Avacyn Restored

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Happy Thursday MTG peeps,

We now have, via WoTC Monty on the mothership, the formal announcment today of the third and final Magic the Gathering set in the Innistrad block. Let's get to just a bit of background first.


These were code-named in production "Shake, Rattle, Roll' and have (or had) the following official release dates -

Innistrad - 15 December 2011 Dark Ascension - February 3, 2012 Avacyn Restored - May 4, 2012

Onto the nitty-gritty - from the website -

Magic's May 2012 set, code-named "Roll," is called Avacyn Restored. Although it's the third set of the Innistrad block, it will be a large set. This means that Innistrad Block Constructed will be composed of all three sets, but Avacyn Restored will be drafted by itself. Sealed events will use six Avacyn Restored booster packs.

The tag-line here is 'Ignite the Dawn' with this amazing art from Michael Komarck (correction - Jason Chan), and here are the vital stats -

Set Name Avacyn Restored
Block Set 3 of 3 in the Innistrad block
Number of Cards 244
Prerelease Events April 28-29, 2012
Release Date May 4, 2012
Launch Weekend May 4-6, 2012
Game Day May 25-26, 2012
Official Three-Letter Code AVR
Twitter Hashtag #MTGAVR

Design Team : Brian Tinsman (lead), Mark L. Gottlieb, Dave Guskin, Kenneth Nagle, Bill Rose, Mark Rosewater

Development Team : David Humpherys (lead), Mark Globus, Dave Guskin, Erik Lauer, Billy Moreno, Matt Sernett
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Righto - time to dissect 'n' speculate -

The angel in the art is generally accepted to be that of Avacyn herself due mainly to the set name. She appears to be coming in for a landing in the Town of Gavony but what interests us is that of the reaction of the villagers - are they happy, surprised or terrified ?

Avacyn's appearence is not like the typical cheerleader angel - she looks touched by evil and we bet will be not mono-white but multi-colour - perhaps black and white. Perhaps her time in banishment with the demon Griselbrand (in the Helvault?), changed both of them - or merged them.

Also of note - this will be a large set!
Please drop your comments below - your speculations / hopes for the next two sets.
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M12 Spoilers 9

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Happy Thursday MTG peeps,

Here in Canada-Land we are not only heading into the Canada Day long weekend (Friday is the holiday), but we are also hosting the William and Kate, the royal couple who are arriving in Ottawa this afternoon. After they kick things off with a traditional Canadian kegger and barbeque, we hope they will swing by OMG! Games for some Commander games (but we won't be holding our breath on that). In other news, Magic the Gathering spoilers keep on coming from the mothership previews and there are some surprising magic 2012 core set cards which should make players happy - let's have a look now . . .
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Chandra, the Firebrand, 3
Planeswalker - Chandra, Mythic Rare
+1: Chandra, the Firebrand deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
-2: When you cast you next instant or sorcery spell this turn, copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy.
-6: Chandra, the Firebrand deals 6 damage to each of up to six target creatures and/or players.
3

As suspected for some time, we have a new Chandra which has kicked out the Lorywn standard for core. We rather like the new Chandra as one can now splash red in most decks to get this Planeswalker although her abilities are most suited to red (burn) instants. We are looking forward to possible shenanigans while proliferate is still in standard. Oh - and if you get the ultimate off, chances are your opponent will scoop.

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Sundial of the Infinite, 2
Artifact Rare
1 : End the turn. Activate this ability only during your turn.

Very interesting card is interesting. We are not sure how big of a splash this may make in standard but from Noel deCordova's article on the mothership today, there is a truck ton of potential beyond standard format. There may be some very cool plays with Sundial of the Infinite enabling combat tricks and shutting down any spells cast by your opponent during your endstep.

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Pentavus, 7
Artifact Creature - Construct, Rare
Pentavus enters the battlefield with five +1/+1 counters on it.
1, Remove a +1/+1 counter from Pentavus: Put a 1/1 colorless Pentavite artifact creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
1, Sacrifice a Pentavite: Put a +1/+1 counter on Pentavus.
0/0

This reprint from the original Mirrodin should make many players rather happy - especially the ones who are using tempered steel and proliferate tech to churn out cute little Pentavites and pumping them up. We are brewing up a storm of casual decks involving Throne of Geth, Grand Architect, Xneograft and the like.

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Oblivion Ring, 2
Enchantment, Uncommon
When Oblivion Ring enters the battlefield, exile another target nonland permanent.
When Oblivion Ring leaves the battlefield, return the exiled card to the battlefield under its owner's control.

We love that Wizards had used the Shards of Alara artwork here. This card needed to be back (as well as Pithing Needle) in standard when the format was being wrecked by caw-blade. The only thing that would make this card any better is having new artwork with big-daddy Jace getting pwn'd with the ring.

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Anywhoos - we want you to check out the cards and pump it or dump it in the comment thingy below. Don't forget to enter our Commander give-away contest we are almost ready to draw as the numbers are creeping up to the 3 Million visitor mark.

Lastly - a very kewl contest (coming to an end at the end today) run by our friends over at MTG Mint Card

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M12 Spoilers 8

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Happy Wednesday MTG peeps,

There is no sleep for Magic the Gathering news sites such like us here at MTG Realm who are attempting to keep our heads above the tide of spoilers and previews pumping out from Wizards of the Coast.

We start off today with what we were calling the Magic 2012 core set 'Royal Flush' artifacts - these were the slow roll previews on Wizards' FaceBook page. We started off with artwork showing a crown, a scepter and a thone. Today we have additional text - let's look . . .


Scepter of Empires, 3
: Scepter of Empires deals 1 damage to target player

Crown of Empires
3 : Tap target creature.

Taking a wild baseless stab in the dark that the last game card is 'Throne of Empires' which should not be confuzzled with the popular HBO series 'Game of Thrones'.

UPDATE (6/30/2011): Throne of Empires 1 : Put a 1/1 white Soldier creature token onto the battlefield.

Flavour text on the first two provide insightful inscpritions - nah - we're just kidd'n - we still have no idea what to extrapolate from what has been revealed so far.
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Next up - some recent rare spoilers . . .

Rune-Scarred Demon, 5
Creature - Demon, Rare
Flying
When Rune-Scarred Demon enters the battlefield, search your library for a card, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
The litany of the infernal on his flesh pulses to the beating of his dark heart.
6/6

Nicely done Wizards - not only is this a Demonic Tutor, but also a very solid beater. We can see this going into standard constructed decks as a finisher but we really think that this may deliver big fun in a Commander deck running Kaalia of the Vast.
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Solemn Simulacrum, 4
Artifact Creature - Golem, Rare
When Solemn Simulacrum enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a basic land card and put that card onto the battlefield tapped. If you do, shuffle your library.
When Solemn Simulacrum dies, you may draw a card.
2/2

Artifact Aggro players (among others) should like this. This essentially provides two additional cards, a land and a draw. A little zing into your casual Tempered Steel build. We personally love the e.o.t.b trigger - just hope your opponent doesn't have a Torpor Orb in their mix.
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Next up - as expected we will be getting reprints on the rare lands - Sunpetal Grove (/), Rootbound Crag (/), Dragonskull Summit (/), Drowned Catacomb (/), and Glacial Fortress (/).

Some players may say 'meh' but we love 'em for a core set.

Stay tuned here at MTG Realm for s'more M12 spoiler goodness as we roll through week 1 of the official WoTC previews - also make sure you check out our constantly update M12 spoiler list.
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M12 Royal Flush

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

If you are just joining us this afternoon, be sure to double back and check out our earlier post this morning where we covered off new Magic 2012 core set spoilers Worldslayer, Scrambleverse, Skinshifter, Primordial Hydra, and Vengeful Pharaoh.

New this afternoon -
Interesting M12 'slow-roll' spoilers / art previews by Wizards of the Coast on their FaceBook page (here) -

To get to the cheese, one must log-in, and find this page -


From here, click on 'like' if you dare. If so, you are then presented with these arts from John Avon . . .


From this, we can assume a slow-roll spoil of the cards which seem to have affinity for each other - a scepter, a crown, and a throne - a potential cycle which we will call the 'royal flush'.

Some Magic the Gathering fans are already speculating about a Kaldra type of interaction. These were legendary artifacts which were presented as a helm, shield and a sword - and when in play together produced some very nice effects.

Anywhoos - speculate away in the comment thingy below !
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M12 Spoilers 4

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Happy Saturday Night MTG peeps,

Unfortunately we could not make it out to the New Phyrexia Game Day today. If you did go, tell us how it went or tell us about an amazing game you saw or rocked out to. For those you did attend, you scored a Priest of Urabrask promo. If you made Top 8, you scored a Myr Superion promo (we'd love to get our paws on one of alt-art Myrs - perhaps we could swing a trade).













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Righto,
Back on track - the reason why you likely came here in the first place - Magic 2012 core set spoilers . . . well - we have FOUR to tell you about. First though, just a cautionary note about not trusting everything you see on the interwebs (and especially during a Magic the Gathering spoiler season) - wait until they are officially previewed on the mothership. We would not post unless we had a reasonably belief that they are ligit.

Let's go . . .

Obstinacy, 3
Sorcery, Rare
Choose target player. That player chooses one card in his or her hand and discards the rest.
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Swiftfoot Boots, 2
Artifact - Equipment Uncommon
Equipped creature has hexproof and haste.
Equip 1
(Reminder - 'hexproof' is the new 'Troll Shroud' ability and means a permanent can't be the target of spells or abilities its controller's opponents control, though it can be target of the controller's spells.)
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????, 3
Creature - Rhino Soldier, Common
Whenever "????" enters the battlefield, target player skips their next combat step.
1/4
(No image)
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Manalith, 3
Artifact, ?
Add one mana of any color to your mana pool


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Make sure you check back often as we continually update our Magic 2012 spoiler list - HERE.

Finally, if you like what you see, check out MTG Mint Card which now has assorted card lots from M12 ready for pre-order.

Happy and safe gaming - watch out for pesky suck-head vamps.
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New Phyrexia Buy-A-Box

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Today on Magic Arcana, Wizards revealed the 'buy a box promo' card for the upcoming Magic the Gathering New Phyrexia set. This promotions is provided to the first 20 people purchasing a Booster Box (one booster box contains 36 booster packs). The New Phyrexia box promo is a foil alternate-art Surgical Extraction.

We can now add this card to that slew of Japanese spoilers previously (post here) and others bringing up the count to 24/175. Let's have a look . . .

Surgical Extraction, Ф

Instant, Rare
(Ф can be paid with either {B} or 2 life.)

Choose target card in a graveyard other than a basic land card. Search its owner's graveyard, hand, and library for all cards with the same name as that card and exile them. Then that player shuffles his or her library.

In future posts, Ф Ф Ф Ф Ф may sometimes be shown as {pw}, {pu}, {pb}, {pr}, or {pg}posts.
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WoTC Monty also provided some excerpts on phyrexian mana from the yet to be released New Phyrexia FAQ document.

New Mechanic: Phyrexian Mana Symbols

Under Phyrexian rule, the very nature of magic is changing. In some cases, blood works just as well as mana. Phyrexian mana allows players to cast spells and activate abilities with fewer mana and to ignore colored mana requirements.

Visually, each Phyrexian mana symbol looks like the Phyrexian insignia (a circle with a slash through it) on one of five colored backgrounds, each corresponding to one of the five colors of mana. Each Phyrexian mana symbol represents a cost that can be paid in two ways: by spending one mana of the color that matches the colored background or by paying 2 life. For example, {G/P} can be paid with either {G} or 2 life. It's a green mana symbol.

• Phyrexian mana symbols appear only in costs, such as the mana cost in the upper right corner of a card or the cost to activate an activated ability.
• A card with Phyrexian mana symbols in its mana cost is each color that appears in that mana cost, regardless of how that cost may have been paid. For example, the Surgical Extraction above is black, even if a player paid 2 life to cast it.
• To calculate the converted mana cost of a card with Phyrexian mana symbols in its cost, count each Phyrexian mana symbol as 1.
• As you cast a spell or activate an activated ability with one or more Phyrexian mana symbols in its cost, you choose how to pay for each Phyrexian mana symbol at the same time you would choose modes or choose a value for X.
• If you're at 1 life or less, you can't pay 2 life.
• Phyrexian mana is not a new color. Players can't add Phyrexian mana to their mana pools.

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Lastly, some news from our friends at MTG Mint Card - New Phyrexia assorted card lots are now available for pre-order. We have for some time been ordering the card lots as it is an fast, efficient and inexpensive way to get your collection together and start playing with all the new awesomeness.

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Friday Miscellanea

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Happy Friday MTG peeps,

Congratulations to you surviving the week. Your reward - the weekend. To kick things off right, we suggest you head on out and take in a Friday Night Magic event at a gamery store near you. Good luck, win that epic game, sling those bombtastic cards and have fun.

Today, being Friday is our chance here at MTG Realm to round up loose pieces of Magic the Gathering news, spoilers and previews - yep, another pot pourri post. Let's go . .


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We suggest you frequently check out the Mirrodin Site for updates as chances are there is a New Phyrexia preview lurking in the wasteland or catch up on the flavour / storyline side by reviewing a field note. Today - check out this new desktop wallpaper.

Unwinding Clock Wallpaper

iPhone
1024x768
1280x1024
1600x1200

"To survive the Phyrexian plague, the Mirran resistance needs every advantage it can get. It makes no difference whether it comes from planeswalkers, angels, or even strange artifacts found in piles of scrap. We don't ask for reasons behind the blessings we receive; we accept them gracefully, and use them as best we can." - Elspeth

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Next up, Trick from ManaNation posted the newest offering of Ultra Pro card sleeves and deckboxes.
















9 pocket card portfolio to house your trade bait featuring Sheoldred, the Whispering One on the front and Puresteel Paladin on the back.






Ultra Pro deck sideload deckbox (left) and sleeves featuring New Phyrexia baddy Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite.

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Next up, WoTC minion Doug Beyer had previewed some unseen New Phyrexia arts on his Savour the Flavour article title, 'A Planeswalker's Guide to New Phyrexia, Part 1', which means we can expect s'more next week perhaps.









Illustrations by Brad Rigney (left) and James Paick (right). We're thinking a sorcery and a wall here.









Illustrations by Min Yum (left) and Raymond Swanland (right). Appears that the Leonin on the left has a touch of phyrexian plague he should see his physician about and the white phyrexian cenobite on the right just has no manner of luck whatsoever in securing a manicurist.

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Also,

Just and note about the recent Commander (EDH) product packaging previewed here earlier on Wednesday. Only after we had a chance to review the post again did we notice that each of the five Commander decks featured the cycle of Legendary Dragons from the old Planar Chaos set.

Each of these rare legendary Dragons has a mana cost of '3CDE' (where D and E are the enemy colors of C), flying, a triggered ability with a cost of 2C that triggers on dealing combat damage to a player, and power/toughness of 6/6 — Oros, the Avenger; Intet, the Dreamer; Teneb, the Harvester; Numot, the Devastator; and Vorosh, the Hunter.
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Lastly, some news from our friends at MTG Mint Card - New Phyrexia assorted card lots are now available for pre-order. We have for some time been ordering the card lots as it is an fast, efficient and inexpensive way to get your collection together and start playing with all the new awesomeness.

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