From the Vault: Exile - First Impressions
Yesterday, Wizards announced another special collector's reprint set. Here are my reactions.
First of all, the logo.
By now, everyone knows that Magic is getting a minor revamp this summer. I think this set confirms that "Exile" is likely to be the official name of the "removed from game" zone. The logo for this collector's set reflects that designation, is an arrow that points into the direction in which most players put their RFG cards, above and a little bit beyond the library and graveyard.
Secondly, here is the blurb describing this set:
It is said there were once fifteen Magic: The Gathering cards so potent, they were banned or restricted from the known realms of competition. But in the years that have passed, the game has evolved and these elder cards are once again in play. Master these weapons from ages past and give your opponent a beating of historic proportions.
Third, here are some facts about What we know:
1) Each of the 15 cards in the set are cards that were banned or restricted in a sanctioned format.
Wizards has given an incomplete and inaccurate list of cards that have been banned or restricted:
http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/149Although that list is incomplete, I think it's safe to say that the cards in Exile are probably on this list, otherwise Wizards would have caught it. That excludes cards that Kaztby identified such as Juggernaut and Hymn to Tourach. Too bad. Also, the list includes cards that have never been banned, but have been restricted.
This list must exclude cards that are on the reprint list:
http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Article.aspx?x=magic/products/reprintpolicy2) These cards are historical, which I think suggests that none of them are from the most recent set(s).
3) "Weapons" may be a clue.
4) Balance is in the set.
http://www.wizards.com/mtg/images/daily/arcana/148_9vsjv6go.jpgThat is obviously art for Balance
5) I also believe that Goblin Lackey is in the set.
That leaves 13 cards.
What other clues do we have?
6) Let's take a look at the breakdown of sets in the previous "From the Vault" Set:
Shivan Dragon: Alpha (1993)
Dragon Whelp: Alpha (1993)
Nicol Bolas: Legends (1994)
Ebon Dragon: Portal I (1997)
Thunder Dragon: Starter 1999 (1999)
Two-Headed Dragon: Mercadian Masques (1999)
Rith, the Awakener: Invasion (2000)
Draco: Planeshift (2001)
Bladewing the Risen: Scourge (2003)
Dragonstorm: Scourge (2003)
Form of the Dragon: Scourge (2003)
Kokusho, the Evening Star: Champions of Kamigawa (2004)
Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind: Guildpact (2006)
Bogarden Hellkite: Time Spiral (2006)
Hellkite Overlord: Shards of Alara (2008)
What does this breakdown tell us, factually?
A) They printed cards from a wide variety of years, but did not intend a specific representation from any given block or set.
B) They pulled cards based on flavor as much as anything else, as Scourge got three very different cards reprinted in the set.
C) This also tells us that they are looking for cards that players will find popular and interesting.
D) They printed cards from Starter AND Portal, indicating a willingness to do both.
Those are the facts. Now we enter the realm of speculation based upon what we know.
Fourth: Speculation
We know that Balance: Alpha (1993) and Goblin Lackey: Urza's Saga (1998) are in the set.
1) Cards I think we can safely eliminate:
A) Dark Ritual, since it is being reprinted in Foil as a Judges Rare, same goes for Rukh Egg, Hippie, Chrome Mox and Kird Ape which have all just been reprinted.
B) The cycle of Artifacts Lands, since they are very lame printings for a set like this.
C) Any cards for Ante, since that is a part of the game that they don't want to bring back ever.
That leaves, by my count, 59 possible cards, two of which we know. So for 13 possible slots, that is 57 cards.
2) What cards that have historically been banned most fit the description of "weapons", but that are not on the reserved list?
Doomsday: Weatherlight (1997)
Slullclamp: Darksteel (2004)
Orcish Oriflamme: Alpha (1993)'
Cursed Scroll: Tempest (1997)
Black Vise: Alpha (1993)
Icy Manipulator: Alpha (1993)
I think Doomsday and Skullclamp seem like perfect printings for this set for several reasons: first of all, they represent very different time periods. Secondly, they seem like the kind of powerful card they want to reprint here, without printing things that have already seen reprint or are just annoying, like Necropotence or Mind Twist. Had it not been on the reserved list, I would have thought that cards like Sword of Ages and Guantlet of Might would be perfect.
3) I think there is a good chance that they want Vintage players to be interested in this by printing cards that we currentyl don't have in foil, but might want. At first I thought that they wouldn't think of Voltaic Key, but Time Vault was fixed almost six months ago, giving them probably just enough lead time to put it in. It also has alot of historical value in Kai's old Worlds deck, so it would fit nicely. For similar reasons, Berserk would be throwing a bone to Legacy. I also think there is a good chance that Imperial Seal will be printed here as well for Vintage. They have been trying to figure out how to bring back I. Seal without putting it in Standard. This is perfect.
CONCLUSION
I think a likely list would be:
1) Balance: Alpha (1993)
2) Goblin Lackey: Urza's Saga (1998)
3) Doomsday: Weatherlight (1997)
4) Imperial Seal: Portal Three Kingdoms (1999)
5) Lotus Petal: Tempest (1997) OR Mana Crypt: Promo (1995)
6) Skullclamp: Darksteel (2003)
7) Voltaic Key: Urza's Saga (1998)
8) Berserk: Alpha (1993)
9) Burning Wish: Judgment (2002)
10) Maze of Ith:The Dark (1994) (such a historically popular card, would also represent the Dark)
I think those 9 are the most likely reprints.
I suspect they will print two cards from each color, 1-2 land, and 3-4 artifacts.
So, beyond that:
11) Channel OR Oath of Druids OR Hermit Druid OR Regrowth
12) Flash
13) Mystical Tutor OR Fact or Fiction OR Tinker OR Windfall
14) Enlightened Tutor (Or Lin-Sivvi OR Land Tax)
15) Strip Mine (because there is nothing from Antiquities) OR Zuran Orb (to get a card from Ice Age, from that era, that remains fun for casual players)
From the Vault: Exile is released next week! I look forward to seeing how my predictions pan out.
