Daz and MZ here – for this round of impressions we've decided to double team it – Daz and I happen to get the Shard of Naya – where Beasts roam as gods and Elves, Cats, and Human live in a wild fit for tribal survival. What's the card to grab for out of these? Read on to find out.

Naya is a world primarily the color of Green with hints of Red and White mana - with Beasts as gods; Leonin, Elves, and Humans as those looking to survive in this landscape of survival and beast worship. The cards reflect the "Bigger is Better" theme from Onslaught without feeling like a duplicate of Onslaught.

Ajani Vengeant - 2RW
Planeswalker - Ajani (Mythic Rare)
+1: Target permanent doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.
-2: Ajani Vengeant deals 3 damage to target creature or player and you gain 3 life.
-7: Destroy all lands target player controls.
3

Boros Deck wants greatly – the ability to take out threats then when the killing is good hit it with an Armageddon and go into a final Alpha Strike!
MZ gives the Grade of A to Ajani Vengeant.

Ajani is solid. For the four mana he can keep those blockers tapped down if you want to go on offense, he can keep that huge creature shut down while you build up a suitable defense, he can Lightning Helix, or he can give the crushing blow with the one sided Armageddon. I only have three small problems with him. First off, he costs four. The Boros decks of old used to want to be killing people on turn 4 or 5. Casting him turn 4, and not having an effect that just says “I win the game now” is a little annoying. If this is going to see play in a Boros style deck, it’s going to have to be a slightly more powerful, slower, version of the deck. The second problem that I have is that you are never going to be able to use both the second and third abilities. You are going to have to choose one path or another. He is going to be a double Lightning Helix (after tapping something) or he is going to build up to that Armageddon. Which leads to my third problem: He has to build up. One of the reasons that Armageddon is so good is you just sit there and when you are in a good position you blow up everything. While Ajani’s effect is better, it is also more expected. Eh, you make that trade.

Daz awards: B+

Behemoth's Herald - G
Creature - Elf Shaman (Uncommon)
{2}{G}, {T}, Sacrifice a red creature, a green creature, and a white creature: Search your library for a card named Godsire and put it into play. Then shuffle your library.
1/1

“Go Get Godsire” - good plan, considering your 60%+ of the time going to sac this to get one of them – or not considering Godsire isn't Legendary.
MZ gives the Grade of B+ to Behemoth's Herald

While “Go Get Godsire” is a good plan, it is about the only way this card is ever going to be useful. I don’t really resent this card being printed, I just don’t think that it should be an uncommon. When you open your packs looking for something like a Battlemage or a Charm and you get this, it’s just sort of a letdown. The card would be fine as a common, as an uncommon it just makes me resent it a bit.

Daz awards: C

Bloodthorn Taunter - 1R
Creature - Human Scout (Common)
Haste
{T}: Target creature with power 5 or greater gains haste until end of turn.
1/1

Naya's “mechanic” is “Power 5 Abilities” so this guy gives Haste to anything with 5+ power – needless to say – NICE!
MZ gives the Grade of B+ to Bloodthorn Taunter

I like it, you play it early and get in there for a few points of damage, and then you sit back and let all your big fatties get in there for their own damage a turn sooner. Solid.
Daz awards: B

Bull Cerodon - 4RW
Creature - Beast (Uncommon)
Vigilance, haste
5/5

I don't care what others will say about this card: this is a bargain for the cost to effect – but will it still be used at CMC 6 – casual says “Hell yeah it will.”
MZ gives the Grade of A+ to Bull Cerodon – and adds the comment “Should be played at any time possible.”

I’m a fan of this guy. Sure, his cost is a little higher, but boy does that 5/5 haste just seem really good. Combine that with the fact that you are going to have him around to block with and he just seems like something that should see a lot of play. I have the same problem I have with Ajani, he is a little more than the traditional Boros deck wants to spend, but I guess if you are going to build that “New Age” Boros then this could be one of the cards that makes it in. I can just see the number of times that someone says: “Wrath of God, go ahead” and I just smile, tap my six lands, and get in there for five.
Daz awards: B+

Cavern Thoctar - 5G
Creature - Beast (Common)
{1}{R}: Cavern Thoctar gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
5/5

Expensive on the Firebreathing – but besides that I can feel it for Red Common – still not great though.
MZ gives the Grade of C+ to Cavern Thoctar

Beasts breath fire now?? What is this world coming to? I’m not really a fan of this. Any deck that plays this should not be paying two mana for MAYBE one point of damage. Also, it costs six. For six mana I could be playing a Bull Cerodon. Okay, maybe I play it in limited when I need to pick up commons… but that’s a large maybe.

Daz awards: C

Cradle of Vitality - 3W
Enchantment (Rare)
Whenever you gain life, you may pay {1}{W}. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature for each 1 life you gained.

What the heck – Life gain decks can now get more powerful? My my – I might just have to build a life-gain deck.
MZ gives the Grade of A to Cradle of Vitality

Well, this is quite interesting. I can’t see this really being played in anything incredibly competitive, but it could really have some potential in a lower tier deck or in some incredible casual deck. I am waiting for someone to play this and actually make Goldenglow Moth amazing. I mean, how cool would it be to do something like: “Block, pay two, make my Moth a 4/5, your guy dies…” That would pretty much make my life…

Daz awards: B

Cylian Elf - 1G
Creature - Elf Scout (Common)
2/2

see Elvish Warrior – it's the same thing pretty much
MZ gives the Grade of B- to Cylian Elf

I disagree with MZ here for two reasons. First off, it doesn’t cost double green. Meaning that with the upsurge of triple colored decks in shards this is MUCH more playable. For a better comparison, look at Grizzly Bears. I’ve heard this compared to our good old bear friend a few times. I guess this is a little better, as it is an elf. However, that’s about all it has going for it.

Daz awards: C

Druid of the Anima - 1G
Creature - Elf Druid (Common)
{T}: Add {R}, {G}, or {W} to your mana pool.
1/1

Better than Llanowar Elf, but not as good as Birds of Paradise
MZ gives the Grade of A- to Druid of the Anima

I might once again disagree. I like my good friend Llanowar Elf. I wouldn’t say this is better, but just that it is different type of mana accelerant. It’s not the first turn drop, so you can’t play it in those aggro decks, but it makes up for it in being able to give you a more diverse mana base for casting your hand.

Daz awards: B

Drumhunter - 3G
Creature - Human Druid Warrior (Uncommon)
At the end of your turn, if you control a creature with power 5 or greater, you may draw a card.
{T}: Add {1} to your mana pool.
2/2

As see from the Wizards YouTube videos of another card like Drumhunter – this guy needs a friend – but he's OK I suppose
MZ gives the Grade of C+ to Drumhunter

Drumhunter is a Naya creature’s best friend. Considering there are a lot of good sized 5/x creatures in this shard Drumhunter is going to start drawing you cards pretty quickly. Sure, he would be a lot better if he was 2G, but he still has that 2/2 body so he can get in there if he needs to. This card reminds me of Ohran Viper, just slightly worse and at uncommon.

Daz awards: B+

Elvish Visionary - 1G
Creature - Elf Shaman (Common)
When Elvish Visionary comes into play, draw a card.
1/1

Woop-de-do. Green is getting a self-replacing creature like Striped Bears.
MZ gives the Grade of C+ to Elvish Visionary with the note: "Not impressed with this work."

Oh wow, you have no idea how much I wish this was a 2/2 or even a 2/1. If it was this card would be INCREDIBLE. Green card draw is almost always good, and green card draw costing two mana (yes, even if it’s only a cantrip) that ALSO gives you a guy who is QUITE good. Ever heard of Wall of Blossoms??? It would be much worse, except it is an ELF! Anyone know of a deck that could go in...?

Daz awards: A-

Exuberant Firestoker – 2R
Creature - Human Druid Shaman (Uncommon)
At the end of your turn, if you control a creature with power 5 or greater, you may have Exuberant Firestoker deal 2 damage to target player.
{T}: Add {1} to your mana pool.
1/1

As see from the Wizards YouTube videos of another card like Exuberant Firestroker – this guy needs a friend – but he's OK I suppose
MZ gives the Grade of C+ to Exuberant Firestroker

See, this costs three, why can’t drumhunter? This has about the same commentary as his green counterpart. Shocking, while not quite as good as card draw (in most cases), is still really good. The fact that you can always just leave your big guys back and wait until your opponent gets within alpha strike range makes this guy pretty good. I just wish he was also a 2/2.

Daz awards: B-

Feral Hydra - XG
Creature - Beast Hydra (Rare)
Feral Hydra comes into play with X +1/+1 counters on it.
{3}: Put a +1/+1 counter on Feral Hydra. Any player may play this ability.
0/0

Humm... Why would the enemy want to pump this guy up? I mean sure that means a teammate can help you out by pumping him up - but is Two-Headed Giant really getting that popular to Spikes?
MZ gives the Grade of A- to Feral Hydra

Hey! It’s our good friend Ivy Elemental coming back to play! What? He also can get BIGGER? It’s Ivy Elemental COMBINED with Molten Hydra? That sounds like fun! I love this card. You can play it down early, and build it up with your extra mana, or you can just smack it down late game and pound face with it. The only problem I have is the wording. WHY WOULD YOUR OPPONENT EVER MAKE IT BIGGER??? (If any of you say something like Soul’s Grace, I will personally smack you with something heavy)

Daz awards: A

Gift of the Gargantuan - 2G
Sorcery (Common)
Look at the top four cards of your library. You may reveal a creature card and/or land card from among them and put the revealed cards into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.

Great way to draw into the two things Green does best - mana and creatures. Besides that I'm kinda sad it isn't Foresight.
MZ gives the Grade of B+ to Gift of the Gargantuan

Eh, I dunno. This sort of reminds me of Kodoma’s Reach. I mean, it’s not a card that you get all excited about, but I suppose it’s good? You play this, find a good fattie and a land to help play him, and then move on. I guess I’ll probably find a way to fit these into a few decks.

Daz awards: B- (Solid, just rather boring)

Godsire – 4RGGW
Creature – Beast (Mythic Rare)
Vigilance
{T}: Put an 8/8 Beast creature token into play that's red, green, and white.
8/8

YES! 4 PLEASE! Another good deal out of Naya's beasts - Godsire can make more pseudo-sires and you can have 4 of the original to begin with (without Cloning) - I would love to get to show off this beast's power in game
MZ gives the Grade of A to Godsire

What? Naya is about 5/x creatures? Nooooo, enough of that foolishness. I’m playing my 8/8 GODSIRE! This card is just awesome in its power. I keep looking for a drawback, and the only one I can really find is that it costs eight mana to play him. However, what it really means is that you have to pay eight mana for the FIRST one. After that he can just make more of himself every turn… while swinging for EIGHT! This card screams: ANSWER ME NOW OR DIE!

Daz awards: A+ (It costs a lot but hey, so do most game-enders)

Godtoucher - 3G
Creature - Elf Cleric (Common)
{1}{W}, {T}: Prevent all damage that would be dealt to target creature with power 5 or greater this turn.
2/2

I like him - sure he's not the best healer - but he protects who I need protecting most in my Aggro deck - THE BIG GUY.
MZ gives the Grade of B+ to Godtoucher

Bah, I’ve never liked prevent damage abilities. If you are going to prevent damage, do it the right way and play Pollen Lulleby. I look at this and see: bad card that I will maybe have to play in draft if I need the color, but even then, only if I have to…

Daz awards: F for epic FAIL

Gustrider Exuberant – 2W
Creature – Human Wizard (Common)
Flying
Sacrifice Gustrider Exuberant: Creatures you control with power 5 or greater gain flying until end of turn.
1/2

Godsire with Flying and Vigiliance?! (It’s the first thought that popped in my head) I like this card for the fact he's early damage while you're setting up for the bigger swings - and then he gives you the opening for the swing!
MZ gives the Grade of A- to Gustrider Exuberant

I am trying to find reasons to say that this card is a game finisher. But in a format which is not only full of fliers, but has alternatives such as Overrun and Titanic Ultimatum (more on that later) I just can’t say this meets up to that. Sorry Gustrider.

Daz awards: C

Jungle Shrine
Land (Uncommon)
Jungle shrine comes into play tapped
{T}: add {R}, {W}, or {G} to your mana pool

I miss the Lairs. But I like these better
MZ would be killed by Luther unless the Grade of A+ to Jungle Shrine happens. - Which it is.

I guess when you play triple colors you need a decent manabase. It’s no shockland or painland, but I suppose in block it’ll see some play. It’s also a great casual alternative for budget players!

Daz awards: B

Jungle Weaver - 5GG
Creature - Spider (Common)
Reach
Cycling {2}
5/6

Not impressive but at common he's not bad overall - I think there is a nasty power creep happening again - but that might just be me.
MZ gives the Grade of B- to Jungle Weaver

I’ve never been a large fan of spiders. They are always overcosted things that are great for blocking. However, I’m playing green. My primal urges don’t call for blocking. I WANT TO ATTACK THINGS! *ROARS* Sorry… Anyway, a 5/6 is great, but he costs 7. Sure, he gets bonus points for cycling, but I’d rather play something hasty and vigilant.

Daz awards: C

Keeper of Progenitus - 3G
Creature - Elf Druid (Rare)
Whenever a player taps a Mountain, Forest, or Plains for mana, that player adds one mana to his or her mana pool of any type that land produced.
1/3

The Creature version of Heartbeat of Spring without giving the benefit to Black or Blue in my humble opinion is a winning theory.
MZ gives the Grade of A to Keeper of Progenitus with the note: "I'm not quite sure where your going with this - but I'll just give you an A for safe measure"

Cards like this are always fun. It’s like playing with Pandemonium or Furnace of Rath. You just sort of throw this guy down and say: Let’s do this. Obviously, if you play large creatures that abuse this (Feral Hydra anyone?) you will have an advantage. If your opponents are playing different colors then you will have a very large advantage. I don’t think this is going to any tournaments any time soon, but I expect it will see a lot of casual play.

Daz awards: B+

Lush Growth - G
Enchantment - Aura (Common)
Enchant land
Enchanted land is a Mountain, Forest, and Plains.

Keeper as above is Green.... this is Green. This costs 1 while that costs 4 - in Green Casual that's not a problem - but this is a great card when combined with Keeper as above.
MZ gives the grade of B+ to Lush Growth

This pretty much reads:
Lush Growth – G
Fix your early game’s mana.
Sure, I can live with that.

Daz awards: B-

Mayael the Anima – RGW
Legendary Creature – Elf Shaman (Mythic Rare)
{3}{R}{G}{W},{T}: Look at the top five cards of your library. You may put a creature card with power 5 or greater from among them into play. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
2/3

When she says, "creature card with power 5 or greater from among them into play" she will mean "Godsire" in block and "Krosan Cloudscraper" OR "Autochthon Wurm" in casual
MZ gives the Grade of A to Mayael the Anima

I would just like to point something out. THIS GET’S GODSIRE! Sure, it gets a lot of things, but I mean c’mon… Why wouldn’t you shoot high? It’s a reasonable power and toughness for it’s cost, and it allows you to play uncounterable creatures during your opponents end of turn step. On a completely personal note, I have been playing Elder Dragon Highlander a lot recently, and this is definitely going to be one of my new generals!

Daz awards: A-

Mighty Emergence - 2G
Enchantment (Uncommon)
Whenever a creature with power 5 or greater comes into play under your control, you may put two +1/+1 counters on it.

*CLANK!* *MZ picks up jaw* WANT! - Ok one - playing a big creature is awesome - making it bigger as soon as it hits the playmat - fantastic.
MZ gives the Grade of A+ to Mighty Emergence with the note: "Doubling Season"

Again, not a lot of interest from this card. If a creature is that big, it is big. Putting two counters on it is not going to change too much. Sure, you might have to swing one more time without them, but I think playing an enchantment on turn three is not what you want to be doing at that point in the game. Play your burn spell or midrange beater and move on.

Daz awards: C (and is bored)

Mosstodon - 4G
Creature - Plant Elephant (Common)
{1}: Target creature with power 5 or greater gains trample until end of turn.
5/3

Plant Elephant? I am Interested - and worried. Oh the card - it's cool - a bit pricey for even a common - but seems right overall.
MZ gives the Grade of B+ to Mosstodon

Okay, I’m willing to look past the fact that this is a PLANT elephant (does ANYONE understand that?). This is a much better example of something that will actually be relevant. This is a decent effect sitting on a decent sized body. Actually, the only thing stopping this card from being really good is the fact that everyone and their mother plays Incinerate (yes, my mother plays magic, and yes she plays it too).

Daz awards: B- (would be higher except for the other cards out there that just trump it too easily for not very much mana)

Naturalize - 1G
Instant (Common)
Destroy target artifact or enchantment.

Naturalize = Disenchant = Reprint = Why Bother Grading This?
MZ gives the Grade of "No Grade due to Plagiarism" to Naturalize with the note: "People already seen this before and know what it's all about."

Wizards… why are you doing this? This card is in 10th. It is a good card to put in 10th. We have very few incredibly significant artifacts or enchantments in this set. Why is it in here???

Daz awards: F (Don’t even care that the card is not horrible, it doesn’t belong here. I’m not impressed)

Naya Battlemage - 2G
Creature - Human Shaman (Uncommon)
{R}, {T}: Target creature gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
{W}, {T}: Tap target creature.
2/2

Best in three colors - OK in two colors - Crappy in one color.
MZ gives the Grade of A- to Naya Battlemage

I don’t know how many of you have played with the Shards cards yet. If you have not drafted with them yet I will tell you this: The battlemages are GOOD. The Naya Battlemage is REALLY good. You can either go offensive when you have them on the ropes and pump your big guy, or you can switch and tap down their blocker once they finally manage to play it. All of this for a three mana 2/2.

Daz awards: A- (Not really an eye opener but there is just so many things he can do)

Naya Charm RGW
Instant (Common)
Choose one - Naya Charm deals 3 damage to target creature; or return target card in a graveyard to its owner's hand; or tap all creatures target player controls.

Lightning Bolt (kinda) + Recollect + Reverse Rally the Troops? Personally, why not just Lightning Bolt + Recollect + Tap target creature? Or two target creatures?
MZ gives the Grade of A- to Naya Charm

If you thought the Naya Battlemage was good, take a look at this thing! I cannot really think of a time that I would not want to draw this card (as long as I can cast it). If I just need to kill something or get those last points of damage through when in a stalemate I can finish off something with it. If I need to start rebuilding (say, after a Wrath of God) then I can use it for that. Otherwise (and this is my favorite) I can just TAP ALL YOUR GUYS and swing in to kill you. If you want to be really tricky, do it on their turn BEFORE they attack. That makes it a Pollen Lullaby as well!

Daz awards: A+ (I am playing this in any aggro deck that runs these colors!)

Naya Panorama
Land (Common)
{T}: Add {1} to your mana pool.
{1},{T}, Sacrifice Naya Panorama: Search your library for a basic Mountain, Forest, or Plains card and put it into play tapped. Then shuffle your library.

I can see it now: I'm playing against a n00b in MWS and they try to use this card to get Temple Garden. - if not to me - to someone - and then the n00b will whine about how it doesn't say "basic Mountian, basic Forest, or basic Plains card" then drop the game after showing him the link to the Official Rulings.
MZ gives the Grade of B+ to Naya Panorama - and F to the n00b

I like every shard’s version of this card except this one. We already have enough mana fixing, and the turn it takes to search is just not worth it. If you are playing some sort of RGW control decks then I guess go ahead and play this guy. Otherwise, don’t bother.

Daz awards: C-

Obelisk of Naya – 3
Artifact (Common)
{T}: add {R}, {G}, or {W} to your mana pool.

I like this - better than the Signets from Ravnica - not as great as the Lairs (or the New Shard-Lands) (yes- I'm coining that term here)
MZ gives the grade of A+ to Obelisk of Naya

Almost the same thoughts as the Panorama, but slightly better. At least this accelerates you into something. But as I said before, turn three you want to be playing things to kill them, not setting up ways to kill them later. I like the Obelisks, I really do. Just not THIS one.

Daz awards: C+

Qasali Ambusher – 1GW
Creature – Cat Warrior (Uncommon)
Reach
If a creature is attacking you and you control a Forest and a Plains, you may play Qasali Ambusher without paying its mana cost and as though it had flash.
2/3

Hell's yeah I've been waiting for a card like this to reappear (back during Nemesis and Masquade they had spells with "play this if you have condition A and B met without spending mana!") damn shame there's only 1 of them in this set.
MZ gives the grade of A to Qasali Ambusher

Hint: You will almost never pay any mana to play this spell.

Daz awards: B+ (I don’t think Faeries are going to like this guy)

Rakeclaw Gargantuan – 2RGW
Creature – Beast (Common)
{1}: Target creature with power 5 or greater gains first strike until end of turn.
5/3

Even at common that seems like a bad deal.
MZ gives the Grade of C+ to Rakeclaw Gargantuan

First strike is a combat trick. I don’t want to play combat tricks. I AM GREEN! I want to just KILL YOU! Play the Mostodon instead. It’s just better.

Daz awards: C (it still dies to just about every burn spell)

Realm Razer - 3RGW
Creature - Beast (Rare)
When Realm Razer comes into play, remove all lands from the game.
When Realm Razer leaves play, return the removed cards to played tapped under their owners' control.
4/2

Torment Block has a group of Nightmares who came into play "scare-ing" something away and when the Nightmare died it came back - Realm Razer - then should be a Nightmare. - Personal thought
MZ gives the grade of B+ to Realm Razer with the Note: "Not Worldgorger Dragon."

Now THIS is something I can get into. Catch an opponent when he taps out to play a giant card draw spell or when you have traded your big creature for his big creature and he is sitting there with nothing but a bunch of tapped lands. Then proceed to beat on him with your 4/2 as well as any other guy you have sitting on the table!

Daz awards: A-

Relic of Progenitus - 1
Artifact (Common)
{T}: Target player removes a card in his or her graveyard from the game.
{1}, Remove Relic of Progenitus from the game: Remove all graveyards from the game. Draw a card.

Because Tormod's Crypt is rotating out - they need a 'yard Hate replacement. Thus Relic of Progenitus was born.
MZ gives the Grade of A+ to Relic of Progenitus with the Note: "Better than Crypt."

This shuts down retrace. (In standard)
… that’s about it. I guess it’s a spellbomb?
Aside from that, play this in extended. It’s good there.

Daz awards: C (in standard) / B+ (in extended, unfortunately Dredge is already dead, it didn’t really need any more hate)

Resounding Roar - 1G
Instant (Common)
Target creature gets +3/+3 until end of turn.
Cycling {5}{R}{G}{W}
When you cycle Resounding Roar, target creature gets +6/+6 until end of turn.

Giant Growth or... Explosive Growth - your choice.
MZ gives the Grade of B+ to Resouding Roar with the note "needs more in the cycle ability to weigh out the cost better."

I don’t really know what to think about this one. I am that one player who always tries to play Giant Growth in my decks, but it never makes the final cut. I can’t really decide if these cycle cards are good, but maybe that will be what it takes to push this over the hump.

Daz awards: B (hopefully?)

Ridge Rannet - 5RR
Creature - Beast (Common)
Cycling {2}
6/4

*YAWN* see Macetail Hystrodon
MZ gives the Grade of C to Ridge Rannet

This is almost as bad as a spider. If I’m going to tap 7 mana I want something better than a Craw Wurm…

Daz awards: C- (Don’t care)

Sacellum Godspeaker - 2G
Creature - Elf Druid (Rare)
{T}: Reveal any number of creature cards with power 5 or greater from your hand. Add {G} to your mana pool for each card revealed this way.
2/2

BIG BEASTS NEED MANA! MAKE CARD FOR US IN HAND!
MZ gives the Grade of B to Sacellum Godspeaker with the note: "Impressive but kinda predictable."

With this, I could potentially play my Godsire as early as TURN 3! (Assuming I have the correct land base, the perfect hand, and am on the draw) Aside from that, I can just completely smash my opponent with huge guy after huge guy, with each one not only paying for the ones before it, but paying for itself as well!
Daz awards: A (be frightened of what this thing can do to you)

Savage Hunger - 2G
Enchantment - Aura (Common)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +1/+0 and has trample.
Cycling {2}

No. NEXT! - it's no Rancor - but it's not even Primal Frenzy
MZ gives the Grade of C to Savage Hunger

Okay, Resounding Roar is probably bad, this is DEFINITELY bad. I had my opponent play this against me for the first time in a draft recently, and I almost wanted to laugh at him. Trust me, don’t play this.

Daz awards: F

Soul's Fire - 2R
Instant (Common)
Target creature you control in play deals damage equal to its power to target creature or player.

When it says "Target Creature you control" it means Godsire, Cloudscraper, Autochthon Wurm which means 8+ to 13+ damage. Shivan Meteor eat your heart out.
MZ gives the Grade of B+ to Soul's Fire

Fling was really good, Rite of Consumption is good, this has the potential to be even better! Remember that you are playing 5+ power with each creature you drop. That means this is five damage for THREE MANA! That’s enough to even make Tynion happy!

Daz awards: B+ (you DO still need that creature after all)

Soul's Grace - 1W
Instant (Common)
You gain life equal to target creature's power.

When it says "Target Creature you control" it means Godsire, Cloudscraper, Autochthon Wurm which means 8+ to 13+ life. Martyr of Sands eat your heart out.
MZ gives the Grade of B+ to Soul's Grace

General rule of thumb: Lifegain is only good if it does something else too. (Fait’s Fetters, Loxodon Heirarch, etc) This does nothing else. It’s not very good.

Daz awards: C

Soul's Might - 4G
Sorcery (Common)
Put X +1/+1 counters on target creature, where X is that creature's power.

When it says "Target Creature you control" it means Godsire, Cloudscraper, Autochthon Wurm which means 8+ to 13+ counters. Double your pleasure - double your fun with Doubing Season
MZ gives the Grade of B+ to Soul's Might

You have no idea how much I wish this was an instant. It would be so much better if it was an instant. It’s just a little short of what I would want to play right now. It’s a little to expensive, a little too delicate, and just not quite good enough for me to play in most decks I build.

Daz awards: B-

Spearbreaker Behemoth - 5GG
Creature - Beast (Rare)
Spearbreaker Behemoth is indestructible.
{1}: Target creature with power 5 or greater is indestructible this turn.
5/5

Just a tad overcosted in my humble opinion - I thought 4GG would be fair or 5G.
MZ gives the Grade of A- to Spearbreaker Behemoth

Okay, the other cards that affect five or more power creatures are all mediocre to horrible. This one is something I would play. You cast that horrible Wrath of God? No you don’t… I get my attackers and you lose your blockers!

Daz awards: A

Sunseed Nurturer - 2W
Creature - Human Druid Wizard (Uncommon)
At the end of your turn, if you control a creature with power 5 or greater, you may gain 2 life.
{T}: Add {1} to your mana pool.
1/1

As seen from the Wizards YouTube videos of Sunseed Nurturer – this guy needs a friend – but he's OK I suppose
MZ gives the Grade of C+ to Sunseed Nurturer

I’m with MZ on this. It’s okay. You need a friend, and even with the friend you are just a little harder to kill. That’s about it.

Daz awards: C

Titanic Ultimatum - RRGGGWW
Sorcery (Rare)
Until end of turn, creatures you control get +5/+5 and gain first strike, lifelink, and trample.

Overrun - I'm sorry - you’re being retired - this guy is taking your place - outside of Mono-Green.
MZ gives the Grade of A to Titanic Ultimatum

Augh. Personally, I hate this card. I don’t hate it because it’s bad, I hate it because it’s TOO good. So many things this card does are not worth it. An article on the Wizards of the Coast website revealed this card and the writer claimed his goal was to find a way to gain 60+ life off of it.
… WHY?!?! I think that this card doesn’t need lifelink and doesn’t need first strike. This reads: You win the game, and then gain a lot of life. It's amazing, it wins you games, but it's also making you win more than you need to.

Daz awards: A (As I said, it's good)

Where Ancients Tread - 4R
Enchantment (Rare)
Whenever a creature with power 5 or greater comes into play under your control, you may have Where Ancients Tread deal 5 damage to target creature or player.

Just add some self bounce for more Fun
MZ gives the Grade of B+ to Where Ancients Tread

This just seems like a more controlled element of Pandemonium. I guess if you are playing that sort of mid-range deck it's good. Otherwise, It costs a little more than you want. If are planning on playing this you will need to be able to accelerate into it.

Daz awards: B

Wild Nacatl - G
Creature - Cat Warrior (Common)
Wild Nacatl gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Plains.
Wild Nacatl gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Mountain.
1/1

Best in three Colors - OK in two colors - Crap in one color
MZ gives the Grade of C+ to Wild Nacatl

Okay, this card is VERY good when played in the right deck. In competitive T2 it is not quite as good because all of our dual lands are non-basic. However, take this guy into extended with the Ravnica "Shock" lands and we are cooking! Anyone here ever heard of Kird Ape? This guy just trumped him as a one drop in the Three Color Zoo decks.

Daz awards: A-

Woolly Thoctar - RGW
Creature - Beast (Uncommon)
5/4

3 mana for a 5/4 - DEAL!
MZ gives the grade of B+ to Wolly Thoctar

See! If I want mid-range beaters, I want to play them on TURN THREE (or turn two off a Birds of Paradise)! This card is another one that says: ANSWER ME NOW OR DIE! If you get him early game it's incredible, and I don't think I'm going to ever be sorry to see him later. There is a reason Doran, the Siege Tower, is so good in so many decks. Wolly Thoctar, while having some different strengths and weaknesses, is that sort of card.

Daz awards: A-

Yoked Plowbeast - 5WW
Creature - Beast (Common)
Cycling {2}
5/5

No. Leave now and never return.
MZ gives the Grade of F to Yoked Plowbeast

Seven mana for a 5/5 with no abilities except you can get rid of him when you don't want him (which should be always!). Ew.

Daz awards: F

All in all, I was disappointed with the shard as a whole, but very impressed by it's possible constructed value. There are a lot of cards that just made me go "eh", but then there were those few like Naya Charm that just completely blew me away. The shard has a lot of potential to bring back the Gruul, Boros, and Zoo decks of the Ravnica style, something that I have wanted to do for a long time. All in all, I like this shard, so long as you know which cards to NOT play then you should be able to be quite successful in playing it.

I've changed my grading theory a bit - where B was an "OK card with some dependency", where C was just barely cutting it, and A was brilliant - so it's not like I'm giving a good review or a bad review in spite of Wizards' policy - even though I gave them a lot of room to be good this time around instead of being a complete hardcore critic. Overall the cards are VERY playable on paper and probably better in some cases than on paper as Daz pointed out.

Daz Out.
This is MZ and it's back to the Aether with me.

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