Maro's Core Set 2021 Teaser

Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum

Posted on June 2, 2020, 11:57 a.m. by Kiran_M

So we were recently given Maro's Core Set 2021 teaser in which he discusses different clues as to what will be in the set. What do people think they will be?

I am personally leaning toward a curse for the "Non-evergreen enchantment keyword" and Fblthp for the "popular character first introduced in flavor text"

Here's the link:

DemonDragonJ says... #2

Kiran_M, there is no link in your post, so here it is.

I do not care to speculate about every point on the list, but I shall mention several.

"A character with a Vanguard card and a legendary creature card gets a second of the latter" can be one of several characters, but I, personally would like to see a new card for Barrin, as his current card is severely underwhelming; unfortunately, that excludes Gix and Ashnod, so, perhaps, they may appear in Commander Legends.

"A card with thirty-one different options" likely means that the player will be allowed to "choose one or more colors," since all five colors and every combination of colors (all ten two-color combination, all ten three-color combinations, all five four-color combinations, and all five colors) equal thirty-one.

I really hope that "a card that uses a nonevergreen named ability over twenty years old" does not use phasing, banding, horsemanship, or shadow, since I would prefer that those abilities remain forgotten, but I would not object to echo or vanishing.

Lighthouse Chronologist is the only card that meets the criteria of "a card that’s never been reprinted before which has a 2, 3, 5 and 6 all appear on the card," so that would be a very nice reprint.

June 2, 2020 12:42 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #3

I just remembered that Massacre Wurm also meets the same criteria that Lighthouse Chronologist meets, so it would be another very nice reprint.

June 2, 2020 12:45 p.m.

My longshot pick for the reprint of a timeshifted card has got to be Evil Eye of Orms-by-Gore. An incredibly powerful classic, and an early indicator of the emergence of Eye Tribal!

June 2, 2020 1:13 p.m.

Flooremoji says... #5

French Vanilla Mythic you say...

Interesting.

I am looking forwards for draw half your library, But it better not be attached to a planeswalker.

June 2, 2020 2:44 p.m.

Flooremoji says... #6

Funnily enough, the Basic Lands meet the requirements for"

"Two cards played in tournaments that have been reprinted over twenty times with at least five different pieces of art"

However, it seems unlikely that there would be only two basic lands in this set.

June 2, 2020 2:57 p.m.

Ok, maybe this is just me loving snakes, but hear me out: It seems very specific to talk about a +1/+1 lord for a tribe with more than 50 creatures that doesn't yet have such a lord: There are 89 snakes, and the three lords give +1/+0, +0/+1 and +2/+2. Combine this with a legend that has a vanguard card and a legendary creature card, and we can hope for new Seshiro the Anointed. This fits with the human monk. Maybe we'll get a Kamigawa subtheme. Now wouldn't this be nice?

June 2, 2020 3:07 p.m.

JANKYARD_DOG says... #8

June 2, 2020 3:14 p.m.

seshiro_of_the_orochi the fact that a new Seshiro would fit the criteria outlined so specifically makes me think that you could very well be right in making that prediction. Clever thinking bro.

Flooremoji that is an interesting prospect, yet I firmly believe that there's almost no way we only see two basic land types in M21. I think it's far more likely that we see a pair of cards that simply both happen to fit this criteria independently, in what will almost definitely be mere coincidence. Don't know if that was meant as a complete joke, though. Also, couldn't Hexdrinker almost be considered a french vanilla mythic? Idk, I'm not expecting much more than an aggressively costed can of keyword soup.

June 2, 2020 3:31 p.m.

Revisiting Kamigawa, even if it's merely in a core set, would be sick, especially since I didn't start playing until long after our first visit to the plane.

June 2, 2020 3:33 p.m.

Flooremoji says... #11

channelfireball12345 lol, it was more of an observation, I don't really expect two basic lands in this set.

June 2, 2020 3:56 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #12

Funkydiscogod, I would very much like to see shrines return, also, as I feel that they have much more potential to be explored.

channelfireball12345, as someone who began playing this game in 2003, I have great fondness for Kamigawa, so returning to that plane has been something that I have desired, very much, for a long time, even if it is only in a core set.

June 2, 2020 7:22 p.m.

berryjon says... #13

French Vanilla Mythic?

Baneslayer Angel and Akroma, Angel of Wrath are my top picks.

June 2, 2020 7:43 p.m.

JANKYARD_DOG says... #14

Ok, so I just realized the list is alot longer than the source I found originally... facepalm I'm not typing it all either. XD

June 2, 2020 7:50 p.m.

Funkydiscogod: Saga is much more realistic. But Shrines fits indeed, and the possibility alone makes the Kamigawa subtheme even more possible.

June 2, 2020 11:57 p.m.

plakjekaas says... #16

Don't forget "Curse" as an enchantment subtype.

I don't think we're getting "Cartouche" back

June 3, 2020 3:23 a.m.

JANKYARD_DOG says... #17

List Continued

Note: re:Above list. Serra has no creature legendary so it may exclude her.

  1. Arcanis the Omnipotent
  2. Bosh, Iron Golem
  3. Dakkon Blackblade
  4. Eight-and-a-Half-Tails
  5. Haakon, Stromgald Scourge
  6. Higure, the Still Wind
  7. Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni
  8. Jaya Ballard (one creature, 2 walkers)
  9. Karona, False God
  10. Kresh the Bloodbraided
  11. Lyzolda, the Blood Witch
  12. Malfegor
  13. Maralen of the Mornsong
  14. Mayael the Anima
  15. Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
  16. Morinfen
  17. Phage the Untouchable
  18. Raksha Golden Cub
  19. Reaper King
  20. Rith, the Awakener
  21. Sakashima the Impostor
  22. Seshiro the Anointed
  23. Sisters of Stone Death

So now figure out which ones are most likely to fit into Tefiri's Past/Lore. Still say Sidar is most likely, But Jaya as another creature card could be possible I suppose.

June 3, 2020 6:50 a.m.

Kiran_M says... #18

DemonDragonJ Thanks for posting the link, for some reason it is showing up in Preview but not here.

Also, I am definitely leaning towards sagas or curses for the enchantment subtheme. Both could probably fit into Teferi's history.

For the Unique protection, I'm meaning towards either True-Name Nemesis or Kitsune Riftwalker, which would also fit the possible Kamigawa theme.

Also, where does it talk about a Teferi theme? Because the real question is whether WotC will print another busted/overplayed Teferi card in standard.

June 3, 2020 8:15 a.m.

Kiran_M says... #19

What do people think about the "popular aura that started out as part of a cycle"?

June 3, 2020 8:17 a.m.

berryjon says... #20

Rancor is the most popular guess so far, and was my initial thought as well.

June 3, 2020 8:48 a.m.

For creature type that has never had a dedicated lord: Insect.

There are 180 insect creatures not including anything that makes insect tokens which probably puts it over 200. As far as I know they have never had a dedicated insect lord have they?

June 3, 2020 9:41 a.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #22

Kiran_M, I feel that True-Name Nemesis was a grave mistake and would rather not seen it reprinted, again, especially not in a standard and modern legal set.

June 3, 2020 12:13 p.m.

LittleBlueHero: That's as good as a guess as snakes and many other. What it has going for it is the perfect non-existence of any insect lord.

I just scryfalled for some random tribes that might meet the criteria.

Bird: yes Artificer: yes Shaman: yes Druid: yes Ogre: yes Kithkin: yes Giant: yes Rogues: yes

Some of these are too much above 50. MaRo could easily have said more than a hundred.

June 3, 2020 1:54 p.m.

Flooremoji says... #24

seshiro_of_the_orochi: Don't kithkins have a lord?

Double white, 2/2 Kithkins get +1/+1 or somthing of that nature.

Acctually, I think a few of thoose might have lords.

June 3, 2020 3:36 p.m.

Could A card that gains all activated abilities of a certain subset of cards in a place it’s never done it before be exiled? What are either options? You can reveal cards in your hand to give something abilities? Look at opponent's hand?

I would guess that one of Naturalize, Disenchant, and Lightning Bolt will be one of the cards that's been reprinted >20 times.

June 3, 2020 5:34 p.m.

Flooremoji says... #26

ToolmasterOfBrainerd: Bolt seems a bit unlikley but who even knows anymore!

Naturalize seems less likley because it is strictly worse than some newer versions, so I wouldn't be very happy if wotc said that naturalize saw tournament play. Disenchant dosen't have any strictly better options (unless you count the G/W hybrid- which I don't) but it hardley sees any play. I guess it probably sees enough play to be considered though. I personally don't think that it will be Disenchant, but that might just be because I don't like it very much and don't really want a 'tournament playable card with five differenrt arts' to be a almost unplayable common.

June 3, 2020 6:46 p.m.

Disenchant sees legacy play in Stoneblade decks. I don't think very many rares have been printed 20+ times. Maybe Shivan Dragon or Serra Angel? But they don't see tournament play.

Bolt meets the criteria and has been in core sets in the past. I completely agree that it's very unlikely, but Llanowar Elves came back so it's possible.

BTW that reminds me Llanowar Elves meets the criteria.

June 3, 2020 8:04 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #28

The previews for Core Set 2021 have begun!

Vito, thorn of the dusk rose is very nice, being the second creature to have the ability of Sanguine Bond (with the first being Defiant Bloodlord), but he is better, because of his lower mana coast and the fact that he can grant himself lifelink. Hopefully, WotC shall soon print a creature version of Exquisite Blood.

As many players predicted, Massacre Wurm is being reprinted! That is very nice, and the new artwork is nice, as well, although it does look too similar to the original artwork, whereas I would have preferred very different artwork for it, but any reprint of it is better than none at all.

Given how blurry that image of Ugin, the Spirit Dragon is, I wonder if it is genuine, but, if it is, it is a welcome reprint; again, new artwork would have been nice, but it is still a welcome reprint, nevertheless.

I was really hoping that Baneslayer Angel would never be reprinted, again, because it is ridiculously overpowered, but I have no decision in that matter.

Demonic embrace is very nice, and I wonder if it is part of a cycle, or only a single card?

From what plane is Basri Ket? Mark Rosewater said that there would be a new planeswalker from an existing plane, so Basri must be that planeswalker; I shall guess that he is from either Theros or Amonkhet, judging from his name and appearance.

I would say that this set of spoilers is very nice, so I am eager to see what WotC reveals, next.

June 4, 2020 12:33 p.m.

Flooremoji says... #29

DemonDragonJ: I'm not feeling like Baneslayer is going to be overpowered. Afterall, we already had Lyra Dawnbringer, and while that was powerful it wasn't dominating standard the same way other cards we have seen printed recently are.

I guess the meta might have changed enough?

June 4, 2020 2:45 p.m.

In my experience, leaks usually end up being legit, and while that Mangara looks like its bound to become an absolute staple in white commander decks, particularly those that don't have sufficient access to card draw, I'm pretty sure that the expansion symbol shown isn't the right one, from MythicSpoiler, as shown below:

enter image description here

Unless something odd and unusual is going on here...

June 4, 2020 2:46 p.m.

Flooremoji says... #31

channelfireball12345 yhea, I have no doubt that Mangara is legit.

Every set they make a couple of commanders they think will sell. Even if it basically means that there are some of the mythic/rare slots filled with cards that only have vaule to commander players. I don't really like the prospect of getting a commander card when I draft standard, but not much I can do about it.

June 4, 2020 2:55 p.m.

Flooremoji says... #32

I want to say that based on the name and art, Basari Ket is from amonkhet?

June 4, 2020 2:56 p.m.

The Crossed cards symbol is actually for the Jumpstart product out in soon. We haven't seen any cards from the set yet but that is the set symbol.

Im excited for Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose at rare because it means that the price won't be too high. Im a little sad though because him at rare means there probably isn't too many strong lifegain support cards to brake him in limited.

So far we've seen at least three potential reprints that will really help secondary prices. I hope that continues going forward. The Ugin thing is kind of surprising considering how much its worth right now. Wizards usually saves that exciting of a reprint for its masters sets.

June 4, 2020 4:39 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #34

The new incarnation of Mangara is interesting; is he still alive in the current story?

June 4, 2020 4:42 p.m.

pskinn01 says... #35

Wonder if the ugin/massacre wurm will be in set, or just box topper/collector pack items. It wouldnt be the first time box toppers were not in the set. Then id have to wonder if they were going to be standard legal or if they would take the same road as expeditions - box topper in standard set, but not standard legal.

June 4, 2020 9:37 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #36

pskinn01, I really hope that WotC does not do that, as that would be a reprehensible move, allowing them to say that they have reprinted the card without actually lowering its price. For the same reason, I severely dislike how buy-a-box promos are now unique cards rather than being normal cards in their respective sets, because that makes them much more expensive.

June 4, 2020 9:51 p.m.

Flooremoji says... #37

How does everyone feels about mill being a keyword?

June 5, 2020 11:18 a.m.

berryjon says... #38

About time. We've been using it colloquially since about 5 minutes after Millstone was printed.

But Teferi? I love you man, I really do.

Stop being so Damned BROKEN.

June 5, 2020 11:57 a.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #39

Wow, that reprint of Grim Tutor is very nice! Given how expensive it has become, this reprint will definitely lower its price!

I am not happy about phasing appearing in this set, since that is a mechanic that I wish would remain forgotten, but, hopefully, it shall appear only on Teferi’s card and nowhere else in the set.

On the subject of Teferi, why is he suddenly mono-blue, again, after being white/blue for his past several incarnations? Also, given that he has a very awesome static ability, I hope that the other planeswalkers have static abilities as well.

Does the fact that Liliana is appearing in this core set suggest that she may be playing a major role in the story in the near future?

Another reprint of Azusa, Lost but Seeking is always appreciated, to keep her price low.

Peer into the abyss is very nice, and perfectly embodies the philosophy of black in this game, and the flavor text from Braids is excellent, as well.

So, WotC finally changed hounds to dogs? What was the point, after all this time? And why is the word “dog” before “cat” on Rin and Seri’s card, when “cat” is first, alphabetically?

I really wish that WotC had kept containment priest only in eternal formats, and not introduced it into standard and modern.

Flooremoji has that been explicitly stated?

June 5, 2020 12:02 p.m.

Flooremoji says... #40

DemonDragonJ: The spoiled card Teferi's Tutelage uses mill as a keyword.

June 5, 2020 12:04 p.m.

Kiran_M says... #41

Flooremoji I didn't realize that. That's epic!

June 5, 2020 12:42 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #42

Indulging patrician is another very nice creature for vampire decks, so I imagine that I may, eventually make a vampire EDH deck, at some point.

Chromatic orrery is insane, and I must find some way to get it into my five-colored EDH deck, although I do think that seven mana is a high price to pay for that effect; notice that it says "any color," and not "any type," meaning that colored mana cannot be spent as if it were colorless mana, in the rare instances in which that would actually matter.

Flooremoji, I am not certain how I feel about that, because, unlike the terms "draw" and "discard," which are used in every game that uses cards, "mill" is unique to this game, and, thus not as intuitive, requiring an explanation to new players as to how the term originated, but, at the very least, it shall save space on cards that use it.

June 5, 2020 2:43 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #43

Llanowar visionary is very nice, and every deck that contains either the color green or elves will wish for at least one copy of it; I personally think that it should have cost , because its current cost is too lenient for effects that are heavily green.

June 5, 2020 6:35 p.m.

DemonDragonJ I think Containment Priest in modern is actually very good. Modern has a history of Graveyards running unchecked and requiring very strong hate cards in order to beat. Having another option like Containment Priest to play to beat those decks is very nice. Graveyard decks are at a low in modern right now, but who knows how long that will last.

I don't think it impacts Standard, but I also know nothing about Standard.


This Teferi is sweet. Super cool design, IMO. I really can't tell if it will break into Modern. I think it will. If your opponent has multiple creatures, you +1 twice to get it to 5 loyalty and loot 2 to find removal and discard Uro. If they have just a Tarmogoyf you can loot and then phase goyf out as it attacks. If they resolve a Wurmcoil you can keep it from attacking as you dig for Path. Looting 2 per turn is a good way to make draws consistent and find the answer you need. Filling the yard also has its benefits.

I want to do something other than Bant control with it. Can I play it alongside Kroxa in a tempo shell? Does it make a Kroxa deck better?

June 6, 2020 12:34 a.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #45

Given some of the awesome cards that WotC has revealed for this set, I really hope that Double Masters shall not be a disappointment in comparison.

June 6, 2020 9:28 a.m.

dbpunk says... #46

Honestly Im hoping that, judging by some cards given, we get some good cards in Jump-Start.

June 6, 2020 4:14 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #47

How is elder gargaroth remotely balanced at 5 mana? I know that creatures have become much more powerful in recent years, but this is simply overpowered, and I feel that it should have cost 6, or even 7 mana, to be balanced.

Basri’s solidarity should have been an instant, because that would have allowed it to be used as a combat trick, but it is simply too slow to be effective as a sorcery.

June 8, 2020 1:02 p.m.

Doesn't have haste; thus, it loses to Teferi and accordingly might not see standard play until Teferi rotates.

I'm still not a fan tho. I'm sick of seeing green card draw be better than blue card draw.

June 8, 2020 5:09 p.m.

dbpunk says... #49

So one thing were getting is a suite of signpost cards for each new planeswalker card and so far the two rare signposts revealed are... insanely good.

The white one is a 4/5 Vigilance and protection from multicolored which creates a 2/2 knight on death for . And thats only if you dont have other creatures. (It also becomes recurring knights if you have Cathars' Crusade.

The red one is a potential 6/6 trampler for with a Satyr Firedancer effect stapled on. Its literally able to come out on turn two in modern with a suspended Rift Bolt and a Shock or Lightning Bolt.

I cant wait to see the green, blue and black signpost rares now.

June 8, 2020 7:06 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #50

I wonder if angelic ascension will be a suitable replacement for Path to Exile and Swords to Plowshares; 1 additional mana could make a difference, but, not that planeswalkers are so prevalent, being able to unconditionally exile one is very useful, indeed, and giving an opponent a creature is, hopefully, not as severe a drawback as giving them an additional land. Now that both black and white can remove planeswalker from the battlefield, I wonder if there shall be a variation of Unmake that can exile both creature and planeswalkers?

ToolmasterOfBrainerd, I agree, completely; I understand that the card drawing ability triggers when the creature attacks, which is part of green's reliance on creatures, but it is definitely still too powerful, and encroaches on blue's territory in terms of drawing cards.

dbpunk, I am sorry that I need to ask, but what is a "signpost?"

June 8, 2020 8:24 p.m.

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