Magic is a game of numbers: sixty cards, 20 life, draw two cards, take 7 damage, and add three counters. There are even more numbers surrounding the game—facts and figures, prices and trivia, they are everywhere. In Affinity for Numbers, I uncover and highlight some of the more interesting numbers in Magic. This week is all about the upcoming Standard rotation and arrival of Shadows over Innistrad (SOI).

1.125 Per Pack

Mark Rosewater confirmed that there will be slightly more double-faced cards per pack than in the Innistrad block. Shadows over Innistrad will have 1.125 on average per pack, as opposed to one. The idea is you always open one and sometimes open two.

2 Mana for a Card

The Shadows over Innistrad blue mechanic, investigate, allows a player to get a Clue. Said Clue can be sacrificed for 2 mana to allow the player to draw a card.

Paying 2 mana for a card is pretty well established. Cycling costs 2, for example, and there are a number of cards that tack, "Draw a card," onto previously existing rules text and increase the converted mana cost by 2. Take these for example:

• Cancel becomes Contradict.
• Essence Scatter becomes Bone to Ash.
• Twiddle becomes Twitch.

The key, of course, will be how the cards trigger investigate. Bygone Bishop looks to be capable of being a Clue-making machine in a white-based aggro deck.

2nd 7/8

Thing in the Ice is a quiet, unassuming 0/4 Wall . . . that is, until you cast four instants or sorceries and break open the ice and awaken a 7/8 Kraken Horror!

Awoken Horror is just the second 7-power, 8-toughness creature in Magic. Another recent addition, Ruin Processor, is the other.

3 Damage to Almost Everything

When Avacyn transforms and goes red, she deals 3 damage to each other creature and each opponent. That is fairly unique wording. Only Chandra's Ignition sports similar rules text, and that card costs .

6 of the Top 32

Hardened Scales finally broke out as a major deck of the Standard metagame at Grand Prix Houston, capturing six of the Top 32 spots. The deck's viability will be short-lived, however, thanks to its namesake card rotating out of the format with Khans of Tarkir. Sorry, +1/+1 counter fans.

7 Color Swappers

The original Innistrad block included four double-faced cards that changed colors when they transformed. Shadows over Innistrad adds four more (so far). One is Elusive Tormenter, a black 4/4 Vampire Wizard that can transform into a very elusive mist.

The buy-a-box promo art for this card is even better:

20 Multicolored Lands

Near-perfect mana has been a fixture of Standard during Khans of Tarkir/Battle for Zendikar Standard. That could change quite a bit with rotation. The fetch lands alone are consistently five of the top ten lands—and cards overall—played in Standard.

30% of All Decks

The Rhino gets most of the hate, but Wingmate Roc was actually in more decks during the Khans of Tarkir/Battle for Zendikar Standard season, 30% in total. The Roc winging its way out of Standard means one no longer has to worry about a pair of 3/4 flyers on turn five against Abzan, Bant, and Esper decks.

41% of All Decks

Continuing our farewell-to-Khans review . . . despite having a late start as part of Fate Reforged, Arashin Cleric appeared in 41% of all decks during this Standard season. Deck-builders will need to seek out a new sideboard stalwart against aggro decks very soon.

49% of All Decks

Murderous Cut was played in nearly half of the top decks from major tournaments this Standard season. It is the most-played nonland card from Khans of Tarkir or Fate Reforged and averaged 1.6 copies in the main deck. Delve was a winner in Constructed play, no doubt about it.

130 Cards

Eerie Interlude, with one of the best pieces of artwork yet revealed for Shadows over Innistrad, is Svetlin Velinov's 128th card, revealed first in Duel Decks: Blessed vs. Cursed. So far, we've seen two other cards by Velinov—Thing in the Ice and Awoken Horror—which are also quite good. Velinov has created a lot of great Magic art over the years, including Champion of the Parish, Faith's Shield, and Treacherous Pit-Dweller from the first Innistrad block. Here's hoping we see more from Velinov in SOI!

Those are all the numbers I have for you today. Check back next week for a special Affinity for Numbers all about the upcoming expansion. If you also have an affinity for numbers, and have one you think I should share, let me know on Twitter @MrVigabool.