Magic: The Gathering (Unreleased Sets)

Yeah. I love how they were basically on the plane for five seconds before their awful plan went to Hell. They didn't even make it to the city before "LILIANA DOWN! NEED A REZ! OUT OF MANA! AHHHHHHHHH!!!" Good f*cking luck with Nicol Bolas.

I think they might actually have set a record for shortest time between arrival on a plane and getting wiped out in planeswalker history.

edited 29th Mar '17 5:36:42 PM by TobiasDrake

I can't be hugely upset about the aesthetic of the Invocations, because if Kaladesh block was anything to go by, I'm probably not ever actually going to pull one in person.

One other thing I found odd about them is the color imbalance, the most glaring example being that the only green one is Maelstrom Pulse, which isn't even mono-green.

Also, more on the story, I'm now wondering what the relationship between Bolas and the Gods of Amonkhet is like. Are they allies of Bolas or enemies? When the set was first announced I'd assumed allies, but saving the Gatewatch doesn't seem like something a being in league with Bolas would do.

My hope for the end of this block:

Amonkhet is freed from Bolas's rule, but he breaks, humbles, and scatters the Gatewatch personally. Ajani carries the story of the plane that overthrew its draconic overlord back to the story circle, and it becomes important in a future Return to Tarkir block.

You know what'd be wild? If Nicol Bolas already got what he wants out of Amonkhet and doesn't care much about the place anymore. The Gatewatch charge in and get thrashed, and it turns out that it's just a remote base for Bolas's minions.

Also, I wonder if we'll hear about Madara. That would be an important story for a time like this, I think, and if Ajani comes back in set two with allies, it might come up.

I could see that. The idea that a being as ancient and eldritch as Nicol Bolas has only one base of operations is a bit silly. Doesn't he still have a lair on Grixis too?

Plus his Meditation Realm.

The new rare lands are fetchable cycling duals.

The article previewing them, for reference.

Also, Amonkhet has serpopards! That link is just the art. I don't know if the card itself has been posted anywhere yet.

The card!

How is that not UG? -_-

Why would it be UG? Counterspell hate is a predominately G effect.

EDIT: Oh, is it because it's a cat snake? The answer to that is because it's naturally-occurring.

edited 1st Apr '17 10:26:44 AM by TobiasDrake

Generally "can't be countered" is red on instants and sorceries and green on creatures. Blue gets it only occasionally.

Let Amonkhet preview season begin!

• Amonkhet Card Image Gallery
• Amonkhet Mechanics
  • Embalm, illustrated by Anointer Priest
  • Exert, illustrated by Ahn-Crop Crasher
  • Aftermath, illustrated by Destined -> Lead
  • Cycling, illustrated by Limits of Solidarity and Renewed Faith
    • Cards that care about cycling, illustrated by Flameblade Adept
  • -1/-1 Counters, illustrated by Nest of Scarabs
  • Trials and Cartouches, illustrated by Cartouche of Solidarity and Trial of Knowledge
• Making Magic: Amonkhet Down to Business, Part 1, featuring Hazoret the Fervent

(Posting from my Wii U since my computer's out of commission has made the Data Vampires very voracious in eating my post while I click away to copy links, so I edited in the other Mothership links after getting the post up. Take that, vampires!)

edited 3rd Apr '17 5:43:36 PM by Lightblade

On the red God: Ah yes, because Hellbent was such a good mechanic.

Wow. Hazoret's activated ability is garbage. 2R is ridiculous for turning cards into Shocks. Can't even combo properly with SOI's Madness because the cost of the discard makes it difficult to afford the Madness cost on top.

There's a lot in the set that it can synergize with but still, what a shitty ability.

edited 4th Apr '17 11:51:25 AM by TobiasDrake

It's also 2R to get rid of the first half of any Aftermath card you might not need, and enables the multitude of "whenever you cycle or discard a card" triggers that are apparently in the set.

I do agree though, it seems not very good overall, but maybe once we have seen the full set her ability will be more useful.

edited 4th Apr '17 12:06:39 PM by LeChuck4

• News: Amonkhet Split Card Rules Changes
• Card Preview: Developing Amonkhet
• Card Preview: Five Trials

edited 4th Apr '17 6:58:38 PM by Lightblade

Trust.

And just like that, we've lost Gideon.

edited 5th Apr '17 11:00:16 AM by TobiasDrake

Card Preview: Trial and Trial Again, featuring the Trial and Cartouche cycles.

That's an interesting ability for an emblem on the new Gideon card. As for the story, I see the Gatewatch has the same questions as I had regarding the Gods' relationship to Bolas. At this point, I'm now leaning toward the idea of the Gods (and Amonkhet society as a whole) being unwitting pawns of Bolas in some way.

edited 5th Apr '17 4:39:59 PM by Lightblade

The Gatewatch needs to run. They need to run now. Abort mission and get the f*ck out.

Ask yourself this: what is an oasis in a desert to a desperate traveler? More often than not, it's a mirage. A lie that tricks your senses. Everything about this city feels wrong, and taking it at face value is a mistake. They're engaging this place like it's the one center of life and civilization on the plane, but they're missing the point.

This is not a world. It is the lair of one of the most dangerous and powerful beings in the multiverse. Nicol Bolas made this. It's an artificial plane created with purpose, and there is no way he did not have the potential threat of planar intrusion in mind while crafting it. All of it is meant to serve Bolas in one way or another: as a resource, as a weapon, as a trap.

The gods are a lie, the trials are a lie, the people are a lie, the whole damn city is a lie. This isn't a puzzle that can be solved to find the secret to defeating Bolas. This is a con and the only way to win is not to play. It was a mistake to come here.

Worse, the entire awful plan that the Gatewatch was running on was that they'd catch Bolas with his pants down. They only ever had a shot at this if Bolas didn't know they were coming. Well, that goddess knows Gideon by his birth name from his original plane. She knows he's a walker, she knows where he's from, she knows where he's been, and she serves Bolas. He knows.

Now is not the time for planning or exploring or figuring out the city. The only good move right now is to bail out.

edited 5th Apr '17 5:32:05 PM by TobiasDrake

Too bad about that religious experience, huh?

I'm sort of hoping that the relationship between Bolas and the gods is a little bit more complicated than "he created them and they serve him."

Maybe they're like Avacyn and don't really know much about their creator's true nature.

Ooh, it'd be kind of cool to see that parallel drawn.

I can see Bolas having enough awareness of how the color pie works that he knew he couldn't create a being that is supposed to embody the concepts of White if he actually put any of his own nefarious will into her.

edited 6th Apr '17 9:32:20 AM by LeChuck4

Sure, he could. White does not embody good. It embodies peace. Cooperation, coexistence, working together for mutual gain and to mitigate loss. While this is generally a good thing, White's weak point is its capacity for obedience. It gives of itself for the benefit of others and expects the same in return; all Bolas has to do is let it.

So long as White believes that there is more to gain for its people in serving Bolas than rebelling against him, it will be a dutiful soldier and play its part.

To put it simply: White reveres authority and follows the rules. We are in a world where Nicol Bolas is the highest authority and makes the rules.

edited 6th Apr '17 12:58:37 PM by TobiasDrake