So it's time for a new set, and hordes of Magic players are rushing to the Interwebs for any information on this new set. It's called Rise of the Eldrazi, but it should be called "Damn the game is fast, we had better slow this thing down some, signed WOTC." Or better yet "Play on the kitchen table please."

Yeah, I was enamored by Worldwake and pronounced it 'EDH-Wake,' but this set seems to be custom designed for some EDH beats. This set has it all, big creatures, 4 new mechanics, and even a hard counter that could be playable. I don't know how this set is going to play out in Standard, but there are some definite new classics for EDH.

The Eldrazi

Many of the Eldrazi Creatures have a new game mechanic for RoE called Annihilator. Annihilator says "Whenever this creature attacks, defending player sacrifices X permanents." Where X is the number equal to the value of Annihilator on that creature. This is a "when this creature attacks" ability, the creature doesn't have to deal damage, or even survive, the sacrifice happens before the defending player even declares blockers!

All is Dust is a true gem in this set. One more board wipe that all the colors can share. Black can always use a way to get rid of enchantments, and at least some artifacts, ok not many artifacts, but Black can dream right?

Artisan of Kozilek is probably the worst of the Eldrazi. What do you think of a type where a 10/9 for 9 with Annihilator 2 and Regrowth built in is the worst card? At least this one can be animated, although without the Regrowth.

Eldrazi Conscription, +10/+10 Trample and Annihilator 2 for 8 seems good. Uril, the Miststalker called, he ordered three of these. Put it on a 0/1 Spawn Token, it's still good. Team this up with Greater Auramancy and Sterling Grove and never be invited back to your local EDH game!

Eldrazi Temple not only gives you some extra mana for the Eldrazi that will undoubtedly be showing up in EDH decks everywhere, but also gives Karn, Silver Golem one more colorless producing land.

Emrakul, the Aeons Torn is my choice for mack daddy of the Eldrazi. Can't be countered, comes with a Time Walk, Protection from colored spells, Annihilator 6 and Reminisce when he goes to the yard. Why let a mere 15 colorless stand in the way of your way to EDH fortune and fame?

It That Betrays is a close second to Emrakul, the Aeons Torn. With all those permanents being sacrificed to your Annihilator abilities, why not just put them on your side of the battlefield instead of the yard? I'm sticking this guy into my Thraximundar deck post haste. Do I feel an all Vampire Anowon, the Ruin Sage deck in the making?

Kozilek, Butcher of Truth only lets you draw four cards when you cast him. Yeah, he gets Annihilator 4 as well, but not Trample, Flying or any other evasion. His relatively low casting cost makes him almost playable.

Not of This World is a colorless Instant, hurray! 7 for a hard counter is a bit much, but it is colorless, and has the possibility of being free. I'm on the fence on this one. Can you find a good use for this?

Skittering Invasion gives you 5 tokens for 7, and they can all be sacrificed for mana! This feels like a great fit in any token deck, or anywhere Doubling Season is run. Rhys, the Redeemed smiles.

Spawnsire of Ulamog would also be a good fit for token decks. Too bad his second activated ability does exactly nothing in EDH. Team him with Doubling Season and Essence Warden for infi life, or Doubling Season and Vicious Shadows for the win!

Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre comes with Desert Twister and is Indestructible, a 10/10 for 11 and Annihilator 4. If you're looking to put just one Eldrazi in your EDH deck, which one? They are all so good it'll be tough to decide!

Ulamog's Crusher, oh what a vanilla Eldrazi! But hey, it's a common; this one will cost you a quarter or less. I'm betting he ends up in a $50 EDH deck soon!

The Levelers

As I was walking around the prerelease at CoolStuffGames this past weekend, I was continually amazed by how many "Planeswalkers" were on the tables. At a glance these guys sure do look like a Planeswalker!

The Level Up creatures are good, really good. I could probably fill an article on nothing but Level Up creatures, but for today I'll only mention the "really good" ones.

Coralhelm Commander starts as a 2/2 Merfolk for two, but with proper application of Mana he becomes superfish, as a 4/4 flier that pumps all the other fish. Seems good in a Sygg, of either variety, deck.

Echo Mage is auto include in almost anything Blue. If copying any Instant or Sorcery for UU is good, how about copying them twice?

Enclave Cryptologist should go into all those Azami decks we love, and is also auto include in the various Sygg fish decks. A Merfolk Wizard for U is good, being able to level up to tap: draw a card puts this one over the top.

Guul Draz Assasin is great removal on a stick. This guy gets around Totem Armor and Indestructible as well!

Joraga Treespeaker is just one more reason I love Elves. He is an Elf and A Druid, to help out Gilt-Leaf Archdruid, but he also can turn all your Elves into Fyndhorn Elder!

Kargan Dragonlord is a measly 2/2 for 2 to start, but look out, for 8 more he becomes an 8/8 Flying Trample with Firebreathing!

Lighthouse Chronologist should have a creature type of "EDH Sillyness" rather than Human Wizard. When I first saw this card I had to read it about 4 times before I believed it. Could this really exist? Read this aloud with me "At the beginning of each end step, if it's not your turn, take an extra turn after this one."

The Umbra's

The Umbra's introduce the new game mechanic "Totem Armor". Totem Armor says "If enchanted creature would be destroyed, instead remove all damage from it and destroy this Aura". Remember that this only prevents "destroy" effects, but will not prevent the creature from going to the yard from having 0 or less toughness, or being removed from the game with Swords to Plowshares.

Outside of Zur the Enchanter and Uril, the Miststalker decks, I don't see the Umbra's getting much EDH play. The Totem Armor mechanic can be cool, maybe throw one in my Mayael, the Anima deck for some Mayael protection?

Bear Umbra may be an exception, "Whenever this creature attacks, untap all lands you control sounds good."

Crab Umbra could also see some play. Untapping an Azami Wizard for three to draw another card, or giving any of your big Eldrazi "Vigilance" (sort of) for three are just a few of the broken ways you could use this Umbra.

Rebound

Rebound is yet another new mechanic in RoE. Rebound says "Exile this spell as it resolves if you cast it from your hand. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast that card from exile without paying its mana cost." Important things to remember, if you forget, or choose not to cast the spell on your next upkeep it is exiled forever. If you do cast the spell on your next upkeep it goes into your graveyard. Multiple instances of Rebound are redundant, and don't let you rebound twice.

Cast Through Time lets you give all your Instants and Sorceries Rebound. If Rebound seems good, then spread it around!

Consuming Vapors is another great sacrifice effect for any Thraximundar deck. It's also a good way to get rid of those pesky Eldrazi, even the indestructible one.

Nomad's Assembly is just stupid good. Have you noticed that I like token decks? Rhys, the Redeemed is very excited about this card!

Surreal Memoir is really good for red, those fire mages need a way to recur those Lightning Bolts and Incinerates!

World at War is another just silly good rebound card. Two combat phases for two turns for 5? The only problem I see is that you will become target number one during that turn World at War is exiled, since everyone will see that second attack phase coming…

And The Rest

Awakening Zone is one the cards I am most excited about in this set. A token generator for green, where the tokens can be sac'ed for mana! Use as mana accelerant, chump blockers, or add pumps like Gaea's Anthem or Broodwarden for offensive pressure.

Deprive, a hard counter for 2, wait, are you kidding? The returning a land to your hand can be, of course, problematic, but hey, it's a hard counter for 2! It's also a common, stock up on these!

I'm building a Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief deck as we speak. I had intended it to be an Anowon, the Ruin Sage deck, but I'm going with Drana. All that removal built in, that also pumps. It's going to be almost all Vampires, and Anowon will have a place, but Drana is my General.

Dreamstone Hedron is Mind Stone X 3. I like Mind Stone, I like this X 3!

Fissure Vent becomes an instant red staple, with some great utility destroying both a Land and an Artifact!

Mnemonic Wall becomes an instant classic, much the way Eternal Witness is in green. A 0/4 wall for 5 that lets you return an instant or sorcery to your hand from the yard seems good.

Realms Uncharted is my favorite card in the set. "Lands Ungiven" has so many possibilities in EDH. Team this up with Life From the Loam or Crucible of Worlds for some real fun!

Sphinx of Magosi is definitely one of the best creatures in the set. A 6/6 Flier for 6 would be playable, but add in the pay 3 draw a card and get a +1/+1 counter makes this guy a beast.

Vengevine is going to rage. Too bad he's a mythic and pre-selling at over $25 since he's sure to be awesome in Standard as well. This will be a great creature in any green beats deck.

So that's it for my Rise of the Eldrazi review. Disagree, or think a card not mentioned is the Next Big Thing[tm]? Leave me a comment below, I love hearing from you guys.

Next weekend I'll be in Orlando at the Rise of the Eldrazi Release at Cool Stuff Games. They'll be opening the doors at 8AM on Friday with $10 RoE drafts all day, check out http://www.coolstuffgames.com/ for great events to be held all weekend.

Until next week, this is Dale Lovelace telling you there's more than one way to play!