The new set isn’t really looking to rock any established foundation. We’ve got about 50% reprints, 50% new cards, and no new mechanics. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be bad by any means, in fact it may be a better set because the designers are working with far less unknowns than usual. Either way, I have been feeding and watering my J2SJosh in my basement, and I feel like he’s thriving. Let’s take a look at blue.
5.0: Disgustingly powerful and basically unbeatable. Either answer it the turn it comes down or just pack up your cards. (Gruff Triplets, Virtue of Persistence, The Eternal Wanderer)
4.5: Incredible bomb that still gives your opponent a slim chance. (Virtue of Loyalty, Imodane's Recruiter, Realm-Scorcher Hellkite)
4.0: Great rare or the absolute best uncommons and removal. (Faunsbane Troll, Gumdrop Poisoner, Talion’s Messenger)
3.5: Great role filler or removal that you never cut. (Candy Grapple, Hearth Elemental, Torch the Tower)
3.0: Good playable that I’m basically never cutting. (Shrouded Shepherd, Spellscorn Coven, Sharae of Numbing Depths)
2.5: Decent playable and the bar I hope nearly every card in my deck to reach. (Evolving Wilds, Archon's Glory, Flick a Coin)
2.0: Mediocre filler that normally is your 20-23rd card(s). (Mintstrosity, Ice Out, Grabby Giant)
1.5: Replaceable, overall bad filler. Could also be decent sideboard cards. (Titanic Growth, Scarecrow Guide, Territorial Witchstalker)
1.0: Bad filler. Gets cut most of the time. (Dark Tutelage, Kindled Heroism, Impact Tremors)
0.5: Very unhappy to main deck this, but maybe it has fringe sideboard applications. Cards that “could” be situationally decent, but bad in most situations. (Smothering Tithe, Rhystic Study, Mana Flare)
0.0: Unplayable in every possible situation. They rarely print cards this bad these days. (Hew the Entwood, One with Nothing)
Abrade
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
Solid instant speed removal that can sometimes pick off a prolematic artifact.
Axgard Cavalry
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
A solid 2 drop for aggressive decks, mediocre in most others.
Battlesong Berserker
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
I’m not sold on this card as an overall performer. It is a decent top end creature for an aggressive deck, though.
Boltwave
Rating: 0.0 // 5.0
This only targets players, therefore it’s extremely narrow for when it is even relevant.
Brass’s Bounty
Rating: 0.0 // 5.0
This is a constructed/commander card.
Brazen Scourge
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
A decent 3 drop, it’s at it’s best in an aggro deck.
Bulk Up
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
This is going to trick a lot of people into thinking it’s great, when it’s really just a finisher. I would only try to play this in a hyper aggressive deck with high powered creatures.
Burst Lightning
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
Solid removal spell that scales up.
Chandra, Flameshaper
Rating: 3.5 // 5.0
Incredibly powerful planeswalker, but it does cost 7. If you are an aggressive red deck, you won’t want such an expensive card in your deck unfortunately.
Courageous Goblin
Rating: 1.0 // 5.0
Underwhelming 2 drop.
Crackling Cyclops
Rating: 1.0 // 5.0
This is supposed to be for Izzet decks, but it seems pretty underwhelming.
Dragon Trainer
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
Solid creature that provides a chump blocker and a giant flying threat.
Drakuseth, Maw of Flames
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This is hard to cast and has to attack, but if both conditions are met, it’s a bomb.
Electroduplicate
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
This card seems bad, but I’m sure there’s some practical application for it somewhere.
Etali, Primal Storm
Rating: 3.5 // 5.0
A huge creature that gets you free spells if it gets to attack.
Fanatical Firebrand
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
I’ve always been a big fan of this creature, more than most. You want to play this almost exclusively in aggressive decks, where it can get some points of damage through, then use it to help pick off a creature.
Fiery Annihilation
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
Another solid burn/removal spell.
Firebrand Archer
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This card typically performs better than one would expect. Racking up incidental damage throughout the game.
Flamewake Phoenix
Rating: 3.0 // 5.0
The downside for this card is that it has to attack each turn, making it a poor defensive creature. Keep in mind you can cast it during your second main phase if you do need to block with it.
Frenzied Goblin
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This seems like a decent option for aggressive decks, taking out blockers to push damage through.
Goblin Boarders
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
If you have a good amount of 2 drops to enable raid, 3 for a 4/3 is a good deal.
Goblin Negotiation
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
Kind of a split card, as sometimes it may be worth taking out an x/1 creature to make tons of goblins.
Goblin Surprise
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This is a great Boros card, enabling go-wide decks by either adding creatures to the board or pumping the team.
Gorehorn Raider
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This should be the top of your curve for aggressive decks. It’s not for every deck.
Heartfire Immolator
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
A really solid 2 drop. It can win combats with prowess, and sacrifice itself to take out threats.
Hidetsugu’s Second Rite
Rating: 0.0 // 5.0
A gambling mans card. Someone out there will lose to this, and we should all pray for them
Incinerating Blast
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
Sorcery speed, overpriced removal. I would only play this if you really need some removal.
Involuntary Employment
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This is solid for Rakdos sacrifice decks.
Kellan, Planar Trailblazer
Rating: 3.5 // 5.0
This is a bomb as far as 1 drops go. It scales into the mid-game and pushes a lot of damage.
Krenko, Mob Boss
Rating: 3.5 // 5.0
This creature is a giant problem if not killed immediately. Even with 0 other goblins, it gets out of control within a few turns.
Rite of the Dragoncaller
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This doesn’t do anything the turn you play it, but in a spells deck, it can be your win condition.
Searslicer Goblin
Rating: 3.0 // 5.0
This helps add to the battlefield, and is a big passive threat in aggressive decks.
Seismic Rupture
Rating: SB // 5.0
This can be a great sideboard option in non-agressive red decks.
Shivan Dragon
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
You won’t really want this in your low to the ground aggro decks, which narrows down the decks that actually want this. It’s hard to see Shivan Dragon being bad in limited though.
Slagstorm
Rating: 3.0 // 5.0
Similarly to Wrath of God you don’t want this in your aggro decks. But it can be strong in most other builds.
Slumbering Cerberus
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
I like this card. It’s hard to attack into, and can pack quite a punch as an attacker.
Sower of Chaos
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
This is filler, but can have some impact in the late game if you get to 6 mana.
Spitfire Lagac
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
Mediocre Filler
Strongbox Raider
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This will trade down most of the time, but it will net you a relevant card most of the time.
Sure Strike
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
This is kind of the only red combat trick, so it’s fine if you’re in the market for one.
Thrill of Possibility
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
This will be good for spells matter and threshold decks, and should be avoided everywhere else.
Twinflame Tyrant
Rating: 4.0 // 5.0
5 toughness makes this difficult to kill, and it makes all of your creatures very scary.
Top 3 Red Commons:
Bake into a Pie Stab
Black looks a bit lackluster in the creature department. It does have some great removal spells (big surprise), and some solid utility spells as well. There’s also some good life gain synergy/enabling cards floating around if that deck proves to be decent. I’m going to be tackling red next, stay tuned!
Lose and Learn, Learn and Win!
