Commander Previews 11-02

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

The greatly anticipated day had finally arrived - the very first of official Commander 2015 previews.  If you've not given this casual format a try, then you should.  Formerly known at Elder Dragon Highlander, this singleton format uses one legendary creature (the Commander or General) and 99 supporting cards.  Look to the rules here on this link.

Wizards of the Coast has been publishing Commander products since 2011 and has moved to a scheduled fall release typically at the beginning of November each year since 2013 with five pre-constructed decks which are ready to play out of the box, but of course is easily modified to suit your preferences.
• Commander 2011 consists of five wedge decks
• Commander 2013 consists of five ally shard decks
• Commander 2014 consists of five mono-colored decks
• Commander 2015 consists of five enemy-colored decks

Today on the Mothersite, a good number of new Commander 2015 went up including an article from Matt Tabak (the WotC Rules Wizard) who had touched upon Experience Counters, Myriad, and the confluence (cycle).  Here is a summary of the new Commander spoilers / preivews.

• Blade of Selves - an equipment with the new 'myriad' tech with this reminder text 'Whenever (this creature) attacks, for each opponent other than defending player, you may put a token that's a copy of that creature onto the battlefield tapped and attacking that player or a planeswalker her or she controls. Exile the tokens at the end of combat.'

• Kalemne's Captain - Five mana for a 5/5 vigilant giant soldier with 'Monstrosity' tacked on.  When it does go hulk, it exiles all artifacts and enchantments.  Nice.

• Mizzis of the Izmagnus - Izzet coloured legendary goblin wizard with a very cool interaction with the new 'experience counters'. 

• Kalemn, Disciple of Iroas - we've seen this spoiler before but now have a proper official preview.

• Scytheclaw - w00t! Living weapon is back. Five to cast, three to equip your Germ for a +1/+1 bump and a huge hit to half your life if it connects.

• Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest - Golgari Legendary flying Insect Shaman, five to cast for a 2/2 body which adds a +1/+1 counter whenever a player sacs a permanent.

• Fiery confluence - We love modal spells which lets you chose an effect.  In this case this red confluence let's you chose three from three with the benefit of allowing you to choose one effect more than once.

• Kaseto, Orochi Archmage - This Simic coloured Snake Wizard has an activated ability which grants a critter unblockable with the added pump if the creature is a snake - go snake tribal!

• Daxos the Returned - three mana Legendary Orzhov zombie soldier which will gain you an experience counter whenever you cast an enchantment.  Sweet activated ability (1WB) which generates a black spirit enchantment token with P/T equal to your experience counters - very lovely!  Excited to try this one out in a black / white token strategy.

Also, a non-rare card in the mix -

• Banshee of the Dread Choir - Five to cast this double black 4/4 spirit with the new myriad mechanic.  The other ability here forces the opponent to discard should the spirit land combat damage.

• Illusory Ambusher - A flashy cat illusion creature for five mana and a 4/1 body (missed leg day at the gym), nerfs to draw cards for you.

• Gigantoplasm - love the Kev Walker art on this shapeshifter.  Four mana copies a creature with an activated ability make the P/T go nuclear.

• Skullwinder - A 1/3 Nope-Rope for three mana.  With deathtouch and an ETB recursion effect for you and your fav opponent.


• Karmic Justice - Odyssey reprint.  Three mana enchantment that we'll call doom-boomerang.

Commander 2015 has a total of 55 new cards in the set and for an MRSP of about $35, you get the following :
• One 100-card Commander deck
• One oversized Foil Commander card for each deck
• 10 double-sided tokens
• Deck storage box
• Strategy insert and rules reference card
• 15 new Magic cards (55 for the set in total)
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