Hey all, my friends and I will be at MagicCon: Chicago February 21st and the 22nd. If you're going, and would like to play Type 4, cEDH, or Judge's Tower with us, hit me up on discord (username is SuperTainted). Hope to see you there!

With the release of Foundations, it's time for another round of card reviews for Type 4! For the uninitiated, Type 4, aka Limited Infinity, is a non-rotating multiplayer format that centers around two rules: everyone has infinite mana at all times, and each player may cast only one spell each turn. Players play from a shared stack or draft from a limited card pool curated with an assortment of powerful cards from Magic's history.
For this review, we will be taking a look at the sets from Q3 and Q4 of this year. In my opinion, the latter half of 2024 was weaker overall for Type 4, but we still got some cards worthy of testing. Let's get to the cards!

Assassin's Creed (ACR)

Bayek of Siwa - A slightly weaker version of Rockshard Elemental. Good for stacks that take advantage of an alternative cost rule.

Yggdrasil, Rebirth Engine - An interesting, albeit slow, reanimator artifact. I like the fact that it can continue to exile cards that it can reanimate on future turns.

Bloomburrow (BLB)

Spellgyre - Another modal spell in similar vein to Archmage's Charm, without the gain control mode.
Mystery Booster 2 (MB2)

Kozilek, Compleated - Since card advantage is so critical to Type 4, I am a BIG fan of discard effects, especially when they're stapled to Eldrazi. This iteration of Kozilek is a powerful card that I'm sure will make its way into other lists.

Liliana's Other Contract - Sorcery speed draw threes are very lackluster. but a draw three that protects you from losing the game seems worth testing.

Teferi, Druid of Argoth - A green shifted version of Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir. Teferi has been a Type 4 all-star since it's printing, so there's not much else to say that hasn't already been said about it.

Duskmourn: House of Horror (DSK)

Overlord of the Floodpits/Overlord of the Balemurk - Impending is a new alternative cost introduced in DSK. I think these two are these two are the best options out of the Overlord cycle.

Meathook Massacre II – A perfect example of a sequel that’s better than the original. Meathook Massacre II is part removal, part reanimate, and all splashy, Type 4, goodness.

Valgavoth, Terror Eater – A 9/9 flying demon that turns life into card advantage? And its ward requires a sacrifice of THREE nonland permanents? Sign me up! While I’m not currently testing it, Valgavoth might be the exception to my “minimal lifegain” rule, since it turns life into cards.

Leyline of Mutation – Another solid Leyline for Type 4 that gives all your cards an alternative cost. Definitely worth testing.

Drag to the Roots – Another instant speed targeted removal spell in an already crowded sea of removal. I think it’s good for larger stacks that need additional removal.

Duskmourn: House of Horror Commander (DSC)

They Came From the Pipes – A nice card advantage enchantment that converts your face-down cards into card draw. Definitely worth testing if your stack runs a lot of face-down mechanics like morph, disguise, etc.

Star Athlete – A blitz creature with a floor of three damage that replaces itself or eight damage that replaces itself if the opponent you target chooses not to sacrifice a nonland permanent. Worth testing if you have an alternative cost rule.

Giggling Skitterspike – Skitterspike is a solid indestructible fatty if it’s allowed to stick around for multiple turns, dealing at a minimum 6 damage to each opponent each turn cycle.

Foundations (FDN)

Sire of Seven Deaths – Sire is a 7/7 eldrazi with a keyword soup of abilities. This card is an auto include for many lists. My only gripe is that it lacks haste. Otherwise, awesome card.

Herald of Eternal Dawn – A 6/6 Angel with flash that prevents your opponents from winning the game and you from losing it. While weaker than your average protection spells (Teferi’s Protection, Everybody Lives, etc), I think it has a place in some Type 4 stacks.

Curator of Destinies – An uncounterable sphinx with a Steam Augury effect on entering. This card is an easy include or replacement for your current card draw suite.

High Fae Trickster – Trickster is a flash enabler for all of your cards. While not as strong as Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir and similar cards, I think it has a place in some stacks.

Blasphemous Edict – A new card in the blasphemous cycle. What makes this one a little better is the alternative cost option if there are thirteen or more creatures on the field. While weaker than the existing wrath suite available, it’s definitely worth testing.

Koma, World-Eater – An uncounterable beefy 8/12 that creates four Koma’s coil on dealing combat damage. It’s a little slow for my stack, but definitely worth testing!

Niv-Mizzet, VIsionary – I think this iteration of Niv-Mizzet is perfect for a cube where you can draft a spellslinger deck focused on casting spells like Urza's Rage, Searing Wind, and Blast from The Past. Outside of that, I think it’s underwhelming for most lists.

And that wraps up my review for the latter half of 2024! WoTC brought us some interesting and fun new cards to test out, albeit a weaker showing compared to the first half. I’m currently testing two of these cards (Kozilek, Compleated & Meathook Massacre II), but a couple more are on the testing pile. What cards are you currently testing? Thanks for reading, and I will see you all soon with a stack update.

Making some small wording changes to the ACR and DAW.

For the ACR, it will now be known as the Alternative Cost Rule instead of the Alternate Cast Rule. I'm changing it to better fall in line with the jargon WoTC uses. The new text of the rule will be:

I reworded the additional rulings for DAW a while back, but never made it official. So here they are:

Modern Horizons 3 (MH3)

Emrakul, the World Anew - Another busted Emrakul that's guaranteed to make it into my list? Imagine. My. Shock. Honestly, this iteration of Emrakul is really strong statwise, with a backbreaking triggered ability that steals an opponent's board. Also, if you include madness as an alternate cast, you can cast her during discard (or at any time since madness ignores timing restrictions)! Super strong card and a must for most lists.

Herigast, Erupting Nullkite - I haven't seen this card much in other lists, but it's worth mentioning. The cast trigger alone makes it a candidate for most lists. And it's on a reasonable 6/6 body with flying.

Kozilek, the Broken Reality - So, you mean to tell me that there's a new Kozilek that can cheat up to two creatures from your hand into play, draw you up to two cards, is a 9/9 itself, and pumps those same creatures you just put onto the battlefield? And you get a total of 19 power from one creature?
Holy moly, do I love this card. What a bombastic threat. Highly recommended for every list.

Nulldrifter - Another Mulldrifter variant that has a cast trigger instead of an ETB. A little weaker overall, but still very good.

Ulamog, the Defiler - Another over the top Eldrazi that exiles half your opponents deck and comes with a slew of relevant abilities and stats. I don't think this card is the best choice for a communal stack, but ho boy is it awesome for cubes!

Abstruse Appropriation - An Utter End variant with devoid and allows you to cast the exiled card at a later time. A great upgrade if you run similar removal.

Modern Horizons 3 Commander (M3C)

Hideous Taskmaster - Another backbreaking Eldrazi with a cast trigger that threatens a creature from each opponent. And it gives them all annihilator 1! I replaced Insurrection for this card since the cast trigger is a lot harder to stop. Such a huge massive threat.

Gluttonous Hellkite - Yet another big fatty with a bombastic cast trigger. You get to wipe the board and smack people around with a massive dragon. Imagine If it had haste...

Lazotep Quarry - WoTC keeps churning out fun lands for Type 4. Another solid reanimate land.

Talon Gates of Madara - Last, but certainly not least, is Talon Gates of Madara. While it may look like an unassuming land, Gates is an awesome piece of interaction that shows up when you least expect it, skirting the Arcane Laboratory rule. I think this is yet another autoinclude for every list.

That wraps it up for this review. The first half of 2024 brought us some powerful new mechanics and cards for Type 4. Notable favorites for me are: Unyielding Gatekeeper, Alpha Deathclaw, Final Showdown, Plan the Heist, and Talon Gates of Madara. What are your favorite cards from the first half of 2024?

See you all soon with my semiannual update! So many new cards to test!

And we're back with another semiannual Type 4 review. WoTC introduced two new powerful alternate cost mechanics (Diguise and Plot), Kicker on roids (Spree), and a host of fun and powerful cards from MH3. We also got some unique utility cards in the form of lands! This is also a pretty lengthy review, so I've broken it down into two parts. Let's not waste any time and get to the cards!

Murders at Karlov Manor (MKM)

Aurelia's Vindicator - White facedown creatures are a welcome addition to the disguise and morph suite available for the format. Vindicator is a really slick card because it can be destroyed before the first trigger resolves, allowing you to exile the creatures permanently. Regardless, the first ability is great at stopping fatties and reanimate targets. You can also exile your board or graveyard too! Lots of utility!

Unyielding Gatekeeper - Another excellent white disguise creature that serves as removal or flicker for a nonland permanent.

Exit Specialist - Another functional Echo Tracer card. These effects are surpsingly good (and also bothersome).

Intrude on the Mind - Another functional Fact or Fiction card, with an additional blocker on resolution.

Sudden Setback - Another functional Endless Detour card.

Caught Red-Handed - An uncounterable, instant speed, Threaten? Sign me up!

Fugitive Codebreaker - Similar design space to Riptide Survivor, where you need to discard cards to draw more. While I've overlooked cards like this in the past, I think they're actually good if there's an alternate cost rule in place, since it's effectively free card draw once the cost of discarding cards is paid for.

Pyrotechnic Performer - Testing Performer was a little lackluster. At best, it did an additional 3-6 once it flipped over. I think it's a good candidate for a cube where you can draft around morph.

Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)

Rooms (Ballroom,Billiard Room,Conservatory, etc.) - Additional card advantage lands if your stack needs it. Psyched to see more utility lands!

Murders at Karlov Manor Commander (MKC)

Boltbender - An upgraded Willbender. Such a sweet card. Testing has proved very promising.

Havoc Eater - Big, evasive, fatty that goads and gets bigger with each creature goaded. Wish it had haste though. Still a solid card for most lists.

Prisoner's Dilemma - Named and based on the game theory thought experiement, Prisoner's Dilemma is a fun, and flavorful, addition for anyone looking to add mechanically unique cards to their stack.

Counterpoint - Another Reinterpret-style card, except the card cast is from the graveyard.

Take the Bait - Another fun redirect damage card that messes up combat for the attacker and goads their creatures, forcing them to attack someone else. I haven't tested this card out yet, but I think its got legs.

Fallout (PIP)

Alpha Deathclaw - A roided up version of Clay Golem with an ETB that destroys a permanent. Such a sweet card.

Junktown - At first, I thought Junktown was a little... underwhelming. You can't activate the Junk tokens at instant speed, and you don't put the cards into hand or draw them, and the cards are only available for a turn in exile. However, Junktown does some neat things that, in my opinion, make it an autoinclude for every list. For starters, it's a land, so it skirts the Arcane Laboratory rule T4 is known for. Secondly, it expands your hand by 1-3 cards for a turn without having to draw any cards. Third, you can play any cards revealed, including lands. I really like the design of it, and think it'll stick around for a while.

Mariposa Military Base - Another card advantage land to add to your land suite if you need it.

Outlaws of Thunder Junction (OTJ)

Aven Interrupter - Interrupter is a sweet counterspell that deals with a lot of the harder to remove spells in the format. In addition, it's a great card for stopping other counterspells, since the plotted card can only be cast at sorcery speed. The only real downside to it is, if you have an alternate cast rule, the plotted card can be cast for free. But I think it's worth testing as a tempo card to stop uncounterable cards or powerful counterspells.

Final Showdown - Spree, while being another variation on kicker, is a much welcome addition to this format. I absolutely love the spree cards introduced in OTJ. Final Showdown is probably at the top of the list for its overall utility, allowing you to do things no other instant speed wrath avilable can do. Removing abilities, protecting a creature on your board, and destroying all creatures is so powerful in Type 4. I foresee Showdown sticking around for a long time.

Plan the Heist - We got not one, but TWO, awesome mechanics from OTJ. Plot is great for expanding your hand past the max hand size, and also allowing you to bank cards for later turns. Plan the Heist is the best iteration of this. Not only can you cast it for free on following turns, it also lets you draw three cards (or surveil 3 first if you have no cacrds in hand). If you have an alternate cast rule, this is easily replaces any number of instant speed draw three spells available. Much like Final Showdown, I think this will be a staple for many lists for the foreseeable future.

Three Steps Ahead - A spree counterspell with additional, and mightily relevant, modes for drawing cards and copying a creature on your board. Autoninclude for most lists.

Visage Bandit - I'm iffy on this card since adding it, but it's effectively an alternate cast clone for stacks that support it. We'll see if its impactful over the next couple of months.

Rush of Dread - A spree card that has targeted life loss, sacrfice, and discard all in one, and you can target different opponents with each mode!

Unscrupulous Contractor - Another Mulldrifter variant, albeit a little weaker due to life loss.

Return the Favor - Finally, an upgrade to Wild Ricochet. Return the Favor is especially powerful due to WoTC printing strong on cast trigger cards (literally all the Eldrazi). I had to make room for it, but I think this card is a sure staple for virtually every stack. You'd need a good reason to not run it.

Smuggler's Surprise - Instant speed pseudo-Tooth and Nail. Smuggler's Surprise has grown on me since adding it a month ago. And it protects your creatures!. So good.

Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander (OTC)

Smirking Spelljacker - Another Spelljack-style card. Overall, I think this card is good, but not as good as the other varations on this effect. Worth playing for sure!

Heartless Conscription - A board wipe that not only exiles all creatures, which is really powerful, but also lets you cast them from exile! This is definitely one of the better sorcery speed boardwipes.

Pyretic Charge - Another powerful, alternate cast, draw spell with minimal downside. You can easily sequence this by first dumping your hand, then casting this for free on a later turn to refill. And it buffs your board too if you discard any cards! I think its a must-have for most lists.

Updating the ACR to better fall in line with WoTC's rulings on what constitutes an alternate cast (https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Alternative_cost ). This is to make the ACR slightly more intuitive.

From:

To:

What this means is that Adventure cards are no longer considered alternate cast, and cards with alternate casts from different zones (Madness, Flashback, etc) are now considered alternate cast spells. This also means that Spelljack-style cards allow you to cast the countered/exiled cards as alternate cast spells.

I will update the stack after MH3 is spoiled.

Need to correct the ruling on Masticore-style cards when applying DAW.

In the case of two Masticore-style cards targeting one another, the first to instigate will always lose. Also, both creatures will die once the stack fully resolves.

Even though the defending creature will always win out when applying DAW, there are still an arbitrarily large number of activated abilities from the instigating creature that must be resolved, even if that creature has already died. What this means is that, barring any other interaction, the defending creature will die as well.

I might have to update this at a later point to clean up the language. I'll stick with these rulings in their current iteration for now.

Quick update to DAW to account for more than two activated abilities along with 2 rulings on certain interactions.

From:

To:

This means that DAW will apply to game states where multiple activated abilities come into play.

Additionally, the following rulings will apply as an extension of DAW:

• In the case of two Masticore-style cards targeting one another, the first to instigate will always lose. Also, that creature will die after the stack resolves.
• In the case of two Shade-style cards attacking into each other, the attacking or instigating creature will always lose. Also, that creature will die after the stack resolves.

I hope this clears some things up!

Welcome back to another Type 4 review. WoTC did not disappoint with powerful new Adventures, haymakers, and everything in-between. We also have a special set of cards for review: Gavin Verhey's Unknown Event series. Thanks to @AmericanKid for discovering these fun and unique cards.

Without further ado, let's get to the cards!

Commander Masters (CMM)
Flayer of Loyalties - Powerful upgrade to Eldrazi Obligator. Adds Flayer's stats to the threatened creature for the turn.

Rise of the Eldrazi - All-in-one removal and card advantage spell. And you get an extra turn! Such an awesome card.

Wilds of Eldraine (WOE)
Galvanic Giant - Powerful alternate cast Thoughtflare and utility creature. Surprisingly useful triggered ability for stunning your opponents creatures and locking down the board on any spell you cast with MV 5 or greater.

Bramble Familiar - Alternate cast reanimate. Still on the fence with this one due to the RNG nature of it.

Spellscorn Coven - An alternate cast Reprieve-style card. Great for dealing with uncounterable cards or winning counter wars.

Decadent Dragon - A Mulldrifter variant that artificially expands your hand size by two.

Questing Druid/Tempest Hart/Twining Twins/Threadbind Clique/Scalding Viper/Horned Loch-Whale - Additional niche Adventure cards for stacks with an alternate cast.

Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)

Malleable Impostor - Slightly weaker Mocking Doppelganger. Still very powerful because of flash.

Throne of Eldraine - WoTC finally printed a happy medium to Loreseeker's Stone style artifacts and cards like Emmessi Tome. Add it to your pool of existing card advantage artifacts or replace one if need be.

Doctor Who (WHO)

Everybody Lives! - Another Teferi's Protection style card. Good combat trick to keep yourself alive for another turn.

Reverse the Polarity - A Swift Silence style card with optional combat tricks. It's more of an upgrade since Swift Silence is often a glorified Dismiss.

Ensnared by the Mara - Powerful spell that effectively allows you to cast three additional spells. Bonkers if your stack supports this type of card.

Frost Fair Lure Fish - Glad to see more Foretell cards since it effectively expands your hand size. While the fish won't make it into my stack, it's a great option for lower powered stacks or stacks where Foretell is considered an alternate cast.

Great Intelligence's Plan - Sorcery speed draw three that allows you to cast a spell for free. Great for stacks with an alternate cast.

Ominous Cemetery - While it doesn't exile or remove any permanent, Cemetery is a powerful removal land similar to cards like Otawara, Soaring. Definitely like the design and hope we see more lands like this in future sets.

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan (LCI)

Hurl into History - Artifact or creature counter that's either a pseudo Dismiss or Reinterpret depending on the alternate cast rule you use. I think it has a place in most counterspell suites.

The Tomb of Aclazotz - Backside of Tarrian's Journal that allows you to cast a creature from your graveyard every turn if you have one available. Doubt it will make it into my stack, but an option for stacks that need additional reanimator cards.

Tecutlan, the Searing Rift - Backside of Brass's Tunnel-Grinder that allows you to Discover X when you cast a permanent spell. Seems strong and an upgrade to Havengul Laboratory if you have an alternate cast rule.

Ghalta, Stampede Tyrant - Weaker Timmy, Power Gamer with a 12/12 body and trample. Good for stacks that need more of this effect.

The Skullspore Nexus - Support card that creates a fungus army and also pumps any creature's power until end of turn. Good utility for stacks that need this effect.

Chimil, the Inner Sun - Support card that makes your spells uncounterable and provides an additional card at the end of your turn. Another utility card worth testing, especially for stacks that have an ACR.

Hoverstone Pilgrim - Another Reito Lantern-style card for Type 4 cubes designed with cycling support.

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)

Bronzebeak Foragers - Insane upgrade to Luminate Primordial with the slight downside of putting each exiled card into the owner's graveyard. Other than that, you gain all the life and create a huge tempo swing.

Order of Sacred Dusk - Love everything about this card: 5/5, haste, lifelink and exalted, and the art is a band of flying conquistador vampires! Cool card, but sadly not strong enough for my stack.

Jurassic World Collection (REX)

Grim Giganotosaurus - Chonky 10/10 dino with monstrosity 10 that destroys all artifacts and other creatures at instant speed? Sounds like a winner in my book! Love the art too!

Unknown Event: Minneapolis

Welcome to Mini-apolis

A sweet enchantment that creates an army of your opponents creatures, except they're all 1/1's. The drawback is not severe since most Type 4 creatures are useful in other respects (utility creature, blocker, etc).

Nevermind

An Evermind variant, with a slight downside. I currently don't run either at the moment, but the design space is very interesting. Love Splice as a mechanic and hope to see more cards like this.

Emrakul and Chatterfang

Oh mama! My favorite card this year! This card is part meme, part haymaker, and all around stupidly powerful threat! Testing has, surprisingly, proved promising. I think this eldrazi squirrel meme monstrosity is a worthy inclusion of any high powered stack! Make sure you add more wrath effects to deal with it!

Riku and Riku

A slightly weaker but playable version of Riku of Two Reflections. It's easily stopped by cards like Azorius Guildmage.

Koma and Toski, Compleated

I would run Koma, Cosmos Serpent before this, since Koma taps and disrupts any permanent instead of creatures. While there is built in card advantage with Koma and Toski with the tokens, I just don't think it's enough.

Unknown Event: Las Vegas

Force of Rowan

An alternate cast Fork in the style of Force of Will! Also a cute play on words involving the twin siblings Will and Rowan Kenrith.

Unknown Event: Philadelphia

Call Up Emrakul to Help

Last, but certainly not least, we have a bombastic removal and threat all in one: Call Up Emrakul to Help! For 13 mana you get to exile one nonland permanent and create an Emrakul, the Promised End. Such a powerful haymaker and tempo card. Solid replacement for any removal that you currently run. Easily one of my top favorites of this year.

The latter half of 2023 has introduced many powerful cards to the Type 4 card pool. WoTC has exceeded virtually all of my expectations with the new haymakers, Adventures, and utility cards, especially the Unknown Event cards! I look forward to seeing more over the top spells in 2024 as I'm sure WoTC will continue to push the envelope of this niche format. Thanks and see you soon!

Quick update to add a new mulligan rule specially crafted for the stack.

I've noticed over the past few years that some players get the occasional bad hand. While I don't want to introduce standard mulligan rules (for brevity's sake), introducing a way to mulligan an otherwise terrible hand will, I believe, keep the feelbads away. Early testing has proved promising. Looking to make this a mainstay for the stack.