While I’ve been out March 31, 2009
Posted by Norm in Alara Reborn, Casual.Tags: Alara Reborn, booster packs, iGoogle Theme, Regionals, Spoilers
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This weekend I took a quick trip to Toronto with the girlfriend, and when we came back I brought back a bug so I’ve been under the weather. I didn’t have much time to think about magic on the trip. Although I did look for a place to buy cards I didn’t find one. Granted, I didn’t look very hard but a few of the mini mall shops in Chinatown seemed promising.
So what have I missed since leaving my beloved country.
Booster Packs
The Alara Reborn Booster Packs were spoiled late last week on the official Magic website.
I’m a big fan of these two images, evil angel and snake mistress. I hope each of these cards can live up to the awesomeness of their art.
New Google Themes
We also have new theme images in iGoogle. There are a lot of cool game themes in general now in the iGoogle library. So if you use Google and you haven’t taken advantage of their customizable home screen go for it. I know I find iGoogle very useful.
Still Excited About Regionals
Over the next few weeks I’m going to be preparing for the Regionals in Pittsburgh. I’m leaning toward Kithkin Vengant which is a variation on the red/white Kithkin I’ve been playing. Let me know what you are running and if your in the area and want to play test let me know.
Alara Reborn Speculative March 25, 2009
Posted by Norm in Alara Reborn.Tags: Alara Reborn, Speculation
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I’ve been thinking about the future and Alara Rebon espcecially Ardent Plea, and I’m not really sure what to expect out of this next set. I’m excited for the few cards we’ve seen so far but I’ve been kind of disappointed with the bulk of Conflux. I really haven’t been using it as much as I thought I would and outside of a few major cards (and all the fae killers) there hasn’t been a general sense of awe from this set. So that leaves me feeling trepid about Reborn.
Maybe I’m just feeling odd about the new release because of the weather, but I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Empty Throne Ramp March 24, 2009
Posted by Norm in Casual, Constructed.Tags: CCG Tradepost, Magic: The Gathering, Sigil of the Empty Throne
2 comments
I just got done checking out Nick’s Empty Throne Ramp. Creative deck that uses Sigil of the Empty Throne for beats. Check it out.
Conflux Review: Black March 24, 2009
Posted by Norm in Casual, Conflux.Tags: black, Conflux, Grixis Slavedriver, Kederekt Parasite, Magic: The Gathering, Nyxathid, Pestilent Kalthari, Sedaxis Alchemist
4 comments
My selected review of Conflux Black as found in the full Visual Spoiler.
I’ve got to say that I think black got the shaft in this release. I’ve gone over these cards a few times trying to pick my favorites and there is very little I’m excited about. Not to say that I think these cards are bad, I just feel uninspired by them.
Grixis Slavedriver
I really like the fact that you get an extra 2/2 creature with the slavedriver. I’m actually surprised there aren’t more cards with Unearth that give you extra creatures. That sort of ability would make unearth a lot stronger. You would have to wait for the payoff but still not bad. Six mana for a 4/4 is a little rough.
I could see a deck that wants to discard Grixis Slavedriver, Unearth and get the free guy. Kind of slow and awkward though.
Kederekt Parasite
Proabably the best, or one of, black creatures in Conflux. If for some reason your opponent has no way of eliminating Kederekt then you are as good as it is going to get the win. Actually this guy really supports Jace and other card drawing machines. How about Forced Fruition. This is a guy you can build around and really make it hurt.
I haven’t seen any serious tourny builds with this guys so leave a link in the comments if I’m missing something.
Nyxathid
While Nyxathid can die to draw, I feel he is especially strong in limited. Where you (meaning your opponent) usually aren’t keeping a full hand and more than likely to be out of cards late game. What Nyxathid offers in “potential” threat is just as strong as the current size of the creature. Keeping cards in your opponent’s hand when they are afraid of the big guy.
I had to play around one recently and it was a little tricky. Waiting for the right moment to block or cast a spell so I wouldn’t get overrun by this guy. Looks like Kresh is even having trouble dealing with it.
Pestilent Kalthari
This bird isn’t amazing by any means but I do want to give him some attention because he can be used well. If you can keep your mana open, you maybe able to trick your opponent into not attack or blocking. This guy can be really efficient against an exalted deck. Getting in the one first strike damage with Deathtouch. For me he has bought me a few turns where my opponent is afraid to attack and loose the big guy.
Sedaxis Alchemist
First off I love the art on this guy. It is really creative and I love the mood and execution. Bouncing a permanent can be really effective in draft or limited, slowing your opponent down a turn. He does have his drawbacks but I think it is a fun card.
Death Baron The Deck List March 24, 2009
Posted by Norm in Casual.Tags: Death Baron, Magic: The Gathering, Shards of Alara, Zombie
5 comments
Tonight I was tweaking some decks and I got a bug to put a list together for a deck using Death Baron.
The deck won’t set the world on fire but I’m hoping, like the kithkin deck, that it will pump creatures that can get in there. I understand that the fault in my logic is that extra turn for any of the power toughness bonus. However seems like a fun deck that no none else is playing. I didn’t spend much time thinking about the land so go easy there. What do you think?
Creatures
4x Drudge Skeletons
4x Lord of the Undead
4x Festering Goblin
4x Stillmoon Cavalier
4x Tidehollow Sculler
4x Death Baron
Enchantments
3x Glorious Anthem
Spells
4x Path to Exile
4x Terror
2x Infest
Land
10x Plains
13x Swamp
Alara Reborn – Prerelease & Release card spoilers March 23, 2009
Posted by Norm in Alara Reborn, Spoilers.Tags: Alara Reborn, Broodmother Dragon, Knight of New Alara, prerelease, release, Spoiler
19 comments
Thanks to CopySix’s hound dog like research in digging up the spoilers for Alara Reborn’s Prerelease and Release cards. You can check out his post here. The cards were translated from a French Alara Reborn poster.
Broodmother Dragon
Creature – Dragon (Mythic Rare)
Flying
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a 1/1 red and green dragon token with flying and devour 2 into play
4/4
Jean-Sebastien Rossbach, *53/145
I just think we found a viable application for Goblin Assault! WOOT!
I’ve got to give Wizards of the Coast a high five for the great work with Dragons in this block. Solid creatures that I really want to collect. Broodmother Dragon is all around awesome. Now if you could only delay your opponent from playing Bitterblossom until turn six…
Knight of New Alara
Creature – Human Knight
Each other multicolored creature you control gain +1/+1 for each of its colours.
2/2
David Palumbo, *70/145
I find in interesting that the official knight of new Alara is only green and white, but that is where my criticism stops. Almost like a light within that is going to have some real power in a completely multi colored block. I can’t wait to get my playset of this guy because he is going to be hot.
Conflux Review: Blue March 23, 2009
Posted by Norm in Casual, Conflux.Tags: Blue, Conflux, Cumber Stone, Grixis Illusionist, Parasitic Strix, Unsummon
2 comments
My selected review of Conflux Blue as found in the full Visual Spoiler.
Cumber Stone
Not an amazing card. I did have someone play this against me in a draft and it really threw me off. I don’t see a huge advantage in constructed although in casual constructed this could be one of those cards that really slows down your opponents threats. Could be a lot of fun to build with.
This would be pretty amazing if it had flash. A combat trick that throws off your opponents math, allows you to kill some of his guys, or survive for another turn. In big table games this is defiantly a card worth considering.
Grixis Illusionist
So I just realized that this card targets your land. I originally thought this would target any land. So never mind. I think this card sucks, ya it is mana fixing and might get you through one or two sticky situations – I’m just annoyed at myself because I was imagining a deck where you disrupted your opponents mana base and manually mana screw them in the early game.
Here is where I would pick this card. If I was running a deck with Fugitive Wizard. Same cost and p/t with the extra ability. Might be good late game when you have a bunch of islands in play and need that random green or red to sweep the board.
Parasitic Strix
A wise man once told me that a 2/2 flyer for 3 mana is a good deal. With Parasitic Strix you get that plus a potential for a 4 point life swing. Seems good to me. That is almost as good as Kitchen Finks, ok on as good as half of a finks but the flying is cool because it gets in there. The reason this card won’t see much serious action is because there are a million better plays on turn three. This card is one of those cards I would consider to be not bad but that is about as far as it goes.
If you were limited to a pauper format, however. This guy needs some attention.
Unsummon
I’m glad they reprinted this card, because so many people underestimate it. It isn’t a Path to Exile but it will cover your ass. In limited formats make sure you snag an unsummon.
I’m not that wild about the new artwork, but it works.
Conflux Review: White March 21, 2009
Posted by Norm in Casual, Conflux.Tags: Conflux, Magic: The Gathering, Mark of Asylum, Mirror-Sigil Seargent, path to exile, Sigil of the Empty Throne, Wall of Reverence, White
4 comments
My selected review of Conflux White as found in the full Visual Spoiler.
Before I start this white review I want to say that Conflux got some amazing cards in this color. I won’t pretend that I’m the first one to point this out, but keep in mind that I’m not choosing these cards as the best in this color.
Mark of Asylum
Can we say hello to the replacement for Burrenton Forge-Tender? No. Ah well almost then. Although with people playing less Bitterblossom we might see enchantment hate find its way into the sideboard and less of it at that. So Mark of Asylum could be an interesting alternative to the forge-tender especially against red deck wins or the new kithkin vengant variations. I’m actually surprised I haven’t seen more of this card because it has advantages.
This would be really awesome in the Verudian Enchantress deck Ben Belewis made when he did the building on a budget column a few years ago.
Mirror-Sigil Seargent
This has got to be one of the best casual cards in the set. If I were to build around this card I would use the above enchantment, fog the world and wait until I have a bunch of guys. Too bad I haven’t collected any yet. You know what else I like about this card? Trample. That is what makes it work. Resolve a Time Stretch and smash.
Path to Exile
I wasn’t going to include this card in my initial review. Mainly because everyone is talking about it and it is quite obvious that this cards is going to be one of those cards that will always be around. Yes forever. So if you are a casual player who is kind of like ho hum when it comes to white. If you are going to trade it away don’t undervalue it the way I undervalued Kitchen Finks. Just saying.
Sigil of the Empty Throne
I love this card. I just wish it was easier to play. There was an awesome enchantement deck that Ben Belewis made back when he wrote Building on Budget called The Two Ladies. Sigil of the Empty Throne wouldn’t fit in that deck I was just reminiscing.
I’ve been sitting here thinking of how I could build around this card and I can’t really think of a situation. I mean the fact that you need to put other enchantments into play to get the Throne to trigger is the main issue. Maybe there is a casual Legacy deck with those creatures who are enchantments until an opponent plays a creature. That would awesome. Otherwise… sorry Sigil of the Empty Throne you are just a really cool card with some potential that currently has very low possibility of seeing play. Maybe Alara Reborn will be your Salvation.
Wall of Reverence
Oh you awesomely maddening card. I need a Path to Exile or Terror or Oblivion Ring to deal with you. I see you sitting there and my Stillmoon Cavalier is the only hope I have of whittling life away as you gain, gain, gain. That was me as a faced a Wall of Reverence at FNM this week. Wall has certainly made its mark in the competitive realms. Gaining life every turn even one is awesome.
Kaleidoscope New MTGO Format March 20, 2009
Posted by Norm in Casual, Constructed, Spoilers.Tags: Kaleidoscope, Magic: The Gathering, MTGO, New Format
3 comments
If you read the Banned and Restricted List Explanation today you would have seen the quiet announcement about Kaleidoscope. A brand new format for MTGO that is basically extended minus mono colored cards. More specifically only multicolored cards. Cool idea. It really seems like pauper variant in my opinion.
Here are the official two sentences about the format:
Kaleidoscope is a new Magic Online-only Constructed format. It uses the Extended card pool with the exception that all nonland cards in a Kaleidoscope deck must be multicolored. This includes gold cards, hybrid cards, and most split cards.
Alara Reborn Playmats March 20, 2009
Posted by Norm in Alara Reborn, Spoilers.Tags: Alara Reborn, Artwork, Dragon Guardian, Playmat, Spoilers
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Yesterday I saw Alara Reborn Playmats on DragonGuardian.com.
Follow the link to see the names of each card with the artwork. All five are really well done.
