Commander 2013 Mind Seize

~
Happy Friday MTG peeps, 

We have for you today part two of five separate articles we are doing on the new Commander 2013 decks just recently released by WotC to a very welcoming Magic: the Gathering fan base.  Each of these new Commander pre-constructed decks provides a ready to play stack of 100 cards including a choice of three legendary creatures to act as your general which may be also represented by an oversized foil card.  The card list is a solid foundation which you can easily adjust to taste - we'll likely throw a few of our nostalgic favourites we've picked up from MTG Mint Card into the original mix. 

The is the overview / review for Commander 2013's 'Evasive Maneuvers' deck and we've prepared a video with our good friend Jon from 'Command Tower' on Tumblr.  

~

~
This Grixis (blue / black / red) has the folowing legendary creatures in the deck to choose as your Commander / General -

Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge
This 1/3 Vampire Wizard has a cmc of four (one colorless and an 'grixis').  Not only does this fly but also mills (actually exiles) based upon how much you just cast her for - the spell cost and subsequent 'commander tax'.  From the pile of exiled cards, you can free-cast any of the spells whenever she attacks - very powerful.

Nekusar, the Mindrazer
For five mana (two colorless and a 'grixis), you can have 2/4 Zombie Wizard.  This guy forces everyone to draw an extra card each turn but goes further by dinging each opponent one damage for each card drawn.  We suggest you employ shenanigans like Forced Fruition for the lulz. 

Thraximundar
Here's a reprint from Shards of Alara. This is a great beater.  For seven (four colorless and a 'grixis') you get a hasty 6/6 which forces the defending player to sac a critter whenever Thrax attacks.  The bonus is that you also get a hard +1/+1 counter on Thrax every time a player sacs a creature as well.

This is the most difficult of the five Commander 2013 decks to get your paws on.  Even when stores had protected themselves on a product rush by jacking the price two or three times the suggested retail price, players still had no problem willing to pay.  Why?  A few reasons but foremost is True-Name Nemesis, a very powerful merfolk creature spell which a lot of Legacy players want - this will go as a single for about 40 or 45 bucks some places.  Balefule Strix, a reprint from Planechase also commands a price of 15 to 20 clams.  Another card of interest is Strategic Planning from Portal Three Kindoms, which original cards are going for $30 although the price is dropping as a result of the commander and recent Modern Masters reprinting.
~

Angel Evolution

~
Happy Thursday MTG peeps,

Our local card shop, OMG! Games here in Barrie, Ontario runs a Commander night on Thursday evenings and although we've not been out to one of these for a while, we're told that it is becoming more popular than ever and you can see all the recently released Commander 2013 decks at the tables.  We'll likely pick up a few extra singles from MTG Mint Card and upgrade one of our existing builds before committing to going though.

Anywhoos - there was one Commander 2013 card which caught our attention (yes, we admit that many more did) but this had more to do with the art than the actual game card abilities.  Specifically, we're talking about Angel of Finality with the lovely art from Howard Lyon.  We've seen this angel very recently in the Innistrad set - Angel of Flight Alabaster.

~
The new Commander 2013 version is most assuredly a reference to the previous Innistrad one but beyond the art and creature type, everything is quite different.

 











Where the Innistrad Angel of Flight Alabaster allowed graveyard recursion of a spirit creature card from your graveyard to your hand, Commander's Angel of Finality nuked cards in a target player's graveyard.  Both these cards can still be good friends in the same deck however and we know there is a number of MTG Realm readers out there who have told us they have a thingy for angel themed decks, so we say 'go for it' - there are more than a dozen legendary angel creatures in a variety of colors you can call upon to be your commander / general.
~
Now - for some flavor -
Innistrad Angels were organized into Flights of Angels - Flight Goldnight, Flight of Herons, and Flight Alabaster.  As our angel in today's article is from Alabaster, here's some background from the MTG creative team -  

The Flight of Alabaster
These angels personify the Blessed Sleep and are associated with the Hunter's Moon season. They provide magic that wards against the desecration of dead humans. In the absence of Avacyn they remained the most active and continued on to reinforce wards that protected the human populations.

This flight of angels is centered in Thraben, and is instrumental in maintaining Avacynian wards. These angels reside mainly in the Lofts and are a familiar sight to the inhabitants of the city. They generally travel in small groups as they visit the centers of healing in the city. Alabaster angels also aid priests and cathars in maintaining the protective wards on the city walls and holy sites throughout Innistrad. According to the other flights, Alabaster angels tend to be overly sentimental, but they think of themselves as practical yet sympathetic. They often do not travel with weapons, preferring to use their magic, and engage in battle only when the conflict can't be resolved another way. During the archangel's absence, the Alabaster angels were first to recognize the Avacynian wards were failing. Many remained active—more than those of other flights—doubling their efforts to reinforce the wards. These efforts likely saved Thraben from the fate that befell many other towns and settlements. 
~

Eternal Bargain

~
Happy Wednesday MTG peeps, 

We have for you today part two of five separate articles we are doing on the new Commander 2013 decks just recently released by WotC to a very welcoming Magic: the Gathering fan base.  Each of these new Commander pre-constructed decks provides a ready to play stack of 100 cards including a choice of three legendary creatures to act as your general which may be also represented by an oversized foil card.  The card list is a solid foundation which you can easily adjust to taste - we'll likely throw a few of our nostalgic favourites we've picked up from MTG Mint Card into the original mix. 

The is the overview / review for Commander 2013's 'Evasive Maneuvers' deck and we've prepared a video with our good friend Jon from 'Command Tower' on Tumblr.  

~

This Esper deck (white/ blue / black) has the following Commanders to choose from:

Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
This legendary Giant Soldier costing six mana (3 colorless and an 'esper' gives you a 4/5 body on the field and has a lifegain theme in each of the cards three abilities.  Ability one nets you two life, while the second one allows you to pay one coloress whenever you gain life to chip one life off your opponent.  To ensure the life train keeps going, you also add another two onto your total even if Oloro is in your command zone.
~

Sydri, Galvanic Genius
This Human Artificer costs three (one 'esper') and provides a 2/2 onto the battlefield.  Both activated abilities are all about artifacts.  For one blue mana, you can turn a target noncreature artifact into an artifact with p/t equal to the cmc.  The second ability allows you to pay a white and black to give a target artifact lifelink / deathtouch until end of turn.
~

Sharuum, the Hegemon
Here is the reprint - for six mana (three colorless and an 'esper') you get a 5/5 flying artifact Sphinx creature.  The enter the battlefield effect has the ability to return an artifact card from the 'yard back onto the battlefield, which can get really crazy if you develop a strategy to cheat huge fatties or other high costed artifacts onto the field.
~
This is certainly not an 'all in' artifact deck and frankly the list developed by WotC is not meant to be that but rather yet another robust list able to adapt to the game situation and happens to have an artifact theme.  Having just said that, we are keen to develop a major artifact theme with this deck at it's base - we would want to consider both Tezzeret the Seeker and Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas in this mix along with similarily themed card choices.  One concern we have is that should you play Oloro in multiplayer, you could get hated on simply because of his lifegain potential.  
~

Theros Block Speculation

~
Happy Monday MTG peeps,

A very interesting post over on the mothersite today - if you've not yet have had a chance to look, click on over.  WotC TJ posted to the Magic Arcana the 'title images' of each of the sets in the current Magic: the Gathering block - Theros, Born of the Gods, and Journey into Nyx.  We have of course seen the Theros art with Elspeth, sun's Champion standing in triumph over a slain hydra and have even seen stylized hints of the other arts on the Hero's Path website but not yet seen them in full - which affords us an opportunity to generate some almost-baseless speculation.  For the Planeswalker Guide to Theros, check out the Magic Creative Team's articles here.  Let's have at it now . . .
~
First up - the title art for Theros.

Nothing new - Elspeth, now on Theros is true to form and fights for the humans inhabiting this plane against the many monsters.  A forge with her and Heliod, god of the Sun now emerges.

~
Second - the next set 'Born of the Gods' with this title art. 

We can clearly see that the Planeswalker Xenagos from the previous Theros set has a major role to play.  As Xenagos already has received a card, we should expect cards indicating a theme of his (or his 'faction'?) evolution.  This art suggests that Xenagos has supplanted Purphoros and possibly a bleeding through of Nyx (the realm of the gods) in to the corporeal plan.

~
Third - the title art for the final set 'Journey into Nyx'

From this image, we see the full extent of the corruption of being that was Xenagos.  Super Xenagos, holding his lyre-spear-staff thingy is about to engage in a confrontation with two well-known Planeswalkers - Elspeth and Ajani.  In the background to the left are battle banners of forces but whether this army is marching against or for Xenagos is unknown. Below this final battle are ruins of temples of which Erebos, god of the Underworld suggests has been, like Purphoros, defeated by super Xenagos.
~
Lastly, a heads up about MTG Mint Card (their banner on the left) who are having some pretty amazing deals, so click on over and check that out.
~

Theros Holiday Gift Box

~
Happy Friday MTG peeps,

We'll be heading out to OMG! Games latter on tonight to play in the Friday Night Magic event but wanted to swing by today during lunch break to pick up the 2013 Theros Holiday Gift Box on the chance it may sell out latter today.  Apparently we did have nothing to fear as the store ordered a good number.  While at the store there happened to be a few other players there also on a lunch break to grab some singles ahead of the event tonight and not there to pick up the Holiday Gift Box.  After a discussion of what they would pay for four booster packs of Theros (it's about $5 here in Central Ontario), they realised that given the price tag on the Holiday Gift Box (priced at $19.99 at OMG! Games), it was essentially a no-brainer.

Anywhoos - let's have a looky-loo in the box now !

Contents:

• A storage box that can hold more than 2,000 cards

• Six illustrated plastic dividers

• A sticker sheet for customizing the dividers

• Four Theros booster packs

• An alternative-art Karametra's Acolyte from the Theros set

• 20-card Theros basic land pack

~
Release Date: November 15, 2013 for an MSRP: $19.99

Enchant the Magic™ player in your life with the Magic: The Gathering® Holiday Gift Box, containing four booster packs from the Theros™ expansion, 20 basic land cards, and a premium card featuring an illustration unique to this gift box.

~
Notes :

• Peel 'n' stick sticker are great.

• The box art is nice but not as epic as last year's Return to Ravnica box art.

• The Dan Scott art for alt-art foil Karametra's Acolyte is stunningly beautiful but we have wishes for a more popular standard-format card.  Last year's foiling on Dreg Mangler was a bit weird 'n' flat.

• The art for the six card dividers are simply gorgeous.  The divider thickness seems a bit thinner from last year.

• Card storage box appears robust and on the same quality as the previous year's box.

•  Our four booster packs did not net us anything epic : Temple of Silence / Nighthowler / Artisans of Forms / Labyrinth Champion.  We did finally get a token that we've been looking for which is cool.

•  All in all a very solid purchase and of great use to just about every Magic: the Gathering player we can think of.

~

Tumblr Thursday

~
Happy Thursday MTG peeps,

We are rounding out the week rapidly so don't forget to not only make plans to get off to your local gaming store for Friday Night Magic, but to perhaps also get there a bit early to pick up the Theros Holiday 2013 Gift Box as they go on sale tomorrow.  

Righto - on to today's article - let's get to recent posts to our sister site MTG Realm on Tumblr -
~

Photoset

November 12, 2013

320 notes

 

 

 

 

Magic: the Gathering - New Phyrexia
New Phyrexia, Set 3 of 3 in the Scars of Mirrodin block. Here’s a sampling of some of the amazing / epic concept illustration from Richard Whitters (lead), Mark Tedin, Chippy, Dave Allsop, Wayne Reynolds, Franz Vohwinkel, and Jeremy Jarvis.

~

Photoset

November 13, 2013

54 notes

Magic: the Gathering - The Alara Work Environment
Little known fact - the Plane of Alara was quite frankly an OSHA and work insurance nightmare.  Labor laws were simply ignored and never enforced.
Enlisted Wurm art and sketch by the great Steve Prescott

~

Photoset

November 13, 2013

158 notes

 

 

Magic: the Gathering - Creativity
You quite obviously have not had enough images of CARDHALLA - Here ya go!

~

Photoset

November 11, 2013

38 notes

 

 

Magic: the Gathering - Dark Apostle
Do you know what blows chunks?  That there are only 7 demons in Standard currently, none of which unfortunately are stellar.  I guess if you Modern you could probably party with Griselbrand.  Anywhoos - there are potential shenanigans to be had though with Immortal Servitude.
Embarrassing admission - I had one or two Shadowborn Apostles in a casual kitchen table deck for lulz and just to funk with my opponent’s mind.  Opponent played Momoricide to look in my hand / deck for a demon that just wasn’t there.

~ 

Photoset

November 10, 2013

56 notes

 

 

 

Magic: the Gathering - good gawd …

The gods of Theros are ethereal beings who live among the stars. If mortals’ belief in them is strong enough, they can manifest themselves and wage war beside them.  There are five mythic rare legendary enchantment creatures that embody one of the gods of Theros. Each card has a low casting cost, but is not a creature until your Devotion to that colour is 5 or more. They all are indestructible, have one static ability and one activated ability — Heliod, God of the Sun, Thassa, God of the Sea, Erebos, God of the Dead, Purphoros, God of the Forge, Nylea, God of the Hunt.  Along with these gods, there are also five rare legendary enchantment artifacts that give all player’s creatures a ability and have a activated ability for it own — Spear of Heliod, Bident of Thassa, Whip of Erebos, Hammer of Purphoros, and Bow of Nylea

~

Maze's End Turbo-Fog

~
Happy Tuesday MTG peeps,

A few weeks ago we picked up from MTG Mint Card, our fourth and last card to complete a book set of Maze's End.  This fine rare land from Dragon's Maze offers a nice alternate win condition.  How a players wins a game of Magic: the Gathering is to reduce their opponent's life total from 20 (in standard constructed) to zero.  Currently, there are 4 cards in standard which provides an indirect or direct effect to win that game in a non-conventional means providing that the player fulfills a set of conditions.

Maze's end has been around for a while and we had not paid it much heed.  Then, recently there we had a match against one such deck at a Friday Night Magic event at OMG! Games here in Barrie.  Know what?  We got our butt handed to us - it was completely frustrating.  We did not have an Encroaching Wastes, Bramblecrush or Pithing Needle (to affect the Maze's third ability).  It would even have been nice to have a Burning Earth.  Yep - irritating as all heck which is why we became interested in this - and not having a lot of cash for cardboard, this fit our budget perfectly.  Anywhoos - let's have a looky-loo at how to build this -
~

Obviously, you will need four Maze's End and at least two of each Guildgate.  Where you go from here with your mana base is dictated by your spells.

~
Time is critical and you will want to get to the Maze's End finish line as soon as you can before your opponent grinds you out.  To this end, we suggest you may want to consider 'Into the Wilds' or 'Urban Evolution' to get additional gates onto the battlefield.  Also, 'Gatecreeper Vine' will allow you to 'tutor' a gate you haven't pulled yet.

~
As you are assembling your Maze's End win condition, your opponent will be attempting to bash you.  Negate any combat damage with Fog, Druid's Deliverance and Defend the Hearth.  Riot Control also works wonders and allows you to gain life which could be rather important if you opponent has a few burn spells to chuck at your head.

Speaking of life, some Maze's End players like Saruli Gatekeepers which provides a nice blocker and an almost guaranteed life gain of seven.  Since we want to pack a parachute should Maze's End goes off the rails, we like 'Crackling Perimeter' to shoot damage.

Lastly, to add some control elements we consider the robust 'Detention Sphere' to neutralize threats, and 'Supreme Verdict' to board-wipe.  Negate and Dissolve offers some counter-magic while 'Fade into Antiquity' answers any of the new Theros gods or troublesome enchantments.

Some players may want a plan 'B' to include a milling effect while others may wish heavier life-gain.  Season to taste as you wish.  Drop us a line if you have a Maze's End or other alternate win deck.
~

Journey into Nyx

~
Happy Monday MTG peeps,

We trust you had a great weekend, hopefully filled with some Magic: the Gathering.  Our weekend was rather productive, at least in terms of MTG.  We took that standard Slivers (featuring Bow of Nylea and Thorncaster Sliver) build to OMG! Games for Friday Night Magic to give it a spin and promptly lost every match - but - dang, that was pretty fun to play actually.  We'll likely just keep it at the kitchen table, or perhaps grab a few MTG singles from MTG Mint Card to make it a bit more competitive at FNM - we don't know yet.  Also of note, we think there are a few more players trying out that funky Maze's End Turbo-Fog build - although it seems a bit non-interactive, we have a thingy for alternate win condition games and might just have to give this a try.

Anywhoos - on to today's MTG news.  Over on the mothersite today, we now have the official announcement for the third and last set in the Theros block.  Although we've had the name for some time, we just did not have some of the nitty-gritty until today.  Again, Wizards did not provide an art teaser along with the announcement - rather  sad about that, so we've just added a few images from the very lovely 'Hero's Path' website below to fill in.  Righto - Here's the full run-down now -  
~

Set Name     : Theros
Block : Set 1 of 3 in the Theros block
Large September Expansion
Number of Cards : 249
Prerelease Events : September 21-22, 2013
Release Date : September 27, 2013
Launch Weekend : September 27-29, 2013
Pro Tour Theros Dates : October 11-13, 2013
Game Day : October 19-20, 2013

 

Set Name     : Born of the Gods
Block : Set 2 of 3 in the Theros block
Number of Cards : 165
Small February Expansion
Prerelease Events : February 1-2, 2014
Release Date : February 7, 2014
Launch Weekend : February 7-9, 2014
Game Day : March 1-2, 2014
   
 

Set Name     : Journey into Nyx
Block : Set 3 of 3 in the Theros block
Number of Cards : 165
Small May Expansion
Prerelease Events : April 26-27, 2014
Release Date : May 2, 2014
Launch Weekend : May 2-4, 2014
Game Day : May 24-25, 2014

~

Grand Prix Toronto

~
Happy Saturday MTG peeps,

We just wanted to give you a heads up as to the Toronto Grand Prix Trial at OMG! Games here in Barrie, Ontario.  Winning this Sunday at the GP Trial at OMG! Games gives you not only 2 Byes at GP Toronto but also nets you a highly sought-after From the Vault: 20 box.  Here's the 4.1.1. you need to know . . .

~
GPT Toronto

Date:  Sunday 10th November, 2013

Time:   Registration opens at 11:00am, play starts at 12:00pm

Location:  OMG! Games, 130 Bellfarm Rd., Barrie, Ontario L4M 6J4

Cost: $30.00 Entry

Format:  Theros Sealed
Modified Swiss pairings with 50 minute timed rounds.
Cut to untimed top 8 draft.
Competitive Rel. event

Prizes:
1st - A From the Vault 20, VIP entry and 2 Byes at GP Toronto
2nd - From the Vault 20
3rd-8th- store credit based on attendance
~

Grand Prix Toronto

Date: November 29 - December 1, 2013
Format: Theros Sealed Deck/Booster Draft
Tournament Location
The International Centre -- Hall 1
6900 Airport Rd, Mississauga ON
Click here for map
Registration: $45 CDN
On-site Registration:
Friday, November 29: 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 30: 8 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Sleep-in Special and VIP packages will be available.

In addition to a challenging Sealed Deck/Booster Draft main event, the weekend offers something to appeal to Magic players of every taste and ability. It doesn't matter if you're coming for just a couple of hours or committed to the entire weekend, Grand Prix Toronto has something for you. The schedule features such events as constructed tournaments offering major prizes and casual Two-Headed Giant and Commander formats, culminating with the increasingly popular Sunday Super Series, That tournament offers a trip to Seattle to hobnob with the folks from Wizards of the Coast next February! Visit www.westcanevents.com for a full side-event schedule, as well as a list of vendors, artists, and additional info. 
Special artist guests for this event will be Chris Rahn, Zack Stella and Noah Bradley.


The first 750 registered players in Grand Prix Toronto will receive this Colossus of Akros playmat (while supplies last). 
~