How you ask,…

my plan, … 

Draft mono red! … ,

just kidding (Alara reborn is the first ever all gold set.)

When I first heard that the Alara Reborn set would be entirely multicolored or gold cards, I wandered what interesting things would be affected in draft. I figured with no one drops, their had to be some awesome two drops, ala Watchwolf and sure enough, how about those Blades. There are a total of 5 blades (1 for each Shard) and each are two casting cost hybrids. Each Shard Blade begins as a 2/1 and gets +1 +1  plus an additional colored ability (i.e. flying for blue, haste for red, etc) as long as you control another multi-colored card, (which is pretty easy to do since all Alara Reborn cards are mult-colored) . Here’s the Bant SureBlade:

All the Blades are commons and must grabs in a Alara Reborn Draft. These two-drops are pretty good all alone, but how about adding an equipment to make them bigger, gain life and trample. I present the Behemoth Sledge:

So here’s the scenerio, turn 4, You swing with a 5/4 lifelink, trampling, first striker. Pretty powerful, huh.

But lookout your opponent will probably be swinging back just as hard.

Alara Reborn is a quick pounding set. To do well in a draft, you will need to swing early and hard and then be able to block the swingback. Nothing blocks better than a wall, especially a beefy, flying, non-targetable wall, and Alara reborn has just that, Wall of Denial

 Of course you can’t win if you can’t play your cards do to a mana-screw, so you’re gonna need some mana fixing.  Alara reborn has few cards to help fix your mana, but landcycling and the new borderpost can help:

 Three things to help you succeed in Alara Reborn Drafts:

• Swing Fast and Hard
• Protect yourself
• Manafixing

 Almost totally forgot, Cascade, the new mechanic for Alara Reborn:

Cascade – When you play this spell, remove cards from the top of your library from the game until you remove a nonland card that costs less. You may play it without paying its mana cost. Put the removed cards on the bottom in a random order.

Cascade can help you get spells into play, irregardless of colors needed to actually cast the spell. Cascading into a Cascade can be totally awesome. Your cards go to the bottom of your library, (randomly) so their is really no downside unless you have to watch that one land you are desperately needing get moved to the bottom of your library.

Player rewards cards are sent out about three times per year.  See all the Magic the Gathering Player Reward Cards in the Magic Card Image Gallery. 

Each mailing will feature two new textless cards. You get 1 for every 5 tournaments (DCI Sanctioned Tournaments) entered, make that two, one new card and one previously released. In addition each year, there is one premium foil textless card released, this year is a shiny Textless Cryptic Command Foil.

Textless Cryptic Command

You can get the premium player reward card by playing in twenty or more DCI sanctioned Tournaments. You can get one for every twenty qualifiyng events. Again, these are shipped right to your door and free of charge.

With the latest mailing, Wizards thru in a twist, they gave out a Hypnotic Specter Promo if you played in at least two Friday Night Magic Tournaments in December or January, which I did not receive.

Now years back, before player rewards program was doing textless spells, they were still giving away foil DCI rares for every twenty events recorded (and tokens for every 5) The Hypnotic Spector was the last premium card before the switchover to textless cards, which I do have.

Is this the same as what was sent out as the Friday Night Magic Bonus which was recently sent out?

Today, I went to the local shop to to particpate in the Conflux draft. Even though I have already had the pleasure of drafting Conflux a few times, it had never been straight Conflux, but a Shards  / Conflux mix, until today. Having pretty much missed the whole Shards set (until now), I asked the regulars what was has been winning straight Conflux drafts. The opinions were pretty much the same … Decks playing all 5 colors and utilizing Domain were winning consistantly, Mana fixers were a must, and the  common, Path to Exile, yes a common was being chosen very highly amonst all players, even above the rare in most cases. Turns out though, Path to Exile is an uncommon and not a common

and that wasn’t the only thing they were wrong about. Although, using all 5 colors with good mana fixers and using the Domain mechanic is a very viable strategy, I seemed to find another strategy that seemed to work very well, I took first place. I also used the same strategy in two prior drafts at the pre-release and also took first in both of those. The secret …  Go for low casting artifacts! and pack in anything with “Exalted” for that extra kick.

It seems that the colors of white, black, and blue are ideal  for many low casting artifacts and they each seem to build off each other.

A few artifact combos that  weren’t  totally obvious at first resulted in game changers for me, and ultimately the difference between winning and losing.

Esperzoa

Esperzoa works great with any 1 or 2 casting cost artifact (or better yet, zero casting cost equipment). Add in any creaure with exalted and you could be swinging for 5 or more in the air (flying) by turn 4 or possiblly sooner.  If your oppenent doesn’t stabilize quickly it’s just a few turns to victory.

Artifact commons should be there for the drafting as there are quite a few to choose from.

Another great card, which works great with the many artifacts within Conflux is Sphinx Summoner. Sphinx summoner is rare but won me the game on several occasions. Sphinx Summoner allows you to search your library for an artifact creature card when it comes into play. Use it with the above Esperzoa and keep fetchin’ whatever artifact creatures you have.

Sphinx Summoner

Planeswalkers were first printed as cards themselves with the Lorwyn block. Since then additional Planeswalkers were printed in Shards of Alara and with the release of Conflux pending, 1 more planeswalker(as mentioned previously) will be released making a total of ten planeswalkers printed so far.

The newest Planeswalker, Nicol Bolas is revealed (well here, above, naturally) but first in this video that explains the ins and outs of the cardtype planeswalker.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Malfegor – The first ever DEMON DRAGON

Continuing with the Shards publishing standards Conflux will be a smaller set consisting of 145 cards and contain mythic rares (found randomly in 1 in eight packs) . See the full conflux cardlist here

Like all other MTG Expansion sets, Conflux introduces a few new mechanics

• Domain – (deal x damage , look at x cards, creature gets + x, etc)where X is the number of basic land types among lands you control

In addition Wizards has brought back some popular mechanics including

• Devour
• Cycling

Nicol Bolas - Legendary Elder Dragon - Oringinally printed for Legends

Find out more about the planewalkers in the new book:

Click image for more info

White (16)

Archon of Justice 3WW 4/4
Creature – Archon
Flying
When Archon of Justice is put into a graveyard from play, remove target permanent from the game.
#1/180

Ballynock Trapper 3W 2/2
Creature – Kithkin Soldier
T: Tap target creature.
Whenever you play a white spell, you may untap Ballynock Trapper.
#2/180

Cenn’s Enlistment 3W
Sorcery
Put two 1/1 white Kithkin Soldier creature tokens into play.
Retrace
#3/180

Endless Horizons 3W
Enchantment
When Endless Horizons comes into play, search your library for any number of Plains cards and remove them from the game. Then shuffle your library.
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put a card you own removed from the game with Endless Horizons into your hand.
Illus. Joshua Hagler #4/180

Endure 3WW
Instant
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to you and permanents you control this turn.
#5/180

Flickerwisp 1WW 3/1
Creature – Elemental
Flying
When Flickerwisp comes into play, remove another target permanent from the game. Return that card to play under its owner’s control at the end of turn.
Its wings disturb more than air.
Illus. Jeremy Enecio #6/180

Hallowed Burial 3WW
Sorcery
Put all creatures on the bottom of their owners’ libraries.

Kithkin Spellduster 4W 2/3
Creature – Kithkin Wizard
Flying
1W, Sacrifice Kithkin Spellduster: Destroy target enchantment.
Persist
#8/180

Kithkin Zealot 1W 1/3
Creature – Kithkin Cleric
When Kithkin Zealot comes into play, you gain 1 life for each black and/or red permanent target opponent controls.
#9/180

Light from Within 2WW
Enchantment
Chroma- Each creature you control gets +1/+1 for each white mana symbol in its mana cost.
Illus. Alexsi Briclot #10/180

Loyal Gryfalcon 3W 3/3
Creature – Bird
Defender, flying
Whenever you play a white spell, Loyal Gyrfalcon loses defender until end of turn.

Patrol Signaler 1W 1/1
Creature – Kithkin Soldier
1W ut, : Put a 1/1 white Kithkin Soldier creature token into play.
#12/180

Recumbent Bliss 2W
Enchantment – Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature can’t attack or block.
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may gain 1 life.

Spirit of the Hearth 4WW 4/5
Creature – Cat Spirit
Flying
You can’t be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.
Thieves know that a snarl in the night means, “Rob another house”.
Illus. Jason Chan #14/180

Springjack Shepherd 3W 1/2
Creature – Kithkin Wizard
Chroma – When Springjack Shepherd comes into play, put a 0/1 white Goat creature into play for each white mana symbol in the mana costs of permanents you control.
“Live together, die alone.”
#15/180

Suture Spirit 1W 1/1
Creature – Spirit
Flying
B/W B/W B/W: Regenerate target creature.
Illus. Larry McDougal #16/180

Blue (16)

Banishing Knack U
Instant
Until end of turn, target creature gains “: Return target nonland permanent to its owner’s hand.”
Illus. Howard Lyon #17/180

Cache Raiders 3UU 4/4
Creature – Merfolk Rogue
At the beginning of your upkeep, return a permanent you control to its owner’s hand.
What the current doesn’t take, they do.
Illus. Pete Venters #18/180

Dream Fracture 1UU
Instant
Counter target spell. Its controller draws a card.
Draw a card.
Illus. Howard Lyon #19/180

Dream Thief 2U 2/1
Creature – Faerie Rogue
Flying
When Dream Thief comes into play, draw a card if you’ve played another blue spell this turn.
#20/180

Glamerdye 1U
Instant
Change the text of target spell or permanent by replacing all instances of one color word with another.
Retrace
Illus. Ralph Horsley #21/180

Glen Elendra Archmage 3U 2/2
Creature – Faerie Wizard
Flying
U, Sacrifice Glen Elendra Archmage: Counter target noncreature spell.
Persist
Illus. Warren Mahy #22/180

Idle Thoughts 3U
Enchantment
: Draw a card if you have no cards in hand.
Inspiration strikes the uncluttered mind.
Illus. Stephen Belledin #23/180

Indigo Faerie 1U 1/1
Creature – Faerie Wizard
Flying
U: Target permanent becomes blue in addition to its other colors until end of turn.
Illus. Steve Prescott #24/180

Inundate 3UUU
Sorcery
Return all nonblue creatures to their owners’ hands.
“For years, the landfolk have emptied their refuse into the waters. It’s time to return the favor”
Illus. Mark Zug #25/180

Merrow Levitator 3U 2/3
Creature – Merfolk Wizard
T: Target creature gains flying until end of turn.
Whenever you play a blue spell, you may untap Merfolk Levitator.

Oona’s Grace 2U
Target player draws a card.
Retrace
Illus. Rebecca Guay #27/180

Razorfin Abolisher 2U 2/2
Creature – Merfolk Wizard
1U, T : Return target creature with a counter on it to its owner’s hand.
Illus. William O’Connor #28/180

Sanity Grinding UUU
Sorcery
Chroma – Reveal the top ten cards of your library. For each blue mana symbol in the mana costs of the revealed cards, target opponent puts the top card of his or her library into his or her graveyard. Then put the cards you revealed this way on the bottom of your library in any order.
Illus. Lars Grant-West #29/180

Talonrend 4U 0/5
Creature – Elemental
Flying
U/R : Talonrend gets +1/-1 until end of turn.
Change is a denizen of Shadowmoor as much as ouphes and noggles are.
Illus. Nils Hamm #30/180

Wake Thrasher 2U 1/1
Creature – Merfolk Soldier
Whenever a permanent you control becomes untapped, Wake Thrasher gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
Anyone who thinks Merrows have more brains than brawn has never been run over by one.
#31/180

Wilderness Hypnotist 2UU 1/3
Creature – Merfolk Wizard
T: Target red or green creature gets -2/-0 until end of turn.
Illus. Rebecca Guay #32/180

Black (16)

Ashling the Extinguisher 2BB 4/4
Legendary Creature – Elemental Shaman
Whenever Ashling the Extinguisher deals combat damage to a player, choose target creature that player controls. He or she sacrifices that creature.
The Aurora had transformed her into a relentless force of destruction.
Illus. Wayne Reynolds

Creakwood Ghoul 4B 3/3
Creature- Plant Zombie
B/G B/G:Remove target card in a graveyard from the game.You gain 1 life
#34/180

Crumbling Ashes 1B
Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, destroy target creature with a -1/-1 counter on it.
“I was there to watch my brothers’ quenching. I drew the slightest warmth from their dying rage.” – Illulia of Nighthearth
Illus. Chuck Lukacs #35/180

Lingering Tormentor 3B 2/2
Creature -Spirit
Fear
Persist
#36/180

Merrow Bonegnawer B 1/1
Creature – Merfolk Rogue
T: Target player removes a card in his or her graveyard from the game.
Whenever you play a black spell, you may untap Merrow Bonegnawer.
Illus. Jim Nielson #37/180

Necroskitter 1BB 1/4
Creature – Elemental
Wither (This creature deals damage in the form of -1/-1 counters.)
Whenever a creature an opponent controls with a -1/-1 counter on it is put into a graveyard, you may return that card to play under your control.
Illus. Jaime Jones #38/180

Needle Specter 1BB 1/1
Creature – Specter
Flying
Wither (This deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters)
Whenever Needle Specter deals combat damage to a player, that player discards that many cards.
Illus. Christopher Moeller

Nightmare Incursion 5B
Sorcery
Search target player’s library for up to X cards, where X is the number of Swamps you control, and remove them from the game. Then that player shuffles his or her library.
Illus. Chuck Lukacs

Raven’s Crime B
Sorcery
Target player discards a card.
Retrace (You may play this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
It plucks away memories like choice bits of carrion
Illus. Warren Mahy

Smoldering Butcher 3B 4/2
Creature – Elemental Warrior
Wither
#42/180

Soot Imp 1BB 1/2
Creature – Imp
Flying
Whenever a player plays a nonblack spell, that player loses 1 life.
Illus. Jesper Ejsing #43/180

Soul Reap 1B
Sorcery
Destroy target nongreen creature. Its controller loses 3 life if you’ve played another black spell this turn.
#44/180

Soul Snuffers 2BB 3/3
Creature – Elemental Shaman
When Soul Snuffers comes into play, put a -1/-1 counter on each creature.
Illus. Izzy #45/180

Syphon Life 1BB
Sorcery
Target player loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.
Retrace (If this card is in your graveyard, you may play it by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)

Talara’s Bane 1B
Sorcery
Target opponent reveals his or her hand. Choose a green or white creature card from it. You gain life equal to that creature card’s toughness, then that player discards that card.
Illus. Joshua Hagler #47/180

Umbra Stalker 4BBB */*
Creature – Elemental
Chroma – Umbra Stalker’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of black mana symbols in the mana costs of cards in your graveyard.
Don’t venture into the darkness, lest it decide not to let you leave.
Illus. Daarken #48/180

Red (16)

Chaotic Backlash 4R
Instant
Chaotic Backlash deals damage to target player equal to twice the number of white and/or blue permanents he or she controls.
Illus. Carl Frank #49/180

Cinder Pyromancer 2R 0/1
Creature – Elemental Shaman
T: Cinder Pyromancer deals 1 damage to target player.
Whenever you play a red spell, you may untap Cinder Pyromancer.
“If the whole world burns, I’ll never grow old.”
#50/180

Duergar Cave-Guard 3R 1/3
Creature – Dwarf Warrior
Wither
R/W: Duergar Cave-Guard gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
Illus. Dave Allsop #51/180

Fiery Bombardment 1R
Enchantment
Chroma- , Sacrifice a creature: Fiery Bombardment deals damage to target creature or player equal to the number of red mana symbols in the sacrificed creature’s mana cost.
It kills two beasts with one thrown.

Flame Jab R
Sorcery
Flame Jab deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
Retrace (You may play this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
Illus. R. K. Post #53/180

Hatchet Bully 3R 3/3
Creature – Goblin Warrior
2,R,T, Put a -1/-1 counter on a creature you control: Hatchet Bully deals 2 damage to target creature or player.
“It’s not much for eating, but I think we can find somethin’ to do with it.”
Illus. Paul Bonner #54/180

Hateflayer 5RR 5/5
Creature – Elemental
Wither
, : Hateflayer deals damage equal to its power to target creature or player.
Illus. Thomas M. Baxa #55/180

Heartlash Cinder 1R 1/1
Creature – Elemental Warrior
Haste
Chroma – When Heartlash Cinder comes into play, it gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the number of red mana symbols in the mana costs of permanents you control.
Illus. Steve Prescott #56/180

Hotheaded Giant 3R 4/4
Creature – Giant Warrior
Haste
Hotheaded Giant comes into play with two -1/-1 counters on it unless you played another red spell this turn.
Illus. Fred Harper #57/180

Impelled Giant 4RR 3/3
Creature – Giant Warrior
Trample
Tap an untapped red creature you control other than Impelled Giant: Impelled Giant gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the power of the creature tapped this way.
Illus. Mark Zug #58/180

Outrage Shaman 3RR 2/2
Creature – Goblin Shaman
Chroma – When Outrage Shaman comes into play, it deals damage to target creature equal to the number of red mana symbols in the mana costs of permanents you control.
A boggart’s mind is a tinderbox of volatile thoughts, hungry for a spark.
Illus. Cole Eastburn

Puncture Blast 2R
Instant
Wither
Puncture Blast deals 3 damage to target creature or player.
#60/180

Rekindled Flame 2RR
Sorcery
Rekindled Flame does 4 damage to target creature or player.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if an opponent has no cards in hand, you may return Rekindled Flame from your graveyard to your hand.

Stigma Lasher RR 2/2
Creature – Elemental Shaman
Wither (This deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters.)
Whenever Stigma Lasher deals damage to a player, that player can’t gain life for the rest of the game.
The extinguisher’s curse lasted long after her departure.
Illus. Alexsi Briclot

Thunderblust 2RRR 7/2
Creature – Elemental
Haste
Thunderblust has trample as long as it has a -1/-1 counter on it.
Persist (When this creature is put into a graveyard from play, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to play under its owner’s control with a -1/-1 counter on it.)
Illus. Dan Scott

Unwilling Recruit XRRR
Sorcery
Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gets +X/+0 and gains haste until end of turn.
Illus. Dave Allsop #64/180

Green (16)

Aerie Ouphes 4G 3/3
Creature – Ouphe
Persist
Sacrifice Aerie Ouphes: Aerie Ouphes deals damage equal to its power to target creature with flying.

Bloom Tender 1G 1/1
Creature – Elf Druid
T: For each color among permanents you control, add one mana of that color to your mana pool.
Beauty is a seed, waiting to blossom under her capable hands.
Illus. Chippy

Duskdale Wurm 5GG 7/7
Creature – Wurm
Trample
Illus. Dan Dos Santos #67/180

Helix Pinnacle G
Enchantment
Shroud
X: Put X tower counters on Helix Pinnacle.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if there are 100 or more tower counters on Helix Pinnacle, you win the game.

Marshdrinker Giant 3GG 4/3
Creature – Giant Warrior
When Marshdrinker Giant comes into play, destroy target Island or Swamp an opponent controls.

Monstrify 3G
Sorcery
Target creature gets +4/+4 until the end of turn.
Retrace
Gackt came to regret keeping his pet toads on his head.
Illus. Lars Grant-West #70/180

Nettle Sentinel G 2/2
Creature – Elf Warrior
Nettle Sentinel doesn’t untap during its controller’s untap step.
Whenever you play a green spell, you may untap Nettle Sentinel.
#71/180

Phosphorescent Feast 2GGG
Sorcery
Chroma- Reveal any number of cards in your hand. You gain 2 life for each green mana symbol in those cards’ mana costs.
Illus. Ron Spencer #72/180

Primalcrux GGGGGG */*
Creature – Elemental
Trample
Chroma- Primalcrux’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of green mana symbols in the mana costs of permanents you control.
Illus. Wayne Reynolds #73/180

Regal Force 4GGG 5/5
Creature – Elemental
When Regal Force comes into play, draw a card for each green creature you control.
Illus. Brandon Kitouski #74/180

Savage Conception 3GG
Sorcery
Put a 3/3 green Beast creature token into play.
Retrace
Illus. William O’Connor #75/180

Swirling Spriggan 2GG 3/3
Creature – Goblin Shaman
U/G U/G: Target creature you control becomes the color or colors of your choice until end of turn.
After its encounter with the spriggan, the patrol was red with anger, green with envy, white with fear, and painfully black and blue.
Illus. Thomas M. Baxa

Talara’s Battalion 1G 4/3
Creature – Elf Warrior
Trample
Play Talara’s only if you played another green spell this turn.
The safewright Talara protects a delicate woodland waterfall. She has vowed to send wave after wave of warriors to slay any who would disturb its beauty.
Illus. Todd Lockwood #77/180

Tilling Treefolk 2G 1/3
Creature – Treefolk Druid
When Tilling Treefolk comes into play, you may return up to two target land cards from your graveyard to your hand.
Illus. R. K. Post #78/180

Twinblade Slasher G 1/1
Creature – Elf Warrior
Wither
1G: Twinblade Slasher gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Play this ability only once each turn.
Illus. Trevor Hairsine #79/180

Wicker-bough Elder 3G 4/4
Creature – Treefolk Shaman
Wicker-Bough Elder comes into play with a -1/-1 counter on it.
G, Remove a -1/-1 counter from Wicker-bough Elder : Destroy target artifact or enchantment.
“Living Scarecrows make a mockery of the living order. Dead ones make fine hats.”
#80/180

Hybrid (85)

Black / White

Batwing Brume 1 B/W
Instant
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn if W was spent to play Batwing Brume.
Each player loses 1 life for each attacking creature he or she controls if B was spent to play this. (Do both if BW was spent)
#81/180

Beckon Apparition B/W
Instant
Remove target card in a graveyard from the game. Put a 1/1 white and black Spirit creature token with flying into play.
Illus. Larry McDougal #82/180

Bloodied Ghost 1 B/W B/W 3/3
Creature – Spirit
Flying
Bloodied Ghost comes into play with a -1/-1 counter on it.
Illus. Mike Dringenberg #83/180

Cauldron Haze 1 B/W
Instant
Choose any number of target creatures. Each of those creatures gains persist until end of turn.
#84/180

Deathbringer Liege 2 B/W B/W B/W 3/4
Creature – Horror
Other white creatures you control get +1/+1.
Other black creatures you control get +1/+1.
Whenever you play a white spell, you may tap target creature.
Whenever you play a black spell, you may destroy target creature if it is tapped.
#85/180

Divinity of Pride B/W B/W B/W B/W B/W 4/4
Creature – Spirit Avatar
Flying, lifelink
Divinity of Pride gets +4/+4 as long as you have 25 or more life.
Illus. Greg Staples #86/180

Edge of the Divinity B/W
Enchantment – Aura
Enchant Creature
As long as enchanted creature is white, it gets +1/+2.
As long as enchanted creature is black, it gets +2/+1.
#87/180

Evershrike 3 B/W B/W 2/2
Creature – Elemental Spirit
Flying
Evershrike gets +2/+2 for each Aura attached to it.
X B/W B/W: Return Evershrike from your graveyard to play. You may put an Aura card with converted mana cost X or less from your hand into play attached to it. If you don’t, remove Evershrike from the game.
Illus. Dan Dos Santos #88/180

Gwyllion Hedge-Mage 2 B/W 2/2
Creature – Hag Wizard
When Gwyllion Hedge-Mage comes into play, if you control two or more plains, you may put a 1/1 white Kithkin Soldier creature token into play.
When Gwyllion Hedge-Mage comes into play, if you control two or more swamps, you may put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.
Illus. Todd Lockwood #89/180

Harvest Gwyllion 2 B/W B/W 2/4
Creature – Hag
Wither (This creature deals damage in the form of -1/-1 counters.)
#90/180

Nightsky Mimic 1 B/W 2/1
Creature – Shapeshifter
Whenever you play a spell that’s both black and white, Nightsky Mimic becomes 4/4 and gains flying until end of turn.
#91/180

Nip Gwyllion B/W 1/1
Creature – Hag
Lifelink
#92/180

Pyrrhic Revival 3 B/W B/W B/W
Sorcery
Each player returns each creature card in his or her graveyard to play with a -1/-1 counter on it.
#93/180

Restless Apparition B/W B/W B/W 2/2
Creature – Spirit
B/W B/W B/W : Restless Apparition gets +3/+3 until end of turn.
Persist
Illus. Jeff Easley #94/180

Stillmoon Cavalier 1 B/W B/W 2/1
Creature – Zombie Knight
Protection from white and from black
: Stillmoon Cavalier gains flying until end of turn.
: Stillmoon Cavalier gains first strike until end of turn.
: Stillmoon Cavalier gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
#95/180

Unmake B/W B/W B/W
Instant
Remove target creature from the game.
A gwyllion’s favorite trap is the vanity mirror. A bewitched piece of glass traps the looker’s soul and does away with the body.
Illus. Stephen Belledin #96/180

Voracious Hatchling 3 B/W 6/6
Creature – Elemental
Lifelink
Voracious Hatchling comes into play with four -1/-1 counters on it.
Whenever you play a white spell, remove a -1/-1 counter from Voracious Hatchling.
Whenever you play a black spell, remove a -1/-1 counter from Voracious Hatchling.
Illus. Jeremy Enecio #97/180

Blue / Red

Call the Skybreaker 5 U/R U/R
Sorcery
Put a 5/5 red and blue Elemental creature token with flying into play.
Retrace (You may play this card from the graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
It hears and answers every orison across Shadowmoor
Illus. Randy Gallegos #98/180

Clout of the Dominus U/R
Enchantment – Aura
Enchant Creature
As long as enchanted creature is blue, it gets +1/+1 and has shroud.
As long as enchanted creature is red, it gets +1/+1 and has haste.
#99/180

Crag Puca U/R U/R U/R 2/4
Creature – Shapeshifter
: Switch Crag Puca’s power and toughness until end of turn.
#100/180

Crackleburr 1 U/R U/R 2/2
Creature – Elemental
U/R,U/R,T- Tap two untapped red creatures you control: Crackleburr deals 3 damage to target creature or player.
ut, Untap two tapped blue creatures you control: Return target creature to its owner’s hand.
#101/180

Dominus of Fealty U/R U/R U/R U/R U/R 4/4
Creature – Spirit Avatar
Flying
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may gain control of target permanent until end of turn. If you do, untap it and it gains haste until end of turn.
#102/180

Inside Out 1 U/R
Instant
Switch target creature’s power and toughness until end of turn.
Draw a card.
Illus. Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai #103/180

Mindwrack Liege 3 U/R U/R U/R 4/4
Creature – Horror
Other blue creatures you control get +1/+1.
Other red creatures you control get +1/+1.
: You may put a red or blue creature card from your hand into play.
#104/180

Mirror Sheen 1 U/R U/R
Enchantment
: Copy target instant or sorcery spell that targets you. You may choose new targets for the copy.
Illus. John Avon #105/180

Noggle Bandit 1 U/R U/R 2/2
Creature – Noggle Rogue
Noggle Bandit can’t be blocked except by creatures with defender.
Illus. Thomas Denmark #106/180

Noggle Bridgebreaker 2 U/R U/R 4/3
Creature – Noggle Rogue
When Noggle Bridgebreaker comes into play, return a land you control to its owner’s hand.
Illus. Thomas M. Baxa #107/180

Noggle Hedge-mage 2 U/R 2/2
Creature – Noggle Wizard
When Noggle Hedge-mage comes into play, if you control two or more Islands, you may tap two target permanents.
When Noggle Hedge-mage comes into play, if you control two or more Mountains, you may have it deal 2 damage to target player.
#108/180

Noggle Ransacker 2 U/R 2/1
Creature – Noggle Rogue
When Noggle Ransacker comes into play, each player draws two cards, then discards a card at random.
Illus. Alex Horley-Orlandelli #109/180

Nucklavee 4 U/R U/R 4/4
Creature – Beast
When Nucklavee comes into play, you may return target red sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand.
When Nucklavee comes into play, you may return target blue instant card from your graveyard to your hand.
Illus. Trevor Hairsaine #110/180
Riverfall Mimic 1 U/R 2/1
Creature – Shapeshifter
Whenever you play a spell that’s both blue and red, Riverfall Mimic becomes 3/3 and is unblockable until end of turn.
Mimics don’t hide their natural form well, but their disguises work well enough on boggarts.
Illus. Franz Vohinkel #111/180

Shrewd Hatchling 3 U/R 6/6
Creature – Elemental
Shrewd Hatchling comes into play with four -1/-1 counters on it.
: Target creature can’t block Shrewd Hatchling this turn.
Whenever you play a blue spell, remove a -1/-1 counter from Shrewd Hatchling.
Whenever you play a red spell, remove a -1/-1 counter from Shrewd Hatchling.
Illus. Christopher Moeller #112/180

Stream Hopper U/R 1/1
Creature – Goblin
U/R: Stream Hopper gains flying until end of turn.
Illus. Dave Allsop #113/180

Unnerving Assault 2 U/R
Instant
Creatures your opponents control get -1/-0 until end of turn if U was spent to play Unnerving Assault, and creatures you control get +1/+0 until end of turn if R was spent to play it. (Do both if UR was spent)
The scales of battle rarely balance.
Illus. Ron Spencer #114/180

Black / Green

Canker Abomination 2 B/G B/G 6/6
Creature – Treefolk Horror
When Canker Abomination comes into play, choose an opponent. Canker Abomination comes into play with a -1/-1 counter it on for each creature that player controls.
Once the hideous disease takes hold, it spreads through both bark and mind.
#115/180

Cankerous Thirst 3 B/G
Instant
If B was spent to play Cankerous Thirst, you may have target creature get -3/-3 until end of turn. If G was spent to play Cankerous Thirst, you may have target creature get +3/+3 until end of turn. (Do both if BG was spent)
Illus. Carl Frank #116/180

Creakwood Liege 1 B/G B/G B/G 2/2
Creature – Horror
Other black creatures you control get +1/+1.
?Other green creatures you control get +1/+1.
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put a 1/1 black and green Worm creature token into play.
#117/180

Deity of Scars B/G B/G B/G B/G B/G 7/7
Creature – Spirit Avatar
Trample
Deity of Scars comes into play with two -1/-1 counters on it.
B/G, Remove a -1/-1 counter from Deity of Scars: Regenerate Deity of Scars.
“His skin cuts swords.”
-The Seer’s Parables
Illus. Steve Prescott #118/180

Desecrator Hag 2 B/G B/G 2/2
Creature – Hag
When Desecrator Hag comes into play, return to your hand the creature card in your graveyard with the highest power. If two or more cards are tied for highest power, you chose one of them.
Loose earth is not a burial but an appetizer.
#119/180

Doomgape 4 B/G B/G B/G 10/10
Creature – Elemental
Trample
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice a creature. You gain life equal to that creature’s toughness.
It eats and eats until the juiciest morsel it can find is itself.
Illus. Dave Allsop #120/180

Drain the Well 2 B/G B/G
Sorcery
Destroy target land. You gain 2 life.
Illus. Warren Mahy #121/180

Gift of the Deity 4 B/G
Enchantment – Aura
Enchant Creature
As long as enchanted creature is black ,it gets +1/+1 and has deathtouch.
As long as enchanted creature is green , it gets +1/+1 and all creatures able to block it do so.
Illus. Steve Prescott #122/180

Hag Hedge-Mage 2 B/G 2/2
Creature – Hag Shaman
When Hag Hedge-Mage comes into play, if you control two or more swamps, you may have target player discard a card.
When Hag Hedge-Mage comes into play, if you control two or more forests, you may put target card in your graveyard on top of your library.
Illus. Scott Altmann #123/180

Noxious Hatchling 3 B/G 6/6
Creature – Elemental
Noxious Hatchling comes into play with four -1/-1 counters on it.
Wither
Whenever you play a black spell, remove a -1/-1 counter from Noxious Hatchling.
Whenever you play a green spell, remove a -1/-1 counter from Noxious Hatchling.
Illus. Nils Hamm #124/180

Odious Trow B/G 1/1
Creature – Troll
1 B/G: Regenerate Odious Trow.
#125/180

Quillspike 2 B/G 1/1
Creature – Beast
B/G, Remove a -1/-1 counter from a creature you control: Quillspike gets +3/+3 until end of turn.
#126/180

Rendclaw Trow 2 B/G 2/2
Creature – Troll
Wither
Persist
Illus. Warren Mahy #127/180

Sapling of Colfenor 3 B/G B/G 2/5
Legendary Creature – Treefolk Shaman
Sapling of Colfenor is indestructible.
Whenever Sapling of Colfenor attacks, reveal the top card of your library. If it is a creature card, you gain life equal to that card’s toughness, lose life equal to its power, then put it into your hand.
Her plans may yet bear fruit.
Illus. John Avon #128/180

Stalker Hag B/G B/G B/G 3/2
Creature – Hag
Swampwalk, forestwalk
Illus. Dave Kendall #129/180

Woodlurker Mimic 1 B/G 2/1
Creature – Shapeshifter
Whenever you play a spell that’s both black and green, Woodlurker Mimic becomes 4/5 and gains wither until end of turn.
#130/180

Worm Harvest 2 B/G B/G B/G
Sorcery
Put a 1/1 black and green Worm creature token into play for each land card in your graveyard.
Retrace (You may play this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
Illus. Chuck Lukacs #131/180

Red / White

Balefire Liege 2 R/W R/W R/W 2/4
Creature – Spirit Horror
Other red creatures you control get +1/+1.
Other white creatures you control get +1/+1.
Whenever you play a red spell, Balefire Liege deals 3 damage to target player.
Whenever you play a white spell, you gain 3 life.
#132/180

Battlegate Mimic 1 R/W 2/1
Creature – Shapeshifter
Whenever you play a spell that’s both red and white, Battlegate Mimic becomes 4/2 and gains first strike until end of turn.
#133/180

Belligerent Hatchling 3 R/W 6/6
Creature – Elemental
Belligerent Hatchling comes into play with four -1 / -1 counters on it.
First Strike
Whenever you play a white spell, remove a -1/-1 counter from Belligerent Hatchling.
Whenever you play a red spell, remove a -1/-1 counter from Belligerent Hatchling.
#134/180

Double Cleave 1 R/W
Instant
Target creature gains double strike until end of turn.
#135/180

Duergar Assailant R/W 1/1
Creature – Dwarf Soldier
Sacrifice Duergar Assailant: Duergar Assailant deals 1 damage to target attacking or blocking creature.
Illus. Paul Bonner #136/180

Duergar Hedge-Mage 2 R/W 2/2
Creature – Dwarf Shaman
When Duergar Hedge-Mage comes into play, if you control two or more Mountains, you may destroy target artifact.
When Duergar Hedge-Mage comes into play, if you control two or more Plains, you may destroy target enchantment.
Illus. Dave Allsop #137/180

Duergar Mine-Captain 2 R/W 2/1
Creature – Dwarf Soldier
1 R/W, : Attacking creatures get +1/+0 until end of turn.
#138/180

Figure of Destiny R/W 1/1
Creature – Kithkin
R/W: Figure of Destiny becomes a 2/2 Kithkin Spirit.
R/W R/W R/W : If Figure of Destiny is a Spirit, it becomes a 4/4 Kithkin Spirit Warrior.
R/W R/W R/W R/W R/W R/W: If Figure of Destiny is a Warrior, it becomes an 8/8 Kithkin Spirit Warrior Avatar with flying and first strike.
#139/180

Fire at Will R/W R/W R/W
Instant
Fire at Will deals 3 damage divided as you choose among any number of target attacking or blocking creatures.
#140/180

Hearthfire Hobgoblin R/W R/W R/W 2/2
Creature – Goblin Soldier
Double Strike
Hobgoblins are best left alone. They sharpen their farm implements far more than is necessary for their work in the fields.
Illus. Stephen Belledin #141/180

Hobgoblin Dragoon 2 R/W 1/2
Creature – Goblin Knight
Flying, first strike.
#142/180

Moonhold 2 R/W
Instant
Target player can’t play land cards this turn if R was spent to play Moonhold and can’t play creature cards this turn if W was spent to play it. (Do both if RW was spent)
#143/180

Nobilis of War R/W R/W R/W R/W R/W 3/4
Creature – Spirit Avatar
Flying
Attacking creatures you control get +2/+0.
#144/180

Rise of the Hobgoblins R/W R/W
Enchantment
When Rise of the Hobgoblins comes into play, you may pay . If you do, put X 1/1 red and white Goblin Soldier tokens into play.
: red and/or white creatures you control gain first strike until end of turn.
#145/180

Scourge of the Nobilis 2 R/W
Enchantment – Aura
Enchant creature
As long as enchanted creature is red, it gets +1/+1 and has:”R/W: This creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.”
As long as enchanted creature is white it gets +1/+1 and has lifelink. (Whenever it deals damage, its controller gains that much life.)
Illus. Dan Scott #146/180

Spitemare 2 R/W R/W 3/3
Creature – Elemental
Whenever Spitemare is dealt damage, Spitemare deals that much damage to target creature or player.
#147/180

Waves of Aggression 3 R/W R/W
Sorcery
Untap all creatures that attacked this turn. After this phase, there is an additional combat phase followed by an additional main phase.
Retrace
#148/180

Green / Blue

Cold-Eyed Selkie 1 G/U G/U 1/1
Creature – Merfolk Rogue
Islandwalk
Whenever Cold-Eyed Selkie deals combat damage to a player, you may draw that many cards.
Illus. Jaime Jones #149/180

Fable of Wolf and Owl 3 G/U G/U G/U
Enchantment
Whenever you play a green spell, you may put a 2/2 green Wolf creature token into play.
Whenever you play a blue spell, you may put a 1/1 blue Bird creature token with flying into play.
The forest grew fangs. The sky spread its wings.
Illus. Heather Hudson #150/180

Favor of the Overbeing 1G/U
Enchantment – Aura
Enchant Creature
As long as enchanted creature is green, it gets +1/+1 and has vigilance.
As long as enchanted creature is blue, it gets +1/+1 and flying.
Illus. Chippy #151/180

Gilder Bairn 1 G/U G/U 1/3
Creature – Ouphe
2 G/U ut, : For each counter on target permanent, put another of those counters on that permanent.
Illus. Nils Hamm #152/180

Grazing Kelpie 3 G/U 2/3
Creature – Beast
G/U, Sacrifice Grazing Kelpie: Put target card in a graveyard on the bottom of its owner’s library.
Persist
Illus. Drew Tucker #153/180

Groundling Pouncer 1 G/U 2/1
Creature – Faerie
G/U: Groundling Pouncer gets +1/+3 and gains flying until end of turn. Play this ability only once each turn and only if an opponent controls a creature with flying.
Endry was determined to teach his groundlings a few winged-faerie tricks.
#154/180

Invert the Skies 3 G/U
Instant
Creatures your opponents control lose flying until end of turn if G was spent to play Invert the Skies, and creatures you control gain flying until end of turn if U was spent to play it. (Do both if GU was spent)
Illus. Randy Gallegos #155/180

Murkfiend Liege 2 G/U G/U G/U 4/4
Creature – Horror
Other green creatures you control get +1/+1.
Other blue creatures you control get +1/+1.
Untap all green and/or blue creatures you control during each other player’s untap step.
Illus. Carl Critchlow #156/180

Overbeing of Myth G/U G/U G/U G/U G/U */*
Creature – Spirit Avatar
Overbeing of Myth’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of cards in your hand.
At the beginning of your draw step, draw a card.
Illus. Chippy #157/180

Selkie Hedge-Mage 2 G/U 2/2
Creature – Merfolk Wizard
When Selkie Hedge Mage comes into play, if you control two or more Forests, you may gain 3 life.
When Selkie Hedge Mage comes into play, if you control two or more Islands, you may return target tapped creature to its owner’s hand.
Illus. Larry McDougal #158/180

Shorecrasher Mimic 1 G/U 2/1
Creature – Shapeshifter
Whenever you play a spell that’s both green and blue, Shorecrasher Mimic becomes 5/3 and gains trample until end of turn.
Illus. Franz Vohinkel #159/180

Slippery Bogle G/U 1/1
Creature – Beast
Slippery Bogle can’t be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control.
Illus. Dave Allsop #160/180

Snakeform 2 G/U
Instant
Target creature loses all abilities and becomes a 1/1 green Snake until end of turn.
Draw a card.
Illus. Jim Nielson #161/180

Spitting Image 4 G/U G/U
Sorcery
Put a token into play that’s a copy of target creature.
Retrace (You may play this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
Spitting is the customary greeting between a creature and its magical impostor.
Illus. Jim Nelson #162/180

Sturdy Hatchling 3 G/U 6/6
Creature – Elemental
Sturdy Hatchling comes into play with four -1/-1 counters on it
G/U: Sturdy Hatchling gains shroud until end of turn.
Whenever you play a green spell, remove a -1/-1 counter from Sturdy Hatchling.
Whenever you play a blue spell, remove a -1/-1 counter from Sturdy Hatchling.
Illus. Darrell Riche #163/180

Trapjaw Kelpie 4 G/U G/U 3/3
Creature – Beast
Flash
Persist
#164/180

Wistful Selkie G/U G/U G/U 2/2
Creature – Merfolk Wizard
When Wistful Selkie comes into play, draw a card.
#165/180

Colorless (9)

Altar Golem 7 */*
Artifact Creature – Golem
Trample
Altar Golem’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of creatures in play.
Altar Golem doesn’t untap during its controller’s untap step.
Tap five untapped creatures you control: Untap Altar Golem.
Illus. Rob Alexander #166/180

Antler Skulkin 5 3/3
Artifact Creature – Scarecrow
: Target white creature gains persist until end of turn.
#167/180

Fang Skulkin 2 2/1
Artifact Creature – Scarecrow
: Target black creature gains wither until end of turn.
Illus. Ron Brown #168/180

Hoof Skulkin 3 2/2
Artifact Creature – Scarecrow
3: Target green creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
#169/180

Jawbone Skulkin 1
Artifact Creature – Scarecrow
2: Target red creature gains haste until end of turn.
Illus. Jeff Easley #170/180 1/1

Leering Emblem 2
Artifact – Equipment
Whenever you play a spell, equipped creatures gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
Equip:2
#171/180

Scarecrone 3 1/2
Artifact Creature – Scarecrow
1, Sacrifice a Scarecrow: Draw a card.
4,ut : Return target artifact creature card from your graveyard to play.
#172/180

Shell Skulkin 4 3/2
Artifact Creature – Scarecrow
3: Target blue creature gains shroud until end of turn.
Illus. Cole Eastburn #173/180

Ward of Bones 6
Artifact
Each opponent who controls more creatures than you can’t play creature cards. The same is true for artifacts, enchantments and lands.
Mages dare not attempt magic in its grotesque presence.
Illus. David Martin #174/180

Land (6)
Cascade Bluffs
Land
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
U/R,T : Add UU,UR, or RR to your mana pool.

Fetid Heath
Land
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
W/B,T: Add WW, WB, or BB to your mana pool.

Flooded Grove
Land
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
G/B,T : Add UU,UG or GG to your mana pool.

Rugged Prairie
Land
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
R/W,T: Add WW, RR, or RW to your mana pool.
#178/180

Springjack Pasture
Land
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
4,T: Put a 0/1 white Goat creature token into play.
T,Sacrifice X Goats: Add X mana of any one color to your mana pool. You gain X life.
Illus. Terese Nielson #179/180

Twilight Mire
Land
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
B/G,T: Add BB, BG or GG to your mana pool.

I have been attending Magic pre-releases for years and have been to pre-releases in several differerent states as well. While there are slight differences based on location, the general formats are the same. Prizes do vary by location.

The formats are flights (sealed), drafts, two headed giant (2HG) or teams, and Open Dueling (pre-constructed deck). All lands are provided.

A flight is a sealed deck tournament where you will receive one tournament pack (75 cards) of the main set, which for the pre release coming up happens to be Shadowmoor and 3 Booster Packs of the Sub-set, in which case is Eventide. If it is a main set pre-release then you only get two packs to go with your tournament pack. Generally, there is one “Main” Flight where any number of players can sign up. This is a long tournament but has the largest prizes as it has an unlimited number of players. Other flights are generally limited to 32 players and run 5 rounds. These 32 player flights just kick off as soon as 32 players sign up and run pretty much all day long. From the pool of cards you get you have to make a minimum 40 card deck (including lands) and all the other cards are / can be used as your sideboard. The average cost is about 30 bucks and you will get to keep the tournament pack, the three booster packs, and a Foil Alternative Art Rare pre-release card which happens to be Overbeing of Myth for Eventide’s pre-release, plus any prizes that you might win, usually more packs.

Drafting is done like typical drafting, each player gets three unopened packs, Open one pack, take one card and pass the rest of the pack, each player takes one card and passes, and so on, open your next pack and repeat. This cost around 15.00 dollars and you get to keep all cards you draft, whether you Rare draft or draft to win. Each draft is usually 8 players and again run all day and start everytime 8 players sign up. Prizes are also given as packs. Again, you have to make a minimun 40 card deck and all other cards are your sideboard.

Two Headed Giant (2HG) is relatively new. There is generally only one two headed giant tournament which allows all interested pairs to sign up, you have to have a partner or find one at the pre-release. Each team will receive 1 Starter (tournament pack) of Shadowmoor, 4 Boosters of Eventide, 2 Foil Pre-Release Cards. Each player makes a minimum 40 card deck. You get to keep all cards but you and your teammate have to divide them amongst yourselves. The cost of this is generally 40 to 50 dollars or 20-25 per person. Prize packs have to be split as well.

Open Dualing is brand new, well within the last year. It cost 15 dollars generally and you will receive an Eventide Theme Deck (pre-constructed deck), which you get to keep. You just play leisurly with your theme deck without modifying it between other matches. It is designed for newcomers. Many locations also give a prerelease card for this event but some require you to have a certain number of matches recorded, as in after you play 5 matches and get your 5 opponents to sign your slip you can get your prerelease card and/or an extra pack too.

The most important thing, if you have never been to a pre-release:
1. Get there early.
2. Plan on staying late, an average flight runs for several hours.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and call a judge if you are in doubt about anything relating to the rules. They are there to help and that is what anyone else will do.
4. Have fun, pre-releases are designed to be fun, meet new players, and learn new strategies and card combos.

Oh yeah, did I mention that you get a foil alternative art prerelease card and eventide’s is Overbeing of Myth

Beginning with the Shards of Alara set, which incedentally doesn’t release until October 3, 2008, Wizards will have the following changes in place:

Set Size: Smaller set sizes, This is not really that shocking as set sizes have steadily been decreasing over the years, in fact, when Ice Age was released back in 1995, it was a 383 card set, Mirroden released in 2003 as a 306 card set, compared to the most recent, Shadowmoor, a 281 card set. Shards of Alara is set to be a 229 card set.

Rarity: Along with the smaller set sizes, Wizards will also be introducing a new level of rarity called mythic rare. The mythic rare cards will appear in approximately 1 out of every 8 booster packs replacing the normal rare. Mythic Rare Foils (otherwise known as premium cards) will however replace a common as all current Foils do. Mythic Rares will also have a new color symbol and the first Mythic Rare ever previewed is below: Check out Sarkhan Vol!

Yeah, if you didn’t pick up on that, Planeswalkers are definately back in Shards of Alara.

Booster Packs: The breakdown of a Magic the Gathering Booster Pack is also changing by replacing one common with a basic land. Not sure of what purpose this serves except to ensure that everyone gets a land as their last card in a draft, but the pack breakdown for Shards of Alara is as follows: 1 rare, 3 uncommons, 10 commons, 1 basic land, and 1 tip or token card.

Intro Packs: Theme Decks have been replaced by intro packs. An intro pack is a 41 card theme deck plus one booster pack. Intro packs are designed specifically at helping beginners get into the game and each one includes a premium or foil rare. Plans currently call for 5 intro packs to be released for each set, but if we know nothing else we know that could change too. Here’s a first look at the Shards of Alara theme deck, I mean Intro Pack:

Book Publishing: If you are one of the many that can’t wait to read the stories that accompany the cards when a new set is released then you should be aware that Wizards has also changed the publishing schedule. Magic Books will now be published quarterly, four times a year and largely focus on Planeswalkers. In the Fall a Planeswalkers guide will be released for coinciding with the plane of the main block released that fall as well. In the Winter and Summer a Planeswalkers story will be released, and in the spring a Novel regarding the current block will be released. Of course this will have some impact to the fat packs that are released with each set as well.

Fat Packs: With Shadowmoor, Fat Packs changed slightly to include only one card box and eight booster packs instead of the previous six booster packs and two card boxes. Beginning with Shards of Alara FatPacks will now include an excerpt of the most current publishing offering in lieu of the previously included set-based novel, one card box, eight booster packs, and one 20 sided spin down lifecounter / dice.

For better or worse Lots of changes are coming regarding the future of Magic the Gathering.

Discuss it

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That brings us to my all time favorite Shadowmoor Card,…  GiantBaiting. Giantbaiting cost only 3 mana and gives the potential for not one but two, 4/4, red and green, Hasty, Giant Warrior creatures put into play. Whether it’s early game or a finisher, two suprise giants is going to do some damage to something. So what if you have to sacrifice them, the damage has been done. 

Shadowmoor is great block for drafting with a good balance of removal, creatures, and other spells. I haven’t got to draft Shadowmoor since the release but plan on it this weekend so look for more on Drafting Shadowmoor in the coming weeks.

Discuss it

Discuss it