If we get a card similar to Serpopard, I'm probably going to try to start right out with Naya Zoo Midrange.

Aurelia is... not necessarily the angel I expected. Not saying she aint bonkers. Anointed Deacon was gas in Limited; she is that on a better body AND it synergizes with Mentor.
TBH, the more of the Mentor cards I see the more I think it _might_ just be a deck.

Knight of Autumn's main mode- the 4/3 for 3- is not that great in Constructed, but he looks like a good 1- or 2-of mainboard inclusion that might get sideboarded out against decks not running burn, artifacts or enchantments.

Glowspore Shaman looks good - a sort-of Grapple with the Past-effect on a 3/1 for 2 seems deece. Unsure how relevant dying to Chainwhirler will be post-rotation.

Insert/Invent and Integrity/Intervention look a tad too expensive for Constructed, but good picks in Limited, just like Status/Statue.

Price of Fame might be a good sideboard or maybe 1-of maindeck card; depends on how many Legendaries we'll see.

Skyknight Legionaire is a _sick_ reprint for Limited, that card is and always has been gas.

Rec sage on steroids?

Aurelia is a 4/5 flying beater with Mentor and upside the turn she comes into play for 4 mana. Pretty greedy to ask for much more. Pretty bonkers.

And you're underselling Knight of Autumn, because it's "main mode" is very reasonable and cards that give you options are always sweet and the best kind of main-deckable artifact/enchantment hate.


All I really want now is a really solid 2-mana mana dork. Something like a WG 2/2 with "Tap: Add G or W. If this creature was tapped to play a creature by using Convoke, it adds two mana of any color." Something like that would be perfecto.

Underrealm lich is looking like it might be going to line up pretty well vs. Removal, with all the new things competing with contempt.

Agree with divs on Aurelia and Knight of Autumn. Aurelia might not be what some people expected, but especially for her mana costs I believe bonkers is the right word. Knight of Autumn fills so many roles in one card; destroy an artifact/enchantment, grant a few life points to finish off the game, or just come in as a 4/3 for 1GW. That is a solid card and highly maindeck worthy.



Maybe, but Red mages get a new toy with Lava Coil which I am sure will be packing at least a pair of maindeck. However, that is a card just asking to be broken if I've ever seen one.

Aurelia is great! and we are losing the Orzvhov lands anyway so I guess I could try the Boris approach in the angel's deck, she can mentor Resplendent Angel and Shalai plus we get access to the funky Sweeper/lifelink shenanigan that could trigger resplendent angel... also Resurgence T5 is just on schedule with History of Benalia ultimate...

Coil can be "dodged" by the lich.

VOLTRON LOVERS REJOICE!

Trample?!

This set... its just obscene man

True. Should have taken my time on that response. But it does open up the Red mage to swing in and have done 4 damage to face, so there is that.



Yep...Mentor was made for this card.


Other new cards out:

Crackling Drake - UURR */4 Flying Enigma Drake on steroids...and it draws you a card CiP. Strictly better than Enigma Drake, though harder to cast and slightly more expensive. Probably the best or second best card in this cycle.

Conclave Calvary - GGWW, 4/4 Vigilance...probably the best in terms of stats for the cards in this cycle. Divides in two when it is killed, so difficult to get rid of. Lava Coil was made to counter this card.

Venerated Loxodon - Decent body, interesting payoff on Convoke, though it seems a bit slow.

Ledev Patrol - Good payoff on Convoke creatures when you don't have anything to Convoke, but sets you up for a sweeper.

Sweeping Giant - Way to expensive, limited bomb.

Blood Operative - Interesting CIP effect, though I can't think of much to use it on currently. Nice recursion ability.

They should have called this card rage quit. As in, “it actually worked and my opponent rage quit.” Or, “I was sure I was going to win, then my opponent cast shock, and I rage quit.”

I’d rather they replace all of those words with just one: hexproof. (If I’m playing Voltron of some kind).

Also, I’m pretty sure the mentor mechanic (as a mechanic) is a total bust. I do think there are a couple decent cards that use it, but I have doubts there will be a mentor deck.

I totally agree mentor is the weakest keyword out of this set. And most of the cards that have it are not that good.

But, I can see people using the good ones to enhance their Boros aggro deck. The 3 or so cards with Mentor that are good are good, so I think they will see play either way.

New cards just spoiled...

Bypass - Mana ramp for 3G, get to search out gates. This is pretty nice.

Trostani Discordant - 5 mana for a total of 3 power and 6 toughness over 3 creatures is really good...add the +1/+1 to other creatures and this just gets better. Then negating all control magic effects (not sure how relevant that is but whatevs) and this is looking like a pretty good Legendary for Selesnya.

Connive // Concoct - This may just be my favorite split card. Conditional control magic on one side, or Rise from the Grave with Surveil 3 tacked on. Pretty spicy.

Ritual of Soot - Finally! A new black sweeper, though conditional. Shores up holes that black-based decks were looking at after rotation.

Omnispell Adept - 5-mana is a lot, but being able to play any instant or sorcery for 2U is a pretty powerful ability. The 3/4 body is pretty sturdy however, and it has a relevant creature type. Looks to be more of a kitchen-table card than constructed viable.

Glaive of the Guildpact - Yeah, an equipment. Rather have a Sword, but probably better we don't.

Well, there may not be a Mentor.dek, but there won't be a Jump-Start.dek, either. It's a useful mechanic when pinned on otherwise good creatures and I certainly Boros Deck Wins will be make a comeback using a fair number of new tools.

Connive/Concoct is the tool that Sultai Reanimator was hoping for. pseudo-Threads of Disloyalty + Rise from the Grave.

Whelp... it’s not ‘quite’ Damnation, but it’s close.

The mana might be a bit of a stretch, but imagine jeskai voltron with stormtamer, dive down and curious obession (draw 2 cards). Or we still have dauntless bodyguard in white.

Watcher in the Mist - 5 mana 3/4 flyer with Surveil 2 isn't all that constructed playable, but a fine card for limited.

Creeping Chill - 3B for a drain life for 3 isn't great nor is it bad. Surveiling it into the graveyard and doing it for free sounds entertaining to say the least.

Surveil has turned out to be the best mechanic out of this set IMO...hands down. I'd love to see the last 1/2 of this set come out and prove me wrong, but those cards would have to be totally busted.