Edge of Eternities is dropping 8/1, with in-person prereleases happening the weekend before. It’s the most “far-out” set thusfar (excluding “un” sets), and we be goin’ to space! The new mechanics Station and Warp, reward slower gameplay. As we evaluate the cards, it will be important to keep that in mind. Alright, let’s blast off!
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)
Bombard
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This is decent-rate removal spell, that should take care of most (if not all) early-mid game creatures.
Cut Propulsion
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
I’m not sure if I like this any more or less than Bombard. It can deal with some threats that the other can’t, but also can’t kill anything with higher toughness than it’s power.
Debris Field Crusher
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
While the ETB may be a little underwhelming, and the investment on the Station on this may be a little rough, if you can make this a creature, a 5 toughness flyer with firebreathing can be very problematic for your opponent.
Devastating Onslaught
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
The strength of this one is going to be relative to how many good ETB triggers, and/or how many scary attackers you have. It’s a slow card, but can either net some good value, or outright kill an opponent.
Drill Too Deep
Rating: SB // 5.0
While this can be a fun surprise spaceship blocker, the destroy artifact mode may be a bit too narrow to main deck. This will probably be best out of the sideboard.
Frontline War-Rager
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
This is a nice filler card for the “two tapped creatures” Boros build. Other than that, this is pretty weak.
Full Bore
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
This is a cheap combat trick for aggressive red decks. Outside of that, it’s probably not so great.
Galvanizing Sawship
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This is one of the easiest spacecrafts to station, and it’s a pretty big threat when it is. The downside is that it’s pretty weak on defense, especially if you’re paying 6 mana and not having the resources to turn it into a creature.
Invasive Maneuvers
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
A really nice piece of removal. Hitting for 5 for 2 mana is really hard to beat.
Kavaron Harrier
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
A really nice Red aggressive Savannah Lion. It can help trigger void, provide sac fodder, and potentially help with the “two tapped creature” synergies.
Kavaron Skywarden
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
This is a decent top end threat for red decks. If it comes down as a 5/6, it starts to become a bit problematic for your opponent.
Kavaron Turbodrone
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
It’s cool to see a Red haste-enabler as a 3 drop, as they are typically 1-2 CMC. It’s a bit weak on it’s own, but the +1/+1 does give this some potential for certain aggressive decks.
Kav Landseeker
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This does a good amount for the mana cost. It’s suitable for most Red decks.
Lithobraking
Rating: SB // 5.0
This is more of a sideboard card against decks that are weak to Pyroclasm effects.
Melded Moxite
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
I like this version of Tormenting Voice. It gives you an artifact you can sacrifice later either to feed another outlet, or just for the 2/2 robot.
Memorial Team Leader
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
A great creature for aggressive decks. It can also help you Station up a Spaceship quickly.
Memorial Vault
Rating: 1.0 // 5.0
This requires a bit of deck set-up, but can work decently in Rakdos with some sacrifice payoffs.
Molecular Modifier
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
I’m a big fan of Valor Singer type creatures, and this one providing first strike makes enabling attacks all the easier.
Nebula Dragon
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
If your deck wants to get to 7 mana, or has lots of Lander tokens, this is a solid top end threat.
Nova Hellkite
Rating: 3.5 // 5.0
This creature is insane if you get to pick off 1-2 X/1’s with it. The warp allows you to hit them for 4 out of no where, or station something up quickly.
Orbital Plunge
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
Albeit sorcery speed, this should kill most anything you want, and provide a Lander token for your trouble.
Oreplate Pangolin
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
A nice 2 drop that scales throughout the game.
Pain for All
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
This can be compared to a slightly more expensive Rabid Bite. The upside on this version, is that you can hit your opponent in the face as well. The second clause can also make combat extremely difficult for your opponent.
Plasma Bolt
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
This would likely be too powerful at instant speed, but 3 damage for 1 mana to any target is pretty impressive.
Possibility Technician
Rating: 3.0 // 5.0
The reason this is more powerful than you’d expect, is the number of other Kavu in the set. There’s a total of 8 other Kavu that are common/uncommon, making this a pretty decent engine if it survives.
Red Tiger Mechan
Rating: 1.0 // 5.0
This is definitely on the weaker side of 4 drops. It could be alright in a very aggressive red deck, but there are far better options.
Remnant Elemental
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This is a unique creature, thats difficult to block during the early-mid game due to its statline of 2/4. After that, it will typically transform into a reach wall, which can be decent for the bigger Red decks.
Rig for War
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
This iteration of Sure Strike gives the reach bonus, which makes it a tiny bit more versatile. It’s still likely a card reserved for aggressive decks.
Roving Actuator
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
If you can line this up with something like Invasive Maneuvers, or Plasma Bolt, it’s a pretty solid bang for your buck. It’s not too easy to line it up, though.
Ruinous Rampage
Rating: SB // 5.0
This can be a small board wipe against opponents with a high number of artifats at 3 or less mana.
Rust Harvester
Rating: 3.5 // 5.0
This will surely get a few points of damage in early, then follow up by getting bigger and killing off other small creatures.
Slagdrill Scrapper
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This is a nice tool for decks that need some late game assurance. Cashing your lands/artifacts in for cards can determine games when your in top-deck mode in the late game.
Systems Override
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
There are a lot of great sacrifice outlets to pair this with in this set. You can also play this in aggressive decks. I would avoid playing this outside of those two circumstances.
Tannuk, Steadfast Second
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
This likely won’t do all that much, but if you’re in an aggressive position, it will help you close out those games.
Terminal Velocity
Rating: 0.5 // 5.0
This is a psuedo-board wipe that requires an additional resource to cast it, let alone if it will be effective. It will be a rare instance when this lines up well enough that you feel good about casting it.
Terrapact Intimidator
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
This creature won’t come down as a 4/3 all that often, meaning you will likely get a couple lander tokens for your trouble. This will mean that you want to be very considerate as to when you play him, as you can’t use both Lander tokens if you play this guy on turn two.
Territorial Bruntar
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
This assures you actionable cards throughout the late-game. If you hit a land, you get a guaranteed nonland card to play that turn. It’s a 6/6 to boot.
Vaultguard Trooper
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This guy can be quite powerful in the right circumstances. A 5/5 for 5 is a high enough floor to not mind putting this in any red deck.
Warmaker Gunship
Rating: 3.5 // 5.0
As long as you’re able to kill a creature with this, it’s all upside from there.
Weapons Manufacturing
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
As much as I want to build a deck around this card, it’s a bit too unreliable for me. You have to have artifacts to follow up with, as well as a sacrifice outlet to use them. If you can achieve those steps, this can be a powerhouse.
Weftstalker Ardent
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
This things fine, but overall not too exciting. It’s terrible on defense, and is good if you’re already winning.
Zookeeper Mechan
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
It’s rare to see a Red mana dork, and I’m here for it. There is definiteely a “Big Red” deck to be built, and this is going to be a huge part of making that happen.
Top 3 Red Commons:
Plasma Bolt Orbital Plunge Bombard
Red has a solid suite of removal spells, evidenced by the top commons above. There’s also some good support for a “Big Red” deck, with cards like Nebula Dragon, Kav Landseeker, and Zookeeper Mechan, which looks promising. There appears to be more synergy pieces than normal, opposed to outright aggressive cards. I’ll be breaking down Green next, stay tuned!
Lose and Learn, Learn and Win!
