Something Old, Something New
Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum
Posted on July 24, 2014, 12:10 p.m. by MagicalHacker
(The following is a conglomeration of ideas that I have thought of and ideas that I have heard.)
I don't think this would be as limited as a cycle of five or ten cards. This would only be this important if it was set-wide: Mechanic or color theme.
Since this set was designed bottom up (mechanics first, flavor last), I think that flavor can't be either the new or old thing, since that's not what the set was focused on.
And because the two things are "something"s, I doubt that they would be either both mechanics or both color themes.
(Maybe there is something else instead of color themes and mechanics as to what a "something" could be, but as stated earlier, it's unlikely that they would make such a big deal about it unless it was a mechanic or the theme for a whole set... except fetches, that's the only other thing I can think of.)
Old color themes that we've been asking for back? Only one that I know of: Five-color.
Color themes they've never done before: Wedge colors, Four colors.
As you know, the nickname for the block was Huey, Dewey, and Louie, so take a look at this picture, and tell me what you notice about it: 
Notice a pattern?
A lot of people mentioned how it was unlikely to have any multicolored themes because RTR was just two years ago and it's too soon to do multicolored again. If it were wedge or four color themed, it would be so different to all the previous multicolored cards that we have that I don't even think it qualifies for the staleness that having too many multicolored sets in a small amount of time. Especially with the tug of Theros towards mono devotion decks in standard, a 3 or 4 or 5 color set would not be stale. In fact, another heavy mono-colored set would be even more stale, adding fuel to the fires of MBD, MUD, and perhaps even creating MRD RDW, MGD midrange, or MWD weenies.
As for mechanics, we've been getting lots of hints for graveyard stuff in M15 and in the new promo cards. LOTS. And Innistrad was "graveyard matters" so I can't see it being a general building around the graveyard as the theme for the set. However, it could be a mechanic that isn't just limited to some colors, like scry (even though it feels so blue and this mechanic feels so black).
Of the old mechanics, these are the mechanics that work with the graveyard and aren't limited to a color combination (like dredge):
- Threshold
- Madness
- Delve
- Unearth
- Gravestorm
- Flashback
- Transfigure
Which of those have we been asking for?
From the two pictures that we have, one of the pictures shows a group of warriors from seemingly different clans with a dragon in the background. Could the old mechanic be banding or was that mechanic a mistake that WotC is trying to forget?
Any other evidence for other ideas (keyword: EVIDENCE)?
trentfaris242 says... #3
I think it'll either be wedge colors or pitch spells for the something old. I've given up hope for fetches.
July 24, 2014 12:30 p.m.
trentfaris242 says... #5
E.g. Cast for converted mana cost or discard something from your hand and pay life. I remember reading an article recently that talked about Wizard's wanting to bring back that mechanic. Don't know if they'd bring back those legendary cards, but the mechanic would be fun.
July 24, 2014 12:39 p.m.
trentfaris242 says... #6
Bounty of the Hunt is a good example of something I'd like to see brought back with that mechanic.
July 24, 2014 12:41 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #7
Ohhhh I see. It could be that if we have a set mechanic based In numbering things in the graveyard. The new Jace among other thing seems to say that you will want to have cards in your graveyard and you want opponents to have empty graveyards.
July 24, 2014 12:49 p.m.
RussischerZar says... #8
I'm very sure Wizards will not do 4-colors. They made the Nephilim and it was just weird, MaRo even confirmed this himself at some point [citation needed].
I also can't really see a mechanic that counts cards in graveyard (@ MagicalHacker), as that is just too cumbersome to always have updated and kept track off at every point. That's why cards like that don't get used often, Tarmogoyf aside maybe (they use a special P/T dice for that in tournaments, funnily enough).
Enemy wedges i can totally see though. Although "has not been done before" is not quite accurate for that, since the initial Commander set did it. Yes, it wasn't in Standard, so it's not really sure if it can be counted as the "hasn't been done before" thing.
But your post is very well written and it has some very solid points. I especially like the connection to the codenames.
July 24, 2014 1:06 p.m.
Besides Fetches and Wedges which I personally hope to see, Flanking seems to also make sense, it seems as though Khans is going to have a heavy(ish) horse/war theme. I think most people agree that it's going to be Wedges, its just what is going to be brought back isn't agreed upon. I'm hoping for Fetches personally, but it could be anything.
July 24, 2014 1:06 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #10
What I forgot to mention in my last post was maybe in addition to the "something old, something new", we could have a mechanic that is online once certain number of cards of a specific type or not is in your graveyard, which pitch spells would synergize with. Madness would also synergize with that.
RussischerZar, There was one post where MaRo said that he wished they had made the nephilim legendary, but that it was extremely difficult to design a card that utilizes four colors but not a fifth. (Except I think hybrid costs could fix that issue!)
When I said counts cards in graveyard, I wasn't referring strictly to a Consuming Aberration effect. I was more referring to an effect that works like threshold or delve in which the cards get better if you have lots of cards in the graveyard.
The only cards that were wedge colored were the commanders themselves, so I'm optimistic that wedges haven't been done before from the eyes of the design team as well.
And thank you! I can't take credit for the Huey Dewey Louie speculation though, that's all because of kbarnhart. I just wanted a post to put all the best ideas IMO.
Lord007, I agree, fetches and wedges would be a total success in the WotC history book in the category of "what do the people want?". Flanking, horsemanship, and banding have been circulating as possible old things theyd bring back, but I don't know if people have been asking for ANY of those (except maybe horsemanship).
July 24, 2014 1:28 p.m.
trentfaris242 says... #11
@Lord007 I could also see Flanking coming back and doing well with this theme, but they did say it was something people have been asking for so I'm skeptical. Flanking would be awesome though.
July 24, 2014 1:37 p.m.
trentfaris242 says... #12
I really hope Flanking does come back. I'd love to play a Boros Flanking deck with Iroas, God of Victory still in the format. Force them to multiblock and then apply the flanking effect to each. Mmmmm.
July 24, 2014 1:43 p.m.
They already brought flanking back once though (Time Spiral Block), so I dont think they'll do it again. Horsemanship, while interesting, is just flying with a different name. I personally think that if they are going to do a wedge based set, they're going to bring back Sunburst or Domain. As far as the something new, I think it will be some sort of combat trick similar to Exalted.
July 24, 2014 2:08 p.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #14
It's either wedge or the legacy fetches they r something old yet new to modern...
July 24, 2014 3:25 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #15
Do you think they would print those without reprinting the modern ones? Maybe I like symmetry too much, but I don't like it when they have 5 dual lands rather than 10 in a block.
July 24, 2014 3:27 p.m.
trentfaris242 says... #16
I don't think it will be fetches. I really want it to be, but I don't think it will be. I'm not even sold on wedge colors. Pain lands just aren't that great. If they brought back wedge colors in Khans, I feel like they wouldn't get the love they deserve just because mono-red, mono-green, mono-blue, and mono-black would just outplay 3 color decks so hard.
July 24, 2014 3:39 p.m.
trentfaris242 says... #17
They would need to print more dual lands (like buddy lands) for wedge color decks to really make a difference right now.
July 24, 2014 3:40 p.m.
trentfaris242 says... #18
Oooo Filter Lands! I forgot about those! That's actually a real possibility and is due for a reprint.
July 24, 2014 3:41 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #19
Lol, that'd be amazing! Maybe I'm biased, cause they are my favorite duals...
July 24, 2014 4:17 p.m.
Something old? a Mishra's Workshop reprint FINALLY???? :D
Meh, i can always daydream
July 24, 2014 5:58 p.m.
trentfaris242 says... #21
Mishra's Workshop would be SOOOO broken in Modern. Maze of Ith would be cool.
July 24, 2014 7:37 p.m.
biggestmtgnerd says... #22
Maybe a legendary werewolf would be the new thing, and the mirari would be the old thing!!!!!
July 24, 2014 11:50 p.m.
They spoiled a card from Khans:
Zurgo Helmsmasher
2RWB
Legendary Creature - Orc Warrior
Haste
Zurgo Helmsmasher has indestructible as long as it's your turn.
Whenever a creature dealt damage by Zurgo Helmsmasher this turn dies, put a +1/+1 counter on Zurgo Helmsmasher.
Looks like wedges are a thing... Also he'll be in Speed v Cunning
AnagonLordofSnakes says... #2
Dude it's slivers
July 24, 2014 12:28 p.m.