So I've already written an extensive document detailing my predictions for the families themselves and how they interact with the world, which I'll attach images of below, but here are some preliminary predictions:
Planeswalkers are W Elspeth, G Calix, and BR Ob Nixilis (Maro has mentioned that BR is his real colour identity.)
Each families will be a shard, however, to distance New Capenna from Alara, the families will interpret their colours differently.
Shards of Alara and Ikoria both approached their three-colour factions/locations the 'typical' way, in which the central colour of the shard/wedge is the primary colour (i.e. Esper = WUB = primary U, Savai = BWR = primary W); Streets will subvert this by interpreting the shards the same way Khans of Tarkir interpreted the wedges, with the leftmost colour being primary, rightmost being secondary, and centre being tertiary.
With that logic, Not-Esper is W, B, U; Not-Grixis is U, R, B; Not-Jund is B, G, R; Not-Naya is R, W, G; and Not-Bant is G, U, W.
This abnormal interpretation of the shards will, like Strixhaven's re-examination of the enemy colour pairs last year, provide extra depth to them and quite delight the players.
Hideaway will return in its new form revealed in the Secret Lair, and will be available to all colours.
We will have Shard trilands at Rare to 'complete' the Triomes, however they will have Hideaway instead of Cycling and represent the main base of operations for each family.
Hideaway will not be the only returning mechanic, however it will be the only 'smoothing' mechanic (no Investigate/Cycling/Surveil).
Following below are my breakdowns of each of the five families.
Whenever a Wizard enters the battlefield under your control, draw a card, then discard a card and put a loyalty counter on Kasmina.
0: Create a 2/2 blue Wizard creature token.
-3: Return up to two target creatures to their owner’s hands.
4 Starting Loyalty
//
Kasmina’s Summons 3U
Sorcery
Create a 2/2 blue Wizard creature token, then draw a card for each Wizard you control.
Kasmina makes tokens and has cheap removal as her loyalty abilities which is nice, and her backside is free gas for wizards decks.
We’re also getting a new praetor in strixhaven, Jin-Gitaxias.
Jin-Gitaxias, Sly Instigator 5UU
Legendary Creature - Phyrexian Praetor
Flash.Jin-Gitaxias, Sly Instigator can’t be countered.
You may cast your first instant or sorcery spell each turn without paying its mana cost.
Whenever an opponent casts their first instant or sorcery spell each turn, counter that spell.
5/7
But wait, that’s not all. Level up is probably going to be a small set mechanic. The source says it might just be the cycle he’s seen but it also could end up being a lot more cards. Level up also has dropped it’s previous formatting a bit in favor of something more reminiscent of sagas.
Egg Observer 1UCreature - Human Wizard
Level Up 1u (1U: Put a level counter on this. Level up only as a sorcery)
I Flying 2/3
II Flying, Whenever ~ attacks, create a 2/2 blue Drake creature token with flying. 3/4
III Flying, T: Create a 2/2 blue Drake creature token with flying. 4/4
2/2
But those aren’t all the blue rares I have to share with you. We also have some nonpermanent spells in our sack of leaks.
Pore Over the Scrolls 3UU
Instant
Draw two cards, then you may cast an instant or sorcery spell from your hand with converted mana cost less than or equal to the number of cards in your hand without paying its mana cost.
And last but not least we have another tribal-ish card going on for wizards. Bit of a curvetopper, but probably will get played in EDH.
Aflyn, School Excavationist 4UW
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard
Whenever Aflyn or another nontoken Wizard enters the battlefield under your control, create a 3/3 colorless Golem artifact creature token.
Golem creatures you control have flying as long as a Wizard you control has flying. The same is true for first strike, double strike, deathtouch, haste, hexproof, indestructible, lifelink, menace, reach, trample, and vigilance.
3/3
Not all the cards I have are blue rares, but those are all the cards I’m willing to share today. Have fun with these, you beautiful bastards."
[quote from="Jman396 »" url="/forums/magic-fundamentals/the-rumor-mill/817502-return-to-innistrad-in-2021?comment=5"]
I will note that the trademark and copyright is for 2020.
The original picture was posted in 2018, likely originally painted in 2015 or earlier. Could have easily had a new trademark written over it.
Following below are my breakdowns of each of the five families.
The following is a direct quotation of the leaks:
The original picture was posted in 2018, likely originally painted in 2015 or earlier. Could have easily had a new trademark written over it.
Posted originally way back in 2018 as part of BFZ block concept art. Debunked.
Lock/remove thread as necessary mods.