Wednesday MTG Miscellany

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

We have for you today here on MTG Realm a 'digest' or summary of sorts of this and that from the Mothersite.

First up - It's Wallpaper Wednesday again on the mothersite.  Pop on over to fill your boots with some of the very best Magic: the Gathering card art to use on your mobile device or social media page.  Here are a few of the most recent ones - 
• Oblivion Sower from Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldraai, illustrated by Aleksi Briclot
• Island from Battle for Zendikar, illustrated by Tianhua X.
• Omnath, Locus of Rage from Battle for Zendikar, illustrated by Brad Rigney
• Titan's Presence from Battle for Zendikar, illustrated by Slawomir Maniak

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Next up - WotC staffer Kelly Digges had been tapped for this week's installment of Uncharted Realms.  Pop on over HERE to catch the short story 'Revelation at the Eye', where we are treated to the continuing storyline of Zendikar.  

In today's article, Kelly writes on to Jace's Journey to the Eye of Ugin on Zendikar where Jace meets someone quite unexpected who may help abate the Eldrazi menace.

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There has been an announcement on the mothersite as well on the changes to the 2016 Grand Prix schedule.  Quite specifically, Grand Prix Buenos Aires, scheduled for March 18–20, 2016 as well as Grand Prix Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) scheduled for October 7–9, 2016 have been adversely affected by political issues.  The good news is that GP Kuala Lumpur has been re-scheduled to October 21–23, 2016.  The bad news is that both countries have been provided with travel advisories by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State.

If you are a fellow Canadian, please pop on over to Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada for travel advisories where there is just an advisory against against non-essential travel to the coastal areas of southeastern Sabah, which is no where near Kuala Lumpur.  Speaking of South East Asia, two (retired) Canadians have been taken hostage on Samal, Philippines - captors are demanding Canada to broker a peace between themselves and the Philipino military.  Not a very pleasant way for the Grupong Abu Sayyaf to request Canada's assistance - don't expect unbiased mediation fellas.  :(

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Yesterday, WotC staffer Melissa DeTora posted within the Daily Deck offering, a Standard format Abzan (green / white / black) 'Ally Rally'.  Have a look at the posted list which Josh Bartling had used to power to a Top 4 finish at an StarCityGames.com Invitational Qualifier event last weekend.

There is no denying the power of Kalastria Healer and Zulaport Cutthroat along with Rally the Ancestors for a big swing in life totals.  The list is using green for Collected Company (CoCo) and Gather the Pack to speed the clock up.

We like the tech but have opted instead for a measured approach without green but with red for a Mardu (black / white / red) list using March from the Tomb.  We are developing a promising list for Friday Night Magic with almost all Ally creatures, and Chasm Guide (to give the crew haste) and Firemantle Mage to give the lot some menace).  After our next FNM event at OMG! Games here in Barrie, Ontario, we'll let you know just how well this line of strategy worked for us.

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