The Fourth Sword

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Happy Monday MTG peeps,

Today we would like to yatter about MaRo's confirmation on the fourth sword in the 'sword cycle' expected in Mirrodin Besieged. As with all things cyclical, the obsessive compulsive orientated mind of the average human wants to see the cycle completed as so it apparently will according to MaRo in today's article on the mothership.

Here's what was said . .

(On the Development of Sword of Body and Mind):

During design, the blue ability of the sword was to Unsummon a creature. Because of that, the playtest name of this card was Sword of Bears and Bounce. And yes, those of you dying for us to finish this cycle during the block will get your wish. You'll see the next one sometime during Mirrodin Besieged previews.

First, let's do a quick review of the swords to date . . .

Sword of Light and Shadow, 3
Artifact — Equipment, Darksteel (Rare)
Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and has protection from white and from black.
Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, you gain 3 life and you may return up to one target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
Equip 2


Sword of Fire and Ice, 3
Artifact — Equipment, Darksteel (Rare)
Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and has protection from red and from blue.
Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, Sword of Fire and Ice deals 2 damage to target creature or player and you draw a card.
Equip 2


Sword of Body and Mind, 3
Artifact — Equipment, Scars of Mirrodin (Mythic Rare)
Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and has protection from green and from blue.
Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, you put a 2/2 green Wolf creature token onto the battlefield and that player puts the top ten cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
Equip 2

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As the player community is madly speculating on the abilities of the next sword, many have voiced the need (for balance perhaps) a sword with protection from Red and White.

Here is when you, the reader and member of the gaming community pipes in and speculates -> Using the archetypal abilities related to their colour, provide in the comments below, a speculation on the next sword.

White: Lifegain
Blue: Milling or drawing
Black: Recursion from graveyard
Red: Burn, direct / indirect damage
Green: Token production

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Lastly, we hope to cover off today's other announcement on the next core set, Magic 2012 in tomorrow's post.
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Scars Mirrodin Sword

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Happy Monday MTG peeps wherever you may be,

Altough the Magic the Gathering spoilers for Scars of Mirrodin have started to slowly filter out and the new card Sword of Body and Mind had been out in the open since last month, it has been only since this last weekend that gamers have been able to physically hold it in their hand with the release of From the Vault : Relics. We're thinking it à propos to give this card a brief review now.


Sword of Body and Mind, 3
Artifact - Equipment, Mythic Rare
Whenever equipped creatuer deals combat damgae to a player, you put a 2/2 green wolf creature token onto the battlefield and that player puts the top ten cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
Equip 2

Sword of Body and Mind, a Scars of Mirrodin preview card that is being included in the upcoming limited edition box set From the Vault Relics, was revealed at the Magic: the Gathering panel during the San Diego Comic Con. Since then, MTG forum members have been yattering quite a lot about it and speculating just how it may fit in the next set / block.

Sword of Body and Mind is thought to be a wrap-up of the much loved powerful "Sword Cycle" from the original Mirrodin block. Equipment cards these days are given some serious thought as players can now 'tutor' it out of their deck with Stoneforge Mystic and equip it to some decent creature cards which could also be tutored out using Fauna Shaman producing some very exciting games at the kitchen table or your local FNM. Opening this card up in a limited play environment could be quite a bomb - just think of milling your opponent's entire deck in just three (un-obstructive) swings or being able to produce chump blockers.

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So a quick heads up - Scars of Mirrodin pre-orders are now up over at MTG Mint Card, so click on over and planning your set purchases before they are all sold out.
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Finally, a quick look at the name and number crunch as it stands right now - we're thinking quite a few artifacts as expected in the mix and perhaps even a few coloured / multi-coloured ones too . . .

8 Elspeth Tirel (Planeswalker - Elspeth), Mythic, Mirrodin
15 Kemba, Kha Regent (Legendary Creature – Cat Warrior, Mythic, Mirrodin
16 Kemba’s Skyguard (Creature – Cat knight), Common, Mirrodin
19 Loxodon Wayfarer (Creature – Elephant Cleric), Mirrodin
24 Sunblast Angel (Creature – Angel), Rare, Mirrodin
27 Vigil for the Lost (Instant, Sorcery or Enchantment), Mirrodin
30 Argent Sphinx (Creature – Sphinx), Rare, Mirrodin
51 Venser, the Sojourner (Planeswalker - Venser), Mythic
61 Carnifex Demon (Creature – Demon), Rare, Phyrexia
65 Indomitable Archangel (Creature – Angel), Phyrexia
69 Memoricide (Sorcery), Rare, Phyrexia
94 Hoard-Smelter Dragon (Creature – Dragon), Rare, Mirrodin
100 [Koth …] (Planeswalker - Koth), Mythic, Mirrodin
119 Ezuri, Renegade Leader (Legendary Creature – Elf Rogue, Mythic, Phyrexia
120 Ezuri’s Archers (Creature – Elf Archer), Phyrexia
150 A Contagion Clasp (Artifact), Uncommon, Phyrexia
152 A Darksteel Axe (Artifact – Equipment), Mirrodin
155 A Etched Champion (Artifact Creature – Wizard), Phyrexia
178 A Mox Opal (Artifact), Mythic, Mirrodin
188 A Platinum Emperion (Artifact Creature – Golem), Phyrexia
195 A Precursor Golem (Artifact Creature – Golem), Mirrodin
200 A Rusted Relic (Artifact Creature – Golem), Mirrodin
204 A Steel Overkite (Artifact Creature – Dragon), Phyrexia
208 A Sword of Body and Mind (Artifact – Equipment), Mirrodin
215 A Wurmcoil Engine (Artifact Creature – Construct), Phyrexia
220 - 228 Artifact / Land
229 - Glimmerpost (Land -Locus), Mirrodin
230 - 249 Basic Lands

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