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With the Magic 2012 prerelease this weekend and the whole set finally known, I would normally expect the excitement to be bubbling over, but the new core set doesn’t appear to be getting people’s motors running, so to speak. It’s a bit too quiet, a bit understated, a
Nonetheless, I think the set is going to surprise a lot of people. The set looks extremely promising for limited, with Bloodthirst and the phantom creatures meaning every color can go aggressive. I’m excited to try out unusual color combinations like Blue/Red aggro, and the Hexproof and Phantom mechanics are going to make certain effects, like tappers, either outstanding or abysmal, which will be interesting. I also want to unlock the achievement for drafting and playing all three Empires artifacts.
Limited is a mere sideshow, however, to the main game of Constructed. Here as well, I think people will be surprised by M12, once Zendikar block has gone on its merry way, if not before. Without doing a full-blown set review, I’m going to go color by color picking out some cards that have got me feeling more upbeat than the general sentiment I’m hearing about the set.
White
Guardian's Pledge – While pump effects are generally a Limited-only effect, this particular one has an exceptional combination of qualities that makes me want to try it in Constructed. It’s instant, pumps all your (White) guys, is rather sizeable at +2/+2, and best of all, it’s cheap at only 3 mana! It doesn’t look impressive on the surface, but when combined with Squadron Hawks, Hero of Bladehold, or other White weenies, it can close the game on the spot. The White Weenie decks at the moment uses plenty of artifact creatures that won’t be pumped by this, but there is quite an assortment of good White creatures that could be squished together and turned sideways for this spell.
Gideon's Avenger – With the Jace test not an issue in Standard any longer, I’ve had to reevaluate every cheap, fat dork that I’ve previously dismissed. I think this may be what has kept everyone quiet on Avenger as well, because his ability is absurdly strong in the right matchups—he gets pumped for every creature attacking you, for instance, before you have to block, so if your opponent swings three guys at you, the Avenger is a 5/5 when it comes time for him to fight. His biggest obstacle to success is that he is mediocre against low-creature decks, of which there are currently many, and if you are looking for sideboard cards for a creature mirror, you probably just want removal. For the financially minded readers, I do believe this guy is being undervalued even if he does nothing in Standard—casual players love making their creatures grow, and this guy grows real fast, especially in multiplayer. Assuming he isn’t reprinted, I wouldn’t be surprised if he hits $5 in the long run.
Stonehorn Dignitary – I mention this dude only because of his combination with Venser, the Sojourner, which appears to soft-lock your opponent out of ever attacking again. Not only does this shut off aggro decks but also Splinter Twin combo, as well as most control decks, and it seriously impairs Valakut. It also makes fighting Venser so much harder, because if your opponent isn’t burning or Oblivion Ringing Venser, it won’t matter if he can attack a few turns down the road, because your emblem will be wrecking him.
Timely Reinforcements – This is an outstanding tool for a control deck. Turn three is about when you have to take decisive action to avoid being killed against Standard’s aggro decks, and you will always trigger both conditions—if you don’t meet both, you don’t really need to cast this just yet. As an aggro player by default, I imagine this being a very depressing card to see—6 life is two Lightning Bolts, and three 1/1’s can Fog me or team up to take down my 2/2s. Control players won’t even care about Wrathing them away, as long as they’ve bought a bit of that most crucial resource—time. I don’t want to give the aggro readers nightmares, but what happens if your opponent casts two of these in a game, for full value? Can you ever win?
Blue
Azure Mage – Whenever I see an activated ability without a tap, I pay close attention, especially when it’s something as regularly broken as “: Draw a card.” While this girl is no Yawgmoth's Bargain, she is certainly full of potential in letting a control deck get aggressive. Conley Woods also mentioned the other week that she combos well with Training Grounds, and I’ve been wanting that card to work ever since it was printed. The art on this card is also worthy of comment for the anatomical questions it raises—what arcane magic has bent her into that uncomfortable pose? What has warped her hip-to-waist ratio to such a degree? Where is her other leg?
Master Thief – Sower of Temptation was ludicrously annoying in Standard and has seen play as far back as Legacy—thank goodness this variant is an uncommon, because I expect it to be a consideration in many formats. Taking control of any of your opponent’s permanents is a huge swing, and taking something like a Shrine of Burning Rage, Wurmcoil Engine, or Batterskull could be game-winning.
Time Reversal – Why is this back? This card is a puzzle wrapped inside an enigma wrapped inside a crappy do-nothing card, but R&D must see some value in it for it to come back. Anyone got any ideas? I’m fresh out.
Black
Bloodlord of Vaasgoth – Bloodthirst 3 on a flyer is enormously strong. Bloodthirst 3 on all your creatures is even more so. If you stick this guy for any length of time, it must be real hard to lose. He’s not quite Vampire Nocturnus, but he’s close, and the current Vampire deck is a lot stronger than the one that supported Nocturnus was.
Monomania – Sure, your opponent gets to keep one card. It’s not Mind Sludge. On the other hand, it’s not Mind Sludge, so you don’t have to play all Swamps to get full value out of it. I’ve heard this discussed somewhere in tandem with Lotus Cobra, perhaps in B/U/G, to destroy your opponent’s hand on turn three, and it’s the potential to get this out quickly that makes it so interesting to me.
Rune-Scarred Demon – 7 mana is a lot, especially in the same set as Grave Titan, but having Diabolic Tutor stapled to a massive flying finisher is nothing to sneeze at. At worst you go and get another massive flying finisher with a Diabolic Tutor stapled to it.
Red
Chandra's Phoenix – I’m pretty sure I’ve talked about this card before, but let me reiterate that it has me salivating at the thought. Forget Grim Lavamancer, this is more like it for a repeatable 2-damage effect! (Okay, so don’t actually forget Grim Lavamancer, but you know what I mean.) Games turn against you as the aggro player when your opponent either puts down a blocker or blockers, or removes all your guys, and he isn’t yet in burn range. Phoenix dodges both blockers and removal by being evasive and recurrable from the graveyard! It may not contribute overly much to your goldfish, but by golly, it’ll be an enormous boon in terms of reach.
Goblin Grenade – Speaking of goldfishing and reach, if you’ve never played against this card, I suggest you give it a try, and try to figure out where the safe point is for your life total against the opposing Goblins player. 6? 11? 16? I’m not usually a Goblin player, but the Grenade might sway me to the tribal cause. What can I say? I love reach.
Manabarbs – Manabarbs is back! My favorite sideboard card was sorely missed during its short hiatus, and I will welcome it back like an old friend. I don’t know that it’s particularly good right now, but it’s surely nice to have the option.
Stormblood Berserker – Plated Geopede is sometimes great and sometimes bad, depending on the metagame, and Stormblood Berserker looks like a lower-risk/lower-reward version of Geopede. He won’t die to a Virulent Wound and he won’t get stonewalled by a single blocker, but on the other hand, he’s never likely to be a 5/5 or a 7/7. Still, his rules text is rather exciting—no longer can white mages lean on a Wall of Omens to hold off your offense, for example. His +1/+1 counters also make Volt Charge seem tremendously appealing, and though I’m going to miss Goblin Guide when he goes, I feel that M12–SOM–INN Red is still going to be a player.
Green
There are no cards that jump out at me in Green, besides Garruk, which I discussed last week. On a positive note, Obstinate Baloth is gone!
Artifacts
Druidic Satchel – Incremental value! I am pretty sure we need a new psychographic to go along with Timmy, Melvin, and all the rest, for the player who just loves incremental value and two-for-ones, even when they’re not very good. They love to play the Rock, for instance. Any thoughts on a name for this archetype? Do let me know in the comments! Druidic Satchel is a pretty sweet card that won’t see any competitive play, because the people who try are going to be attacked by a thousand Deceiver Exarchs, and their Saproling and +2 life will not save them in that situation.
Manalith – Could this be playable? Splinter Twin could really use the help, and there’s a multicolored control deck just waiting to happen, I’m sure. Mana-fixing is at a low since Shards block went out, and this card must certainly be in the picture for enemy-colored decks.
Sleepers, Wake
So there we have it, the M12 cards that have got me excited but perhaps haven’t gotten the press I think they deserve. Sorry, Green fans, but I think you got stiffed for Constructed again. Red and White look like the winners overall to me, with White getting some awesome control spells and Red getting several excellent creatures and the absurd Goblin Grenade. I had to skip my prerelease, but if you went to yours, what cards were you surprised by? What do you think could make an impact in Constructed that maybe people haven’t been talking about yet? Sound off in the comments, or hit me up on Twitter (@rtassicker) as always.
