Through the Omenpaths (OM1) Limited Set Review: White

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)

A Most Helpful Weaver

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

This is a pretty sweet deal for 2 mana. It even scales decently into the late game as, allowing you to grow a more meaningful creature, and enable a big attack.

Ademi of the Silkchutes

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

A solid 2 drop that can be used in a variety of ways. It can push some flying damage, work as a hexproof/indestructible trick, or pick off smaller attackers.

Archangler’s Skyrod

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This will be a tool for aggressive white decks. It’s hard to determine how well this will play out, but it feels a little underwhelming to me.

Basil, Cabaretti Loudmouth

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

A versatile 2 drop that can tap a big attacker, or surprise block if you have a bigger creature. It can also tap something in order to Enweb it.

Chosen by Valgavoth

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This could be playable in certain decks, so I’m not going to write it off entirely. But it is a very narrow card.

City Pigeon

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is a great creature for enweb decks. It also works well with cheap equipment, or Costume Closet, similarly to Battlefield Raptor.

Confessor’s Bindings

Rating: 0.0 // 5.0

Don’t try it.

Costume Closet

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This works well with cheap creatures, and could be the linchpin to aggressive white decks. It also works well with Crime-Scene Instructor.

Crime-Scene Instructor

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

A very similar creature to Dockworker Drone. It’s a fine 2 drop, but nothing to write home about.

Darval, Whose Web Protects

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

Most often this will just be a 3 drop 3/3.

Eztli of the Thousand Moons

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

I’m not a big fan of the stat-line for this 5 drop flyer, and the ETB isn’t all that exciting.

Freestrider Aces

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

I’m not a huge fan of this iteration of Valor Singer. This won’t help enable that many more attacks at the end of the day.

Generous Betty Wray

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

3 for 3/4 worth of stats is solid, even though she needs to attack to get the lifelink trigger – it’s still a decent enough deal.

Lively Leap

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This is a good trick for white aggressive decks, especially when utilizing flying to close out games. It shouldn’t be a highly desired card, so if your deck wants a copy, you should be able to end up with one easy enough.

Mothwing Shroud

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

Banishing Light continues to be a strong removal spell.

Principled Referee

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This is a buffed version of Basri's Acolyte, able to target itself with counters, as well as a bonus option. This should be good in any white deck.

Remarkable Readings

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

The floor of this card is 3 1/1’s for 4 mana, which isn’t terrible to begin with. This creates gigantic attackers, and can be activated right away if you have 6+ lands in play.

Sarn of the Silken Throne

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

There aren’t very many cards that produce two creatures by themselves, making this more of a one-trick pony in terms of drawing you a card.

Spectacular Tactics

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This allows you to protect/win combats as well as deal with large creatures. This should be solid in any white deck.

Sudden Strike

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This is much better when used on an attacker, but it’s still cheap enough to not feel bad about casting it at any point.

Surris, Spidersilk Innovator // Surris, Silk-Tech Vanguard

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is a fine 2 drop for any white deck, and gets a little better if you have the ability to flip it.

Verilax the Havenskin

Rating: 0.5 // 5.0

The only time you can play this is in a mono-white deck. If you’re mono White and draft this, congratulations.

Yera and Oski, Weaver and Guide

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is only slightly better than Darval, Whose Web Protects. Not being able to choose creature is pretty rough, but you do get to look at their hand. The effect hits both players, so check yourself, first you wreck yourself.

Zora, Spider Fancier

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This card can be incredibly powerful if your deck is full of spiders. Otherwise it doesn’t really do anything.

Top 3 White Commons:

Mothwing Shroud Principled Referee Spectacular Tactics

White looks like it wants to be very fast, and it has some great tools to do so! I do want to shoutout City Pigeon, as it could end up being one of the better white commons depending on how the format plays out. ‘ll be breaking down Blue next, stay tuned!

Lose and Learn, Learn and Win!