Greetings everyone! DazBoot back with another First Impressions for Naya Part II: The Alara Reborn! Wait, that's part three... Very well! The Jungle Strikes Back! (Okay, I got my bad Hollywood jab in, I’ll try to keep it reigned in from here on out). For this F.I. I’m teaming up with Eldros to give you a firsthand look at the world in turmoil with rampant Planeswalkers, a re-uniting of the colors of magic, and the rise of deities of all cultures. Let’s see what we can find!

Hi everybody, this is Eldros, making his debut here in the jungle of Naya. In the middle of elves, cats, rabid sport fans and gigantic behemoth, (For those wondering about the sport fans, and that must be most of you, you'll understand soon enough) Nicol Bolas' scheme brought two new neighbors to the Naya territory and with it conflict. With all this going on, Progenitus got woken up, and it's not happy about the convergence of the planes. That's a lot to deal with, and Dazboot and I will see how the jungle-dwellers of Naya are faring thus far.

Ancient Ziggurat
Land
T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to play creature spells.

[Dazboot] I find this card to be one of those that just looks incredibly good on paper, but is always just slightly lacking come game time. This reminds me of Pillar of the Paruns from Guildpact. While the card is great if you have multicolor cards, it essentially is missing your land drop for any other spell you are trying to cast. While this is only an uncommon, which is a point in its favor, in my eyes, this card would become incredibly better if it tapped for a colorless mana, in addition to it’s great fixing.
Grade: B-

[Eldros] Grade: A+
Dazboot, didn't find this card that overwhelming but I have to say: what a majestic building! We've got here the ultimate color-fixer for all that is creature-based decks. I think it is definitely more playable than the Pillars. And it is an unco! As a tribal fan, I must have one set of those.

Apocalypse Hydra XRG
Creature - Hydra
Apocalypse Hydra comes into play with X +1/+1 counters on it. If X is 5 or more, it comes into play with an additional X +1/+1 counters on it.
1R, Remove a +1/+1 counter from Apocalypse Hydra: Apocalypse Hydra deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
0/0

[Eldros] Grade: A
Ironically, the more mana you pump into it, the cheaper the creature is to play. I like it, I like it much. The ability to ping by removing a counter is a nice bonus. I'll be happy to crack that open as a mythic.

[DazBoot] This card is a monster. I’ve been playing a lot of limited magic (draft and sealed) so the first thing that pops into my head is: In sealed, this means that for seven mana you essentially just win the game. Obviously in constructed (pre-built decks) this wouldn’t always be the case, but the fact that he is a large creature backed up by its added reach at an opponent though direct damage makes this card incredibly solid.
Grade: A-

Beacon Behemoth 3GG
Creature - Beast
1: Target creature with power 5 or greater gains vigilance until end of turn.
5/3

[Eldros] Grade: D
It is not worth more as a D, as it is just a boring common filler on theme.

[DazBoot] Again, I’m going to call upon limited experience here to give some of you players who are interested in the format some insight. While this Behemoth seems quite weak and dies to a lot of removal, the vigilance on its own can actually act as a threat. If an opponent has a creature that they don’t want to trade, then they will not only not be able to block, but will not be able to attack as well. Combine this with the fact that it can cause this to be the case with other fatties such as all of the Thoctars, and it’s pretty nasty.
Grade: B

Cliffrunner Behemoth 3G
Creature - Rhino Beast
Cliffrunner Behemoth has haste as long as you control a red permanent.
Cliffrunner Behemoth has lifelink as long as you control a white permanent.
5/3

[DazBoot] Lifelink is good, haste is good, and the ability to have both of those makes this card simply devastating if it makes a hit. That means that you’ll get in there for a ten-plus point life swing, and will be set up to possibly do it again next turn. The fact that he comes out of nowhere to do it is just icing on the cake. My only complaint is that he only has three toughness. If it was a 5/4 like most of the other fatties I would probably have this be one of my favorite cards in the set.
Grade: A-

[Eldros] Grade: B
And let's say that I can see it running as a finisher in Zoo, as the deck is already stuffed with cheap red and white creatures, such Savannah Lion and Kird Apes. I have to agree with Daz, it is definitely a good card.

Cylian Sunsinger 1G
Creature - Elf Shaman
RGW: Cylian Sunsinger and each other creature with the same name as it get +3/+3 until end of turn.
2/2

[Eldros] Grade: C
I'm disappointed. Why is it a rare? No more importantly, why does it affect only Cylian Sunsingers? This is clearly the kind of card from which you want a complete set to be worth it. In my opinion, to be worth a rare spot, it should have affected all creatures. (And in order to still be balanced, cost a little more to play.)

[DazBoot] This to me feels like a Knight of the Skyward Eye, but just worse and at a rare. Maybe you’ll play it in some casual deck somewhere, but it’s certainly not a powerhouse. Mind you, it’s not horrible, I’m just not impressed.
Grade: C+

Ember Weaver 2G
Creature - Spider
Reach (This can block creatures with flying.)
As long as you control a red permanent, Ember Weaver gets +1/+0 and has first strike.
2/3

[DazBoot] Whenever I play any deck in Limited that plays Red or Green, I look for these guys. Let me just put this out there. Three mana for a 2/3 reach is good (See Court Archers). Three for a 3/3 first strike is good. The fact this thing can sit back and essentially block anything you want, and kill it with first strike damage, is just astounding. Start stacking up a couple of them and you will simply not be bothered by creatures again.
Grade: B+

[Eldros] Grade: B-
For once, the estimation of its limited value has not gone that far from the one DazBoot made. A nice little spider that is in the curve, and for sure, a good blocker in limited, provided you have some red permanent in play. And its got quite cool art to boot.

Knotvine Mystic RGW
Creature - Elf Druid
1, T: Add RGW to your mana pool.
2/2

[Eldros] Grade: B-
I'm mixed on this account. It could be also seen as a strong C+. Let me explain. First I thought it is not a good mana fixer, and then I realized that it was more a mana accelerator. People are playing Garruk for the extra two mana each turn, so why not the Mystic, who is cheaper, although it could be harder to play with the need of three different colored mana.

[DazBoot] This guy to me seems like a sort of Llanowar Eleves + Birds of Paradise hybrid. My first gut instinct is that I don’t like it. Three mana of three colors for what appears at first glance to be a fixer/accelerator just doesn’t seem good enough. If it were me, I’d just play an Oblelisk. For that mana commitment, I want a Wooly Thoctar.
Grade: C

Kranioceros 4R
Creature - Beast
1W: Kranioceros gets +0/+3 until end of turn.
5/2

[DazBoot] Red is now shielding itself… This is new! I don’t really care! While this guy can go on the defensive, he costs five. That’s just too much for me to invest and be forced to reinvest over and over. Someone just hand me a burn spell so I can burn out whatever is bothering me instead.
Grade: C-

[Eldros] Grade: E.
Yes a E, as in mEh... Because here we have more filler that won't probably see a lot of play outside of limited. And even limited play is not assured. It is not that it isn't easy to cast with all the tools for mana ramping. It's just that we can find more interesting for cheaper. Get out of the way, ugly face.

Matca Rioters 2G
Creature - Human Warrior
Domain - Matca Rioters's power and toughness are each equal to the number of basic land types among lands you control.
*/*

[Eldros] Grade: B ...
for Boy, do I like this card. Given the use of the right lands, let's say some alpha dual lands, like Tundra, or shock-lands, à la Blood Crypt, and you can have a 5/5 turn 3. Which is better than a Woolly Thotcar. Onslaught fetch-lands are even at our disposal to stabilize the mana-base. Might we see the resurgence of Domain in Standard and Extended? Maybe, but it won't be without hearing their mighty roar of rage. Rabid Sport Fan for the win!

[DazBoot] Now this is more like it. Three mana seems to be the new cost for those aggressive drops. With the fact that running full domain in your new decks doesn’t seem to be that much of a problem, I could see this being right up there with the best of the efficient aggressive creatures coming out in these new sets. The thought of this guy playing around with the Ravnica shock lands just makes me tingle with joy!
Grade: A

Meglonoth 3RGW
Creature - Beast
Vigilance, trample
Whenever Meglonoth blocks a creature, Meglonoth deals damage to that creature's controller equal to Meglonoth's power.
6/6

[Eldros] Grade: A ...
for A real monster. That's a finisher like I like them, for sure! It has a big body, it does a lot of damage when it attacks, and it does a lot of damage when it blocks! And with Vigilance it can do both. Talk about versality. All in all a package of abilities that goes well together.

[Dazboot] I don’t know how many of you readers have gone to a limited event and played against this beast yet, but I would be very surprised if anyone who has found it to be an enjoyable experience. Let me quickly go down my list of things I look for in a beat-stick creature. Efficiently costed: 6/6 for 6, check! Large body: 6/6, Check! Not just able to be chump blocked: Trample: Check! Wait, I get to block too? Awesome! When I block I get to hit my opponent AGAIN?!?! *Faints*
Grade: A+

Might of Alara G
Instant
Domain - Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each basic land type among lands you control.

[DazBoot] They have already printed this card. It was called Gaea’s Might. It was so good that it spawned it’s own deck. If you own that card, you should play it. If you own this card, you should play it. Enough said.

Daz Awards: A (Would be an A+, but we’ve already seen it so that’s too easy)

[Eldros] Grade: A+
I don't fear too easy. Do I need to tell you how good Gaea's Might was? Now I see it, the coming of Alara Might Get There. I called it!

Nacatl Hunt-Pride 5W
Creature - Cat Warrior
Vigilance
R, T: Target creature can't block this turn.
G, T: Target creature blocks this turn if able.
5/4

[Eldros] Grade: C
Maybe it's just me, but I don't think it will see a lot of play, although I can see a sort of allure to it. I'll keep an eye on it, without hoping to much.

[DazBoot] Whenever I go to a limited event, I play as part of a three man team. I have never actually played this card because when I first looked at it, I didn’t see it as wildly appealing. However, both of my teammates tell me they are madly in love with this card and find it can break a stalemate on the board like no other. In the events that they play it, they do extremely well, so I guess I can’t argue with results. It makes the cut for me.
Grade (From Daz and his Team): B

Nacatl Outlander RG
Creature - Cat Scout
Protection from blue
2/2

[Eldros] Grade: D I
It's seems that functional reprints are legions in Conflux. Here meet with Yavimaya Barbarian. Well at least the Barbarian was an elf. Otherwise Sideboard material.

[DazBoot] Personally I find these boring. They usually can be played in my decks, but I’m almost never excited about them. The only time I find them attractive is when my opponent is playing a lot of multicolor creatures and I can just sit back and block with them all day. Block a Rhox War Monk? Sure… Block a Fusion Elemental? No problem! I guess they’re not horrible…
Grade: B-

Nacatl Savage 1G
Creature - Cat Warrior
Protection from artifacts
2/1

[Eldros] Grade: B.
Why, oh why is it no more an elf?! Tel-Jilad Chosen is crying all over the place. *sob*
Otherwise, I guess it is a good card to consider.

[DazBoot] Nacatl Savage = Esper players get annoyed. That’s really about it. If your opponent has a lot of Executioner’s Capsules feel free to bring this guy out. Otherwise, don’t bother.
Grade: C

Paleoloth 4GG
Creature - Beast
Whenever another creature with power 5 or greater comes into play under your control, you may return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
5/5

[Eldros] Grade: C
It might be useful in some kind of reanimation deck, still have to find what kind of reanimation deck it will be.

[DazBoot] If this guy didn’t have the word “another” printed on him, I would be so much more impressed. While it’s not bad now, it’s still not as impressive to me as, say, Megnoloth. Recursion is good, making them kill your guys over and over and chain “five or greater” guys seems solid. I guess I can’t really complain too much.
Grade: Solid B

Path to Exile W
Instant
Remove target creature from the game. Its controller may search his or her library for a basic land card, put that card into play tapped, then shuffle his or her library.

[Eldros] Grade: B
I always liked this kind of cheap removal that we can find in white, like Condemn, or Swords to Plowshares for all those old-school fans out there. Definitely worth a look, because who plays basic lands nowadays?

[DazBoot] The first time I saw this card spoiled, I paused, read it again, and literally did a small dance of joy (much to my roommate’s confusion). Swords to Plowshares was good, it was played in control decks from it’s creation all the way up to this day. The fact that this card no longer gains your opponent life means that not only can it be played in control, but this can be played in AGGRO DECKS! Oh, you have one blocker keeping you alive? NOT ANYMORE! For added utility you can block, put the damage from your blocker on the stack, and then Path your own guy to Rampant Growth. Expect this card to take up residence and move in for the long haul…
Grade: A happy, dancing A+

Sacellum Archers 2G
Creature - Elf Archer
RW, T: Sacellum Archers deals 2 damage to target attacking or blocking creature.
2/3

[Eldros] Grade: D
I always found this kind of ability quite limited. It's using red mana, it should be able to do more! Quite a meh card, but has its use, I guess.

[DazBoot] This is also going to fall into the category of “cards-that-I-haven’t-played-because-my-teammates-love-them-so-much-they-take-them-before-I-can-get-to-them”. This makes me think a lot about Vithian Stinger (one of my favorite commons from Shards of Alara) except that this guy can block an attacker, and shoot another before taking any damage. Nifty;
Grade: B+

Scattershot Archer G
Creature - Elf Archer
T: Scattershot Archer deals 1 damage to each creature with flying.
1/2

[DazBoot] For any of you who have ever faced the plague that is infesting tournament magic everywhere: (Otherwise known as “Faeries”) rejoice, salvation is at hand. This guy does it all. He shoots faeries, he doesn’t die to Peppersmoke, it gets in under counter-magic on the first turn. I know that I’ll be packing four of these in my sideboard of most green decks I play.
Grade: A-

[Eldros] Grade: A+
At least an elf worth getting in my collection. Best Naya Common I have seen so far. Greatbow Doyen has found his best buddy, and Faeries a fierce enemy. And in case the opponent doesn't have fliers, I bet there is a way to solve this problem.

Soul's Majesty 4G
Sorcery
Draw cards equal to the power of target creature you control.

[Eldros] Grade: C+
Considering, that is good card drawing for green, can replenish easily one hand in mid-game. It has potential, but I'm not entirely sold on it.

[DazBoot] Harmonize was played a lot in green decks, I think this can be too. I assume you will usually try to draw at least four cards with this, which seems reasonable for five mana (see: Tidings). It seems slightly weaker in that you need a creature, and I don’t know about it being a rare, but I guess I’d play it if given the chance.
Grade: C+

Sylvan Bounty 5G
Instant
Target player gains 8 life.
Basic landcycling 1G (1G, Discard this card: Search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.)

[Eldros] Grade: F
Limited Filler. Nuff Said.

[DazBoot] I’ll be honest. My first impression of this card was: Oh look, Natural Spring… this is card is horrible, I guess if worse comes to worse I can use it to Sylvan Scrying for a basic land at instant speed. But then I played it in a deck and believe it or not, this is not the worst card in existence. In fact, the important thing to look at is that this is an Instant. That means that you can hold onto your combat trick, and then one of those turns when you don’t need it you can just gain that life (assuming you don’t need the land). Eight life is a lot, and can give you a significant lead when you’re trying to race an opponent.
Grade: B- (Sorry, it’s still just life gain)

Thornling 3GG
Creature - Elemental Shapeshifter
G: Thornling gains haste until end of turn.
G: Thornling gains trample until end of turn.
G: Thornling is indestructible this turn.
1: Thornling gets +1/-1 until end of turn.
1: Thornling gets -1/+1 until end of turn.
4/4

[Eldros] Grade: B+
We got Torchling in Planar Chaos, now come the third card in the Morphling mega-cycle. I doubt that Thornling will ever do better than Morphling, but I can see it as a close second. I won't spit on it, anyway.

[DazBoot] And here it is, I should have known this was bound to happen eventually. Torchling showed up in the warped world of Planer Chaos, but I didn’t think Conflux was going to be when Thornling made his appearance. I’ll be honest here, Thornling is really underwhelming to me. Blue needed Morphling as it’s finisher, Green does not need Thornling. He gets haste (still don’t understand that), becomes indestructible, and tramples over. Aside from that he really has no evasion, and just sort sits there like a big green dummy. This card was not needed.
Grade: B-

Vagrant Plowbeasts 5GW
Creature - Beast
1: Regenerate target creature with power 5 or greater.
6/6

[DazBoot] This is a card that I have worked so hard to get excited about, but simply can’t seem to make it work. A 6/6 regenerating creature is really good. For seven mana though… eh… I don’t know about that.
Grade: C

[Eldros] Grade: F
I can't really be excited by that.

Volcanic Fallout 1RR
Instant
Volcanic Fallout can't be countered.
Volcanic Fallout deals 2 damage to each creature and each player.

[Eldros] Grade: B
Again a card of good pedigree. Any red mage would really consider playing this uncounterable Pyroclasm against a Blue Sky type of deck. Only thing that prevents it from having a top grade, is because Pyroclasm is usually better and cheaper against token hordes, and they don't usually have counterspells.

[DazBoot] Sudden Shock + Pyroclasm? I’ll take it! Bane of small swarm decks and counter-magic everywhere! I’ll take a set!
Grade: B+

Wall of Reverence 3W [pic please]
Creature - Spirit Wall
Defender, flying
At the end of your turn, you may gain life equal to the power of target creature you control.
1/6

[Eldros] Grade: E
All this Wall is doing is helping you not to lose. However, I seem to remember that the goal in Magic is to win.

[DazBoot] This also falls under the category of “Cards-I-underrated”. I was doing a draft and a guy who was joking around picked up three of these. I was playing five color domain, and could pump out extraordinary amounts of damage on turn five or later. However, he dropped a pair of these and a single fatty. I literally pushed 50 damage through to this guy over the course of the game, and do you know what he was at when he killed me? 36 LIFE! This thing just flat out shuts down so many aggro decks that it’s not even fair. If they don’t have the removal spell then they are just done with. Eldros has a point that the objective of the game is to win, not to keep yourself from losing, but at some point I just have to admit that this REALLY keeps you from losing…
Grade: An amazed B

[Eldros] Final Thought: DazBoot and I have definitely different thought processes. He has obviously a much better view of the limited scene, while I am more looking for cards that could be the interesting core or utility of fun constructed decks. But all in all, although some of my grades were a bit harsh, I am quite pleased with the shard, and am looking forward to possessing some of the pearls that Naya offered us in Conflux.

[DazBoot] Final Thoughts: All in all I didn’t expect Naya to rate this high. Not a single card in this shard failed by my standards. I think that Naya is clearly a solid contender coming out of the post-Conflux era. Combine that with the fact that it can easily pick up parts from the other shards with the heavy mana fixing of the set and I have to say that when it comes down to it, Naya just has the crushing force that everything else will have to deal with or die.

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