I hope everyone enjoyed their pre-release events this weekend. I had a blast playing in a Two Headed Giant pre-release and got my first up close and personal look and feel for Journey into Nyx. The consensus around the room was that the set was very solid and very interesting. There are some terrific cards, some very intricate cards that will need careful timing to work, and a bunch of very useful and relevant creatures that make the whole process a lot of fun. I wanted to take a moment, now that we’ve all got a taste, what I think are some of the more exciting and interesting cards from Journey into Nyx.
Let’s start off with this disclaimer. I may not be picking the best cards, or the flashiest cards. I’ll leave that to players who will trying to brew up top level competitive decks. No, I’m taking more of a Casual approach and looking at cards that I feel offer us something interesting that we may not have seen in a while, offer some interesting deck ideas, or are just plain fun. So, without further delay, let’s get to looking at what new treats I can’t wait to get my hands on where Journey into Nyx is with us for real.
Commons-
There are actually a number of really sweet commons that have been printed in the set and I had a hard time settling on one…so I picked 2.
Desecration Plague I love the versatility of this card. The ability to take out an enchantment or a LAND is super fun, particularly the land. With this and Red’s Demolish in the same set, the Casual Brewer in me is seriously looking at building a R/G land destruction deck and just make a wreck of the land base for my opponent and frustrate the heck out of them. I bet there is no one else on the planet that is actually jazzed for this card, but I think this will be a fun addition to our repertoire of spells. Nothing quite like undercutting your opponent by eating his land.
Flurry of Horns- The more I look at this card, the more I think it is going to be a ton of fun. I love me a tribal deck. Goblins, Merfolk, Spirits…you name it, I love it. Now, Minotaurs are a thing. They REALLY REALLY are. Don’t believe me? Take a look for yourself. This spell will be an awesome addition to a Man-Bull deck and for 5 mana is suitably costed, gives you 2 more Minotaurs with haste, and lets you stampede over your opponent. If you’ve got Kragma Warcaller or Felhide Petrifier in play as well, well, wow, things are going to get ugly…FAST. This is dripping with flavour in a mythology inspired block and is a fun and card to rock in your new Minotaur deck.
Uncommons-
Fleetfeather Cockatrice- This gold card has too much text for it to not be good. Honestly, Flying, Flash, Deathtouch and MONSTROSITY all on the same card? This will be awesome. Sure, it’s 5 mana, but it comes out of no-where thanks to flash and straight up kills something. It’s big enough that it could survive combat, which is awesome, and it can then take over the skies if you can trick it out with the Monstrosity ability to make it a 6/6…that’s a freaking dragon!? I love it. I am sure that my G/U flash deck is going to love seeing this addition in at least a pair of, but I might be prepared to take this guy out and see what other carnage I can cause with him. He doesn’t lend too much in the way of combos or wild synergy, but there is something to be said for just a straight up good creature that will do a lot for you. This is the sort of creature I want and will get good value from him. Oh, and I love the reference to the original Cockatrice from Revised which was a staple and can now have a new play mate in 2014.
Rare:
There are a number of fun rares in this set and generally I feel like they are powerful without being broken. There has been lots of buzz around Eidolon of Blossoms, but I’m not convinced that the Constellation trigger on it will actually end up being that cool. No, the rare that caught my eye, just because of the simplicity is Dawnbringer Charioteer. This is a tried and true tested formula in Theros block and you can’t miss with this guy. We saw very early on that Wingsteed Rider was good. Like ridiculously good. Then, we saw that Akroan Skyguard was good too. We have seen that just about ANY Heroic Trigger that puts +1/+1 counters on it is good, and if it flies it is even better…so how can you miss with the Charioteer? Bottom line, you can’t. It’s a 2/4, flying, lifelinking, Heroic BOMB and it just destroys your opponent. I raved about this one when it was spoiled and I still think it is awesome. Is it going to be Constructed playable? Doubtful, but the Casual Brewer in me is already hard at work trying to brew up something disgusting to do with this guy.
While we are on the topic of Rare cards, I wanted to diverge a little. Yes, I said I would talk about cards that got me excited, but I wanted to take a minute to talk about a card that I can’t imagine playing. Dictate of the Twin Gods is just about as unplayable a card as I have ever seen. Yes, I get that there are some people that will love this one, but my honest sense is that it will backfire and end up costing the caster far more often than not. If you can’t close out the game the turn this lands on the table, my honest sense is that it is game over for you because you have committed to being all in…and didn’t get there…and now the backswing from your opponent is going to sting twice as much. I had an opponent run this at our pre-release and instead of allowing them to run up the damage with their Minotaurs, it resulted in double damage to the face when my Charioteer punched through for about a million. Yeah, this card seems like more trouble than it is worth and I am really struggling at seeing too much in the way of quality uses. Funny uses? Oh hell yes, I can dream up FUNNY…but they aren’t GOOD uses. Rant over…thank you.
Mythic-
It seems like a bit of a cop out to pick one of the Gods, but they all look really cool in this set. The one that has me most excited is actually the last one I thought I would like when I read his abilities. Kruphix, God of Horizons is actually super neat, but initially I misunderstood his abilities. Apparently I wasn’t the only one as the twitter universe was all a-buzz about his abilities. The first ability, of having no max hand size is nice. However, what makes him exciting is the second ability that basically means you get to store your unused mana as Colourless mana. The more I think about it, the more I think that the second ability is tremendous in some strategies and casual decks. The sky is now the limit! Just keep pouring in that mana into good ol’ Kruphix and watch the fireworks. Think about it! Giant Sphinx’s Revelation. The biggest Mistcutter you’ve EVER seen. Wild Strive Triggers. Going Monstrous with Polukranos for…oh…I don’t know…about a million and blowing out the whole other team. The options available are just about endless. Now, this is living in Magical Christmas land again, but honestly, there’s nothing wrong with living there for a little while. Heck, that’s why we love the new cards! Magical Christmas Land has come and you can see all the cool new treats and the silly things you can do with them…and Kruphix is just the same. I’ll let the Scrooges out there dump all over Kruphix for Constructed purposes, but for Casual he’s going to be HILARIOUS!
So, there we have my picks for cards for Journey into Nyx. It is interesting to see the difference between Born of the Gods and Journey into Nyx, both of which were similar add-ons to Theros, but while Born of the Gods was almost simplistic in nature, Journey into Nyx is actually pretty complex with a bunch of really interesting new abilities and mechanics to weigh when considering making a deck. Is a Constellation deck possible? Would it be any good? How good will Strive be? We didn’t have the same questions from Born of the Gods because the mechanics were pretty straight forward. This time we have new things to consider and some very serious options to weigh when building decks. Oh well…time to get down to work and see what else I can brew up. I’ll catch you guys later.
Until next time, keep it fun, keep it safe…keep it casual.
Bruce Gray
Day 4 of spoilers and we got some sweet new goodies. Let’s check them out.
Eidolon of the Great Revel- Ok, so earlier this week I may have been a tad mistaken about Keranos. He’s an awesome bomb for an emerging R/W/U control deck that seems to be taking shape. Once I considered him from that angle, this card becomes an unbelievable bomb to pair with Keranos. Once you have taken control of the board state, this 2 mana 2/2 will start to lock things down with Keranos to simply crush your opponent. His ability punishes players who play spells with a converted mana cost of 3 or less and deals 2 damage to them. Ok, so it is a sysmetrical ability, but once you’ve set up the board state with an indestructible Keranos, wipe the board state clean with a supreme verdict and then follow up with this guy. You won’t need to cast spells because Keranos will reveal cards and deal damage without the need for a spell, and this guy will punish your opponent for having to play spells to try and get back into the game. Also add in the fact that the Eidolon is a Devotion generating field day and you have a real winner here. I’ll give him an A for an efficient body, and devastating ability, and the potential to help re-shape standard as Keranos’ sidekick.
Interpret the signs- This is a fun looking draw spell where for 6 mana you get to Scry 3, then reveal your top card and draw cards equal to the converted mana cost of the card revealed. I love the ability and the Scry 3 almost assuredly allows you to find something with an expensive casting cost to draw a bunch of cards, but I wonder if 6 is too high to pay for this. I suppose if Opportunity can see play in a G/U flash deck like it did in the fall, this could see play, but I get the sense this is a card that EDH players will love. I think it is extremely flavourful, and I love to scry, so I’ll give it a try, but it may not see a whole of competitive play. I’ll give a B because I like the card more than I probably should.
Kruphix, God of Horizons- Ok, another of minor Gods is revealed and this one leaves me scratching my head. For 5 mana (1 green, 1 blue, and 3 colourless) you get a 4/7 indestructible legendary enchantment creature God with the same devotion mechanic we have come to know. His pair of abilities are interesting and while one I really like, the other leaves me confused. The first one is that you have no maximum hand size, which I always appreciate, so if you fire off a huge Sphinx’s Revelation you get to keep all your cards and not concern yourself with discarding. The second ability is what leaves me shaking my head because if you have unused mana in your mana pool, that mana becomes colourless. It’s extremely interesting, but I’m not sure what I’m going to do with that colourless mana. I love the card…but I’m a little baffled what I’m doing with the second ability. I’ll pass on giving him a grade because I just don’t know what to do with him.
Setessan Tactics- Another example of Strive, as it has been pointed out elsewhere looks and feels alot like multi-kicker, Setessan Tactics is a 1 mana instant that gives target creature +1/+1 and the ability to tap it and fight target creature. The Strive cost lets you pay one mana for each additional target and each new target is granted the same ability. This is super cheap to play, triggers Heroic on potentially numerous targets for an equally inexpensive amount, and then is as close to mass removal as I’ve ever seen in Green. With this being at instant speed it could prove to be a back breaking combat trick in any limited game. I’ll hold off on Constructed formats, but perhaps it could be sided into a monsters deck as a sideboard card to clear the road to bring the pain. All in all, this is a sweet removal card and an excellent and inexpensive example of Strive. I’ll give this a B+.
Silence the Believers- Wow…Black got MORE removal…and this time things don’t even die, they get EXILED instead. Oh, and the spell has Strive just in case one target wasn’t enough. OH MY GOD! So for 4 mana you get to exile a creature and all Auras attached to it and you can spend another 3 mana to target additional creatures. This is yet more awesome removal for Black, and the fact that it exiles creatures means that even indestructible cards aren’t immune. I can assure you that this will be played in Constructed, even if only in the side board as a one or two of, but there is no doubt that this is very powerful. Watch out, Black got more toys to take for a spin. This has got to be an easy A even if it could be a tad expensive to cast.
Spite of Mogis- A 1 mana sorcery that deals damage to target creature equal to the number of instants and sorceries in your graveyard. This is going to be fine removal and is very reasonably costed provided you set your deck up to play enough other spells to make it truly relevant. My only issue with this card is that I don’t feel like this is a Mogis-like ability. Mogis is B/R, but this ability is very reminiscent of abilities attributed to R/U (like Spellheart Chimera), so while I like the card, I feel like it’s a little off in terms of where it fits from a flavour perspective. So, if my only real quibble is with the flavour this guy is packing, I have no doubt that the card will be just fine. It’ll get a B- because it’s a tad narrow in the sense that it needs the right deck, but once it finds a home will be a very solid addition and pull its own weight for sure.
This is one of the most amazing times of the year. We’ve watched how Theros has unfolded, and then how Born of the Gods fits in with the broader scheme of things. Now, we get to see what the final piece of the puzzle, Journey into Nyx, is going to look like to start to round out the full block. We recently saw the art work get released and felt I needed to take a moment and chronicle my own reaction to what we have seen.
First off, let me start by saying some of the art work is breathtaking. I mean, those are some sweet looking Gods! I’ve seen some reaction on the internet where people are discouraged, but I wanted to take a glass half full approach to things.
The first God is Atheros, God of the Passage. Ok, if this is going to be the art used on his card then I may find myself a new colour combination as my favorite. He looks SOOOOOOO bad ass!! I actually really like the fact that you can’t see his face, leaving the imagination to figure out what is actually hidden behind the veil. And the colours! If there was a God of the Passage in actual Greek or Roman history, we didn’t do him enough justice because this guy looks amazing! I’m in…this guy looks sweet and I can’t wait to see what his abilities will be.
Iroas, God of Victory is standing there and baiting everyone to come get a big ol’ piece of his spear and shield…and I love it. The background of a peaceful hillside is a little underwhelming, but I like to think that they have positioned this guy over top of a giant battlefield down below where Planeswalkers are waging a ferocious battle and he’s just checking out the whole thing. Bring on the full spoiler because I want to take this shiny Red and White Ferrari out for a spin!
Keranos, God of Storms looks pissed! Now, when I envisioned the Red God, I hadn’t really figured he would look like Purphorous. Yeah, I get the whole God of the forge angle, but I was really hoping Red would get a god of lightning, storms, and full on craziness! Well, we got it! This guy looks pissed that he was based up and supplanted by Purphorous in Theros and is going to lay a mad beat down and all those who get in his way. Oh, and the art is sick too…just in case you hadn’t noticed.
Kruphix, God of Horizons. I don’t even know what a God of Horizons is, but let me tell you, his multi-armed silhouette looks AWESOME. The nice part with this one is that we are also left guessing at what this guy looks like and so our imagination takes over. The possibilities are endless and I really hope that this is the art used on the card and not some alternative piece to be used on a playmat or something. He looks amazing and leaves me wanting more.
Pharika, God of Affliction. Ah yes, the Giant Gorgon God. Well, she’s exactly what I had in mind as she looks like many of her minions ranging from Pharika’s Mender to any of the other Gorgons running around the set. I hope this block gets a good dose of G/B type cards to really make her and her minions something formidable because she has some cool art and I can only imagine what the corresponding abilities will be.
Elspeth. Are we seriously going to get a second Elspeth planeswalker in the Block? I doubt it, but what you might see is her ridiculously sweet looking staff making an appearance. The art work doesn’t reveal much , but it does highlight her weapon and by the way it’s glowing, I would suspect that it’s getting ready to do something absolutely BONKERS! I can’t wait!
Hero’s Trial. This one is a bit of a mystery. To date we’ve really had a pretty good idea about what the art work is showing us, but this seems a little less clear. It is also in a much different style compared to the other pieces shown. I like the style as I feel it is very flavourful and in keeping with the Theros Plane, but I want to know more. My only hope is that this is some sweet Rare spell and not some completely underwhelming uncommon. I can’t express how disappointed I was when all the promotional art for Theros started getting spilled and Arena Athlete was a playable, but underwhelming, uncommon. Let’s hope this one is cool.
Ajani Goldmane and Elspeth. So, I have 2 words. SHUT UP! These are two of my favorite planeswalkers and they get to TEAM UP! Please make it so! Wizards, please, please, please listen here…this would be MIND BLOWING! We know that Theros has Leonin and so to see Ajani make an appearance isn’t totally unheard of, but to pair Elspeth and Ajani, even if it is only a spell would be crazy cool. If this also means that there is another White Planeswalker going to get dropped, well, there goes the neighbourhood. Elspeth is an absolute powerhouse in the set and have her get a running buddy, in the same colour, would be like having your ice cream and your cake…and wash it down with your favorite beverage…and then have the restaurant hand you back all your money and tell you that it was on the house…that good.
So, I hope that you are as excited as I am for what looks to be an awesome spoiler season for Journey into Nyx. Lots of new things to come our way shortly, I’m sure, and I can hardly wait. Let me know what you think about the new spoilers and art from Journey into Nyx. Did you Dig it? Did you hate it? What do you hope to see?
So, until next time, keep it fun, keep it safe…keep it casual.
Bruce Gray
@bgray8791
A Hero’s Trial
Ajani Goldmane and Elspeth
Elspeth
Athreos, God of Passage
Iroas, God of Victory
Keranos, God of Storms
Kruphix, God of Horizons
Pharika, God of Affliction
Check out Bruce Gray’s comments and thoughts on the new Gods and artwork.
