Anthousa's Army

~
Happy Saturday MTG peeps,

Unfortunately, we could not get out to Friday Night Magic at OMG! Games (here in Barrie, Ontario) last night and try out the brand new format as the motherboard in our computer died a horrible 'n' smelly death.  This of course means that the several new Magic: the Gathering videos we had wanted to get off for some of the new Theros products will unfortunately not happen until we're into a new computer.

 

For the interim, we wanted to get something posted on the new Theros Intro Pack we picked up.  We have the Green / White 'Anthousa's Army' one which features an arsenal of powerful auras and spells one can cast on your small army of creatures to swing on in for the victory.  For the retail price of approximately $15, you get the following;
•  1 premium card
•  1 60-card deck
•  2 Theros booster packs
•  1 learn-to-play insert
•  1 strategy insert
 

. . .  And the decklist -

25 lands : 13 Forest, 12 Plains
20 creatures : 2 Elvish Mystic, 1 Favored Hoplite, 2 Deadly Recluse, 1 Setessan Battle Priest, 1 Phalanx Leader, 2 Wingsteed Rider, 2 Chronicler of Heroes, 2 Staunch-Hearted Warrior, 2 Rumbling Baloth, 1 Pheres-Band Centaurs, 1 Setessan Griffin, 1 Anthousa, Setessan Hero, 2 Centaur Battlemaster
15 other spells : 2 Giant Growth, 2 Warrior's Lesson, 2 Battlewise Valor, 2 Pacifism, 2 Time to Feed, 2 Dauntless Onslaught, 1 Bow of Nylea, 1 Artisan's Sorrow, 1 Vanquish the Soul
~

There's some very decent early drops in this build to obtain a board presence which when targeted provides a benefit.  The added bonus of targeting your creature with one of those lovely auras can transform your unimposing creature into a real threat.  We think that this Theros pre-constructed Intro Deck not only can be the perfect start to get into the game for a newer player but also gives a very decent base on which to upgrade as you start acquiring new cards from your local games store on online MTG retailer like MTG Mint Card.
~

Innistrad Intro Packs and Event Decks

~
Happy Tuesday MTG peeps,

Here with our second post for today, we wanted to share with you an early sneak peek at the upcoming Innistrad Intro Packs and Event Decks. Innistrad Intro Packs go on sale concurrently with the official launch on 30th September, while Innistrad Event Decks are available in time for Innistrad Game Day on 28th October, 2011.

Previously, we had shared an image of Innistrad Intro Decks with those who follow us on Twitter.


Today, we share another image with somewhat improved resolution . . .


Updated 9/15/2011 with info from today's Magic Arcana . . .
Update - 9/22/2011 - full Intro Pack decklists now up!

/ - 'Spectral Legions' - foil rare : Angel of Flight Alabaster
/ - 'Eldritch Onslaught' - foil rare : Sturmgeist
/ - 'Deathly Dominion' - foil rare : Skirsdag High Priest
/ - 'Carnival of Blood' - foil rare : Falkenrath Marauders
/ - 'Repel the Dark' - foil rare : Elder of Laurels

We leave it to you to speculate on the missing foil rares as well as possible themes to each of the Intro Packs. We will provide updates as they become available.
~

Next up, we have an early sneak peek of the Innistrad Event Decks . . .

Update : full deck lists now available HERE.


The mono-White Event deck has an image of the uncommon Fiend Hunter. We anticipate humans and spirits to fill out the rest of this pre-constructed deck.

Spoilers and previews to day have not yet provided the card image used for the Blue / Black / Green deck but we think it safe to assume that given Fiend Hunter on the one side, one could expect to see Vampires, Werewolves and Zombies in this deck.
~

Intro Packs and Event Decks, in our opinion have been getting better and better. Coupled with amazing flavour in this classic horror - themed set, we are planning to pick up both event decks as well as one or two of the Intro Packs. We also appreciate that this may have been timed appropriately for full release just in time for Halloween. We suggest you yatter to your local game store and reserve product for your October 31st party this year.

~

RoE Sealed Products

~

Just another quick post today folks,

We would like to do a round-up of all the sealed product packaging Wizards had posted so far this week in the Magic Arcana as part of the big ramp up to the Rise of the Eldrazi Spoilers and Previews. We will have a look at the very cool arts on Booster Packs, Intro Packs and Fat Packs.

But first, before we get to that, here is a piece of total randomness - looking over all the awesome Rise of the Eldrazi creature artwork, why are there no Moose ? (we have Elk and Antelope)



I was reminiscing and looking at some old photos when I came across this one . . . yep - that's a baby Moose in the back seat. Her mother was unfortunately killed in an vehicle accident but she had escaped with only minor injuries. So, thinking out loud here - baby Moose are pretty damn cute (and dangerous) - so why no Moose Wizards - can we get one in within the next block please ?

~

Well, anywhoos - let's get back on topic . . .

Make sure you check out these killer arts on Rise of the Eldrazi sealed product . . .

Rise of the Eldrazi Intro Packs - 09 March 2010

Rise of the Eldrazi Booster Packs - 10 March 2010

Rise of the Eldrazi Fat Packs - 11 March 2010

That's it for now folks, tune in latter for more wild randomness.

~

Conflux Intro Pack - Bant

~

The Conflux Intro Packs, originally spoiled here on MTG Realm truly waaaay back on 18th December finally have deck lists associated with them. Today, we have the skinny on the last Intro Pack - Bant on the March.

Bant on the March

Now you can answer that call to war. You’ll assemble a quick force of heroic soldiers, rhoxes, and flying aven to defend the noble realm of Bant from the other planes. Then you can continue the attack one of two ways: build up a single, unstoppable champion using the exalted mechanic, or overrun your enemy with a game-ending spell that empowers your whole army at once. Nothing will stand between you and glorious victory.

18 creatures

1 x Aerie Mystics 4W
Creature – Bird Wizard (u)
Flying
1GU: Creatures you control gain shroud until end of turn.
3/3

2 x Aven Squire 1W
Creature – Bird Soldier (c)
Flying
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
1/1

1 x Deft Duelist WU (Shards of Alara)
Type: Creature - Human Rogue (c)
First strike, Shroud (This creature can't be the target of spells or abilities.)
2/1

1 x Frontline Sage 2U
Creature – Human Wizard (c)
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
U, Tap : Draw a card, then discard a card.
0/1

1 x Giltspire Avenger GWU
Creature – Human Soldier (r)
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Tap : Destroy target creature that dealt damage to you this turn.
2/2

1 x Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer 1WU
Legendary Creature – Human Rogue (r)
WU, Tap : Put a bribery counter on target creature you don’t control. That creature’s controller draws a card.
Creatures with bribery counters on tham can’t attack or block.
2/2

1 x Jhessian Balmgiver 1WU
Creature – Human Cleric (u)
Tap : Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to target creature or player this turn.
Tap : Target creature is unblockable this turn.
1/1

1 x Outrider of Jhess 3U (Shards of Alara)
Creature - Human Knight (c)
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
2/2

2 x Rhox Bodyguard 3GW
Creature – Rhino Monk Soldier (c)
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
When Rhox Bodyguard comes into play, you gain 3 life.
2/3

1 x Rhox Meditant 3W
Creature – Rhino Monk (c)
When Rhox Mediant comes into play, if you control a green permanent, you may draw a card.
2/4

1 Rhox War Monk GWU (Shards of Alara)
Creature - Rhino Monk (u)
Lifelink
3/4

2 x Skyward Eye Prophets 3GWU
Creature – Human Wizard (u)
Vigilance
T: Reveal the top card of your library. If it’s a land card, put it into play. Otherwise, put it into your hand.
3/3

1 x Suntail Hawk W (Tenth Edition)
Creature — Bird (c)
Flying (This creature can't be blocked except by creatures with flying or reach.)

2 x Valeron Outlander WU
Creature – Human Scout (c)
Protection from red
2/2

6 other spells

1 x Asha's Favor 2W
Enchantment – Aura (c)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has flying, first strike, and vigilance.

2 x Gleam of Resistance 4W
Instant (c)
Creatures you control get +1/+2 until end of turn. Untap those creatures.
Basic landcycling 1W (1W, Discard this card: Search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.)

2 x Pacifism 1W (Tenth Edition)
Enchantment — Aura (c)
Enchant creature (Target a creature as you play this. This card comes into play attached to that creature.)
Enchanted creature can't attack or block.

1 x Unsummon U
Instant (c)
Return target creature to its owner’s hand.

17 lands

3 Forest
3 Island
7 Plains
2 Seaside Citadel (u) Tap : Add G, W, or U to your mana pool.
2 Terramorphic Expanse (Tenth Edition) sac land.

Conflux Intro Pack - Esper

The Conflux Intro Packs, originally spoiled here on MTG Realm truly waaaay back on 18th December finally have deck lists associated with them. Here is the skinny on all five and we have Esper.

Esper Air Assault

As the worlds crash into each other, your artifact-themed deck takes to the air with an enormous swarm of flying creatures from the plane of Esper. You’ll also pull off tricky artifact-based combos using the power of creatures forged from etherium, a metal infused with magic. If your enemies get any funny ideas about defending themselves, you have a counterspell up your sleeve. Who said the sky had to be the limit?

18 creatures

2 x Court Homunculus W
Artifact Creature – Homunculus (c)
Court Homunculus gets +1/+1 as long as you control another artifact.
1/1

1 x Darklit Gargoyle 1W
Artifact Creature – Gargoyle (c)
Flying. B: Darklit Gargoyle gets +2/-1 until end of turn.
1/2

1 x Esper Cormorants 2WU
Artifact Creature – Bird (c)
Flying
3/3

1 x Esperzoa 2U
Artifact Creature – Jellyfish (u)
Flying. At the beginning of your upkeep, return an artifact you control to its owner’s hand.
4/3

1 x Faerie Mechanist 3U
Artifact Creature – Faerie Artificer (c)
Flying. When Faerie Mechanist comes into play, look at the top three cards of your library. You may reveal an artifact card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
2/2

1 x Inkwell Leviathan 7UU
Artifact Creature – Leviathan (r)
Islandwalk, trample, shroud
7/11

1 x Magister Sphinx 4WUB
Artifact Creature – Sphinx (r)
Flying. When Magister Sphinx comes into play, target player’s life total becomes 10.
5/5

2 x Parasitic Strix 2U
Artifact Creature – Bird (c)
Flying. When Parasitic Strix comes into play, if you control a black permanent, target player loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.
2/2

1 x Salvage Slasher 1B
Artifact Creature – Human Rogue (c)
Salvage Slasher gets +1/+0 for each artifact card in your graveyard.
1/1

1x Scornful Æther-Lich 3U
Artifact Creature – Vedalken Wizard (u)
WB: Scornful Æther-Lich gains fear and vigilance until end of turn.
2/4

1 x Sludge Strider 1WUB
Artifact Creature – Insect (u)
Whenever another artifact comes into play under your control or another artifact you control leaves play, you may pay 1. If you do, target player loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
3/3

1 x Tidehollow Sculler WB (Shards of Alara)
Artifact Creature — Zombie (u)
When Tidehollow Sculler comes into play, target opponent reveals his or her hand and you choose a nonland card from it. Remove that card from the game. When Tidehollow Sculler leaves play, return the removed card to its owner's hand.

1 x Vectis Agents 3UB
Artifact Creature – Human Rogue (c)
UB: Vectis Agents gets -2/-0 and is unblockable this turn.
4/3

2 x Vedalken Outlander UB
Artifact Creature – Vedalken Scout (c)
Protection from green
2/2

1 x Windwright Mage WUB (Shards of Alara)
Artifact Creature — Human Wizard (c)
Lifelink (Whenever this creature deals damage, you gain that much life.)
Windwright Mage has flying as long as an artifact card is in your graveyard.

6 other spells

1 x Dehydration 3U (Tenth Edition )
Enchantment — Aura (c)
Enchant creature (Target a creature as you play this. This card comes into play attached to that creature.) Enchanted creature doesn't untap during its controller's untap step.

1 x Executioner's Capsule B (Shards of Alara)
Artifact (c)
1B Tap ; Sacrifice Executioner's Capsule: Destroy target nonblack creature.

1 x Remove Soul 1U (Tenth Edition )
Instant (c)
Counter target creature spell.

1 x Rod of Ruin 4 (Tenth Edition )
Artifact (u)
3, Tap ; Rod of Ruin deals 1 damage to target creature or player.

2 x Traumatic Visions 3UU
Instant (c)
Counter target spell. Basic landcycling 1U(1U, Discard this card: Search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.)

17 lands

2 Arcane Sanctum (Tap: Add White, Blue, or Black)
7 Island
3 Plains
3 Swamp
2 Terramorphic Expanse (sac land)

Conflux Intro Deck - Grixis

~

The Conflux Intro Packs, originally spoiled here on MTG Realm truly waaaay back on 18th December finally have deck lists associated with them. Here is the skinny on all five and today we will look at Grixis.

Grixis Shambling Army
Foil card: Blood Tyrant

You’ve chosen a deck based around the plane of Grixis, a world of death naturally suited to destroying its enemies. Your unstoppable undead minions lurch back from the grave, slashing away at your foe’s life total. Your spells slay your opponent’s defenders on the spot. And if that doesn’t do it, then a duo of enormous flying horrors will finish off any enemy planeswalker.

15 creatures

1 Blood Tyrant 4UBR
Creature – Vampire (r)
Flying
At the beginning of your upkeep, each player loses 1 life. Whenever one or more players loses life this way, put that many +1/+1 counters on Blood Tyrant.
Whenever a player loses the game, put five +1/+1 counters on Blood Tyrant.
5/5

1 x Brackwater Elemental 2U
Creature – Elemental (c)
When Brackwater Elemental attacks or blocks, sacrifice it at end of turn.
Unearth 2U (2U: Return this card from your graveyard to play. It gains haste. Remove it from the game at end of turn or if it would leave play. Unearth only as a sorcery.)
4/4

1 x Dregscape Zombie 1B
Creature - Zombie (c)
Unearth B (B: Return this card from your graveyard to play. It gains haste. Remove it from the game at end of turn or if it would leave play. Unearth only as a sorcery.)

1 x Extractor Demon 4BB
Creature – Demon (r)
Flying
Whenever another creature leaves play, you may have target player put the top two cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
Unearth 2B (2B: Return this card from your graveyard to play. It gains haste. Remove it from the game at end of turn or if it would leave play. Unearth only as a sorcery.)
5/5

1 x Fire-Field Ogre 1UBR (Shards of Alara)
Creature - Ogre Mutant (u)
First strike Unearth UBR (UBR: Return this card from your graveyard to play. It gains haste. Remove it from the game at end of turn or if it would leave play. Unearth only as a sorcery.)
4/2

2 x Grixis Slavedriver 5B
Creature – Zombie Giant (u)
When Grixis Slavedriver leaves play, put a 2/2 black Zombie creature token into play.
Unearth 3B (3B: Return this card from your graveyard to play. It gains haste. Remove it from the game at end of turn or if it would leave play. Unearth only as a sorcery.)
4/4

2 x Kathari Screecher 2U (Shards of Alara)
Creature - Bird Soldier (c)
Flying Unearth 2U (2U: Return this card from your graveyard to play. It gains haste. Remove it from the game at end of turn or if it would leave play. Unearth only as a sorcery.)
2/2

1 x Kederekt Creeper UBR (Shards of Alara)
Creature - Horror (c)
Deathtouch (Whenever this creature deals damage to a creature, destroy that creature.) Kederekt Creeper can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.
2/3

1 x Pestilent Kathari 2B
Creature – Bird Warrior (c)
Flying
Deathtouch (Whenever this creature deals damage to a creature, destroy that creature.)
2R: Pestilent Kathari gains first strike until end of turn.
1/1

2 x Sedraxis Alchemist 2B
Creature – Zombie Wizard (c)
When Sedraxis Alchemist comes into play, if you control a blue permanent, return target nonland permanent to its owner’s hand.
2/2

2 x Zombie Outlander BR
Creature – Zombie Scout (c)
Protection from white
2/2

9 other spells

2 x Absorb Vis 6B
Sorcery (c)
Taget player loses 4 life and you gain 4 life.
Basic landcycling 1B (1B, Discard this card: Search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.)

1 x Agony Warp UB (Shards of Alara)
Instant (c)
Target creature gets -3/-0 until end of turn. Target creature gets -0/-3 until end of turn.

1 x Bone Saw 0
Artifact – Equipment (c)
Equipped creature gets +1/+0.
Equip 1

1 x Elder Mastery 3UBR
Enchantment – Aura (u)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +3/+3, has flying, and has “Whenever this creature deals damage to a player, that player discards two cards.”

1 x Infest 1BB (Shards of Alara)
Sorcery (u)
All creatures get -2/-2 until end of turn.

2 x Shock R (Tenth Edition)
Instant (c)
Shock deals 2 damage to target creature or player.

1 x Terror 1B(Tenth Edition)
Instant (c)
Destroy target nonartifact, nonblack creature. It can't be regenerated.

17 lands

2 Crumbling Necropolis (u) ALA / T : Add U, B, or R to your mana
3 Island
3 Mountain
7 Swamp
2 Terramorphic Expanse (sac land)

Conflux Intro Deck - Naya

~

The Conflux Intro Packs, originally spoiled here on MTG Realm truly waaaay back on 18th December finally have deck lists associated with them. Here is the skinny on all five and we will start with Naya.

Naya Domain

Foil card: Paleoloth

This deck thrives on the power of all five colors of mana, centered in the world of Naya. Go to war against the other planes using the domain mechanic, powering up your creatures and spells with the strengths of all five types of lands. Once you max out your domain with land-search spells and artifacts, you’ll crush your foes with the most diverse arsenal of spells available.

11 creatures

1 x Aven Trailblazer 2W
Creature – Bird Soldier (c)
Flying
Domain – Aven Trailblazer’s toughtness is equal to the number of basic land types among lands you control.
2/*

1 x Beacon Behemoth 3GG
Creature – Beast (c)
1: Target creature with power 5 or greater gains vigilance until end of turn.
5/3

1 x Ember Weaver 2G
Creature – Spider (c)
Reach
As long as you control a red permanent, Ember Weaver gets +1/+0 and has first strike.
2/3

1 x Kranioceros 4R
Creature – Beast (c)
1W: Kranioceros gets +0/+3 until end of turn.
5/2

2 x Matca Rioters 2G
Creature – Human Warrior (c)
Domain – Matca Rioters’s power and toughness are each equal to the number of basic land types among lands you control.
*/*

1 x Meglonoth 3RGW
Creature – Beast (r)
Vigilance, trample
Whenever Meglonoth blocks a creature, Meglonoth deals damage to that creature’s controller equal to Meglonoth’s power.
6/6

1 x Paleoloth 4GG
Creature – Beast (r)
Whenever another creature with power 5 or greater comes into play under your control, you may return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
5/5

1 x Vagrant Plowbeasts 5GW
Creature – Beast (u)
1 : Regenerate target creature with power 5 or greater.
6/6

1 x Wandering Goblins 2R
Creature – Goblin Warrior (c)
Domain – 3: Wandering Goblins get +1/+0 until end of turn for each basic land type among lands you control.
0/3

1 Woolly Thoctar RGW (Shards of Alara uncommon)
Creature - Beast
5/4

13 other spells

1 x Drag Down 2B
Instant (c)
Domain – Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn for each basic land type among lands you control.

1 x Kaleidostone 2
Artifact (c)
When Kaleidostone comes into play, draw a card.
5, T, Sacrifice Kaleidostone: Add WUBRG to your mana pool.

1 x Manaforce Mace 4
Artifact – Equipment (u)
Domain – Equipped creature gets +1/+1 for each basic land type among lands you control.
Equip 3

1 x Might of Alara G
Instant (c)
Domain – Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each basic land type among lands you control.

1 Pacifism (Tenth Edition common)
Enchantment - Aura
Enchant creature (Target a creature as you play this. This card comes into play attached to that creature.)
Enchanted creature can't attack or block.

1 x Path to Exile W
Instant (u)
Remove target creature from the game. Its controller may search his or her library for a basic land card, put it into play tapped, then shuffle his or her library.

2 x Rampant Growth 1G (Tenth Edition common)
Sorcery
Search your library for a basic land card and put that card into play tapped. Then shuffle your library.

1 x Shard Convergence 3G
Sorcery (u)
Search your library for a Plains card, an Island card, a Swamp card, and a Mountain card. Reveal those cards, and put them into your hand. Then shuffle your library.

2 x Spore Burst 3G
Sorcery (u)
Domain – Put a 1/1 green Saproling creature token into play for each basic land type among lands you control.
2 x Sylvan Bounty 5G
Instant (c)
Target player gains 8 life.
Basic landcycling 1G (1G, Discard this card: Search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.)

17 lands

6 x Forest
1 x Island
3 x Mountain
3 x Plains
1 x Swamp
3 x Terramorphic Expanse
Tap, Sacrifice Terramorphic Expanse: Search your library for a basic land card and put it into play tapped. Then shuffle your library.

Conflux Intro Packs

~

Conflux Intro Packs were revealed today on Magic Arcana. If you have been living secluded under a rock for a few months, Intro Packs have replaced 'Theme Decks'. These are a 41-card preconstructed deck which includes one foil rare.

Typically, the best spoilers are the ones which show Intro Packs for the new set. One may learn (or infer) quite a bit about the flavour and possible dynamics of the set by carefully reviewing the names of the Intro Pack, the name / artwork of the foil rare card.

Bant on the March
foil rare : Giltspire Avenger GWU

Obviously the nations of Bant are mobilizing to counter an invasion as the Intro Pack name suggests. Mr. Avenger is pictured here cleaning off hs blade in what appears to be the ruins of an Akrasan town. His handiwork is lying is a pool of blood around the corner with a hooded figure (possibly the next of kin?) kneeling beside the recently deceased. Does not seem like the sun-dappled Akrasa we know from the first set. The mana colours of green-WHITE-blue is typical for the shard of Bant.

Jund Apppetite for War
foil rare : Charnelhoard Wurm 4BRG

Again, as mentioned in a previous post when we spoiled the Fat Packs - this is a very unimaginative name for an Intro Pack. Charnelhoard Wurm is a six-drop which includes a black and red. This spikey piece of nastiness is not similar to what we have come to expect from the realm of Jund. I would expect the unexpected with this card.

Naya Domain
foil rare : Paleoloth 4GG

Weighing in at at a green-centric six drop, this monster is spot-on for Naya.

This critter appears to be the grudge articulation of a hippo and a dinosaur. We suggest you carefully consider the marinade for this one.

Esper Air Assault
foil rare : Magister Sphinx 4WUB

From the Intro Pack name, I will cautiously suggest that there may be a number of flyers in this deck. The Magister Sphinx also supports this well thought-out theory. This Esper-coloured critter appears to be flying into an environment which does not resemble Esper at all. Perhaps the mages responsible for carefully controlling the meteorological conditions on Esper have either run to the hills or were laid off.

Grixis Shambling Army
foil rare : Blood Tyrant 4UBR

This six-drop vampire appears to be travelling through a Jund landscape rather than the bleak desolation of Grixis. Perhaps he is on his way to make a withdrawl at a blood-bank.

I would suggest from the Intro Pack name that this suck-head is not alone and that the deck may be producing a healthy number of token critters.


Stay tuned for more Conflux spoiler goodness.