DD: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi

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Happy Saturday MTG peeps,

We're rather sorry for the lack of posts last week - the group's blogger minion CopySix (yours truly) suffered a minor injury to wrist and elbow but is now back in the saddle riding the wild software and interwebz.

We've got a LOT of catching up to do, so for today, we'll just get to the really juicy Magic: the Gathering news from this week - the preview of the Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi product packaging. Duel Decks has been a thingy since 2007 when Elves vs. Goblins was published.  Since then, every year (late August / early September), WotC has produced a Duel Decks ahead of the 'fall' set and provides a handful of new, never-printed cards within the set as an early spoiler to the fall set, which in this case, is Battle For Zendikar.  Here's the preview now . . .

We've seen Avenger of Zendikar before - originally from the original Zenkidar block's Worldwake set, and then again reprinted in the Magic 2013 core set.  If you like big green fatties with a strong chance of tokens, then you love this card.  The original art work was illustrated by Zoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai and the new lovely alternate art is from Aleski Briclot.  Now - that new card - a colourless Eldrazi creature illustrated by Aleski as well.  We can expect this in the next set.  Stealing your opponents mana is a slick move but hitting one or more in the top four may not produce the desired results.  Perhaps if this was not just a one-off eotb effect, we would be much more enthused.

Definitely looking forward to more new cards from this Duel Deck.
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