Sunblade Elf is a 2/2 for G in any format with shocks. Modern Zoo will enjoy that, and G/W Aggro in Standard will definitely play it pre-rotation, and probably still post too, since it also gives the aggro deck a bit of reach in the late game.
Nissa's second ability is bonkers for big ramp decks (read: EDH). Possibly better than Garruk Wildspeaker in that regard, though not being able to untap things like Nykthos and Cradle hurts a bit. Koth animates better and her ult is kind of meh though.
Way to go WotC, way to waste those mythic spots...
Pristine Angel is BUSTED in limited, I can tell you from experience. I'm glad this is Mythic. People really can't complain about "wasted" mythic slots in what's essentially a glorified Cube set.
Assuming these cards drop a bit (which doesn't always happen from event decks - see Thragtusk - and these are much more limited), you're still looking at a $150 product with a 25% dropoff, just in card value alone, never mind the fact that it's constructed into a playable deck already. While there's no clear marquee card in the deck, the value is well spread out among some hard-to-find commons (Relic) and uncommons (Path), and some solid but not overly expensive rares (Windbrisk etc).It gives a solid foundation for the deck, and should be worthwhile for a new player to modern.
That said, I'll be charging MSRP at my store; despite the clear value, I don't see many people being willing to pay over $75 for these.
Here in Europe a shop can only buy from a distributor, Wizards only delivers the 6(?) european distributors, no direct sale to shops, therefore it is for sure that we only get 8 decks (Maximum) - EXCEPT there will be a second print run (but I don`t think so)...
If there are 6 distributors, and you can get 8 decks from a distributor, then a shop can get 48 decks. I fail to see the problem.
And the MINIMUM you could get per distributor is 4, since that's the size of a single display. So each store can get at least 24.
How is that bad at rare? At WORST it says, "when this deals combat damage, untap all permanents you control". AND you Restoration Angel your entire board. That card's going to be an EDH bomb.
Wizards doesn't make money off the end user, they make money off LGS, which make money off us, the customer. If they did something like this, SCG, Channelfireball, and all the other big stores would have a total ******* ***** fit over the money the would loose. Only way wizards could prevent would be giving them insider information, that is currently illegal in the U.S. The big stores like SCG, Channelfireball, and TCGPlayer that do all the big tournaments aside from the PT and GPs are the people that drive magic sales the most. They do tons of marketing to sell someone else's product, and turn a profit from it.
I'm sorry but how is that illegal? The only place where insider trading is illegal in the united states to the best of my knowledge is the stock market, and despite the way some treat it magic cards are not the stock market. Also, the stores make far more money off standard than they do modern.
Actually, the majority of my store's singles sales recently have been Modern cards, and even the booster packs are being bought with Modern in mind. That's where the money is.
My store ordered 24 decks and we're getting all of them, to the best of my knowledge. So maybe the allocation issue is European only.
I splashed red in Dredge Howler for Cerberus and Flesh/Blood. He's insane there. Protects from Scavenging Ooze, gives you a threat that isn't dependent on milling well, and if/when he dies he'll probably give you 5-10 cards.
I don't get it. Basically, just more abuse of the secondary market for corporate profits? Yeesh.
What corporate profits? WotC makes money on these based on MSRP, which is always relatively low, and they're in such a small quantity there's very little to be made off them. They're a thank-you gift to game stores, a guaranteed sale that they can make high profit on. It's about the closest WotC can get to giving stores actual money for supporting their game.
Guy making clouds and birds getting tossed about in rain...seems to me that the art has Hurricane written all over it.
I could see Ravages of War being in this as the big money card, with Damnation and Rout as other high draws. (foil Rout is still a ton of money) I'd also be surprised if they didn't get Decree of Annihilation in this, given its name.
Ed: I've covered 4 colors...I guess blue could get Curse of the Swine! Seriously though, maybe Evacuation or Upheaval, though with the way they've been catering premium products to Commander players I don't know if they'd put a banned card in.
When you activate the ability of the fetchland, you'll tap it, sacrifice it, and pay 1 life. Spreading Algae will trigger, but the land will already be in the graveyard so it will do nothing. The player will fetch like normal.
White seems the most consistent of all the colors at this point, with a promo that can outright blow apart a game in the right pool. I'll also probably try a red pool and maybe blue.
Solid rare in a weak pack. Hero easy. Maybe people undervalue Oracle's Insight and I can wheel it; I'm pretty sure a Heroic/Inspired enabler that draws quality cards every turn is good.
Nissa's second ability is bonkers for big ramp decks (read: EDH). Possibly better than Garruk Wildspeaker in that regard, though not being able to untap things like Nykthos and Cradle hurts a bit. Koth animates better and her ult is kind of meh though.
Pristine Angel is BUSTED in limited, I can tell you from experience. I'm glad this is Mythic. People really can't complain about "wasted" mythic slots in what's essentially a glorified Cube set.
4 Caves of Koilos = $10
2 City of Brass = $8
4 Isolated Chapel = $20
1 Vault of the Archangel = $1
4 Windbrisk Heights = $30
2 Soul Warden = $1.50
3 Tidehollow Sculler = $1.50
3 Honor of the Pure = $6
2 Inquisition of Kozilek = $15
4 Intangible Virtue = $1
4 Lingering Souls = $3
3 Path to Exile = $21
4 Raise the Alarm = $1
2 Shrine of Loyal Legions = 0
4 Spectral Procession = $8
1 Sword of Feast and Famine = $25
3 Zealous Persecution = $2.50
1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant = $20
2 Burrenton Forge-Tender = $1
2 Dismember = $3
3 Duress = 0
2 Ghost Quarter = 0
3 Kataki, War's Wage = $9
3 Relic of Progenitus = $4.50
Total current value = $192.00
Assuming these cards drop a bit (which doesn't always happen from event decks - see Thragtusk - and these are much more limited), you're still looking at a $150 product with a 25% dropoff, just in card value alone, never mind the fact that it's constructed into a playable deck already. While there's no clear marquee card in the deck, the value is well spread out among some hard-to-find commons (Relic) and uncommons (Path), and some solid but not overly expensive rares (Windbrisk etc).It gives a solid foundation for the deck, and should be worthwhile for a new player to modern.
That said, I'll be charging MSRP at my store; despite the clear value, I don't see many people being willing to pay over $75 for these.
If there are 6 distributors, and you can get 8 decks from a distributor, then a shop can get 48 decks. I fail to see the problem.
And the MINIMUM you could get per distributor is 4, since that's the size of a single display. So each store can get at least 24.
How is that bad at rare? At WORST it says, "when this deals combat damage, untap all permanents you control". AND you Restoration Angel your entire board. That card's going to be an EDH bomb.
Actually, the majority of my store's singles sales recently have been Modern cards, and even the booster packs are being bought with Modern in mind. That's where the money is.
My store ordered 24 decks and we're getting all of them, to the best of my knowledge. So maybe the allocation issue is European only.
What corporate profits? WotC makes money on these based on MSRP, which is always relatively low, and they're in such a small quantity there's very little to be made off them. They're a thank-you gift to game stores, a guaranteed sale that they can make high profit on. It's about the closest WotC can get to giving stores actual money for supporting their game.
I could see Ravages of War being in this as the big money card, with Damnation and Rout as other high draws. (foil Rout is still a ton of money) I'd also be surprised if they didn't get Decree of Annihilation in this, given its name.
Ed: I've covered 4 colors...I guess blue could get Curse of the Swine! Seriously though, maybe Evacuation or Upheaval, though with the way they've been catering premium products to Commander players I don't know if they'd put a banned card in.
My guess for the 15:
Damnation
Rout
Ravages of War
Decree of Annihilation
Evacuation
Hurricane
Desolation Angel
Jokulhaups
Pernicious Deed
All is Dust
Oblivion Stone
False Prophet
Worldpurge
Shatterstorm
Wrath of God (Not so sure about this one but I couldn't think of a 15th)
I'd take Demolok over the Cyclops just because I prefer green in this block to red.