Cool Alternate Art for Alara Lands

Hey guys, I've found from this post at Mtg Salvation forums about the alternate Alara lands for the MPS or the Magic Premiere Shops 2008 land sets. Here are the art for each basic land which is magnificently done by John Avon.

Naya Forest

Bant Plains

Esper Island

Grixis Swamp

Jund Mountain

The Dragons of Magic

Magic: The Gathering won't be that best of a trading card game without its ever popular Dragons. Whenever a new set is released or just being announced, I am always hoping that there's at least one Dragon in the set. I'm sure a lot of you too. Most Mtg players are even getting to complete their Dragon collection. As for me, I always look for the cool (or should I say hot?) ability and its awesome art. Here are my favorite Dragons in the current Standard format.

Everybody's favorite, the Shivan Dragon in the latest Core set.

Knollspine Dragon from Shadowmoor. It was first depicted in Lorwyn's hideaway land, Spinerock Knoll.

Shard of Alara's Broodmate Dragon. Getting two dragons for one card sounds very cool and is hard to deal with.

Predator Dragon is widely used as the kill card in Elf ball decks in Extended. Its usually a component in token generating decks and I liked the art too.

The mightiest dragon in the shard of Jund. The ability is pretty powerful and much worth paying for its mana cost.

Conflux Artwork and Flavor Preview

While browsing for updates in Mtg Salvation's Rumor Mill, I got into this post that revealed an art in Alara's next set, Conflux and a little flavor info of the set. As quoted from Yurei:

In Conflux, it is revealed that a sinister force is conspiring to reunite Alara. As this process begins, planes of reality begin to overlap, creating chaos on all five Shards of Alara.

Conflux expands on the mechanics introduced in Shards of Alara, and injects even more powerful gold cards into the block.

Overlapping planes got me thinking of enemy color combination in Conflux. We're still be waiting for the confirmation though. Anyway, here's the art of what Conflux will look like.

Alara Reborn Announced

Hey guys. I haven't able to update my blog this weekend coz I got very busy in finishing the Magic Iloilo site, which I haven't done till now, and in addition that we got back to back events.

Anyway just to keep you updated, Wizards announced today the third set of Shards of Alara and is named Alara Reborn. Here are some info on the set.

The birth of one world. The death of five.

Set Name	Alara Reborn
Block	Set 3 of 3 in the Shards of Alara block
Number of Cards	145
Release Date	Thursday, April 30, 2009
Prerelease Events	April 25-26, 2009
Launch Parties	April 30-May 3, 2009
Previews start on magicthegathering.com	April 13, 2009
Design Team	Aaron Forsythe (lead) Mark Gottlieb Alexis Janson Brian Tinsman
Development Team	Matt Place (lead) Dave Guskin Alexis Janson Erik Lauer Mike Turian

Here is Alara Reborn's expansion symbol:

"Flight of the White Cat" Mtg Web Comic

Following the planeswalkers web comic stories, we have the latest release today at Magic Arcana. It's featuring the story of Ajani and his brother. The web comic is entitled "Flight of the White Cat." Here are some images taken from the comic, illustrated by one of my favorites, Greg Staples.

You can read the full part one of Flight of the White Cat here.

Mtg Iloilo October 4 Standard Tournament

Yesterday, we had our first post rotation Standard tournament. My predictions regarding the kithkin decks were proven. Five players piloted Kithkins. Wow, that was the highest number since we had our Lorwyn block tournaments. I decided to go against the flow and played RDW, the last minute version. Lol… That was a hard decision but that was I preferred rather than being uncomfortable with piloting a different deck and for the fact that we were lacking Stillmoon Cavaliers and other sideboard components. I substituted the blood knights, magi of the scroll, Skreds and other Time Spiral components with cards that were available that time.

The tournament had 14 participants and the metagame breakdown was obviously tribal: 5 Kithkins, 3 Merfolk, 2 Demigod Red, 2 Oreo (Black White) Beatdown, 1 Elves and a lone Faeries. The final top 4 had three Kithkins and a Fae. Ironically, that lone Faerie deck ruled us all. Lol… I went 2-2, winning against a Merfolk and an Elf deck and losing, as expected, to two Kithkins. I lost but had a great fight against the little white men. I realized how fun it is to pilot a last minute deck and I’m happy with the record.

My next stop on deck building is the black red version of Demigod red and possibly an anti Kithkin build. Hehe… My compo choices so far from Shards are Blightning and Infest. I hope I can come up with a decklist early this week and do some playtests.

Anyway, here are some highlights of the tournament yesterday.

Oli on a "wild" excitement in opening his Alara Fatpack

Three figures and a Cenn

Mao's kill with a Mirrorweave on the Demigod, dealing 15 damage

Assorted Kithkin goodies. Pick your type.

Top 4 players Tonton, Oli, Mao and Patrick getting ready to battle it out for the top spot.

Top Standard Decks this Week

Tomorrow's gonna be our first Standard post rotation tournament here in Iloilo. The new set Shards of Alara will be joining in to replace Times Spiral block and Coldsnap.

So far, the decks I've observed that has been winning the tournaments around the net are those same Tier 1 decks in Lorwyn block. I guess people are still brainstorming on what stable deck to construct with the shards, or are they just having problems with the three colors in their decks. Hehe...

Add-ons???

Shards are acting like add-ons (plugins?) to the Lorwyn block decks. For instance, I've noticed in the Kithkin decks the addition of Knight of the White Orchid in the sideboard. Maybe its for control decks. Another one is Agony Warp as a replacement for Nameless Inversion and Infest for Damnation in the Faes. Some are also using Relic of Progenitus for graveyard hate and maybe as a substitute for Faerie Macabre.

That's my observation so far but I know someone will come up with an innovation or a deck that can match or even dominate the current metagame.

Regarding tomorrow's tournament, I'm expecting Lorwyn block with 10th ed decks as Shards of Alara hasn't arrived yet in our local store. A fellow mtg player told me its gonna be arriving tomorrow. Oh well, I guess no one would bother to buy packs just to include new cards in their decks. Our tournament place is far from the local store that's why. Hehe...

For the deck I'll pilot, I'm choosing between my current RDW or the Kithkins. The little white men are dominating online tournaments this week but based on our local meta, I think RDW is more preferable although its a bad matchup against the Kithkins. Hmmm...which is which...

For your reference, here are the current build of the top decks in Standard:

Kithkin WW
Main
4 Windbrisk Heights
3 Mutavault
4 Rustic Clachan
14 Plains

4 Figure of Destiny
4 Burrenton Forge-Tender
4 Knight of Meadowgrain
4 Wizened Cenn
4 Cloudgoat Ranger
4 Goldmeadow Stalwart

3 Glorious Anthem
2 Oblivion Ring
2 Mirrorweave
4 Spectral Procession

Sideboard
2 Oblivion Ring
4 Knight of the White Orchid
4 Stillmoon Cavalier
2 Reveillark
3 Wispmare

UB Faeries
Main
4 Sunken Ruins
4 Secluded Glen
4 Mutavault
3 Faerie Conclave
4 Underground River
4 Island
1 Swamp

4 Spellstutter Sprite
4 Mistbind Clique
3 Vendilion Clique
3 Scion of Oona

4 Cryptic Command
4 Bitterblossom
3 Terror
3 Agony Warp
3 Ponder
3 Broken Ambitions
2 Thoughtseize

Sideboard
2 Thoughtseize
3 Murderous Redcap
3 Sower of Temptation
4 Flashfreeze
3 Faerie Macabre

I'll be posting updates as soon as a new innovation comes out. Thanks for reading... =)

Shards of Alara Creature Tokens

Here are the creature tokens from the recently released Shards of Alara. We'll be having an additional TEN new tokens guys. Wow! Check it out below.

See my other posts regarding Shards of Alara here. Thanks!

Shards of Alara Keyword Ability Official Rules

Here are the official rules of the new keyword abilities of the shards, as based on the Shards of Alara FAQ.

First off is the Devour keyword from the shard of Jund.

502.82. Devour

502.82a Devour is a static ability. "Devour N" means "As this object comes into play, you may sacrifice any number of creatures. This permanent comes into play with N +1/+1 counters on it for each creature sacrificed this way."

502.82b Some objects have abilities that refer to the number of creatures the permanent devoured. "It devoured" means "sacrificed as a result of its devour ability as it came into play."

* Devour appears only on creature cards.

* A creature with devour can devour other creatures no matter how it comes into play.

* You may choose to not sacrifice any creatures.

* If you play a creature with devour as a spell, you choose how many and which creatures to devour as part of the resolution of that spell. (It can't be countered at this point.) The same is true of a spell or ability that lets you put a creature with devour into play.

* You may sacrifice only creatures that are already in play. If a creature with devour and another creature are coming into play under your control at the same time, the creature with devour can't devour that other creature. The creature with devour also can't devour itself.

* If multiple creatures with devour are coming into play under your control at the same time, you may use each one's devour ability. A creature you already control can be devoured by only one of them, however. (In other words, you can't sacrifice the same creature to satisfy multiple devour abilities.) All creatures devoured this way are sacrificed at the same time.

Next, Bant's Exalted ability.

502.83. Exalted

502.83a Exalted is a triggered ability. "Exalted" means "Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn."

502.83b A creature "attacks alone" if it's the only creature declared as an attacker in a given combat phase. See rule 306.5.

* If you declare exactly one creature as an attacker, each exalted ability on each permanent you control (including, perhaps, the attacking creature itself) will trigger. The bonuses are given to the attacking creature, not to the permanent with exalted. Ultimately, the attacking creature will wind up with +1/+1 for each of your exalted abilities.

* Some cards with exalted abilities have other abilities that also trigger when a creature you control attacks alone. Each time a creature you control attacks alone, both the exalted ability and the other ability will trigger.

* If you attack with multiple creatures, but then all but one are removed from combat, your exalted abilities won't trigger.

* Some effects put creatures into play attacking. Since those creatures were never declared as attackers, they're ignored by exalted abilities. They won't cause exalted abilities to trigger. If any exalted abilities have already triggered (because exactly one creature was declared as an attacker), those abilities will resolve as normal even though there may now be multiple attackers.

* Exalted abilities will resolve before blockers are declared.

* Exalted bonuses last until end of turn. If an effect creates an additional combat phase during your turn, a creature that attacked alone during the first combat phase will still have its exalted bonuses in that new phase. If a creature attacks alone during the second combat phase, all your exalted abilities will trigger again.

* In a Two-Headed Giant game, a creature "attacks alone" if it's the only creature declared as an attacker by your entire team. If you control that attacking creature, your exalted abilities will trigger but your teammate's exalted abilities won't.

Grixis' keyword, Unearth.

502.84. Unearth

502.84a Unearth is an activated ability that functions while the card is in a graveyard. "Unearth [cost]" means "[Cost]: Return this card from your graveyard to play. It gains haste. Remove it from the game at end of turn. If it would leave play, remove it from the game instead of putting it anywhere else. Play this ability only any time you could play a sorcery."

* Unearth appears only on creature cards.

* You may play the unearth ability of a card in your graveyard no matter how it wound up in your graveyard.

* If you play a card's unearth ability but that card is removed from your graveyard before the ability resolves, that unearth ability will resolve and do nothing.

* Playing a creature card's unearth ability isn't the same as playing the creature card. The unearth ability is put on the stack, but the creature card is not. Spells and abilities that interact with activated abilities (such as Stifle) will interact with unearth, but spells and abilities that interact with spells (such as Remove Soul) will not.

* At end of turn, a creature returned to play with unearth is removed from the game. This is a delayed triggered ability, and it can be countered by effects such as Stifle or Voidslime that counter triggered abilities. If the ability is countered, the creature will stay in play and the delayed trigger won't trigger again. However, the replacement effect will still remove the creature from the game when it eventually leaves play.

* Unearth grants haste to the creature that's returned to play. However, neither of the "remove from the game" abilities is granted to that creature. If that creature loses all its abilities, it will still be removed from the game at the end of the turn, and if it would leave play, it is still removed from the game instead.

* If a creature returned to play with unearth would leave play for any reason, it's removed from the game instead -- unless the spell or ability that's causing the creature to leave play is actually trying to remove it from the game! In that case, it succeeds at removing it from the game. If it later returns the creature card to play (as Oblivion Ring or Flickerwisp might, for example), the creature card will return to play as a new object with no relation to its previous existence. The unearth effect will no longer apply to it.

The returning keyword ability, Cycling.

502.18. Cycling

502.18a Cycling is an activated ability that functions only while the card with cycling is in a player's hand. "Cycling [cost]" means "[Cost], Discard this card: Draw a card."

502.18b Although the cycling ability is playable only if the card is in a player's hand, it continues to exist while the object is in play and in all other zones. Therefore objects with cycling will be affected by effects that depend on objects having one or more activated abilities.

502.18c Some cards with cycling have abilities that trigger when they're cycled. "When you cycle [this card]" means "When you discard [this card] to pay a cycling cost." These abilities trigger from the graveyard.

* Cycling is an activated ability. Effects that interact with activated abilities (such as Stifle or Rings of Brighthearth) will interact with cycling. Effects that interact with spells (such as Remove Soul or Faerie Tauntings) will not.

Red Decks Post Shards of Alara

Hey y'all. In a few days from now, we will be saying goodbye to the Time Spiral block and also to Coldsnap which has served me good cards for about two years, back from my Gruul days up to my current Demigod Red. Some of the cards worth mentioning and that deserve a “hands down” from me are:

I'm gonna miss you guys

Time Spiral: “Big Guy” Greater Gargadon, Mogg War Marshal, Rift Bolt, Sulfurous Blast, Magus of the Scroll, Wheel of Fate, Jaya Ballard

Timeshifted cards: Avalanche Riders, Browbeat, Wildfire Emissary

Planar Chaos: Keldon Marauders, Sulfur Elemental, Blood Knight

Future Sight: Keldon Megaliths, Magus of the Moon, Molten Disaster, Tarmogoyf!!!

Coldsnap: Martyr of Ashes, Skred, Stalking Yeti

A big thanks to you guys… It’s painful but I have no choice. You have to go. *sob*

(a moment of silence)

Ok, cut the drama. Back to topic now.

Looking at the upcoming set of Shards of Alara, I was a bit disappointed after seeing the complete spoiler. A lot of rares are playable, yup, but only in limited. Most of them wouldn't even get in the sideboard at constructed. Even though multicolor cards are powerful, it is not that utilizable in most decks in the current Standard metagame.

I only see a few cards which might be worth adding to the red decks. Here are a few,

Hell's Thunder 1RR
Creature - Elemental
Flying, haste
Unearth 4R (4R: Return this card from your graveyard to play. It gains haste. Remove it from the game at end of turn or if it would leave play. Unearth only as a sorcery.)
4/4

This guy is cool, although I've read in the forums that a lot are saying that this card is bad due to Bitterblossom, that the Faerie chic err token will only negate this. Well, if the Faes will be popular post Shards then. Other than that, this is 8 damage in one card. A good replacement for Magus of the Moon.

Predator Dragon 3RRR
Creature - Dragon
Devour 2 (As this comes into play, you may sacrifice any number of creatures. This creature comes into play with twice that many +1/+1 counters on it.)
Flying, haste
4/4

A potential option if you aren't running Demigods in your deck. I guess I will see this played in Black-Red or Red-Green version of Token decks.

Dragon Fodder 1R
Sorcery
Put two 1/1 red Goblin creature tokens into play.

I immediately remembered Mogg War Marshal the first time I've seen this card. They actually function the same, giving you two Goblin tokens, except that you have the option to pay for the echo of the marshal to make it remain in play. This is great for Devour decks and also for the Goblin tribal deck.

Sarkhan Vol 2RG
Planeswalker – Sarkhan
+1: Creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain haste until end of turn.
-2: Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn.
-6: Put five 4/4 red Dragon creature tokens with flying into play.
4

If I could acquire a set of him, I would definitely tune my deck into Red Green. This guy is $%^&#@ crazy. With Fires of Yavimaya, Threaten and an ultimate that would surely be GG all in one card, would you ask for more? I'm sure Red Green beats is back.

These are my card choices for now. I'm pretty sure new decks will rise and potential sleeper cards will be added to the new and improved version of the Demigod Red deck. I wasn't able to create a deck list as of this time because I am preparing for our Tribute to Time Spiral tournament on Saturday. Just stay tuned as I will be posting some list maybe tomorrow or this weekend.

Thanks very much for reading and bye for now... =)

Shards of Alara Intro Packs

Wizards revealed on Monday the Intro Packs for the planes of Bant, Esper and Grixis. These were officially named as "Bant Exalted", "Esper Artifice" and "Grixis Undead". The foil cards will be Battlegrace Angel for Bant, Master of Etherium for Esper and Vein Drinker for Grixis. The intro packs images are shown below.

More of Shards of Alara

The Shards of Alara first week of previews of Magicthegathering dot com started last Monday and so far on the cards previewed I'm not sure if I'll like the set. Three color gold cards are good... yes, they are... But unfortunately, building a three color deck would cost you alot especially of the lands. That's not a problem if you already have one but if you want to shift your deck to the Alara cards, alot of adjustment will be needed. The good things is there are lands that can support the shard colors like Arcane Sanctum and Naya Panorama but they will likely fall in the control decks as the land searching and "comes into play tapped" will surely delay the aggro decks.

So far my favorite card on the set, obviously a Mythic rare, is the planeswalker Sarkhan Vol. Behold:

He is definitely a must have in the R/G Aggro decks or similar decks that would want to splash the green color. I really like his ultimate ability, thinking of it as a "good game" once it connects. Five 4/4 Dragons? Eat that! Hehe... I'm sure I'll be also seeing him in the build of R/G or B/R/G tokens.

I am still hoping to see more cards that can be a support or an upgrade for my RDW deck. I know Wizards will definitely grant that. Hehehe... Till next time..

Shards of Alara Minisite Launched Today

Magicthegathering dot com started the previews of the upcoming big set Shards of Alara by launching its mini-site. In this, you will discover the history behind and how the shards were created. Also included in this mini site is the visual spoiler of the set wherein new and interesting cards are being previewed. Here are some of them:

An artifact creature with a 3 color casting cost? It reminds me of the myr from Future Sight. The Bant angel is pretty cool and is very suited for control decks like Quick n Toast. I really liked Blightning when I first saw it. Its a two for one card with my favorite color. Goblin Assault they say is the new Bitterblossom but I doubt if it can be that powerful. An additional one mana cost has great effect on the game you know.

For more card previews and other info about Shards of Alara, visit the mini-site here.

The New Magicthegathering.com

Arriving from work, I took a visit on the official website of Magic: The Gathering and got awed as I have found out that they've implemented the new look of the site. Check out these screenshots I've taken.

Here's what you'll see as you enter the site. These five glowing orbs represent each of the five colors of Magic. Its very cool on how they've made this orb. I wish I could also learn how to create this one in Flash. Lol...

The five planeswalkers, Jace, Liliana, Ajani, Garruk and Chandra. Each of them is described in this segment of the planeswalkers. I'm sure there will be more in Alara.

The planes of the multiverse. Alara is also featured and described here and you'll get a glimpse of some of the art of the upcoming set.

The five colors of mana. It shows how the colors interact with each other, either as ally or enemy.

I'm glad they've made the site much more exciting even as before you enter the main pages. There is much more to explore inside so I leave it to you to discover and get amazed by these cool new features of the site. Check out Magicthegathering.com.

Ajani Vengeant is Shards of Alara Prerelease Card

Magic Arcana revealed today the Prerelease and Launch Party card for Shards of Alara and it will be the planeswalker and mythic rare card Ajani Vengeant. See the alternate art below.

Shards of Alara Prerelease will be on September 27 and 28, and the Launch Parties are on October 3, 4, and 5.