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

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)

Courier of Comestibles

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This seems really good if you have a pizza in your deck. Otherwise, it’s not too exciting for just the food token, but it does put a couple game pieces into play. I also had to look up the word comestible: “an item of food”.

Cowabunga!

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

Roughly 3/5’s of the creatures in the set fall into these categories. It has a cheap cost, but I’m typically not very excited about these cards.

Frog Butler

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This is a really nice mana dork. After it’s done its job of casting all of your spells, it can just trade with an opponents creature.

Groundchuck & Dirtbag

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This is just a giant, trampling creature, as the mana ability will rarely come up.

Guac & Marshmallow Pizza

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

I like this combat trick decent enough. It’s nothing special, and it does sound disgusting.

Leatherhead, Swamp Stalker

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

A big 4 drop creature that can’t be killed by targeted removal. It also feels like a throwback to Kappa Tech-Wrecker, an honorary ninja turtle.

Michelangelo, Game Master

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This seems like a fine 3 drop. It typically won’t get out of control, but there’s not too much downside for playing it.

Michelangelo, Improviser

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

I’d call this a vanilla 4/4 most of the time. It can ninja in and get you a free 5-6 drop, but I don’t think that will happen too often.

Michelangelo, Mutant BFF

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

The static ability is cute, but the majority of this cards power is being a 4/4 for 4 with a bonus mutagen token.

Michelangelo, Weirdness to 11

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

At face value, this is 3/3 worth of stats for 3. This can be nuts if you have lots of mutagen tokens or +1/+1 counters in your deck though.

Michelangelo’s Technique

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

These cards are far too inconsistent for my tastes.

Mona Lisa, Science Geek

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

I prefer Frog Butler to this mana dork. It’s still alright if you need the fixing.

Mutagen Man, Living Ooze

Rating: 3.5 // 5.0

This is a nice, scalable creature, that grows your whole squad how you see fit.

Mutant Chain Reaction

Rating: SB // 5.0

I’d keep this in the sideboard if your opponent has an abundance of the targets this can hit.

New Generation’s Technique

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This can be pretty sweet if you sneak it in on turn 3, but it’s definitely reserved for decks that really want the mana/fixing.

Novel Nunchaku

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

This looks like a very nice fight spell, especially when compared to Hunt the Weak.

Party Dude

Rating: SB // 5.0

I don’t like this card, but I think there could be a case made for running it out of the sideboard against artifact decks.

Primordial Pachyderm

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This will probably be fine in most every Green deck.

Ragamuffin Raptor

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This seems like a solid 5 drop. The size of it is relevant enough, and you get your best creature/food back from the yard – what’s not to like?

Rocksteady, Crash Courser

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is a big body for a landcycler, and don’t forget about the combo with Bebop, Warthog Warrior!

Saved by the Shell

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

There are only 29 turtles in the set, surprisingly. Having said that, this is an incredible effect, even if you have to pay full price.

Tenderize

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

Rabid Bite is always solid, and works well with deathtouch!

Transdimensional Bovine

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This is a solid mana dork, that works as a good wall while ramping/fixing.

Turtle Power!

Rating: NA // 5.0

There’s only 12 non-rare turtles in the set, and it seems pretty difficult to have a deck with enough of them to support this card.

Venus, Torn Between Worlds

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This does a couple of unique things, with the first shutting down any attacks/blocks from your opponents small creatures. If you are some form of Simic, the draw a card ability can be pretty threatening.

West Wind Avatar

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

This is a cool take on Pelakka Wurm, a limited heavyweight. The draw card can be repeated if this sticks around, so it’s a very real threat.

Zoo Escapees

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

A fine creature to include in most Green decks

Top 3 Green Commons:

Frog Butler Tenderize Ragamuffin Raptor

Green looks solid in this set. It has solid creatures across the board, and some scary late game options. It has multiple playable mana dorks, and a good amount of land search/fixing. It doesn’t seem to really have any weak spots. I’ll be breaking down Multicolor next, stay tuned!

Lose and Learn, Learn and Win!