This week has been a crazy ride, starting out slow and quickly turning into a page-turner. Nothing really noteworthy started late last week; the #banjace conversation died down to a murmur. However, this week, the rumors and spoilers started and quickly turned into one of the biggest debacles since Time Spiral.

By the middle of this week, the entire set had been spoiled from the godbook that originated in France. The legal repercussions have been a hot topic of debate since the release, and it seems WotC is keeping pretty low-key for now.

The debate on the leaks' validity was pretty heated for a good portion of the day. People suspected the fonts were too strange for the true designs .

I haven’t seen any solid evidence of legal actions as of yet, but—as with previous cases—I expect some sort of investigation and possible lawsuit. Spoiler season was monumental but quick, which gives us time for a prepared meta come PTQ season.

With the extra weeks of play-testing, we should see a pretty hammered-out meta due to PTQs and Star City Games events. Will we see a stale meta still holding on, or will the hate from #NPH be enough to hold Jace and the Titans down?

On the topic of playability, Phyrexian mana seems to have been printed on a number of playable cards in a multitude of formats. Beyond that, the set seems to heavily support Commander, with a good number of large Legends fit for a Commander deck.

The pros are already speculating as to possible deck archetypes that may come of the future Standard format. Legacy also seems to be getting a few new staples for a variety of current decks and possible developing designs.

With the prospect of future staples, the price speculation has already started. I have seen a few over/unders on the Tweetstream and mentions of possible gems and busts.

Uncommon staples have been seen to fetch such numbers in the eternal formats, and free spells have always been popular. Though $20 seems lofty as a holding value, the possibility is certainly there, and certainly a good pick-up if you can find them for cheap.

This certainly seems likely ever since WotC’s announcement of cross-block commonalities to make the format flow better. I personally am excited for a format that is free of Jace and the Titans. With possible reprints, it is too soon to say we are in the clear in five months, but we can still be hopeful.

On the subject of Jace, there seem to be a few solid answers to the format-defining Planeswalker. Will cards like Hex Parasite and Despise create a few new possibilities in the current Standard environment?

Other cards from the set had some prolonged discussions involving possible playability and speculation. Torpor Orb still has people on the fence whether holding down cards such as Squadron Hawk and Precursor Golem is enough, or if the card is a trap only weakening your own deck.

The new Sword, to finish the cycle, finally ends the speculation that has been ongoing for months. Less exciting than some had been hoping for, the protection may be enough to drive the price into the stars. The ability to win aggro races and kill Planeswalkers while still hitting a player makes me feel like this may be the most expensive mythic in the set after rotation. For now, it may still suffer in price due to Stoneforge Mystic’s presence.

Myr Superion is one I haven’t seen much talk about, but with Leatherback Baloth, Vengevine, and a solid aggro base, expect to see this one in Top 8 lists soon!

Caged Sun will certainly find its home in Commander and eventually rise to the Gauntlet of Power price range. Not much else can be said, as we have seen this effect before, and no matter how many times you print it, the casual crowd will buy it.

Mutagenic Growth has stirred up some conversation as a possible missing link in Legacy poison. With new decks on the horizon, this set seems to be a hit.

Beast Within seems to be another card with an undecided fate. Any Vindicate ability seems worth testing, but the drawback seems drastic enough that it may hold it back from any serious play.

Whipflare offers another Pyroclasm effect, and it being instant-speed makes it very playable. The drawback can be harmful versus decks such Kuldotha Red, but in the right shell can just as easily be a boon.

Geosurge seems like a solid fit in Legacy Belcher, conveniently enough providing the 7 mana required to play and activate. Outside of that deck, the playability seems limited, though not out of the question with any large bomb that may be printed.

Surgical Extraction has had everyone’s attention for the past week with guesses at the eventual settling price. I have seen prices from $6 to $12, and even some as lofty as $20 by M12 release.

With many other cards seeing heavy discussion, the new deck lists have been rolling in. One of the primary focuses has been on mono-Black, and with support we haven’t seen since Nemesis, it is certainly possible.

This has been a topic cropping up since the new spoilers hit. It appears WotC went all-out on the subject of strange with this set in both name and art. Some of the gruesome images fit this set's flavor perfectly, and overall with help from mechanics like Phyrexian mana and Infect, the flavor seems spot-on.

On a different subject, MTGO is getting a few new formats introduced this week. It appears ZWR will be a playable limited format on both the Draft and Sealed level. Pauper Commander has also been introduced, giving the casual players a new format to explore.

Well, that concludes this week’s edition of the Twitter wrap-up. I’m sure next week’s Twitter feed will be filled with wild ideas and new deck designs as people prepare for the upcoming season. Let me know what you guys think. Ship over any new deck ideas or synergies you have found, and I’ll be sure to give a feature next week.

Ryan Bushard

Follow me on Twitter @CryppleCommand

Until next week, keep on Tweeting!