BNG Previews 1-23

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Happy Thursday MTG peeps,

We now have 109 of 165 new Born of the Gods cards now revealed, thanks in large part to the associated Magic: the Gathering Release Notes.  Be sure to check out the mothersite for hard confirmation of the following as well as their card gallery which should be up by Monday.  We also expect the MTG card database 'Gatherer' to be updated Tuesday or Wednesday next week just in time for PreRelease events.  You may also want to check your local gaming store for prerelease and launch events, and if you happen to be new to your town, pop over to Wizards Store & Event Locator.

Anywhoos - on to a number of new cards previewed today on the mothersite or revealed in the release notes -
~Eidolon of Countless Battles, 1ww
Enchantment Creature — Spirit, Rare
Bestow 2{W}{W}
Eidolon of Countless Battles and enchanted creature get +1/+1 for each creature you control and +1/+1 for each Aura you control.
0/0

Could be just Ok by itself but certainly much better if its an aura on another critter.  A permanent with bestow is either a creature or an Aura, not both (although it's an enchantment either way). It will contribute just +1/+1 toward the bonus given by Eidolon of Countless Battles.
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Perplexing Chimera, 4u
Enchantment Creature — Chimera, Rare
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, you may exchange control of Perplexing Chimera and that spell. If you do, you may choose new targets for the spell. (If the spell becomes a permanent, you control that permanent.)
3/3

This seems very cool at first but don't forget the downside of it - there is a chance that your opponent will pull the same shenanigan with the Chimera as you just did.
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Fated Return, 4bbb
Instant, Rare
Put target creature card from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control. It gains indestructible. If it's your turn, scry 2.

Awesome for Commander, not so much elsewhere as that's a steep cmc.  Instant speed reanimation is decent and could lead to some interesting and fun games.
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Gild, 3b
Sorcery, Rare
Exile target creature. Put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."

Sweet mother of Vorthos.  Nice card - sure black has solid removal with the likes of Hero's Downfall, but we think this will see fringe play in standard especially should lists featuring indestructible creatures increase in popularity.
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Satyr Firedancer, 1r
Enchantment Creature — Satyr, Rare
Whenever an instant or sorcery spell you control deals damage to an opponent, Satyr Firedancer deals that much damage to target creature that player controls.
1/1

This seems like a potentially strong card.  With cards such as Young Pyromancer and Searing Blood can certainly fill out a constructed list nicely.  Whether you go Boros or Izzet, we're certain fun times ahead.
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Whims of the Fates, 5r
Sorcery, Rare
Starting with you, each player separates all permanents he or she controls into three piles. Then each player chooses one of his or her piles at random and sacrifices those permanents. (Piles can be empty.)

This card is all about multiplayer fun.  Beyond that, players will cry if they open this up in sealed.
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Courser of Kruphix, 1gg
Enchantment Creature — Centaur, Rare
Play with the top card of your library revealed.
You may play the top card of your library if it's a land card.
Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you gain 1 life.
2/4

We've seen something very similar with Oracle of Mul Daya (Zendikar).  This could see play in standard lists with Domri, green devotion, or even a blue / green Prophet list.
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Scourge of Skola Vale, 2g
Creature — Hydra, Rare
Trample
Scourge of Skola Vale enters the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters on it.
{T}, Sacrifice another creature: Put a number of +1/+1 counters on Scourge of Skola Vale equal to the sacrificed creature's toughness.
0/0

This provides a nice sac outlet if you are looking for one.  We need to re-evaluate this again soon after all the cards are out in the open.
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Astral Cornucopia, xxx
Artifact, Rare
Astral Cornucopia enters the battlefield with X charge counters on it.
{T}: Choose a color. Add one mana of that color to your mana pool for each charge counter on Astral Cornucopia.

Since Chromatic Lantern is in standard, this likely will not show up at an FNM anytime soon.  There may be a few niche Commander lists which may want this (we're thinking proliferation tech here).
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