Demonic Wallpaper

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As promised by Wizards last week, we have taken delivery two special Divine vs Demonic wallpaper Magic Arcana today. As last week was Divine Wallpaper, this week is Demonic Wallpaper. Specifically we have Lord of the Pit and Demonic Tutor, check it out . . .

Lord of the Pit, 4BBB

Creature - Demon

Flying, trample (This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach. If this creature would deal enough combat damage to its blockers to destroy them, you may have it deal the rest of its damage to defending player.)
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice a creature other than Lord of the Pit. If you can't, Lord of the Pit deals 7 damage to you.
7 / 7

Demonic Tutor, 1B
Sorcery

Search your library for a card and put that card into your hand. Then shuffle your library.

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Yesterday, there was a lot of talk about a spoiled thumbnail of today's wallpaper offering. Specifically, folks were interested in the Demonic Tutor art. It was fairly obvious that the human in front of the demon was Liliana Vess, Planeswalker but discussion was rather heated as it was pointed out that the appearance was that demon was restraining her . . a planeswalker !

Anywho, I don't follow the story-lines much as I have little to no 'disposable income' but suggest this . . .

Liliana is shown in the art just moment before becomming a full-fledged planeswalker. The demon is inscribing the magical 'demon marks' on her which is visible only when she is 'casting' magic.

Here is a quick clip from the Agents of Artifice novel by Ari Marmell.

" Beneath her breath, her lips barely moving, she began to utter a low, sonorous chant. Across her neck rose an abstract pattern of tattoos that suggested even more elaborate designs farther down her back, as though burned across her skin from the inside out."

Catch you on the flip side my droogies.

Divine Wallpaper

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As promised on Wednesday, Wizards delivered a special Divine vs Demonic surprise on Magic Arcana today - Desktop Wallpaper ! I did have a feeling that the 'surprise' was to be either a) booster packaging or b) wallpaper. (I have lived through several Magic the Gathering set releases.)

Anywho, we now have TWO very cool desktop wallpapers is two Divine vs Demonic wallpapers both from the Angelic side. Check out Akroma, Angel of Wrath (by Chippy) and Luminous Angel (by Jason Chan). The art is very nice and a whole lot better than the original art work (sorry Ron Spears and Matt Wilson - I know it was not your fault).
Akroma is just about an awesome an angel as one could expect - flying, vigilance, trample, haste (?), and of course protection from R 'n' B. Luminous Angel on the other hand is overpriced jank. Let's have a look . . .

Akroma, Angel of Wrath, 5WWW
Creature - Angel Legend, Rare
Flying, first strike, trample, haste, protection from black, protection from red. Attacking doesn't cause Akroma, Angel of Wrath to tap.
6/6

Luminous Angel, 4WWW
Creature - Angel, Rare
Flying, At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying into play.
4 / 4

With the whole good / evil thing happening, Wizards will have to strike a balance. As Lord of the Pit is pretty much unplayable, we should (hopefully!) expect another demon more at par with Akroma. To this end, we may expect the likes of the very decent Reiver Demon perhaps.

We speculate a further balance and matched cards along the lines of . . .
Black Knight : White Knight, etc.
Perhaps - Damnation : Wrath of God (doubtful though)

Next week, we will be hit with some Demonic wallpapers from Wizards. I guess its the whole ying-yang thing.

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Also . . . I do not often follow Pro-Tour play (as I am a total Casual player), but I pop in from time to time to see what directions the metagame is taking. While checking out the 2009 Pro Tour–Kyoto Coverage happening right now, I came across this very cool image taken by Craig Gibson / Josh Bennett in their photo-essay from Kyoto.
Let's see . . . a Rafiq of the Many, a Progenitus, and a Dramatic Entrance (!). This should NOT be the face you would wear.