If you never played the original Strixhaven (STX), this is a true successor. The set supports a specific 5 archetypes; Silverquill (Orzhov), Prismari (Izzet), Witherbloom (Golgari), Lorehold (Boros), and Quandrix (Simic). A few of the archetypes may operate differently than you would expect the color pair to, specifically Silverquill being the fastest archetype, and Lorehold being a “slow” archetype as far as Boros is concerned. There is 0 support for color pairs outside of the 5 “Schools”, but splashing a third color is possible. When evaluating single-colored cards, I will often identify what archetype it works the best/worst in.
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)
Biblioplex Tomekeeper
Rating: 0.5 // 5.0
This card seems very bad.
Diary of Dreams
Rating: 0.5 // 5.0
There are far better card draw mechanics in this set.
Mage Tower Referee
Rating: 1.0 // 5.0
This is a bottom of the barrel 2 drop.
Page, Loose Leaf
Rating: 1.0 // 5.0
This is a really bad mana dork.
Potioner’s Trove
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This is a surprisingly good mana rock for a couple reasons. Most obviously is the myriad of converge cards. The not so obvious is the length of games and how mana intensive they can be.
Rancorous Archaic
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This thing is decent in 4-5 color decks.
Strixhaven Skycoach
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
A very solid mana fixer/value vehicle, good in pretty much every deck.
Sundering Archaic
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
As long as you can converge for 3+, this thing is solid value.
The Dawning Archaic
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This is a bit of a build around, and doesn’t do anything until the following turn. It’s difficult to cast this before turn 6 or 7.
Together as One
Rating: 3.5 // 5.0
This is good as long as X=3+, it’s probably not worth slotting into a 2 color deck.
Transcendent Archaic
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
This definitely requires at least 3 colors, and even then, it’s a little weak. This is best as a 4-5 color top-end threat.
Surveil Lands
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
These are mostly just for fixing. The surveil ability may come up here and there, but it isn’t all too often in such a value-dense format.
Slow Lands
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
These are a bit better than the surveil lands, and do a great job at helping enable higher converge costs.
Great Hall of the Biblioplex
Rating: 3.0 // 5.0
Turning this thing into a creature isn’t until end of turn, which most people will expect. So it’s basically a free creature for the price of a colorless land.
Petrified Hamlet
Rating: 0.0 // 5.0
I could see bringing this in from your sideboard against an opponent with 3+ Terramorphic Expanse or something.
Skycoach Waypoint
Rating: 0.5 // 5.0
There are very few (if any) creatures that you could talk me into putting this in a deck for.
Terramorphic Expanse
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
This is the best set I think I’ve ever seen for this card. Converge is powerful, as is splashing. This is a really nice fixing land.
That’s it! See you at the tables!
Lose and Learn, Learn and Win!
