Amonkhet/Archenemy: Nicol Bolas Revealed
Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum
Posted on Feb. 19, 2017, 6:42 a.m. by CChaos
*The cards on the table are from older sets, only the art of the Planeswalker cards from the Planeswalker decks are shown.
I agree, this is his best art yet.
Jace is the only remaining Gatewatcher to have not been given a PW Deck. I assume he will be in the next one along with Nicole Bolas, as we have already seen a non-Gatewatch PW in a deck (Tezzeret). That would mean 2 new Nicole Bolas PW cards (_), unless they place a newly revealed PW in the PW Deck.
February 19, 2017 8:19 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #4
Is Nicole Bolas the sister of Nicol Bolas? Cause I don't know who Nicole Bolas is.
February 19, 2017 8:42 a.m.
On the Archenemy Box, where's Jace and Liliana? I want to guess that it's got to do with Razaketh and the Chain Veil, but their absence is certainly...weird. Hey, Ajani too!
Oh, and I called Lily and Gideon getting cards this block!
February 19, 2017 8:48 a.m.
The 4 60 card decks will likely be based on the PWs we see in the cover art: Gideon, Chandra, Nissa, and Nicol. It would explain why we do not see Liliana and Jace, due to the deck limitation (maybe more could be added later!).
Decks representing PWs to fight other PWs, very exciting.
February 19, 2017 9:55 a.m.
"MSRP: $59.99 *Applies to U.S. Only"
From comment #8, doesn't seem expensive for what you get (quantity).
February 19, 2017 11:33 a.m. Edited.
Pinewoodboy0324 says... #11
Likely $60+, from what I can draw off the top of my head.
February 19, 2017 11:33 a.m.
CChaos: Ok, because it would be a disservice if Wizards left Jace, Lily, and Ajani out of the fighting in the upcoming lore.
February 19, 2017 12:07 p.m.
I will absolutely be buying the Bolas archenemy set. So hyped. I just hope they give him a low cmc to offset the inevitable nerfing they're going to do to him.
February 19, 2017 12:22 p.m.
Those Amonkhet pack arts are the ones that were leaked from the survey. Which would seem to confirm Atlazan is planned to some degree, though still possible under a different name.
February 19, 2017 12:25 p.m.
On a more nuts and bolts note, 'five trials of the gods' mini subgame insert suggests a return of the 'god' subtypes and devotion mechanic.
February 19, 2017 3:55 p.m.
I wonder if now's the perfect time to build a favor-based Nicol Bolas EDH deck. I do have that FTV one collecting dust, after all. That said, is it my playstyle?
Never mind me, just speaking my thoughts. It might require a post of its own.
February 19, 2017 4:52 p.m.
Sucks that they blanked out Lili's and Gid's new cards... Even if it was just the crappy PW decks it would've been nice to get a couple cards.
February 19, 2017 7:22 p.m.
Twanicus We already knew about the "Trials of the Five Gods," though previously it was only known to be relevant to the story. Regardless, it doesn't necessarily suggest either to be true, given what we know about the plane (which admittedly isn't too much) compared to Theros.
Devotion, flavorfully, is a trait of the Gods of Theros, or more specifically Nyx. They exist only because people believe in them; devote themselves to the Gods. This is how Ashiok was able to (temporarily) create the God Cacophony. Their names and faces change as people believe in them in different ways. Even Kruphix, the oldest of the pantheon at the time of Theros Block, was not always the God of Horizons.
The Gods of Amonkhet, however, will likely work far differently; they may not even be real gods. The plane is ruled by Bolas, who is by nature deceptive and tyrannical. The five Gods here may act more like generals, placed in positions if "divine" power and authority by Nicol Bolas to subjugate the Amonkhet people. Even if they are true Gods, they likely won't function off belief, because being based on the Egyptian Pantheon, they would be far more interactive with mortals who would naturally believe in them, having seen them. They may care about who worships them, but they're vain enough that they could force people to, especially on the orders of Bolas.
February 19, 2017 11:22 p.m.
kanokarob wow, bro, you gave this so much more thought than I did. I just grabbed at the lowest hanging fruit (and a bit of hopeful thinking I admit.) I'm still holding out for devotion, but everything you sighted makes a lot of sense.
February 19, 2017 11:39 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #20
I am very displeased that members of the Gatewatch are again face cards for this set; will we, the players, be forced to endure them for as long as this game exists? I really hope that WotC does not attempt to make them legacy characters, akin to Superman, Batman, and practically every other superhero, because that could become very boring very quickly. Also, Liliana has reason to be on Amonkhet, to defeat Razaketh, but would any other member of the Gatewatch have any reason to be there? Could WotC not have them split into different groups on different missions? What will happen as they recruit more members? Will every member go to every plane? I initially thought that it would be great if there was a central continuity to the story, but I now feel as if the story shall be suffering due to that, because it will be more difficult for players who have not been following the story since the beginning to understand what is occurring, and each individual plane's story shall feel secondary to the overarching plot of the Gatewatch. I also am very displeased that the two planeswalker cards conveniently do not have any text; that was not a very nice thing to do, to show images of new cards, but not have any text on them.
However, I shall admit that that artwork does look very awesome, so I still am very excited about this upcoming block. Given that many players, myself included, have been desiring an ancient Egypt-themed block for a long time, now, expectations for this block are very high, so I hope that WotC does not disappoint us with it.
February 20, 2017 1:39 a.m.
AgentGreen says... #21
It does do one thing; it spoils two of the PWs in the set, and we need a new Gideon in the game.
Here's the rub. Prior to his Gideon, Ally of Zendikar incarnation, he has been a relatively shitty card; the only consistent thing is that he has an ability to come to the field and whack for damage. I don't forsee that going away, but the only reason he is good now is how well rounded he is.
February 20, 2017 8:57 a.m.
AgentGreen says... #22
New article shows closeups, art, and even better; new FULL-ART LANDS!
This could mean the "Masterpiece" could be Expeditions like BFZ
Also, loving the new look of Gids; very Egyptian like
February 20, 2017 12:20 p.m.
The Full Art Lands are just for Standard Showdown prizes, aren't they? Or some kind of prize support for something, as I recall.
February 20, 2017 1:33 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #26
Do we yet know if only one art for each basic is full art?
February 20, 2017 1:50 p.m.
00xtremeninja says... #27
yes, only one art for each type of land. They all look badass too. love the bolas horns in them.
February 20, 2017 2:14 p.m.
So there won't be 4 full-art basics like in the Zendikar blocks?
February 20, 2017 2:38 p.m.
Well that might just be my new favorite basic... Especially the mountain lol
February 20, 2017 2:41 p.m.
My phone does not let me post pictures in the comments, was going to post the Liliana and Gideon cards (art only) for convenience. I like the art for both.
February 20, 2017 6:37 p.m.
the full art plains is the only one depicting 2 suns. all the rest have 1
February 20, 2017 9:06 p.m.
I think it's awesome for new players if WotC is going to print full art lands this often.
Everyone can have sexy lands cheaper.
February 20, 2017 9:58 p.m.
Anyone else think it's interesting that in all those basic arts, the sun is in very nearly, if not the exact same spot relative to the horns?
Naturally the sun is meant to look like the Gem of Becoming when it is positioned between the horns but, the fact that it specifically looks like it's almost-there-but-not-quite-yet -- in all of them -- makes me feel like something special will happen in the story when the sun does come into position. Something like... An hour of devastation...?
February 20, 2017 10:27 p.m.
Homura_Akemi says... #35
Can anyone make out what seems to be "The Five Trials of The Gods"? It looks like each is "The Trial of..." which could be the title of the trial or the name of the god delivering that trial. I could not zoom in with enough clarity to read each one, although the first may be "The Trial of Solidarity". Hmm...
Well, super excited for this block!!! The art looks absolutely amazing and I am happy to see that Liliana will be focused on, killing her second to last demon and all. I'm also kind of excited for Gideon being focused on too, even though I haven't liked his character in the past. His new armor is great and maybe we'll see more into his character and his true desires. Remember the last Eldritch Moon story when Jace was looking into his mind while he was being questioned by Erebos about he really wanted? Perhaps that question will be answered.
I agree that all of the Gatewatch traveling to every plane may get annoying storywise, but it seems really hard to have a consistent story without consistent characters. It's a tough problem, but I want to see more of how it shakes out because their relationships and interactions are somewhat interesting. I do have to admit though I did just skip stories in the Kaladesh block that focused on Gideon, Jace, or Ajani.
February 20, 2017 10:54 p.m.
I wouldn't be surprised if there is a rift in the Gatewatch in future.
February 20, 2017 11:20 p.m.
CastleSiege says... #37
Really hoping that the new Bolas card will be so busted it gets banned in X format. Like, I will be super disappointed if he is nerfed big time and the card doesn't match his power level in the lore in the slightest. Like, even if you can't play it in X format, who cares? The flavor would be bamf.
February 21, 2017 5:16 a.m.
White: Trial of Solidarity
Blue: Trial of Knowledge
Black: Trial of Strength
Red: Trial of Ambition
Green: Trial of Zeal
February 21, 2017 8:35 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #39
Ambition feels most black, zeal feels most red, and strength feels most green.
February 21, 2017 8:46 a.m.
Oh good lord.
They can't sell enough cards through Standard so now they are going to get us to buy cards this way.
February 21, 2017 9:09 a.m.
AgentGreen says... #42
Why does it have an Oath of the Gatewatch booster
February 21, 2017 10:12 a.m.
Pinewoodboy0324 says... #45
I WANT EVERYTHING THAT IS BEING RELEASED IN THE NEAR FUTURE... anyone know where a stupid 10 year old can get a $200/hour job? No? Oh...ok...
February 22, 2017 5:32 p.m.
I don't know where MOST people could get a $200/hour job.
February 23, 2017 7:28 a.m. Edited.
00xtremeninja says... #47
I work a $200 an hour job....kind of. I bill insurance companies 220 dollars per therapy session I conduct, but they don't pay me what I bill. Lol. Jerks.
And no, I don't have an infinite budget for Magic.
February 23, 2017 10:02 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #48
Yeah, believe it or not, guys, insurance companies have among the most personal issues of all of us. As an insurance company myself, my therapist is invaluable for helping me mentally navigate my day-to-day stress. She charges me $240 an hour, but I figure $24 is close enough.
If she has a problem with it, then guess who just lost their car insurance, am I right? Lol
February 23, 2017 11:44 a.m.
So, wait, there's an insurance company named MagicalHacker? Do they offer Magic Card insurance?
Anyway, let's not get riled up and go further off-topic. Between the new Archenemy stuff, and all the Bolas-themed stuff coming out, it almost makes me want to build Nicol Bolas with those Amonkhet full-arts. That would be a sight to see.
Arvail says... #2
Way to go with the new gideon art.
February 19, 2017 7:24 a.m.