Journey Into Nyx Pre-Release Plan
Limited forum
Posted on April 18, 2014, 3:42 p.m. by ChiefBell
I'm going to post a quick discussion about the cards for use in the pre-release. I'll roughly follow the BREAD plan - Bombs, Removal, Evasion, Aggro and Duds. The main points here will be bombs, removal, evasion. I won't cover aggro because that's about how you structure your deck. Obviously I won't spend much time on duds.
Sorry, I planned to do this earlier, but I had prior engagements!
I'm going to focus on commons and uncommons. The reason for this is that in a limited environment, the only cards you can build around with any reliability will be these. You are not likely to pull rares and mythics. Therefore analyses of these cards, would be useless for the majority of situations. The aim of this is to look at what will likely happen, rather than what may happen in some obscure situation.
I was going to post pictures but it would take up too much space, instead I'll post links. I hope this is ok.
Bombs
I'm going to define a bomb as 4/4 on the ground or 3/3 in the air. The air requirement is lower because, as a trade off of having flying, the creatures are often weaker. Obviously flying creatures are also harder to block, and can therefore push through relatively more damage. There will be some flexibility with these due to first-strike etc.
White
Quarry Colossus: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/quarrycolossus.html
Quarry Colossus is of note because it also acts as semi removal. A 7-drop 5/6 that also tucks a creature below the top X cards is very effective.
Supply-Line Cranes: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/supplylinecranes.html
This places a +1/+1 counter on a target creature. Therefore this could be a 3/5 if you want. A 3/5 flier for 5 is fantastic, and at common rarity!
Skyspear Cavalry: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/skyspearcavalry.html
A 2/2 flier but has doublestrike. All for 5 mana. This card effectively hits for four, and can compete with most other things in the air.
Blue
Cloaked Siren: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/cloakedsiren.html
A 3/2 flier for 4 isn't bad. Topped off with flash which means it doesn't have to sit around for a whole turn with summoning sickness.
Godhunter Octopus: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/godhunteroctopus.html
A 6-drop 5/5 that can't attack unless the opponent controls an enchantment. Pretty large threat with a downside: however in this block it seems likely that the opponent is going to have at least 1 enchantment. At common rarity, this seems great.
Riptide Chimera: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/riptidechimera.html
3-drop 3/4 flier, that forces you to return an enchantment to your hand each turn. This could be fantastic if you have a good curve and a high saturation of enchantment creatures. However, the real downside is that its ability effectively forces you to keep up the tempo - as soon as it's on its own on the field, you'll have to return it to hand.
Crystalline Nautilus: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/crystallinenautilus.html
A 3-drop 4/4 that has to be sacrificed if its the target of a spell of ability. Has bestow for 5. This card seems really solid in limited. Extremely solid. Given that most people will be running creature orientated decks, with only a few combat tricks and bits of removal; the opportunity to remove this economically will be low. I think this could be a serious threat.
Whitewater Naiads: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/whitewaternaiads.html
A 5-drop 4/4 with constellation: target creature is unblockable. Wow. What a way to quickly end the game. This is such a bomb. If its not answered quickly you could steamroll a victory.
Black
Squelching Leeches: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/squelchingleeches.html
This card can potentially be infinitely large but doesn't do anything else especially interesting. Only use in a deck with a large amount of swamps.
Red
Gluttonous Cyclops: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/gluttonouscyclops.html
6-drop 5/4 with monstrosity 3 for 7.
Wildfire Cerberus: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/wildfirecerberus.html
5-drop 4/3 with monstrosity 1 for 7. When it becomes monstrous it deals 2 damage to each creature the opponent controls. This could be massive against white weenie or other weenies archetypes.
Cyclops of eternal fury: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/cyclopsofeternalfury.html
6-drop 5/3 that gives all your creatures haste. You would hope that by T7 the game is winding down slightly - but limited can often go on for a while. Giving all your creatures haste would be more useful at the beginning of the game, rather than at the end. This creature has a lackluster defense considering its mana cost.
Green
Goldenhide Ox: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/goldenhideox.html
6-drop 5/4 with constellation: target creature must be blocked. Slightly low defense considering its ability and cost, however has the potential to end games very quickly if unanswered.
Humbler of Mortals: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/humblerofmortals.html
Wow. What a 6-drop. 5/5 body with constellation: all your creatures gain trample until EOT. This is definitely a potential game-ender.
Nessian Game Warden: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/nessiangamewarden.html
A 5-drop 4/5 that also allows you to put a creature card into hand from among the top cards of your library. This card is amazing. Large attack, decent toughness (for its cost) and grants some degree of card draw is extremely important.
Pheres-Band Thunderhoof: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/pheresbandthunderhoof.html
A 5-drop 3/4 with heroic: place 2 +1/+1 counters. This could get very scary in the right deck.
Swarmborn Giant: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/swarmborngiant.html
A 4-drop 6/6 that is sacrificed if you're dealt damage. Effective against midrange strategies but probably not aggro or against evasive decks. I'm not sure if the risk is worth it - but it could be a big player.
Winner: Green wins with some creatures that are very efficiently costed and some with fantastic abilities. Something in me is saying that blue and white come second. I like the look of white fliers. However blue evasion could also be a thing.
Removal
White
Oppressive Rays: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/oppressiverays.html
Sort of like a conditional version of Arrest . For 1 mana, this is very good.
Leonin Iconclast: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/leoniniconoclast.html
4 drop with heroic: destroy target enchantment. Obviously won't work on everything and has to be in the right deck - but this could be devastating, if you can reliably activate.
Reprisal: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/reprisal.html
Amazing removal at uncommon rarity. It's going to specifically target all those nasty cards. However - smaller evasive creatures will get around it.
Quarry Colossus: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/quarrycolossus.html
Already discussed. Has a tuck ability.
Banishing Light: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/banishinglight.html
Oh hey! Oblivion Ring . This is fantastic removal - but be aware that this set packs A LOT of enchantment hatred. You may find your Banishing Light being removed.
Blue
Countermand: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/countermand.html
A 4-drop counterspell. Sort of lackluster.
Hubris: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/hubris.html
A strong tempo play, but not definitive removal
Pin to the Earth: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/pintotheearth.html
Not definitive removal but should stop most things in their tracks.
Triton Cavalry: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/tritoncavalry.html
4 drop with heroic: return enchantment to owners hand. A long winded way to remove things, isn't definitive (only a tempo play). I would much rather be playing the Leonin Iconclast.
Hypnotic Siren: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/hypnoticsiren.html
A VERY interesting bestow ability. Pay 6 to take control of target creature AND give it flying. This could be absolutely awesome in limited.Black
Feast of Dreams: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/feastofdreams.html
Your classic black removal spell for 2 mana. Solid killspell with a small downside (only enchantment creatures or enchanted creatures)
Nightmarish End: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/nightmarishend.html
With very few ways of filling your hand in limited, I'm not convinced that this will be effective.
Nyx Infusion: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/nyxinfusion.html
I'm not convinced by this. It's a very weak play to use this as removal, but at least it has the option.
Spiteful Blow: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/spitefulblow.html
6 mana for a card that removes land and a creature. Pretty fantastic but probably too slow to use purely as creature removal.
Brain Maggot: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/brainmaggot.html
Sort of proactive removal. Be aware that when it dies, the card comes back. It's an interesting option.
Red
Knowledge and Power: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/knowledgeandpower.html
Very expensive given how conditional it is and how little it will do to kill creatures. Probably not the best for limited.
Magma Spray: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/magmaspray.html
Really useful card, but won't help kill those large bombs.
Starfall: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/starfall.html
Far too expensive for how conditional it is. 5 mana for 3 damage to a creature. However it could be a quick way to get 3 damage done directly to the opponent.
Riddle of Lightning: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/riddleoflightning.html
5-mana spell that potentially does a large amount of damage to a creature or player, but depends on how your deck is constructed. This seems good though, given that it has scry 3.
Spite of Mogis: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/spiteofmogis.html
In a dedicated burn deck this card is ridiculous AND it has scry1. However, it only hits creatures. Maybe playable in limited though - yo ucould find yourself doing 3 damage for 1 mana.
Green
Consign to Dust: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/consigntodust.html
Will hit a large amount of creatures as well. Seems useful and fairly costed, although probably not good enough to completely rely on.
Desecration Plague: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/desecrationplague.html
Again, seems useful but too conditional and too expensive to rely on as creature removal.
Winner: White is doing extremely well with removal that specifically targets the things you need to kill most. I'm surprised that black is somewhat weak here.
Evasion
We've already discussed more fliers - this will round up the rest, and some unblockables.
White
Eagle of the watch: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/eagleofthewatch.html
3-drop 2/1 with flying and vigilance. Very good for a common. This is probably playable.
Blue
Triton Shorestalker: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/tritonshorestalker.html
1-drop 1/1 that can't be blocked. Not useful. In the right deck though - wicked.
Hypnotic Siren: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/hypnoticsiren.html
1-drop 1/1 flier with a bestow ability that allows you to steal your opponents things. This is way more playable than the Shorestalker in MOST decks, just because it has more versatility. Not a large threat most of the time though - best avoided unless definitely needed.
War-wing Siren: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/warwingsiren.html
3-drop 1/3 with flying and heroic: place a +1/+1 counter. Pretty rubbish most of the time, but in the right deck is pretty great.
Black
None
Red
Akroan Line Breaker: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/akroanlinebreaker.html
A very solid heroic ability that could definitely break stalemates.
Bladetusk Boar: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/bladetuskboar.html
This is a pretty good card. A card with some degree of evasion that can dish out 3 damage per turn. However, has weak defence. A little scary, but not a lot.
Green
None
Winner: White has the most playable evasive creature that isn't a bomb. Blue has some interesting options as well.
Any others?
White
Watch Akroan Mastiff (http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/akroanmastiff.html) as a potential annoyance that could severely slow down the opponent or even prevent a creature from blocking before combat. This card could potentially be played.
Tethmos High Priest (http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/tethmoshighpriest.html) and Launch The Fleet (http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/launchthefleet.html) both fit into aggro decks AND have synergy together. Some beautiful things could happen here.
Blue
Hour of Need (http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/hourofneed.html) is a definite bomb and finisher card to watch out for. If you have a semi-developed board state you're going to be swinging for some very high multiple of 4. Scary.
Interpret the Signs (http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/hourofneed.html) and Sigiled Starfish (http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/sigiledstarfish.html) help with drawing and just making sure you get what you need. This could be very useful in longer games where you want to play threats reliably. Card draw and draw fixing are often overlooked by newer players but can easily change a game. I would consider both if I had space in my deck.
Black
I don't see anything that really interest me.
Red
Blinding Flare (http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/blindingflare.html) is a card that could end a game very fast if you have a good board state. I would beware of this. Such a cheap cost to potentially end the game.
Green
Solidarity of Heroes (http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/solidarityofheroes.html) has the potential to make a creature massive. In a heroic deck it could be very silly, and cause big, big problems.
Closing thoughts - I think white looks really strong. A lot of fliers, a decent amount of removal. There's a similar story for blue. I would normally play black but the removal in black (in my opinion) is actually worse than white in this set, AND white gives you all the great creatures. I think white is therefore a very big contender here. Green as usual has great access to the largest creatures and some with very interesting abilities but not much besides. It will again be a large threat but requires time to set up. Against the right aggro / evasive deck it won't stand a chance. Lastly, red. Red feels a bit shafted here. Some burn spells that are amazing, but thrive more in a constructed format than limited (Spite of Mogis), and lacks a vast majority of quick hasty things. I'm not overly impressed - although it does have some stellar examples of creatures that could be scary.
Now - what do YOU think?
I missed:
Armament of Nyx: http://mythicspoiler.com/nyx/cards/armamentofnyx.html
ANOTHER white removal spell that could be used to end certain creatures. A lot of the big bombs aren't enchantments (although a fair amount are), so this is quite usable.
April 18, 2014 3:56 p.m.
Great article ChiefBell! I agree with almost all of your card assessments, and I'm really looking forward to prerelease, along with my draft FNM's in the months to come!
April 18, 2014 5:47 p.m.
Thanks. I was kind of annoyed that I'd gone through like 175 cards and no one had even bothered to comment :(
April 18, 2014 5:50 p.m.
Haha well your efforts are appreciated by me! I'll definitely be checking on this before prerelease again to see the advantages each card has. And since this is supposed to be a discussion forum as well, what archetype are you looking the most forward to draft?
April 18, 2014 5:52 p.m.
KnightsBattlecry001 says... #7
Great article ChiefBell. I still haven't completely gone over the entire Nyx set to see what I'm gonna pick, and this definitely helped. Can't wait for prerelease!
April 18, 2014 6:17 p.m.
The Doctor says... #8
Good article.
I myself will most likely be playing white/x because it seems the strongest to me.
April 18, 2014 6:17 p.m.
So in response to DMRxITxUP and The Doctor - I would have to say that WU looks good for me. There's a lot of removal and semi-removal (return back to hand effects) there's also a good pick of flying and unblockable stuff. The advantage of this deck is that, unlike green, we're not playing a few big threats - we're basing the entire deck around fliers, which are all inherently evasive (obviously!), and generally annoying. This means that removal is less effective because we're not building the deck around a single "bomb" - instead we're building the deck around creatures that are all generally annoying. I expect it will be a high tempo deck, with enough removal to deal with midrange.
My friend always plays WU in limited and it's extremely strong. The fact that we have a 2/2 doublestrike is amazing. The white promo card is amazing. It just all looks good.
April 18, 2014 6:22 p.m.
I normally play golgari - black removal and green bombs. However black removal looks subpar to white removal in this case, so I thought I'd approach it from a different angle.
Remember the advantage of high tempo flier decks is that by the time the opponent has that 5-drop hydra on the field you will have done a little bit of damage - you can then race your way to victory with creatures that they can't block! I think there's only one green creature with reach. Sucks to be them.
April 18, 2014 6:24 p.m.
Dude. The cockatrice is a legend. A 3/3 flash flying deathtouch monstrous is a bomb, removal and evasion.
April 18, 2014 7:23 p.m.
Oh yeh...... multiple colours are a thing. I may or may not have just completely forgotten...... my bad.
April 18, 2014 7:23 p.m.
I accept no responsibility for not scrolling down the page and seeing the muticoloured creatures.
April 18, 2014 7:24 p.m.
Unforgivn_II says... #14
Don't forget the other sets. Green has the big daddy of bombs (and cards with reach) in Nessian Asp . I'm going green at my prerelease. Tons of bombs,as well as some solid early pressure in things like Nessian Courser . Removal in Time to Feed and Fade into Antiquity . And of course, splash something else depending on the pulls. Hopefully blue, because I love combat tricks (and Prophet of Kruphix if I get really lucky)
April 18, 2014 7:28 p.m.
Is the pack split-up 1 seeded, 1 journey, 2 born, 2 theros?
April 18, 2014 7:30 p.m.
Yeh it's pretty good. Unfortunately this little article would have to be 3 times as long if I covered Theros and BotG too!
I played BG in BotG and went 2-2. What did I lose against? UW evasion!
My threats hit the board solidly but they already had a lead. It became a race that I couldn't win because they were able to attack largely unhindered (due to flying) and have removal of their own. My green creatures (roughly 4 drops and bigger) couldn't compete with 2 and 3 drop fliers.
April 18, 2014 7:39 p.m.
This was a great, informative read and will serve to be very helpful to many before their pre-release. Well done!
April 18, 2014 8:26 p.m.
trentfaris242 says... #20
Even though this was focused towards JOU, I was really glad I sat down and read it all. I'm going to a Sealed PTQ tomorrow and I think this will really help!
Good job, ChiefBell!
April 18, 2014 11:53 p.m.
Dalektable says... #21
Nice article! White is by far the most powerful color, for sealed I believe it is definitely the way to go. I definitely foresee White being attempted to be drafted by multiple people in a single draft, leading to multiple sub-par white decks and not really one good as many expect. Once in a THS draft I drafted a deck that wasn't popular among my shop to be drafted, W/R Heroic, and pretty much destroyed the competition going 4-1 (lost to a sick W/U heroic build) simply because I got passed all the good red cards. I might try to go Simic for the draft this time around, it seems strong and with many focussing on white hopefully I'll get passed some goodies.
April 19, 2014 1:16 p.m.
Yeh but remember that the pre-release is sealed, not draft so this could well change. We'll just have to see on the day!
Or at least we always do sealed, not draft. So it's not down to picks - just whats in your packs.
April 19, 2014 7:13 p.m.
Also remember that not all of the cards will be from JOU, in fact, if you count the seeded pack, only half of them will be. This is very different from the theros one, as all of the cards were from THS. This will only complement the already created sealed and draft formats, and will only have an impact on 1/3 of your deck in draft and 1/2 in sealed.
April 19, 2014 7:38 p.m.
Absolutely. It's also worth mentioning that besides the speculation, on the day - DO NOT FORCE AN ARCHETYPE OR COLOUR. If you open your boosters and you don't get many good white fliers (just a few bad ones) - don't try and go ahead with the plan anyway. Same with your picks in draft - don't force them. Having a plan going in isn't bad, it just means you have knowledge of the cards, but you must be aware that you have to be very flexible when you begin choosing. You won't always get the cards you need.
April 19, 2014 7:51 p.m.
Quick note about Leonin Iconclast, it's Enchantment Creature, not just Enchantment. That makes it even more restrictive :x
April 20, 2014 4:11 p.m.
Well this is certainly interesting. I've already reserved a white pack at my LGS and was planning to splash blue.
April 20, 2014 9:21 p.m.
Enlightened_Jedi says... #27
this upcoming weekend is gonna be my first limited event.
I was just wondering in the theros block, whats the most played/well played color combo's with Theros, Born, Nyx?
I'm wanting to make a UR, just for fun but I dont want to be stomped in the process all game day long lol
April 21, 2014 2:22 p.m.
This was a great article and was very helpful! The only thing was that I was confused when you were talking about hypnotic siren, because I thought you said that you were not going to talk about the rares.
April 21, 2014 11:19 p.m.
Ultimaodin says... #29
I must say I like this little article. I must agree though that nobody should go into this thinking - I'm going to play X. I went into the last sealed event (BTG) with the idea of playing Simic (simic player) and didn't play Blue Green once because my pools sucked for that. That said I beat a tonne of people playing power cards but terrible cards for the rest. One person was playing red/white with Elspeth and Purphorus, which while all well and good got curb stomped by most players because the rest of his cards in red white were terrible.
April 21, 2014 11:28 p.m.
TheLastCurryRice says... #30
I also agree that white is definitely one of the, if not, the most powerful color in this set. Putting points on cards using the BREAD might not be the best way to value a color in my opinion, especially when you aren't covering all the different ways cards could be good for a draft. Bombs and Removal are very important, but it feels like you are putting cards that aren't actually bombs in the list and leaving out combat tricks from the list of removal spells. Since you are putting rares like Hypnotic Siren on the list, I don't see why Dictate of Heliod was not put onto the list as one of the strongest white rares for limited. For evasion and maybe for bomb, since Whitewater Naiads was brought up, I would like to see Dreadbringer Lampads as a similar card for the list. I was surprised you didn't put any of the strive combat tricks as both bombs and removal. With the set having so much synergy with cards that target, combat tricks with strive can act as both removal in early situations and as game-enders leter in the game. Green hardly ever gets real removal outside of combat tricks anyways so they should have been mentioned somewhere on the list. Also, BREAD does not cover some of the other reasons you pick cards, such as card advantage, synergy, and mana fixing, so maybe there should be another section for them or not use BREAD to value cards at all.
April 22, 2014 5:38 a.m.
202364 TheLastCurryRice - inclusion of the siren was an accident. I typed this in about 20 minutes because I had to meet a deadline. Sorry.
TheLastCurryRice - you raise some interesting points but I have to disagree for various reasons.
I never, ever, ever count combat tricks as removal. In fact, I never use combat tricks (or only very rarely). The reason is simple. I dislike red removal for doing damage because this means it won't be able to kill certain fatties. I dislike combat tricks more because not only do they depend on you doing enough damage but they also depend on you having a creature to use them on. If you're seriously behind, they're unlikely to save you. I would urge everyone to stop considering cards that do not actually directly remove creatures as removal. Doing 2 damage or giving a creature +3 is simply not effective. We go through this a lot with newer players. Every card you draft needs to be durable. Combat tricks are not durable so do not think that they are. Have I explained that in a way that makes sense? I can go through it again if you want.
I didn't include deathbringer lampads because they're a 5 drop with 2 toughness. Very, very lackluster. I wouldn't count them as effective in the slightest.
You're correct that I did not cover fixing and card advantage etc. This is dependent really on the individual. I only made assumptions about good standalone cards, not situational cards. If I had more time then I would have done the entire set but unfortunately im in my final year of university with exams on pre release day and I have to work :(
April 22, 2014 6:14 a.m.
I think I can agree with most of what has been stated here... the one thing I think I have to disagree with is the playability of Crystalline Nautilus ... and even then, I'm somewhat hesitant to say it's not playable.
4/4 for 3 CMC is great... if you're aggressive enough, it may be oaky... but the downside is a little too large. Almost ANY spell can kill it... This includes your opponent getting extra value out of a Strive spell... or worse, bestowing one of their creatures onto it, thus killing it, and keeping their creature.
While bestowed, it weakens the creature it is attached to, and still retains it's own weakness while an Aura.
I would say it's one saving grace is that it can be used as a somewhat expensive removal... it can be bestowed onto your opponents creature, and then you can remove that creature with ANY targeting spell... netting you a 4/4 creature with the same weakness.
In just about any other block, this would be extremely powerful, but the mechanics of this block (strive, bestow, and a large number of "multi-target" spells designed for heroic) would cause me to make serious considerations before including it in my deck.
April 22, 2014 9:22 a.m.
I'm with you Rayenous I really had a hard time deciding with this. I think in the realms of limited where people are making decks out of boosters they're unlikely to include some of the more exotic things that normally appear in constructed. It's a tough call. Major downside but could be amazing.
April 22, 2014 10:20 a.m.
Ultimaodin says... #34
If it's bestow cost was 4 I'd play it. Honestly though, it feels very iffy.
ChiefBell - I somewhat have to disagree about your stance on combat tricks, this block is made for combat tricks to shine. Take for exampleones that give your creatures indestructible, protection from a colour or first strike. This can very much be considered removal and protection in one. With Heroic Combat tricks have been made pretty beast. Plus look at the removal in this block, it's all very situational. Power 4 or more, enchantment creature, neg counters etc... Fall of the Hammer I'd argue to be one of the best removal spells in the entire block. (in the right build)
April 22, 2014 1:28 p.m.
@ChiefBell Haha that's cool man I figured it was an error, I was just letting you know in case you wanted to edit it or something. It was definitely a great read and I hope you do more for prereleases to come.
April 22, 2014 1:40 p.m.
ChiefBell - Didn't find this article until today. Thanks for the overview, and well written. I agree with all your analysis.
My choices will be G/U and G/W, mostly because I don't think I can pass on that Hydra promo, that is going to be sick in my Kresh or Mayael EDH decks. I'm not too worried about winning at prerelease, I look for long term value cards. That said...
As Unforgivn_II pointed out, green across the full block really does have a threat basis. Add to it, its the only color that mana ramps, greatly, you can play those bombs faster. Why green, trample.
The mechanic that is problematic, and white is the only color that has it, life link. Making all your flyers life builders ends the threat that almost any other color can come up with, and frankly, will not be fun to play against because it will be so popular due to its lack in other colors.
KingSorin touched on the issue of multi-colored cards. I do not believe those are going to be big in the limited format of prerelease unless you just happen to get very lucky since more of them are not common or uncommon.
The one thing that white does bring, and a consideration, would they put a Elspeth in the dedicated white booster? That is a gamble, but not likely higher than any other PW in the other boosters.
Thanks for writing the article. My answer was so long, mostly, because I wanted you to know that some of your unseen friends out here do value your observations!
Thanks!!!
April 22, 2014 2:06 p.m.
Ultimaodin - this block does have a better home for combat tricks than most but I still just find them iffy. Even if your creatures are indestructible you can't guarantee that they're bigger than the massive green fatties.
They CAN be considered as removal but honestly I wouldn't. In the vast majority of cases, when that green 5/5 comes down T4, you're screwed if you have a combat trick in hand. But not if you have Banishing Light or something else.
April 22, 2014 6:28 p.m.
SwaggyMcSwagglepants says... #38
I'm thinking of going with the black promo and going with either a W/B constellation/bestow, a G/B Constellation, or a junk Constellation Bestow
April 22, 2014 10:43 p.m.
Ultimaodin says... #39
ChiefBell - I don't think Banishing Light is the best example, yes it's a functional reprint of ye old o ring but it's also in a set with a lot of enchantment hate and enchantment removal that I actually don't see it shinning that much as removal (although you pointed this out yourself). Maybe it will be good in limited where pools are too random but believe me, the moment rotation hits I will be running 4 (foil) Polis Crusher main board in standard. (I mean, who'll eye gouge... right...?)
That's the thing about this block, everything is conditional (Par sip and the new land break kill spell both costing 6cmc) and I love that aspect of the block. Yeah I know the power level is a lot less in this block but for me this block has a lot more tactics to it that enjoy. I love limitations and working around them - this block makes me happy. Either way, Fall of the Hammer all day long!
April 23, 2014 6:45 a.m.
Schuesseled says... #40
You missed Dictate of Erebos , Doomwake Giant , Extinguish All Hope , King Macar, the Gold-Cursed , thoughrender lamia and Silence the Believers from blacks removal suite.
April 23, 2014 12:25 p.m.
Schuesseled says... #41
..And you missed Master of the Feast from black flyers.
( How did you manage that one ;) )
I for one will be playing black at the pre-release and see what I get in the pool.
April 23, 2014 12:28 p.m.
Schuesseled says... #42
Sorry those are all rares, but every black rare is just so darn good. (well except thoughtrender lamia, which is an uncommon)
April 23, 2014 12:34 p.m.
Ultimaodin says... #43
Schuesseled I don't think Chief covered rares due to the fact you literally pull whatever rare you get and honestly, most the rares in this set are sweet. Doomwake could count because it's the Promo but honestly - you need to have a damn good pool to be able to pull his ability off effectively. He's a great card but in limited,I'm not that convinced. I do believe Doomwake will see standard play though.
April 23, 2014 12:40 p.m.
Ultimaodin says... #44
Freaking ninja'd by the person I was responding to. >_>
April 23, 2014 12:41 p.m.
Schuesseled says... #45
Indeed forgot he had said that, although to be fair you are guaranteed your promo and one other black rare in your seeded pack. Most/All (can't remember) of blacks rares from jou are awesome for limited. So it's a good start at building your deck at least, now you just need more goodstuff.
April 23, 2014 12:44 p.m.
Yeh. Again, it was a tricky decision for this but I felt I hsould leave out rares because you can't guarantee a strategy based around them. It's fair enough to say - I want to include a few [insert common card], whereas with rares you have no guarantee that you'll get the one you wanted.
It's a shame for black because it has a lot of great rares - unfortunately, in practice it most likely means that your chance of getting what you want out of the pool of black cards isn't so high.
This article was written from a planning perspective, not really from a 'this card is good' perspective. It's about weighing up the common and uncommon options for each colour and then making a decision, rather than the alternative which would be saying 'this card is good - I want to build around it'. Subtle difference I guess.
April 23, 2014 1:51 p.m.
I've been using the Pre-release simulator found here - (drop down box and "Oppna!", located under the Booster image)
The more I use it, the more I realize that White in almost the only way to go... with Bule being next, if I don't get my first choice.
Though it won't matter... in my last 7 pre-release events, I haven't had more than a single rare worth mentioning, and the colors and mechanics of my cards just never work well. Everyone at my LGS agrees, I have the worst pre-release luck.
April 23, 2014 2:07 p.m.
My release is tomorrow night. I'll tell you how I do!
April 25, 2014 7:54 a.m.
Indigoindigo says... #49
Am I the only one a bit disappointed by white? I played 2x Supply Line Cranes, Akroan Mastiff, the promo and other cards hyped in prerelease-guides, but felt like a lot of cards didn't do much. Before my last game (#12) the promo was useful for gaining 2 life in one game, nothing else. Tried both W/G and W/R, but it didn't feel like white was a strong color at all. Lost 8 of my 9 first games, only won 3 out of 12 total.
April 26, 2014 2:37 p.m.
Went 2-2. Armament of Nyx and Prescient Chimera won me games.
ChiefBell says... #2
Oh I made a formatting mistake. Bad times :(
April 18, 2014 3:51 p.m.