Dragons of Tarkir Spoiler 3-02

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

If you are a Magic: the Gathering player, then the interwebs just blew up for you today with the kick-off of official Dragons of Tarkir previews on the mothersite.  For the next three weeks, all 264 cards of this, the last set in the Khans of Tarkir block will be previewed, spoiled and talked about culminating in the Dragons of Tarkir PreRelease event on the weekend of 21st / 22nd March.

We've got a lot of ground to cover off today and are planning to get off another post latter on, but for now, let's bask in the glory of these five new cards previewed today.  Make sure you pop back latter when we will yatter about the new and returning mechanics for Dragons of Tarkir - namely :
• Megamorph
• Formidable
• Exploit
• Bolster
• Rebound

• Dash
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Stratus Dancer, 1U
Creature - Djinn Monk, Rare
Flying
Megamorph 1U (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for 3. Turn it face up any time for its megamorph cost and put a +1/+1 counter on it.)
When Stratus Dancer is turned face up, counter target instant or sorcery spell.
2/1

The new tech 'megamorph' kinda sounds gimmicky and we think WotC may have just added this +1/+1 effect into the existing morph mechanic.  Love the card.
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Dragonlord Silumgar, 4UB
Legendary Creature - Elder Dragon, Mythic Rare
Flying, deathtouch
When Dragonlord Silumgar enters the battlefield, gain control of target creature or planeswalker for as long as you control Dragonlord Silumgar.
3/5

Here's the first of the cycle.  All the legendary dragons from Fate Reforged are back as Dragonlords / Elder Dragons.  Commander fans make some noise.  We love us some dragons but don't expect this cycle to make any ripples in standard.
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 Sidisi, Undead Vizier, 3BB
Legendary Creature - Zombie Naga, Rare
Deathtouch
Exploit (When this creature enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a creature.)
When Sidisi, Undead Vizier exploits a creature, you may seach your library for a card, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
4/6

Sidisi is back too and featuring the new 'Exploit' tech.  Nice design which may boost opportunities for gamers wanting to further develop blue-black control builds.  Having a card like this means you can have singletons of critters and more room in your build for spot removal or counterspells.
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Dragon Tempest, 1R
Enchantment, Rare
Whenever a creature with flying enters the battlefield under your control, it gains haste until end of turn.
Whenever a Dragon enters the battlefield under your control, it deals X damage to target creature or player, where X is the number of Dragons you control.

Dang - this looks pretty good.  We're always perked up when we seen a low-costing enchantment like this with two potentially powerful effects.  
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Profound Journey, 5WW
Sorcery, Rare
Return target permanent card from your graveyard to the battlefield.

Rebound (If you cast this spell from your hand, exile it as it resolves. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.)

We LOVE rebound and are very excited for its return.  We are not very excited about this card however.
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SoM Fat Pack

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Happy Friday MTG peeps,

Today just so happens to be October 1st which means the latest Magic the Gathering set, Scars of Mirrodin is hitting store shelves now. Based on the Pre-Release event we attended last weekend, we think that this set (and most likely this block) will rock your game.


As is our custom here on MTG Realm, we headed over to the local gamery store (OMG Games in Barrie, Ontario, Canada) and picked up a Fat Pack. We now present you with the video of the unboxing / dissection of said Fat Pack . . .

And here are the rares we pulled :
Argentum Armor, Cerebral Eruption, Grand Architect, Hand of the Praetors, Kuldotha Foregmaster, Putrefax, Sword of Body and Mind, and Venser's Journal.


We've taking quite a liking to the alternate win condition with the return of poison (via the new key work 'infect') so we rather happy with the Hand of the Praetors and Putrefax.

As for the Uncommons -
Abuna Acolyte, Carrion Call, Clone Shell, Contagion Clasp, Corrupted Harvester, Darksteel Myr (foil), Exsanguinate, Flesh Allergy, Golem's Heart (x2), Heavy Arbalest (x2), Ichor Rats, Liquimetal Coating, Necrogen Scudder (x2), Ogre Geargrabber (x2), Painsmith, Rust Tick, Slice in Twain, Trigon of Rage, Twisted Image, Vigil for the Lost, and Volition Reins.

Also - if you are new to the game, here is a quick run-down of what you get in a Fat Pack :

• Player's guide with complete visual encyclopedia
• Card box with panoramic art
• Eight Scars of Mirrodin 15-card booster packs
• 40-card basic land pack
• Special edition Scars of Mirrodin Spindown life counter, and
• A sample chapter of the new Planeswalker novel, Test of Metal.

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To wrap up today's post, we will repost the Top Ten sellers for September as reported by MTG Mint Card - Perhaps this may serve as an indication which direction your local meta-game is heading.

1. Memnite
2. Myr Reservoir
3. Hand of the Praetors
4. Ratchet Bomb
5. Myr Galvanizer
6. Mimic Vat
7. Palladium Myr
8. Putrefax
9. Memoricide
10. Molten-Tail Masticore

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Nerdcore

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Nerdcore . . . actually, Nerdcore Learning.

Nerdcore Learning is only place in the time-space continuum where medicine and geek culture intersect in one big red matter infused singularity. Nerdcore. Apply Directly to the Head.

For Dr. Arun Mathews and Dr. Francis Kong, teaching medical students is as much about sorcerers and science fiction as it is about textbooks and rounds. The two physicians are the founders of Nerdcore Learning, a gaming company geared toward creating study tools that combine two things they both enjoy: medical education and geek culture.


Nerdcore recently launched what it considers to be its signature product, "The Healing Blade." It is a role-playing card game that, like "Pokemon," "Yu-Gi-Oh" or "Magic: The Gathering," depicts sorcerers, creatures and heroines. But "The Healing Blade" teaches about infectious diseases. Nerdcore is developing an iPhone version of the game as well.

Similar ?
Ceftriaxone and Radha, Heir of Keld

Healing Blade, from Nerdcore Learning, is a Magic: The Gathering-like card game set in a fantasy world that teaches infectious diseases and therapeutics. Characters are divided into The Apothecary Healers, named after real-world antibiotics, and The Lords of Pestilence, named after actual bacterial agents. Players summon forth living manifestations of diseases, or counter-attack with antibiotics in the form of powerful warriors.

We guess that folks from all walks of life / career paths might enjoy collectible card / trading card gaming. Anywhoos - Apothecary Healer or a Lord of Pestilence? Choose your side Boils and Ghouls. Buy this game for your med-school buddies.

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Also of note :
I just realised that MTG Mint Card has a very kewl tool for magic the gathering players - something called 'Deck Central'. This is certainly a great place to start if you are looking for some great casual deck ideas.

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Local Game Shop

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The Local Game Shop

There is something wonderful that stirs deep down inside every time I walk into a game shop. This feeling is something akin to finding your favourite Häagen-Dazs ice cream bar. If you are lactose intolerant, substitute Häagen-Dazs for another suitable confectionery to get my drift.

Anywhoo - when I first started playing Magic The Gathering just over a year ago, I came across a gamery store close to where I live called 'Gamer's Lair'. When I walked in, I got that wonderful feeling described above. Perhaps it was all the cool and curious items filling the shelves or perhaps it was the promise of unplugging and just playing - something which, as an adult, I had not really done for about three decades (yes, I know I'm old).


As I walked through the store, I could hear the lively action of players engaging in their particular games around the corned and knew that stores like these were a focus point for those in the community who knew the value of leisure time and sociable persuits. Soon enough, I had met Doug, the owner. Doug's physical appearence suggested similarities to Gimli, son of Glóin of LoTR fame, but his character was more along a Uncle Fester meets Santa Claus line.

Doug is really quite a decent fellow and always seems genuinely very happy to meet customers who wander into the shop - especially younger players which I suspect Doug's attributes as a grandfather somewhat shines through. Anyway, this is weird as it is sounding rather like a o-bit eulogy which this certainly is not. Altough Doug's main business is not Magic The Gathering, he covers just about everything else under the sun and please forgive me for giving a good guy a plug here on MTG Realm . . .

Gamer's Lair : Unit 2 - 490 Mapleview Drive West
Barrie, Ontario, Canada L4N 6C3, Phone: (705) 728-8100

Hours of Operation
Monday -Thursday - 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Friday - 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Gaming Schedule -

Times may be subject to change, visit Gamer's Lair online or call them at 705.728.8100

Collectible Card Games

Yu-Gi-Oh - Friday evenings 6:30 p.m - 8:30 p.m. $8/entry
Pokemon - Saturdays 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. $7/entry
Eve - Saturday afternoons 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. intro play
A Game of Thrones - Only reg’d Sunday tournaments. $8/entry
Chaotic - Wednesday evenings 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. $8/entry

War Gaming

40K (intro) - Saturdays, 3:00 - 7:00 PM
40K - Wednesday evenings, 6:00 - 9:30 PM
Necromunda - Wednesday evenings 6:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m.
Blood Bowl League - Wednesday evenings 6:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m.
Hero Clix - Thursday evenings 6:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m.
Flames of War - Tuesday evenings 6:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m.
Mech Warrior - Thursday evenings 6:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m.
Battle Tech - Wednesday evenings 6:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m.
Warhammer - Monday evenings 6:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m.