Alrighty let's begin this second set review this set is 149 cards, this is the middle set bewteen Zendikar and of course the last set i reviewed Rise of the Eldrazi, it features some very broken cards as well as a certain planeswalker that is labeled at this current point in time near 90 dollars as of this posting, so let's go
Multikicker - Let's begin with the basics of this set this one featured 2 new mechanics to come into this one, the first being Multikicker, which allows for spells to be sent several different directions at several targets, for example a card for example is Comet Storm this allows for 1 extra mana per target to be paid along side the regular costs of this card which is usually X which is however you want it to be, So let's say you want four targets paying 4 for X, the 2 red mana and that means you'll have to pay 9 mana for four targets to do four damage, is this useful, yes in some ways and no in the others, a sweeper like Wrath of God is most cost effective and the like, so is this ability truly worth it, maybe it depends on how your playing, it's a good late or mid game ability defintely, early game not so much.
Manlands - These returning beasts come back in the form of Lavaclaw Reaches Creeping Tar Pit Celestial Colonnade Raging Ravine and of course Stirring Wildwood so you may be asking yourself why do i consider this a mechanic, it's simple we've not seen manlands in standard for a god knows how long time, it's nice to see the additions of these beasts, of course they all have abilities and such pertaining to the various colours they distribute out on the battlefield and such and all turn into variously powerful creatures of course, i espically love Creeping Tar Pit, since of course blue players have a blast with this one due to it's special ability of it being unblockable and the like, seems like a good return if you ask me.
Now let's move onto the ten cards that impacted standard from this set, taking some of course from channel fireball's very own LSV luis scott vargas, let's begin with the list and reasons why
1) Jace the Mind Sculptor - What can i not say about this overly broken plainswalker, he's cost effective, esentially has a broken ability at the end to make a opponent's library non existent and the fact he can brainstorm for free? oh did i mention he costs 90 dollars for one nowadays.
2) Treasure Hunt - Creature Decks will have a blast with this beast of a sorcery, 1 and a blue nets you a card drawing machine which as patrick chapin pointed out draws you exactly 1.6 cards which is about 2 cards every usage, so what's not to love about this, with the fact you'll be brainstorming with jace and this, card draw is essential for blue players since they empty their hands so goddamn fast.
3) Urge to Feed - Vampires were waiting for this one, removal plus pump for all your vampires, essentially a sideboard, however could go maindecking into this one if you play vampires for oh say the next 2 months.
4) Abysaal Persecutor - Essentially black's Platinum Angel except it does the opposite of what it is supposed to do it makes it so your opponents can win, you can't win, however you can sure as hell cancel it out with a platinum angel of your own.
5) Basilisk Collar - Most recently featured in Boss Naya find the decklist here --> Boss Naya which used this plus cunning sparkmage to pick off nasty threats such as baneslayer angels and even big ass creatures for pinging with deathtouch and 1 damage each time, this was also fetched with Stoneforge Mystic.
6) Avenger of Zendikar - Plants is now viable due to this beast of a card, even mono green is again workable around this mythic rare, i think most of the time though heavy creature decks would solely rely on more wolfbriar elementals then this, but it's a really good card for lots of lands, who knows it could see future play soon enough.
7) Cunning Sparkmage - The other half of the ping combo i talked about earlier, this beauty of a common's value rose after it was piloted to a seriously contentious win streak, i hope to see boss naya in the future or even a variant of ping bomb it could be viable.
8) Dragonmaster Outcast - Dragon decks alike love this card, mono red loves this card, hell i love this card, producing a 5/5 blocker/attacker every turn with flying and it does it during the upkeep with only 6 lands required, nice indeed.
9) Everflowing Chalice - This made ramp so much more accesible, multikicker aside, saving that essential 1 or 2 colorless for kicker costs made it so much easier with this little beauty, at 0 cost too it could be a turn 2 play to advance the mana flow by just one which is usually essential
10) Kalastria Highborn - Another crucial Vampire card but since vampires won't be in standard for much longer let's not dwell on this card and stick to the basics 2/2 for a 2 black mana and it drains and gives life for when each vampire including it is removed from the battlefield, seriously good here, shame Nocturnus didn't get a reprint this core set, it would have made them viable still for another year, maybe next year. oh wait next year zendikar gets the boot, nevermind
Anyhoo that's all for this article, hope you enjoyed the length of this one and the like, till next time.
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