So I was really hoping to keep my article a week promise, but school and work picked
up fairly quickly and this last week I had several tests. I hope you all will
forgive my lack of writing, but school and work come first before writing for this
blog on the side. Now with my absence explained Theros is releasing THIS Friday, so
to make up for my absence I've planned out three articles for this week/weekend to
pick out cards 10 cards, with honorable mentions, from each set in RtR block that I
feel people should be looking to pick up to go along with the new cards in Theros.
Some of these cards will be quite obvious choices and some of them will have gone
pretty under the radar until now that Innistrad is rotating out. Now without further
adieu let's get started with Return to Ravnica, and in no particular order.
1) Supreme Verdict
Verdict has become the board wipe of choice for this past standard season because it
was simply the best. Sure it might be restricted to only creatures, but with a lower
mana cost to the other alternatives I'll take it's slightly restrictive mana cost to
the other alternative of Planar Cleansing. In my opinion this format will be pretty
fast and hitting a board wipe as quickly as possible will be key.
2) Loxodon Smiter
Now that Pyroclasm has been updated with Anger of the Gods this 3-drop 4/4 is what
aggro/midrange decks will need to combat the likely hood of this as a splash card
for a new UWR control or and Izzet based control list. Another boon to this card is
that with Thoughtseize returning to standard it's a good idea to make sure that you
can hold onto a decent sized threat against any black based control deck.
3) Detention Sphere
With a lot of major threats coming in the indestructible forms of the gods and
Oblivion Ring not being reprinted, Detention Sphere is going to be a must for any UW
based control deck. Not only does it take out the gods, but it also hits
planeswalkers and if you opponent decides to over extend they can easily be punished
by a single Detention Sphere.
4) Rootborn Defenses
With there being so many possibilities for white based aggro decks, all of them
will need board wipe protection, and if you aren't planning on running red look no
further than Rootborn Defenses. I've been playing white weenie the last couple weeks
and I can say it has save me more than once. I'm sure it will be useful in GW and
WW decks and maybe as a single ton in the sideboards of WR lists as a fifth Boros
Charm depending on what board wipes come out later in the block. Sure it's cmc of
three might make it seem expensive, with the lack of Thalia it's not going to be
that big of a bump on your curve if you're on the play.
5) Vraska the Unseen
Now this is a pretty shaky pick for me to put it into the top 10 and not the
honorable mentions, but I think Vraska really has some merit to her. Without
Thragtusk around it make take awhile for the rock to come back, but her minus
ability is what makes this card shine. While she doesn't kill the gods she will be
able to blow up any other creatures/planeswalkers/enchantments/artifacts that are
giving you a problem, which is a major boon for her case. Depending on what other
enchantments come out in the next two block sets I believe her to be a major
contender in any post rotation jund/rock list.
6) Desecration Demon
In the last couple months of the standard format Demon has become a star, being
played in several different decks and has shined in all of them. He does suffer part
of the Vraska problem of not having The Rock to call a home any more, but to me
mono-black control is going to be stronger than ever and he's going to be a game
finisher for any black control deck. He's perfect at attritioning your opponent out
until you can use him to swing in and kill them. This is certainly a card that is
going to continue to become a standard staple thanks to the strength of mono-black.
7) Ash Zealot
Now Zealot has had her fair share of popping up in a RDW list every now and again
and then disappearing into the mist. To some she might not be as powerful because
the giant part of her rules text is now going to be in effect erased without flash
back in the format, but a 2/2 first striking haster for RR is going to be perfect
for any red focused aggro deck. Her mana cost just as well makes her a boon for any
Purphoros based deck by not only triggering his ability but in a curve of Zealot
into Reckoner Purphoros already hits the board as a creature. Just as well with so
many cheap ways to pump creatures in red/re aligned colors there is no reason not to
play her.
8) Cyclonic Rift
Cyclonic Rift is certainly going to be a card to look at for this coming standard
format. Even without being overloaded you can simply put a fatty or even a god back
in your opponent's hand in effect simply time walking them for a measly two mana
giving you a much needed tempo swing at any point during the game. When overloading
becomes an option then late game you can just destroy a board by putting everything
back in your opponent's hand, and like I keep trying to stress during this upcoming
format enchantments are going to have an even bigger impact on the board than newer
players are used to meaning that this can just shift even the most dire of board
states in your favor.
9) Selesnya Charm
I look at this card and just think the text reads, "exile target god". And to be
honest that's all it really needs to say. Sure the gods must actually be creatures
in order to use it, but unless you're opponent is playing with very little board
from creatures to enchantments there is going to be at least one point in a game
where you can hit a god with this card. Now even when you can't hit a god with it
guess what, it can do other things too!!!! I acts as a very cheap combat trick or
can serve as an instant speed blocker. So you have been warned before hand, don't
play into an opponent with GW up.
10) Jace, Architect of Thought
Jace was a big force not only in this standard format we're about to leave behind,
but in the RtR block format as well. He just does so much that blue decks want in
their higher end permanents, it takes early pressure away from you, help dig for
more answers, and like most planeswalkers his ultimate can just end games out of
nowhere. He's just such a good card and will remain a powerhouse until he rotates
out, especially while the meta game tries to settle down into archetypes that will
work constitanly with several of the most powerful cards in the format rotating
out.
Honorable Mentions:
11) Sphinx's Revelation
Okay okay. Yes this deserved a spot on the main list, but I felt like everything I
have to say about this card has already been said. Good card is good card.
12) Dryad Militant
Thanks to cards that came out in M14 and cards hitting with Theros I think straight
mono-white white weenie has a chance of being a major contender again. However, she
suffers from the same problem as Ash Zealot in that her rules text is practically
non-existent now, but where as Ash Zealot was a 2/2 hasting first striker. Militant
is practically a vanilla 2/1 for one now, while this isn't a bad thing and is a good
one drop for the ww lists she's just not as impressive as she used to be.
13) Nivmagus Elemental
Now I really wanted to put him onto the main list, but he's currently made for a
deck archetype that just hasn't had results yet. I wouldn't bet all my money on this
card, but I think in a revitalized Izzet blitz deck with Elemental taking the one
drop slot, Young Pyromancer as a two drop, and Nivix Cyclops sort of topping the
curve the card will be amazing. However, like I said with no real major tournament
wins under his belt I think he needs a little more love before he becomes a major
player in the new standard format unlike most of the cards that made the main list.
Alright everybody that's it for what I think are going to be some major players in
he new standard format from Return to Ravnica. Stay tuned for later this week when
I take a look at Gatecrash next followed up by Dragon's Maze most likely this
weekend. And if you think there are some really important cards I failed to mention,
please feel free to comment bellow.
Thanks for reading,
Zack
up fairly quickly and this last week I had several tests. I hope you all will
forgive my lack of writing, but school and work come first before writing for this
blog on the side. Now with my absence explained Theros is releasing THIS Friday, so
to make up for my absence I've planned out three articles for this week/weekend to
pick out cards 10 cards, with honorable mentions, from each set in RtR block that I
feel people should be looking to pick up to go along with the new cards in Theros.
Some of these cards will be quite obvious choices and some of them will have gone
pretty under the radar until now that Innistrad is rotating out. Now without further
adieu let's get started with Return to Ravnica, and in no particular order.
1) Supreme Verdict
Verdict has become the board wipe of choice for this past standard season because it
was simply the best. Sure it might be restricted to only creatures, but with a lower
mana cost to the other alternatives I'll take it's slightly restrictive mana cost to
the other alternative of Planar Cleansing. In my opinion this format will be pretty
fast and hitting a board wipe as quickly as possible will be key.
2) Loxodon Smiter
Now that Pyroclasm has been updated with Anger of the Gods this 3-drop 4/4 is what
aggro/midrange decks will need to combat the likely hood of this as a splash card
for a new UWR control or and Izzet based control list. Another boon to this card is
that with Thoughtseize returning to standard it's a good idea to make sure that you
can hold onto a decent sized threat against any black based control deck.
3) Detention Sphere
With a lot of major threats coming in the indestructible forms of the gods and
Oblivion Ring not being reprinted, Detention Sphere is going to be a must for any UW
based control deck. Not only does it take out the gods, but it also hits
planeswalkers and if you opponent decides to over extend they can easily be punished
by a single Detention Sphere.
4) Rootborn Defenses
With there being so many possibilities for white based aggro decks, all of them
will need board wipe protection, and if you aren't planning on running red look no
further than Rootborn Defenses. I've been playing white weenie the last couple weeks
and I can say it has save me more than once. I'm sure it will be useful in GW and
WW decks and maybe as a single ton in the sideboards of WR lists as a fifth Boros
Charm depending on what board wipes come out later in the block. Sure it's cmc of
three might make it seem expensive, with the lack of Thalia it's not going to be
that big of a bump on your curve if you're on the play.
5) Vraska the Unseen
Now this is a pretty shaky pick for me to put it into the top 10 and not the
honorable mentions, but I think Vraska really has some merit to her. Without
Thragtusk around it make take awhile for the rock to come back, but her minus
ability is what makes this card shine. While she doesn't kill the gods she will be
able to blow up any other creatures/planeswalkers/enchantments/artifacts that are
giving you a problem, which is a major boon for her case. Depending on what other
enchantments come out in the next two block sets I believe her to be a major
contender in any post rotation jund/rock list.
6) Desecration Demon
In the last couple months of the standard format Demon has become a star, being
played in several different decks and has shined in all of them. He does suffer part
of the Vraska problem of not having The Rock to call a home any more, but to me
mono-black control is going to be stronger than ever and he's going to be a game
finisher for any black control deck. He's perfect at attritioning your opponent out
until you can use him to swing in and kill them. This is certainly a card that is
going to continue to become a standard staple thanks to the strength of mono-black.
7) Ash Zealot
Now Zealot has had her fair share of popping up in a RDW list every now and again
and then disappearing into the mist. To some she might not be as powerful because
the giant part of her rules text is now going to be in effect erased without flash
back in the format, but a 2/2 first striking haster for RR is going to be perfect
for any red focused aggro deck. Her mana cost just as well makes her a boon for any
Purphoros based deck by not only triggering his ability but in a curve of Zealot
into Reckoner Purphoros already hits the board as a creature. Just as well with so
many cheap ways to pump creatures in red/re aligned colors there is no reason not to
play her.
8) Cyclonic Rift
Cyclonic Rift is certainly going to be a card to look at for this coming standard
format. Even without being overloaded you can simply put a fatty or even a god back
in your opponent's hand in effect simply time walking them for a measly two mana
giving you a much needed tempo swing at any point during the game. When overloading
becomes an option then late game you can just destroy a board by putting everything
back in your opponent's hand, and like I keep trying to stress during this upcoming
format enchantments are going to have an even bigger impact on the board than newer
players are used to meaning that this can just shift even the most dire of board
states in your favor.
9) Selesnya Charm
I look at this card and just think the text reads, "exile target god". And to be
honest that's all it really needs to say. Sure the gods must actually be creatures
in order to use it, but unless you're opponent is playing with very little board
from creatures to enchantments there is going to be at least one point in a game
where you can hit a god with this card. Now even when you can't hit a god with it
guess what, it can do other things too!!!! I acts as a very cheap combat trick or
can serve as an instant speed blocker. So you have been warned before hand, don't
play into an opponent with GW up.
10) Jace, Architect of Thought
Jace was a big force not only in this standard format we're about to leave behind,
but in the RtR block format as well. He just does so much that blue decks want in
their higher end permanents, it takes early pressure away from you, help dig for
more answers, and like most planeswalkers his ultimate can just end games out of
nowhere. He's just such a good card and will remain a powerhouse until he rotates
out, especially while the meta game tries to settle down into archetypes that will
work constitanly with several of the most powerful cards in the format rotating
out.
Honorable Mentions:
11) Sphinx's Revelation
Okay okay. Yes this deserved a spot on the main list, but I felt like everything I
have to say about this card has already been said. Good card is good card.
12) Dryad Militant
Thanks to cards that came out in M14 and cards hitting with Theros I think straight
mono-white white weenie has a chance of being a major contender again. However, she
suffers from the same problem as Ash Zealot in that her rules text is practically
non-existent now, but where as Ash Zealot was a 2/2 hasting first striker. Militant
is practically a vanilla 2/1 for one now, while this isn't a bad thing and is a good
one drop for the ww lists she's just not as impressive as she used to be.
13) Nivmagus Elemental
Now I really wanted to put him onto the main list, but he's currently made for a
deck archetype that just hasn't had results yet. I wouldn't bet all my money on this
card, but I think in a revitalized Izzet blitz deck with Elemental taking the one
drop slot, Young Pyromancer as a two drop, and Nivix Cyclops sort of topping the
curve the card will be amazing. However, like I said with no real major tournament
wins under his belt I think he needs a little more love before he becomes a major
player in the new standard format unlike most of the cards that made the main list.
Alright everybody that's it for what I think are going to be some major players in
he new standard format from Return to Ravnica. Stay tuned for later this week when
I take a look at Gatecrash next followed up by Dragon's Maze most likely this
weekend. And if you think there are some really important cards I failed to mention,
please feel free to comment bellow.
Thanks for reading,
Zack
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| It's good to be back Duane. |
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