Back from Vacation and changes to Magic

First I'll post this weeks results, actually the last two weeks:

MAGIC THE GATHERING ONLINE status at a glance: Week ending 2/21/09

Drafts Shards of Alara (4-3-2-2): 5
Match Record (Draft): 2-5
Queues played this week: 7
Constructed pauper 2player:1
Constructed (Ala Block):46
Constructed (Extended):13
Constructed (Standard):15
100 card singleton:1
Daily events std: 2
2 player: 1
Total Queues played: 71
Match Record (pauper mono-red):0-1
Match Record (extended Death cloud):2-0
Match Record (extended Death cloud2):0-3
Match Record (extended Dragonstorm): 2-1
Match Record (extended UR Storm): 0-1
Match Record (extended Ad Naseum): 2-0
Match Record (extended Affinity): 5-3
Match Record (extended mono red ext): 0-2
Match Record extended Zoo):0-1
Match Record (Bant ext): 0-2
Match Record (Bant Block): 5-9
Match Record (Bant std): 1-1
Match Record (Glenn Jund Block):2-6
Match Record (Rich’s Jund Block):0-2
Match Record (Rich’s Naya/Jund Block):18-15
Match Record (Rich’s Naya Block):0-1
Match Record (Naya Block2):0-1
Match Record (Naya Block3):0-3
Match Record (Mono-White Block):
Match Record (Esper Block):0-1
Match Record (BR tokens std):1-4
Match Record (WR reveillark weenie std):2-4
Match Record (WR reveillark weenie std version 2):4-3
Match Record (Cruel control std):5-5
100 card singleton(white): 0-1
Overall Match Record: 49-63
Packs won this week: 11
Packs won total: 53
Tickets from packs this week: 51
Tickets from packs total: 203
Net ticket gain this week: +48
Net ticket gain total: +65
Money spent this week: 3
Money spent Overall (Started on 1/1/09): 139

WHOA! Do you see that! Positive 48 this week and positive 65 overall. It was a great two weeks tournament wise, but funny enough I generated all that profit on the last day. I didn't play any magic the week I was away because I was busy hanging out with my friends. The day I got back however, I managed to read about the comeback of affinity in the extended format and the lastest tech used in the deckbuilding. So I headed to the extended queues and played this new affinity deck:

4 Seat of the Synod
4 Tree of Tales
4 Great Furnace
3 Darksteel Citadel
3 Blinkmoth Nexus

4 Arcbound Ravager
4 Arcbound Worker
4 Frogmite
4 Ornithopter
4 Delay
3 Myr Enforcer
3 Tarmogoyf

4 Chromatic Star
4 Springleaf Drum
4 Cranial Plating
4 Thoughtcast

Sideboard:
4 Ancient Grudge
4 Pyrostatic Pillar
3 Relic of Progenitus
3 Trickbind
1 Tarmogoyf

The deck is very resilient to the common affinity hate. Tarmogoyf and Darksteel Citadel are in there as a non-artifact finisher and indestructible land source respectively. The Darksteel is especially nice when someone tries to Ancient grudge your land after sideboarding. Delay actually was the all-star card of the night. Even though I got criticized by one of my opponents for running it, the "bad" counterspell from future sight got me more then 1 or 2 wins. Just by intercepting that crucial Damnation or Hurkyl's Recall when I needed 1 or 2 more turns to secure the victory. While it's not a standard "affinity" card that the deck normally plays, it was a useful bit of tech. This deck was really good against the majority of the extended metagame. Oddly enough, I had the most trouble with the mirror. I chock this up mostly because I never drew my sideboard cards in either matchup. I'll continue to see if this or the Master of Etherium version is better, especially given that the extended environment just changed radically yesterday with the addition of conflux being made legal.

Ch-Ch-Ch-CHANGES!

Some changes have occured on Magic Online, this blog's structure, and with the core sets this week. There is change in the air, and I'm here to embrace it. First, Magic Online's constructed queues. 8-player queues, once the only queues available have now been replaced by 2 and 4 player queues. Now this comes as a very little surprise to me as I have been playing the 4-player queues almost exclusively almost since they came out. The reason? Value of course!

The prize structure worked out like this.

8-player:4-3-2-2 (6 tickets to enter)

4-player:2-1 (3 tickets to enter)

In 8-player queues, if you lost first round you were out 6 dollars, and if you won, you got 8 dollars off the packs that you won. So a profit of 2 dollars.

In 4-player queues, you only risked 3 dollars, and if you won the first round you made a 1 dollar profit. Here's the kicker though. If you played 2 4-player queues and only won the first round on both...then you make the same profit for the same money, but at a slightly less risky upfront cost. Once people figured this out, 8-player queues almost never fired. Wizards of the Coast noticed, and decided to change the format. The new constructed queues are:

4-player 4-2 (6 tickets to enter)

2-player 1 (2 tickets to enter)

I think that these queues are a better value in general. For 2 tickets now, I have the ability to get 4 dollars, so an upgrade from the previous 4-player queues. The four player queues improve on the 8-player by allowing 2 wins to equal a 10 dollar profit rather then a 6 dollar one. All in all I'm going to play alot more 2 player queues now, cause the value to risk ratio is just nuts. The 4-players aren't bad either, and I actually might play them more then I played the 8 player ones. So my verdict on the change is : IT'S GOOD!

Another change was that Wizards of the Coast announced yesterday that the format of the Core Set was changing. The bi-annual set was all reprints of past cards, and generally set the base and support cards for standard during it's "reign". Well, if you head over to www.magicthegathering.com, you can check out Aaron Forsythe's full article on the changes. I'll summarize them for you here, my reactions and comments will be in pararentheses.

-The Core set will no longer be called "Nth" edition, like the current 10th edition, but will be in a new yearly format. The next Set will be called Magic 2010 Edition or M10 for short.

-M10 will for the first time contain NEW never before seen cards. Almost half of the 229 non-land cards in the set are brand spanking new.(As a fan of the game I like this. As a collector that was finally at the level where the core set would contain almost everything I already had just with new art....I'm slightly peeved that I'll have to get new cards now. However, it is a smaller set, and new cards are always good.

-M10 will have more classic fantasy flavor to pull in newer players. Highly flavorful cards such as Serra Angel and Black Knight will return. (Yay, black knight is back, I hope it's part of a cycle or at least paired with white knight)

-M10 will have Mythic Rares for the first time. Of the 15 mythics, 6 will be new cards. Of the 9 reprints, 5 of them will be the Lorwyn Planeswalkers. (Oh good, they are sticking around another year. If i get the new ones in draft that would be neat, but I already have 4 of each, so no biggie)

-Core sets will now be yearly and will rotate out with the block that preceded them. What this means is that M10 will rotate out of standard with the Shards of Alara block, and for three months in the fall of 2010, both M10 and M11 (Magic core set 2011) will be legal at the same time. Another first. (I like this, 2 years was a bit too long, and I was not a fan of the "fourth sets" like coldsnap.)

-Of the 16 cards that have been in every core set...only half will be returning...will Wrath of God skip a year?

-The Core set will receive Pre-launch parties, and release events just like expansion sets.

-Some Tournaments will use M10 drafts

-There are new "pain-free" duel lands in M10. No fetch lands, painlands, or Ravnica Shocklands. (My guess is a cycle based on either Grove of the Burnwillows, Nimbus Maze, or River of tears from future sight. My money is on Grove. I also hope they aren't rare, as that will be sick on the wallet. Come to think of it, with all the land type things in alara block, we might be looking at a Grove/Mumuring Bosk hybrid)

New Format: Conflux has rotated in.

So the chief complaint I have had about the weekly results have been:

Having just the deck name doesn't reveal the build of the deck

So I will now link the builds I use to the deck names. Also, I have retired the shards of alara decks from the three major formats, and replaced them with Conflux era decks. I have retained the win/loss records from the previous block, and will hopefully give me a better view of the Magic Online metagame as it evolves. See you guys at the end of the week.

until next time remember...all work and no play

Headed South for the week

I'll be heading south to see my beast friends this week, and therefore will not be posting regularly if at all. I'll return the next weekend and update with my latest Magic results then.

Until next time...remember...all work and no play...

MAGIC THE GATHERING ONLINE status at a glance: Week ending 2/7/09
Drafts Shards of Alara (4-3-2-2): 5
Match Record (Draft): 2-5
Queues played this week: 8
Constructed pauper 2player:1
Constructed (Ala Block):43
Constructed (Extended):8
Constructed (Standard):12
100 card singleton:1
Daily events std: 2
2 player: 1
Total Queues played: 64
Match Record (pauper mono-red):0-1
Match Record (extended Death cloud):2-0
Match Record (extended Death cloud2):0-3
Match Record (extended Dragonstorm): 2-1
Match Record (extended UR Storm): 0-1
Match Record (extended Ad Naseum): 2-0
Match Record (extended mono red ext): 0-2
Match Record extended Zoo):0-1
Match Record (Bant ext): 0-2
Match Record (Bant Block): 5-9
Match Record (Bant std): 1-1
Match Record (Glenn Jund Block):2-6
Match Record (Rich’s Jund Block):0-2
Match Record (Rich’s Naya/Jund Block):15-13
Match Record (Rich’s Naya Block):0-1
Match Record (Naya Block2):0-2
Match Record (Mono-White Block):
Match Record (Esper Block):0-1
Match Record (BR tokens std):1-4
Match Record (WR reveillark weenie std):2-3
Match Record (WR reveillark weenie std version 2):4-2
Match Record (Cruel control std):4-4
100 card singleton(white): 0-1
Overall Match Record: 41-57
Packs won this week: 9
Packs won total: 42
Tickets from packs this week: 35
Tickets from packs total: 153
Net ticket gain this week: +14
Net ticket gain total: +17
Money spent this week: 21
Money spent Overall (Started on 1/1/09): 136

I had a really good week this week. The new R/W Reveillark deck really worked great, and the cruel control deck made a comeback. Also, I made the most profit then I ever have since I've been keeping records. Honestly, that just makes me feel good that this thing might be possible. I also found out that if you save up the packs until you have 3, then you get more tickets then if you sell them individually, so I am definitely going to keep doing that. Until next week, remember, all work and no play...

Conflux visual spoiler and set review (Artifact & Land)

So White got the hook up, Blue was disappointing, black was ok, Red had some great hits,Green got some heavy hitters, gold got the power, and so we come to the artifacts and lands of the set. Let's see what wizards of the coast has in store for us this time.


Things to Note:
This is in regards mainly to Std only. I will mention some extended and Block possibilities where applicable, but on the whole, I'm generally reviewing in regards to std.

Star Ratings are from 1-5, here's how I break it down:

*-Absolute Jank, should not have been printed

**-Casual only card, will not see tournament play

***-A good stable card. Good sideboard material

****-These are what great decks are made of

*****-Bombs! These will almost singlehandedly win you the game
Constructed-***
Limited-***1/2

So here we have a creature version of Pillar of Paruns. I think it will be played more then it's predecessor due to it being a creature deck type of format. You might see 1 or 2 in a std decklist, but I think it will stay more popular in limited and casual.









Constructed-***
Limited-***

So here the artifact basic land searcher of the set. I can see this this being a very big mana fixer in limited. In std, Shards Convergence is a better mana fixer for 4 mana. Course spreading the cost over 2 turns has it's benefits, and it will be interesting to see which of these two mana fixers will make it into std and block.




Constructed-*
Limited-**

The zero casting cost in nice on an equipment, but I don't think +1 attack is enough to replace another more useful card in any deck.











Constructed-****
Limited-****

It's a reflecting pool for your opponents. Ok, reflecting pool is the most played land in std right now, and in this multi-color environment, you think having 4 more copies in your deck could hurt? Of course not. For any five color deck, a playset of these is almost mandatory, and I bet you'll see it pop up as a 1 or 2 of in alot of std decks.




Constructed-**
Limited-**

I've never been a fan of howling mine, and here they make a better one. Considering that howling mine is in std, some kind of decking deck might come out of it, but I doubt it. Giving your opponents cards is never relly a GOOD idea.









Constructed-***
Limited-***

I'm having trouble deciding on this card. On the one hand it's a cheap artifact that draws you a card. Late in the game is can help with all the 5 color casting costs in conflux. I think it might be played by a five color deck, but it's hard to say.







Constructed-**
Limited-***

Here we have an artifact version of Shimmering Grotto. I know it will be used in limited, but it has almost no hope in constructed.









Constructed-**
Limited-***

Manaforce mace is the equipment card for the Domain mechanic. Like almost all the other Domain cards in the set, it's just not quite there yet. I think if either the casting cost or the equip cost was reduced by 1, then we could have had something to talk about, but this is just too expensive of a mana investment to be anything more then a limited equipment card.



Constructed-****
Limited-*****

I think that we will be seeing this card in control decks for a long time to come. Yes, it is a 6 mana investment, but once it's online, the stuff you can do every turn is nuts. I mean, wanna do an incinerate or giant growth a turn. Gain 5 life, or screw with combat math, this is your card. In limited it is a legitimate bomb. It's a great first pick because no matter what colors you end up in, it'll help you.

Constructed-***
Limited-**

They made spellbook into a land...ok. I've never seen spellbook be put to any good use, but as a land it might have a different future. You might see it pop up in control decks so they can draw cards to their hearts content without discarding.









Constructed-****
Limited-****

So here is a land that comes into play tapped, and you have to pay 1. Then when it untaps, it can tap for ANY color. Wow, that is really really good. This must be a rare or at least an uncommon...wait, it's a common! The 1 mana investment and coming into play tapped is essentially the same cost as the Karoo lands from Ravnica. This is a really good land. It should be present in a lot of limited decks, and it might even make it into some constructed decks once the Vivid lands from lorwyn rotate out.
Constructed-**
Limited-***

This is the land that drafters will pick when they are scrouging for mana fixing at the end of a draft. It has no constructed potential whatsoever.











So the artifacts were kind of a bust, but the lands had 2 or 3 winners

cards to watch:
1)Exotic Orchard
2)Ruture Spike
3)Obelisk of Alara

Flavor: Conflux continued the flavor of Shards of Alara, which was chocked full of it. The flavor was continued into Conflux in spades. First off, I have to say that I am happy that there is such an abundance of Flavor text in this set. It really shows where the different cultures of Alara are coming from and how they handle the merging of the world. It really paints a detailed picture which i appreciate in a fantasy world.

All in all I really like the set, and I'm really interested to see how it will affect standard.


Until next time remember...all work and no play...

Conflux visual spoiler and set review (Gold)

So White got the hook up, Blue was disappointing, black was ok, Red had some great hits,Green got some heavy hitters, but in a gold themed set, the meat is going to be in the gold cards.


Things to Note:
This is in regards mainly to Std only. I will mention some extended and Block possibilities where applicable, but on the whole, I'm generally reviewing in regards to std.

Star Ratings are from 1-5, here's how I break it down:

*-Absolute Jank, should not have been printed

**-Casual only card, will not see tournament play

***-A good stable card. Good sideboard material

****-These are what great decks are made of

*****-Bombs! These will almost singlehandedly win you the game

Constructed-***1/2
Limited-*****

You know that mana ramp deck that I keep saying might make a resurgence in std. Well if it does, say hello to it's end game. This ia an example of a big Timmy card that has constructed potential. If the big mana deck that I think is coming does, you'll see 1 or 2 of these guys in it. If not, then I just see this as a dominating force in limited. Not only can you get a 10/10 for seven mana, but it can ping things as well. A good card that might become great.







Constructed-**(*) In multiplayer
Limited-***1/2

I like this card, mainly because it reminds me of rumbling slum, which was always a fav card of mine. An interesting design here is the second ability which is designed specifically for multi-player. Not many cards address the format, and it's nice to see it getting a little love. For 7 mana you get a 5/5 with flying and trample. It's not horrible, but it's not great either. The ability is what saves it from being utter trash, as this could truly impact the long game if it goes unchallenged. I forsee a bright limited and multi-player future for this card, but no std play.





Constructed-**
Limited-***1/2

For 7 mana, if I'm not casting an ultimatum, then it's really not worth it. the trample and 6/6 stats make his ability relevant, but unless limited slows down I don't see this being impactful in any format. i think if this and the vampire above would have cost 6 mana, then their fates might have been different in std.









Constructed-****
Limited-*****

If a 5 color deck becomes prevelant in the new std, meet one of of it's star players. A 6/6 trampler for 5 is nothing to sneeze at. And if you kill it, it pulls an Akroma's Vengeance and takes out any errant planeswalkers. It's too bad white has 2 cheap answers to this guy. I see a deck getting built that features him, and it possibly doing well, but I think that a white/red deck with path to exile will be more powerful.







Constructed-*
Limited-*

8 mana to get 5 cards into your HAND! PLEASE! This is the namesake card of the set, and it BLOWS! It's seriously the worst mythic rare yet, even over Lich's Mirror. Now, if this put them into PLAY, then it would be awesome, instead we have this sorry excuse for a spell.









Constructed-****
Limited-**

This card should read "Replace negate in all faerie decks with me", cause that's what it's going to do. If you're playing negate and black, then this card is clearly superior, and will replace negate in all decks that can support it.










Constructed-*
Limited-**1/2

A....6 mana...Aura. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Sorry sorry, but this card is absurd. In limited you might put one in to try and give some late game flying, but if you're casting this crap on turn 6, then your deck isn't that good. There is NO constructed possibilties for this. It costs WAY too much and offers no protection for the creature it enchants.








Constructed-***
Limited-***

3/3 flyer for 4 mana, nice undercosted creature for blue/white. I don't think it's good enough for std, but it'll be a nice staple in limited.











Constructed-****
Limited-****

What do you get when you combine Rampant Growth with Tribal Flames? A darn good card that's what. This is a great mana fixer combined with a powerful burn spell to the dome. I see it finding a home in both Std and Block.










Constructed-***
Limited-****

A vanilla 8/8 creature for 5 mana. That's on the border of being good enough for std. Obviously this is going to be a bomb in limited if your going 5 color, in std I don't know if it will make the cut, but I know an 8/8 is not to be ignored.










Constructed-**
Limited-***


I've never been a fan of "kill it after it hurts you" cards. The damage has already been done, ya know. I think the Exalted mechanic gives it a little more reach, but not enough to avoid the crap rare pile.









Constructed-***
Limited-***

All of the outlanders will be playable in the right deck. So my review for all of them is that they are 2/2's for 2, and will be played if a deck evolves that has they're colors.











Constructed-**
Limited-**

Casting a repeatable pacifism on creatures is good, but giving your opponents extra cards is not. Now if the effect was permanent then it might be usable, however all someone has to do is fry this guy with any type of burn, and all the creatures he took out are back in action. Not a good spell for competitive play.









Constructed-***
Limited-****

This is a well designed devour creature that rewards the player for using the ability that they are probably going to use anyway. I don't see much standard potential, but it'll be a nice limited card.











Constructed-***
Limited-****

3 mana for the ability to make any of your creatures unblockable. Yeah i see this guy going places in limited. The white/blue combination doesn't foster many aggresive decks and therefore might limit this card's usefulness in std.










Constructed-****
Limited-****

This card is already having extended and standard decks being built around it. In extended with it's fetch lands, this is generally a 4/4 when it comes out. It's ability can search for any land, and can get you out of color screw. This is going to be an "it" card from conflux, get 4 now!









Constructed-**
Limited-***

There are better Mana fixers that cost less, so i don't see this card making a big std splash. In limited it's a nice accelerator. If the Big mana ramp deck does develop, you might find this as part of it.











Constructed-*****
Limited-*****

Another "it" card right here. The Angel's ability is just too kickass for words. Obviously it's incredibly powerful if it goes off even once. I mean, imagine casting a cruel ultimatum off of this baby, game over right? A nuts card in block, limited, and std hands down. I don't know how much of a role Path to Exile is going to play in making this card work in a viable deck, but I think we will be seeing this card show up every now and then for the next two years.






Constructed-**
Limited-***

Very interestingly designed card, but far too expensive for what it does. If it was 20 life, I'd say it was a lot better, but 10? Either you're in trouble and are stalling, or you're taking a few points off an opponent in the lead. 7 mana should effectively end the game, this barely effects it. Workable in limited, but crap in constructed.









Constructed-**
Limited-***

Discard your hand...Um no thanks, I don't like losing. So this card says, you give up your hand, which on turn six is about 2-4 cards. They sac 2-4 creatures, and then use the rest of their hand to remove this guy, and beat the piss out of the now topdecking idiot. Sorry if I'm being harsh, but this game is too dependent on card advantage to be tossing away your hand.








Constructed-***
Limited-*****

Ooh, I so want to make this card work in a deck. The effect is nuts if it gets to go off. In std, I think the fact that it can be hit by terror and all it's similar effects plus Path to Exile plus Celestial Purge, I just don't think it's going to see all that much play unfortunately. in draft though, you will FIRST PICK this guy everytime.









Constructed-***
Limited-***

All of the outlanders will be playable in the right deck. So my review for all of them is that they are 2/2's for 2, and will be played if a deck evolves that has they're colors.











Constructed-**
Limited-*****

Ah, Nichol Bolas, the biggest baddest planeswalker this side of Dominaria.
Yes, he is ultra-powerful, and his abilities reflect that
Yes, his ultimate ability wins the game
Yes, he can be an insane disruptive force on your opponent.
Yes, he will be play in std tournaments...oh wait no, this one is wrong.

While being the big "get me" card of the set, Nichol Bolas just doesn't effect the board enough at 8 mana to justify his inclusion over the cheaper Cruel Ultimatum. While the casual players and limited players will love this guy, he won't be in any constructed top 8's.

Constructed-***
Limited-***

Protection from Everything! Excuse me while i go have a Timmygasm. The Legacy circle is already trying to find ways to abuse this. I'm working on a Dramatic Entrance deck that features it even. Now, in Legacy, a competitive deck might evolve, and someone smarter then me might make Dramatic entrance work for it too. I hope it does, cause I would love to play with this card. I mean, it can't be targeted, no blocking, can block everything. Nuts card, but way too expensive and difficult to cast.






Constructed-**
Limited-***

Hmm, 5 mana for a 2/3 exalted that gives you 3 life when it comes into play. First off, at 5 mana in an exalted deck you want Battlegrace Angel, not this card. It's also way under the curve compared to it's closest relative Loxodon Hierarch, which was 4 mana, gave 4 life, and was a 4/4. This is just an overpriced underperforming card.








Constructed-***1/2
Limited-***1/2

Well move over Nantuko Husk, a better sacrifice outlet was just printed. Some kind of Husk deck always makes it's way into the std metagame, and this time they'll have this big boy to make the sacs count for counters instead of just +2/+2 for a turn. Very nice card.









Constructed-***
Limited-***

Ok, so it's Ashenmoor Gouger with one less toughness, one less colored mana, and unearth. The unearth might help this card supercede it's heartier cousin, especially with all the good unearth creatures in this set, but time will tell. I think this is good enough for std, but I might be wrong.









Constructed-**
Limited-**

6 mana, underpowered, crappy ability. Crap rare, NEXT!













Constructed-**
Limited-**

So for 4 mana in esper I can have a 4/4 flying Gargoyle, or I can have this guy. He's a 3/3, and I get an ability when I cast my other esper guys. There's already a more efficient creature at his mana cost. he'll end up in esper limited deck, and then the trade binder.










Constructed-**
Limited-***

I think this card is too expensive for what it does. However, it does fetch any creature from your esper deck so it might find a home.









Constructed-**
Limited-***

This is a limited only card. It's too expensive and doesn't do enough. I think it's extremely flavorful, but just a narrow card. It'll get played in limited, but not in constructed.











Constructed-**
Limited-***

This will be a nice addition to the "Power of Five" draft deck. Regenerate is a great ability for that deck, and this card will be a welcome member. Won't see play outside of limited though.











Constructed-***
Limited-***

All of the outlanders will be playable in the right deck. So my review for all of them is that they are 2/2's for 2, and will be played if a deck evolves that has they're colors.











Constructed-**
Limited-***

This guy will be played in limited only. His ability is cheap and useful, but at 5 mana he just costs too much.













Constructed-***
Limited-***

All of the outlanders will be playable in the right deck. So my review for all of them is that they are 2/2's for 2, and will be played if a deck evolves that has they're colors.











Constructed-***
Limited-***

All of the outlanders will be playable in the right deck. So my review for all of them is that they are 2/2's for 2, and will be played if a deck evolves that has they're colors.














So gold definately got the most powerful cards of the set as it should have. Tomorrow's the atifact and land review and reflections on the set as a hole. Don't miss it.

Card to watch out for:
1)Maelstrom ArchAngel
2)Child of Alara
3)Exploding borders
4)Knight of the Reliquary
5)Apocalypse Hydra

Conflux visual spoiler and set review (Green)

So White got the hook up, Blue was disappointing, black was ok, Red had some great hits,now it's big green's turn.


Things to Note:
This is in regards mainly to Std only. I will mention some extended and Block possibilities where applicable, but on the whole, I'm generally reviewing in regards to std.

Star Ratings are from 1-5, here's how I break it down:

*-Absolute Jank, should not have been printed

**-Casual only card, will not see tournament play

***-A good stable card. Good sideboard material

****-These are what great decks are made of

*****-Bombs! These will almost singlehandedly win you the game

Constructed-**
Limited-***

I like these "Power of 5 deck" helpers. Rakeclaw Gargantuan and Mosstodon were always welcome additions in a Naya draft deck, and I forsee this card just being a counterpoint to them, so it'll be played in limited.










Constructed-***1/2
Limited-****

This card has all the makings of a great std competitor. It's above the curve on power, and has two great abilities that shouldn't be too hard to satisfy the conditions too. Especially considering that Figure of Destiny is both colors needed and fit's fight into the type of aggressive deck that this would. The only thig that might hold him back is the 3 toughness and lack of first strike. Time will tell on this one, but I for one this it'll be in more then one decklist come the new standard season.






Constructed-**
Limited-***

Interesting ability, it's definaitely original, but I don't see it getting used much. I mean a 2 mana 2/2 is really kinda ugh in today's std metagame. The ability is cheap enough that it's worth it to use, and the added effectiveness of all copies of her getting it is a unique and powerful twist, but how often are you actually going to pull it off? I don't see this making ways, and it's rare status means that you more then likely won't be seeing multiples in limited. Crap rare I say.






Constructed-***
Limited-***1/2

An undercosted 3/3 first striker with a red permanent out. In a gold set, that is a really easy condition to pull off. It's above the curve, has reach, and has great stats. Will be played in limited, and might be usable for std










Constructed-***
Limited-***

Nice flavorful esper hoser. The added ability to replace itself is definitely a plus. It might replace naturalize in block deck sideboards, but I don't see it making a std showing.











Constructed-***
Limited-***

Oooh, a flash devour creature. This is a nice way to save some card advantage when a creature of yours is about to be killed. I wish it would do something with the counters, then I think it would have been playable in std. As it stands this is limited bound, where it will find a home in most jund decks.









Constructed-**
Limited-***

Ah, another Domain card that's sub par. So you cast it as a 3/3. If it survives and you have the 4th land then it's a 4/4 attacking, and if it still survives and you have the 5th color, it's a 5/5. Sorry but with all the removal in this format, this card just isn't strong enough.









Constructed-****
Limited-****

This Domain card however is strong enough to be a std competitor. As a functional reprint of Gaea's Might, this card will find a home. Gaea's might was played in std, and is still played in extended sometimes. Excellent common to pick up.










Constructed-**
Limited-***

A good sideboard limited card for limited. Extremely fragile with the 1 toughness, and probably won't see much play unless esper takes off.











Constructed-*****
Limited-****

My first reaction to this card was something that you see in a looney tunes cartoons when the eyes pop out and stuff. Birds of Paradise is arguably the best one drop in the history of Magic, and here it is, reprinted with two less colors and no flying. What do we get in exchange, oh nothing but one of the best mechanics to appear in recent memory, Exalted. It's a 1 drop that not only accelerates, but can affect combat in the late game. Basically, in any deck that doesn't need red or black mana, and needs mana accelration you'll find this little gem there. Really great card, get 4 of them while you can, and before the price shoots up.





Constructed-**
Limited-***

This is a nice addition for the power of five deck. It allows them to keep up with the faster decks with weaker creatures, but I see this as really a limited only card, cause at 6 mana in std, your playing something that's really going to impact the game that turn, not if it stays alive for a while and you get to summon more big dudes.









Constructed-**
Limited-***

2/3 for 3 mana is a bit underpowered, especially without reach (seriously, why don't all archers have reach, by definition they have bows). The ability is nice, and should play havoc with limited combat math. i don't see anything constructed coming from him, he might be in a block deck, but I doubt it.









Constructed-***1/2
Limited-***

This card should read "Bitterblossom tokens and Spellstutter sprite killer". If faeries remains a well played archetype after the insertion of conflux, I imagine you'll be seeing this guy pop up in more then one place. If the Fae fade into obscurity, then so will he.










Constructed-***1/2
Limited-****

I like this card ALOT. 4 mana for four cards! That's insane efficiency. Yeah so, they are all land cards, but you've just thinned your deck, and most likely fixed your colors for the rest of the game. I expect to see this in some kind of mana ramp deck, and as a 4-of in any Domain deck.









Constructed-***1/2
Limited-****

Ah, Wizards printed an answer to the fact that green needs card drawing, and hasn't had anything good printed since Harmonize rotated out. Enter Soul's majesty, a very flavorful and powerful card drawing machine. Imagine Soul's majestying a Cliffrunner Behemoth, that's 5 mana for 5 cards, again, INSANE! The only reason I rated less then a 4 was because if the creature gets destroyed or bounced before resolution then you've wasted 5 mana, and that's a serious drawback. So good card, but watch when you cast it.





Constructed-**
Limited-****

It's 4 1/1 tokens for 4 mana if you have all four possible land types out when you cast it. If you wait till turn 5, it's 5 1/1's. I just don't see this taking off in standard. If the tokens had some kind of evasion maybe, but Spectral Procession is just stright up superior right now.









Constructed-*
Limited-**1/2

It's in the color that has the most mana fixing and it gives lifegain. Crappiest card from a crappy cycle.












Constructed-***1/2
Limited-*****

Ok, first we had Morphling which ruled the tournament scene during it's day. Then we had the red version Torchling, which was generally ignored during it's day. This new green version has a few things going for it. First, it has an indestructible ability, which helps it's playability immensely. Trample is also very nice combined with the "-ling" ability to pump itself up or down. He'll be a bomb in limited for sure,but if he's going to be in std, I think it will be in a mana ramp deck of some sort.






Constructed-***
Limited-***

Apparently Fungi are making a comeback in this set. I like the design. This is a nice chump block that conveniently dies twice for you. I don't see many std applications till after Lorwyn/Shadowmoor rotates out. There's just too many good 1 drops right now. You'll see this in limited though I'm sure.









Constructed-**
Limited-****

I like this card for limited, 5/4 for 4 mana is above the curve, and the 1 green upkeep isn't that bad. I don't see it seeing constructed play anytime soon, but it's a nice tank for draft or sealed.













So green got some really nice pieces here. Tomorrow we get into the real meat of the multi-colored set...the GOLD cards, don't miss them

Cards to watch in green:

1)Noble Hierarch
2)Cliffrunner Behemoth
3)Soul's Majesty
4)Thornling
5)Might of Alara