Guilds of Ravnica Story

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

The Guilds of Ravnica Story arc, penned by author Nicky Drayden concluded with the fifth and final installment, covering all five Guilds featured in this latest Magic: the Gathering set.  Here are the handy links to each of these great episodes along with the subjective first-person character in brackets and the excellent sketches of that character from artist Wesley Burt.  Wizards of the Coast indicates that Magic Story will continue in early December.

Episode 1 : Under the Cover of Fog (Merret)
Merret, a covert agent of House Dimir, works a lowly position on the docks until he stumbles upon life-changing magic.

Episode 2 : Testing the Dark Waters (Leighbet)
An Izzet chemister makes an incredible discovery about the world . . . and herself.

Episode 3 : Clans and Legions (Weslyn)
A newly promoted Wojek stumbles upon a massive conspiracy.

Episode 4 : Death's Precious Moments (Bozak)
A hopeful kraul competes for training as a necromancer and brushes closer with death than expected.

Episode 5 : Bound and Bonded (Terrik)

A Selesnyan wurmcaller confronts the mistakes of his past with a little help from his friends.

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Nighthawk Counters

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

Today we want to talk about a new friend we've made at Nighthawk Counters but before we get into that, you should check out this article on the mothersite.  Writer Chas Andres provides some new items of information of shines a light on some glossed-over points from the Ixalan story.  There have been seven great stories delivered by the Wizards of the Coast Narrative team so far, and we are most definetely pumped when the story picks up again before the next set Rival of Ixalan is released.  Until that time, we can only generate conjecture about the politics of the nations of Ixalan and the potential budding romance between Jace / Vraksa or the unrequited fondness Angrath has for Hautli.

Back on track now -

Our new friend, Owner / Operator / Chief Imagineer at Nighthawk Counters who just happens to live not to far away from my home town (yeah, it’s a small world) is not only pretty damn handy but also a very fine designer.  The MTG Realm playgroup picked up a few pieces of his handicraft recently and have to say we love using these.  

Some of the counters we had picked up include pieces featuring a lovely precision-cut metal tree, skull, sun-burst, iconic blue-mana symbol, and fire.  These not only look great but are handy / functional as they will easily fit within our deckbox to take to the local gaming store.  We are certainly looking forward to more unique and beautiful designs from Nighthawk Counters in the future and wish him all the very best in a KickStarter Project he has now launched to build the company brand.  Please do pop on over -


https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/914346194/nighthawk-counters

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Ixalan Story #5

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

Wednesdays are something else entirely when Magic Stories are on tap on the Magic: the Gathering page.  Today is the 7th story installment from the Wizards of the Coast MTG R&D Narrative Team.  A very quick recap of the story blurbs so far in this very engaging and entertaining story series so far - 

Episode 1 - Jace, Alone.  A man wakes up alon on an island, his memory as absent as his means of arrival.

Episode 2 - The Third Aspect of the Sun.  Huatli is a Warrior-Poet of the Sun Empire. Her talent in combat and creativity know no bounds, but when faced with a frightening encounter and an even more astounding vision, she must overcome discomfort to live up to expectation.

Episode 3 - The Talented Captain Vraska.  Vraska has never been happier. Finally able to be the leader she always knew she could be, she captains The Belligerent with the skill of the greatest of commanders. She had kept Jace Beleren alive initially to utilize his talents, but soon discovers that they make quite the team.

Episode 4 - The Shapers.  With so many different groups seeking the golden city of Orazca, how will the River Heralds keep the city's power from falling into the wrong hands?

Episdoe 5 - Something Else Entirely.  The Belligerent harbors at High and Dry, and Jace gets the lowdown on Vraska's mission.

In this story we return to the characters of Jace and Vraska, which opens up onboard The Belligerent as they make sail towards the Brazen Coalition base High and Dry.  We learn more about the crew here - Amelia, quartermaster, Kerrigan, the burly ogre (oopps - Wizards had meant 'Orc') who served as ship's cook, and Gavven, the boatswain.  The only unbelivable thing here is that the cook is an Orc - as beleivable as the Orc in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings declaring that "meat is back on the menu", like the fellas hit Olive Garden on the weekends.  We learn that Jace has begun to now fully explore, practice and strengthen his former powers.  

A highlight for us is certainly the visit to High and Dry, where the "planked streets of High and Dry were the remains of thousands of broken Brazen Coalition ships".  Our only criticsm here is that there was not further description of this settlement, other than a few words later describing some re-purposed materials in the construction and furnishings of the watering hole called the Boatswain's Rear.  
The denizens / patrons of this establishment are however described quite well.  Speaking of highlights, we have to point our the incorrigible shipmate Breeches, a goblin who had loudly proclaimed "DEBT AND ALE AND CARDS!", a deep truth that may Magic: the Gathering players know well.  Vorthos Jay had suggested on his Tumblr Blog Achive Trap Mini that Breeches must be a Millennial.  

Sailor of Means, by Ryan Pancoast

We also are treated to additional information on the Immortal Sun, delivered from Malcolm, a Siren and the Ship's navigator, who had the following to say  "The object we're after is in Orazca, and it is known as the Immortal Sun. It used to be kept in the monasteries of Torrezon, in the kingdom that would eventually become the Legion of Dusk. For generations, it remained under the protection of its holy custodians in the mountains of the eastern continent.  "Its presence gave the old rulers incredible power," Malcolm continued. "Jealousies blossomed, and Pedron the Wicked's forces broke into the monastery where the Immortal Sun was kept safe and stole it. As they departed the sanctuary, a winged being descended from the sky. It took the Immortal Sun, carrying the relic across the sea and into the west. No living being knows its exact location, but this compass is meant to help us."  Not certain that the specific details of all this would be known to a Siren, generations after the fact (example - how does Malcolm know that 'jealousies blossomed"?).  The popular theory at the moment is that the "winged being" which had took the Immortal Sun from the followers of Pedron the Wicked is . . . Ugin !  There are a lot of questions surrounding this but we are satisfied to keep this as a theory for now.  

We round out the story's end with Jace learning how the Thaumatic Compass may work - just before the ship is dashed upon the rocks (the continent of Ixalan) and a hard place (a Legion ship).

Great read Wizards of the Coast !  We did enjoy and very much appreciate the growing relation between Jace and Vraska.

The Magic stories would be much improved in our opinion with some art, not from cards, but perhaps concept work - heck, we would love to see just rough sketches of the Ixalan people, places and things.

Contract Killing by Winona Nelson

Sad little oil lamps illuminated a sadder series of crowded tables and half-broken chairs, each stuffed with the most degenerate villains one could imagine.

This line was beautiful and reminiscent of a similar dive in a far away place.

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Ixalan Map

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Happy Thursday MTG peeps,

Since first reading the J.R.R. Tolkien's Hobbit at a young and impressionable age, I have had a liking for any fantasy novel which supplied a map.  Tolkien's map of Middle-earth was referred to countless times as the book was read and re-read.  While some world-builder's may hold the opinion that this sort of thing detracts from the story or restricts the reader's imagination, I have always found that a little cartography improves one's vision.

Wizards of the Coast, although great map-makers on their Dungeons and Dragons side of the office wall, does not seem to approve of this on the Magic: the Gathering side.  It was indeed a surprise that with the next set, Ixalan, that they are doing a slow-roll preview with a map of Ixalan.  This perhaps was something the narrative team could not escape given the presence of Pirates, the search for treasure and a mythical lost city.

Although the full reveal of the Ixalan Map (linked right here) is another week or two out from being fully revealed, MTG Realm has come across an image posted by Jim on Tumblr.  More for our personal reference than you the reader - sorry to say, the full map and place names floated out from the Magic Story series are posted below.  It is my intention to update details as things progress.

Ixalan Map - Click to Embiggen

Ixalan has at least two large continents that are separated by the sea. Further north, travelers meet only unmelting ice.  For some reason, Planeswalkers can enter Ixalan, but can't leave.  

KNOWN LOCATIONS

Ixalan, the western continent which bears the same name as the plane. Covered in vast jungles and rivers. It is home to large dinosaurs, that some of the natives managed to domesticate, and numerous secrets hidden within the forests.

• THE SUN EMPIRE
• Sun Coast, the eastern coast.
• Pachatupa, capital city
• Tocatli, palace of Emperor Apatzec Intli III
• The Temple of the Burning Sun

Other Cities / Places

 • Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun
 • Lost Temple of Aclazotz, the bat-god
• Quetzatl
• Atzocan
• Pecatli
• Otopec
• Pachutupa
• Quetzatl

• STORMWRECK SEA
• Spitfire Bastion - a bastion created by Captain Ripley Vance in an active volcano (dang!)
• High and Dry - floating city base of the Brazen Coalition
  • "Useless Island" - Jace the Castaway lands here

• QUEEN'S BAY
• Miraldanor, the island stronghold of the Legion of Dusk
• Andanto, the first and strongest fort of the vampires
• Conquerer's Foothold
• Fort Leor
• Fort Dúrran

• JUNGLE REGION
Lost cities Ancient ruins from the Sun Empire's heyday can now be found, overgrown and half-buried, in the depths of the jungle.
• Incalaquiampa
• The Deeproot Tree

• MOUNTAIN REGION
• Lost Valley
• Orazca, the lost city of gold.
• Temple of Aclazotz
• Primal Wellspring, sacred springs infused with magical power.

• INNER SEA

Hidden coves hold pirate treasures stowed by captains long forgotten.
•Treasure Cove
• Azcanta
• Tonalixco
 • Azcanta, the Sunken Ruin

TORREZON
Torrezon is the name of the eastern continent. Ruled by an alliance between a powerful church and an iron-fisted monarch. 

Vampires dominate the continent after a series of wars with other realms. Refugees and exiles from the defeated nations fled to the sea and established the Brazen Coalition.
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Ixalan Xocolātl

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

Happy indeed as today marks the second Ixalan story posted to the mothersite.  We suggest that before you look at today's Magic: the Gathering Ixalan previews, pop on over (linked right here) and read the story "A Question of Confidence' by the R&D Narrative Team.  This may have been initially titled 'The Third Aspect of the Sun' however.

The teaser for the story today - Huatli is a Warrior-Poet of the Sun Empire. Her talent in combat and creativity know no bounds, but when faced with a frightening encounter and an even more astounding vision, she must overcome discomfort to live up to expectation.

Nothing further on this, but we will share this image of the Sun Empire's Emperor Apatzec shown being rather cross with the quality of a cup of Xocolātl.  This Aztec Chocolate beverage is the ancestor of today's Hot Coco, but had a set of cajones (chilies) and the bitter tears of a Toronto Maple Leafs fan - 

Anywhoos - 

Blake offered up an anticipated post of Ixalan tokens - and yes we're impressed with the great art again, and the clever linking of specific 'Treasure' token art to each tribe.  

Also of interest, Dan Barrett (@danisx0) WotC's Euro community staffer posted a FaceBook live stream as to what to expect for this weekend's Magic Open House event.  Our local gaming store, OMG! Games here in Barrie, is planning a great event to introduce new players to Magic: the Gathering.

Here is is quick round-up of all the new Ixalan previews out so far today.  

Brazen Buccaneers

Desperate Castaways

Dire Fleet Hoarder

Field of Ruin

Kinjalli's Caller

Lightning-Rig Crew

Raiders' Wake

Rigging Runner

Ruthless Knave

Skulduggery

Tilonalli's Knight

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Hour of Devastation Story

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

As it is Wednesday, we have been treated to another Magic: the Gathering Story for the newest set, Hour of Devastation.  Today's Magic Story is from Wizards of the Coast staffer Michael Yichao and titled 'Endure'.  It has been a fantastic run so far and there is only one more story to go before this set's storyline has wrapped up.  

The last story is undoubtedly be called "The Hour of Devastation", should be rely upon the rather cool Story Spotlight cards.  Below, the beautiful card illustration from Simon Dominic provides a sneak peak at what we can anticipate.  Pretty much the Gatewatch - Gideon, Jace, Liliana, Chandra, and Nissa being defeated by Nicol Bolas.  No story spoilers presented here - but - for those who have purchased 'The Art of Magic: The Gathering—Amonkhet', you already know the final outcome.

For today's post on MTG Realm, we want to summarize the Hour of Devastation story posts to date and certainly are waiting with great anticipation for the last story next week.

EPISODE 1 - THE HOUR OF REVELATION
The second sun has settled between the horns on the horizon, and the Gates to the Afterlife open to reveal the promised paradise on the other side.   "And thus the sun reached its zenith behind the horns of the God-Pharaoh, and the promised Hours began. And the last of the people of Amonkhet fell to their knees, and there was much gnashing of teeth for fear of what was coming in the world, and wailing from babes and children, and the gods did mark the moment with solemnity, all as foretold."

EPISODE 2 - FEAST
Liliana battles the demon Razaketh. She will stop at nothing to secure her freedom.  Great flavour here - "And so the Hour of Revelation broke upon the land, and the promised time arrived when all questions would be answered. And lo, the Gate to the Afterlife opened, and from behind its gleaming walls, the true visage of the coming tide poured forth."

EPISODE 3 - HOUR OF GLORY
The Hour of Glory was to be the moment where the gods proved their worth to the God-Pharaoh. Instead, three forgotten gods appear, their purpose ominous and unknown.  "And as the Luxa, the lifeblood of Naktamun, turned to the foul blood of the great shadow Razaketh, the Hours turned to that of Glory—the promised time when the gods themselves would prove their worth before the God-Pharaoh."  

EPISODE 4 - THE HOUR OF PROMISE
While the Scorpion God hunts down each god one by one, the Locust God unleashes a deadly swarm, devouring the magical Hekma barrier protecting Naktamun. Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons, refuses to sit by while her city falls.  "And lo, the three dark divinities returned, and as they felled the gods, the Hour of Promise arrived. And so the great locust god fulfilled the great promise, and thus the Hekma was torn asunder, its protections cast aside before the return of the God-Pharaoh."

EPISODE 5 - FAVOR
Bontu reveals her true ambitions, even as the city of Naktamun crumbles. Hazoret, God of Zeal, hesitates, torn between her loyalty to the God-Pharaoh and the mortals under her care.  Three gods have fallen since the Gate to the Afterlife opened to reveal unimaginable horrors. Only Hazoret the Fervent and Bontu the Glorified remain to protect the mortals on Amonkhet. But will they be able to hold against the onslaught until the God-Pharaoh returns to protect his people?

EPISODE 6 - HOUR OF ETERNITY
Nicol Bolas is immeasurably old, incomprehensibly wise, and driven towards only one goal: the reclamation of his old power.  The God-Pharaoh has returned, and the five Hours have arrived as foretold. The Hours of Revelation, Glory, and Promise unleashed disaster upon Naktamun, and now the Hour of Eternity brings an unimaginably personal terror to the city's denizens.

EPISODE 7 - ENDURE
Faced with the murder of their beloved gods, the mortals of Amonkhet struggle to survive the destruction of their world.  "The world crumbled beneath the heel of the mighty God-Pharaoh, and an unnamed hour dawned as the blood red sun drowned the land in crimson. And thus, the Hour of Devastation reigned, and, the God-Pharaoh completed his great plan, leaving behind ruin while darkness consumed and unmade the entirety of the city."

Magic Story - The Kraul

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

We love us a good Magic: the Gathering Story and DANG did WotC staffer Alison Luhrs deliver a whopper of a great story today on the mothersite (linked right here).  Pitter-patter and make tracks over there to read - or better yet - LISTEN to this story on Unspoken Realms linked right here.  Previously Unspoken Realms would have the story up in a day or two after being posted by Wizards, but we now learn of a new partnership between the two where the Unspoken Realms episode is posted concurrently with the written piece.

Today's Magic Story is a 'one-off' stand alone fiction piece associated with the upcoming Commander Anthology (please note - not - Commander 2017).  

NEXT WEEK - Rejoice !, as Magic Story is to return to the Plane of Amonkhet with the first installment of the Hour of Devastation story.  The story precedes the official release of the set which is slated for July 14, 2017.  Righto - on to today's story notes -


"Behold, child: Umerilek, Mausoleum of the Erstwhile, the salvation of the kraul and the key to the creation of the Golgari empire." 

- Mazirek, Kraul Death Priest

Did that not just send the shivers down your spine ?  Perhaps if you are a fan of Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord, this may have rustled your jimmies.  What gall the Kraul have to imagine that the Golgari Guildmaster would answer their invitation.  Anywhoos, let's get into what Alison Luhrs served up in today's story 'PRIDE OF THE KRAUL'.

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The secretive Kraul inhabit the Ravnica undercity, and for centuries, had been an unguilded mass of 'insectoid brutes'. Recently, having pledged allegiance to the Golgari Guild, they are still being marginalized by the Golgari and work as their labourers, working the rot fields and maintaining the sewers.

Svogthos, the Restless Tomb by Marina Pilcerova

Mazirek, a death priest and hive-leader of the Kraul and friend to Vraska, the Planeswalker Gorgon.  From this friendship, Mazirek develops a deeper understanding of emotions, not quite natural to his race of insects.  With support from Vraska, Mazirek puts into motion plans which may shift of balance of power of not only the Golgari Guild but perhaps all who may call Ravnica home.

Golgari Rot Farm by John Avon

Sobeslav, Jarad's administrative assistant receives a letter at the Golgari Guildhall, protectively ringed by Korozda, the Maze of Decay.  The letter is from Mazirek inviting Jarad to a meeting.  Sobeslav take it upon himself to answer in person and perhaps put Mazirek in his place.  With a squad of 15 golgari elves, Sobeslav makes a lengthy journey, with each day adding a measure of doubt.

Swamp by Richard Wright

Shortly upon arrival, Mazirek murders the envoy and uses their life energy to fuel a necromantic spell that breaks the seal of an ancient and forgotten vault, the Umerilek, Mausoleum of the Erstwhile.  There is no existing reference to this in Magic Lore yet, and we want more - much more !

Delicate hands draped with lace and beautiful rings removed the lids of their own coffins, and the undead began to rise of their own accord, just as Vraska had told him they would.

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Magic Story Wednesday

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

Before we get into today's post on MTG Realm, we have a few notes of interest for you -

Amonkhet Game Day

Amonkhet Game Day is this weekend ! Battle at your local gaming store (MTG Realm will be at OMG Games, here in Barrie, Ontario), and you could score a great Ultra PRO playmat, top eight promo of Glorybringer, and the participation promo of Trueheart Duelist.  Pop on over to this link on the WotC mothersite for more info -

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Hélène Bergeot

We are rather sad to hear that Hélène Bergeot, Wizards of the Coast vetran of some 21 years is leaving Wotc.  She leaves her post as Director of Global Organized Play Wizards of the Coast.  The very best wishes to her in whatever ever she does next.  Perhaps she is escaping that inept President the Americans had elected in favour of Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron, whom we believe might just lead France (hopefully after Parliamentary elections) be ushering in a new golden age for France.

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Fans of Magic: the Gathering have found this little nugget in the US Trademark Electronic Search System -

The Fall set, 'Ixalan' releases on or about September 29, 2017.  This set name, along with 'Iconic Masters' was the last information received.  It now appears that the second set in Ixalan block is to be Rivals Of Ixalan.

Magic: The Gathering's 25th Anniversary is upcoming and is expected to have celebrations take place concurrently with HASCON, the first stand-alone Hasbro convention this September.  We suspect that there may be some promotional products and logos with this this MTG '25' on the Planeswalker symbol.

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MAGIC STORY

Today's story "JUDGMENT", by Doug Beyer and Alison Luhrs was a great read.  We are happy to say better than the story last week, which unfortunately did not get passed to an Editor prior to publish. 

This is the last story in the Amonkhet set and will pick up again on June 7th, 2017 before release of the Hour of Devastation on July 14th, 2017.  MTG Realm has heard that next Wednesday, there will be a Question and Answer podcast, with the week after featuring a Commander Anothology story - which we are completely hyped for.

Anywhoos, on to today's story - SPOILERS AHEAD !

Story focus is on Samut, who having escaped the Viziers, fails to convince her Djeru that all is not as it seems, and in fact, quite a lie.  Djeru is a dick and does not listen.  Samut pleads to the god Hazoret to intervene and save Djeru from the inevitability of the last Trial.  Hazoret, being hacked, along with the other four remaining gods has Samut imprisoned ('sarcophagus' time-out?).  

Those idiot Planeswalkers calling themselves the Gatewatch manage to free her, and promptly get caught.  They all come to in the arena where the final trial (Trial of Zeal) takes place and find themselves fitted with a cartouche which controls them and more importantly restricts their particular magic.  

Gideon 'Meat Slab', has a moment in the ensuing battle which has us contemplating a Hero's Downfall reprint.  The sky grows darker at the close of the story with the impending return of the God-Pharoah and 'The Hours' begin, which feels like more of a countdown to total devastation of the Plane - Thanks Obama !

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Amonkhet Previews 4-12

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

If you've arrived here at MTG Realm, without first visiting the mothersite to read today's Magic: the Gathering Story, then we suggest you take a U-Turn.  Today's Magic Story, The Writing on the Wall, by Alison Luhrs, delivered another engaging and exciting short story of our Gatewatch cast of characters on the Plane of Amonkhet.  

'The city of Naktamun is too perfect to be real. It is glistening and immaculate, and its citizens are young and full of faith. Determined to uncover Nicol Bolas's intentions with the plane, Nissa and Chandra explore the city in search of answers. What they find challenges every assumption they had about Amonkhet.'

Just as our boy Hamlet said, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark", and Nissa (Steward of Elements) is the first to catch on as to just how damaged things are, and the coming danger.  Meanwhile, Gideon (of the Trials, or 'MeatSlab'), is quite hopelessly star-struck with Oketra and quite oblivious.  In other news, the MTG Realm HQ could use some of the 'Anointed' (mummified dead) to housekeep.

Kudos to Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons for this weeks funny - ". . . They all got laryngitis at the same time."  

Anywhoos, let's get to today's Amonkhet spoilers and previews !
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Glyph Keeper, 3UU (rough translation)
Creature - Sphinx, Rare
Flying
Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability for the first time each turn, counter that spell or ability.
Embalm 5UU
5/4

Sparkling Suns, 1RR (rough translation)
Sorcery, Rare
Sparkling Suns deals 3 damage to each creature.

Cycling 3 (3, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

• Bontu the Glorified, illustrated by Chase Stone, previewed by the official MTG APAC (Asia-Pacific) Facebook Page.  Seems to be some nice synergy with Hidden Stockpile or Yahenni, Undying Partisan and a number of others, which may make it worth your while to get this out.

• Glyph Keeper, illustrated by Chris Rahn, previewed by Tokyo MTG.  Shimmering or Jetting Glasskite from Betrayers of Kamigawa.  Nice lated game finisher for blue and your opponent will need to work a little harder to have something stick to this.  Having said this, you would have equal trouble to try to buff this or have it enchanted with an aura.

• Vizier of the Many Faces, illustrated by Ryan Yee. Send in the Clones! Mimic those EtB effects.

• Enigma Drake, illustrated by Steve Argyle. Spellheart Chimera had a toughness of 3.

• Wayward Servant, illustrated by Anthony Palumbo.  Nice Soul Wardern for Zombies.

• Samut, Voice of Dissent, illustrated by Aleksi Briclot.  A smörgåsbord of abilities here which seems a bit awkward, but we are still tempted to run this in a Naya Commander build. 

• Sparkling Suns, illustrated by Raymond Swanland. Damn fine burn sorcery, with cycle ability.  Might be a Hekma, but you still need an big SPF.

• By Force - WOW.

NERF ALL THE ARTIFACTS!  In other news, we think that Chandra takes offense to the Sarcophagi that her and Nissa had found in the alleyway in today's story.  Yet another clue of the complete $hitstorm about to hit Amonkhet.

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