Commander Spoiler 10-07

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

EDIT - late day spoiler added - see below !

Today's post will be focusing on the new Commander 2013 product due to be released November 1st, 2013.  Commander (aka EDH / Elder Dragon Highlander), is a much loved casual singleton format consisting of 99 cards and 1 'general' or commander.  Since the release of the pre-constructed deck back in June 2011, a lot of players we know has climbed on board this fun and social game format.  We have to say that we're rather excited to go to the midnight prerelease at OMG! Games here in Barrie and will be following up with some singles purchased at MTG Mint Card to tweak the deck(s) we're getting to adjust for personal taste.

The five new pre-cons being release next month feature the tri-colours most associated with the Shards from the Alara block (2008).  Specifically, Bant (White / Green / Blue)
Esper (Blue / White / Black)
Grixis ( Black / Blue / Red)
Jund (Red / Black / Green)
Naya (Green / Red / White)

Two previews had been provided to date - Prossh, Skyraider of Kher (Jund), and Jeleva, Nephalia's Scourge (Grixis) with the latest coming from the Commander 'mothersite' MTGCommander.Net - say hello to this bird from bant . . .Derevi, Empyrial Tactician, gwu
Legendary Creature — Bird Wizard, Mythic Rare
Flying
Whenever Derevi, Empyrial Tactician enters the battlefield or a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, you may tap or untap target permanent.
1{G}{W}{U}: Put Derevi onto the battlefield from the command zone.
2/3
~Derevi may not be the 'go-to' Bant general that many would rather see Rafiq of the Many (or perhaps Jenara) take but there are some very cool and relevant abilities on Derevi.  The basic stats of just one 'bant' (gwu) provides a 2/3 flyer.  The next conditional ability to tap or untap target permanent is very delicious.  Imagine being able to untap a Serra's Sanctum - for a Bant Enchant strategy or perhaps a Gaea's Cradle (for a creature-heavy build) . . . dang.

The last ability is the unique and honestly something we do not ever recall seeing before - a rules reference on a card to the command zone.  This essentially by-passes the additional and sometimes expensive recasting cost.  For those new to Commander, a player may cast his or her commander from the command zone for its normal costs plus an additional 2 Mana for each previous time it had been cast.
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Edit - late day spoiler

From Chris Kluwe (from YoMTG Taps) - the actual box!

Olora, Ageless Ascetic, 3WUB
Legendary Creature - Giant Soldier, Mythic Rare
At the Beginning of your upkeep, you gain 2 life.
Whenever you gain life, you may pay 1. If you do, draw a card and each opponent loses 1 life.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if Oloro, Ageless Ascetic is in the Command Zone, you gain 2 life.
4/5

Here is yet another card rules reference to the Command Zone - and this one has a lovely trigger while in the Command Zone.  Although life gain in the Commander format is not the best strategy, we're likeing the possibility of some sweet 'n' repeatable card advantage here - Makes us want to incorporate life gain shenanigans in this Esper build with Exquisite Blood, etc.

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Anywhoos - here's the corporate 4.1.1. -
For the MSRP of just $30 per deck, you too can acquire on November the first a new Commander deck.  A few players we know are getting all five new Commander decks.  Each contain two new three-color legendary creatures and 13 other never-before-printed cards.  There are 51 unique new cards spread across the five decks, with some cards appearing in multiple decks.
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