LSV Top 8 ARB

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Hey there - remember just yesterday I was yattering away about Regionals and what impact Alara Reborn may have on Standard format ? Great. Well, anywhoos, this may be a good time to have a quick look at the top 8 Alara Reborn picks for constructed as present by Luis Scott-Vargas on Channel Fireball. You may have heard of 'LSV' - the exceptionally good who has been kicking butt and taking names on the GP / PT circuits . . . so - when this player has something to say about the standard metagame, most people take a listen.

Let's have a look at the video first before we get started.

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So how cool were those video effects ?! LSV was throwing exploding MTG cards . . . w0w ! - Just like Gambit of Marvel Comics / X-Men fame. I would love to have the kind of cash which allows me to throw ('gasp') a Maelstrom Pulse like that - Perhaps Luis had stunt cards stand in. Like I said - great video - solid delivery and much more engaging than those MTGO draft vids that LSV has been posting.


LSV's Top 8 ARB constructed : Anathamancer / Bituminous Blast / Bloodbraid Elf / Borderposts / Dauntless Escort /Maelstrom Pulse / Quasali Pridemage / Zealous Persecution

Anathemancer - 1BR
Creature - Zombie Wizard (Uncommon)
When Anathemancer comes into play, it deals damage to target player equal to the number of nonbasic lands that player controls.
Unearth {5}{B}{R}
2/2
With all those Five Colour Control decks out there filled to the brim with nonbasic lands are feeling the hate this card delivers. This promises to put a dent into some B/W token decks as well.

Bituminous Blast - 3BR
Instant (Uncommon)
Cascade / Bituminous Blast deals 4 damage to target creature.
Cascade mechanic rocks. BB is all that and a bag 'o' chips. This gives you 2 spells for only 5 mana . . one spell dealing 4 damage and the second giving you a random - just how fun is this ?! FTK

Bloodbraid Elf - 2RG
Creature - Elf Berserker (Uncommon)
Haste / Cascade
3/2
Altough some players would rather choose the similar Captured Sunlight (2GW / Cascade / gain 4 life), over Bloodbraid Elf, I still think that the typical aggro player will go with the elf. 'nuff said - cascade provides not only a level of fun to the game, but also card advantage.

Borderposts
(Fieldmist, Firewild, Mistvein, Veinfire, Wildfield) Common Artifacts
You may pay 1 and return a basic land you control to its owner's hand rather than pay (Name) Borderpost's mana cost. (Name) Borderpost comes into play tapped.
Tap: Add Colour 1 or Colour 2 to your mana pool.
I concur that multicoloured artifacts in this block are a plus (and sometimes necessary) but cannot agree 100 % with LSV's assessment for standard - having a CIPT land/artifact in the fast-moving game of today, one had better ensure that these borderposts are fitted appropriately to your deck.

Dauntless Escort - 1GW
Creature - Rhox Soldier (Rare)
Sacrifice Dauntless Escort: Creatures you control are indestructible this turn.
3/3
Amazing card in constructed / limited. There has been a high number of solid G/W cards in this set / block but this one sits on top. If you see an Escort hit the table, you can be certain that your opponent will eventually be setting up with a Wrath of God / Martial Coup . . . be scared.

Maelstrom Pulse - 1BG
Sorcery (Rare)
Destroy target nonland permanent and all permanents with the same name as permanent.
A vicious Vindicate. Say bye-bye to multiple pesky problematic permanents. If anyone would like to donate this card to me, please eMail me so I don't have to take a second mortgage.

Qasali Pridemage - GW
Creature - Cat Wizard (Common)
Exalted / {1}, Sacrifice Qasali Pridemage: Destroy target artifact or enchantment.
2/2
A solid two drop for just two - add exalted into the equation and this just went from decent to awesome. Then, just when you thought it can't get better, add a sac utility to eliminate a threatening artifact or enchantment . . . over the top my friends.

Zealous Persecution - WB
Instant (Uncommon)
Until end of turn, creatures you control get +1/+1 and creatures target opponent controls get -1/-1.
For only 2 mana, one can mow the ENTIRE field clear of those 1/1 tokens. This instant is a solid combat tactic to employ - - when I saw this spoiled, I immediately planned this for inclusion with my one deck which runs Stillmoon Cavalier for enhanced combat step hilarities.