Through the Omenpaths (OM1) Limited Set Review: Red

Through the Omenpaths is the Arena Exclusive set web-slinging enwebbing to Arena September 23rd. This set is a little different from the paper counterpart: Marvel’s Spider-Man, due to licensing issues that we don’t need to get into. I’m just clarifying for anyone confused about what the new set is, and why Peter Parker is called Surris, Spidersilk Innovator on Arena. With that out of the way, let’s start breaking down the cards for the new set!

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)

Arachnomania

Rating: 0.0 // 5.0

This is too difficult to activate with any semblance of reliability.

Bayo, Irritable Instructor

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

This is a pretty good definition of a “ticking time bomb”. The longer this sticks around, the bigger the Fireball to your opponent’s face is. It also gets you a lot of free mana along the way, so long as you’re casting spells.

Cam and Farrik, Havoc Duo

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This card requires some outlets to become potent. I wouldn’t put this in every red deck, just ones with discard synergies.

Deathflame Burst

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

Sorcery speed Mayhem is a little sketchy, but it’s still a decent enough removal spell.

Fire-Brained Scheme

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

For the most part this should be treated as a 1 mana cantrip. The second option is a bit weak at sorcery speed, but I think this card is still playable.

Full-Throttle Fanatic

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This is a replaceable 2 drop, nothing too exciting here.

Galvanized Workforce

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

Another highly replaceable 2 drop.

The Infernus

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is a unique card, that scales into the late game. The more mountains your deck contains, the better this is.

Kazuo, Ruthless Rival

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

A relatively large attacker that can pick off a smaller creature on ETB.

Kephon, Rage Incubator

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

I actually don’t mind this card all that much. It’s good in red aggressive decks, to either use as a combat trick, or a large menace creature later in the game.

Kraza, the Swarm as One

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

You don’t really need any other spiders to justify this as a 3/2 for 2 mana, which is a solid floor. Riot is a powerful ability, and red has 6 other spider creatures, and many more from other colors. It’s not hard to get a few other spiders in your deck.

Lavaborn Goblins

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

If you’re able to cast this on turn 3, it can be quite a beating. Playing it for 5 isn’t awful, but not something you will be aiming to do.

Lavabrink Repels the Magmaloth

Rating: 1.0 // 5.0

This is a card designed for commander. Making your opponent attack with everything can be nice at times, but can also be completely irrelevant.

Lazlo, Enthusiastic Accuser

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

To remind you: Suspect is a counter that gives the creature menace and is unable to block. This can be used on itself, a different attacker, or to take out an opposing blocker. It provides a good amount of flexibility, and rewards you with treasure.

Nia, Skysail Storyteller // Nia, Fabled Skyclimber

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This should be treated somewhat similarly to Elvish Visionary. The upside is that you can flip it into a giant flyer, which is a nice bonus if you can pull it off.

Quint’s Insight

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

A free “rummage” each turn is a nice bonus for any deck, especially with mayhem cards. The discard ability isn’t a “may”, so keep that in mind

Restless Razorkin

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

The floor of this card is decent enough for a 3 drop, that you’re always happy to play it. It’s fairly easy to trigger this at least once, and that’s good enough on it’s own.

Rizna, the Spider-Crowned

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

I would only consider playing this with a very high spider count (9+ or so). Otherwise, it’s basically just a 1/2 for 2.

Romantic Rendezvous

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

Thrill of Possibility is better than it normally performs, given that mayhem is a set mechanic.

Sadistic String-Puller

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is one is a pretty solid mayhem creature. Cheap enough to cast when you pair it with something like Romantic Rendezvouz.

Shock

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

A classic. It’s cheap and efficient, even if it can only kill smaller creatures.

Skittering Kitten

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is one of the most efficient ways to enable mayhem, in that it has no associated mana cost. It’s very underwhelming in decks without mayhem.

Wardens of Silverweb Summit

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This is pretty bad on it’s own, though there are a series of Crew 2 vehicles, like Scuttling Spidercoach

Wisecrack

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This should deal with most creatures that you want to kill.

Top 3 Red Commons:

Shock Deathflame Burst Romantic Rendezvous

Red is a little lighter on removal than one would expect. It does have the most mayhem outlets and payoffs out of the 5 colors. I’d also note that red has one of the highest counts of spider cards (Green has the most), to keep in mind for spider synergies. I’ll be breaking down Green next, stay tuned!

Lose and Learn, Learn and Win!