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4 months ago ::
Jan 21, 2013 - 9:15AM
#21
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I anticipated Dimir's level of suck, warned people against it, and it was still the first guild to fill up at all five events at my LGS. Nobody ever listens to me. Regardless, Boros was a little more pricey at the cmc range than I expected, but looks to be stellar in Limited and compliments previous WR cards well. It'll definitely be a force in Constructed. Gruul looks pretty incredible. I wasn't interested in Gruul at first, but they've convinced me. Simic ended up looking better than I expected, and has some really creative cards in their pool this time, but for Constructed I'm not expecting much to stick, tbh. Orzhov had me worried, but I love a lot of these Orzhov cards that we got last night/this morning. I'm glad I picked them for my second prerelease now.
Overall, a lot of the set feels like filler to me, more-so than usual, but on the other hand, I didn't like the first Ravnica either, so I'm not particularly surprised. Azorius and Boros are probably my favorite guilds, which is ironic since I'm not particularly fond of how protective white is.
I'm really hoping for something refreshing and new next block. And by new, I mean old. I'd love to go back to Dominaria, Ulgrotha, Mercadia, or Rabiah. Or, on the flipside, see an entirely new plane.
Favorite set: Arabian Nights Favorite planeswalker: Taysir, the One Made of Five Favorite book cycle: Ice Age Favorite creature type(s): Elephant (W), Minotaur (R), Shade (B), Spider (G), Cephalid (U) Myr (Artifact) Standard: Gruul Control Modern: American Human Tempo; Zombie Tribal EDH: Aboshan, Cephalid EmperorCube: The Moons of Mirrodin
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4 months ago ::
Jan 21, 2013 - 9:24AM
#22
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Date Joined:
Oct 31, 2011
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I'm really hoping for something refreshing and new next block. And by new, I mean old. I'd love to go back to Dominaria, Ulgrotha, Mercadia, or Rabiah. Or, on the flipside, see an entirely new plane.
Maro has already said on his tumbler that "Friends" will be a new plane.
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4 months ago ::
Jan 21, 2013 - 1:07PM
#23
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I think Boros is actually gonna be the best and easiest to play. Just because all they have to do is attack to go off, all of their stuff is pretty super cheap and when they use their keyword they don't need to be discarded.
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4 months ago ::
Jan 21, 2013 - 1:13PM
#24
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Severely disappointed in Orzhov. I see a lot of cards that are close to being good, but are killed by either a bloated mana cost, or just have nothing but Extort tacked on. Also, very few of their creatures have lifelink, which is extremely puzzling, as I would think that would be an integral part of the bleeder strategy. With the inflated casting costs, I just don't see Orzhov winning any races this weekend; I don't think a "bleeder" strategy is going to be super effective in Limited, and there just aren't enough good cards to justify building around it in Standard.
I think people are underestimating Dimir a wee bit. They're gonna be slow out the gates, but if given the chance to get Cipher up and running they could really pose a threat.
But let's be real here: Simic and Gruul are going to be powerhouses, and Boros is going to end games in short order if you let it. Those are the obvious guilds to look out for this weekend, I think. Boros probably has enough good stuff to make a splash in Standard too.
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4 months ago ::
Jan 21, 2013 - 1:22PM
#25
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Date Joined:
Dec 10, 2006
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I'm meh about most in this set except the lands. There are some cards that are cool: Unexpected Results, Aurelia the guild leader, Borborygmos. A few more, but nothing really stood out to me as interesting.
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4 months ago ::
Jan 21, 2013 - 1:23PM
#26
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Date Joined:
Nov 21, 2012
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Severely disappointed in Orzhov. I see a lot of cards that are close to being good, but are killed by either a bloated mana cost, or just have nothing but Extort tacked on. Also, very few of their creatures have lifelink, which is extremely puzzling, as I would think that would be an integral part of the bleeder strategy. With the inflated casting costs, I just don't see Orzhov winning any races this weekend; I don't think a "bleeder" strategy is going to be super effective in Limited, and there just aren't enough good cards to justify building around it in Standard.
I think people are underestimating Dimir a wee bit. They're gonna be slow out the gates, but if given the chance to get Cipher up and running they could really pose a threat.
But let's be real here: Simic and Gruul are going to be powerhouses, and Boros is going to end games in short order if you let it. Those are the obvious guilds to look out for this weekend, I think. Boros probably has enough good stuff to make a splash in Standard too.
the problem is the dimir creatures aren't evasive at all... the producers had invisible stalkers, the most potent of the evasive creatures in mind, but in a limited environment, most of the ciphered spells will be a glorified sorcery that costs much more. There are a few spells for dimir to clear out 1 or 2 creatures, but there's only 1 or 2 spells that helps with getting those damage in... they decided to put dimir cipher a late game mechanic (though it works best early game. You'll be either dead or winning to the point of no matter once you get to 5 mana anyways), but without something like a boardwipe, it'll be hard competing against boros/simic.
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4 months ago ::
Jan 21, 2013 - 1:24PM
#27
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Date Joined:
Mar 31, 2002
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This set is the most creature centric I think I have every seen. Granted it is the direction that we have been moving towards, but scroll down the Gatecrash spoiler.
Weren't around for Legions in Onslaught block, were ya? Now that was a creature centric block. Heh.
That said, this set is pretty creature oriented. Most spells do deal with creatures in some way, shape, or form and only a marginal few are other purpose types.
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4 months ago ::
Jan 21, 2013 - 1:45PM
#28
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I think it pretty much sucks. A few interesting cards and art, but the whole fails to evoke anything meaningful in me.
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4 months ago ::
Jan 21, 2013 - 1:46PM
#29
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the problem is the dimir creatures aren't evasive at all... the producers had invisible stalkers, the most potent of the evasive creatures in mind, but in a limited environment, most of the ciphered spells will be a glorified sorcery that costs much more. There are a few spells for dimir to clear out 1 or 2 creatures, but there's only 1 or 2 spells that helps with getting those damage in... they decided to put dimir cipher a late game mechanic (though it works best early game. You'll be either dead or winning to the point of no matter once you get to 5 mana anyways), but without something like a boardwipe, it'll be hard competing against boros/simic.
Keep in mind that Dimir has Deathcult Rogue  at common, and also has a good chance at pulling other evasive blue creatures at common.
I'll agree that Dimir is gonna have a tough time though. I just think people might be underestimating them a bit.
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4 months ago ::
Jan 21, 2013 - 1:58PM
#30
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Date Joined:
Jun 29, 2011
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Seems like a fun set for limited, and it will probably shine once Innistrad rotates out of standard. There's even a few cards that may see some serious standard play, depending on your current meta. Anyway, for your sealed events this weekend:
1. Boros
2. Gruul
3.Orzhov
4.Simic
5.Dimir
Reasoning:
1. Boros is number one due to the sheer amount of efficiently costed creatures and removal it has. And that's at common and uncommon. The rares and mythics for them are top notch. Most opponents playing guilds that have slow starts will be dead by the time they can do anything.
2. Gruul is second because I don't think it'll be as powerful as Boros, though I could be mistaken. They can be two for oned by A LOT of the removal in the set due to their mechanic. However, they also have the potential for crazy fast wins along with some powerful rares and mythics as well, so I wouldn't be surprised if they take first in some of the events.
3. Here's where the order starts getting tricky. I'm saying Orzhov is third because it appears a lot of cards have extort at all rarities, so I believe that with the right pull you could have a very effective bleeder strategy or even a good midrange deck. Or, you might end up with nothing....
4. Simic is near the bottom at four, and I'm pretty sure that's where it will be barring some upset. This guild needs two things to work: a perfect curve (doable with the right cards obviously, though will you get them in your pull is another question) and PERFECT draws (now this is unlikely). The chances that you will draw a weak card with evolve that can only act as a blocker late game are high, as are the chances of starting with or drawing a more powerful evolve card at the start of the game when you want it least.
5. Dimir is number five, and I don't really think I need to explain it that much. Everything with Cipher is overcosted and you'll either already be winning when you play it or so far behind it's useless. Add to the fact the other guilds all have better removal (yes, I know dimir has the black removal, but so does Orzhov and they seem better) and better creatures and I really can't see them winning.
That's my take on it anyway.
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