MTG Creature Spotlight - Azra

~
Happy Thursday MTG peeps,

It is not every day (set) in which Magic: the Gathering players are presented with a new creature type by Wizards of the Coast.  With the release of the newest stand-alone set, Battlebond, there are now just under 240 creatures in total, which includes Changelings and Mistform Ultimus, which are every creature type.  So what new creature has been created with the introduction of the new Multiverse Plane of Existence called Kylem ?

Let us meet the 'Azra'.  If you are familiar with the other popular Wizards of the Coast brand, Dungeons & Dragons, then you might be familiar with a creature race known as the Tiefling.  These humanoid creatures resulting from a human and demon bloodline.  

There is an excellent video on the Forgotten Realms Wiki linked right here.

Azra Oddsmaker | Art by: Josh Hass

Unlike the Tiefling, the Azra have no tails.  The Azra are native on Kylem and do have a distant demonic ancestry.  In Magic: the Gathering, the Azra are found in the mana colours of Black and Red.  Theses creatures have one or more sets of differing shaped horns on their heads and unlike humans, their skin may be blue, purple or other darker colours.   The males of the species may also have horn like appendages on their chins.

According to yesterday's article, 'The World of Battlebond' on the Magic: the Gathering site, Magic Creative Team game designer Alison Luhrs has the following to say about the Azra ::

Wealth, taste, and trickery are the azra's primary interests. They flock to Valor's Reach for the competition on the field and off—lightening the purses of other attendees is just as exciting as watching a match. The azra love anything gold and shiny and aren't afraid to show off their wealth. Thus, most azra become merchants, though others seeking quick coin might turn to a life of crime as rogues, assassins, or mercenaries.

Blaring Captain | Art by: Grzegorz Rutkowski

Battlebond is the first-ever Two-Headed Giant-focused Magic booster set. It will be released on June 8, 2018. Battlebond is the Innovation Product for 2018, and is designed to be drafted.

~

WotC Announcement Day

~
Happy Friday MTG peeps,

It is the 'May 2-4' Holiday, also known at the Victoria Day long weekend here in Canada-Land.  Most Canadians will be celebrating Queen Victoria's birthday by spending most of the long weekend in traffic heading north from Toronto through my beautiful and fair hamlet of Barrie, on their way to cottage country in the North.  Upon arriving finally, they will then realise they did not bring enough beverages and insect repellent.

The MTG Realm group, as well as most Magic: the Gathering players have been waiting with bated breath in the much anticipated and speculated contents of today's 'Announcement Day' over at Wizards of the Coast.  This went live earlier today over at this link and featured a great video with following crew :: 

Left to Right :
Dawn Murin (Sr. Art Director), Dough Beyer (Sr. Creative Designer), 

Gavin Very (Sr. Game Designer), 

Magic the Amateuring gals Maria Bartholdi, and Meghan Wolff.

Here is the 'quick 'n' dirty' summary of the rather exciting news for Magic: the Gathering gamers -

Guilds of Ravnica releases October 5, 2018

On Ravnica, whoever you are a soldier or scientist, merchant or spy, your guild is the core of your identity. It provides structure and greater purpose. Now, the time has come to defend it.  This set will prominently feature the harmonious Selesnya (green-white), the militant Boros (red-white), the life-and-death-focused Golgari (black-green), the frazzled geniuses of the Izzet (blue-red), and the mystery of the Dimir (blue-black).


Ravnica Allegiance  - releases January 2019

Darkness is coming to Ravnica. A conflict that could tear apart the world itself looms large, and the fragile peace between the guilds is strained to its breaking point. Now, with everything on the line, it's time to step up, prove your loyalty, and fight for your guild.  This set will feature the orderly Azorius (white-blue), the chaotic Rakdos (black-red), the wild Gruul (red-green), the experimental Simic (green-blue), and the devious Orzhov (white-black)


Guild Kits - releases November 2018 / February 2019

Guild Kits will feature a 60-card deck flavored after your favorite guild, plus guild schwag like pins, stickers, and Spindown life counters. Play as any one of the Guilds of Ravnica guilds with the Guilds of Ravnica Guild Kits releasing on November 2, 2018. Ravnica Allegiance Guild Kits release February 2019.

There was also a rather nice preview of a pair of cards from the upcoming Battlebond set !

Say 'wassup' to Pir, Imaginative Rascal and that card's partner, 'Toothy, Imaginary Friend'.

~

Battlebond Spoilers

~
Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

Before we get into the shizzle of today's post, we encourage you to drop on over to the mothersite and take in the continuing story of Return to Dominaria.  In Episode 9 of today's story, Chandra, Jaya, and Karn's situation becomes critical as Chandra presses Jaya for the guidance she now knows she always needed.  Spoiler alert ! - We are introduced to Multani, the Maro-Sorcerer / Elemental of the sentient Yavimaya forest of Dominaria.  Think Groot, but with more kick-arsery.

Anywhoos, we did want to yatter to you today about BATTLEBOND !

This is standalone booster release optimized for Two-headed Giant draft and Sealed play, with preview events scheduled for June 2–3 and the Launch Party taking place June 8–10, 2018.  This new set introduces a new setting ( the Plane of Kylem ! ) and new mechanics suited for multiplayer gaming, as well as some new cards legal in Eternal formats.  There are suggested rules to allow you to get the most enjoyment from this special set whether you are inclined to draft or prefer sealed.  Each Battlebond booster pack will have 15 randomly-assorted cards and contain 1 rare/mythic rare, 3 uncommons, 10 commons, and 1 basic land.

Speaking of lands, that is the focus of today's post.  New Battlebond dual lands enter the battlefield tapped unless you have two or more opponents ::
• Sea of Clouds
• Morphic Pool
• Luxury Suite
• Spire Garden
• Bountiful Promenade

The product looks great so far and we are very intrigued by the booster pack artworks, each showing a pair of characters, which is thematically appropriate given the design for team play.  

Of interest to us is the introduction of a new Multiverse Plane of existence - that of Kylem and the Arena of Valor's Reach, which we totally dig, and not just because we are nuts about the Sakaaran Arena (on Sakaar) in the movie Thor Ragnarok.  We are drifting away from MTG, so here is the blurb on Kylem -


On the Plane of Kylem, beings flock from all over the plane to the arena of Valor's Reach, where two-on-two combat is the pinnacle of sport. The goal of the combatants isn't to kill their opponents outright, but to defeat them with style and flair, using spells and spectacles that make the crowd go wild.

~

Mini-Announcement Day

~
Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

There was a slew of very interesting announcement today by WotC Blake over at the mothersite.  Titled 'Valentine's Day Mini-Announcement Day' (linked right here), this post is jam-packed with a lot of things to yatter about.

Before we get to that - Viz Media just posted the very next book in the popular story and illustration series - 
 
The Art of Magic: The Gathering - Dominaria

This book follows up on previous offerings timed with set releases for Zendikar, Amonkhet, Innistrad, Ixalan and Kaladest. Dominaria is home to the volcanic continent of Shiv, the time-shattered isle of Tolaria, and the cold mountains of Keld, Dominaria is setting to some of the Multiverse’s most brutal conflicts, and most powerful mages.  We have already seen some very impressive arts for this upcoming set and can't wait to page through this.

Righto - back to announcements - 

Looking very much forward to getting the MTG Companion mobile app.  Info linked here. Life total counter, card look-up, rules look-up and more sounds great.

Not really a 2-Headed Giant player - BUT - a one-off set called Battlebond is visiting a NEW PLANE called Kylem, where fans flock to the Arena of Valor's Reach to watch two-on-two combat.  We will want to game with this and pick up singles when released in June, 2018.

For other news like the Signature Spellbook: Jace, pop on over to Wizards.
~