MTG Tumblr Thursday

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Happy Thursday MTG peeps,

As it was with our last post, we want to shunt our Magic: the Gathering fan's attention to our numerous posts on our sister site MTG Realm on Tumblr so that you can get the latest Battle for Zendikar goodness.  We promise a return to our 'normal' content rather soon as we have just about covered off most of the news coming out from Wizards of the Coast's wonderful coverage at PAX Prime 2015.
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Photoset

September 01, 2015

397 notes

 

Magic: the Gathering - Races of Zendikar

KOR
These graceful, fearless creatures adventure across the floating hedrons, looking for unknown treasures. Using their hooks and lines to transverse aerial gaps and ensnare foes, they make excellent guides and protectors.

MERFOLK
Curious and analytical, the merfolk of Zendikar reside in scattered enclaves throughout the plane. Merfolk long believed that three powerful figures watched over the plane: Emeria (sky), Ula (water), and Cosi (land). In fact, these deities were based on dim memories of the three Eldrazi titans Emrakul, Ulamog, and Kozilek.

VAMPIRES
The long-lived vampires of Zendikar hid a terrible secret: ages ago, they were enslaved by the Eldrazi. Now that their former masters have returned, many vampires have dedicated themselves to doing everything in their power to prevent a return to subservience.

GOBLINS
Goblins have a deep fascination with trinkets and artifacts. They often weave their discoveries into their gear, which they display with pride, regardless of its actual power or importance. All Zendikar goblins belong to one of the three major tribes: the Tuktuk, Lavastep, or Grotag.

ELVES
The majority of elves live in the treetops of Ondu and Bela Ged. Constantly adapting and remaining ever prepared for danger, the elves of Zendikar expect the same of all others, often valuing self-preservation above all else.

HUMANS
Whether living in settlements or pecking a meager existence in mining or exploration, these hardy folk people just about every region of Zendikar.  The most popular name for male human Zendikar child is ‘Chad’. ~

Photoset

September 03, 2015

Magic: the Gathering - BFZ Spawn of Ulamog

From the World Building Panel at PAX Prime Seattle - video linky to Wizards of the Coast over here.
The Eldrazi Titans Kozilek and Emrakul checked out early to om-nom-nom another Plane, while Ulamog is left to clean up after the party.  This of course does not mean that all the spawn of Kozilek and Emrakul left with them.

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Photoset

September 03, 2015

Magic: the Gathering - BFZ Eldrazi Art Dump 1 0f 2

Images of Eldrazi out of the Battle for Zendikar World Building Panel at PAX Prime in Seattle - watch the video over here.
We can see from the images previewed, a degree of specialization and adaption of some of Ulamog’s spawn as they take to the cliffs, air, and sea. ~

Photoset

September 03, 2015

Magic: the Gathering - BFZ Eldrazi Art Dump 2 of 2

Images of Eldrazi out of the Battle for Zendikar World Building Panel at PAX Prime in Seattle - watch the video over here.
We can see from the images previewed here the ‘corruption’ of the Eldrazi, which appears as an intricate meshwork of white filaments.  These presumably sap and collect the Plane’s mana and life-force to feed the Eldrazi Titan Ulamog, ~

Photoset

September 03, 2015

Magic: the Gathering - BFZ Ob & Kiora

Certainly digging the preview images Wizards of the Coast have been shipping for Ob Nixilis and Kiora.  WotC world building panel vid over here.
KIORA - The merfolk Planeswalker Kiora believes that only by summoning the fierce krakens, serpents, and other terrors of the deep can she defeat the titans who now rule her home plane of Zendikar.
OB NIXILIS - A cruel, demonic Planeswalker, Ob Nixilis was drawn to Zendikar by its powerful mana, with which he hoped to break the curse that robbed him of his humanity. But when he arrived, another Planeswalker magically snuffed out his spark.

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BFZ PAX Spoiler

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Happy Sunday MTG peeps,

We had to work all day Saturday (and a chunk of Sunday) which means we were not in front of all the Battle for Zendikar spoilers 'n'  previews coming out of PAX Prime in Seattle.  Fear not, as we are going to summarise all the lovely Magic: the Gathering news from PAX as well as from other previewers over the weekend.

First up - get a load of the Battle for Zendikar trailer !

We should also tell you about the 'Six things you need to know about Battle for Zendikar' from MTG EU co-ord -

Righto - Let's get to some of the new Battle for Zendikar cards - 

The rare dual lands is templated after this fashion - Add X or Y to your mana pool.  Z(land card) enters the battlefield tapped unless you control two or more basic lands.

Prairie Stream - The continent of Ondu is a vast plateau criscrossed by deep trenches and meandering rivers.

Sunken Hollow - On the continent of Tazeem, rushing waters plunge through narrow canyons into mist-cloaked lakes.

Smoldering Marsh - The continent of Guul Draz is a geothermal swampland reeking of heat and decay.

Cinder Glade - On the volcanic continent of Akoum, bizarre vegetation clusters around gas vents, and jagged mountain peaks rise high into the air.

Canopy Vista - The continent of Murasa lies beneath a blanket of dense vegetation, its enormous branches tangled so thickly that some inhabitants never see the ground.

. . . . And now for some of the other cards !

Gideon, Ally of Zendikar, 2WW
Planeswalker - Gideon, Mythic Rare
+1: Until end of turn, Gideon, Ally of Zendikar becomes a 5/5 Human Soldier Ally creature with indestructible that's still a planeswalker. Prevent all damage that would be dealt to him this turn.
0: Put a 2/2 white Knight Ally creature token onto the battlefield.
-4: You get an emblem with "Creatures you control get +1/+1."
[4]

Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger, 10
Legendary Creature - Eldrazi, Mythic Rare
When you cast Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger, exile two target permanents.
Indestructible
Whenever Ulamog attacks, defending player exiles the top twenty cards of his or her library.
A force as voracious as time itself.
10/10

Omnath, Locus of Rage, 3RRGG
Legendary Creature - Elemental, Rare
Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, put a 5/5 red and green Elemental creature token onto the battlefield.
Whenever Omnath, Locus of Rage or another Elemental you control dies, Omnath deals 3 damage to target creature or player.
5/5

Ruinous Path, 1BB
Sorcery, Rare
Destroy target creature or planeswalker.
Awaken 4—5BB (If you cast this spell for 5BB, also put four +1/+1 counters on target land you control and it becomes a 0/0 Elemental creature with haste. It's still a land.)

Radiant Flames, 2 R
Sorcery, Rare
Converge — Radiant Flames deals X damage to each creature, where X is the number of colors of mana spent to cast Radiant Flames.

Oran-Rief Hydra, 4GG
Creature - Hydra, Rare
Trample
Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on Oran-Rief Hydra. If that land is a Forest, put two +1/+1 counters on Oran-Rief Hydra instead.
5/5

Blight Herder, 5
Creature - Eldrazi Processor, Rare
When you cast Blight Herder, you may put two cards your opponents own from exile into their owners' graveyards. If you do, put three 1/1 colorless Eldrazi Scion creature tokens onto the battlefield. They have "Sacrifice this creature: Add 1 to your mana pool."
4/5

Barrage Tyrant, 4R
Creature - Eldrazi, Rare
Devoid (This card has no color.)
2R, Sacrifice another colorless creature: Barrage Tyrant deals damage equal to the sacrificed creature's power to target creature or player.
5/3
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PAX Eldrazi

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Happy Friday MTG peeps,

As it is Friday, we'll be heading down to our fav local gaming store, OMG! Games, here in Barrie, Ontario (by Georgian College in the City's north end) to try our hand at a few odd 'n' interesting home-brews - namely Izzet Heroic.  We hope to have a report next week as to how this decklist did against the local game.

Anywhoos, as we have no cash whatsoever, we will not be able to attend the MTG community's premier event of the year, PAX Prime 2015 in Seattle - but - through the wondrous miracle of the interweb, it will feel like we are (almost) there.  If you are like us, stay tuned to www.battleforzendikar.com for coverage of all things MTG at PAX this year.

As many had anticipated, there is a very strong Eldrazi theme to the festivities there - 

Like that huge Eldrazi creating chaos outside of the Annex - 

Righto - on to some Battle for Zendikar spoilers ! !  The first one comes to us as a proper spoiler, apparently from a Target supplier.

Hero of Goma Fada, 4W
Creature - Human Knight Ally, Rare
Rally — Whenever Hero of Goma Fada or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, creatures you control gain indestructible until end of turn.
"They seek to break us. Let us show them our strength!"

4/3

. . . . And the second one - a proper preview card from Wizards of the Coast.  Yep - Landfall is Back !

Guardian of Tazeem, 3UU
Creature - Sphinx, Rare
Flying
Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, tap target creature an opponent controls. If that land is an Island, that creature doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.
illus. Zack Stella # 78/274
C&D SRC

4/5

Stay tuned to MTG Realm here on Blogger as well as Tumblr as we will update you on the latest Battle for Zendikar (and Commander 2015 hopefully) spoilers 'n' previews coming out of PAX this weekend.
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Zendikar Story

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Happy Thursday MTG peeps,

Quite some time ago, we had the sads real bad when WotC took away the 'mini-novel' that used to come in the Fat Pack.  They then took away the novellas meant to replace those Fat Pack novels.  They told us that they were going to expand and enhance the online content with the Forgotten Realms installment on the mothersite.

Well, I think Wizards of the Coast hit a home run.  We have been digg'n the regular weekly installments a lot.  The apprehension we had of different contributing authors have been unfounded and the pieced-together storyline which we fretted was to be some Frankenstein literary creation is, in fact pretty seamless in its delivery.

This weekend, be sure to catch up on the stories for the upcoming Battle for Zendikar set as well as catching all that (much anticipated / very exciting) news / announcements / and gameplay at PAX Prime in Seattle.  You can catch all of the action in one spot - www.battleforzendikar.com

For now, here is a quick run-down of the two installments to date.  Expect 'episode 3' to go up next Wednesday -

Episode 1: Slaughter at the Refuge
Gideon brings Jace to Zendikar to solve the "mystery of the hedrons," but instead of arriving in a safe camp of Sea Gate refugees, the Planeswalkers find themselves in a scene of carnage. Before Jace can get to work, he and Gideon must fight their way through the Eldrazi horde in search of survivors.

Episode 2: The Silent Cry
Nissa is bonded with the soul of the land and she wields the full power of Zendikar as she fights the Eldrazi alongside her towering elemental companion, Ashaya. She feels unstoppable—until everything is ripped away. When Zendikar stops responding to her call, when Ashaya collapses, when the land falls silent, Nissa is left to face the monsters alone.

Episode 3: The Believers’ Pilgrimage
The only reason Jace is here on Zendikar is to continue where researchers at Sea Gate left off—to discover how the mysterious stone hedrons throughout the plane can be used as a weapon against the Eldrazi. After conferring with the merfolk explorer Jori En, they decide to journey to the Eye of Ugin to complete Jace’s study. On the way, they encounter a group of pilgrims who have an unusual—and deadly—relationship to the Eldrazi.

Episode 4: The Survivors of Sky Rock

Episode 5: Memories of Blood

Episode 6: Nissa's Quest
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MTG Puzzle Quest

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Happy Tuesday MTG peeps,

With Pax Prime (Seattle) coming up this very weekend, Magic: the Gathering fans are chomping at the bit to get their fill of all wondrous things, but first and foremost, sneak peaks at the upcoming MTG sets - namely Battle for Zendikar, with a chance of Commander 2015.

But hold on - beyond the numerous Wizards of the Coast Panels and opportunities to play Magic, there is another exciting thing to look forward to - to be one of the first to play Magic: The Gathering - Puzzle Quest.  If you are unfamiliar with Puzzle Quest, the existing Warlords / Challenge of the Warlords have Players assume the role of a character with various statistics such as combat ability, morale, and magical affinity with combat being conducted entirely via turn-based puzzle action similar to Bejeweled or Zoo Keeper.

The news out today (link, link, link) - D3 Go! and Wizards of the Coast have partnered to create Magic: The Gathering - Puzzle Quest, a mobile game that blends the hypnotic match-3 puzzle elements of the popular Puzzle Quest franchise with the strategic gameplay and expansive lore of the groundbreaking Magic: The Gathering trading card game.

Magic: The Gathering - Puzzle Quest will be available to download for free on the App Store, Google Play and the Amazon Appstore this fall. Fans will have a chance to be among the first to play Magic: The Gathering - Puzzle Quest in the Annex at PAX Prime 2015 in Seattle on August 28-31.

Players will engage in pitched conflicts with rival Planeswalkers and monsters through intense match-3 puzzle battles, earning levels and amassing a collection of powerful creatures, spells and artifacts along the way.

Here is some eye candy in the way of screen shots -

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MTG Tumblr Tuesday

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Happy Tuesday MTG peeps,

We have another post today to catch up with all kewl stuff going on at our sister site on Tumblr, but first, a quick run-down on Magic: the Gathering thingys going down at PAX Prime in Seattle the following weekend on August 28th to 31st.

If you get weak in the knees for Battle for Zendikar spoilers and previews, we have some updates on this year's PAX Prime activities from the mothersite, which is all taking place under one roof this year (the Annex)-

BATTLE FOR ZENDIKAR WORLDBUILDING PANEL
Monday, August 31, 1:30–2:30 p.m.

Join us at the Hydra Theater and on Twitch as we chat with the Magic creative team about the world and the secrets of Battle for Zendikar! The panel will take place in the PAX Twitch panel room, and will also be streamed into the panel room in our space. Panelists include Jeremy Jarvis (Senior Creative Art Director), Mark Winters (Art Director), Kimberly Kreines (Creative Designer), Kelly Digges (Creative Designer), and the panel will be moderated by Brian Trunk (Brand Manager).


BATTLE FOR ZENDIKAR
Saturday, August 29, 4–7 p.m.

Before the preview show, you can join the battle and help save Zendikar from the Eldrazi! All afternoon, an army of celebrity Spellslingers—including Wil Wheaton, Felicia Day, the crew from LoadingReadyRun, and more—will be battling on the side of the Eldrazi. Challenge them to a duel in the name of the Zendikari and receive sweet prizes! Plus, our Spellslingers will be revealing preview cards throughout the day.


BATTLE FOR ZENDIKAR PARTY
Saturday, August 29, 8:30–11:30 p.m.


After the preview show, the Battle for Zendikar celebration kicks into high gear! The party is open to all attendees with a PAX badge, and it will feature a DJ, dancing, and food. Come mingle with the people who make Magic—members of Magic R&D and other Magic celebrities will be there, possibly showing off their dance moves!

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Now, onto the MTG Realm on Tumblr re-posts -

Kewl DD:ZvsE news

Photoset August 17, 2015 153 notes

Magic: the Gathering - Budget Standard B/G Elves
Sooo … last Friday Night Magic event over at my local store I saw a healthy variety of different standard format decklists / archetypes, but I will say that without a doubt, the most popular build was Black / Green Elves.

Why ?  Because this list is just too damn fun not to play right now, and it is pretty dang aggressive to boot as well.  If you want to jump on the bandwagon and not break your wallet while climbing on board, I suggest that you pop on over to MTG GoldFish and check out this Budget Deck Tech video / article and some matches to see just what a can of whoop-arse this list can be.


Link to MTG GoldFish Article.
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Photoset August 17, 2015 215 notes

Magic: the Gathering - Battle for Zendikar Mechanics
The Battle for Zendikar mechanics / themes we know so far to date, after today’s Duel Decks: Zendikar vs. Eldrazi preview.

Awaken
Awaken is an ability that lets you pay a different cost to animate a land, turning it into a 0/0 and adding +1/+1 counters.

Devoid
A card with this ability has no colour identity, regardless of any mana symbol(s) in its casting cost.

Ingest
Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, that player exiles the top card of his or her library.

Landfall
Landfall is an ability word introduced in Zendikar which signals triggered abilities that respond to a Land entering the Battlefield under the control of the player with the Landfall card.

Ally
Ally is a creature class introduced in Zendikar. Allies are people or creatures that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose. When an ally comes into play it triggers its own ability and the ability of other allies already in play.


Battle for Zendikar arts from SDCC.

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Photoset August 14, 2015 797 notes

Magic: the Gathering - Zendikar vs. Eldrazi Playmat
New Magic: The Gathering Duel Mat for the Zendikar vs Eldrazi release!


Product number 86301, MSRP $31.99. Pre-order at your local hobby shop - find one near you with our store locator: www.findultrapro.com

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