Ajani - Mentor of Heroes

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

As usual during 'spoiler season', we were up again last evening in anticipation of new Journey into Nyx spoilers and previews posted to the mothersite and other lucky websites with an exclusive preview.  We were expected one new Journey into Nyx god to be previewed each day this week but imagine how absolutely floored we were when we the new Ajani Planeswalker previewed in Kelly Digges 'Uncharted Realms' article . . . DANG!  This leonin is the cat's meow.  Anywhoos, let's get to all the new JOU spoilers now - 

Ajani, Mentor of Heroes, 3GW
Planeswalker - Ajani, Mythic Rare
+1: Distribute three +1/+1 counters among one, two, or three target creatures you control
+1: Look at the top four cards of your library. You may reveal an Aura, creature, or planeswalker card from among them and put that card into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
-8: You gain 100 life.
|4|

A Planeswalker with two '+' abilities is never a thing to ignore.  At a cmc of 5 mana (3 colorless, a green and a white), this seems one mana too much but perhaps we're being a bit too greedy here.  The metagame has slowed down a titch and green does have access to accelerators so this may indeed come down on turn four with some measure of regularity.  First plus one gives a counter party, the second one allows you to dig the top 4 of your library for an aura, PW or critter which is most definitely a good thing especially at this turn in your game.  The -8 netting you 100 life is simply hilarious and we don't doubt this ultimate will happen occassionally during your FNM event.  Our new goal is to pick up at least two of these from MTG Mint Card and have it's ultimate go off at OMG! Games, our local store.
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Sage of Hours, 1u
Creature - Human Wizard, Mythic Rare
Heroic - Whenever you cast a spell that targets Sage of Hours, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
Remove all +1/+1 counters from Sage of Hours: For each five counters removed this way, take an extra turn after this one.
1/1

Wow - it seems like a lot of work to get all those counters on but the final pay out is epic and will win games.  We suggest by-passing the targeting spells and simply get hard counters on the Sage with the likes of Common Bond (bad example) to get to the finish line here.
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Eidolon of the Great Revel, RR
Enchantment Creature - Spirit, Rare
Whenever a player casts a spell with converted mana cost 3 or less, Eidolon of the Great Revel deals 2 damage to that player.
Xenagos reveled while Theros burned.
2/2 

There is good potential that this could stack a bit of damage up - just make certain it's not you. 
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Setessan Tactics, 1G
Instant, Rare
Strive - Setessan Tactics costs G more to cast for each target beyond the first.
Any number of target creatures each get +1/+1 and gain "T: Fight another target creature."

We approve and are thinking of a token rush strategy, ignoring the fight ability, but we think this card can do much better so we'll definitely think on it a bit more.
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Land Hoy !

 









Temple of Epiphany
Land, Rare
Temple of Epiphany enters the battlefield tapped.
When Temple of Epiphany enters the battlefield, scry 1.
T: Add U or R to your mana pool.
illus. Noah Bradley # 164/165

Temple of Malady
Land, Rare
Temple of Malady enters the battlefield tapped.
When Temple of Malady enters the battlefield, scry 1.
T: Add B or G to your mana pool.
illus. James Paick # 165/165 

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