Fetches in the Khans Block

Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum

Posted on Sept. 23, 2014, 8:31 a.m. by Rayenous

Some people at my LGS had a conversation debating the Fetches in the KTK block.

The 3 things they were debating over were:
1) Possibility that only the Allied Fetches are being printed.
2) The Enemy Fetches will be printed in Set 3 (Because it's a large set)
3) The Enemy Fetches will be in Fate Reforged, and all 10 will be in Set 3 as possible 'extra rares' (Same as how Shocks were in RtR block)

I was leaning toward #2, due to the size of the sets... but then realized that #3 makes sense as well. Mainly because of how the new Standard will be rotating.

If the Enemy Fetches are in set 3 only, the allied fetches will be rotating out before the enemy ones. - This could happen, and Wizards may even be intended to do this... but it would make more sense to me to print all the Fetches in the 3rd block so that they all rotate out at the same time.

Thoughts?

JWiley129 says... #2

Khans of Tarkir was finished with design/development before they came to the decision to change the block format, so I doubt that they would print the allied fetches in "Louie." Also if we take a queue from Theros block, there aren't enough rare slots for lands in a small set, so the only place for the enemy fetches to appear in KTK block IS "Louie" and not Fate Reforged. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if they DID reprint the Zendikar fetches in "Louie" but I'm going to wait and see.

September 23, 2014 8:49 a.m.

Rayenous says... #3

I'm not sure why you would think that they decided to change the Standard Format after Khans was developed... they specifically made the format Large-Small-Large in order to ensure that a large, self supporting, set was still in when the first 2 sets of KTK rotate out.

They also stated that a Block would always contain 10, not 5 of any dual land cycle printed. - This means that the Enemy Fetches "should" be printed in this block. - Of course, they have been known to not always follow what they state.

It is true that putting 5 Fetches in the small block's rare slots would make for awkward Limited... perhaps there's also a possibility of 2 in Fate and 3 in Louie... but that would mean that only 3 Fetches would be in Standard after the rotation, so not likely.
Alternatively, they could alter the number of rares in a set by 2-3 to off-set this issue, allowing for all 5 in a small set... again, not likely.

September 23, 2014 9:16 a.m.

mathimus55 says... #4

I think WotC knows that printing fetches is one of their few guaranteed cash cows to sell packs, and knowing that they won't print them too close together. There are lots of theories that support both sides of the argument but when it comes down to dollars I think Wizards would be better off saving enemy fetches until later to keep people buying Khans for a while. As long as Khans is in print w/ people will randomly buy a pack w/ hopes of pulling a fetch more than they bought Theros in the same way hoping to pull a chase card.

September 23, 2014 9:59 a.m.

abenz419 says... #5

wouldn't it also mean that it makes sense for A to happen? If they don't reprint the rest of the fetch cycle in the third set then there is nothing left over after the allied fetches rotate out.

September 23, 2014 10:16 a.m.

ChiefBell says... #6

Rayenous - didnt they only state that there would always be a full cycle of dual lands in standard? Because there actually is when you count the painlands.

I think wizards were being sneaky and saying that there would always be a full cycle but that they might not necessarily be identical.

September 23, 2014 10:27 a.m.

APPLE01DOJ says... #7

I think it'll be printed in the 3rd block. Golgari always gets our shit last. Last God revealed, Temple of Malady didn't come out til the last set....

September 23, 2014 10:31 a.m.

ChiefBell says... #8

It's because golgari is too strong and they don't want us master race supporters to warp the format for ages.

September 23, 2014 10:34 a.m.

8vomit says... #9

I tell you what, Id be tickled pink if they put the Zen fetches in this block. Would make my life much easier. Im guessing on option #2.

September 23, 2014 11:09 a.m.

JWiley129 says... #10

Rayenous - Maro said that the new Block structure came around during "Blood" design, after Khans block was done. They didn't "ensure" that "Louie" could stay while KTK and FRF rotate, "Louie" is different from Khans because of the Block structure. They specifically made "Louie" to be drafted with Fate Reforged and NOT with Khans, not to make the Block structure work.

While I don't think the ZEN fetches will be in "Louie" I recognize the reasoning that they might be in "Louie" from Sam's comment on putting complete cycles of dual lands in Standard. I also hope that they get reprinted, I still need a few for EDH decks and playsets for potential Modern brews.

September 23, 2014 11:42 a.m.

asasinater13 says... #11

only design was done for Khans block, development was still going on.

September 23, 2014 12:21 p.m.

kintighd says... #12

Story wise I sense a return to zendikar in the near future. Meaning I think they will hold.off to reprint the fetches there.

September 23, 2014 12:59 p.m.

MindAblaze says... #13

I just hope they keep the original art if they do reprint the enemy fetches. The new art on the Allied ones is god awful.

That being said, with the potential changes made to the timeline by Sarkhan's Quantum Leap, I could see Enemy Fetches being relevant...and like they've already said...cash cow. Milk this block for all it's worth since it's the last of the current structure, and then people won't want their investments to be useless so they'll keep playing...theoretically.

It'd be interesting to see the same characters with different colors in Louis. A Jund Zurgo for example...

September 23, 2014 1:05 p.m.

PreZchoICE1 says... #14

Rayenous you make a point here: They also stated that a Block would always contain 10, not 5 of any dual land cycle printed. - This means that the Enemy Fetches "should" be printed in this block. -

However, the fetch lands are NOT dual lands. They're just a more useful Terramorphic Expanse . They tap for no mana, not even colorless.

September 23, 2014 1:05 p.m.

jr92_2000 says... #15

I expect them to finish the cycle in the third set. M16 can then add the allied pain lands to balance things as we transition into the new block structure.

September 23, 2014 1:37 p.m.

PreZchoICE1 says... #16

jr92_2000 Id like to agree with you but I tend to think they'll print allied pain lands in the third set and print the enemy fetches in M16 so they can get a big cash grab out of the last 'core' set. Good thought though, it brought me to the above conclusion

September 23, 2014 1:46 p.m.

JWiley129 says... #17

This is off-topic but I think that "Louie", aside from having a TON of dragons, will have a wedge theme. The difference will be that the wedges will be focused on the Enemy color instead of one of the allies. So the Mardu will be White based instead of Red based, Sultai will be Green based instead of Black, etc.

Also, we've been seeing a return to Zendikar for forever now. It might happen soon, it might not. We'll just have to wait and see.

September 23, 2014 2:01 p.m.

Rayenous says... #18

Because the second set will not be 3-color (or at least a lot less focus on it), I expect something else in it... yet something that will work in "Louie"... I'm thinking an uncommon cycle, like the Vivid Marsh cycle. - Works well in 3-color, 2-color, or just mono-color with splash. (Note, I don't think Draft will work well with no fixing at all, as there will still be 2 boosters of a tricolor base)

Then, "Louie" will have either Enemy Fetches or something else, depending on the needs of the Limited Format.

September 23, 2014 2:03 p.m.

JWiley129 says... #19

Rayenous - Dual lands don't play a role in Limited, Dual lands are a development issue. So if the ZEN fetches or something else shows up, it's not am issue with Limited.

September 23, 2014 2:12 p.m.

Rayenous says... #20

Mana fixing plays a HUGE role in Limited, especially in blocks/sets that are multicolour focused.

I think you mean that "Rare Lands" play only a small role in limited, but only due to the fact that they are rare, and show up less often.

Also, saying "Dual lands are a development issue", yet not a role in Limited is a little odd... development is largely concerned with the playability of the Limited Format.

September 23, 2014 2:19 p.m.

JWiley129 says... #21

Ok, yes I meant Rare lands. Dual lands are usually reserved for the rare slots in most sets, but Khans does have more duals at common/uncommon because the Limited format needs them. But Khans of Tarkir is a bit of an aberration when it comes to non-rare duals, like RTR block before it. What I meant is that the Constructed Dual lands are, which fetches are undeniably, a Development issue.

September 23, 2014 2:24 p.m.

JakeHarlow says... #22

We'll see enemy fetches again, but there's no telling exactly when. I'd be astonished if we see them in the current block, but I don't think it's impossible.

There's a flavor text paradigm going on with the allied Khans fetches: "Where dragons once did 'x,' their bones now do 'y.'"

After the time travel bit in the block, dragons will presumably return to Tarkir. It would seem possible that the enemy fetches appear with a flavor text paradigm of something like, "Where their bones would have done 'x,' dragons now do 'y.'"

While I can see such a thing happening, I'd be surprised.

September 28, 2014 2:11 a.m.

This discussion has been closed