Alara Preview 4

~

I was unable to get out to FNM last week (due to another obligation) and again today could not attend as I seem to have the mother of all head-colds. This however is not detracting from being absolutely pumped about this new release and I am still unsure which particular Shard to settle on.

As I am leaning a bit towards The Green / WHITE / Blue BANT Shard, I decided to get a bit into character. To this end, I hooked up with some exalted Knights (from the Society for Creative Anachronism) I met one evening while picking up my mail . . .











As I am off to retire my diseased frame to bed, here is a quick review of new Shards of Alara cards previewed this week on Star City Games and Evan Erwin's The Magic Show.


Hell's Thunder, 1{R}{R}
Creature - Elemental, Rare Flying, haste At end of turn, sacrifice Hell's Thunder. Unearth 4{R} 4/4

Were it not for the unearth ability on this card, it really would be fit for the pit. For a potential hit of 8 for only 3 mana is big win for this card.

Ad Nauseam, 3{B}{B}
Instant, Rare Reveal the top card of our library and put that card into your hand. You loose life equal to its converted mana cost. You may repeat this process any number of times.

This card could be a game winner or a game loser in a heart-beat . . . play with this if you like taking chances and walking on the edge of a knife's blade.

And here are the others previewed recently over at Wizards . . .


Ethersworn Canonist, 1{W}
Artifact Creature - Human Cleric, Rare Each player who has played a nonartifact spell this turn can't play additional nonartifact spells. 2/2

She's white but feels a really sexy control blue . . .
Look for this one in complete Esper decks.

Master of Etherium, 2{U}

Artifact Creature - Vedalken Wizard, Rare Master of Etherium's power and toughness are each equal to the number of artifacts you control. Other artifact creatures you control get +1/+1. */*

This one's inclusion in an Esper deck is a no-brainer. This card is mana cost is great as well as its abilities. I still don't know if that small thing he's holding is a pet or just lunch. ( ? )

Mindlock Orb, 3{U}
Artifact, Rare Players can't search libraries.

This is great control to clamp down on tutors / harbingers.

Knight of the White Orchard, {W}{W}
Creature - Human Knight, Rare
First Strike, When Knight of the White Orchard comes into play, if an opponent controls more lands than you, you may search your library for a Plains card, put it into play, then shuffle your library.

This card is a sweet two-for one special. A two mana drop that gets you a 2/2 first-striker is solid - having land-pull is just honey on top !

Bant Charm, {G}{W}{U}
Instant, Uncommon Choose one - Destroy target artifact; or put target creature on the bottom of its owner's library' or counter target instant spell.

Expect to see a deck set of this pulled out of Bant's side-board when this deck is going up against Esper.

Vein Drinker, 4{B}{B}
Creature - Vampire, Rare
Flying.
{R}, Tap: Vein Drinker deals damage equal to its power to target creature. That creature deals damage equal to its power to Vein Drinker.
Whenever a creature dealt damage by Vein Drinker this turn is put into a graveyard, put a +1/+1 counter on Vein Drinker.
4/4

Heartless, cold and dangerous . . . I'm also rather certain I dated her back in College. She has some big-time Tim on her which just simply grows with each critter she sends for a dirt-nap . . . watch-out !