1.5 This is a pretty mediocre one drop. A one mana 1/1 with Haste just doesn’t do enough these days – there are many boards where this is immediately irrelevant. The upside of giving Haste to something else is nice, but still not very impressive.
Fire Urchin image 2.0 Not too bad of a payoff if you’re in the aggressive Izzet deck, but certainly not one you go after very aggressively.
Selesnya Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 1 Pick 10: Fire Urchin
Sure Strike image 2.0 As usual with this card that has been reprinted a ton, it is a reasonable trick that can help almost any creature win combat.
Radical Idea image 2.0 This is pretty nice in UR decks because of the spell-triggers, and it isn’t bad in UW control decks either.
Dazzling Lights image 1.5 This kind of effect is pretty underwhelming, as it just doesn’t accomplish enough most of the time. However, the fact that this format has a spell deck definitely upgrades it a bit, and Surveil isn’t too bad either.
Torch Courier image 1.5 This is a pretty mediocre one drop. A one mana 1/1 with Haste just doesn’t do enough these days – there are many boards where this is immediately irrelevant. The upside of giving Haste to something else is nice, but still not very impressive.
Fire Urchin image 2.0 Not too bad of a payoff if you’re in the aggressive Izzet deck, but certainly not one you go after very aggressively.
Selesnya Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 1 Pick 11: Hunted Witness
Grappling Sundew image 0.5 This is mostly a sideboard card. Its activated ability is insanely expensive and really not that impressive, but it isn’t bad to side in against a deck with lots of fliers.
Sumala Woodshaper image 3.0 This will usually draw you a card, and that means it typically represents a 2-for-1, which goes a long way towards making up for its bad stats. You do want to make sure you have like 18 cards in your deck it can hit, but that’s not a big challenge.
Crushing Canopy image 0.5 This is mostly sideboard material.
Hunted Witness image 2.5 One mana 1/1s that leave behind 1/1s tend to be pretty decent in Limited, and that’s certainly the case here, especially with White aggro decks being so real in the format.
Moodmark Painter image 1.0 This Common is a big part of why Golgari decks in this format struggle, because it just isn’t very good, and its supposed to be a key Common for that deck! It has bad stats, and while the boost it offers can be nice, it usually isn’t enough for this card to be very good.
Pack 1 Pick 12: Intrusive Packbeast
Barrier of Bones image 1.5 0-mana 0/3s with Defender are rarely very good in Limited, and that doesn’t really change here, even with Surveil 1.
Torch Courier image 1.5 This is a pretty mediocre one drop. A one mana 1/1 with Haste just doesn’t do enough these days – there are many boards where this is immediately irrelevant. The upside of giving Haste to something else is nice, but still not very impressive.
Leapfrog image
Pack 1 Pick 13: Leapfrog
Barrier of Bones image 1.5 0-mana 0/3s with Defender are rarely very good in Limited, and that doesn’t really change here, even with Surveil 1.
Torch Courier image 1.5 This is a pretty mediocre one drop. A one mana 1/1 with Haste just doesn’t do enough these days – there are many boards where this is immediately irrelevant. The upside of giving Haste to something else is nice, but still not very impressive.
Leapfrog image
Pack 1 Pick 14: Barging Sergeant
Barging Sergeant image 2.5 This can add a ton of damage to the board in a hurry, as it is capable of Mentoring most creatures. Its usually going to die during the attack, but the value it gives you is incredibly good.
Selesnya Locket image 2.0 These are all fine. They can help you splash a color, they ramp you a bit, and you can cash them in for cards in the late game, which is good – because drawing mana rocks great is pretty bad.
Pack 1 Pick 15: Cosmotronic Wave
Cosmotronic Wave image 2.5 This is a really nice card for aggressive Izzet and Boros decks, as it often wins you the game. It is a key card in those decks, but also not something you want to go after super early, since it is pretty much only good in those decks – where you’ll always want 1-2 copies of it.
Pack 2 Pick 1: Sinister Sabotage
Find image 4.5 Both halves of this would be cards you’d always play. Find gives you two creatures back for only two mana, and Finality is a board sweeper that you have some control over. You can usually find a way to use the counters to make something you control bigger than a 4/4, and this often feels like Duneblast when you can pull that off.
Golgari Findbroker image 4.0 This is really strong, giving you a very real ¾ body while also getting you back a permanent. That’s a great 2-for-1.
Sinister Sabotage image
Flight of Equenauts image 2.5 This underperforms a little bit. The format can be somewhat fast, and while you can definitely power this out for 5 or 6 mana, sometimes that’s just a little too late. It is still a pretty nice finisher, especially in GW, but not as incredible as it looks at first glance.
Portcullis Vine image 1.0 Its nice that you can throw this away for a card when it isn’t useful. Problem is, it usually isn’t useful, and paying 3 mana to draw a card isn’t exactly a deal.
Wall of Mist image 1.5 This is passable in the Blue control decks in the format, but you’re probably hoping for defensive creatures that are more impactful than this.
Gravitic Punch image 0.0 // 2.5 This is pretty much only playable in more aggressive Izzet decks that have various creatures whose power goes up when you cast spells. In those situations, this isn’t a bad way to do the last damage to your opponent. In all the other decks though, its unplayable. Cards that just do damage to an opponent usually aren’t great, and that’s still mostly true here.
Erstwhile Trooper image 1.0 This only letting you discard creatures is a huge problem. The idea is to set up Undergrowth, but you’d much rather get a real effect out of your creatures before they go to the graveyard, and buffing this +2/+2 doesn’t really qualify as a “real” effect.
Devious Cover-Up image 1.0 // 2.5 This is a pretty bad counterspell in most decks in the format. Four mana to counter something tends to be way too clunky, and shuffling cards into your deck isn’t that big of a deal. However, the UW decks in this format can sometimes end up in very real controlling builds where Devious Cover-Up is actually a quality card, especially if you have two of them to loop. You can just lock down the board and outvalue your opponent until their dead! So, this gets a build around grade. In the right deck, it is pretty legit – but don’t try to play it in any old Blue deck.
Bartizan Bats image 2.0 3 power on a flyer for 4 mana is a decent deal…but the one toughness is pretty rough, as it means your opponent can often trade up for this thing with cheap removal or 1/1 flying tokens.
Rosemane Centaur image 2.5 This isn’t terrible if you just cast it normally, so the Convoke upside makes it a pretty nice Common.
Urban Utopia image 1.5 This fixes decently and replaces itself, but you just don’t really need it in this format, as Gates are pretty easy to come by.
Child of Night image 2.0 This has decent stats and lifelink. Not much more to say about it!
Dead Weight image 3.5 This kills a whole lot of stuff in this format for only one mana – including significantly more expensive creatures, and that makes it pretty great.
Dimir Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 2 Pick 2: Capture Sphere
Mission Briefing image 2.5 Your deck will need a lot of instants and sorceries for this to be consistently worth playing, but that’s pretty doable in both Izzet and Dimir. You also generally want those spells to be kind of cheap, since you do still have to pay the mana for whatever it is you choose to cast, but it gives you some decent value when you can pull it off.
Book Devourer image 1.0 This has bad stats, and its combat damage trigger is only useful in very narrow situations.
Lotleth Giant image 2.0 This is decent top-curve to have in any deck with lots of creatures and graveyard stuff going on, as if it can do 3+ damage you don’t feel terrible about your investment, and it can often do far more than that. It is unfortunately pretty clunky in a format where there are very real aggro decks, and the Golgari decks come together the least consistently.
Whisper Agent image 2.5 This can Flash in to ambush something – though that usually means you’re just getting a trade since it only has two toughness. But, that’s an okay deal, especially because you get Surveil 1. When you can Flash it in and kill an attacker and it survives, you feel pretty good!
Pack's Favor image 1.5 This is a decent trick, and it is sweet that sometimes you can cast it when you seemingly have no mana.
Fire Urchin image 2.0 Not too bad of a payoff if you’re in the aggressive Izzet deck, but certainly not one you go after very aggressively.
Selesnya Locket image 2.0 These are all fine. They can help you splash a color, they ramp you a bit, and you can cash them in for cards in the late game, which is good – because drawing mana rocks great is pretty bad.
Hired Poisoner image 2.5 One mana 1/1s with Deathtouch are pretty much always a 2.5. They are cheap and they can trade for anything, which is nice.
Capture Sphere image 3.0 This is pretty nice, as far as Blue removal spells go. Locking down a creature for 4, and being able to do it at Instant speed is fine. Of course, not turning off activated abilities and stuff like that is a bummer, but this does a decent job.
Wary Okapi image 2.0 This is a decent French Vanilla creature, but not much else!
Righteous Blow image 2.0 This kills things fairly efficiently, but it is too situational to be anything special. You’ll run it if you’re desperate for removal.
Take Heart image 2.0 This trick is fine. One mana for +2/+2 tends to be solid in Limited, and the life gain tacked on is nice.
Wall of Mist image 1.5 This is passable in the Blue control decks in the format, but you’re probably hoping for defensive creatures that are more impactful than this.
Izzet Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 2 Pick 3: Capture Sphere
Whispering Snitch image 3.5 This is the best Surveil payoff around, as draining life is a huge deal, and helps a grindy Surveil deck stay alive while also helping you win the game.
Gatekeeper Gargoyle image 2.5 This is a decent payoff for decks with lots of gates in them.
Pitiless Gorgon image 2.0 Deathtouchers can trade with anything which is sweet – but the more they cost, the less impressive that becomes, since you won’t be getting a mana advantage out of a trade nearly as often.
Wishcoin Crab image 1.5 This is passable if you need a defensive creature in your Blue decks, and blocks surprisingly well, even in the later part of the game.
Hunted Witness image 2.5 One mana 1/1s that leave behind 1/1s tend to be pretty decent in Limited, and that’s certainly the case here, especially with White aggro decks being so real in the format.
Take Heart image 2.0 This trick is fine. One mana for +2/+2 tends to be solid in Limited, and the life gain tacked on is nice.
Capture Sphere image 3.0 This is pretty nice, as far as Blue removal spells go. Locking down a creature for 4, and being able to do it at Instant speed is fine. Of course, not turning off activated abilities and stuff like that is a bummer, but this does a decent job.
Garrison Sergeant image 1.5 In a deck with a lot of Gates this is a decent playable, though a 5-mana 3/3 with Double Strike isn’t exactly amazing either.
Collar the Culprit image 1.5 This is clunky for how situational it is. Being an instant is nice, though.
Pause for Reflection image 0.0 As usual, Fog isn’t really worth playing in Limited.
Spinal Centipede image 2.5 This has decent stats, and it leaves some value behind as long as you have another creature – and usually you do!
Command the Storm image 2.5 This has bad stats, and its combat damage trigger is only useful in very narrow situations.
Izzet Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 2 Pick 4: Sonic Assault
Kraul Swarm image 2.5 The Swarm has high power for 5-mana Flyer – that’s enough that it can’t just be ignored, and the fact that it can keep coming back can really present a problem for your opponent.
Muse Drake image 2.5 A 4-mana 1/3 with Flying isn’t the most impressive stat-line, but because it replaces itself right away it actually tends to be feel like a pretty decent card.
Wishcoin Crab image 1.5 This is passable if you need a defensive creature in your Blue decks, and blocks surprisingly well, even in the later part of the game.
Child of Night image 2.0 This has decent stats and lifelink. Not much more to say about it!
Boros Locket image 2.0 These are all fine. They can help you splash a color, they ramp you a bit, and you can cash them in for cards in the late game, which is good – because drawing mana rocks great is pretty bad.
Collar the Culprit image 1.5 This is clunky for how situational it is. Being an instant is nice, though.
Prey Upon image 2.5 As usual, Green has plenty of beefy creatures around that can really take advantage of this. Just pick your spots with it carefully so you don’t get blown out.
Sonic Assault image 3.0 This is a key card in aggressive Izzet decks, as it represents a ton of damage. Obviously there’s the two damage that it does, but because you also tap down a creature, you make it easier for your creatures to get in for damage – and because its an Instant, you often get some additional bonuses to trigger with the cards you have in play. So, casting this and Jump-Starting it in the same turn often means game over!
Dazzling Lights image 1.5 This kind of effect is pretty underwhelming, as it just doesn’t accomplish enough most of the time. However, the fact that this format has a spell deck definitely upgrades it a bit, and Surveil isn’t too bad either.
Maximize Velocity image 2.0 This is a nice card in the aggressive Izzet decks, as you usually get some value out of just casting spells, so cheap ones like this are nice, especially because it can help you do more damage out of nowhere.
Fire Urchin image 2.0 Not too bad of a payoff if you’re in the aggressive Izzet deck, but certainly not one you go after very aggressively.
Dimir Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 2 Pick 5: Niv-Mizzet, Parun
Niv-Mizzet, Parun image 5.0 Don’t be put off by the somewhat challenging mana cost here – Niv-Mizzet is a bomb. You do need to have basically all of the lands in your deck produce either Blue or Red, but that’s pretty doable and well worth it, since you get a massive Flyer who gives you all kinds of value. Pinging something every time you draw is pretty powerful, and you get to draw extra any time a player cast an instant or sorcery. This means that if your opponent kills Niv right away, you get a card and a damage out of it, and that’s a pretty good fail case!
Street Riot image 0.0 This is really bad. It is a 5-mana Enchantment that doesn’t add to the board very effectively. Sure, it makes your attacks better, but you need a pretty nice board state for this to enable anything special, and that’s some very real set up. It is a real bummer it doesn’t offer any boost at all on your opponent’s turn.
Pack's Favor image 1.5 This is a decent trick, and it is sweet that sometimes you can cast it when you seemingly have no mana.
Darkblade Agent image 2.5 This isn’t a bad surveil payoff, as it can be really obnoxious as an attacker. Your opponent basically never wants to give you a free card, so they often have to block, and the best they’ll be able to do is trade.
Devious Cover-Up image 1.0 // 2.5 This is a pretty bad counterspell in most decks in the format. Four mana to counter something tends to be way too clunky, and shuffling cards into your deck isn’t that big of a deal. However, the UW decks in this format can sometimes end up in very real controlling builds where Devious Cover-Up is actually a quality card, especially if you have two of them to loop. You can just lock down the board and outvalue your opponent until their dead! So, this gets a build around grade. In the right deck, it is pretty legit – but don’t try to play it in any old Blue deck.
Wishcoin Crab image 1.5 This is passable if you need a defensive creature in your Blue decks, and blocks surprisingly well, even in the later part of the game.
Intrusive Packbeast image 2.0 Having one of these in aggressive decks isn’t too bad, as it can often allow you to swing for lethal if you’re curving out, but it is also a card you end up cutting pretty often, and certainly not something you need in those decks.
Moodmark Painter image 1.0 This Common is a big part of why Golgari decks in this format struggle, because it just isn’t very good, and its supposed to be a key Common for that deck! It has bad stats, and while the boost it offers can be nice, it usually isn’t enough for this card to be very good.
Erstwhile Trooper image 1.0 This only letting you discard creatures is a huge problem. The idea is to set up Undergrowth, but you’d much rather get a real effect out of your creatures before they go to the graveyard, and buffing this +2/+2 doesn’t really qualify as a “real” effect.
Boros Locket image 2.0 These are all fine. They can help you splash a color, they ramp you a bit, and you can cash them in for cards in the late game, which is good – because drawing mana rocks great is pretty bad.
Boros Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 2 Pick 6: Unexplained Disappearance
Intrusive Packbeast image 2.0 Having one of these in aggressive decks isn’t too bad, as it can often allow you to swing for lethal if you’re curving out, but it is also a card you end up cutting pretty often, and certainly not something you need in those decks.
Barrier of Bones image 1.5 0-mana 0/3s with Defender are rarely very good in Limited, and that doesn’t really change here, even with Surveil 1.
Douser of Lights image 2.0 This might look like the usually mediocre vanilla creature that you’ll just never play…but it turns out that a 5-mana 4/5 is very reasonable in this format’s more controlling decks. It blocks a whole lot of stuff and even attacks surprisingly well.
Rhizome Lurcher image 2.0 This is another pretty disappointing Common Undergrowth card. It isn’t bad, but the upside here usually isn’t all that great by turn 4 – getting a 3/3 or a 4/4 is what you can expect.
Unexplained Disappearance image 2.5 Two mana instant bounce spells are always decent enough, especially when you can use them in response to a combat trick or something like that, and tacking on Surveil is pretty nice.
Healer's Hawk image 3.0 This is a really nice one-drop, especially in Boros, since it is such a great creature to Mentor. Putting counters on this can quickly put the game out of reach for your opponent.
Urban Utopia image 1.5 This fixes decently and replaces itself, but you just don’t really need it in this format, as Gates are pretty easy to come by.
Devious Cover-Up image 1.0 // 2.5 This is a pretty bad counterspell in most decks in the format. Four mana to counter something tends to be way too clunky, and shuffling cards into your deck isn’t that big of a deal. However, the UW decks in this format can sometimes end up in very real controlling builds where Devious Cover-Up is actually a quality card, especially if you have two of them to loop. You can just lock down the board and outvalue your opponent until their dead! So, this gets a build around grade. In the right deck, it is pretty legit – but don’t try to play it in any old Blue deck.
Wojek Bodyguard image 2.5 This needs friends to attack with, but that’s okay, because that’s usually what you’re going to be doing in a Boros deck that likes mentoring stuff, and this can train pretty much all the creatures that are one and two drops, making it a pretty nice Common.
Boros Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 2 Pick 7: Maximize Velocity
Undercity Necrolisk image 2.5 A 4-mana 3/3 feels kinda rough in this format, but this has a pretty nice ability – gobbling up other creatures to make this evasive and bigger feels good, especially if you have some good fodder.
Swarm Guildmage image 3.5 Giving Menace to your whole board can often close out a game, and in the early portion of the game it is just an efficient creature who might gain you a bit of life.
Pause for Reflection image 0.0 As usual, Fog isn’t really worth playing in Limited.
Maximize Velocity image 2.0 This is a nice card in the aggressive Izzet decks, as you usually get some value out of just casting spells, so cheap ones like this are nice, especially because it can help you do more damage out of nowhere.
Darkblade Agent image 2.5 This isn’t a bad surveil payoff, as it can be really obnoxious as an attacker. Your opponent basically never wants to give you a free card, so they often have to block, and the best they’ll be able to do is trade.
Collar the Culprit image 1.5 This is clunky for how situational it is. Being an instant is nice, though.
Vigorspore Wurm image 2.0 This is a passable Undergrowth payoff, as it usually gives a relevant stats boost. The fact it can’t be double blocked is pretty real too, and this creature is surprisingly difficult to stop in combat.
Sworn Companions image 2.0 If you’re interested in going wide, this does a decent job of it. You’re more likely to want to do that in GW.
Generous Stray image 2.0 This isn’t a bad thing to sacrifice to various effects, but its stats are pretty disappointing.
Pack 2 Pick 8: Wojek Bodyguard
Vicious Rumors image 1.0 This does a bunch of small stuff, but all of it is pretty irrelevant most of the time.
Wall of Mist image 1.5 This is passable in the Blue control decks in the format, but you’re probably hoping for defensive creatures that are more impactful than this.
Take Heart image 2.0 This trick is fine. One mana for +2/+2 tends to be solid in Limited, and the life gain tacked on is nice.
Erstwhile Trooper image 1.0 This only letting you discard creatures is a huge problem. The idea is to set up Undergrowth, but you’d much rather get a real effect out of your creatures before they go to the graveyard, and buffing this +2/+2 doesn’t really qualify as a “real” effect.
Wojek Bodyguard image 2.5 This needs friends to attack with, but that’s okay, because that’s usually what you’re going to be doing in a Boros deck that likes mentoring stuff, and this can train pretty much all the creatures that are one and two drops, making it a pretty nice Common.
Dimir Locket image 2.0 These are all fine. They can help you splash a color, they ramp you a bit, and you can cash them in for cards in the late game, which is good – because drawing mana rocks great is pretty bad.
Cosmotronic Wave image 2.5 This is a really nice card for aggressive Izzet and Boros decks, as it often wins you the game. It is a key card in those decks, but also not something you want to go after super early, since it is pretty much only good in those decks – where you’ll always want 1-2 copies of it.
Boros Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 2 Pick 9: Bartizan Bats
Portcullis Vine image 1.0 Its nice that you can throw this away for a card when it isn’t useful. Problem is, it usually isn’t useful, and paying 3 mana to draw a card isn’t exactly a deal.
Wall of Mist image 1.5 This is passable in the Blue control decks in the format, but you’re probably hoping for defensive creatures that are more impactful than this.
Erstwhile Trooper image 1.0 This only letting you discard creatures is a huge problem. The idea is to set up Undergrowth, but you’d much rather get a real effect out of your creatures before they go to the graveyard, and buffing this +2/+2 doesn’t really qualify as a “real” effect.
Bartizan Bats image 2.0 3 power on a flyer for 4 mana is a decent deal…but the one toughness is pretty rough, as it means your opponent can often trade up for this thing with cheap removal or 1/1 flying tokens.
Rosemane Centaur image 2.5 This isn’t terrible if you just cast it normally, so the Convoke upside makes it a pretty nice Common.
Urban Utopia image 1.5 This fixes decently and replaces itself, but you just don’t really need it in this format, as Gates are pretty easy to come by.
Child of Night image 2.0 This has decent stats and lifelink. Not much more to say about it!
Pack 2 Pick 10: Izzet Guildgate
Book Devourer image 1.0 This has bad stats, and its combat damage trigger is only useful in very narrow situations.
Pack's Favor image 1.5 This is a decent trick, and it is sweet that sometimes you can cast it when you seemingly have no mana.
Selesnya Locket image 2.0 These are all fine. They can help you splash a color, they ramp you a bit, and you can cash them in for cards in the late game, which is good – because drawing mana rocks great is pretty bad.
Take Heart image 2.0 This trick is fine. One mana for +2/+2 tends to be solid in Limited, and the life gain tacked on is nice.
Wall of Mist image 1.5 This is passable in the Blue control decks in the format, but you’re probably hoping for defensive creatures that are more impactful than this.
Izzet Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 2 Pick 11: Command the Storm
Wishcoin Crab image 1.5 This is passable if you need a defensive creature in your Blue decks, and blocks surprisingly well, even in the later part of the game.
Take Heart image 2.0 This trick is fine. One mana for +2/+2 tends to be solid in Limited, and the life gain tacked on is nice.
Pause for Reflection image 0.0 As usual, Fog isn’t really worth playing in Limited.
Command the Storm image 2.5 This has bad stats, and its combat damage trigger is only useful in very narrow situations.
Izzet Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 2 Pick 12: Wishcoin Crab
Wishcoin Crab image 1.5 This is passable if you need a defensive creature in your Blue decks, and blocks surprisingly well, even in the later part of the game.
Boros Locket image 2.0 These are all fine. They can help you splash a color, they ramp you a bit, and you can cash them in for cards in the late game, which is good – because drawing mana rocks great is pretty bad.
Dazzling Lights image 1.5 This kind of effect is pretty underwhelming, as it just doesn’t accomplish enough most of the time. However, the fact that this format has a spell deck definitely upgrades it a bit, and Surveil isn’t too bad either.
Maximize Velocity image 2.0 This is a nice card in the aggressive Izzet decks, as you usually get some value out of just casting spells, so cheap ones like this are nice, especially because it can help you do more damage out of nowhere.
Pack 2 Pick 13: Street Riot
Street Riot image 0.0 This is really bad. It is a 5-mana Enchantment that doesn’t add to the board very effectively. Sure, it makes your attacks better, but you need a pretty nice board state for this to enable anything special, and that’s some very real set up. It is a real bummer it doesn’t offer any boost at all on your opponent’s turn.
Moodmark Painter image 1.0 This Common is a big part of why Golgari decks in this format struggle, because it just isn’t very good, and its supposed to be a key Common for that deck! It has bad stats, and while the boost it offers can be nice, it usually isn’t enough for this card to be very good.
Boros Locket image 2.0 These are all fine. They can help you splash a color, they ramp you a bit, and you can cash them in for cards in the late game, which is good – because drawing mana rocks great is pretty bad.
Pack 2 Pick 14: Devious Cover-Up
Urban Utopia image 1.5 This fixes decently and replaces itself, but you just don’t really need it in this format, as Gates are pretty easy to come by.
Devious Cover-Up image 1.0 // 2.5 This is a pretty bad counterspell in most decks in the format. Four mana to counter something tends to be way too clunky, and shuffling cards into your deck isn’t that big of a deal. However, the UW decks in this format can sometimes end up in very real controlling builds where Devious Cover-Up is actually a quality card, especially if you have two of them to loop. You can just lock down the board and outvalue your opponent until their dead! So, this gets a build around grade. In the right deck, it is pretty legit – but don’t try to play it in any old Blue deck.
Pack 2 Pick 15: Pause for Reflection
Ral, Izzet Viceroy image 4.0 Ral is strong, but he isn’t quite a bomb. His +1 lets you draw cards and load the graveyard, and loading the graveyard is pretty nice because of his -3, which is a removal spell that is dependent on instants and sorceries ending up in the graveyard or in exile. The awkward thing is sometimes you play him and his -3 just doesn’t do enough damage, even in an Izzet deck! Still, he gives you tons of value, and sometimes he can even get to his ultimate, which pretty much means he wins you the game.
Thought Erasure image 2.5 This is pretty efficient disruption – we usually see this effect for three mana - and adding Surveil 1 to the mix is pretty sweet.
Kraul Harpooner image 3.0 A two mana 3/2 with Reach is already a pretty darn good rate, so having the upside of just killing an opposing flyer right away is great – although keep in mind, as long as the creature it fights has 2 or more power, the Harpooner is going down too! But that’s okay – this is sort of like a card that is either an efficient creature or Plummet, and that’s a pretty nice modal card to have. If you get to kill something with 1 power and it sticks around, it feels really absurd.
Beamsplitter Mage image 2.0 There aren’t really enough good ways to abuse the Mage’s ability, though there are a few, and at worse it is a two mana 2/2.
Tenth District Guard image 1.5 This has okay starting stats, but its ETB ability is irrelevant about 90% of the time, and that means this isn’t that much better than a vanilla two mana 2/2.
Muse Drake image 2.5 A 4-mana 1/3 with Flying isn’t the most impressive stat-line, but because it replaces itself right away it actually tends to be feel like a pretty decent card.
Moodmark Painter image 1.0 This Common is a big part of why Golgari decks in this format struggle, because it just isn’t very good, and its supposed to be a key Common for that deck! It has bad stats, and while the boost it offers can be nice, it usually isn’t enough for this card to be very good.
Wojek Bodyguard image 2.5 This needs friends to attack with, but that’s okay, because that’s usually what you’re going to be doing in a Boros deck that likes mentoring stuff, and this can train pretty much all the creatures that are one and two drops, making it a pretty nice Common.
Undercity Uprising image 1.5 This is a pretty big underperformer. Deathtouch + Fight seems like a good idea, and your whole board even gets Deathtouch! But it turns out there are many board states where you can’t really do anything profitable with this. Sure, your creature you fight with can kill anything, but you’re frequently 2-for-1ing yourself when you do it, and death touch on your board isn’t a big help, though it does help you attack better sometimes. This being clunky and sorcery speed also sets you up to get blown out.
Rhizome Lurcher image 2.0 This is another pretty disappointing Common Undergrowth card. It isn’t bad, but the upside here usually isn’t all that great by turn 4 – getting a 3/3 or a 4/4 is what you can expect.
Never Happened image 1.5 Coercion is very rarely good in Limited, but this format having some graveyard stuff does mean you often have something to go after in their graveyard too, in which case this can feel a bit like a 2-for-1.
Collar the Culprit image 1.5 This is clunky for how situational it is. Being an instant is nice, though.
Kraul Foragers image 2.5 This isn’t a terrible Undergrowth payoff. As long as you are gaining 2+ life with it, it feels pretty good, and it is often enough to help you stabilize against more aggressive decks.
Luminous Bonds image 3.0 As it is most of the time, this is premium removal. Turning off attacking and blocking is pretty good for the cost.
Dimir Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 3 Pick 1: Ral, Izzet Viceroy
Ral, Izzet Viceroy image 4.0 Ral is strong, but he isn’t quite a bomb. His +1 lets you draw cards and load the graveyard, and loading the graveyard is pretty nice because of his -3, which is a removal spell that is dependent on instants and sorceries ending up in the graveyard or in exile. The awkward thing is sometimes you play him and his -3 just doesn’t do enough damage, even in an Izzet deck! Still, he gives you tons of value, and sometimes he can even get to his ultimate, which pretty much means he wins you the game.
Thought Erasure image 2.5 This is pretty efficient disruption – we usually see this effect for three mana - and adding Surveil 1 to the mix is pretty sweet.
Kraul Harpooner image 3.0 A two mana 3/2 with Reach is already a pretty darn good rate, so having the upside of just killing an opposing flyer right away is great – although keep in mind, as long as the creature it fights has 2 or more power, the Harpooner is going down too! But that’s okay – this is sort of like a card that is either an efficient creature or Plummet, and that’s a pretty nice modal card to have. If you get to kill something with 1 power and it sticks around, it feels really absurd.
Beamsplitter Mage image 2.0 There aren’t really enough good ways to abuse the Mage’s ability, though there are a few, and at worse it is a two mana 2/2.
Tenth District Guard image 1.5 This has okay starting stats, but its ETB ability is irrelevant about 90% of the time, and that means this isn’t that much better than a vanilla two mana 2/2.
Muse Drake image 2.5 A 4-mana 1/3 with Flying isn’t the most impressive stat-line, but because it replaces itself right away it actually tends to be feel like a pretty decent card.
Moodmark Painter image 1.0 This Common is a big part of why Golgari decks in this format struggle, because it just isn’t very good, and its supposed to be a key Common for that deck! It has bad stats, and while the boost it offers can be nice, it usually isn’t enough for this card to be very good.
Wojek Bodyguard image 2.5 This needs friends to attack with, but that’s okay, because that’s usually what you’re going to be doing in a Boros deck that likes mentoring stuff, and this can train pretty much all the creatures that are one and two drops, making it a pretty nice Common.
Undercity Uprising image 1.5 This is a pretty big underperformer. Deathtouch + Fight seems like a good idea, and your whole board even gets Deathtouch! But it turns out there are many board states where you can’t really do anything profitable with this. Sure, your creature you fight with can kill anything, but you’re frequently 2-for-1ing yourself when you do it, and death touch on your board isn’t a big help, though it does help you attack better sometimes. This being clunky and sorcery speed also sets you up to get blown out.
Rhizome Lurcher image 2.0 This is another pretty disappointing Common Undergrowth card. It isn’t bad, but the upside here usually isn’t all that great by turn 4 – getting a 3/3 or a 4/4 is what you can expect.
Never Happened image 1.5 Coercion is very rarely good in Limited, but this format having some graveyard stuff does mean you often have something to go after in their graveyard too, in which case this can feel a bit like a 2-for-1.
Collar the Culprit image 1.5 This is clunky for how situational it is. Being an instant is nice, though.
Kraul Foragers image 2.5 This isn’t a terrible Undergrowth payoff. As long as you are gaining 2+ life with it, it feels pretty good, and it is often enough to help you stabilize against more aggressive decks.
Luminous Bonds image 3.0 As it is most of the time, this is premium removal. Turning off attacking and blocking is pretty good for the cost.
Dimir Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 3 Pick 2: Goblin Electromancer
Creeping Chill image 0.0 Even with surveil, there isn’t a way to build around this enough for it to be worth it – unless you end up with 3+ copies, in which case things start to get interesting. However, ending up with enough Surveil and other self-mill to power it and 3+ copies of this just won’t happen.
League Guildmage image 3.5 Drawing cards with this is where most of the value comes from, but sometimes you have a bunch of extra mana, and copying one of your spells – especially removal or card draw – is a good way to get an advantage.
Smelt-Ward Minotaur image 2.5 This is pretty nice in either of the Red aggressive decks (Izzet and Boros), as turning off a blocker is a big deal! Izzet will have more spells to enable it than Boros, but it has decent stats and solid upside, so its definitely nice in both.
Douser of Lights image 2.0 This might look like the usually mediocre vanilla creature that you’ll just never play…but it turns out that a 5-mana 4/5 is very reasonable in this format’s more controlling decks. It blocks a whole lot of stuff and even attacks surprisingly well.
Garrison Sergeant image 1.5 In a deck with a lot of Gates this is a decent playable, though a 5-mana 3/3 with Double Strike isn’t exactly amazing either.
Hypothesizzle image 3.0 5 mana for 4 damage isn’t an amazing rate, but you also effectively get to loot. Now, you do have to discard a non-land which tends to mean you lose a very real card, but if you combine it with Jump-Start it doesn’t feel too bad.
Dazzling Lights image 1.5 This kind of effect is pretty underwhelming, as it just doesn’t accomplish enough most of the time. However, the fact that this format has a spell deck definitely upgrades it a bit, and Surveil isn’t too bad either.
Fire Urchin image 2.0 Not too bad of a payoff if you’re in the aggressive Izzet deck, but certainly not one you go after very aggressively.
Muse Drake image 2.5 A 4-mana 1/3 with Flying isn’t the most impressive stat-line, but because it replaces itself right away it actually tends to be feel like a pretty decent card.
Rhizome Lurcher image 2.0 This is another pretty disappointing Common Undergrowth card. It isn’t bad, but the upside here usually isn’t all that great by turn 4 – getting a 3/3 or a 4/4 is what you can expect.
Sworn Companions image 2.0 If you’re interested in going wide, this does a decent job of it. You’re more likely to want to do that in GW.
Barrier of Bones image 1.5 0-mana 0/3s with Defender are rarely very good in Limited, and that doesn’t really change here, even with Surveil 1.
Izzet Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 3 Pick 3: Smelt-Ward Minotaur
Creeping Chill image 0.0 Even with surveil, there isn’t a way to build around this enough for it to be worth it – unless you end up with 3+ copies, in which case things start to get interesting. However, ending up with enough Surveil and other self-mill to power it and 3+ copies of this just won’t happen.
League Guildmage image 3.5 Drawing cards with this is where most of the value comes from, but sometimes you have a bunch of extra mana, and copying one of your spells – especially removal or card draw – is a good way to get an advantage.
Smelt-Ward Minotaur image 2.5 This is pretty nice in either of the Red aggressive decks (Izzet and Boros), as turning off a blocker is a big deal! Izzet will have more spells to enable it than Boros, but it has decent stats and solid upside, so its definitely nice in both.
Douser of Lights image 2.0 This might look like the usually mediocre vanilla creature that you’ll just never play…but it turns out that a 5-mana 4/5 is very reasonable in this format’s more controlling decks. It blocks a whole lot of stuff and even attacks surprisingly well.
Garrison Sergeant image 1.5 In a deck with a lot of Gates this is a decent playable, though a 5-mana 3/3 with Double Strike isn’t exactly amazing either.
Hypothesizzle image 3.0 5 mana for 4 damage isn’t an amazing rate, but you also effectively get to loot. Now, you do have to discard a non-land which tends to mean you lose a very real card, but if you combine it with Jump-Start it doesn’t feel too bad.
Dazzling Lights image 1.5 This kind of effect is pretty underwhelming, as it just doesn’t accomplish enough most of the time. However, the fact that this format has a spell deck definitely upgrades it a bit, and Surveil isn’t too bad either.
Fire Urchin image 2.0 Not too bad of a payoff if you’re in the aggressive Izzet deck, but certainly not one you go after very aggressively.
Muse Drake image 2.5 A 4-mana 1/3 with Flying isn’t the most impressive stat-line, but because it replaces itself right away it actually tends to be feel like a pretty decent card.
Rhizome Lurcher image 2.0 This is another pretty disappointing Common Undergrowth card. It isn’t bad, but the upside here usually isn’t all that great by turn 4 – getting a 3/3 or a 4/4 is what you can expect.
Sworn Companions image 2.0 If you’re interested in going wide, this does a decent job of it. You’re more likely to want to do that in GW.
Barrier of Bones image 1.5 0-mana 0/3s with Defender are rarely very good in Limited, and that doesn’t really change here, even with Surveil 1.
Izzet Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 3 Pick 4: Muse Drake
Selective Snare image 1.5 It is pretty tricky to get decent value out of this. Bouncing is already an effect where you’re usually going down a card and your opponent isn’t. You do get the tempo advantage of course, but it is tough for this to be worth it, especially because the creature type thing doesn’t line up nearly as much as you’d like.
Loxodon Restorer image 2.0 This is a decent way to stabilize against aggro decks, as the life gain and the body do a pretty good job of helping you hold on. If you’re a slower White deck, the first of these is usually going to make your deck. While, if you’re more aggressive you’re not going to have any reason to play it.
Centaur Peacemaker image 2.0 While it isn’t great giving your opponent life, the fact that you both get it does mean you are coming out ahead from this card since..you know, you’re also getting this creature, so it isn’t as bad as it might seem.
Wild Ceratok image 1.5 This stat-line is passable if you’re desperate for a four drop.
Candlelight Vigil image 1.0 The boost this gives is significant, but the risk of a 2-for-1 is very real, and it generally isn’t worth the risk.
Siege Wurm image 3.0 This is pretty powerful if you can power it out on turn 5 and really, it is big enough to be relevant all game long. You definitely need to be good at going a little wide to take full advantage, but its well worth it.
Hired Poisoner image 2.5 One mana 1/1s with Deathtouch are pretty much always a 2.5. They are cheap and they can trade for anything, which is nice.
Boros Locket image 2.0 These are all fine. They can help you splash a color, they ramp you a bit, and you can cash them in for cards in the late game, which is good – because drawing mana rocks great is pretty bad.
Disdainful Stroke image 1.5 This is mostly a sideboard card, though it isn’t a complete disaster to have one in your main deck, as most decks in this format have enough targets for it. The real problem is running into a RW deck, which doesn’t tend to have many targets.
Gravitic Punch image 0.0 // 2.5 This is pretty much only playable in more aggressive Izzet decks that have various creatures whose power goes up when you cast spells. In those situations, this isn’t a bad way to do the last damage to your opponent. In all the other decks though, its unplayable. Cards that just do damage to an opponent usually aren’t great, and that’s still mostly true here.
Muse Drake image 2.5 A 4-mana 1/3 with Flying isn’t the most impressive stat-line, but because it replaces itself right away it actually tends to be feel like a pretty decent card.
Selesnya Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 3 Pick 5: Disdainful Stroke
Beamsplitter Mage image 2.0 There aren’t really enough good ways to abuse the Mage’s ability, though there are a few, and at worse it is a two mana 2/2.
Wand of Vertebrae image 0.5 This is sideboard material to be brought in against really graveyard-heavy decks.
Pack's Favor image 1.5 This is a decent trick, and it is sweet that sometimes you can cast it when you seemingly have no mana.
Siege Wurm image 3.0 This is pretty powerful if you can power it out on turn 5 and really, it is big enough to be relevant all game long. You definitely need to be good at going a little wide to take full advantage, but its well worth it.
Moodmark Painter image 1.0 This Common is a big part of why Golgari decks in this format struggle, because it just isn’t very good, and its supposed to be a key Common for that deck! It has bad stats, and while the boost it offers can be nice, it usually isn’t enough for this card to be very good.
Vedalken Mesmerist image 1.5 It isn’t a complete disaster if you play this as your two drop, but it isn’t something you should be happy about either. Its attack trigger rarely does enough.
Fearless Halberdier image 1.0 If you are short on creatures, you’ll play this. Otherwise, not so much.
Goblin Locksmith image 1.0 This isn’t that far from just being Goblin Piker, a card you really hope you don’t play in Limited.
Golgari Locket image 2.0 These are all fine. They can help you splash a color, they ramp you a bit, and you can cash them in for cards in the late game, which is good – because drawing mana rocks great is pretty bad.
Golgari Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 3 Pick 6: Vedalken Mesmerist
Beamsplitter Mage image 2.0 There aren’t really enough good ways to abuse the Mage’s ability, though there are a few, and at worse it is a two mana 2/2.
Wand of Vertebrae image 0.5 This is sideboard material to be brought in against really graveyard-heavy decks.
Pack's Favor image 1.5 This is a decent trick, and it is sweet that sometimes you can cast it when you seemingly have no mana.
Siege Wurm image 3.0 This is pretty powerful if you can power it out on turn 5 and really, it is big enough to be relevant all game long. You definitely need to be good at going a little wide to take full advantage, but its well worth it.
Moodmark Painter image 1.0 This Common is a big part of why Golgari decks in this format struggle, because it just isn’t very good, and its supposed to be a key Common for that deck! It has bad stats, and while the boost it offers can be nice, it usually isn’t enough for this card to be very good.
Vedalken Mesmerist image 1.5 It isn’t a complete disaster if you play this as your two drop, but it isn’t something you should be happy about either. Its attack trigger rarely does enough.
Fearless Halberdier image 1.0 If you are short on creatures, you’ll play this. Otherwise, not so much.
Goblin Locksmith image 1.0 This isn’t that far from just being Goblin Piker, a card you really hope you don’t play in Limited.
Golgari Locket image 2.0 These are all fine. They can help you splash a color, they ramp you a bit, and you can cash them in for cards in the late game, which is good – because drawing mana rocks great is pretty bad.
Golgari Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 3 Pick 7: Wojek Bodyguard
Gatekeeper Gargoyle image 2.5 This is a decent payoff for decks with lots of gates in them.
Creeping Chill image 0.0 Even with surveil, there isn’t a way to build around this enough for it to be worth it – unless you end up with 3+ copies, in which case things start to get interesting. However, ending up with enough Surveil and other self-mill to power it and 3+ copies of this just won’t happen.
Gateway Plaza image 2.5 This is nice fixing that happens to be a Gate, though having to effectively pay one mana for it is a bit of a bummer.
Rubblebelt Boar image 2.0 Without Jump-Start, this is a pretty bad card since your opponent can usually make a decision that won’t hurt them very much – and that’s usually the damage. However, with Jump-Start, you end up really putting the screws to your opponent in terms of damage, and the second time you cast this your opponent can often be in a bind, so this is surprisingly solid.
Pause for Reflection image 0.0 As usual, Fog isn’t really worth playing in Limited.
Candlelight Vigil image 1.0 The boost this gives is significant, but the risk of a 2-for-1 is very real, and it generally isn’t worth the risk.
Wojek Bodyguard image 2.5 This needs friends to attack with, but that’s okay, because that’s usually what you’re going to be doing in a Boros deck that likes mentoring stuff, and this can train pretty much all the creatures that are one and two drops, making it a pretty nice Common.
Collar the Culprit image 1.5 This is clunky for how situational it is. Being an instant is nice, though.
Boros Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 3 Pick 8: Goblin Electromancer
Wand of Vertebrae image 0.5 This is sideboard material to be brought in against really graveyard-heavy decks.
Sonic Assault image 3.0 This is a key card in aggressive Izzet decks, as it represents a ton of damage. Obviously there’s the two damage that it does, but because you also tap down a creature, you make it easier for your creatures to get in for damage – and because its an Instant, you often get some additional bonuses to trigger with the cards you have in play. So, casting this and Jump-Starting it in the same turn often means game over!
Goblin Electromancer image 3.0 Reducing the cost of spells is a pretty big deal, so its nice that it comes in a two mana 2/2 package.
Spinal Centipede image 2.5 This has decent stats, and it leaves some value behind as long as you have another creature – and usually you do!
Wojek Bodyguard image 2.5 This needs friends to attack with, but that’s okay, because that’s usually what you’re going to be doing in a Boros deck that likes mentoring stuff, and this can train pretty much all the creatures that are one and two drops, making it a pretty nice Common.
Sumala Woodshaper image 3.0 This will usually draw you a card, and that means it typically represents a 2-for-1, which goes a long way towards making up for its bad stats. You do want to make sure you have like 18 cards in your deck it can hit, but that’s not a big challenge.
Dazzling Lights image 1.5 This kind of effect is pretty underwhelming, as it just doesn’t accomplish enough most of the time. However, the fact that this format has a spell deck definitely upgrades it a bit, and Surveil isn’t too bad either.
Golgari Guildgate image 2.5 These are good fixing, but they get bonus points because there are several cards in the set that pay you off for playing Gates.
Pack 3 Pick 9: Muse Drake
Goblin Banneret image 3.0 Because this can pump its power, it can end up Mentoring a whole lot of stuff. And sure, it only has one toughness, but like with a lot of the Mentors, you feel pretty good if the best your opponent can do is trade with the Mentor, because that means you get a +1/+1 counter worth of value – and if they can’t take down your Mentor, things really get out of hand in your favor.
Fearless Halberdier image 1.0 If you are short on creatures, you’ll play this. Otherwise, not so much.
Burglar Rat image 2.0 We see two mana 1/1s that make an opponent discard reasonably often, and they are always decent, though your opponent discarding a Jump-Start card to this can be a little painful.
Gravitic Punch image 0.0 // 2.5 This is pretty much only playable in more aggressive Izzet decks that have various creatures whose power goes up when you cast spells. In those situations, this isn’t a bad way to do the last damage to your opponent. In all the other decks though, its unplayable. Cards that just do damage to an opponent usually aren’t great, and that’s still mostly true here.
Wary Okapi image 2.0 This is a decent French Vanilla creature, but not much else!
Muse Drake image 2.5 A 4-mana 1/3 with Flying isn’t the most impressive stat-line, but because it replaces itself right away it actually tends to be feel like a pretty decent card.
Pack 3 Pick 10: Goblin Banneret
Goblin Banneret image 3.0 Because this can pump its power, it can end up Mentoring a whole lot of stuff. And sure, it only has one toughness, but like with a lot of the Mentors, you feel pretty good if the best your opponent can do is trade with the Mentor, because that means you get a +1/+1 counter worth of value – and if they can’t take down your Mentor, things really get out of hand in your favor.
Fearless Halberdier image 1.0 If you are short on creatures, you’ll play this. Otherwise, not so much.
Burglar Rat image 2.0 We see two mana 1/1s that make an opponent discard reasonably often, and they are always decent, though your opponent discarding a Jump-Start card to this can be a little painful.
Gravitic Punch image 0.0 // 2.5 This is pretty much only playable in more aggressive Izzet decks that have various creatures whose power goes up when you cast spells. In those situations, this isn’t a bad way to do the last damage to your opponent. In all the other decks though, its unplayable. Cards that just do damage to an opponent usually aren’t great, and that’s still mostly true here.
Wary Okapi image 2.0 This is a decent French Vanilla creature, but not much else!
Muse Drake image 2.5 A 4-mana 1/3 with Flying isn’t the most impressive stat-line, but because it replaces itself right away it actually tends to be feel like a pretty decent card.
Pack 3 Pick 11: Hypothesizzle
Garrison Sergeant image 1.5 In a deck with a lot of Gates this is a decent playable, though a 5-mana 3/3 with Double Strike isn’t exactly amazing either.
Hypothesizzle image 3.0 5 mana for 4 damage isn’t an amazing rate, but you also effectively get to loot. Now, you do have to discard a non-land which tends to mean you lose a very real card, but if you combine it with Jump-Start it doesn’t feel too bad.
Dazzling Lights image 1.5 This kind of effect is pretty underwhelming, as it just doesn’t accomplish enough most of the time. However, the fact that this format has a spell deck definitely upgrades it a bit, and Surveil isn’t too bad either.
Fire Urchin image 2.0 Not too bad of a payoff if you’re in the aggressive Izzet deck, but certainly not one you go after very aggressively.
Barrier of Bones image 1.5 0-mana 0/3s with Defender are rarely very good in Limited, and that doesn’t really change here, even with Surveil 1.
Pack 3 Pick 12: Gravitic Punch
Wild Ceratok image 1.5 This stat-line is passable if you’re desperate for a four drop.
Candlelight Vigil image 1.0 The boost this gives is significant, but the risk of a 2-for-1 is very real, and it generally isn’t worth the risk.
Boros Locket image 2.0 These are all fine. They can help you splash a color, they ramp you a bit, and you can cash them in for cards in the late game, which is good – because drawing mana rocks great is pretty bad.
Gravitic Punch image 0.0 // 2.5 This is pretty much only playable in more aggressive Izzet decks that have various creatures whose power goes up when you cast spells. In those situations, this isn’t a bad way to do the last damage to your opponent. In all the other decks though, its unplayable. Cards that just do damage to an opponent usually aren’t great, and that’s still mostly true here.
Pack 3 Pick 13: Fearless Halberdier
Fearless Halberdier image 1.0 If you are short on creatures, you’ll play this. Otherwise, not so much.
Pause for Reflection image 0.0 As usual, Fog isn’t really worth playing in Limited.
Maniacal Rage image 1.5 This is a big boost for the cost, and it has the upside of being able to turn off an opposing blocker, but its still an Aura that can really result in you getting blown out, and it doesn’t quite do enough to overcome that.
Pack 3 Pick 14: Fearless Halberdier
Moodmark Painter image 1.0 This Common is a big part of why Golgari decks in this format struggle, because it just isn’t very good, and its supposed to be a key Common for that deck! It has bad stats, and while the boost it offers can be nice, it usually isn’t enough for this card to be very good.
Fearless Halberdier image 1.0 If you are short on creatures, you’ll play this. Otherwise, not so much.
Pack 3 Pick 15: Rubblebelt Boar
Rubblebelt Boar image 2.0 Without Jump-Start, this is a pretty bad card since your opponent can usually make a decision that won’t hurt them very much – and that’s usually the damage. However, with Jump-Start, you end up really putting the screws to your opponent in terms of damage, and the second time you cast this your opponent can often be in a bind, so this is surprisingly solid.
Draft Pick Overview