Ignite Your Spark

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

It's sort of a good news and bad news today.  The motherboard on our machine finally cack'd and we're moving into a new machine (the new iMac), which is kind of like moving IRL and a pain in the posterior.  Given this, we'll rise from the ashes in the next few days or so, which is also when we'll have a ring at our door from the courier delivering a box of awesome new Theros singles from MTG Mint Card.  
 
Anywhoos - for today's post - some news which will make CosPlay fans happy.  Wizards has wrapped up their 'Ignite Your Spark Contest', which challenged fans to submit a photo of themselves auditioning to become the Planeswalker of their choice. Contestants could choose any of the following Planeswalkers: Ajani Goldmane, Chandra Nalaar, Elspeth Tirel, Garruk Wildspeaker, Gideon Jura, Jace Beleren, Karn, Koth of the Hammer, Liliana vess, Nicol Bolas, Nissa Revane, Ral Zarek, Sarkhan Vol, Sorin Markov, Tamiyo, Tezzeret, Tibalt, Venser, or Vraska.

Felicia Day made the announcement over on the mothersite today . . .

Congratulations to Laura H. (Sumyuna Cosplay) from Madrid, Spain, on her winning Chandra cosplay! Laura will win a trip for two to a PAX of her choice in 2014!
'After some destructive attempts at pyromancy trying to imitate Chandra, Laura proposes herself as a stand-in for her promotional duties and leave her free to go on with the usual incinerating business.'

Fan Favorite winner Christine X. (Cspranklerun / Christine Sprankle) - Wins a laptop and a Magic swag bag including a copy of Magic 2014: Duels of the Planeswalkers
'I am Elspeth. I live my Dreams as a Planeswalker playing Magic: The Gathering. You too can become a Champion of Light, Knowledge, Nature, Fire or Death. Live the Game. Play the Game.'

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M14 Spoilers 7-04

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Happy Thursday MTG peeps,

Also a very happy 'Fourth of July' Independence Day to our American cousins to the south.  MTG Realm might not have a daily post tomorrow as we'll be traveling to London to get to a FNM tournament at L.A. Mood Comics & Games, so perhaps look to any updates this weekend on MTG Realm's Tumblr. Although WotC offices are closed for the holiday, Magic: the Gathering fans have still been treated to some articles and Magic 2014 previews on the mothersite.  check out T.J.'s 7/4 article on the Magic Arcana.  We also have some interesting illustrations from Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014 to share as well, so stay tuned after the spoiler bit.  Anywhoos - Here's the round-up of the three new M14 cards which were shown today on the mothersite -
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Imposing Sovereign, 1w
Creature - Human, Rare
Creatures your opponents control enter the battlefield tapped.
2/1

This looks like a nice Blind Obedience on a stick and should make some sealed players happy.  This looks like it may make the cut into a lot of builds right now.  Whether you are playing WW Aggro, humans or something Boros, Imposing Sovereign might find a slot in your stack.
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Lifebane Zombie, 1bb
Creature - Zombie, Rare
Intimidate
When Lifebane Zombie enters the battlefield, target opponent reveals his or her hand. You choose a green or white creature card from it and exile that card.
3/1

Zombies are looking rather lovely in M14.  Between Lifebane, Xathrid Necromancer, Undead Minotaur, Minotaur Abomination and Liliana's Reaver, we think that the tribe is well represented.  Lifebane Zombie provides some nice control elements.  Too bad this comes down a turn after Voice of Resurgence, but hey, at least it turfs Thragtusk and provides a difficult to block threat.
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Dismiss into Dream, 6u
Enchantment, Rare
Each creature your opponents control is an Illusion in addition to its other types and has "When this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it."
We really don't know if any player will care for this card, even in EDH / Commander.  We can easily imagine a player crying and needing to be consoled after ripping this jank out of a pack.
 
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Big thanks to forum member Seba169 who shared these lovely DotP 2014 arts with us.  Of course, none of these are guaranteed to see a print in M14, but let's have a looky-loo anyways.

• First - It's been suggested that this may be Cursed Land, as seen in the "Weather the Storm" DotP encounter.
• Second - This appears to be the art for Sliver Construct
• Third - Really reminds us of Warstorm Surger.
• Fourth - Suggested that his is Aether Storm from the same DotP encounter mentioned above.
• Fifth - has been suggested as the art possibly belonging to Inferno.
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DotP 2014 Promos

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Happy Friday MTG peeps,

As it is Friday, giver yourself a break and clear your calendar this evening for Friday Night Magic.  We'll be heading out to OMG! Games here in Barrie to get a last chance at winning this month's FNM promo, Judges' Familiar.

Anywhoos - we are still trying to catch up with Modern Masters and Magic 2014 spoilers and previews but want to first yatter about some of the very lovely looking promo cards you can score with Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014 first.  Here's the 4.1.1. for you - -
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The Magic 2014 - Duels of the Planeswalkers Promo Booster Pack program may be available at your local store where you could pick up promotional packs and cards.

In-game messages will direct players to redeem promo codes and receive a special booster pack based on their gaming platform. The Wizards Store and Event Locator will direct players to the participating WPN locations in their area.  There will be five Different 6-card Promo Packs provided to WPN stores : XBLA promo packs, PSN promo packs, Steam promo packs, iPad promo packs, and Android promo packs.  Each promo pack will have one of the following alternate art Magic 2014 promo card - as shown on the left (the regular card is on the right) -

• Steam, iPad, Android tablet – Scavenging Ooze,

• Xbox – Bonescythe Sliver, and

• PSN – Ogre Battledriver  (regular card on right is mock up)

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Massive M14 Spoiler

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Happy Saturday MTG peeps,

Huge news Magic: the Gathering fans.  It appears that there may have been a leak of an advance copy of the new soon-to-be-released Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014 digital game.  This of course means that we now have a truckload of new Magic 2014 spoilers.  Many thanks go to MTG Sally member / mod TK-421 for facilitating the posting of said new cards.  Both Digital Gamers and card fans are enjoying something akin to Christmas morning today.  Anywhoos - let's get right to them!

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White:
Ajani's Chosen 2ww
Creature - Cat Soldier Rare
Whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, put a 2/2 white Cat creature token onto the battlefield. If that enchantment is an Aura, you may attach it to the token.
3/3

Bonescythe Sliver 3w
Creature - Sliver Rare
Sliver creatures you control have doublestrike.
2/2

Charging Griffin 3w
Creature - Griffin Common
Flying
Whenever Charging Griffin attacks, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
2/2

Devout Invocation 6w
Sorcery Mythic
Tap any number of untapped creatures you control. Put a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying onto the battlefield for each creature tapped this way.

Hive Stirrings 2w
Sorcery Common
Put two 1/1 colorless Sliver creature tokens onto the battlefield.

Master of Diversion 2w
Creature - Human Scout Common
Whenever Master of Diversion attacks, tap target creature defending player controls.
2/2

Seraph of the Sword 3w
Creature - Angel Rare
Flying
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to Seraph of the Sword.
3/3
 
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Blue:
Glimpse the Future 2u
Sorcery Uncommon
Look at the top three cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest into your graveyard.

Jace's Mindseeker 4uu
Creature - Fish Illusion Rare
Flying
When Jace's Mindseeker enters the battlefield, target opponent puts the top five cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard. You may cast an instant or sorcery card from among them without paying its mana cost.
4/4
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Black:
Grim Return 2b
Instant Rare
Choose target creature card in a graveyard that was put there from the battlefield this turn. Put that card onto the battlefield under your control.

Liliana's Reaver 2bb
Creature - Zombie Rare
Deathtouch
Whenever Liliana's Reaver deals combat damage to a player, that player discards a card and you put a 2/2 black Zombie creature token onto the battlefield tapped.
4/4

Rise of the Dark Realms 7bb
Sorcery Mythic
Put all creature cards from all graveyards onto the battlefield under your control.
 
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Red:
Marauding Maulhorn 2rr
Creature - Beast Common
Marauding Maulhorn attacks each combat if able unless you control a creature named Advocate of the Beast.
5/3

Molten Birth 1rr
Sorcery Uncommon
Put two 1/1 red Elemental creature tokens onto the battlefield. Then flip a coin. If you win the flip, return Molten Birth to its owner's hand.

Ogre Battledriver 2rr
Creature - Ogre Warrior Rare
Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, that creature gets +2/+0 and gains haste until end of turn.
3/3

Thorncaster Sliver 4r
Creature - Sliver Rare
Sliver creatures you control have "Whenever this creature attacks, it deals 1 damage to target creature or player."
2/2

Young Pyromancer 1r
Creature - Human Shaman Uncommon
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, put a 1/1 red Elemental creature token onto the battlefield.
2/1
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Green:
Into the Wilds 3g
Enchantment Rare
At the beginning of your upkeep, look at the top card of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield.

Predatory Sliver 1g
Creature - Sliver Common
Sliver creatures you control get +1/+1.
1/1

Primeval Bounty 5g
Enchantment Mythic
Whenever you cast a creature spell, put a 3/3 green Beast creature token onto the battlefield.
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, put three +1/+1 counters on target creature you control.
Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you gain 3 life.

Rumbling Baloth 2gg
Creature - Beast Common
4/4

Savage Summoning g
Instant Rare
Savage Summoning can't be countered.
The next creature card you cast this turn can be cast as though it had flash. That spell can't be countered. That creature enters the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it.

Sporemound 3gg
Creature - Fungus Common
Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, put a 1/1 green Saproling creature token onto the battlefield.
3/3

Woodborn Behemoth 3gg
Creature - Elemental Uncommon
As long as you control eight or more lands, Woodborn Behemoth gets +4/+4 and has trample.
4/4

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Artifact:
Guardian of the Ages 7
Artifact Creature - Golem Rare
Defender
Whenever a creature attacks you or a planeswalker you control, if Guardian of the Ages has defender, it loses defender and gains trample.
7/7

Ring of Three Wishes 5
Artifact Mythic
Ring of Three Wishes enters the battlefield with three wish counters on it.
5, t, Remove a wish counter from Ring of Three Wishes: Search your library for a card and put that card into your hand. Then shuffle your library.

Sliver Construct 3
Artifact Creature - Sliver Construct Common
2/2

Staff of the Death Magus 3
Artifact Uncommon
Whenever you cast a black spell or a Swamp enters the battlefield under your control, you gain 1 life.

Vial of Poison 1
Artifact Uncommon
1, Sacrifice Vial of Poison: Target creature gains deathtouch until end of turn. 
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M14 Friday Spoilers

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Happy Friday MTG peeps,

Here in Canada-Land, it is the Victoria Day long weekend, known in the common tongue, the May 2-4 weekend.  This is a time to pack a tent, a cooler and head out to kick start the summer off with some camping.  For us here at MTG Realm, it means an extra day to sort, organize our collection of Magic: the Gathering cards - We'll get to camping latter this season.  Nothing quite like having a game of MTG on a picnic table by lantern with a nice fire roaring in the background.  Anywhoos - tonight we're off to OMG! Games to get gaming in at the Friday Night Magic event.

Before we head off though, we need to bring to your attention some more Magic 2014 (M14) core set spoilers and previews.  Almost all these previews so far have been through digital gaming websites providing sneak peeks of the soon to be released Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014.  Let's have a looky-loo right now what's on the radar -
Awaken the Ancient, 1rrr
Enchantment - Aura, Rare
Enchant Mountain
Enchanted Mountain is a 7/7 red Giant creature with haste. It's still a land.

This exclusive Magic 2014 preview card from MajorSpoilers.com - We're not seeing any issues with animating a mountain into a 7/7 Giant on turn four.  The rules text mentioning 'haste' seems a bit superfluous but we won't press that point.
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Megantic Sliver, 5g
Creature - Sliver, Rare
Sliver creatures you control get +3/+3.
3/3

Another Sliver critter, this preview from io9.com - A green stompy Sliver for six which gives you a 3/3 with the static ability of a +3/+3 pump for all Slivers you control which ain't that bad at all.  Perhaps not standard constructed worthy but still decent.

~Dawnstrike Paladin, 3ww
Creature Human Knight, Common
Vigilance, lifelink
2/4

This was was spotted during a video preview of the new Duels of the Planeswalkers and further developed into a mock-up.  Solid common in our opinion with relevant abilities of vigilance and lifelink.












The very same video discussed above also coughed up this rather blurred image.  Your guess is as valid as ours for this card so speculate away!

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DotP 2014 - Magic 2014 Spoilers

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

Quick post today for you featuring a number of new cards being revealed on several different media outlets.  Most, if not all the cards below will not only be featured in Wizards of the Coast latest digital game offering, Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014, but may also see print in the (paper card) core set, Magic 2014.  We're already stoked to get pre-orders into MTG Mint Card and start building some sweet kick-butt tech.  Anywhoos - Stick around to the end to watch the videos from the game review websites.  Let's go !
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Archangel of Thune, 3WW
Creature - Angel, Nythic Rare
Flying, Lifelink
Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
3/4

Vastwood Hydra, XGG
Creature – Hydra, Rare
Vastwood Hydra enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it.
When Vastwood Hydra dies, you may distribute a number of +1/+1 counters equal to the number of +1/+1 counters on Vastwood Hydra among any number of creatures you control.
0/0Enlarge, 3GG
Sorcery, Uncommon
Target creature gets +7/+7 and trample until end of turn, and must be blocked this turn if able.Garruk's Horde, 5GG
Creature — Beast, Rare
Trample
Play with the top card of your library revealed.
You may cast the top card of your library if it's a creature card. (Do this only any time you could cast that creature card. You still pay the spell's cost.)
 

Advocate of the Beast, 2g
Creature - Elf Shaman
At the beginning of your end step, you may put a +1/+1 counter on target beast creature you control.
2/3


Hunt the Weak, 3G
Common
Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. Then that creature fights target creature you don't control.
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DotP 2014 Slivers

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Happy Tuesday MTG peeps, 

Following up with yesterday's surprising preview of Magic 2014 Core Set featuring the return of the Slivers, we now have five additional Sliver spells that Magic: the Gathering players may expect.  This announcement addressed a new 'sealed play' feature in the digital game.  Why should 'paper' card players take note?  For the last few core sets, there had been an integration between the digital and paper product offerings allowing gamers to get first look at cards from the popular Duels of the Planeswalkers electronic game which may see cardboard print in the core set.

Anywhoos - here's the official announcement
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Wizards of the Coast today announced two exciting new features coming to Magic 2014 – Duels of the Planeswalkers! Sealed Play and a new take on the popular Slivers creature type will both make their debut in the Duels of the Planeswalkers franchise with Magic 2014.

The addition of Sealed Play will allow players to open booster packs and build decks to play against the AI and other players. Each sealed pool is comprised of 84 cards, mimicking paper TCG booster packs. The PvE experience includes a six-deck ladder where players take on mono-colored Sealed decks each corresponding with a particular Planeswalker, and finally facing a ‘boss’ Sealed deck.

Another feature debuting in Magic 2014 is a new take on the popular Slivers creature type. A fan-favorite, new playable Slivers in Magic 2014 decks will include the following:

• Sliver Construct
• Predatory Sliver
• Groundshaker Sliver (previewed)
• Megantic Sliver
• Blur Sliver (previewed)
• Striking Sliver (previewed)
• Thorncaster Sliver
• Battle Sliver (previewed)
• Sentinel Sliver (previewed)
• Bonescythe Sliver
• Hive Stirrings (creates Sliver tokens)

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As we had not started playing Magic: the Gathering until Lorwyn block, we totally missed Slivers, which means we don't have any of the 'fan favs'.  This of course means another shopping trip to MTG Mint Card to pick some up and perhaps slap together a casual Modern format build.

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Post PAX East

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

What a heck of a weekend for Magic: the Gathering fans at PAX East in Boston this past weekend.  Between the Wizards of the Coast MTG panel Saturday afternoon to Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014, there was just so much amazing spoilers 'n' previews around every corner - and that's not even mentioning the great swag WotC had provided.  Over the course of the weekend we here at MTG Realm attempted to keep up with all the news on both the main MTG Realm site as well as our Tumblr site - and apparently you were on top of all our updates.  We had just over 12,000 visits on Sunday alone.

Anywhoos - enough gushing - let's get to some of the big news - namely the announcement of the next block as well as some DotP 2014 / M14 spoilers 'n' previews. We promise to summarize the Dragon's Maze material in the next post.

First up - the next large fall set was previewed at the PAX East MTG panel and followed up with the official announcement on the mothersite today.
• Theros
• Born of the Gods
• Journey into Nyx

Set Name : Theros
Block : Set 1 of 3 in the Theros block
Number of Cards : 249
Prerelease Events : September 21-22, 2013
Release Date : September 27, 2013
Game Day : October 19-20, 2013
Pro Tour Theros Formats Swiss:
Official Three-Letter Code : THS
Twitter Hashtag : #MTGTHS
Initial Concept and Game Design : Mark Rosewater (lead), Ethan Fleischer, Ken Nagle, Zac Hill, and Jenna Helland
Final Game Design and Development : Erik Lauer (lead), Zac Hill, Dave Humpherys, Doug Beyer, Shawn Main, and Tom LaPille

We are very excited indeed about this block - we could be totally wrong here but it feels like there may be a Greek mythology theme here.  We're already thinking about picking up some potentially related cards from MTG Mint Card which may fit thematically with this block.  We'll get to speculations in another post but here's a short list of existing creature types which have already seen print :
White: Griffin, Pegasus
Blue: Hippocampus, Siren, Sphinx
Black: Gorgon, Harpy, Lamia
Red: Chimera, Cyclop, Minotaur
Green: Centaur, Dryad, Hydra, Satyr
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Next up - Some new cards spotted during preview play of Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014 at PAX East.  These are of particular interest to Magic: the Gathering gamers who play the physical (paper) version as both the electronic and paper Core Set release are very often contiguous.  Here are some cards we may expect come 19th July, 2014 -
Shadowborn Demon, 3bb
Creature - Demon, Mythic Rare
Flying
When Shadowborn Demon enters the battlefield, destroy target non demon creature.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if there are fewer than 6 creatures in your graveyard, sacrifice a creature.
5/6
Shadowborn Apostle, b
Creature-Human Cleric, Common
A deck can have any number of cards named Shadowborn Apostle.
b, sacrifice six creatures named Shadowborn Apostle: Search your library for a demon creature and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
1/1

Kalonian Tusker, gg
Creature - Beast, Uncommon
3/3

Regathan Firecat, 2r
Creature - Elemental Cat, Common
4/1










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PAX East Day 1

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Happy Friday MTG peeps,

If, like us, you don't have the cash to be at gamer Nirvana at PAX East in Boston this weekend, make certain to get to your local gaming store / card shop and get some Friday Night Magic.  We'll be at our local store OMG! Games here in Barrie, Ontario (where Winter storms continue to rage despite being informed that it's officially Spring), to try out a fun little home-brew build we've assembled.

Anywhoos - onto today's article, which really is a follow-up to yesterday's article - PAX East 2013 being held in Boston.  Why are we all gigity about this - for Magic: the Gathering of course - Wizards of the Coast not only will have our ear during their panel discussion tomorrow but digital players will be able to try their hand at the new Duels of the Planeswalkers 2014.  There has been an integration between the digital and paper product offering – in other words, Duels of the Planeswalkers players get the first look at cards from the upcoming Magic 2013 Core Set releasing this summer.

Writer Dan Tack (currently writing for Forbes) has been an early bird snapping pics and posting to Twitter for MTG fans.  Let's have a look at two new cards we may expect - 
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Shadowborn Apostle, b
Creature-Human Cleric, Common
A deck can have any number of cards named Shadowborn Apostle.
b, sacrifice six creatures named Shadowborn Apostle: Search your library for a demon creature and put it onto the battlefield.
1/1

This looks fun.  We know it's a trap to play in constructed, but we still want a few games with this build.
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Staff of the Wild Magus, 3
Artifact, Uncommon
Whenever you cast a green spell or a Forest enters the battlefield under your control you may gain 1 life.

We have a suspicion here that we may finally see a change to the core set 'Lucky Charms' cycle.
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In addition to the Shadowborn Demon card previewed, in yesterday's article, we think all is well in our n3rd gamer world.
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Magic 2014 – Duels of the Planeswalkers playable at PAX East

Wizards of the Coast has announced that Magic 2014 – Duels of the Planeswalkers is due this northern summer, heading to Android for the first time alongside iPad, PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.  The press release promises “exciting new features” – an immersive storyline; ten brand new decks; 15 new encounters; 10 new puzzle challenges and an all-new play mode – as well as stronger integration with the collectible card game. You can check it out at the Magic: The Gathering booth at PAX East from March 22 through 24.
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DotP 2014 Spoilers

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Happy Thursday (again) MTG peeps,

Some very exciting Magic: the Gathering news coming out today ahead of PAX East 2013 in Boston this very weekend.  Magic 2014 - Duels of the Planeswalkers previews!  Be sure to check out Magic 2014 - Duels of the Planeswalkers which will be on display at PAX East in the Magic: The Gathering booth (#562) and definitely do not miss the Magic: The Gathering panel will take place on Saturday in the Corgi Theatre.

Why is this so very awesome - mainly because not only is this just a very amazing digital game, but we also have a look at what may be our very first Magic 2014 Core Set magic spoiler card . . . strap in and let's go - 
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Ignite Your Spark!
Magic 2014 Announced, Launches on Android

Magic 2014 - Duels of the Planeswalkers
In addition to Xbox LIVE® Arcade, Steam®, PlayStation® Network and iPad®, Magic 2014 - Duels of the Planeswalkers will be available on Android™ for the first time ever! With an easy-to-use tutorial, Magic 2014 is the best way for new players to learn how to play Magic, while also providing advanced game play
modes and options to satisfy experienced players. 

Magic 2014 builds on the success of previous games in the Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers franchise and adds all new features including: 
• Available on Android with ad hoc multiplayer play
• Immersive storyline that connects the online and offline Magic 2014 experience
• 10 Brand New Decks
• 15 New Encounters 
• 10 New Puzzle Challenges
• New Game Mode
• First look at cards from the Magic 2014 - Core Set releasing later in the summer  

 

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Now . . .
Some interesting stuff -

Shadowborn Demon, 3bb
Creature, Demon, Mythic Rare
Flying
When Shadowborn Demon enters the battlefield, destroy target non demon creature.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if there are fewer than 6 creatures in your graveyard, sacrifice a creature.
5/6

ummm - Wow.
This promises to be interesting to build around - Wizards presented another balanced card in our opinion.  Control decks will want this but have to ensure critters are in the 'yard for this to be effective.  What do you think ? - But before you answer that, here's a short game trailer -

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