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Premier Draft GRN 08.januar 2021

8 January 04:57 - waffleviking 7 Wins - 2 Losses
Maindeck
Creature (15)
1 Midnight Reaper image
1 Sunhome Stalwart image
1 District Guide image
1 Swarm Guildmage image
1 Chamber Sentry image
1 Centaur Peacemaker image
1 Rosemane Centaur image
1 Siege Wurm image
1 Erstwhile Trooper image
1 Burglar Rat image
1 Ledev Champion image
1 Hunted Witness image
1 Generous Stray image
1 Ochran Assassin image
1 Flight of Equenauts image
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (9)
1 Sworn Companions image
1 Flower // Flourish image
1 Dead Weight image
1 Conclave Tribunal image
1 Assassin's Trophy image
2 Deadly Visit image
1 Luminous Bonds image
1 Circuitous Route image
Land (16)
1 Golgari Guildgate image
1 Selesnya Guildgate image
4 Plains image
4 Swamp image
3 Forest image
2 Selesnya Guildgate image
1 Golgari Guildgate image
Sideboard
1 Pilfering Imp image
1 Kraul Foragers image
1 Erstwhile Trooper image
1 Loxodon Restorer image
2 Parhelion Patrol image
1 Wild Ceratok image
1 Hammer Dropper image
1 Inescapable Blaze image
2 Demotion image
1 Righteous Blow image
1 Gird for Battle image
1 Selesnya Locket image
1 Silent Dart image
1 Izzet Locket image

Pack 1 Pick 1: Swarm Guildmage
Deafening Clarion image 4.0 This being a modal sweeper is pretty nice. The problem with doing 3 to the whole board is that sometimes that effect just doesn’t do enough, or hurts you more than your opponent. So, the fact that you can choose to use this to just give life link is those situations is pretty sweet.
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.
Chemister's Insight image 3.5 4 mana to draw two isn’t great, but adding Jump-Start is a big deal! The UR deck in this format is all about spells, so the fact that Jump-Start cards give you two of those triggers is really nice, and getting to draw 4 off of this in the process is pretty nice.
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.
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.
Maximize Altitude image 2.0 This is a nice tool for aggressive Izzet decks, as it can trigger your spell payoffs while also allowing you to attack pretty hard with one of your creatures in the air.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 1 Pick 2: Chamber Sentry
Chamber Sentry image 4.0 This is surprisingly powerful. Casting this as a two mana 2/2is actually already a pretty good card, since it can double as Shock when that’s the case. This format has pretty good mana too, so casting it larger isn’t that hard, and even getting it back from your graveyard is very realistic, and when you can keep bringing this back and casting it, your opponent is just going to lose.
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.
Mephitic Vapors image 2.0 This isn’t a bad card for countering the aggressive decks in the format, as it can often do some significant damage to their board, and getting to Surveil can help you find what you need.
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.
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.
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.
Dimir Informant image 2.5 This has decent defensive stats, and Surveil 2 is some pretty nice card selection, even independent of the various payoffs in the format.
Command the Storm image 2.5 This has bad stats, and its combat damage trigger is only useful in very narrow situations.
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.
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.
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 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: Inescapable Blaze
Inescapable Blaze image 3.0 This is pretty clunky in this format – 6 mana is just a ton, and doing 6 for that big investment isn’t amazing, though it is enough to kill most creatures. The fact you can go after the opponent is also pretty sweet.
Affectionate Indrik image 3.5 This can usually come down and kill something, while sticking around, and that’s a great way to stabilize after you’ve been behind early, making this a 6-drop that is definitely worth playing.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Ledev Guardian image 1.5 This isn’t that great whether you cast it or power it out with Convoke.
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!
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.
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.
Direct Current image 3.0 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.
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 1 Pick 4: Pilfering Imp
Bounty Agent image 2.5 You’re mostly just getting a two mana 2/2 with Vigilance here, and that’s a decent card, especially in a format with lots of ways to put counters on it.
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.
Leapfrog image
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Maximize Altitude image 2.0 This is a nice tool for aggressive Izzet decks, as it can trigger your spell payoffs while also allowing you to attack pretty hard with one of your creatures in the air.
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.
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 1 Pick 5: Dead Weight
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.
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.
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.
Fresh-Faced Recruit image 3.0 This is a nice creature for aggressive decks who is a bit of a pain to block all game long, especially if you’re putting counters on him.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 1 Pick 6: Centaur Peacemaker
Demotion image 2.0 RW decks in this format can be really aggressive, and this tends to be a solid inclusion in those decks, as turning off blocking and activated abilities is usually enough for you to keep on attacking, and the fact it costs one mana probably also means you still have mana to play another creature or use a combat trick. Outside of that deck, it isn’t nearly as good.
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.
Pause for Reflection image 0.0 As usual, Fog isn’t really worth playing in Limited.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wild Ceratok image 1.5 This stat-line is passable if you’re desperate for a four drop.
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.
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 1 Pick 7: Kraul Foragers
Silent Dart image 1.5 If you need removal, this can do it – though it isn’t exactly efficient.
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.
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.
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.
Child of Night image 2.0 This has decent stats and lifelink. Not much more to say about it!
Fresh-Faced Recruit image 3.0 This is a nice creature for aggressive decks who is a bit of a pain to block all game long, especially if you’re putting counters on him.
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.
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.
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 1 Pick 8: Selesnya Guildgate
Justice Strike image 3.0 This ends up not being able to kill stuff a little too often, but it can still kill enough stuff for only two mana that it is certainly a quality card.
Gatekeeper Gargoyle image 2.5 This is a decent payoff for decks with lots of gates in them.
Devkarin Dissident image 2.0 This is a bear with some mediocre late-game upside, which means it is decent enough.
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.
Fearless Halberdier image 1.0 If you are short on creatures, you’ll play this. Otherwise, not so much.
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.
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.
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 9: Rosemane Centaur
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.
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.
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.
Maximize Altitude image 2.0 This is a nice tool for aggressive Izzet decks, as it can trigger your spell payoffs while also allowing you to attack pretty hard with one of your creatures in the air.
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.
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.
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 1 Pick 10: Siege Wurm
Mephitic Vapors image 2.0 This isn’t a bad card for countering the aggressive decks in the format, as it can often do some significant damage to their board, and getting to Surveil can help you find what you need.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 1 Pick 11: Erstwhile Trooper
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.
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.
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.
Ledev Guardian image 1.5 This isn’t that great whether you cast it or power it out with Convoke.
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.
Pack 1 Pick 12: Golgari Guildgate
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.
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.
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.
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 1 Pick 13: Loxodon Restorer
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.
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.
Pack 1 Pick 14: Demotion
Demotion image 2.0 RW decks in this format can be really aggressive, and this tends to be a solid inclusion in those decks, as turning off blocking and activated abilities is usually enough for you to keep on attacking, and the fact it costs one mana probably also means you still have mana to play another creature or use a combat trick. Outside of that deck, it isn’t nearly as 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.
Pack 1 Pick 15: Silent Dart
Silent Dart image 1.5 If you need removal, this can do it – though it isn’t exactly efficient.
Pack 2 Pick 1: Conclave Tribunal
Light of the Legion image 5.0 This is a bomb. It has great Flying stats, comes with the powerful Mentor mechanic, and even if your opponent does kill it right away, it still gives you a ton of value. So on most boards it is a darned if you do darned if you don’t situation for your opponent, and that always feels like a bomb.
Glaive of the Guildpact image 2.5 This is a surprisingly effective Equipment. It is a bit clunky to Equip, but if your deck has some Gates in it, the boost it gives is well worth it, especially since it is combined with Menace, which makes the creature into a pretty formidable attacker.
Crush Contraband image 0.5 This is sideboard material. There aren’t enough artifacts and enchantments that do stuff to main deck this. When you do get to blow up one of each it feels pretty awesome, though!
Conclave Tribunal image 4.0 This answer pretty much anything and it does it very efficiently. Your opponent can get their permanent back of course, but most of the time they don’t, and even if they eventually do you usually come out ahead.
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.
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.
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.
Generous Stray image 2.0 This isn’t a bad thing to sacrifice to various effects, but its stats are pretty disappointing.
Vernadi Shieldmate image 2.5 This has fine stats for a two drop and slots nicely into many decks in the format.
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.
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.
Ledev Guardian image 1.5 This isn’t that great whether you cast it or power it out with Convoke.
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.
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.
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: Burglar Rat
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pause for Reflection image 0.0 As usual, Fog isn’t really worth playing in Limited.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 2 Pick 3: Assassin's Trophy
Assassin's Trophy image 3.5 This is very risky to use early, as ramping your opponent probably isn’t worth killing their two drop! However, by the late game, the downside of the card becomes increasingly irrelevant, and overall this is a great removal spell.
Haazda Marshal image 2.5 This does some pretty nice work if you play it early, especially if you do it alongside creatures who can Mentor it, so that it can attack more effectively. If it attacks and trades while giving you a 1/1 token, you’re doing a pretty good job!
Arboretum Elemental image 2.0 This is big and it has hexproof, but the cost is very real even with Convoke, and it isn’t like 5 toughness is impossible to take down in combat.
Circuitous Route image 2.5 If you need to ramp and you have an interest in gates, this is a pretty decent inclusion, but be careful using a card that doesn’t add to the board at all!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Child of Night image 2.0 This has decent stats and lifelink. Not much more to say about it!
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.
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.
Direct Current image 3.0 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.
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 4: Ledev Champion
Chemister's Insight image 3.5 4 mana to draw two isn’t great, but adding Jump-Start is a big deal! The UR deck in this format is all about spells, so the fact that Jump-Start cards give you two of those triggers is really nice, and getting to draw 4 off of this in the process is pretty nice.
Ledev Champion image 3.0 Tapping down a bunch of your stuff seems like it would be pretty bad – and, it is a downside, but it also means that this creature can often attack when your others can’t anyway. It is sort of like all of your creatures having exalted. That, coupled with the ability to make tokens, makes this a pretty nice card.
Vernadi Shieldmate image 2.5 This has fine stats for a two drop and slots nicely into many decks in the format.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 5: Deadly Visit
Wand of Vertebrae image 0.5 This is sideboard material to be brought in against really graveyard-heavy decks.
Fearless Halberdier image 1.0 If you are short on creatures, you’ll play this. Otherwise, not so much.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Deadly Visit image 3.5 This answers pretty much anything, and getting to Surveil on top of that is pretty sweet.
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 6: Hunted Witness
Goblin Cratermaker image 3.5 This is a bear with great upside – being able to Shock a creature or destroy an Artifact is very nice utility.
Demotion image 2.0 RW decks in this format can be really aggressive, and this tends to be a solid inclusion in those decks, as turning off blocking and activated abilities is usually enough for you to keep on attacking, and the fact it costs one mana probably also means you still have mana to play another creature or use a combat trick. Outside of that deck, it isn’t nearly as good.
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.
Piston-Fist Cyclops image 2.5 This is able to rumble pretty often in Izzet decks, so much so that it sort of feels like it doesn’t have Defender!
Wary Okapi image 2.0 This is a decent French Vanilla creature, but not much else!
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.
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.
Command the Storm image 2.5 This has bad stats, and its combat damage trigger is only useful in very narrow situations.
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.
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: Luminous Bonds
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.
Justice Strike image 3.0 This ends up not being able to kill stuff a little too often, but it can still kill enough stuff for only two mana that it is certainly a quality card.
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.
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.
Wary Okapi image 2.0 This is a decent French Vanilla creature, but not much else!
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.
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 2 Pick 8: Parhelion Patrol
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.
Child of Night image 2.0 This has decent stats and lifelink. Not much more to say about it!
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.
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.
Wild Ceratok image 1.5 This stat-line is passable if you’re desperate for a four drop.
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.
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.
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.
Pack 2 Pick 9: Generous Stray
Glaive of the Guildpact image 2.5 This is a surprisingly effective Equipment. It is a bit clunky to Equip, but if your deck has some Gates in it, the boost it gives is well worth it, especially since it is combined with Menace, which makes the creature into a pretty formidable attacker.
Crush Contraband image 0.5 This is sideboard material. There aren’t enough artifacts and enchantments that do stuff to main deck this. When you do get to blow up one of each it feels pretty awesome, though!
Generous Stray image 2.0 This isn’t a bad thing to sacrifice to various effects, but its stats are pretty disappointing.
Vernadi Shieldmate image 2.5 This has fine stats for a two drop and slots nicely into many decks in the format.
Ledev Guardian image 1.5 This isn’t that great whether you cast it or power it out with Convoke.
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.
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 10: Parhelion Patrol
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.
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.
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.
Pause for Reflection image 0.0 As usual, Fog isn’t really worth playing in Limited.
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.
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.
Pack 2 Pick 11: Circuitous Route
Haazda Marshal image 2.5 This does some pretty nice work if you play it early, especially if you do it alongside creatures who can Mentor it, so that it can attack more effectively. If it attacks and trades while giving you a 1/1 token, you’re doing a pretty good job!
Circuitous Route image 2.5 If you need to ramp and you have an interest in gates, this is a pretty decent inclusion, but be careful using a card that doesn’t add to the board at all!
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.
Child of Night image 2.0 This has decent stats and lifelink. Not much more to say about it!
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.
Pack 2 Pick 12: Erstwhile Trooper
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.
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.
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 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 13: Izzet Locket
Fearless Halberdier image 1.0 If you are short on creatures, you’ll play this. Otherwise, not so much.
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.
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 2 Pick 14: Demotion
Demotion image 2.0 RW decks in this format can be really aggressive, and this tends to be a solid inclusion in those decks, as turning off blocking and activated abilities is usually enough for you to keep on attacking, and the fact it costs one mana probably also means you still have mana to play another creature or use a combat trick. Outside of that deck, it isn’t nearly as good.
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 15: Hammer Dropper
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.
Pack 3 Pick 1: Ochran Assassin
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.
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.
Nightveil Sprite image 3.0 Decent evasive stats go pretty well with a Surveil attack trigger, and this can get particularly silly alongside any of the cards that give you some sort of value every time you Surveil, as it is a very repeatable way to get those going.
Pause for Reflection image 0.0 As usual, Fog isn’t really worth playing in Limited.
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.
Maximize Altitude image 2.0 This is a nice tool for aggressive Izzet decks, as it can trigger your spell payoffs while also allowing you to attack pretty hard with one of your creatures in the air.
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.
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.
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!
Fresh-Faced Recruit image 3.0 This is a nice creature for aggressive decks who is a bit of a pain to block all game long, especially if you’re putting counters on him.
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.
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.
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 3 Pick 2: Deadly Visit
Expansion image 4.0 The Expansion half of this isn’t great, Fork effects rarely are in Limited. But there are situations where it can do something good! Generally, though – you’re counting on Explosion, which by the late game may as well read “You win the game” since you typically kill an opposing creature and draw a bunch of cards. Having both modes really makes the card better, since it isn’t an entirely dead card in the early game.
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.
Rampaging Monument image 3.5 This ends up growing a ton in this format, as you will just have a lot of multicolored cards, and this quickly turns into a threat with Trample in most decks.
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.
Vicious Rumors image 1.0 This does a bunch of small stuff, but all of it is pretty irrelevant most of the time.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Deadly Visit image 3.5 This answers pretty much anything, and getting to Surveil on top of that is pretty sweet.
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.
Watcher in the Mist image 3.5 This has pretty nice Flying stats and Surveil 2 on ETB is pretty powerful. This is Blue’s best Common in the set.
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 3: Flower
Assure image 3.5 Split cards tend to be pretty nice in Limited, especially when you put two narrow but powerful effects on them, and that’s what we’ve got here. Assure is a combat trick that can blank removal, and Assemble gives you three 2/2 bodies at instant speed in the later part of the game.
Gird for Battle image 2.0 This can really help power aggressive decks in the format, suddenly enabling two attacks you didn’t have before, and helping your creatures Mentor others.
Boros Challenger image 3.5 This obviously has great stats, and coming with Mentor is pretty sweet! You can even sink mana into it in the later game for it to stay relevant.
Flower image 3.0 The Flower half isn’t too bad, as making sure you hit a land drop early is pretty nice. Its actually kind of neat that it costs hybrid mana, so you can actually use it to help you splash either Green or White in a deck that doesn’t have the other Selesnya color. Meanwhile, if you draw this late ona stalled out board, Flourish has a good chance of shifting the game in your favor.
Blade Instructor image 2.0 This can pretty frequently attack and put a counter on something, and because of its 3 power your opponent often can’t do anything but trade with it. Which…if they have a 1/1 token doesn’t feel great, but you still get a counter out of the deal.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 4: Flight of Equenauts
Vivid Revival image 3.0 You won’t always end up in a deck that can make use of this, but you will do it often enough that this is a pretty powerful card, and one that you can take pretty early. Getting three cards back will just win you the game in many situations. It is Sorcery speed and certainly pretty clunky, but the upside is often worth it.
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.
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.
Collar the Culprit image 1.5 This is clunky for how situational it is. Being an instant is nice, though.
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.
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.
Fresh-Faced Recruit image 3.0 This is a nice creature for aggressive decks who is a bit of a pain to block all game long, especially if you’re putting counters on him.
Blade Instructor image 2.0 This can pretty frequently attack and put a counter on something, and because of its 3 power your opponent often can’t do anything but trade with it. Which…if they have a 1/1 token doesn’t feel great, but you still get a counter out of the deal.
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.
Crushing Canopy image 0.5 This is mostly sideboard material.
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.
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 5: Midnight Reaper
Midnight Reaper image 4.0 At worst, this is a 3-mana 3/2 that draws you a card and does 1 damage to you when it dies, and the upside is that you keep it around and you manage to do it when lots of other creatures die too, which is pretty sweet! One downside is that it is not a “may” clause, but its still great.
Worldsoul Colossus image 2.0 This can be pretty big…but it is still just a big vanilla creature, and the massive investment doesn’t always feel worth it.
Sunhome Stalwart image 4.0 A two mana 2/2 with First Strike is a 3.5 in most formats, and this one tacks on Mentor, which is awesome! Its good at Mentoring things and it is also a good thing to Mentor thanks to its keyword abilities. This is an excellent two drop.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Collar the Culprit image 1.5 This is clunky for how situational it is. Being an instant is nice, though.
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.
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.
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 6: District Guide
Hellkite Whelp image 2.5 This is definitely an underperformer. Basically any creature in this format that lags behind in stats for its cost is, and that’s what we have here with a 5-mana 3/3 Flyer. It is nice that it can pick off smaller creatures, and it isn’t bad, it just also isn’t good.
District Guide image 3.5 Being able to get a Gate with this is big, because you can play gates that are really great at fixing your mana – it is just way better than grabbing a basic most of the time, though even if this could only grab basics it would still be a nice card.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 7: Selesnya Guildgate
Affectionate Indrik image 3.5 This can usually come down and kill something, while sticking around, and that’s a great way to stabilize after you’ve been behind early, making this a 6-drop that is definitely worth playing.
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.
Fresh-Faced Recruit image 3.0 This is a nice creature for aggressive decks who is a bit of a pain to block all game long, especially if you’re putting counters on him.
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.
Wild Ceratok image 1.5 This stat-line is passable if you’re desperate for a four drop.
Vicious Rumors image 1.0 This does a bunch of small stuff, but all of it is pretty irrelevant most of the time.
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.
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.
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 8: Sunhome Stalwart
Sunhome Stalwart image 4.0 A two mana 2/2 with First Strike is a 3.5 in most formats, and this one tacks on Mentor, which is awesome! Its good at Mentoring things and it is also a good thing to Mentor thanks to its keyword abilities. This is an excellent two drop.
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.
Command the Storm image 2.5 This has bad stats, and its combat damage trigger is only useful in very narrow situations.
Devkarin Dissident image 2.0 This is a bear with some mediocre late-game upside, which means it is decent enough.
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.
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.
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.
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 9: Righteous Blow
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fresh-Faced Recruit image 3.0 This is a nice creature for aggressive decks who is a bit of a pain to block all game long, especially if you’re putting counters on him.
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.
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 10: Sworn Companions
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pack 3 Pick 11: Gird for Battle
Gird for Battle image 2.0 This can really help power aggressive decks in the format, suddenly enabling two attacks you didn’t have before, and helping your creatures Mentor others.
Blade Instructor image 2.0 This can pretty frequently attack and put a counter on something, and because of its 3 power your opponent often can’t do anything but trade with it. Which…if they have a 1/1 token doesn’t feel great, but you still get a counter out of the deal.
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.
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.
Pack 3 Pick 12: Golgari Guildgate
Collar the Culprit image 1.5 This is clunky for how situational it is. Being an instant is nice, though.
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.
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 13: Selesnya Guildgate
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.
Collar the Culprit image 1.5 This is clunky for how situational it is. Being an instant is nice, though.
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 14: Selesnya Locket
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.
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 3 Pick 15: Wild Ceratok
Wild Ceratok image 1.5 This stat-line is passable if you’re desperate for a four drop.
Draft Pick Overview