This summer we will see another core set release. Around this time last year many magic players were wondering, "How can they top M10?". Once again, the same question is being asked, this time it is about improving on M11.

What did M11 do to top M10? Exciting (at the time) reprints, interesting and playable new cards, and a 'course correction' for the cards that didn't work so well in M10.

When the new core set model was created, a high degree of turnover between sets was alsopart of the model. Much of M10 did not make it to be reprinted in M11 and much of M11 will not make it to be reprinted in M12. There are already rumblings about a few cards not making the cut, and they would certainly be missed in Standard.

So what might not make it?

The core sets need a big hook to sell boosters, and M11's was the titan cycle, 5 mythic creatures that have skewed the metric by which every creature in Standard is to be measured. Thankfully, this also means that they are tied to the set's identity (like legends are to 10^th, etc) and will not even be considered for inclusion in M12. They are also FIVE mythic rares, prime real estate for new cards or reprints of appropriate power level cards. Also lumped in with M11's identity are the Leylines, which didn't see much play (Leyline of Sanctity aside) in Standard. They will likely be replaced with a new rare cycle.

Lightning Bolt has been rumored to be getting the boot as well. Little side-comments from R&D members and many rumors have been pointing to this, and it certainly makes sense. R&D has said quite plainly that Lightning Bolt (and anything else in the new core sets) is not going to be 'a gold standard'. Everything has to fight for its spot in the set, and nothing is sacred when it comes to being returning in the next core set. Some cards will be put back on the shelf to come back another day, and Lightning Bolt certainly fits that criteria.

Condemn has seen a reasonable amount of play, but nothing close to when 10^th edition and Dissension were in Standard. I feel that it will be rotated out for some other white removal spell. I don't think it will be Path to Exile, but Oblivion Ring could be fair game again. Maybe.

The Lorwyn Planeswalkers are wearing out their welcome in Standard. For the unaware, they have been in standard since the Fall of 2007. They have been printed three times, and only Jace Beleren sees heavy play in standard. Some of the others do see play in fringe decks, but nothing close to the numbers Jace Beleren sees. We already have a card by the name of Chandra's Phoenix confirmed for M12, and we have new arts with Jace and Chandra on them, so we may be seeing them again. Or maybe not.

[caption id="attachment_13425" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Jace and Chandra from the new Deckbuilder's Toolkit"][/caption]

What can M12 do that no other core set has done? Print gold cards. They don't have to go crazy, but it allows them to maybe reprint Ajani Vengeant, Sarkhan Vol, and Nicol Bolas in the core set. They could mix up the planeswalkers and finally give Garruk Wildspeaker and Liliana Vess new versions. They even could go into crazy town and make a Jace 3.0 and Chandra 3.0.

While I realize there are plenty of 'sacred cows' that WoTC could reprint that aren't gold cards, it is an easy way to reprint many beloved cards that won't break standard. People still want Counterspell and Force of Will to be reprinted, after all.

What reprints were exciting in M11? Voltaic Key, Leyline of the Void, and Nantuko Shade. All were remembered as extremely useful, powerful cards. None saw serious play in Standard. Baneslayer Angel's inclusion in M11 was also along these lines. The feelings evoked by the cards 'returning' is enough to sell the set. However, I am sure Wizards would rather reprint cards that will be used on a wider scale, especially if they choose not to bring Lightning Bolt back.

Another tidbit about M12 that has surfaced is Aaron Forsythe confirming only ONE card will 'survive' the great core set attrition war. (A card that has been in every core set going back to Alpha) The remaining two cards are Giant Spider and Giant Growth. Each has an analog in what seems like every set that sees print, and a good argument for or against either could occur. However, a cute little cycle and the removal of Lightning Bolt could explain Giant Growth getting the boot.

If Lightning Bolt gets the axe, a hole opens up for a one red mana burn spell. If Giant Growth gets the axe, a hole opens up for a one green mana pump spell. Both were part of the wildly unbalanced Alpha '1 for 3' cycle of cards. (Dark Ritual, Healing Salve, and Ancestral Recall were the others) Preordain could be shoehorned in as a successor to this cycle. A cycle of 1 for '2 + something else' could fit here. I will leave those thoughts, however, up to card creators.

Whatever they do, I am sure M12 will top M11 in one way or another. I look forward to finding out what the set contains in the coming months.