Bruizar's All Seeing Eye looks at Scars of Mirrodin

[BruiZar]

It's almost time for another set review.

Perhaps the most interesting block in years. Antiquities and Mirrodin block gave us playables that define the Eternal formats (Vintage the most, due to DSC). Scars will give us cards such as new Elspeth (New emblem?), Mox Opal (Expect your wallet to hurt), Glimmerpost (Locus?), Venser Sojourner (We already got Leyline of Anticipation, will Venser be able to use loyalty as an instant?) and Koth (Infect Emblem?)

What else can we expect in the block? Karn planeswalker? A better tinker bot? A reboot of the Antiquities with New Phyrexia? (Gate to Phyrexia, new sort of Phyrexian Negator, Phyrexia legendary land). Perhaps we can finally make use of our contraptions with the assemble mechanic of Steamflogger Boss?

No one knows, but here are the confirmed cards:

Sword of Body and Mind  
Artifact - Equipment
Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and has protection from green and from blue.

Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, you put a 2/2 green Wolf creature token onto the battlefield and that player puts the top ten cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.

Equip  



This card will be good. I think initially it won´t get much love in the eternal formats, because the concensus is that Sword of Fire and Ice is superior to this. If this starts out high, I would only get these once this rotates out of standard and the price will drop. That is the time to get a playset of these.

So what can we do with this.

VINTAGE
I don't think this card will go anywhere in Vintage. It has some synergy with Smokestack and Tangle Wire, but Sword of Fire Ice draws into gas and lock pieces. Milling your opponent is a dangerous thing in Vintage. Remember, we're facing Dredge and Yawgmoth's Will.

LEGACY
It works good against combo in Legacy, where Yawgmoth's Will doesn't exist, though it's probably too slow.
It works with Extirpate. Perhaps a dark times-like deck could make use of this.
It could occasionally deck dredge, though it will probably just enable it (Unless you follow up with T.Crypts).
It blocks goyfs and exalted creatures (Which are mostly green)
It pumps up goyfs
It gives you a blocker, which you can equip so it survives against goyf
It blocks merfolk.dec
Protection from blue means protection from bounce and control spells.
It works well with evasion. (Faerie Stompy)

SPECULATIVE PRINTINGS
Sword of Body and Mind gets better when:
*a card is printed that gives you an additional attack phase for each time you attack. (One that doesn't necessarily untap creatures and doesn't have the 'after the first attack phase' clause. This will allow massive bears to be pumped out and hit for 4 damage per 2 mana + decking really quickly.

*a cheap creature is printed that gains power/toughness equal to the cards put in the graveyard this turn.

*Power creep occurs in blue and green creatures

*Extirpate 5-8 are printed (Not Memoricide or Cranial Extraction)


Congation Clasp  
Artifact   
When Contagion Clasp enters the battlefield, put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.
 ,: Proliferate. (You choose any number of permanents and/or players with counters on them, then give each another counter of a kind already there.)


Newest addition to scars! I think this has potential. This indicates Acrbound 2.0. Sadly, no interactions with Magosi, The Waterveil.

This works very well with:
Arcbound Ravager - Can put +1/+1's
Arcbound Reclaimer - Infinite Regrowths
Arcbound Worker - Grow it for free, when it dies, grow something else for free!
Triskelion - Keep shooting
Grim Poppet - Keep shooting + Extra synergy from the -1/-1 comes into play effect

Tangle Wire - Keep him locked down
Smokestack - Mega Ramp
Upgrade Chalice of the Void
Expand Engineered Explosives
Increase Jitte


Gemstone Mine - Probably not worth it, but while you're at it you can give Gemstone Mine a counter too.
Tendo Icebridge - Tendo Likes an extra counter

One Shot
Goblin Welder
Dark Confidant
Noble Hierarch
Kataki', War's Wage
Vampire Hexmage

One Shot + Activation:
Disable Trygon Predator
Kill Sower of Temptaion
Shrink Goyf

Further Synergizes with:
Karn, Silver Golem - Kill Sol Ring, Mana Vault or Voltaic Key. Extra token kills Time Vault
Gorilla Shaman - Kill Sol Ring, Mana Vault or Voltaic Key
Goblin Welder - Weld in and out for the 'free' darkblast, usable against Oath

Kill random creatures, such as Trinket Mage - Auriok Salvagers.

It also gives your opponent an extra Poison counter.



Other Cards:
Elspeth Tirel (Planeswalker - Elspeth), Mythic, Mirrodin
Kemba, Kha Regent (Legendary Creature – Cat Warrior, Mythic, Mirrodin
Kemba’s Skyguard (Creature – Cat knight), Common, Mirrodin
Loxodon Wayfarer (Creature – Elephant Cleric), Mirrodin
Sunblast Angel (Creature – Angel), Rare, Mirrodin
Vigil for the Lost (Instant, Sorcery or Enchantment), Mirrodin
Argent Sphynx (Creature – Sphynx), Rare, Mirrodin
Venser, the Sojourner (Planeswalker - Venser), Mythic
Carnifex Demon (Creature – Demon), Rare, Phyrexia
Indomitable Archangel (Creature – Angel), Phyrexia
Memoricide (Sorcery), Rare, Phyrexia
Hoard-Smelter Dragon (Creature – Dragon), Rare, Mirrodin
Ezuri, Renegade Leader (Legendary Creature – Elf Rogue, Mythic, Phyrexia
Ezuri’s Archers (Creature – Elf Archer), Phyrexia
Contagion Clasp (Artifact), Uncommon, Phyrexia
Darksteel Axe (Artifact – Equipment), Mirrodin
Etched Champion (Artifact Creature – Wizard), Phyrexia
Mox Opal (Artifact), Mythic, Mirrodin
Platinum Emperion (Artifact Creature – Golem), Phyrexia
Precursor Golem (Artifact Creature – Golem), Mirrodin
Rusted Relic (Artifact Creature – Golem), Mirrodin
Steel Overkite (Artifact Creature – Dragon), Phyrexia
Sword of Body and Mind (Artifact – Equipment), Mirrodin
Wurmcoil Engine (Artifact Creature – Construct), Phyrexia
Glimmerpost (Land -Locus), Mirrodin

[BC]

I am anticipating that Mirrodin 2 will drastically change the face of both Vintage and Legacy.  My main rationale for this is the fact that Mirrodin 1 was so incredibly powerful that 7 years later you can still see dozens of cards from this block bouncing around, some of which are irreplaceable staples.  Very few other blocks can say that (Urza's block may be the only other one).  To me, Vintage has always been defined by artifacts.  Moxes, Lotus, Tinker, Mishra's Workshop, and now Time Vault are all format defining.  So it makes sense that a block dedicated largely to artifacts will have a huge footprint on Vintage.  Mirrodin 1 spawned multiple new deck archetypes, an almost unfathomable feat based on the power of recent blocks.  Look at the evidence, though:

Bomberman: Aether Spellbomb, Auriok Salvagers, Trinket Mage
Affinity: Arcbound Ravager, Artifact Lands, Frogmite, Disciple of the Vault, Cranial Plating, Myr Enforcer, Thoughtcast
Control Slaver: Mindslaver, Thirst for Knowledge, multiple huge robots such as Darksteel Colossus, Pentavus, Platinum Angel, Sundering Titan
Belcher: Chrome Mox, Goblin Charbelcher, Seething Song

Some of these decks are not seen much anymore, but all of them had there time.  Additionally, Mirrodin 1 had all kinds of awesome support cards that upped the power level on lots of Vintage and Legacy deck:

Aether Vial
Echoing Truth
Engineered Explosives
Eternal Witness
Isochron Scepter
Night's Whisper
Serum Powder
Skullclamp

Perhaps the most lasting effect, however, has been on Workshop decks.  Mirrodin 1 gave us Chalice of the Void, Crucible of Worlds, Duplicant, Razormane Masticore, Sculpting Steel, Sword of Fire and Ice, and Trinisphere.  Chalice and Crucible are still very much staples of Workshop Decks and will probably continue to be so.  Trinisphere is the most powerful and only restricted "Workshop card".  I am extremely hopeful that Mirrodin 2 will give us at least a couple more Workshop Staples.  Frankly I think it's unavoidable that they will.  When you print that many artifacts in a set, you're probably going to print a powerful Vintage card by accident.

[DubDub]

When you print that many artifacts in a set, you're probably going to print a powerful Vintage card by accident.

Or deliberately... wait, you mean that card is already out?

[Tha Gunslinga]

Sword of Body and Mind seems awful against Legacy combo, which has both Ill-Gotten Gains and Cabal Ritual.

[BruiZar]

You're right Ben. One thing I'd like to add is the ability to protect your creatures from Jace.

[serracollector]

It would be a fun card to play in a deck with Leyline of the Void and shadow creatures.....

[zeus-online]

I am anticipating that Mirrodin 2 will drastically change the face of both Vintage and Legacy.  My main rationale for this is the fact that Mirrodin 1 was so incredibly powerful that 7 years later you can still see dozens of cards from this block bouncing around, some of which are irreplaceable staples.  Very few other blocks can say that (Urza's block may be the only other one).

Oh, and you don't think onslaught had a similar effect?...Storm, fetches ...That alone is enough to completely change vintage (Perhaps even as much as the "dozens of cards" from mirrodin?).

I don't think Mirrodin 2 is going to have nearly the impact of mirrodin...They are not going to print another thirst, more spheres at this point seems rather redundant...perhaps 3 mana smokey for 1, but i doubt it.
Also, there are way more options today then 7 years ago, So the cards have to be alot stronger to have a similar impact.

[BruiZar]

Updated thread with:

Contagion Clasp

[brianpk80]

I am anticipating that Mirrodin 2 will drastically change the face of both Vintage and Legacy.  My main rationale for this is the fact that Mirrodin 1 was so incredibly powerful that 7 years later you can still see dozens of cards from this block bouncing around, some of which are irreplaceable staples.  Very few other blocks can say that (Urza's block may be the only other one).

Oh, and you don't think onslaught had a similar effect?...Storm, fetches ...That alone is enough to completely change vintage (Perhaps even as much as the "dozens of cards" from mirrodin?).

I don't think Mirrodin 2 is going to have nearly the impact of mirrodin...They are not going to print another thirst, more spheres at this point seems rather redundant...perhaps 3 mana smokey for 1, but i doubt it.
Also, there are way more options today then 7 years ago, So the cards have to be alot stronger to have a similar impact.

I don't think the OP said anything to discredit the effect of Onslaught block on Vintage.  Since Onslaught, every block has done a good job of injecting a small but respectable amount of playable cards into Vintage.  Even the maligned Kamigawa block gave us Gifts, Sensei's Divining Top, Umezawa's Jitte, Kataki, Erayo, Forbidden Orchard.  Orchard created modern Oath and who could forget Gifts.dec.  Ravnica gave Dark Confidant, Trygon Predator, Tidespout Tyrant, Leyline of the Void, and the entire dredge deck, which was taken over the top by Time Spiral block that yielded Narcomoeba, Dread Return, and Bridge from Below.  Magus of the Moon, Extirpate, Greater Gargodon and Tarmogoyf also come from TSB.  Dredge was the last major development that spawned a whole archetype.  But the sets following it have been strong on average, and Lorwyn block has a huge raw number of Vintage playable cards, beginning with Thoughtseize, Painters Servant, Bitterblossom, etc.  Shards block brought the first Vintage planeswalker, and the Exalted mechanic for Noble Fish.  Zendikar has a lot of raw power but aside from enemy fetches, JaceTMS and big Emrakul, it hasn't altered the game much and certainly even with those, it hasn't changed the game in a major way. 

Mirrodin had more impact than any of the above blocks but nowhere near Urza's block.  It would be reasonable to speculate that Scars of Mirrodin may have a more pronounced effect than any of the above sets, although less than Mirrodin itself.     

[zeus-online]

Either i didn't say it clearly enough, or you misunderstood me.

Either way, my point was that i think onslaught block has had a much larger impact then any block following it. Urza's is still ahead of onslaught in that regard.

I also happen to think that urza's block is the best block they've ever made. Aside from a few insane cards the modern sets are about as strong as urza's was.

[Troy_Costisick]

Mirrodin had more impact than any of the above blocks but nowhere near Urza's block.  It would be reasonable to speculate that Scars of Mirrodin may have a more pronounced effect than any of the above sets, although less than Mirrodin itself. 

I don't know.  It'll be tough to match Zendikar.  5 Enemy Fetches, Bloodghast, Hexmage, SadSac, Expedition Map, Spell Pierce, Gatekeeper, Mindbreak Trap, Ravenous Trap, Sphinx of Lost Truths, and Iona for a total of 15.  If Scars of Mirrodin has that many playables I don't know what I'll do.  Go broke I guess. 

Peace,

-Troy

[BC]

This is Vroman's list of most influential sets in Vintage (made a while ago, so not including most recent sets):

BEGIN QUOTE:
I went through every set and gave every card a pretty subjective 0-5 rating.
0 = has never and will never be played in vintage
1 = was played that one time in that niche deck. probably only worth mentioning for completeness sake
2 = played every once in a while, or part of a deck w outlier card sets
3 = generally useful card that may show up in multiple decks
4 = staple build around card
5 = format defining
I rated every set w unique cards in it

144 Alpha
51 Urzas Saga
47 Onslaught
36 Tempest
36 Urzas Legacy
35 Ice Age
34 Zendikar (theoretical)
33 Odyssey
33 Future Sight
28 Judgment
28 Mirrodin
26 Lorwyn
25 Alliances
25 Weatherlight
25 Ravnica
24 Antiquities
24 Time Spiral
23 Mercadian Masks
22 Scourge
22 Darksteel
21 Visions
21 Champions
20 Shards Alara
19 Fifth Dawn
18 Mirage
18 Urzas Destiny
17 Legends
17 Torment
16 Exodus
15 Arabian Nights
15 Nemesis
14 Planeshift
14 Shadowmoor
12 Apocalypse
12 Guildpact
12 Morningtide
11 Stronghold
11 Dissension
11 Coldsnap
10 Planar Chaos
10 Conflux
9 Dark
9 Portal Three
9 Invasion
7 Betrayors
7 Alara Reborn
6 Saviors
5 Portal Two
5 Harper Prism
4 Beta
4 Homelands
4 Legions
4 Eventide
3 Starter 99
3 Portal
3 Magic 2010
2 Fallen Empires
1 Prophecy
END QUOTE

Based on this list, the most powerful blocks (up to ZEN) are:

1. Urza's - 105
2. Odyssey - 78
3. Onslaught - 73
4. Early Sets (Arabian Nights, Antiquities, Legends, Dark, Empires, Homelands) - 71
5. Ice Age - 71
6. Mirrodin - 69
7. Time Spiral - 68
8. Mirage - 64
9. Tempest - 63
10. Ravnica - 48
11. Masques - 39
12. Lorwyn - 38
13. Alara - 37
14. Invasion - 35
15. Kamigawa - 34
16. Portal - 20
17. Shadowmoor - 18

[brianpk80]

Mirrodin had more impact than any of the above blocks but nowhere near Urza's block.  It would be reasonable to speculate that Scars of Mirrodin may have a more pronounced effect than any of the above sets, although less than Mirrodin itself.  

I don't know.  It'll be tough to match Zendikar.  5 Enemy Fetches, Bloodghast, Hexmage, SadSac, Expedition Map, Spell Pierce, Gatekeeper, Mindbreak Trap, Ravenous Trap, Sphinx of Lost Truths, and Iona for a total of 15.  If Scars of Mirrodin has that many playables I don't know what I'll do.  Go broke I guess.  

Peace,

-Troy

Aye, that is a good point.  Zendikar is pretty powerful.  I was probably thinking in terms of whether it created new archetype or just fit snugly and predictably into existing ones, and it wouldn't be fair of me to think something like Noble Fish is '"more" drastically different from preexisting Fish than Jace-Drain is different from preexistnig Drain.  

As for the list, I like Vroman's work but the way it's presented here doesn't differentiate something like a Werebear from a Dark Confidant.  Plus, FWIW, Lorwyn and Shadowmoor are for all practical purposes one block that had 2 large sets and 2 smaller sets.  I didn't realize Eventide itself was so bad!  Yikes.  It's been a while since I saw a spoiler and thought, "ugh."  I think the last time that happened was Guildpact.  I don't remember feeling that way w. Eventide.  Worth looking into.  

[nineisnoone]

Contagion Clasp looks really good for Shops.  Point removal + synergy is pretty good.  I can't really think of anything else that uses counters though.

Too bad body and mind puts opponent's cards into the graveyard.  If it dumped your own cards, I could see it over taking Fire and Ice.  Not even being optional, it's pretty much unplayable for Vintage.  Unless you SB it, but that's a pretty narrow board card.

[BruiZar]

I took this picture at the Pro Tour. Tomorrow there will be more spoils, so I will try to take as many pictures as I can!

[BruiZar]

Memnite 0 mana 1/1 artifact

[BruiZar]

New ability metalcraft

[BruiZar]

Venser spoiled

+2 exile target permanent you own. Return it to the battlefield under your control. Aat the beginning of the next endstep

-1 creatures are unblockable this turn

-8 emblem with whenever you cast a spell exile target permanent

[BruiZar]

Steel hellkite 6
artifact creature dragon
flying
5/5

2: steel hellkite gets +1+0 until end of turn
x: destroy each nonland permanent with converted mana cost x whose controller was dealth damage by steel hellkite this turn. Activate ability only once each turn.

[BruiZar]

Thrummingbird 1u
creature bird horror
whenever thrummingbird deals combat damage to a player, proliferate.
Flying 1/1

[BruiZar]

Ezuri's brigade 2gg
creature elf warrior
4/4
metalcraft
as long As you control three or more artifacts ezuri's brigade gets +4/+4 and has trample.
Rare

[BruiZar]

Clone shell 5
artifact creature shapeshifter
imprint- when clone shell enters the battlefield, look at the top four cards of your library, exile one, then put the rest back in any order.
When cloneshell is put into the graveyard from the battlefield, turn the exiled card face up. If it's a creature card, put it onto the battlefield under your control.
2/2

[CHaPuZaS]

Thank You! Memnite is cool!

[BruiZar]

Ichor rats 1bb
2/1
infect
whenever ichor rAts enters the battlefield, each player gets a poison counter.

[BruiZar]

Thank You! Memnite is cool!

pleasure is mine. Am at the scars party on the pro tour reporting with my iPhone. Will sync pictures tonight. Getting either a Mirrodin or phyrexia promo in abou 2 minutes. They really did it well

[BruiZar]

Lol this is cool. they had a scavenger hunt and personality test. Had to choose sides between mirrodin and phyrexia. So I turn in mu sheet at the mirrodin booth and the guy gives me a tahirt and a mirrodin button. The guy drops a second button so I say I'm honest and hand him the extra mirrodin button . Good guy that he is gives me the second one and I say. See honesty pays.

I go to the phyrexia booth and tell the guys Ima traitor and want to convert to the phyrexia side. Guy says welcome home and je exchanges my extra mirrodin button for a phyrexian one . Now I got both buttons going into a phyrexia vs mirrodin game in a couple of minutes. Damn I feel evil.

[BC]

Sounds like you ended up where you belong.

[zeus-online]

.

[BruiZar]

3uw

3 loyalty

[BruiZar]

So they were giving every one a random promo of the spoiled cards . I got an iron myr . Sux to be me! I'm gonna ask if this means censer will be given away too. If so they should hit eBay soon.