The plane of Taramir has reached the end of its time. The struggles of the Waning Age have been forgotten, for the sun has set for the final time, leaving the world in darkness. The Evernight, that realm the sun has forsaken, beyond civilization and hope, has a core of the blackest magic. The entire world is falling into darkness, but within there is not simply oblivion...

☼Taramir Block☼
Taramir Block consists of three sets: Taramir, Waning Light, and finally Age of Darkness. All three sets feature the new mechanics Salvage and Decay as well as the returning mechanic Cumulative Upkeep. In addition, Waning Light brought Fateseal into the picture. To this, Age of Darkness adds the return of Vanishing.

Salvage: Salvage is an activated ability that can be activated only when the card with salvage is in its owner's graveyard, when he or she could cast a sorcery. Salvaging a card exiles it and has the listed effects. Taramir introduced Salvage while Waning Light added off-color salvage costs and Salvage spells with effects dissimilar to their initial effect from being cast. Age of Darkness introduces Colorless and Nonmana salvage costs.

Decay: Decay is an ability word that causes one or more depletion counters to be added to the permanent with Decay, and causes it to be sacrificed when too many depletion counters have been accumulated.

~Black Uncommons~
I think Needler is my favorite design of this lot, where Flenser is an oldie but a good one that got through careful examination to make the final set and I'm STILL worried about. Of the spells, take note nightmares.

Evernight Needler

Creature – Imp
Flying, Vanishing 3
Whenever a time counter is removed from Evernight Needler, put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.
1/1

Nightstalker Flenser

Creature – Nightstalker [U]
, Pay 1 life: Nightstalker Flenser deals 1 damage to target creature.
Pain is a language even they can understand.
2/1

Evernight Sorcerer

Creature – Nightstalker Shaman [U]
Deathtouch
Whenever another creature dies, Fateseal X, where X is equal to that creature’s toughness.
1/3

Monstrous Rotworm

Creature – Worm [U]
Monstrous Rotworm must be blocked if able
When Monstrous Rotworm becomes blocked, destroy target creature blocking it. (Destroy only one creature, no matter how many block Monstrous Rotworm)
The humans and elves there died shortly after the sun, but their pets still prowl the Sea of Rot.
3/6

Spite of the Evernight

Instant [U]
Each player sacrifices a multicolored permanent. If an opponent can’t, he or she discards a card.
On Taramir, there is no tomorrow.

Nightmares of the End

Instant [U]
Destroy target nonartifact, non-nightstalker creature.
Salvage – 4 life: Each player sacrifices a creature, sacrifices a land, and discards a card.

Incremental Blight (Reprint)

Black is looking to have a lot of very strong removal.

Nightmares of the End is going to warp NGA Constructed so hard.

I don't think Nightmares of the End is overpowered in a fun way.

yeah a one-sided, instant speed smallpox for the same cost as regular smallpox seems like a bad call.

Nonmana and off-color salvage costs as a shtick seem like they're asking for trouble. Even with weak effects, it bleeds color pie in uncomfortable ways when any color decks can use these effects with discard outlets. Not to mention the danger of /free/. Because dredge type decks already have some rather dangerous tools in NGA Constructed.

Also, Nightmares of the End is a 2-mana instant 4(!)-for-1.

Nightstalker Flenser is only not being pointed out as overpowered because Nightmares of the End is so brutally more overpowered.

Salvage can only be done as a sorcery. Ever.

That said, Nightmares will get a touchup.

I figure that Limited in this set is already broken, so Nightstalker Flenser is nothing to write home about. I'm more concerned about cards like Nightmares of the End (and to a smaller extent, the oversized rare vanishing creature cycle) because of the ramifications for NGA Constructed.

Banned lists (or utter brokenness) are inevitable in a non-tested inclusionary format. At least it will be a fun learning process in wider design for those who care about such things. Right?

I wouldn't say a two mana Cruel Ultimatum is inevitable.

I would play that card .

Anyways did Nightmares already get the touch up, or has it always been Victim of Night + Smallpox for 4 life? Razor's comment makes me think it got touched up.

It did get touched up. It was one-sided, which was flagrantly idiotic. Don't finalize your card designs after midnight, kids!