Tis' the season for family, joy and... Worldwake spoilers apparently. Though the weeks following the release of a major block are usually the slowest for MTG news, Wizards let slip a few tidbits this weekend. While the following may seem like over-exaggerated, minor bits of information, much can be gleaned from even the smallest amounts of information from what is going to be a very small 145 card set.

Smother - As the only actual card spoiled for Worldwake I thought I'd get this one out of the way first. A decent limited card but pales next to Doom Blade any other day of the week. This card should cost one black mana if it is going to have such a restriction placed on it. Not a great constructed card (good only for Putrid Leech), and almost not even a good limited card.   Oh, and weren't we trying to stay away from "can't be regenerated"?  I'll save my creature destruction for the bigger bombs, thank you (especially if you're charging me two CMC for it).  Move along, nothing to see here, these aren't the droids you're looking for.

"Kicker Without X" - Finally!  Mark Rosewater's riddle has been solved.  He had said months ago that WWK would feature an alteration to an existing mechanic that he couldn't have imagined doing before. It turns out to be what the community is referring to as "Multi-Kick". Which essentially means Kicker.. with no limit. For example: if Goblin Ruinblaster had Multi-Kick instead of regular "Kicker" you could pay R as many times as you wanted in addition to the first kicker to repeat the kicker effect multiple times. This is essentially yet another alternate casting cost mechanic and just expands upon what you currently know as kicker. Are you really going to have the mana to kick something like Rite of Replication more than once? Multi-Kick cards are going to need to have VERY low kicker costs if they're going to get kicked more than once. If not, you'll probably only be multi-kicking in EDH.

[caption id="attachment_5882" align="alignleft" width="235" caption="Not the actual card, repeat, not the actual card.  The niche-planeswalkers seem to be the new standard."]

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Jace Beleren, Mindsculpter - Most of this information comes from the now revealed (in french) Worldwake precons. One of the descriptions (in French of course!) spoke of a certain Jace Beleren: [sic] "Jace, Mind Sculptor is a Planeswalker possessing powers of mental confusion that you can call your side. He mills your's opponent's library and eventually exiles it to fully guarantee victory." Pardon the rough translation, of course but it is obvious that the new Jace will be a milling card. While the original Jace Beleren was also used in mill decks, it wasn't a milling card necessarily. He was played in any deck rocking blue for card advantage and a cheap threat. This turn towards hardcore milling for Blue's only non-artifact planeswalker sends a shiver down my azure tinged spine. I'll wait to see the actual cards to pass final judgment obviously.  But if one ability mills and the other exiles the graveyard... I doubt I'll be pleased with yet another niche, blue planeswalker.

Kird Ape-Type Creatures - Wizards just can't keep those multicolored cards out of the game can they? Sure, there are three legal sets at the moment chalk full of multicolored love, but why not throw some in to the supposedly mono-colored block? I don't mind the mechanic at all, and I think it will work very harmoniously with the Shards of Alara block cards now legal in standard. But can't we just move on for a set or two? If this is what it takes to keep wizard's "Gold Quotient" satisfied for the Zendikar block then I suppose I'm happy.

Vague Speculation on Individual Cards - We also have some vague information on a few cards that can be found over at MTG Realm if you're interested.  There are no casting costs on the cards so it is difficult to really judge what the "6/6 flying creature which exiles a permanent each time a land comes onto the battlefield under your control. Those permanents come back if Admonition Angel leaves the battlefield" is really worth without knowing whether it costs three white mana or nine multicolored.  Check out the link if you're interested in the details on those.  We'll have the full cards up on the Worldwake Spoiler page as they are revealed.

[caption id="attachment_5885" align="alignright" width="210" caption="Even the symbols seem to concur. Worldwake is Zendikar with a "plus"."][/caption]

"Worldwake isn't just Zendikar-Plus" -  It isn't?  In addition to the above we've also learned that Landfall, Vampires, Land-Manipulation and Kicker are all on the docket for WWK.  Sounds a lot like Zendikar plus to me.   I suppose that's to be expected.  Conflux was heralded as "not just Shards of Alara-plus" and I can't think of a better way to describe that set.  Worldwake looks to be an extension of Zendikar and possibly a bridge to Rise of the Eldrazi.  Both of which are to be expected. To be clear, Zendikar plus isn't a horrible thing, I loved Zendikar.  It's just always funny to hear Mark Rosewater try and pitch it as something different.

Keep a vigilant eye on the Worldwake Spoiler page starting now because the spoiler season is about to be underway any day now.  Stay locked on to our twitter for the latestupdates.  Until then.

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A quick update to this article.  Two more Worldwake spoilers have just come accrossed the Gathering Magic spoiler desk.  The Baloth is 100% confirmed.  The other card is a mock-up of a probable WWK card.  Still waiting on full confirmation on the Ally.  Again, keep an eye on the Worldwake Spoiler page for up to the minute details.

Looks like more ally and mono-color love for Worldwake!  Both of these cards really give you a big bang for your mana-spending buck.