Monday MTG Miscellany

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

This past weekend, major tournaments included Grand Prix Warsaw and Grand Prix Santiago with the Top 8 decklists listed here and here respectively.  The long and short of it essentially is that Black-Green Delirium decklists performed rather well with White-Blue Flash strategies edging in.  We've been working on a rogue list we hope to unleash upon an unprepared metagame at our local store, OMG! Games here in Barrie, more on that after next weekend though.  

For now, since the MTG Realm playgroup loves Commander, we want to yatter more about the upcoming (and now fully revealed) Commander 2016 set.  We had been talking EDH with some friends who had not been following the Commander 2016 previews who had some questions about the new mechanics / key word abilities.  To this end, we'll draw your attention to the Release Notes posted here.  Essentially, basic landcycling is returning,  'Undaunted' is the new spell reduction tech, and 'Partner' allows TWO Generals / Commander, which some have told us would not be encouraged at their local playgroups, while others indicate they now have a mighty need.

In other news, in today's Daily MTG update, Blake has provided the full list of tokens to be part of the Commander 2016 set.  Each individual pre-con should have 10 double-sided tokens.  There are a total of 19 creature tokens and 1 planeswalker emblem for the full C16 set.  From what we see, there is only one of these with new token art - but only because the it basically is a completely new token - a 1/1 red Goblin creature with a static ability.

Speaking of new card art, it may be of interest to you to know that, from the reprints within Commander 2016, there are five cards which will have new card art - Beacon of Unrest, Chain of Vapor, Reins of Power, Wave of Reckoning and Windfall.  Here are the new lovelies compared with the previous and much loved illustrations.

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Commander 2016 Full Spoiler

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Happy Friday MTG peeps,

The full Commander 2016 set and individual decklists have now been posted over on the mothersite (linked here).  Nous allons dire à nouveau - a galerie des cartes Commander 2016 officiellement révélées est actualisée par ici.

We will need the full weekend to go through the list but at a quick glance, all lists appear to be of somewhat of equal value with no silly Commander 2013 mistakes ('True-Name Nemesis - in the Mind Seize pre-con).  There also appears to be a really good choice of reprints as well.  They all look to have around $100 'value' (broken down as singles) with perhaps the group hug list perhaps an extra 20 clams or so more.  For today's post, here is a quick 'n' dirty summary of each Commander 2016 pack (along with the legendary creatures) and a list of all 56 new cards.  

Entropic Uprising (UBRG - 'Random Effects'): 
• Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder
Legendary creatures - 4 new and 1 reprint

Open Hostility (WBRG - 'Aggro'): 
• Saskia the Unyielding
Legendary creatures - 4 new and 2 reprints

Stalwart Unity (WURG - 'Group Hug'): 
• Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis
Legendary creatures - 4 new and 5 reprints

Breed Lethality (WUBG - 'Growth'): 
• Atraxa, Praetor's Voice
Legendary creatures - 4 new and 2 reprints

Invent Superiority (WUBR - 'Artifacts matter'): 
• Breya, Etherium Shaper
Legendary creatures - 4 new and 6 reprints

Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder	Saskia the Unyielding
Divergent Transformations	Primeval Protector
Grip of Phyresis	Vial Smasher the Fierce
Armory Automation	Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix
Goblin Spymaster	Prismatic Geoscope
Thrasios, Triton Hero	Kraum, Ludevic's Opus
Boompile	Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa
Manifold Insights	Sylvan Reclamation
Faerie Artisans	Grave Upheaval
Ravos, Soultender	Atraxa, Praetors' Voice
Runehorn Hellkite	Sublime Exhalation
Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker	Bruse Tarl, Boorish Herder
Parting Thoughts	Silas Renn, Seeker Adept

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Commander 2016 Previews 10-27

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Happy Thursday MTG peeps,


Tomorrow (Friday, October 28), as we should be getting the full Commander 2016 decklists.  With a total of 56 new cards being introduced in this set, Magic: the Gathering fans should be a rather happy lot.  Whether it is with new cards, new mechanics or perhaps new card art, players will be glade to game with the new pre-constructed decks, or cherry-picking singles to incorporate into existing decklists.  

We are almost finished with all the new Commander 2016 cards as of this early afternoon.  Here is the full list of all new cards previewed so far -

White
1
2
3 Orzhov Advokist
4 Selfless Squire
5 Sublime Exhalation

Blue
6 Coastal Breach
7 Deepglow Skate
8 Faerie Artisans
9 Grip of Phyresis
10 Manifold Insight

Black
11 Cruel Entertainment
12 Curse of Vengence
13
14 Magus of the Will
15 Parting Thoughts

Red
16 Charging Cinderhorn
17 Divergent Transformations
18
19 Goblin Spymaster
20 Runehorn Hellkite

Green
21
22
23 Primeval Protector
24 Seeds of Renewal
25 Stonehoof Chieftain

MultiColour - WUBRG
26 Akiri, Line-Slinger RW
27
28 Atraxa, Praetors' Voice GWUB
29 Breya, Etherium Shaper WUBR
30 Bruse Tarl, Boorish Herder RW
31 Grave Upheaval
32 Ikra Shidiqi, the Usurper BG
33 Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker WU
34 Kraum, Ludevic's Opus UR
35 Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix GU
36 Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis RGWU
37 Ludevic, Necro-Alchemist UR
38
39 Ravos, Soultender WB
40 Reyhan, Last of the Abzan BG
41 Saskia the Unyielding BRGW
42 Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa GW
43 Silas Renn, Seeker Adept UB
44 Sylvan Reclamation
45 Tana, the Bloodsower RG
46 Thrasios, Triton Hero GU
47
48 Tymna the Weaver BW
49 Vial Smasher the Fierce BR
50 Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder UBRG

Artifacts
51 Armory Automation
52 Boompile
53 Conqueror's Flail
54 Crystalline Crawler
55 Prismatic Geoscope

56

For those gamers wanting some eye-candy, Here is some of the new cards previewed today -

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Commander 2016 Previews 10-25

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Happy Tuesday MTG peeps,

If you are after Commander 2016 spoilers and previews, you have come to the right place.  Releasing in just 17 days from today (on November 11, 2016), gamers will have access to, for the very first time ever, four-coloured preconstructed theme decks.  For the first time, Commander 2016 introduces 5 new four-colored preconstructed theme decks that take casual Magic to the next level. There are 56 new cards legal in Vintage and Legacy.

Wizards of the Coast has put up the official Commander 2016 Card image gallery (linked here), and updates the day after the official preview on the main site or preview partner.  Not wanting to wait until tomorrow for today's previews?  No worries, here is the list of new cards for you now which MTG Realm will update throughout the day.

Beacon of Unrest
Breya, Etherium Shaper
Charging Cinderhorn
Chromatic Lantern (Reprint)
Coastal Breach
Cruel Entertainment
Crystalline Crawler
Deepglow Skate
Hanna, Ship’s Navigator
Iroas, God of Victory
Oath of Druids (Reprint)
Reyhan, Last of the Abzan
Selfless Squire
Tana, the Bloodsower
Tymna the Weaver
Zedruu the Greathearted (Reprint)

Unofficial Translation -

Crystalline Crawler, 4
Artifact Creature, Rare
Converge; Crystalline Crawler enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it for each color of mana spent to cast it.
Remove a +1/+1 counter from Crystalline Crawler：Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
Tap: Put a +1/+1 counter on Crystalline Crawler.

1/1

We suggest you do drop on over to the mothersite to take a gander of the lovely basic land arts previewed (over here).  The Kev Walker illustrations are particularly lovely.
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Commander 2016 Previews 10-24

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

The day that we, and most other Magic: the Gathering Commander fans have been waiting for has finally arrived ! The start of previews for this year's Commander set.  Please pop on over to the mothersite (linky here) for four different articles today on Commander 2016.

Releasing in just 18 days from today (on November 11, 2016), gamers will have access to, for the very first time ever, four-coloured preconstructed theme decks.  For the first time, Commander 2016 introduces 5 new four-colored preconstructed theme decks that take casual Magic to the next level. There are 56 new cards legal in Vintage and Legacy. Each of the five preconstructed decks will include the following -
• A 100-card Commander deck
• 4 Foil Legendary Commander cards
• 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 (56 for the set in total)

MECHANICS 

PARTNER - 
• Two creatures with partner can serve as a deck's commander only if both have partner. 
• The two commanders are treated individually for all other Commander rules. 
• Combat damage dealt by each commander 'partner' is tracked individually.
• Any card refering to your commander (or commanders), it means either one of the two partners.

UNDAUNTED -
• Spell reduction cost of 1 (colourless only) less to cast for each opponent.

RETURNING MECHANICS

BASIC LANDCYCLING -
• Allows a player to pay a cost that includes discarding the card. 

• When the activated ability resolves, that player draws a card.

DOMAIN
• Each domain ability has a different effect.
• Ability counts the number of basic land types among lands you control.
• Appearing as an instant, sorcery, or activated ability which checks the number of basic land types you control.

The following themes are presented with each of the four coloured preconstructed decklists - 

• Invent Superiority (WUBR) - Artifice
This deck utilizes a variety of "artifacts matter" cards from all four of its colors, along with a selection of colored and colorless artifacts. This is for players who want to build an intricate machine and use it to gain advantage over time.

• Entropic Uprising (UBRG) - Chaos
This deck embraces variance, playing cards sight-unseen from the top of the deck, flipping coins, and otherwise injecting additional randomness into the game. This deck is for players who prefer to "just see what happens" than to carefully plan each move.

• Open Hostility (BRGW) - Aggression
The aggro deck is unconcerned with politics; it simply wants to kill everyone at the table as quickly as possible. This deck is ideal for players who hate to durdle and prefer a play style more akin to Limited than the usual Commander fare.

• Stalwart Unity (RGWU) - Altruism
The pilot of this deck wants everyone at the table to have a good time and is eager to see what everyone's deck can do. That's why it's going to help everyone out with mana, cards, and some tokens here and there. Of course, some people are suspicious of gifts, so this deck must contain a few things to make attacking its pilot difficult.

• Breed Lethality (GWUB) - Growth
This deck features a heavy counters (especially +1/+1 counters) theme. Any of its creatures has the potential to grow into a huge threat, given enough time. This deck is for every player who is thrilled at the idea of a 64/64 Hydra.

Here is the list of new (and returning) cards previewed today -

• Atraxa, Praetors' Voice

• Bruse Tarl, Boorish Herder

• Grave Upheaval

• Kraum, Ludevic's Opus

• Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix
• Primeval Protector

• Prismatic Geoscope

• Sidar Kondo of Jamurra

• Silas Renn, Seeker Adept

• Sublime Exhalation

• Sylvan Reclamation

• Vial Smasher the Fierce

Confirmed reprints

• Command Tower

• Commander's Sphere

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