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Worldwake Blue Card Review

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Hello and welcome to part 2 of our Worldwake set review. The review and notes you see here are a collection of feedback from a number of players, ranging in skill level from FNM to Semi-Pro players and up to the World of Warcraft TCG World Champion. My thanks go to: Billy Postlethwait, John Dean, Glenn Jones, Jason Brown, Ricky Calarco, Andres Garcia, David Sharfman and the random other people who helped collect thoughts and discuss this set.

Be sure to see the other reviews:

Ratings Explanation:

Constructed

  1. Unplayable
  2. Might see play, not likely
  3. Sideboard card
  4. Main deck staple
  5. Archetype defining
Limited

  1. Horrible pick
  2. Very weak pick
  3. Fine pick, might make deck
  4. High pick
  5. First pick in pack

Casual

  1. Not going to be played
  2. Kind of fun
  3. Fun
  4. Really fun
  5. Awesome casual card

AEther Tradewinds

Do you remember Peel from Reality? Yeah? Well that's this, but this is better. The downside is that you have to have an opponent owned permanent, but since it allows lands you're pretty much guaranteed to always have a target.

Constructed: 2

Limited: 3

Casual: 3

Calcite Snapper

MaRo's much hyped 'Convertible Turtle' the main downfall here is the {U}{U} in the casting cost, but otherwise it is a solid card. Nothing awesome, but a solid card in all formats.

Constructed: 3

Limited: 3

Casual: 3

Dispel

The problem with Dispel is that it is so narrow. While there are countless Instants to be countered, there are countless creatures, artifacts and sorceries which you need to counter as well. Unfortunately another set passes without the triumphant return of Counterspell.

Constructed: 2

Limited: 3

Casual: 3

Enclave Elite

This card struggles all around, but if you play it in limited, the multi-kick is only good for the first kick, after that its effectiveness quickly diminishes and the cost becomes prohibitive.

Constructed: 2

Limited: 3

Casual: 2

Goliath Sphinx

As Kelly Reid put it in his article last week, "[This space intentionally left blank.]" -- Well alright, let me say something. This dude is big. Meaning that if he can hit the table in limited, you're looking good to win the game. Obviously IDTE (It Dies To Everything) but he is 8/7. And he forces your opponent to react, there is no time for them to delay.

Constructed: 1

Limited: 4

Casual: 4

Halimar Excavator

He's another tool in the Ally toolbox. Opens the door for the possibility of a Control-ish Ally deck, so perhaps it will prove to be present in constructed. Otherwise it will definitely show up in limited alongside Umara Raptor and Mr. Mill Crab.

Constructed: 3

Limited: 5

Casual: 3

Horizon Drake

Nothing special to see here. It'll be good in limited for its casting cost and evasion, but nothing awesome.

Constructed: 2

Limited: 4

Casual: 2

Jace, the Mind Sculptor

Yeah. This guy had four abilities. Sort of hyped already everywhere... What else can I say?

Constructed: 5

Limited: 5

Casual: 5

Jwari Shapeshifter

It is an interesting twist on the Ally creatures. The downside: it requires other allies in play. The upside: It can clone an opponent's ally. Overall nothing amazing, but has possibilities and can be ridiculous.

Constructed: 2

Limited: 3

Casual: 3

Mysteries of the Deep

It's a tough life. Being strictly worse than Mind Spring can be sort of like being Eli Manning living in Peyton's shadow. Here's hoping it can make its own niche. The problem is that it is expensive. If it does see play, then it is likely not a four-of for the decks.

Constructed: 2

Limited: 3

Casual: 2

Permafrost Trap

Even without paying the trap cost, this spell is a limited staple and will be a high pick draft for its removal abilities. It may see some love in constructed, but it won't find a marquee staple slot. As for casual, the traps seem to be largely a whiff. Perhaps some will find spots in the kitchen table metagames, but they are not big and flashy enough to be casual staples.

Constructed: 3

Limited: 4

Casual: 2

Quest for Ula's Temple

Casual... Would be much better if they had also included the subtype 'Sphinx.' I would say more, but that seems like a waste.

Constructed: 1

Limited: 2

Casual: 4

Sejiri Merfolk

This Merfolk seems like it is about 2 years too late, having missed Lorwyn's bus. It is a solid limited pick, and could see some play in constructed Merfolk decks. The gaining of Lifelink and First Strike are both powerful in the metagame, and the price is right for this one for a cheap and powerful creature in Blue's arsenal.

Constructed: 3

Limited: 4

Casual: 5

Selective Memory

This card strikes me as a Red Herring in the set. A card designed to trick some players for the possibility of thinning the deck of dead cards which is a losing bet. It has possibilities in combo decks, but otherwise not much.

Constructed: 2

Limited: 1

Casual: 3

Spell Contortion

This is an example of the cruelty that some spoiler watchers endure. The spoiled version of this card was much better than the real version. It's 1 mana too much for the spell and the multi-kicker isn't good enough to make up for it.

Constructed: 2

Limited: 4

Casual: 3

Surrakar Banisher

The Banisher is pretty strong in limited, a 5 mana 3/3 that can gain card advantage by returning an opponent's creature to their hand. Obviously the downside is that it requires a tapped creature. However it will be a good pick for blue in draft.

Constructed: 2

Limited: 3.5

Casual: 2

Thada Adel, Acquisitor

This card just screams EDH. But it also seems as if it missed the Lorwyn bus. Beyond that, there seems to be the possibility of it finding the home in Legacy or Vintage. I love the idea of him in EDH as a general to search my opponent's decks and steal their Sol Rings, [card Umezawa's Jitte[/card]s and maybe a Sundering Titan.

Constructed: 2

Limited: 2

Casual: 5

Tideforce Elemental

This card is a straight-up first pick in draft. There is always a need for a Master Decoy in limited, and the landfall is all the sweeter and abusable. Definitely going to be a force in limited, though it may not find a home elsewhere.

Constructed: 3

Limited: 5

Casual: 2

Treasure Hunt

This card is straight up good all around, it's a positive EV even if the top card isn't a land card. It's just always going to be a good card and as the game goes on, it only gets better. One case where the card is broken is the Legacy 43-land deck. Thank goodness this card is common otherwise it would be a definite chase card and will prove a powerful common pick in limited.

Constructed: 4

Limited: 5

Casual: 4

Twitch

One of the few reprints in this set, it will be a solid 23rd card in your draft deck. You probably won't be seeing much of it in constructed but maybe casual and more likely for limited with its ability to cantrip and tap or untap something.

Constructed: 2

Limited: 4

Casual: 3

Vapor Snare

Another top pick in draft, possibly a first pick uncommon for its power as removal for Blue. It won't see play anywhere else, but it is definitely going to prove solid in limited and will require more play of enchantment removal.

Constructed: 2

Limited: 5

Casual: 2

Voyager Drake

This one follows an amazing curve, Welkin Tern into Umara Raptor into Voyager Drake. It's got evasion and the ability to kick others on entry, though that is unlikely to be game winning except in rare cases. It won't break into Constructed, but it is a definite limited pick for Blue.

Constructed: 1

Limited: 3

Casual: 2

Wind Zendikon

This is maybe the best of the Zendikons, a 2/2 flier for {U} is solid. Could be a solid one drop for Blue in limited, and it's good enough to possibly break into constructed. One of the rare Zendikons to possibly do so.

Constructed: 3

Limited: 4

Casual: 3

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