The good:
Lots of non-creatures, and our colours are finally roughly balanced. We've also been able to cut some more of the bad cards. Many of the cards are also low mana value, which is an extra plus.
The middling:
I've decided to change my view on complexity a bit, I'm not as worried about cards offering complex corner cases. We're now at a point where enough of the cards are actually good that a certain level of complexity can be expected.
The bad:
Not really anything bad, to be honest; all upside from this set, thumbs up.
- Feast of the Victorious Dead
- Zimone and Dina
- Urborg Scavengers
- Lurrus of the Dream-Den
- Tranquil Frillback
- Tolarian Contempt
- Reckless Handling
- Metropolis Reformer
- Campus Renovation
- Samut, Vizier of Naktamun
- Undercity Upheaval
- Nahiri's Resolve
- Markov Baron
- Cosmic Rebirth
- Ayara's Oathsworn
- The Kenriths' Royal Funeral
- Vesuvan Drifter
- Narset, Enlightened Exile
- Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin
- Drannith Ruins
Big update this time, lots of new shtuff
The Good:
We got a solid amount of 2cmc creatures, and some mono coloured creatures as well. Most of the multicoloured ones were also only 2 colours, so we were able to cut some 3 colour cards to give the fixing some breathing room.
Also some more support for existing archetypes like legends matter.
Particular standouts:
Thalia, Mono U cards, finally another good UR card with Baral and Kari Zev.
The middling:
A lot of support for archetypes that aren't quite there, mainly artifacts and spells matter.
also cuts are actually difficult now, I'm starting to need to think about what kind of archetypes I want to support. Additionally I actually get the option to NOT include some new cards, which is exciting.
The Bad:
Another update of all creatures. I did cut some 3c non creature cards, so we actually have more creatures on average than before despite the cube staying at 360.
Overall:
Solid update, a lot of good role-player creatures. Sets up a lot of easy updates for the future (please artifacts and spells, please).
With Narfi out we can remove the "all basics are snow" rule.
- Tiamat
- Zur, Eternal Schemer
- Toluz, Clever Conductor
- Soul of Emancipation
- Lagrella, the Magpie
- Falco Spara, Pactweaver
- Crew Captain
- Peerless Samurai
- Norika Yamazaki, the Poet
- Lurking Roper
- Loathsome Troll
- Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit
- Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
- Baral, Chief of Compliance
- Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive
- Emry, Lurker of the Loch
- Ayara, First of Locthwain
- Captain Lannery Storm
- Squee, the Immortal
- Zada, Hedron Grinder
- Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma
- Errant and Giada
- Yorion, Sky Nomad
- Grimgrin, Corpse-Born
- Gyruda, Doom of Depths
- Judith, the Scourge Diva
- Obosh, the Preypiercer
- Shanna, Sisay's Legacy
- Baral and Kari Zev
- Dina, Soul Steeper
- Umori, the Collector
- Yargle and Multani
- Djeru and Hazoret
- Quintorius, Loremaster
- Inga and Esika
- Keruga, the Macrosage
- Zimone and Dina
- Jegantha, the Wellspring
- Niv-Mizzet Reborn
- Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit
- Thalia, Guardian of Thraben
- Emry, Lurker of the Loch
- Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive
- Baral, Chief of Compliance
- Squee, the Immortal
- Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma
- Zada, Hedron Grinder
- Captain Lannery Storm
- Ayara, First of Locthwain
- Judith, the Scourge Diva
- Baral and Kari Zev
- Niv-Mizzet Reborn
- Inga and Esika
- Gyruda, Doom of Depths
- Keruga, the Macrosage
- Jegantha, the Wellspring
- Umori, the Collector
- Yorion, Sky Nomad
- Obosh, the Preypiercer
- Grimgrin, Corpse-Born
- Shanna, Sisay's Legacy
- Dina, Soul Steeper
- Djeru and Hazoret
- Zimone and Dina
- Errant and Giada
- Yargle and Multani
- Quintorius, Loremaster
lurrus, Zirda, and Kaheera not included because the companion condition is pretty much impossible currently.
Lutri not included because it's companion condition is always met because of the singleton nature of cube.
May remove some of these eventually. Mono coloured cards are pretty much permanent, everything else is up for debate.
We didn't get anything from Brother's war, so it's nice to be back at it!
just some planeswalkers this time, also Phyrexian border tamiyo and ajani, didn't realize they came in english until now.
The Good:
ONE helps up our card quality with non-creature spells, and although many are strong none are absolutely busted so we get to add them all. Mostly mono colour as well, and the multicoloured cards are all only 2 colours, not 3. Most of them are also generically good, letting them go into any deck.
The middling:
We get to take some 3 colour cards out, but adding 2 colour cards back in takes away some of that value. Adding 6 planeswaklers also brings our total up to 15, not crazy high but enough that multiple will show up every draft. Cube becomes more grindy and agro becomes more important as a result. This set does not have a lot of additions, but all those additions being planeswalkers does make the set impactful.
The bad:
This set does not have many additions, but those that are there are bad for the curve. Also adding more planeswalkers adds more complexity, when complexity is already a major issue.
Additionally we're still low on blue cards, I had to cut errant because she was just so bad. If we get more cards that copy spells maybe she makes it back in, but seems unlikely.
Overall:
High highs and low lows, but not huge impact since it's just 6 cards.
Rona, Dawnhart wardens, Zar Ojanen, and Sol'Kanar were all underwhelming. They were all from parts of the gold sections with the most cards, so out they go.
Najal is also currently underwhelming and overcosted, though he may make it back in later once we get more instants and sorceries since we have so few izzet cards.
Jetmir is fine, but is just a bit too extra. Like he's not doing much that Naya colours don't already have access to, and he's a 4mv 3 colour creature and we have a lot of those.
Broker's ascendancy is too strong. I thought it might be OK, but no it's straight busted.