Rumors/Previews/mtg.com articles 2010 - 2013

[Troy_Costisick]

What do you expect from the second set in a block, guys?  On the whole, they always suck.  There's usually one or two good cards and the rest is just utter filler crap.  Think about it; since Planar Chaos we've had:

Morningtide
Eventide
Conflux
Worldwake
Mirrodin Beseiged

What a run of awful sets!

[Norm4eva]

It isn't so bad.  Phyrexian Revoker seems a cool guy.  Green Sun's Zenith is the best Green tutor, like, evaaaar.  New Tezz does retarded things for monobrown decks.  I dunno.

[Diakonov]

Consider the alternative, too.  They may well have printed something so stupid that even more people would leave the format.  Ie.  A "Phyrexian" Trinisphere could well have been printed that gave poison counters instead of adding to mana costs.

Haha, yes that would have been awful.

I pretty much agree with Troy, except that Jace and Lodestone were in Worldwake, which was enough to make a profound impact on Vintage.

I play a lot of limited, and I'm not exactly disappointed from that perspective, but I'm not too impressed either.  I'm always happy when new cards get added to the limited pool to shake up the strategies that have settled.  That being said, I feel like they haven't done too much that's interesting here.

The green tutor is cool--hopefully it breaks out some green strategies.  Revoker is overrated I think when we already have needle, except for niche sideboard situations.  For Vintage, that's about all there is, really.

EDIT: And Blightsteel, an unexciting mention.  I expect a premium robot replacement in each consecutive set.

[DubDub]

Unless I completely missed discussion happening elsewhere, here's a link to the latest 'From The Vault' series announcement: EDH Generals Commanders Legends.

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/641

15 Legendary Creatures
First time in black borders and/or new frames for some (probably indicates Portal 3 Kingdoms' Legends, who I believe are the only Legends in white border only).
1 Preview card from the fall large set.
Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir confirmed by the accompanying art:



This just adds to the growing support Commander (formerly EDH) is being shown, which I think is very cool.  Hopefully there will also be some Eternal playables, like Gaddock Teeg or Vendilion Clique.

[Phele]

Too bad, that Imperial Recruiter is not a Legend.

[AmbivalentDuck]

If we didn't know that they're all Legendary, I'd suspect Loyal Retainers.

[Darkenslight]

That's a really good Teferi art, reminding you of the Mirage artwork in theme, if not in style.

[DubDub]

A new picture is out showing the Walkers that will be in Magic 2012 (released in June 2011 I think):

Garruk
Chandra
Jace
Gideon
Sorin

It's unclear whether Jace will be 1.0 or 2.0.  If it's 1.0 that's pretty good indication 2.0 will be allowed to rotate in the fall, which should begin to lower 2.0's price.  If it's 2.0 then the vastly increased supply should contribute to lower 2.0 prices, even with renewed Standard-driven demand.

Additionally, I would expect the replacement of Liliana to spur speculation that she'll be getting a new card in the next block, which, as a planeswalker means there's an outside chance she'll be playable in Eternal formats thanks to the acceleration available in Dark Ritual.

[DubDub]

A tweet generated during the PAX East M:TG panel:

"We will be very surprised if the new #commander cards see tournament play, but there are some we have our eyes on." - @pureval

[honestabe]

aw man, Jace 2.0 would be so sweet in M12

[Diakonov]

A tweet generated during the PAX East M:TG panel:

"We will be very surprised if the new #commander cards see tournament play, but there are some we have our eyes on." - @pureval

I was there for this.  It was in response to a panel question about whether or not they did any testing with the new cards for Eternal.  Their response was that they DID NOT, but they assumed that the new cards would be too weak for Vintage or Legacy to warrant worry; the statement above followed.

Also, a couple of our guys from DraftMagic.com interviewed Brian David-Marshall yesterday and tried to get some dirt on the next set.  The only thing he would concede was: the return of SLIVERS.

[Norm4eva]

Also, a couple of our guys from DraftMagic.com interviewed Brian David-Marshall yesterday and tried to get some dirt on the next set.  The only thing he would concede was: the return of SLIVERS.

Ohh, balls.

Most of the new approaches to "tribal" mechanics tend to be sort of Sliver-esque in their execution these days.  Lots of Lords running around and guys bestowing abilities to your team.  So it makes me wonder just how a new version of Slivers will distinguish itself from the current approach to Tribal decks.  Aside from being compelled to splash a billion colors that is, beh :/

[LotusHead]

Richard Garfield is on the design team for the next set. and this pic is hawt!

[Troy_Costisick]

Slivers? Meh.  Gothic Fantasy Horror block with a likely graveyard mechanic?  Sooweeet!

[DubDub]

I wonder if that statement about Slivers is a red herring?  Maybe it's really just the return of CHANGELINGS!

Edit: Also, the Fall 2011 set name has been announced as "Innistrad".  More details here.

That pic above is from the announcement I linked to, and appears to be Liliana Vess.  Should just about guarantee a new PW card for her.

[Diakonov]

Also, a couple of our guys from DraftMagic.com interviewed Brian David-Marshall yesterday and tried to get some dirt on the next set.  The only thing he would concede was: the return of SLIVERS.

Dammit.  Apparently Brian David-Marshall was just joking when he said this.  False alarm everyone...

[Norm4eva]

Also, a couple of our guys from DraftMagic.com interviewed Brian David-Marshall yesterday and tried to get some dirt on the next set.  The only thing he would concede was: the return of SLIVERS.

Dammit.  Apparently Brian David-Marshall was just joking when he said this.  False alarm everyone...

That's really okay, because honestly the way they've been enabling tribes lately, Slivers just are not that big a deal.  All the major tribes dole out relevant abilities now anyway; Goblins get a few Lords and some haste, Soldiers get some Lords and first strike (and apparently more toughness than Indomitable Ancients, because THATS the stat that wins games kids), Vampire Lords give flying and like.. other.. stuff..

Maybe it's not as bad as I thought.  But, Slivers can't even "outgrow" MERFOLK.  For shame, baby xenomorphs, for shaaaame

[DubDub]

If scans of Japanese cards and the translation skills of MTGSalvation posters are to be believed, Karn is getting a colorless planeswalker card (it is not also an 'Artifact').

[Norm4eva]

That Karn is sort of beastly.  Costs fucking 7 though, although he will be tough as shit to kill by way of combat damage.

One of the neat things about sets over the last few years is the creative ways they've gotten into mana fixing.  Hybrid mana is one of my favorites, it's nice to see the card trying to fix its own mana.  Phyrexian mana does this too - if a card is costed at 3P, you can pay for P by either paying 2 life or by checking the reminder text to see which color can be substituted for P, for that particular spell.  It's a very flavorful way of showing off how Phyrexia's influence has crept into every aspect of the various colors of mana, it's a neat way to fix mana, and it offers some interesting decisions particularly in draft - you have a spell in your hand which might cost 3GG to cast... or if you're willing it costs 3 colorless and 4 life.  I think it's splendid.

[The Atog Lord]

We have a card that may be Vintage-playable. Today, Wizards has Previewed Phyrexian Metamorph.

Phyrexian Metamorph
3 (pU)
You have have Phyrexian Metamorph enter the battlefield as a copy of any artifact or creature on the battlefield, except it's an artifact in addition to its other types.
0/0

So, this appears to be a better sculpting steel. It costs two more life for a Workshop deck to cast this, rather than the traditional Sculpting Steel. However, this can copy a creature, in addition to an artifact. So, it can copy a Trygon (making a creature capable of blocking the Trygon). It can copy Goblin Welder, and it can copy (and destroy) that Emrakul the opponent has just Oathed out. I think this is a card that is reasonably likely to replace Sculpting Steel in many decks. And if that mythical Workshop Force deck does become viable, this may be a key reason why.

Now, back to hoping they print a (pU) (pU) (pU) counterspell.

[Troy_Costisick]

And it pitches to Force, so even blue decks can use it.  It is a very nicely designed card.

[beder]

And if that mythical Workshop Force deck does become viable, this may be a key reason why.

That was my first reaction. With this card, perhaps this blue shop deck can be viable, supporting fow without having to put suboptimal blue card in it.
With 4 Master of Etherium, 4 fow, 4 of those and Ancestrall/TimeWalk/Tinker, that's already 15 blue cards. Just a few of them are missing in order to really get a nice blue basis (perhaps the 4 thoughcast can make it).

Anyway, I will surely go back to testing my blue shop deck, that already got improved by Mox Opal and which now could become an interesting new option thanks to this new tool.

[Troy_Costisick]

Is FOW better than In the Eye of Chaos, though?

[Blue Lotus]

Obviously thats a complicated question to answer, but I would say MUCH better.

Though I do love in the eye of chaos

[Smmenen]

I assume everyone knows that the entire spoiler has been leaked.   Someone posted the godfile on a media sharing site, and it has images of every card.   Wizards is pretty pissed.

[Troy_Costisick]

I would imagine.  Know what they are saying behind the scenes, Stephen?

Peace,

-Troy

[mikekilljoy]

Can someone get me a link to this spot where everything is spolied?

[Smmenen]

Can someone get me a link to this spot where everything is spolied?

There was a PDF uploaded to a media sharing site.  It's a "godbook" that has images of every single card in the set in order.

Apparently, that site has been taken down, and MTGsalvation has removed all links to it.   I've read the whole set though, and it's quite interesting.   Wizards isn't happy.  

Rumor has it that [redacted] is somehow involved in this fiasco.

After the Rancored_Elf saga, I think it best not to name names in these rumours.
-Godder

[jtwilkins]

Can someone get me a link to this spot where everything is spolied?

There was a PDF uploaded to a media sharing site.  It's a "godbook" that has images of every single card in the set in order.

Apparently, that site has been taken down, and MTGsalvation has removed all links to it.   I've read the whole set though, and it's quite interesting.   Wizards isn't happy.  

Rumor has it that [redacted] is somehow involved in this fiasco.  

It is a win win for you. It will give you a chance to start your set review way early. Looks like a lot of interesting write to talk about.

[maatn]

Can someone get me a link to this spot where everything is spolied?

If you do a Google search for 'Godbook' and 'New Phyrexia' you'll end up where you need to be.
Extra hint, a blog called mtg realm claims to have put up a complete text-based spoiler.