Scars of Mirrodin Game Day

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Good Morning to our MTG pickles,

From the title of today's post, you guessed correctly that we intend to yatter about the upcoming Scars of Mirrodin Game Day which is being planned at a local gamery store near you.

That's nice you may say - a chance to play some standard, take a stab at building a Mirran or Phyrexia affiliated deck and a chance to win a full art promo card from the set. But hold on Bob, that's not all - Monty Ashley - show the kids the prizes . . .

All participants receive an exclusive Memnite promo card (while supplies last). The top 8 players each receive an exclusive full-art Tempered Steel promo card - the arts on both promos here are very nice - just not epic. The choice of the cards are very good in our opinion - both these cards are popular. Memnite is great for the metalcraft key word effect and will be a staple with equipment decks running Quest for the Holy Relic to bring out an Argentum Armor or a sword. Tempered Steel is a must-have for any casual artifact creature build. The cards are awarded to the Top 8 players even if the tournament cuts only to the top 4.

The top 2 finishers with Mirran-affiliated decks receive a Peace Strider preview card from Mirrodin Besieged (yep - the spoiler nutters are already going nuts), and the top 2 finishers with Phyrexia-affiliated decks receive a Pierce Strider preview card! This is in addition to any top 8 prize cards you might win for their overall event finish.

Peace Strider, 4
Artifact Creature - Construct Uncommon
When Peace Strider enters the battlefield, you gain 3 life.
3/3

Yep - very Mirran. This is decent life gain and may find a spot in just such a deck but certainly not popular unless you can find a way to bounce and repeat with little / no cost to make it worth it.
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Pierce Strider, 4
Artifact Creature - Construct Uncommon
When Pierce Strider enters the battlefield, target player loses 3 life.
3/3

Same as above but just on the other side of the Mirran / Phyrexian fence. These two were twins at birth - your assignment today - identify the evil twin.
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And a brief word about affiliated decks . .

All non-Planeswalker cards in Scars of Mirrodin are watermarked with either a Mirran or Phyrexian symbol to represent the card’s affiliation. You can build your Game Day deck to be affiliated with one of the two sides; this makes you eligible to win the Mirrodin Besieged preview cards. (Having an affiliated deck is not required for Game Day; you can play any Standard-legal deck you choose.)

An affiliated deck must have at least ten watermarked cards from its affiliated faction in its main deck, and no watermarked cards from the opposing faction in its main deck or sideboard. The deck must still be Standard-legal.
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