Welcome back to my final installment for Conflux. I've had a great time reviewing and drafting a TON in real life and online. I still stick by my claim that Armillary Sphere is the best Non-rare in the set and perhaps overall.

Now you probably saw the show where Patrick and I discussed our picks for the top 5 cards and alot of the feedback from that show was what are the top rares or what are the top non-rares? Well at the end of the article, I'll go out on a limb and give you my opinion on it.

I've done 15 Conflux, Conflux, Conflux drafts online and I've won 12 lost in the finals of 2 and lost in the first round of 1. So, I really feel like I have a good understanding of the Conflux set and maybe I'll share some of that too... Anyway!!!

• Esper Cormorants - At 3/3 for 4 this guy is a Hill Giant, which some folks say isn't too bad. However, WITH flying this guy is a very good card. You'll probably NOT find him in a constructed format but he really is a good card in limited.
• Magister Sphinx - 5/5 for 7cc flyer is kind of tough to consider. His ability has really turned the tide for me EVERY time I play him. I believe that if you do Esper in Conflux or even Alara draft it always seems like it's 1 turn behind. The Sphinx-ter catches things up for the Espermage and with all of the flyers you have access to, it's the one guy you need to lead your troops. Way too over-costed for constructed so enjoy him in limited. I want to add also that he's probably a fantastic card in a multi-player format or game.
• Sludge Strider is another guy who just doesn't come out quick enough. His ability can be game changing. I can definitely see this guy in an Alara Block for constructed and he's certainly playable for (once again) the Esper Mage.
• Sphinx Summoner was a guy whom I really thought was fantastic. Then I read a bit more and it said 'Artifact Creature' so I had to move him down just a bit more. 3/3 for 5 flyer is an ok body but it really depends on the amount of creatures you're packing. Probably NOT a constructed guy, I can see him in a sideboard for Esper Alara.
• Vectis Agents are not too bad on paper, but the cost for a 2/3 unblockable is too much. You CAN use him as a 22-23 card for your limited deck, but please don't try to break him in constructed.
• Vedalken Outlander, like all of the 2/2 Pros for 2cc will always find their way in a deck that has found it's bad match-up but these days 2/2s for 2cc are pretty easy to find in Constructed. In limited, I've found that Pro Red, Black and Green are HUGE. Nuff Said.
• Apocalypse Hydra is a rare. x >= 5 makes him AWESOME.
• Blood Tyrant is a decent guy who MUST be killed soon after his summoning. Like Magister Sphinx, the Tyrant would make a Wonderful multiplayer theme card. Not a Bomb but definitely not a dud. Put him away in the binder when constructed season comes.
• Charnelhoard Wurm is a bomb, but not a very big bomb. 6/6 is huge and hitting an opponent one time makes him twice as good, because you'll probably have one or two cards in your yard.
• Child of Alara is another big rare that fits mostly in Multiplayer constructed. I love domain and would definitely play this guy in limited but that's all.
• Fusion Elemental is a guy that I choose pretty high in my drafts (3+) but my warning to you would be, you'd better know when you're out of your domain hehe. Not something you'll see him constructed outside of Alara.
• Giltspire Avenger is a bomb rare, but a rare that's pretty easy to kill. He does certainly put a halt to aggressors that's for sure.
• Goblin Outlander Vedalken Outlander>
• Gwafa Hazid, cool sounding ability until you read it a second time. Garbage.
• Hellkite Hatchling is a decent card in limited and not even considerable in constructed.
• Jhessian Balmgiver is a strong card. As all of the Human Clerics have shown throughout the dawn of MTG prevention is good. I find he's a decent pick at 3 or 4+ but I wouldn't say he's worth picking earlier and not a constructed card.
• Knight of the Reliquary is one of the set's best rares. You WILL see this guy in constructed formats.
• Knotvine Mystic is a HUGE excelerator for limited Naya AND Domain. He's probably a 2nd pick, however I've seen him pretty late in drafts. Unfortunately, NOT a constructed beast but 1 out of 2 ain't bad.
• Maelstrom Archangel = Bomb Rare
• Malfegor, think about it 6/6 for 6. He might sneak into constructed stacks but highly unlikely. HUGE in limited.
• Meglonoth is just like Malfegor, but probably less likely to find a constructed place.
• Nacatl Outlander Vedalken Outlander>
• Progenitus. Cool Picture! This guy is more likely to find a place in Constructed than he is in limited. Even I'm a bit intimidated to play this guy but wouldn't it be cool? I hear he's a BEATING in extended, then again he's a beating in any deck you can play him.
• Rhox Bodyguard is not a card that I find too good. It's maybe something to consider at pick 10+ or necessary if you need a 20+ card slot, but really not all that good. I'm warning you.
• Scarland Thrinax is a cool card in theory, but really not that good. 2/2 for 3 is really not too good. His ability just doesn't do more than soak up a guy at instant speed. I'm not rushing to put him into my Jund deck. Limited shows this guy as being an ok guy, but I'm pushing it from there.
• Shambling Remains is pretty good for it's cost. I wish he had the cycle ability but I guess you can't push mediocrity too far. I'd say he's a 5+ pick and a 15+ card.
• Skyward Eye Prophets have a fantastic ability, but he's one mana too much. Mediocre draft pick with a HUGE ability that wouldn't see the light of day in constructed.
• Vagrant Plowbeasts is one of the most annoying cards when your opponent has one mana open. He'd definitely see constructed play if he had flying, but since he doesn't he won't. So keep using him in limited to annoy opponents.
• Valeron Outlander and Zombie Outlander... Vedalken Outlander>
• Conflux, draw 5 cards for 8 mana... Poop
• Exploding Borders. Equal to a 3 point Banefire but gets you a permanent too. If you can pull that 5th basic land, you're money. I definitely see the possibilities in a mana ramp deck. Let's see if anyone has the stones.
• Countersquall = Negate but causes the opponent to lose 2 life. Not bad but not guaranteed to work. Sideboard it best, and could find constructed use in the future.
• Elder Mastery is a bit too high to cast, but has a decent set of abilities. Not a chance for constructed. You find this card passed late in draft and I just said the reasons why.
• Suicidal Charge is another over-costed card. I'd love to use this in Extended vs Elves or something but would prefer that it costs 3. So, I'll just have to continue dreaming about using it.
• Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker BIGGEST most game changing card in the set when he hits the field of battle. Just a bit too high for constructed, but a fine card nonetheless.
• Armillary Sphere really does turn a game around, but most of the time you don't even know it. Whether getting 2 for 1 advantage or getting 2 different basic lands or thinning the deck I've NEVER been unhappy drawing this card in limited and I'm working on how to see it in constructed.
• Bone Saw has been on my mind for Affinity in Extended but really seems like plain vanilla anywhere else.
• Font of Mythos. In the 15 drafts I've had I've opened 3 Banefires and 4 Font of Mythos, I guess it's an example of good and bad. You decide. Too high for constructed inclusion. Too bad to buy at a nickel.
• Kaleidestone works so well for Esper and thinning out decks. Not really something for constructed consideration.
• Mana Cylix would be my 4th choice for mana manipulation in limited behind most everything and I don't think it's worth considering for constructed.
• Manaforce Mace would be great if you could equip for 1 less but even at that cost it does lots in limited domain. Terrible for constructed.
• Obelisk of Alara is completely rediculous in limited and might be ok if Tinker comes back for constructed.
• Ancient Ziggurat comes in handy except when I draw non creatures, then I'm screaming at myself for having it.
• Exotic Orchard is fantastic in Limited and I really do think it's good in 5 color constructed.
• Reliquary Tower is just poop.
• Rupture Spire is a bit annoying but certainly playable in Limited. The annoying part keeps it out of Constructed.
• Unstable Frontier is behind the Orchard and Spire but better than Ziggurat. Since Spire won't see constructed play Frontier won't either.

As you can see, Conflux is certainly NOT a constructed friendly set. Now things might change, with Magic 2010 (M10) and other sets coming out Domain is something I'm watching out of the corner of my eye. Banefire is as good as you think it is when X=5+ but alot of the verdict probably won't change.

Rares:

#5 Scepter of Dominance

#4 Obelisk of Alara

#3 Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker

#2 Martial Coupe

#1 Banefire

Non-Rares:

#5 Esperzoa

#4 Path to Exile

#3 Might of Alara

#2 Volcanic Fallout

#1 Armillary Sphere

There are some other cards that should have made the list like Thornling or Maelstrom but I found that these cards change, dominate or define the decks they're in either by cost, ability or sheer power.

I hope you enjoyed my ramblings I'm sure the new set will be out soon and I'll be right there to give you my opinions.

Thanks again for reading and let me know what you think!!!

- Lee