Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMT) Limited Set Review: Blue

This is a very nostalgic crossover, and a close second (to Final Fantasy) for favorite crossover so far. TMT is a smaller set, with 190 cards, compared to 273 cards in ECL. I think it’s safe to assume that it will create a much less diverse experience, with drafts/games feeling repetitive at a much quicker rate. The mechanics of the set are pretty surface level (sewer pun), and the set looks a lot closer to a core set in terms of limited play.

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)

April O’Neil, Hacktivist

Rating: 3.5 // 5.0

This is a pretty sick card drawing engine, that will draw you a card the turn it comes down. It won’t be too often that it draws 2+, but it will certainly happen.

April, Reporter of the Weird

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

In a set with sneak, it will be a difficult task to get creatures through to your opponent. If you have some enablers, you can play this card – otherwise, I’m not too excited to play it.

Bespoke Bō

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

I’m not sure how I feel about this equipment. It seems fine, but equip 3 is an expensive cost. This will be a card that’s power depends on the pace of the format.

Buzz Bots

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

These are good in pretty much any deck. They both enable and prevent the sneak mechanic, and works really well with mutagen tokens.

Crustacean Commando

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This seems like a creature that only defensive decks will be interested in.

Does Machines

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

It’s pretty unlikely that you will have enough artifacts for this to be good. It can be alright in a dedicated Izzet artifact build, but it is a bit slow.

Donatello, Gadget Master

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This is really weak without artifacts. With a high artifact count, this can do some work if you can connect.

Donatello, Mutant Mechanic

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

This looks pretty spicy if you have the artifacts/mutagen tokens to support it. The stat line isn’t too bad for a 4 drop either.

Donatello, Turtle Techie

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This looks like a solid 4 drop if you can trigger it the majority of the time you cast it.

Donatello, Way with Machines

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This seems like a trap for the most part. It’s definitely expensive for its initial size, and requires some specific follow-up to become relevant. I’m not ready to write it off, just be weary of how slow it can be.

Donatello’s Technique

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This is a pretty sick version of Divination. I really like the design on this one.

Fugitive Droid

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This seems like a fun 1 drop. Everything feels a bit circumstantial, but altogether seems like a fun card to play with.

Kitsune, Dragon’s Daughter

Rating: 4.0 // 5.0

Welp, this seems nuts. Trading your worst creature for your opponents best is quite the effect on a 6 mana 6/6 vigilance. It is a may ability, so it’s all good if the targets don’t line up well.

Kitsune’s Technique

Rating: NA // 5.0

There’s no viable mill strategies in this set.

Krang, Master Mind

Rating: 4.0 // 5.0

While the body half (pun intended) isn’t super exciting, the ETB is insane. If you can line this up as the last card in hand, draw 4 seems decent enough.

Metalhead

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

Not only is this a big bouncer, it’s one of my favorite TMNT villains.

Mind Transfer Protocol

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This is a reprint of Suit Up, a very potent combat trick (and sometimes finisher).

Mondo Gecko

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This is basically a better version of April, Reporter of the Weird. The stat line is a bit more appealing, and will almost always make your opponent hold back and buy you some time.

Negate

Rating: SB // 5.0

Negate in limited is typically a sideboard card for decks with multiple powerful spells.

Ooze Spill

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

The bonus mutagen token makes this much more powerful than Cancel, but not quite as powerful as Flip the Switch.

Ray Fillet, Man Ray

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This Phantom Monster looks decently appealing this set. There seems to be a lack of mid-sized flyers to challenge it in the air.

Renet, Temporal Apprentice

Rating: 3.5 // 5.0

This can make for a big board swing if it lines up. It is also a bit awkward to keep 5 mana up and not have your opponent play anything.

Retro-Mutation

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

Flash on this card is huge. While the 0/1 can still block, this looks like the go-to removal option for Blue.

Return to the Sewers

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

While a bit on the expensive side, this is a decent piece of psuedo-removal.

Sewer-veillance Cam

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This is a really unique card, and a bit hard to speculate on. I don’t think it will be great, but it certainly looks fun.

Stockman, Mad Fly-entist

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

A decent Islandcycler here, either helping to fix mana, or providing some card selection toward the late game.

Turtles in Time

Rating: 0.0 // 5.0

It’s really hard to justify why this card would be playable. It does reset the board if you’re close to dying, but it’s incredibly slow and unreliable.

Utrom Scientists

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

A reprint of Frost Lyns, with the added benefit of being an artifact. It’s not terribly exciting, but likely fine filler.

Top 3 Blue Commons:

Mind Transfer Protocol Retro-Mutation Buzz Bots

Blue is an artifact based color, with many of the cards caring about artifacts in play. It has some really awesome tricks, great flyers, and cool card advantage options. It does look pretty slow, so cards like Crustacean Commando may end up being much better than initially anticipated. I’ll be breaking down Black next, stay tuned!

Lose and Learn, Learn and Win!