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    First Impressions: Guildless Gatecrash! 

    by
    Drathro
    Published on 05-06-2013 11:32 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Expansions & Sets,
    3. Featured Article

    Whoo, Dragon's Maze is already here and First Impressions articles should start appearing soon! Unfortunately, the Guildless cards of Gatecrash never got any love in the form of a First Impressions article! Time to rectify the situation with a very abbreviated set review installment. Here we go! (For reference, I'm skipping reprints when appropriate.)

    White
    Aerial Maneuver
    1W
    Instant
    Target creature gets +1/+1 and gains flying and first strike until end of turn.
    (Common)

    Rating: C
    It's a nice little combat trick that performs two basic functions: grant evasion or play removal by saving your creature in combat through first strike and a pump. Solid, but not exciting.

    Angelic Edict
    4W
    Sorcery
    Exile target creature or enchantment.
    (Common)

    Rating: C+
    Hello, Iona's Judgment!

    Angelic Skirmisher
    4WW
    Creature - Angel
    Flying
    At the beginning of each combat, choose first strike, vigilance, or lifelink. Creatures you control gain that ability until end of turn.
    4/4
    (Rare)

    Rating: B
    Looks like it could be a swingy card in the right place. It at least has a home in a Commander deck somewhere.

    Court Street Denizen
    2W
    Creature - Human Soldier
    Whenever another white creature enters the battlefield under your control, tap target creature an opponent controls.
    2/2
    (Common)

    Rating: C+
    This is a great card for an aggressive limited deck to push through some damage. Perhaps it has a home in Pauper Standard?

    Debtor's Pulpit
    4W
    Enchantment - Aura
    Enchant land
    Enchanted land has "{T}: Tap target creature."
    (Uncommon)

    Rating: D
    Yes, it can deal with a different target each turn as needed, but it ties up your mana and costs way too much to start with.

    Gideon, Champion of Justice
    2WW
    Planeswalker - Gideon
    Loyalty: 4
    +1: Put a loyalty counter on Gideon, Champion of Justice for each creature target opponent controls.
    0: Until end of turn, Gideon, Champion of Justice becomes an indestructible Human Soldier creature with power and toughness each equal to the number of loyalty counters on him. He's still a planeswalker. Prevent all damage that would be dealt to him this turn.
    -15: Exile all other permanents.
    (Mythic Rare)

    Rating: A
    Planeswalkers are often impressive, but I think Gideon is just plain fun! His base stats let you use him as a 4/4 attacker for four mana, which is never that bad, even though he can't "block" in the conventional sense. Cranking up loyalty counters on the Champion of Justice should be a dream in a multiplayer game, where someone is bound to have a small army of tokens sitting around. Finally, exiling all other permanents? Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaa!

    Guardian of the Gateless
    4W
    Creature - Angel
    Flying
    Guardian of the Gateless can block any number of creatures.
    Whenever Guardian of the Gateless blocks, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each creature it's blocking.
    3/3
    (Uncommon)

    Rating: B-
    This is a nice little blocker and an excellent stall tactic. Want to hold back an entire army? Equip Guardian of the Gateless with Gorgon Flail...

    Guildscorn Ward
    W
    Enchantment - Aura
    Enchant creature
    Enchanted creature has protection from multicolored.
    (Common)

    Rating: D
    How often will you face an opponent who really plays that many gold cards? Too situational, methinks.

    Hold the Gates
    2W
    Enchantment
    Creatures you control get +0/+1 for each Gate you control and have vigilance.
    (Uncommon)

    Rating: B-
    If you're playing gates, you're probably not racing out of them, so a solid stalling card like Hold the Gates could be a welcome addition to your plan. Vigilance also affords you the opportunity to sneak by with evasive attackers and hold them back to block.

    Holy Mantle
    2WW
    Enchantment - Aura
    Enchant creature
    Enchanted creature gets +2/+2 and has protection from creatures.
    (Uncommon)

    Rating: C+
    Protection from creatures is an awesome ability, but at four mana, +2/+2 is not enough to compare favorably with Spirit Mantle.

    Knight Watch
    4W
    Sorcery
    Put two 2/2 white Knight creature tokens with vigilance onto the battlefield.
    (Common)

    Rating: C
    What's with the art and flavor on this card? Do I really think my 2/2 vigilant Knights should be a couple of base brawlers? Nope.

    Luminate Primordial
    5WW
    Creature - Avatar
    Vigilance
    When Luminate Primordial enters the battlefield, for each opponent, exile up to one target creature that player controls and that player gains life equal to its power.
    4/7
    (Rare)

    Rating: A+
    As you'll see, the entire cycle of Gatecrash primordials are just bonkers in multiplayer. Seven mana is not a lot in the Commander format.

    Murder Investigation
    1W
    Enchantment - Aura
    Enchant creature you control
    When enchanted creature dies, put X 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens onto the battlefield, where X is its power.
    (Uncommon)

    Rating: C+
    This is a cute answer to an impending board sweeper like an opponent's Nevinyrral's Disk or your own Day of Judgment. Kill everything and retain a board presence? Nice.

    Alternatively, you could combo it with a power boost for an instant army. A simple example: enchant and pump Wall of Blood 19 times and sacrifice it to a flashbacked Cabal Therapy ...
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    First Impressions: Gatecrash: Gruul 

    by
    JGolbez
    Published on 03-08-2013 04:04 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Expansions & Sets,
    3. Featured Article
    Article Preview

    The Gruul ... ugh ... what can an Orzhov mage say about these louts?

    These unwashed barbarians squat on our Orzhov lands, refuse to obey the basic laws of society and decency, they never pay their taxes, and they never take baths!

    Oh, and their music sucks!

    The Gruul clans aren’t even a real guild, but one must respect their strength. The Gruul beasts are huge, the Gruul shamans have some serious power, and the Gruul barbarians’ lack of self-preservation makes them very dangerous.

    The Gruul mechanic, Bloodrush, is a perfect example of how they rush into battle, lust for a fight, and channel their nature gods’ power.

    Bloodrush allows you to discard a particular card to give an attacking creature a nice boost (ŕ la Giant Growth) until end of turn.

    The key word being attacking, since the Gruul have no concept of defense.

    While Bloodrush doesn’t get my blood rushing, I like the mechanic for several reasons.


    1. A bloodrush card is never a dead draw. Getting a Giant Growth with no creatures on the board is the same feeling of shame and sadness one gets walking by a Rakdos brothel.
    2. Getting a bloodrush card means you just drew a creature, instead.
    3. Choice is always good. Stuck between choosing a creature card or a combat trick for your deck? Well, now you can have both options at once!
    4. Unlike Extort and Battalion, Bloodrush doesn’t ask you to build an entire deck around it to maximize its effectiveness. Stick a bloodrush card in just about any deck, and you are ready to smash some heads together.




    Borborygmos Enraged
    4RRGG
    Legendary Creature - Cyclops
    Trample
    Whenever Borborygmos Enraged deals combat damage to a player, reveal the top three cards of your library. Put all land cards revealed this way into your hand and the rest into your graveyard.
    Discard a land card: Borborygmos Enraged deals 3 damage to target creature or player.
    7/6
    (Mythic Rare)

    Did you know that Borborygmos is an actual medical term?

    Borborygmos
    [bôr'b?rig'm?s] pl., borborygmi

    Etymology: Gk, borborygmos, bowel rumbling

    1. An audible abdominal sound produced by hyperactive intestinal peristalsis
    2. An over-costed fatty


    Like the original Borborygmos, this new version costs at least two mana more than it should. Gruul typically gets the most efficient beaters, so why is their clan leader so expensive? *grumble*

    In a 1-on-1 battle, will you live enough to get the eight mana you need to cast this guy? You aren’t likely to have any lands left to chuck at people, either. *growl*

    In a slower multi-player game or EDH, he’ll get more of an opportunity to shine. Still, my tummy growls at me when I pay too much for creatures. Unless you use him as your EDH Commander, or have a very dedicated deck, he doesn’t seem worth it. *gurgle*

    1v1 Rating: C-
    Multiplayer Rating: C+ (B for Commander)


    Burning-Tree Emissary
    (R/G)(R/G)
    Creature - Human Shaman
    When Burning-Tree ...
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    First Impressions: Gatecrash: Dimir! 

    by
    Drathro
    Published on 03-04-2013 02:12 AM
    1. Categories:
    2. Expansions & Sets,
    3. Featured Article

    Let's dive right into this Gatecrash Dimir set review with the flagship mechanic of Guild Dimir: Cipher! Spells that resolve with cipher allow you to exile that spell, "encoded" on a creature you control. Essentially, an association between the exiled spell and the creature is established. Whenever the creature deals combat damage to a player, you may copy the exiled spell and cast(!) the copy. I highlighted the fact that you get to cast the copy, because it makes a difference to abilities that trigger on casting a spell. For example, Quirion Dryad's triggered "add a counter" ability would benefit from a ciphered spell copy.

    Last Thoughts
    3U
    Sorcery
    Draw a card.
    Cipher (Then you may exile this spell card encoded on a creature you control. Whenever that creature deals combat damage to a player, its controller may cast a copy of the encoded card without paying its mana cost.)
    (Common)

    Rating: C
    I like this card for slower formats. Barring being countered, Last Thoughts replaces itself, and if you plan ahead, you should be able to attack with the creature on which it is encoded for an immediate second card.

    Now let's take a moment to calculate how much ciphering costs: a spell with a nominal effect that also draws a card costs one mana. Therefore, adding cipher to an ordinary spell costs three mana. Hmm, interesting.

    Mental Vapors
    3B
    Sorcery
    Target player discards a card.
    Cipher (Then you may exile this spell card encoded on a creature you control. Whenever that creature deals combat damage to a player, its controller may cast a copy of the encoded card without paying its mana cost.)
    (Uncommon)

    Rating: C-
    Mental Vapors is a little less useful than Last Thoughts, because you can always draw a card, but an opponent won't always have a card in hand. Obviously, this gets a little better in free-for-all multiplayer, where you can usually find someone to attack unblocked and you can usually ...
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    First Impressions: Gatecrash: Boros 

    by
    JGolbez
    Published on 02-15-2013 04:51 AM
    1. Categories:
    2. Expansions & Sets,
    3. Featured Article
    Article Preview

    We mages aligned with the Orzhov Syndicate quite enjoy having the Boros Legion, aka ‘The Useful Idiots’, around on Ravnica.

    They may be single-minded, hot-headed, and lacking in nuance, but the Boros will keep the streets clear of filth and rabble, allowing us Orzhov the freedom and ability to spend our precious time making money. Nobody is more effective at the ‘art’ and strategy of combat than the Boros.

    Like any good legion, the Boros mechanic rewards those who fit well in a unit.
    Battalion — Whenever this creature and at least two other creatures attack, good things happen!

    Battalion is a powerful ability, but can be tricky to pull off. Getting to attack with three creatures at the same time can be difficult when you have opponents ready to pick off one of your creatures before the fun starts.

    Thus, I’d like to think of Battalion as a bit of a ‘bonus’ ability; evaluate the creature as if it didn’t have battalion, and, if it makes the cut, the battalion bonus is pure gravy.

    So, what does the Boros offer us this time out?

    -----------------

    Arrows of Justice
    2(R/W)
    Instant
    Arrows of Justice deals 4 damage to target attacking or blocking creature.
    (Uncommon)

    A cute combat trick that allows Boros to kill a creature in the ‘red zone’. Red has better direct damage spells that are far less situational, but mono-white decks may love the instant-speed combat trick.

    1v1 Rating: C
    Multiplayer Rating: D+


    Assemble the Legion
    3RW
    Enchantment
    At the beginning of your upkeep, put a muster counter on Assemble the Legion. Then put a 1/1 red and white Soldier creature token with haste onto the battlefield for each muster counter on Assemble the Legion.
    (Rare)

    It is foolish to face the Legion head on, even if the Legion looks to be a bit slow to arrive to the battle. Too busy polishing that armor?

    Getting a single 1/1 token on turn five or six might not seem impressive, but leaving this enchantment unchecked will eventually bury your opponents under a legion of conscripts. This is also good at getting battalion fodder, as the tokens have haste.

    It’s important to note that the tokens don’t have to attack, unlike some red token makers Goblin Assault, so you can use these Soldiers to defend before more backup arrives.

    1v1 Rating: A-
    Multiplayer Rating: B+


    Aurelia, the Warleader
    2RRWW
    Legendary Creature - Angel
    Flying, vigilance, haste
    Whenever Aurelia, the Warleader attacks for the first time each turn, untap all creatures you control. After this phase, there is an additional combat phase.
    3/4
    (Mythic Rare)

    While the old guild leader, Razia, Boros Archangel was an adept fighter, Aurelia is even more impressive. ...
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    First Impressions: Gatecrash: Orzhov 

    by
    JGolbez
    Published on 02-09-2013 05:18 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Expansions & Sets,
    3. Featured Article
    Article Preview

    If those who control the money control the power, then the Orzhov Syndicate are the undisputed rulers of Ravnica.

    The new Extort mechanic harkens back to the ‘bleeder’ aspect of the original Guildpact set, as the Orzhov will bleed you dry, slowly and surely. Extort might not look like it does much, but it will add up over time, and you’ll be serving the Obzedat before you know it.

    Extort (Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay {(w/b)}. If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain that much life.)

    For us casual players who enjoy multiplayer formats, ‘each opponent’ is the key phrase here. Being able to extort one or two times per turn will lead to some massive life swings, but can also incur the wrath of the table. With great power comes great jealousy.

    Now, onto the cards!



    Alms Beast
    2WB
    Creature - Beast
    Creatures blocking or blocked by Alms Beast have lifelink.
    6/6
    (Rare)

    Since when does Orzhov get a 6/6 for just four mana? This card is begging to be played.

    The drawback makes some sense, as Orzhov is not going to get Gruul A-quality beef. This unique creature will take some testing to see if it pays off. Just playing with and against this at pre-releases, I know this card can be a legitimate nightmare if you don’t have any good removal.

    If your opponents are chump blocking with their small dudes, the card advantage is well worth the life gain they’ll receive. Just keep on beating in and whittling at their defenses. When/if they do manage to get something big enough to block it, you should have other resources at your disposal.

    If you want to be offensive, just back up your best with spot removal to clear the way, or give it the Gift of Orzhova and soar in with a 7/7 lifelinker (this happened against me and made me a sad panda).

    My impression is that this card will be awesome in one-on-one duals, but might be iffy in multi-player. It’s certainly worth trying.

    1v1 Rating: A-/B+
    Multiplayer Rating: B-


    Basilica Guards
    2W
    Creature - Human Soldier
    Defender
    Extort (Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay {(w/b)}. If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain that much life.)
    1/4
    (Common)

    Extort decks want some good defense, and Basilica Guards does a solid job of that. It’ll hold off many attackers and provide another source of Extort.

    1v1 Rating: C+
    Multiplayer Rating: C-


    Basilica Screecher
    1B
    Creature - Bat
    Flying
    Extort (Whenever you cast a spell, you may pay {(w/b)}. If you do, each opponent loses 1 life and you gain that much life.)
    1/2
    (Common)

    Just how the heck does a Bat extort people?

    Anyways, these little dudes are my favorite two-drop extortionists. Being able to fly over for little bites of damage is a big help, ...
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    2013: Magic Deck Vortex... not going anywhere! 

    by
    Streetz
    Published on 01-02-2013 08:17 PM
    1. Categories:
    2. Site News
    Article Preview

    Magic Deck Vortex has been around for over ten years! And more importantly, MDV will be around for many more years to come. I would say indefinitely but that would be a lie unless I somehow find the secret to eternal youth and turning objects into gold with a simple touch.

    MDV started sometime in August of 2002 ...
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    We Make The Set - Round 100!!!!! 

    by
    GG Crono
    Published on 12-21-2012 12:42 PM

    Welcome back to We Make The Set, the card-creation game where we, the community, make a full set, one card at a time!

    Everyone is free to participate in this contest at any time, regardless of whether or not they've participated in past rounds. Likewise, everyone is allowed to vote at any time, even if they didn't submit to the previous round. This is a project for the whole community, and everyone is always welcome.

    If you're joining us for the first time, be sure to check out these threads:
    Discussion — For talk about individual rounds and entries.
    Development — For talk about the set and its themes as a whole. (Take note of the set rules in the first post.)
    Card List — A compilation of all the cards in the set.
    Card Stats - Information on how much of many things that the set has, frequently ...
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    We Make The Set - Round 99 

    by
    GG Crono
    Published on 12-18-2012 10:49 AM

    [QUOTE=GG Crono;355502]Welcome back to We Make The Set, the card-creation game where we, the community, make a full set, one card at a time!

    Everyone is free to participate in this contest at any time, regardless of whether or not they've participated in past rounds. Likewise, everyone is allowed to vote at any time, even if they didn't submit to the previous round. This is a project for the whole community, and everyone is always welcome.

    If you're joining us for the first time, be sure to check out these threads:
    Discussion — For talk about individual rounds and entries.
    Development — For talk about the set and its themes as a whole. (Take note of the set rules in the first post.)
    Card List — A compilation ...
    Read More Read More

    We Make The Set - Round 95 

    by
    GG Crono
    Published on 11-27-2012 10:54 PM

    Welcome back to We Make The Set, the card-creation game where we, the community, make a full set, one card at a time!

    Everyone is free to participate in this contest at any time, regardless of whether or not they've participated in past rounds. Likewise, everyone is allowed to vote at any time, even if they didn't submit to the previous round. This is a project for the whole community, and everyone is always welcome.

    If you're joining us for the first time, be sure to check out these threads:
    Discussion — For talk about individual rounds and entries.
    Development — For talk about the set and its themes as a whole. (Take note of the set rules in the first ...
    Read More Read More

    We Make The Set - Round 94 

    by
    GG Crono
    Published on 11-21-2012 04:56 PM

    Welcome back to We Make The Set, the card-creation game where we, the community, make a full set, one card at a time!

    Everyone is free to participate in this contest at any time, regardless of whether or not they've participated in past rounds. Likewise, everyone is allowed to vote at any time, even if they didn't submit to the previous round. This is a project for the whole community, and everyone is always welcome.

    If you're joining us for the first time, be sure to check out these threads:
    Discussion — For talk about individual rounds and entries.
    Development — For talk about the set and its themes as a whole. (Take note of the set rules in ...
    Read More Read More
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