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Check out the other entries in the Set Review:
It's humpday and we're back with the Black set review for Magic 2019. What better way to celebrate this fine day? After today, we'll only have two more days of set review. Let's go ahead and get started so you can enjoy your prerelease this weekend, but first . . .
Let's review my rating system.
I will not be going over cards that I believe will not see play in Standard. For example, cards like Bogstomper and Gideon's Reproach will be omitted since they are just Limited cards and saying, "This is just a Limited card" repeatedly gets old rather fast. Don't worry, though. I will be covering all the rare and mythic cards in the set. So, if you like a certain rare or mythic, it will be mentioned in the review.
Keep in mind I'm rating all these cards for Standard playability. I will mention Modern applications if I believe the card has some.
Each card will be listed by color, then alphabetically by name.
Each card will given a rating of 1-5. If a card would receive a 0, meaning it will see no play in that format ever, it's rating is left off the list.
RATING -- Explanation -- Standard Examples
0 -- Will never see play in this format (0 ratings are not listed).
1 -- Unlikely to see play. (Dubious Challenge)
2 -- Could see fringe play, or occasional sideboard card. (Authority of the Consuls)
3 -- Commonly played, staple in a single deck, or frequent play in several decks. (Harnessed Lightning, Cast Down)
4 -- Format staples. Sees play in multiple decks, one of the best cards in the format. (Heart of Kiran, Abrade, Seal Away)
5 -- Format warping. If you're in these colors, you play that card. (Goblin Chainwhirler, Teferi, Hero of Dominaria)
Unfurl the curtains.
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3.5 -- At first I thought this said exile seven other creatures! Thankfully, it's just any seven cards which makes this card a lot better than I initially thought! We will see this card in   Midrange decks alongside some sort of God-Pharaoh's Gift Mono-Black deck with Stitcher's Supplier. The fact that you can animate this creature at instant speed just pushes it over the top. The only way to get rid of this dragon for good is to exile it. |
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2.5 -- I don't think this is better than Lord of the Accursed, especially since it dies to Shock and Magma Spray. I would personally play four Lord of the Accursed before playing any Barons in my zombie deck, especially if we are splashing another color. |
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3 -- Abyssal Persecutor and Desecration Demon both saw play, and I expect Demon of Catastrophes to see play as well. You'll need to build around it of course. Sacrificing something like Scrapheap Scrounger, Miasmic Mummy, or any other creature that does something when it comes into play or dies. The reward is solid, a 6/6 flier with trample is great on offense and defense. |
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3 -- The one is a powerful addition to zombies. It might just be what zombies needed to emerge back into the spotlight. |
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2 -- I guess was just too strong. This is basically a fixed Pox reprint. Not getting lands makes this card nearly unplayable. I don't understand how you cast this and then not die to your opponent's creature(s) the following turn. Not a fan of Bolas losing his power. |
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3.5 -- This card is great! It's good on turn two as a better and then good late game too since it can make an army of zombies for you. I'm a big fan of this one and I expect it to see play if zombies is a thing, even if not, it's still a solid creature to have in a Black midrange deck. |
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2 -- This one is for older formats but it's also decent in the Sideboard. Hitting Scrapheap Scrounger, Heart of Kiran, and Aethersphere Harvester is very solid, especially since it exiles. |
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3 -- The counter here is just a reminder, even if you were to remove the counter somehow or play Isareth alongside Solemnity, the creature would still get exiled if it died. Israeth is an excellent creature just like Graveyard Marshal. It's solid early and great late game, she's a most answer threat or she threatens to take over the game by herself. |
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3 -- Great in zombies and even a Mono-Black God-Pharaoh's Gift deck. She gives Black decks reach with her plus ability and then allows you to kill of creatures with her minus ability. Her other minus allows you to refill the battlefield with zombies. I really like this card and I think it's going to be excellent for Standard. |
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2 -- Arcane Adaptation? Eh? Seems like a fun build around me card for casual play but if this were to see any Standard play it would be just for the draw four and lose four. This is too risky when the best deck in the format is Mono-Red. |
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2 -- A solid Sideboard card if you have some ways to gain life. It's even okay main deck if you build some sort of  Ajani's Pridemate deck. Gain all the life, grow your creatures, and then kill your opponent's creatures! |
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2 -- So a Bridge from Below that wants to be in play rather than in your graveyard. Interesting but I think the effect costs too much for Standard. Cool for casual and some Commander fun. |
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2 -- Didn't see play the first time around and it won't this time around either. Especially with Abrade in the format. |
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2.5 -- The best from the cycle in my opinion, a fantastic Sideboard card. Unlike Goblin Chainwhirler, you can't really justify playing it main deck and that's how these types of cards should be! |
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4 -- Fuels your zombie deck and Liliana, Untouched by Death and it's also great in your God-Pharaoh's Gift deck. This card is even good enough to see Modern play. An all-star all around. |
Top 5 Black Cards
Honorable mentions go to Liliana, Untouched by Death and Isareth the Awakener, but those top five cards should see play in Standard. Graveyard Marshal is just a great zombie card and a fantastic way to combat graveyard strategies. It's kind of like a Black Scavenging Ooze.
Make sure to tune in tomorrow when we'll light 'em up tomorrow with Red!
Until then,
Ali Aintrazi
Follow me @AliEldrazi
