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Well, today is the last day. We’ll be covering all the Green cards and everything else. It’s going to be a long one, so buckle in everyone! Let’s not waste time and dive right in. Before we start, let me go over my grading scale once more.
My set review is strictly limited to Standard. Keep that in mind while reading. I’m not rating for Draft, Sealed, or any Eternal format. Okay, now that that’s out of the way, let’s look at my grading scale.
Each card will be listed by color, then alphabetically by name.
Each card will be given a rating of 1-5.
0 — Will never see play in Standard (Rating not used for Standard)
1 — Unlikely to see play (Hedron Alignment)
2 — Could see fringe play, or occasional SB card (Negate)
3 — Commonly played. Staple in a single deck, or frequent play in several decks. (Tireless Tracker)
4 — Format Staple, sees play in multiple decks, one of the best cards in the format. (Aether Hub)
5 — Format warping. Every deck plays this, or is built with this card in mind. (Gideon, Ally of Zendikar)
Green
Aether Herder — 1
Much better ways to get energy, especially in Green. I don't even want this card in my G/R energy Pummeler deck. Most likely just a good Limited card.
Aetherstream Leopard — 2
This one has more potential than Aether Herder to see play in the G/R energy deck. It won't grow larger than a 4/3 without other pump spells. If you could continuously pump energy into it, it would easily be a three, just for that deck.
Aetherwind Basker — 2
Again, we have better ways to get energy in Green and better ways to end the game if we swarm the battlefield. Decimator of the Provinces comes to mind. This is basically the Green Aethersquall Ancient. Feel like Aetherworks Marvel decks could abuse this the most but they can also just Marvel into better things.
Aid from the Cowl — 2
Too much mana, then you need to trigger revolt, and then it still only triggers at your end step. No thank you. 5 mana needs to do more in Constructed and have more of an impact.
Druid of the Cowl — 2.5
This mana creature isn't as good as Servant of the Conduit in energy decks or decks that have three or more colors but it can be better in two or three color decks since it dodges our new Red burn spell, Shock. This should see some amount of play while in Standard.
Greenbelt Rampager — 3
Never a turn one 3/4 but can be a turn two 3/4 and almost always a turn three 3/4. That's powerful, especially since Smuggler's Copter is out of the format now. This thing doesn't have to worry about vehicles flying over it and it holds the ground very well. Seems great in R/G energy decks.
Greenwheel Liberator — 3
Another great creature for that Pummeler deck, maybe all these cards could help push it into tier one category? I hope so, need a good creature deck that can punish Aetherworks Marvel.
Heroic Intervention — 2
Fantastic sideboard card for any creature deck and even fine in the sideboards of Aetherworks Marvel decks. This will see play in Sideboards for sure.
Hidden Herbalists — 2
A little below Burning-Tree Emissary, free spells are powerful and this cards power limit is as strong as how easily you can trigger Revolt. Not that reliable on turn two I imagine.
Highspire Infusion — 2
I hate to keep going to the G/R Energy deck but G/R this seems great for that deck. It's a way to grow your creatures and gain energy to pump your other creatures. Just depends if you want to trample more or have more energy laying around.
Lifecraft Awakening — 2
Very interesting. This could be a good way to kill someone with a Clue token. It's especially nice since you can still sacrifice your clue token if it's tapped so you don't have to worry about losing too much card advantage.
Lifecraft Cavalry — 1
Verdurous Gearhulk says hello. If Gearhulk isn't seeing much play, then I have no hope for this card.
Lifecrafter's Gift — 2.5
Could be solid in a G/W token shell with Gideon, Ally of Zendikar, Nissa, Voice of Zendikar, Oath of Ajani, and Sram's Expertise. Wouldn't run more than one or two but this is where I could see this card seeing play.
Maulfist Revolutionary — 2.5
Great in a Planeswalker or token deck. Better if you're doing both. This creature would be a lot better if it did this to multiple permanents but since it's only a single target I'm not sure you want to run it. If you do, it will only be a couple.
Monstrous Onslaught — 2
Could see this as a Sideboard card in Green creature decks to battle against other creature decks or Ishkanah, Grafwidow. Though even against Ishkanah you need eleven power to fully kill her and all her spiders. So, you'll most likely just be killing her baby tokens.
Narnam Renegade — 2
Typhoid Rats with upside, in some Standard formats a Typhoid Rats would be fine but that's usually for control decks. Could be the Gnarlwood Dryad for decks that can't achieve Delirium easily but can trigger Revolt.
Natural Obsolescence — 2
Bottoms pesky artifacts like Scrapheap Scrounger. This will see play in many a Sideboard.
Peema Aether-Seer — 1.5
So, on her own you get three energy at least, still not good enough. 4 mana for a 3/2 isn't where you want to be, energy or no energy.
Prey Upon — 2
Prey Upon has seen play in sideboards from time to time. I don't expect it to be any different this time around.
Ridgescale Tusker — 2
Maybe some fringe play but Oath of Ajani, Nissa, Vital Force, and Nissa, Voice of Zendikar do all this thing does but better. Giving it a two because I can see it being in some sort of creature combo deck with Rishkar, Peema Renegade. Even then, is it better to play those two cards or Cryptolith Rite?
Rishkar, Peema Renegade — 4
Kind of like a mini Cryptolith Rite but on a body, that also pumps your other creatures. This card is great, especially if you want extra mana sometimes but not at the expense of losing a creature. This card will see play in aggressive creature decks, midrange decks, and creature ramp decks alike.
Rishkar's Expertise — 3.5
I personally believe the Blue Expertise is the strongest one, but Rishkar's Expertise offers the most power and can end the game very quickly since it can draw you a bunch of cards and then allow you to play a 5-drop. The 5-drop you can even cast after drawing your cards. Works fantastically well with Gideon, Ally of Zendikar, Verdurous Gearhulk, and Nissa, Vital Force, on both the front and back end of the spell. I'm looking forward to playing this card in some sort of U/G ramp deck to cast Rishkar's Expertise into Baral's Expertise or just something as simple as a Hedron Archive. I'm not too picky if I'm playing 10 mana worth of cards or more in one turn.
Scrounging Bandar — 2
Could see fringe play in a deck that can multiply its counters but otherwise this card isn't very powerful. Best play I can think of is to put two counters on your Electrostatic Pummeler to make its pump ability better.
Silkweaver Elite — 1.5
Obviously fantastic in Limited and could see some fringe play in Constructed, it's just the Green cards are all already so powerful. I don't see this being played over Tireless Tracker. Revolt or no Revolt.
Unbridled Growth — 2
Fixes mana, triggers Revolt, and fuels Delirium, that's a lot for a single mana. If Green Revolt decks start popping up, I'd imagine this card would be in those decks for all the for mentioned reasons.
Top 5 Green cards:
- Rishkar, Peema Renegade
- Rishkar's Expertise
- Druid of the Cowl
- Maulfist Revolutionary
- Lifecrafter's Gift
It seems that the legendary creatures and their expertise all make it to the top for every color and I’m sure wizards intended that. They are all very powerful and can change the swing of a game quickly. These Expertise are basically a fixed cascade. Cascade is still cascade and we all know free spells are powerful. Green’s top five got an average 3 rating which means the top five cards of ever color were even outside of Black that had a higher rating and that’s mostly due to Fatal Push. Seems great to me!
Now that Green is out of the way, let’s look at the multicolored cards.
Multicolor
Ajani Unyielding — 3
Ajani is super swole and he's ready to be in your G/W deck. The biggest thing holding this kitty back, like all other Planeswalkers, is Gideon, Ally of Zendikar. Ajani can't protect himself that well against Gideon but can fill your hand with cards and then start removing your opponent’s pesky creatures. I honestly think his value went down a little since Emrakul, the Promised End is now banned, especially since he's a great way to deal with her since he removes her from the game entirely. Why couldn't they just have banned Gideon too?
Dark Intimations — 2.5
This card generates a ton of value and can see play as is if a control deck pops up. However, once Nicol Bolas comes out it could easily be a 3-4 depending on the strength and power level of Bolas himself and the other Grixis cards. I don't know about you but I'm pumped for this spell and Nicol Bolas!
Hidden Stockpile — 2
Triggers Revolt itself so you just need one creature to get it going. If you have multiples you can really start doing things by making a bunch of 1/1 Servos since they stack. I could see this in a Revolt or Aristocrats deck.
Maverick Thopterist — 1.5
I've seen the power of Pia and Kiran Nalaar and this is not that. It’s still three bodies for two to 5 mana, so could see some fringe play in an Improvise deck since it also creates more creatures to Improvise off.
Oath of Ajani — 3
A great anthem for your creatures, fuels delirium, and it reduces the cost of all your Planeswalkers by one. turn three Gideon, Ally of Zendikar? Where can I sign up?
Outland Boar — 2
4 mana for a 4/4 with a minor ability. I'm not really impressed but it could see sideboard play of a R/G aggro deck to bash through a White weenie deck? Even then those decks play Gideon or Always Watching.
Renegade Rallier — 2.5
This is a very powerful effect. If you reanimate a 2-drop you essentially only payed 1 mana for this. You can regrow Evolving Wilds, Cryptolith Rites, Thalia's Lieutenant. Seems great in W/G human shell, at least in the board. The reason this gets a 2.5 instead of a 3 is because you still must trigger Revolt to make it work.
Renegade Wheelsmith — 2.5
Powerful effect in an aggressive shell. It's also not the worst thing against Ishkanah or Gideon, that is assuming it's on curve or by turn four.
Rogue Refiner — 3
Elvish Visionary is back! Kind of . . . For another Blue mana, you get a 3/2 and two energy. Still very good value for the investment. Seems sweet in a Temur Aetherworks Marvel deck.
Spire Patrol — 3
Could see play in Panharmonicon to lock down creatures, especially since we've lost Reflector Mage.
Tezzeret the Schemer — 3
Ramping in a U/B deck is extremely powerful. Especially since those Lotus Petals can also help cast your Improvise spells or cheapen your Metallic Rebuke. He even goes straight to six loyalty which is a ton for a four-mana walker. All that and he can protect himself with his minus ability? Where can I sign up?
Tezzeret's Touch — 2.5
This could see some fringe play in a U/B fringe Improvise deck. Making your clues 5/5s could be a real thing. Especially since you can still crack the clue to draw a card and rebuy Tezzeret's Touch.
Weldfast Engineer — 3
Plays well with Scrapheap Scrounger and Bomat Courier. Not as powerful since Smuggler's Copter is gone but still great in a B/R aggro shell if you're playing enough artifacts.
Winding Constrictor — 2
2 mana for a 2/3 is fine but this ability is amazing with +1/+1 counters and energy counters. If only it worked with your Planeswalkers as well. Guess we'll have to stick to Thrummingbird for that one.
Top 5 Multicolor Cards:
The top five multicolored cards also averaged a 3 rating but overall, they will not see as much play as the other cards because they are multicolored. Oath of Ajani is a great mini anthem while the other cards are great in their respective decks that require you to build around them. If you do however, they are very rewarding.
Last buy certainly not least, let’s get into the artifacts of Aether Revolt.
Artifacts
Aegis Automaton — 1.5
Don't expect this to see play, especially since aggressive decks have a bunch of 3/x creatures. If that changes, might see play in the sideboard of Panharmonicon decks for the super long game. Even then, that's a bit of a stretch.
Aethersphere Harvester — 3
Very easy to crew, generates energy, AND has lifelink? Sign me up. This card would've honestly been better too if Smuggler's Copter wasn't banned. I really like this card in a Blue midrange deck with Trophy Mage since the mage gets it for you and crews it. Also, worth noting it blocks "New Smuggler's Copter", Heart of Kiran.
Augmenting Automaton — 2
This could honestly see play in a hyper aggressive deck with Inventor's Apprentice, especially since they lost Smuggler's Copter. Not the best creature ever and you would play the max number of Bomat Couriers first, but it still has a small chance of seeing play in those types of decks.
Barricade Breaker — 2
That's a big creature. If you can find a way to reduce the cost by 4 or 5 it would be worth it. The best way I can think of is with Thraben Inspectors, cheap vehicles, and Sram's Expertise. Also, worth noting these types of cards get better with Reflector Mage out of the format.
Cogwork Assembler — 2
It's a nice tutor target for Trophy Mage. Maybe has an alternate win condition in Panharmonicon decks that you can tutor up with Trophy Mage? Cloning things like Cloudblazer would be great!
Consulate Dreadnought — 2.5
People will try to play this with Aerial Modification and Siege Modification to kill your opponent out of nowhere. In that regard it is a hyper aggressive deck that is like Ensoul Artifact. I expect this deck to do well out of nowhere but quickly fall off once people are prepared for it.
Consulate Turret — 2
Better ways to get energy but it is nice in a U/R Dynavolt Tower deck. It's slower but also cheaper to activate then Dynavolt Tower. Could be Dynavolt Tower 5-6.
Crackdown Construct — 2
Combo kills with Wandering Fumarole since you can make it infinitely large by continuously switching the Fumarole’s power and toughness. This card by itself isn't great but Wandering Fumarole is. You could easily slide one or two of these into your Saheeli Rai deck and have an alternate combo/win condition.
Daredevil Dragster — 1.5
Not a great vehicle, I'm not even sure if I'd want my three-mana investment to be lost and turn into a Divination. I feel like Aethersphere Harvester and Heart of Kiran will be the go to vehicles.
Filigree Crawler — 1
Too much mana and too slow. People are casting Mindwrack Demon, Aetherworks Marvel, and Gideon, Ally of Zendikar on turn four. You don't want to be casting this card on your turn four.
Foundry Assembler — 1
I like Improvise as a mechanic but you can find much better ones then this guy, especially in Red and Blue where I imagine if that mechanic sees play, it will be in those colors.
Gonti's Aether Heart — 2.5
This card is underrated. I know my Time Warps well, I love them all. If you can generate enough energy this card is worth it as a singleton in your deck. I wouldn't go overboard with it but an instants speed Time Warp is very powerful. It essentially lets you set up multiple turns if you pop this thing at the end of your opponent's turn. So, imagine this, you exile Gonti's Aether Heart at the end of your opponent's turn. On your first turn you cast a Planeswalker or two. THEN you take your normal turn after that, you now have Planeswalkers in play. You know what happens if you have something like Part the Waterveil? You'll bury your opponent in card advantage and Planeswalkers abilities if not outright kill them. You can go from having nothing to winning the game with this card if you set it up right and build your deck accordingly. Fantastic and powerful card. I love it.
Heart of Kiran — 3.5
New "Smuggler's Copter" but not nearly as powerful. For one it's legendary and two it's Crew 3. That's 300% more than Smuggler's Copter was. People are going to jam this hoping to replace Copter and are going to be sorely disappointed, especially since it works much better in control decks with Planeswalkers. Thankfully now you can't be Mindslavered and have all your Planeswalkers die by crewing this thing over and over. I expect this to see a lot of play but it won't replace Copter.
Hope of Ghirapur — 2.5
Fantastic in Eternal formats (Trinket Mage target in Painter's Servant?) but as far as Standard? I can only see it being played main deck in the Saheeli Rai deck so they can combo kill you without you interacting. Even then it's probably more of a sideboard. It is important to note that it can counter Gearhulks ETB ability if needed. However, this card is very bad against Ishkanah. Again, I think it's more of a sideboard card but could possibly see main deck play depending on the meta.
Implement of Combustion, Implement of Examination, Implement of Ferocity, Implement of Improvement, Implement of Malice — 2.5
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This cycle is very sweet. I really like all of them since they all cantrip. They all could see some amount of play, even though Blue one. Usually you'd play something like Glimmer of Genius over it since it costs a total of 4 mana but if you're playing Trophy Mage you might want one as a tutor target. It's important to note that they all fuel delirium and trigger Revolt very easily and cheaply. I like the Green and Black one the most since they will usually have the most impact. If you can recur them somehow (maybe Renegade Rallier) they become even more valuable. Nice common cycle, especially in Limited.
Inspiring Statuary — 2.5
This card screams combo. A lot of these artifacts in Aether Revolt have huge combo potential. This is Cryptolith Rite but for Improvise. You can even tap it the turn it comes into play to improvise something. It turns all your Clue tokens into Mind Stones! This card seems good for Standard but I'm sure older formats can break it even more.
Irontread Crusher — 1
We have access to better vehicles in Standard. However, it could crush the block bin!
Lifecrafter's Bestiary — 3
Another combo card. This is very reminiscent of Cloudstone Curio. In fact, with Cryptolith Rite, Duskwatch Recruiter, and Paradox Engine you can draw your whole deck and cast whatever you wanted. Duskwatch will continuously find you cheap creature spells to untap everything and the Paradox Engine will act like an Early Harvest with Cryptolith Rite. You can eventually generate a bunch of mana and draw your non-creature spells with Lifecrafter's Bestiary. Very powerful card, the fact that it's not legendary and Scrys for you every upkeep is just gravy. This could very well see play in Modern in Elves.
Merchant's Dockhand — 2.5
This is another powerful ability that could see play in the Metalwork Colossus deck or maybe the Aetherflux Reservoir deck. Very vulnerable but also very rewarding if left unchecked.
Metallic Mimic — 4
Dwarves? Humans? Thopters? Servos? They all are relevant creature types in Standard. This is a two-mana lord for any of those decks and it will see play in Standard.
Mobile Garrison — 2
Can crew for free but again, we have better vehicles in Standard. Could untap an important artifact or creature but you'd rather have another one of those instead of this thing untapping them. For example, you'd rather play multiple Aetherworks Marvels then try and untap it with this thing.
Night Marker Guard — 1.5
Funny, but no thank you. Maybe if you could make it indestructible or something but even then, that's just too much work.
Ornithopter — 2
Great for Improvise, bad at crewing, another 0 drop for Aetherflux Reservoir if they want it. If I see an Ornithopter in Standard I'm going to assume my opponent is playing a budget aggro deck of some sort or they're trying to combo kill me with something. Probably combo . . .
Pacification Array — 2
An Icy Manipulator for only creatures and artifacts but only costs 1 mana to cast. This could honestly see some amount of play in sideboards or even main decks. If you have one of these in play you can force your opponent to play more creatures to pressure you and then you can clear the board with a Yahenni's Expertise, Fumigate, or Descend Upon the Sinful. This card has applications somewhere.
Paradox Engine — 2.5
Again, this is a combo piece for Cryptolith Rite. Can easily be a three if that deck is good in the new meta. If you ever see your opponent cast this thing you better kill them quick or you’re probably going to die. This thing is 100% used for combos.
Peacewalker Colossus — 3
This thing goes right into the Consulate Dreadnought deck. 2 mana to make my 7/11 vehicle a creature? Where can I sign up? Even in multiples this thing can turn on a different Peacewalker Colossus. Maybe a R/W big vehicle deck with this card, big vehicles, and Lupine Prototype.
Planar Bridge — 2
I really love this card but 8 mana activation is a lot. I wish it was eight to cast and six to activate. This could see play in some big mana deck but you can't really run more than one or two. Marvel cheats things into play much easier and you get the cast trigger. Who knows, maybe new Nicol Bolas can make this thing worth it. I'll try to brew around this bad boy.
Prizefighter Construct — 1
No. No. No. NOAP!
Renegade Map — 2.5
Fuels Delirium, Revolt, and insures you hit your land drops. This card could easily see play if you're looking for any of those.
Reservoir Walker — 1.5
A little too much mana for my liking in Standard.
Scrap Trawler — 3
No graveyard hate means you can do some silly things with this card. Again, could be another combo piece and it's tutorable with Trophy Mage. Getting back any of the Implements would make me happy, what's great is that it works on all artifacts and isn't legendary. It's also aggressive. This could see play in a B/R aggro deck or at least in the sideboard of those decks for attrition matchups.
Servo Schematic — 2
You need a reliable way to sacrifice it to get value out of it otherwise, you're not doing much. The payoff doesn't seem good enough for the work you must put in.
Treasure Keeper — 3
A reverse cascade. An insane value creature that's colorless. Now that Smuggler's Copter is gone this thing can do some damage. I mean what better card can you emerge from?
Universal Solvent — 2
That's a lot of mana. I liked Brittle Effigy but that was with Trinket Mage and it cost a lot less to activate. Scour from Existence sees no play but this is an artifact that you can recur. Could see some fringe or even sideboard play in some sort of big mana deck.
Untethered Express — 2
This is an option in sideboards against control decks. It will keep Gideon in check because of Trample and over time it will just be massive. It does compete with Fleetwheel Cruiser and that is the main problem. Depending what you value more. Haste or a growing threat that's easier to crew? Yea, I take the Fleetwheel Cruiser too.
Verdant Automaton — 1.5
We have better mana sinks than this guy and he doesn't even have evasion.
Walking Ballista — 4
It's like Hangarback Walker and Triskelion had a child. This could be what you sink your mana into with the Cryptolith Rite and Paradox Engine deck. You don't even need to combo to continuously sink mana into it, you just need to have Cryptolith Rite out. This card has potential in that deck.
Watchful Automaton — 1.5
Again, we have better ways to sing our mana, like Walking Ballista.
Welder Automaton — 1
Walking Ballista is this card but almost strictly better. Only downside is that for 2 mana this is a 2/1 where Ballista is a 1/1. Just give me the Walking Ballista!
Top 5 Artifacts:
- Metallic Mimic
- Heart of Kiran
- Walking Ballista
- Treasure Keeper
- Aethersphere Harvester
Honestly a lot of these artifacts were all very close in power level. I imagine one or two will jump my 2.5 rating because they become part of a combo deck that becomes tier one or at the very least very close. So many artifacts ask you to build around them and if you do, you’ll be heavily rewarded. I don’t think all these combos will be good but I’m certain at least one will be and that will be that one that goes up in rating. Only time and results will tell!
I almost forgot the last card, Spire of Industry! This card will see a decent amount of play in Standard. I give it a solid 3. It won’t be as good as Aether Hub but you’ll see a couple pop up here and there. The aggressive decks can easily play four of them since they are trying to end the game quickly. So, something like B/R aggro (with or without Eldrazi) can very easily just jam four copies of these since that deck plays so many artifacts already. I would’ve given this card a 3.5 but I imagine the loss of Smuggler's Copter is going to hurt it a little bit.
Wow . . . That was a lot of cards! If you followed the entire series from start to finish I would like to think you very much for doing so. I’m open to any positive criticism you may have, so feel free to leave your thoughts, concerns, or even praise at the end.
I’m excited to start brewing with Aether Revolt and I hope you are too!
Until next time,
Ali Aintrazi
@AliEldrazi on Twitter
Take a look at the other entries in the Set Review!
