Magic: The Gathering (Unreleased Sets)

Awaken is nice for limited since you'll probably want to run 18 lands for all the expensive drops I expect to show up. It gives you something to do with those lands instead of just flooding.

I already dislike the new eldrazi. For me eldrazi were always eiter ridiclious big creatures, the sort where you believe they could manage to kill a world, or smaller who´re only meant to produce spawns to path the way for the big guys. Now with the new eldrazi they´re just another creaturetype, without even their trademark of being colorless (saying they´re colorless just isn´t the same with seeing it). Maybe my perception is wrong, because i didn´t play during Zendikar-Block but those are my thoughst^^

Things that interact with the Exile Zone.

So it begins.

They're not going to just toss the titans in a duel deck. I'm sure the big eldrazi will make their appearance in the proper manner.

Besides, there were colored eldrazi in ROTE. Those smaller spawn-producers. Why is something that makes them more like the big boys a bad thing?

My assumption is that if they've reduced the frequency of the big Eldrazi, which we cannot tell at this point because we've seen all of seven cards (counting Evolving Wilds) from a set of 274, it would be because they want BFZ to feel like its own thing rather than just "Rise with landfall and allies".

Or maybe they are saving the really big ones for the second set.

Maybe the Titans were really weakened from imprisonment and now that they've had something to eat we'll get to see what they can really do.

I'm not expecting to see the Titans until the second set. It's the climax under the new block system, after all. I don't think anyone's going to be getting in a fistfight with Emrakul in the first act.

Now the question is, what will the second set be?

New Eldrazia, or Zendikar Pure?

My money is on Zendikar Pure for a large variety of reasons.

You can't have New Eldrazia.

For one thing there's no Old Eldrazia.

For another if the Eldrazi win all that's left is an empty plate as they make their way back to the buffet.

That is exactly what I meant though.

"Retreat from Zendikar" is my vote, though mainly due to amusement.

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Retreat from Zendikar is entirely accurate.

Nicol Bolas wanted something from releasing the Eldrazi. It would be anticlimactic for that particular plotline to abruptly end here without ever finding out what.

• The Eldrazi are Resealed: Unsatisfying. In a Sealed Evil in a Can plot, you don't just seal the evil back into the can and then go about your day. They had their chance to end the Eldrazi plot this way back in the original Eldrazi block. Not to mention, this is explicitly the protagonists' plan; it would be boring for it to simply go off without a hitch.
• The Eldrazi are Destroyed: Unlikely, given their level of power versus the protagonists' abilities at this time. More satisfying than resealing the Eldrazi, especially since it may produce future story potential via the unforeseen side effects of their destruction that Ugin was worried about long ago.
• The Eldrazi Win: Loads of story potential. Some new things about the Eldrazi may be learned while the Eldrazi move on, only to return in another block some years down the road when the protagonists are now more equipped to handle them and can strike a decisive victory.

Standard narrative conventions would mean one might expect that the protagonists win in the second block, but Magic has never proven unwilling to go for a Downer Ending for the sake of the overarching narrative. The heroes losing is an actual possibility in Magic stories.

edited 17th Aug '15 2:46:46 PM by TobiasDrake

What about the Eldrazi lose, but to Bolas?

Possible. Bolas is long overdue to return to the plot.

Well, we can have both #2 and #3 actually.

Remember, only Ulamog is still on Zendikar as far as we know. The other two left the Plane at the end of Rise to search for more juicy worlds rich in mana, IIRC.

edited 17th Aug '15 3:05:46 PM by LeChuck4

...

I did not know that. In that case, you're right, we can totally have 2 and 3. A triumphant victory over Ulamog, only to discover that Emrakul and Kozilek are still out there somewhere.

edited 17th Aug '15 3:04:46 PM by TobiasDrake

There's also the possibility that they actually defeat or re-imprision Ulamog, but it's still a downer ending because while Zendikar technically wasn't destroyed, it's been so ravaged by the Eldrazi that it's barely habitable anymore.

Or worse, they re-imprison Ulamog, but then - SURPRISE! - Ob Nixilis destroys Zendikar getting his spark back (which either destroyed Ulamog in the process or sets him free again).

Honestly I would love it if we leave this block with Ob Nixilis as a new and tasty Big Villain Guy. We really need more of those.

...and yes, I am still bitter we got screwed out of having Xenagos as a recurring villain. :|

Well, the awesome thing about Xenegos was he was fun. And very straightforward about what he did. He also had somewhat sympathetic motives, especially considering what a dick Heliod, and most of the pantheon are.

Ob Nixilus isn't really either of those.

Ulamog is destroyed, but (Planeswalker) gives (his/her) life in a (noble sacrifice/foolish act).

So, the new Eldrazi mechanic exiles the top card of an opponent's library for later stealing. I happen to have a deck based on both card stealing and milling. It might end up taking a very squidy turn once BFZ comes out. But then again, I also have an old-school Eldrazi deck that could possibly gain some things from this set.

I'm hoping that there's still a Zendikar when all of this is said and done because I don't want this to be "New Phyrexia, Again." I mean, New Phyrexia was cool in its time, but this would feel like too much of an echo.

Also, it sort of seems like the more interesting a plane is, the more likely they are to blow it up. I'd like them to refrain, just this once. If they want to utterly smash another plane, they should make a boring "surly dwarves and aloof elves" setting to do it to.

My guess is we're going to have a case of Broke Your Arm Punching Out Cthulhu were the Eldrazi are pushed back from Zendikar and Ulamog dead or heavily injured, but a high price.

If they go with killing Ulamog, I'm actually betting the Walker that lands the final blow and the one that pays the ultimate price will not be one and the same. Besides Ulamog is the least cool of the three Titans.

Are you kidding? He's the best, he has a helmet! D: