Retard 2: Zendikar

So it seems as if this blog is coming out of a retirement of sorts - let's call it a sabbatical. Well, in order to commemorate it in some marginal way, I think this calls for a moment of reflection. The first post here was to do with Zendikar block, many moons ago. What should we return to for this post of resumption?

Why not Return to Zendikar...?!

Seriously, though. In keeping with Wizards' recent trend of regular "Return to a place you didn't like the first time" blocks, which I suppose is still a step up from "New plane every block; never look back," we're finally getting to revisit that crapsack world of floating rocks and Lovecraftian wannabes, Zendikar. It was promising in theory: an unprecedented theme of Lands Matter, revisiting the Kor, and even a decent surprise in the form of Eldritch horrors. Unfortunately, it somehow ended up being all Razor Boomerangs and The-Land-Continues-to-Burns. How a block simultaneously "upped the power level" and dropped more balls than a palsied basketball team, I couldn't tell you. Clearly one of those statements must be fallacious. Hint: quotation marks.

Anyways, we're not talking about Zendikar, here. We're talking about "Zendikar, after these words from our sponsor." The question is... with the bar set, and not particularly highly at that, how does it compare? We should examine the important things in any set, particularly one spearheading a new block: the story, the mechanics and the playability.

1001 Ways to Die: A Treatise on Removal

It's late and I'm bored, so I'm going to write something of a deckbuilding tidbit.

Generally people will decide what is the "best" removal and run a set or two of said cards to cover themselves. As Magic aggressively evolves and changes with each set, though, there is by now a vast multitude of threats to consider. Certainly, you can't answer all of them, but it's wise to be prepared for as wide a range as possible. I'll break removal into (broad, non-exhaustive) categories to give you an idea. Remember that this is all off the top of my head. No, I won't do any research for you animals.

Ayyy That's Me

I got mentioned in a thing! (The "best comment" on Ignoble Soldier.)

Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better

Theros: Traveling Philosopher. Born of the Gods: Oreskos Sun Guide.
Journey into Nyx: Pensive Minotaur. Born of the Gods: Kragma Butcher.
Theros: Yoked Ox. Journey into Nyx: Lagonna-Band Trailblazer.

Wizards, stop. Printing vanilla creatures and then obsoleting them literally within the same block is bad. Pensive Minotaur is particularly odd, since it was printed after the card that "obsoleted" it. Swordwise Centaur may have been a waste when you didn't just make it a functional reprint of Garruk's Companion, but at least they didn't come out a couple months apart. I really hope this trend doesn't continue in future sets....

Obscure Tricks with Abilities

I'm not sure why I'm posting this, but it feels like something that I want to share. There are some things abilities do that are not commonly used. Generally this is due to lack of opportunity, but I'm sure sometimes due to ignorance. There are also some combinations that are not regularly noticed. Things like Flample and First strike + Deathtouch are obvious and need not be covered here.

The Nerd-o-meter

Hiya, kids! It's a handy-dandy chart that helps you check the acid test for how much of a nerd you are. Just grab your single most prized deck, and check at what level of nerdiness you are based on the state of its basic lands.

All the basic lands are:
1. Purposefully from the same set
2. Snow-covered, purely for show
3. Foreign language
4. Foil
5. Unglued/Unhinged
6. From Alpha     *
7. Euro/Eurasian lands
8. Foil Unhinged
9. Guru lands
10. Proxied on top of moxes
BONUS: Add two points if they are signed by the artist, Richard Garfield or Jesus.

*: By about this point, you're a bad person!

Dollar Menu Dynamite, Part 6

Another day, another dollar. Er, this is true if "day" is the shorthand way you refer to powerful and unusual cards that take your deck design to a whole new level. Wait, you don't? Huh. Regardless, I'm sure you know the drill by now - I've pulled together ten unusual, underplayed cards that have something to offer even a relatively competitive deck but cost one dollar at most. Think of your favourite builds, peruse the list as follows and keep an eye out for anything that might improve or at least spice up your games!