2007 - 2010 Rumors/Previews/mtg.com articles

[The Atog Lord]

I'm looking forward to this. Issues of value aside, the Duel Decks are extremely fun to play against each other. And, as it turns out, can be combined for some awesome 2HG games.

[Troy_Costisick]

M11 Fatpack is out.  The booklet that comes with it pictures Tez, which may be in indicator he's in M11.  Not that he's all that expensive now, but another printing of him is nice.  Here's the link:

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=245587

Peace,

-Troy

[DubDub]

M11 Fatpack is out.  The booklet that comes with it pictures Tez, which may be in indicator he's in M11.  Not that he's all that expensive now, but another printing of him is nice.  Here's the link:

http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=245587

Peace,

-Troy

That booklet is a preview chapter from the "Test of Metal" book to come out in the fall, which will focus on Tezz.  I don't think it really indicates he'll be in M11.  The last book was about Chandra, and while her 'Nalaar' card was in M10, her 'Ablaze' card came out in Zendikar.  I think the art for 'Ablaze' was used for that insert, though I could be wrong about that.

I suspect that Tezz is too artifact-centric for a core set, but that we'll either see 'The Seeker' or a new card for him in Scars.  There's a remote possibility of both 'The Seeker' being in Scars, and a new card coming in the third set of the block.

[Suicideking]

Wizards just announced the Tezzeeet vs Elspeth dual decks that are coming out in September.

[CorwinB]

Elspeth vs. Tezzeret Duel Decks

I was pretty shocked to see the above.  It will be pretty interesting whether:
1) Elspeth replaces Ajani Goldmane as the white Planeswalker in M11 (in which case there will be an increase in supply of Elspeths).  Alternatively if she's not in M11 she'll shortly rotate out of standard.
2) Her card in this deck is 'Knight-Errant', or whether it's a preview of a new card for her from Scars.
3) Tezz's card in this deck is 'The Seeker', or whether it's a preview of a new card for him from Scars.
4) Tezz's deck previews some broken artifact from Scars.
5) Tezz's deck reprints some non-reserve list (obviously) but in-demand artifact.

I really like the Dual Decks. They are an excellent opportunity by WotC to :
- introduce beginners to correct deck building
- provide flavorful intro packs not tied to a set or forcefully tied to a mechanic
- introduce beginners to nice mechanics or powerful cards from the past
- provide some price control mechanism for expensive singles
- offer balanced decks (for example, Zen intro packs were absolutely horrible as far as internal balance was concerned)

[LotusHead]

This pics was in some flavor article on MTG.com.  It looks like an awesome blue card!

Or was this printed already as a sucky card?

[CorwinB]

This pics was in some flavor article on MTG.com.  It looks like an awesome blue card!

Or was this printed already as a sucky card?

It's Recurring Insight.

[CorwinB]

First batch of In/Outs of Magic 2011 :

Still in :
- Fireball
- Lightning Bolt
- the M10 Dual Lands cycle (Glacial Fortress, Drowned Catacomb, Dragonskull Summit, Rootbound Crag, Sunpetal Grove)
- Baneslayer Angel
- Birds of Paradise

Going out :
-Open the Vaults
- Mold Adder
- Twincast
- Divination
- Planar Cleansing
- Essence Scatter
- Shivan Dragon

[Diakonov]

Hmm, I wonder what dragon will replace Shivan.

[AmbivalentDuck]

Clearly their goal is to maximize cost effectiveness of opening intro packs...

[CorwinB]

Clearly their goal is to maximize cost effectiveness of opening intro packs...

There are some good Standard rares in the RoE intro packs : Student of Warfare, Awakening Zone, Drana...

Starting with M11, there will be changes to Intro Packs, by the way. They will have 60 cards, one extra Rare (3 total), and still one booster pack.

[AmbivalentDuck]

The "expected value" of an RoE pack is $2 and 25 cents of that comes from Gideon.

[i_set_fire]

The "expected value" of an RoE pack is $2 and 25 cents of that comes from Gideon.

is "expected value" a real thing or are you being sarcastic?  if it is real, how is it determined?

[Yare]

The "expected value" of an RoE pack is $2 and 25 cents of that comes from Gideon.

is "expected value" a real thing or are you being sarcastic?  if it is real, how is it determined?

The expected value is the value of the cards you will pull from a pack, on average. As an example, suppose that I will toss a coin. If it is heads, I will pay you $2. If it is tails, you will pay me $1. To you, the expected value of the coin toss is (50% * 2) + (50% * (-1)) = 1 - 0.50 = 0.50. In other words, it's expected that you'll make 50 cents on each toss of the coin, on average. You should take this bet.

Honestly, the best way to determine this in real life is to just look at whatever the current price is for a set of packs on eBay. That's probably very close to the "true" expected value. You could look at whatever vendors are charging, but they're likely just charging MSRP, so I'm not sure how useful that is.

[AmbivalentDuck]

Honestly, the best way to determine this in real life is to just look at whatever the current price is for a set of packs on eBay. That's probably very close to the "true" expected value.

Debates about the market efficiency aside, the real value of a pack is higher than the expected value of the cards in it since it has the additional utility of being draftable.

Extending what Yare said, the expected value of a pack is the sum over all cards in the set of the expected sale value of the card times the odds of getting it.  Some sets (like Mirrodin and M10) were much more valuable as singles than as packs shortly after their release, but by and large it's more "efficient" to purchase singles.

[Yare]

Honestly, the best way to determine this in real life is to just look at whatever the current price is for a set of packs on eBay. That's probably very close to the "true" expected value.

Debates about the market efficiency aside, the real value of a pack is higher than the expected value of the cards in it since it has the additional utility of being draftable.

Yeah, I forgot about this angle. So, the expected value of a pack is actually a little lower than its price for this reason (assuming that entering a draft is costless beyond the price of the packs).

[LotusHead]

M11

Captivating Vampire
   1bb
Creature - Vampire    Rare
Other Vampire Creatures you control get +1/+1.
Tap 5 untapped Vampires you control: Gain control of target creature. It becomes a Vampire in addition to its other types. (This effect doesn't end at end of turn)

Not the most awesome card ever, but interesting!

[TopSecret]

1UU     Æther Master*

Creature - Human Wizard   
When Æther Master* enters the battlefield, return target creature to its owner's hand.

2/2


Is this core set legal with Bloodbraid Elf? If so, I think we might have a winner.

[Yare]

New Mox art playmat....with picture!

Link

I guess the art in the middle is the new Mox Diamond art.

[chrissss]

I think those moxen need less hands more mox

[DubDub]

1UU     Æther Master*

Creature - Human Wizard   
When Æther Master* enters the battlefield, return target creature to its owner's hand.

2/2


Is this core set legal with Bloodbraid Elf? If so, I think we might have a winner.

M11 and Shards block will both be legal in standard until Scars' release in the fall (September, I assume).  However, if one cascades into Aether Master with Bloodbraid Elf, and chooses to play the Master, Elf will not be in play to be returned to your hand (I assume you're going for more BBE Cascades?).  If you're looking just for tempo plays then yes, Aether Master cascaded into can remove a blocker while leaving a 2/2 behind.

I doubt it would get played in a UGR, it's more likely to slot into UW control (disclaimer, I follow the standard Meta, but I don't play) as a way to bounce one's own Wall of Omens/Sphinx of Lost Truths, or opposing fatties like Thornling, Baneslayer Angel, Broodmate Dragon tokens, anything Polymorphed into (that's targetable by abilities) etc.

[CorwinB]

Aether Master can bounce himself and be replayed to bring Vengevine back, for what it's worth...

[Suicideking]

Seriously what deck is going to play a guy with double Blue in it's cost and bloodbraid in the same deck. Plus playing bloodbraid turn 4 and that guy turn 4 to replay bloodbraid turn 5 is retarded.

[honestabe]

Jace's Ingenuity   

Instant

Draw 3 Cards





Eh, its an instant...

[Yare]

Jace's Ingenuity    

Instant

Draw 3 Cards





Eh, its an instant...

Interesting but I can't see it making the cut. Opportunity and Stroke of Genius have been out there for years and haven't really seen any play of late. Some decks don't even run Fact or Fiction and Thirst for Knowledge right now. Interesting to see instant speed draw, nonetheless.

[Norm4eva]

Buncha really neat new cards.

Preordain U
Sorcery

Scry 2, then draw a card.

This is probably much better than Serum Visions.  Has the capacity to see just as many cards, and obviously changing your deck around before you draw and not after will often yield positive results.  Very nice.

Ajani's Pridemate  1w

Creature - Cat Soldier    Uncommon

Whenever you gain life, you may put a +1/+1 counter on Ajani's Pridemate.
2/2

Well, it's no Kavu Predator.  Still, it's not hard to build a deck full of White guys and spells that gain life/have lifelink.  Knight of Meadowgrain has a new bestie; when they attack together, KoM gains you life and then Pridemate get big before it deals its combat damage.  comboooooooooo

Stabbing Pain  B
Instant

Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn. Tap that creature.

Not because it looks to be amazing(it doesn't), but because I can just imagine some dork getting ready to charge into battle only to get poked by this spell and go "Ow!  You fucker!"

Chandra's Spitfire  2r

Creature - Elemental    Uncommon

Flying
Whenever an opponent is dealt noncombat damage, Chandra's Spitfire gets +3/+0 until end of turn.
1/3

Stop splashing for Wee Dragonauts nao ^^;  I dunno if it's Kiln Fiend 5 - 8, but I know that when I draw Kiln Fiend 1 - 4 good things happen to me.  So maybe.

Ember Hauler  RR

Creature - Goblin    Uncommon
1, Sacrifice Ember Hauler: Ember Hauler deals 2 damage to target creature or player.

2/2

Sure do miss the old combat rules   This guy would have been a great way for little kid decks to get card advantage if we could put damage on and throw him at a bitch.  As it stands though I'll take it; a 2/2 for RR with no drawback and a super good ability for RDW.


Awakener Druid  2g
Creature - Human Druid    Uncommon

When Awakener Druid enters the battlefield, target Forest becomes a 4/5 green Treefolk creature for as long as Awakener Druid is on the battlefield. It's still a land.
1/1

It's a pretty fragile 4/5, but it's another fun little kid card and the price is right.  2G for a 4/5 isn't quite a Goyf but it's still good, right?  Right?


Know what else I really like?  There's a billion Birds of Paradise right now, and yet they're printing another run of them.  That guy is a $3 card at my local store right now.  For most of the time I played Magic he was never less than $10 or $12.  He's a wonderful mana fixer and Enabler of Dumb Things, and now he's cheap as free to all the little boys and girls.  Very yes.

[Diakonov]

Awakener Druid is a reprint.  Although, it's a neat card and I'm glad to see it return.

[Nazdakka]

Preordain is really good. Better than Serum Visions, I think. Chandra's Spitfire is also pretty interesting.


EDIT: What about Chandra's Spitfire + Gelectrode? That's just murderous.

[Delha]

Just a heads up, Preordain and Stabbing Pain have dedicated threads in the General Strategies Forum. Chandra's Spitfire came up briefly in the Kiln Fiend thread of the Creative deckbuilding forum.

[Darkenslight]

MTGSal has the Release event card as Sun Titan

A 6/6 Vigilance for 4WW.  But that's not all.  Whenever it ETB OR ATTACKS, you may return a permanent from your graveyard with CMC 3 or less to the battlefield.  Seems interesting, to say the least.