Innistrad's Liliana

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

If you were directed here to MTG Realm and did NOT want to be treated to Magic the Gathering spoilers and previews, then someone has made a horrible mistake. If you did want to gorge yourself on all the newest Innistrad awesomeness, then please come on in. We decideed to name oday's post Innistrad's Liliana rather the nomenclaturly correct but rather unimaginative 'Innistrad Spoiler 'N', where N equals the number of Innistrad posts since official preview week began.

Listen to us yatter - wow. Anywhoos - here's the juice - check out today's Innistrad previews.

Liliana of the Veil, 1
Planeswalker - Liliana, Mythic Rare

+1: Each player discards a card.

-2: Target player sacrifices a creature.

-6: Separate all permanents target player controls into two piles. That player sacrifices all permanents in the pile of his or her choice.
Illus. Steve Argyle #105/264
3

Wow - Liliana is cheap! The converted mana cost on this at three instantly makes this playable but before we go all ga-ga, let's look at her abilities. A positive discard is decent, a negative 2 for a critter sac seems a titch too much, and the weird pile sac for negative 6 makes us want to hook up with another PW like Elspeth.
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Kruin Outlaw, 1
Creature - Human Rogue Werewolf, Rare
First strike
At the beginning of each upkeep, if no spells were cast last turn, transform Kruin Outlaw.
2/2
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Terror of Kruin Pass
Creature - Werewolf, Rare
Double strike
Each Werewolf you control can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.
At the beginning of each upkeep, if a player cast two or more spells last turn, transform Terror of Kruin Pass.
"Hold tight. I've got a surprise for them."
Illus. David Rapoza
3/3

This double-faced card looks great. It will get a bonus while in human form from the likes of Dearly Departed and will benefit the most with Mayor of Avabruck / Howlpack Alpha. There is a truck load of Innistrad cards yet to be spoiled / preview but we think this already is going to be good.
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Fiend Hunter, 1
Creature - Human Cleric, Uncommon
When Fiend Hunter enters the battlefield, you may exile another target creature.
When Fiend Hunter leaves the battlefield, return the exiled card to the battlefield under its owner's control.
Illus. Wayne Reynolds #15/264
1/3

Never underestimate the potential shennanigans a creature with a 'enters the battlefield' effect on it (think Leonin Relic-Warder or Venser, the Sojouner). Cards somewhat similar to this like Tidehowllow Sculler saw popular play and we think this may too. What would have made this card better if it were Tidehollow Sculler. Gawd we miss that card.
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Pisteur invisible, 1
Créature - humain et gredin
Défense talismanique
Le Pisteur invisible est imblocable.
1/1

rougly translated :

Invisible Stalker, 1
Creature - Human Rogue, Uncommon
Hexproof
Invisible Stalker is unblockable.
"What bothers me is the vampire's sense of smell and those icy Nephalian nights."
Illus. Bud Cook #60/264
1/1

We kinda choked on a swig of Dr. Pepper when we read the last little bit on the flavour text line. We are really loving it when Wizards drops the funny into the flavour mix. Anywhoos, I so badly want to but a big-arse aura on this like that pseudo-Baneslayer Angelic Destiny and then go to town.

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That's it for now, ensure you keep checking back often for updates on our Innistrad Spoiler List.

And now a word about jumping on this upcoming set - we're suggesting getting in your pre-orders ahead of the official release on September 30th next month. Check out the excellent prices at MTG Mint Card here.
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Innistrad Announcement

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

It appears that we now have the name of Magic the Gathering's September 2011 large set, code-named 'Shake' - "Innistrad". In today's Magic Arcana - (which by the way happens to be Arcana post #666) Magic players were informed by WoTC minion Monty Ashley of the gory details.

Let's check it out . . .

Set Name : Innistrad
Block - Set 1 of 3 in the Innistrad block Number of Cards : 264

Release Date : September 30, 2011
Prerelease Events : September 24-25, 2011
Launch Parties : September 30-October 3, 2011
Magic Online Release Date : October 17, 2011
Game Day : October 29-30, 2011

Design Team : Mark Rosewater (lead), Richard Garfield, Jenna Helland, Graeme Hopkins, Tom LaPille

Development Team : Erik Lauer (lead), Mark L. Gottlieb, David Humpherys, Tom LaPille, Adam Lee, Kenneth Nagle

And here is the artwork which accompanied today's announcement . . .


The tag line is also interesting -

'Horror Lurks Within'

Most Player's anxious to get their paws on cards in a future often enjoy a bit of speculation and dream of epic games with said new cards. Here's a rundown of some of our speculation and we definitely invite you guys to pipe in with the comment thingy below . . .

First off - from the figure chillaxing in the throne above, it may be safe to say that we may expect a Liliana Vess variant Planeswalker.

Second - The unfortante recently deceased on the floor holds a close appearance to that vampire of legend, Baron Sengir or perhaps a close relative (?).














There is a very notable 'gothic' feeling (think Van Helsing) about the image - perhaps the full moon in the background is a hint that werewolves are also afoot (or 'apaw' in this case).
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Some other news - one of our regular readers here at MTG Realm had sent us an eMail about two free magic chrome extensions that he had developed for Magic the Gathering players -

MTG Finder - and - MTG Wishlist : we've not had an opportunity to give it a try but you may want to.
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Finally -

this may come as no surprise to you, but the folks at MTG Mint Card informs me that the best selling Uncommon from Mirrodin Besieged happens to be 'Go For the Throat' . . . go figure.
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Garruk vs. Liliana Decklists

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Our friends over at Gathering Magic were kind enough to give us a heads up on the Garruk vs. Liliana Decklist spoiler on the weekend (before the official release) but unfortunately, we had our scout troop out all weekend for Apple Day and could not get off a post. We will make amends and have this for now.

The Official Announcement on Wizards of the Coast HERE.
Duel Decks: Garruk vs. Liliana is the fourth set in the Duel Decks series. It will be released on October 30, 2009 and will contain two preconstructed theme decks. The MSRP is $19.99. Similar to its predecessors it includes six cards with new artwork, two of them foil mythic rares (Garruk Wildspeaker and Liliana Vess).

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Here are 3 of the 4 new arts we can expect to see in the Duel Decks . . .

Blastoderm, 2

Harmonize, 2

Snuff Out, 3



With a quick review of the decklists, it appears that Garruk's deck will most likely overpower Liliana's deck each and every time. Garruk has some solid cards and many old favourites. Liliana does have some good cards but it just not appear that there is comparable synergy to the green deck.

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GARRUK’S DECK:

Creatures - 18
2 x Albino Troll, 1
2 x Basking Rootwalla,
2 x Blastoderm, 2
2 x Indrik Stomphowler, 4
1 x Krosan Tusker, 5
1 x Plated Slagwurm, 4
1 x Ravenous Baloth, 2
1 x Stampeding Wildebeests, 2
2 x Vine Trellis, 1
2 x Wild Mongrel, 1
2 x Wirewood Savage, 2

Other Spells - 17
1 x Beast Attack, 2
1 x Elephant Guide, 2
1 x Garruk Wildspeaker, 2
1 x Genju of the Cedars,
1 x Giant Growth,
2 x Harmonize, 2
1 x Invigorate, 2
1 x Lignify, 1
2 x Nature's Lore, 1
1 x Overrun, 2
2 x Rancor,
1 x Rude Awakening, 4
2 x Serrated Arrows, 4
1 x Windstorm, X

Lands - 24
2 x Slippery Karst
1 x Treetop Village
21 x Forest

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LILIANA’S DECK:

Creatures - 19
1 x Deathgreeter,
1 x Drudge Skeletons, 1
1 x Faerie Macabre, 1
2 x Fleshbag Marauder, 2
2 x Ghost-Lit Stalker,
1 x Howling Banshee, 2
1 x Keening Banshee, 2
2 x Phyrexian Rager, 2
1 x Ravenous Rats, 1
1 x Skeletal Vampire, 4
2 x Twisted Abomination, 5
1 x Urborg Syphon-Mage, 2
2 x Vampire Bats,
1 x Wall of Bone, 2

Other Spells - 15
1 x Bad Moon, 1
2 x Corrupt, 5
1 x Enslave, 4
1 x Genju of the Fens,
1 x Ichor Slick, 2
1 x Liliana Vess, 3
1 x Mutilate, 2
1 x Rise from the Grave, 4
2 x Sign in Blood,
1 x Snuff Out, 3
2 x Tendrils of Corruption, 3
1 x Vicious Hunger,

Lands - 25
2 x Polluted Mire
23 Swamp

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