Magic the Gathering Blog
Top 10 Cards Most Likely to Be Reprinted in Rise of the Eldrazi
You know, in order to stay one step ahead of the Magic blogging pack, you need to be prepared to go out on a limb. Which is why I'm going to speculate not on Worldwake, but on the next set, Rise of the Eldrazi.
This speculation is on the basis of two cards in Worldwake, both also speculation themselves:
Walking Atlas, (2), Creature - Construct
You may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield.
Eye of Ugin, Legendary Land
Colorless Eldrazi spells cost 2 less to cast.
7, T : Search your library for a colorless creature card, reveal it and put it in your hand. Then shuffle your library.
These two cards imply there will be colourless non-artifact creatures in Rise of the Eldrazi. Eye of Ugin has also been referenced by another card, Ghostfire, which is itself colourless. This implies a colourless theme in Rise of the Eldrazi.
So on that basis, let's speculate on Top 10 Cards Most Likely to Be Reprinted in Rise of the Eldrazi.
1. Ghostfire (Future Sight): Chance Almost certain. The orignal coloulress colored non-permanent spell. It references the Eye of Ugin. Thirdly, it's time shifted. What more convincing do you need?
2. Thran Lens (Urza's Legacy): Chance Sounds good. Thran Lens does one thing and does it well: All permanents are colorless. If the Eldrazi encourage colourless permanents, surely they'd have a Thran Lens or two lying around.
3. Moonlace (Time Spiral): Chance Good, if only because WotC hate us all. You could see this becoming a draft pick or part of some rediculous combo, as it targets both spells and permanents, making them colourless. Here's hoping not.
4. Celestial Dawn (6th Ed): Chance Possible. It has a land-flavoured theme, and in the current standard Plains matter, as it combos nicely with Iona the Sky Ruin and helps combat colourless permanents. Certainly one to watch.
5. Mycosynth Lattice (Darksteel): Chance Possible. The opposite of Celestial Dawn, makes everything colourless. Could be just what the Eldrazi ordered. Would make the EDH crew happy.
6. Ghostly Flame (Ice Age): Chance Perhaps. It's a narrow Mycosynth Latice and could be a very interesting addition to the set. Mirrors Ghostfire nicely.
7. Helm of Kaldra, Sword of Kaldra, and Shield of Kaldra: Chance Unlikely. It makes a colourless Legendary Avatar, and it would be great to see a reprint, but I'm not holding my breath.
8. Ancient Kavu (Invasion): Chance Possible. WotC love their Kavus, and this one's ancient, and the Eldrazi are ancient, and the original flavour text links to Phyrexia... it's a long bow to draw, isn't it?
9. Ersatz Gnomes (Mirage): Chance Slim. When was the last time WotC printed a gnome? Maybe Rise of the Eldrazi will be their big comeback... and maybe not. Perhaps a functional reprint will be seen instead.
10. Sliver Queen, Ghostflame Sliver, Brood Sliver: Chance Unlikely If slivers return, these three will definitely be among them. There has been some chatter on the boards that the Eldrazi were the creators of the Sliver race. Plus, WotC have released the Premium Sliver deck and are releasing the new dual decks Phyrexia vs. the Coalition. If WotC's marketing gears are working well then maybe we'll see them back. With MtG you should never say 'never'. Except when saying it about saying 'never'.
And there you have it. Absolute, utter, wild speculation. Go out and buy those Moonlaces, everyone!
Note: Please don't go out and by any Moonlaces, ever.
You know, in order to stay one step ahead of the Magic blogging pack, you need to be prepared to go out on a limb. Which is why I'm going to speculate not on Worldwake, but on the next set, Rise of the Eldrazi.
This speculation is on the basis of two cards in Worldwake, both also speculation themselves:
Walking Atlas, (2), Creature - Construct
You may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield.
Eye of Ugin, Legendary Land
Colorless Eldrazi spells cost 2 less to cast.
7, T : Search your library for a colorless creature card, reveal it and put it in your hand. Then shuffle your library.
These two cards imply there will be colourless non-artifact creatures in Rise of the Eldrazi. Eye of Ugin has also been referenced by another card, Ghostfire, which is itself colourless. This implies a colourless theme in Rise of the Eldrazi.
So on that basis, let's speculate on Top 10 Cards Most Likely to Be Reprinted in Rise of the Eldrazi.
1. Ghostfire (Future Sight): Chance Almost certain. The orignal coloulress colored non-permanent spell. It references the Eye of Ugin. Thirdly, it's time shifted. What more convincing do you need?
2. Thran Lens (Urza's Legacy): Chance Sounds good. Thran Lens does one thing and does it well: All permanents are colorless. If the Eldrazi encourage colourless permanents, surely they'd have a Thran Lens or two lying around.
3. Moonlace (Time Spiral): Chance Good, if only because WotC hate us all. You could see this becoming a draft pick or part of some rediculous combo, as it targets both spells and permanents, making them colourless. Here's hoping not.
4. Celestial Dawn (6th Ed): Chance Possible. It has a land-flavoured theme, and in the current standard Plains matter, as it combos nicely with Iona the Sky Ruin and helps combat colourless permanents. Certainly one to watch.
5. Mycosynth Lattice (Darksteel): Chance Possible. The opposite of Celestial Dawn, makes everything colourless. Could be just what the Eldrazi ordered. Would make the EDH crew happy.
6. Ghostly Flame (Ice Age): Chance Perhaps. It's a narrow Mycosynth Latice and could be a very interesting addition to the set. Mirrors Ghostfire nicely.
7. Helm of Kaldra, Sword of Kaldra, and Shield of Kaldra: Chance Unlikely. It makes a colourless Legendary Avatar, and it would be great to see a reprint, but I'm not holding my breath.
8. Ancient Kavu (Invasion): Chance Possible. WotC love their Kavus, and this one's ancient, and the Eldrazi are ancient, and the original flavour text links to Phyrexia... it's a long bow to draw, isn't it?
9. Ersatz Gnomes (Mirage): Chance Slim. When was the last time WotC printed a gnome? Maybe Rise of the Eldrazi will be their big comeback... and maybe not. Perhaps a functional reprint will be seen instead.
10. Sliver Queen, Ghostflame Sliver, Brood Sliver: Chance Unlikely If slivers return, these three will definitely be among them. There has been some chatter on the boards that the Eldrazi were the creators of the Sliver race. Plus, WotC have released the Premium Sliver deck and are releasing the new dual decks Phyrexia vs. the Coalition. If WotC's marketing gears are working well then maybe we'll see them back. With MtG you should never say 'never'. Except when saying it about saying 'never'.
And there you have it. Absolute, utter, wild speculation. Go out and buy those Moonlaces, everyone!
Note: Please don't go out and by any Moonlaces, ever.
Labels: mtgo, Rise of the Eldrazi, speculation
Predicting M11
Everyone loves predictions, right? Mainly because they make a fool of the ones making them. I was taught never to make a prediction, lest I become one of those fools.
However, sometimes it's worth putting your balls on the line a little, even if only to see how well you're on your game.
Over the next few months all eyes will be on Worldwake. But with M11 coming out later this year, now's the time to put a stake in the ground (preferably through the heart of a sparkly vampire) and make some predictions as to what will be in and what will be out of M11.
So here's my prediction for what Rares and Mythic Rares will be in and out of M11, based on the totally unsubstantiated notion that 50% of current cards will stay, and 50% will go.
Points of note:
* I think the new Rare lands are a lock until at least M12. WotC have declared them the new pain lands, and I believe they're here to stay.
* With the Planeswalkers taking up a full five of seven/eight mythic slots to stay, it means either seven or eight of the remaining ten mythics will cycle. I think this is a good thing, with WotC mixing it up with iconic cards from the past (eg. Time Warp) and new mythics (eg. Master of the Wild Hunt). As such I think those iconic cards will likely only get a single season before cycling away again.
* Yes, I think Baneslayer Angel will stay. I think WoTC have no desire to garner the bad will of the people most invested in the game by cycling the Mythic Beast too soon.
* I am unsure if this is really a list of what I think will be in M11, or what I'd like to see in M11. Though they may well be one and the same. After all, why would WotC keep around the cards I don't like?
Everyone loves predictions, right? Mainly because they make a fool of the ones making them. I was taught never to make a prediction, lest I become one of those fools.
However, sometimes it's worth putting your balls on the line a little, even if only to see how well you're on your game.
Over the next few months all eyes will be on Worldwake. But with M11 coming out later this year, now's the time to put a stake in the ground (preferably through the heart of a sparkly vampire) and make some predictions as to what will be in and what will be out of M11.
So here's my prediction for what Rares and Mythic Rares will be in and out of M11, based on the totally unsubstantiated notion that 50% of current cards will stay, and 50% will go.
| OUT | IN |
| Mythic Rares | |
| Bogardan Hellkite Darksteel Colossus Platinum Angel Protean Hydra Sphinx Ambassador Time Warp Xathrid Demon | Ajani Goldmane Baneslayer Angel Chandra Nalaar Garruk Wildspeaker Jace Beleren Liliana Vess Master of the Wild Hunt Vampire Nocturnus |
| Rares | |
| Captain of the Watch Capricious Efreet Cemetery Reaper Coat of Arms Djinn of Wishes Elvish Piper Gargoyle Castle Guardian Seraph Haunting Echoes Hive Mind Indestructibility Kalonian Behemoth Lightwielder Paladin Lurking Predators Magma Phoenix Magebane Armor Mesa Enchantress Might of Oaks Mirror of Fate Planar Cleansing Polymorph Royal Assassin Sanguine Bond Shivan Dragon Silence Traumatize Warp World | Ant Queen Ball Lightning Birds of Paradise Clone Elvish Archdruid Earthquake Great Sable Stag Goblin Chieftain Honor of the Pure Howling Mine Hypnotic Specter Manabarbs Merfolk Sovereign Mind Shatter Mind Spring Nightmare Open the Vaults Pithing Needle Siege-Gang Commander Twincast Underworld Dreams Dragonskull Summit Drowned Catacomb Glacial Fortress Rootbound Crag Sunpetal Grove |
Points of note:
* I think the new Rare lands are a lock until at least M12. WotC have declared them the new pain lands, and I believe they're here to stay.
* With the Planeswalkers taking up a full five of seven/eight mythic slots to stay, it means either seven or eight of the remaining ten mythics will cycle. I think this is a good thing, with WotC mixing it up with iconic cards from the past (eg. Time Warp) and new mythics (eg. Master of the Wild Hunt). As such I think those iconic cards will likely only get a single season before cycling away again.
* Yes, I think Baneslayer Angel will stay. I think WoTC have no desire to garner the bad will of the people most invested in the game by cycling the Mythic Beast too soon.
* I am unsure if this is really a list of what I think will be in M11, or what I'd like to see in M11. Though they may well be one and the same. After all, why would WotC keep around the cards I don't like?
Labels: analysis, m11, predictions, speculation
A New Philosophy: "Full Art, Whenever Possible"
In my MtG hits & missing of '09 post there was one hit I failed to talk about: Zendikar full-art lands.
Lets take a look at some of these:
They are fantastic additions to the Magic toolkit, a real upgrade on the normal Magic lands. They compare only to the full art un-lands.
There have been few full-art cards printed to date, which I believe is a massively missed opportunity on behalf of WotC.However, there are hints they are looking aheaed in this regard. For instance, here are some full-art creatures from the Future Sight set:
Now, I'm not sure if the template is the best it can be - I am sure WotC probably thrashed around a dozen or so versions before chosing this one - but the artwork really drives home a point. For instance, take a look at the two functionally equivalent cards:
Now while I'm sure Ramal, sage of Westgate is an intelligent guy, and his words should be closely listened to, the face here is that a picture really does speak a thousand words. Which Courser (a fantastically well chosen title, by the way) is the more bad-ass Centaur Warrior; the Nessian or the, er, other Centaur? Ramal's opinions aside, it has to be the Nessian version.
Magic art has come a long way since Alpha - the art director's budget must have grown considerably. Just compare these two angels:
The transition from a 80's 'fantasy' art to neo-classical/realist style is really paying dividends for Magic. The sets have never look better - or more flavourful. I would argue that the current successes on flavour are less due to the flavour text and more due to the amazing artwork that WotC currently produces.
So here's a proposal: let's push WotC to a philosophy of 'Full Art Whenever Possible'. This means any card that doesn't require explanatory text (eg. Mechanic, Keyword, Ability) should always be present as full art. There are two types of cards that would be immediately impacted by this; basic lands and 'vanilla' creatures. I believe all basic lands and vanilla creatures should be printed full-art, regardless of the set. I recognise that WotC have pulled out something special for Zendikar with the 'Lands Matter' theme, but there is simply no reason to continue the practice of non-full art lands.
WotC seem to have put some planning into a major artwork change in the future. The Zendikar full-art land template looks great and has clearly been designed with the Future Sight full-art template in mind. The Future Sight full-art template has clearely been designed with Magic Online in mind - for example, the icons in the upper-left corner of the Future Sight cards are the same as the in-game icons of Magic Online.
I believe the use of icons can be pushed further. A good graphic design team could probably design icons for most of the Keywords within magic - just off the top of my head, a wing-icon for flying, a sword-icon for first strike, a crossed sword-icon for double strike - which would allows a far greater amount of flexibility for the use of larger artworks on cards.
WotC have led the way in the CCG market for a long time. They must recognise the power of artwork to produce an emotional response that a short piece of flavour text cannot (there seem to be no Ernest Hemingway's writing at the moment, though I admire the 'continues to burn' line from Obsidian Fireheart). Here's hoping the WotC continue to maximise the use of an capitalise on the brilliant art they're producing at the moment, and that a philosophy of "Full Art, Whenever Possible" becomes established.
In my MtG hits & missing of '09 post there was one hit I failed to talk about: Zendikar full-art lands.
Lets take a look at some of these:
They are fantastic additions to the Magic toolkit, a real upgrade on the normal Magic lands. They compare only to the full art un-lands.
There have been few full-art cards printed to date, which I believe is a massively missed opportunity on behalf of WotC.However, there are hints they are looking aheaed in this regard. For instance, here are some full-art creatures from the Future Sight set:
Now, I'm not sure if the template is the best it can be - I am sure WotC probably thrashed around a dozen or so versions before chosing this one - but the artwork really drives home a point. For instance, take a look at the two functionally equivalent cards:
Now while I'm sure Ramal, sage of Westgate is an intelligent guy, and his words should be closely listened to, the face here is that a picture really does speak a thousand words. Which Courser (a fantastically well chosen title, by the way) is the more bad-ass Centaur Warrior; the Nessian or the, er, other Centaur? Ramal's opinions aside, it has to be the Nessian version.
Magic art has come a long way since Alpha - the art director's budget must have grown considerably. Just compare these two angels:
The transition from a 80's 'fantasy' art to neo-classical/realist style is really paying dividends for Magic. The sets have never look better - or more flavourful. I would argue that the current successes on flavour are less due to the flavour text and more due to the amazing artwork that WotC currently produces.
So here's a proposal: let's push WotC to a philosophy of 'Full Art Whenever Possible'. This means any card that doesn't require explanatory text (eg. Mechanic, Keyword, Ability) should always be present as full art. There are two types of cards that would be immediately impacted by this; basic lands and 'vanilla' creatures. I believe all basic lands and vanilla creatures should be printed full-art, regardless of the set. I recognise that WotC have pulled out something special for Zendikar with the 'Lands Matter' theme, but there is simply no reason to continue the practice of non-full art lands.
WotC seem to have put some planning into a major artwork change in the future. The Zendikar full-art land template looks great and has clearly been designed with the Future Sight full-art template in mind. The Future Sight full-art template has clearely been designed with Magic Online in mind - for example, the icons in the upper-left corner of the Future Sight cards are the same as the in-game icons of Magic Online.
I believe the use of icons can be pushed further. A good graphic design team could probably design icons for most of the Keywords within magic - just off the top of my head, a wing-icon for flying, a sword-icon for first strike, a crossed sword-icon for double strike - which would allows a far greater amount of flexibility for the use of larger artworks on cards.
WotC have led the way in the CCG market for a long time. They must recognise the power of artwork to produce an emotional response that a short piece of flavour text cannot (there seem to be no Ernest Hemingway's writing at the moment, though I admire the 'continues to burn' line from Obsidian Fireheart). Here's hoping the WotC continue to maximise the use of an capitalise on the brilliant art they're producing at the moment, and that a philosophy of "Full Art, Whenever Possible" becomes established.
Labels: artwork, magic, speculation
Archives
» May 2009
Magic the Gathering Blogroll
Older Archives
The old non-Magic the Gathering related wrongwaygoback.com archives.
Everything on this site Copyright Neale Talbot 2009.