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SnowMage87

13 January 2011

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Hello again, today I find myself without much to write about. No real news from the new set yet. I have been waiting for Mirrodin Besieged since a week after scars hit. Now that's not saying scars bored me or I was ready for something new right away but that it was so good that the made me want to see more infect cards more metalcraft cards and just really start building new decks. I love deck design so much that every week I play something different then the week before at FNM, again not because I am bored or don't like it but because I have so many ideas that I have to try it or I see an other deck that I just have to try. Well I started writing this before Monday and I was going top just share a few deck ideas but with WOTC gives use 6 new cards and telling us the six mechanics that will be in this set. So I will still talk about a build I plan on testing out, Mono White Knights and I will also be talking about the new cards and mechanic.

Table of contents

Mono White Knights
Metalcraft
Infect
Proliferate
Battle Cry
Poisoned
Living Weapon

Mono White Knights

         


4x Student of Warfare
3x White Knight
3x Accorder Paladin
3x Mirran Crusader
4x Knight Exemplar
3x Hero of Bladehold
4x Brave the Elements
4x Honor of the Pure
3x Journey to Nowhere
3x Day of Judgment
3x Ajani Goldmane
23x Plains

Ok so first we are going to look at the beatsticks in this deck we have Student of Warfare at one drop for 1/1 but for little bit mana turn in to a 3/3 first strike and then 4/4 double strike. Next we got White Knight which really is just here for 2/2 first strike for two but hey in some games pro black is great and it never hurts you. Next we have one of the newest card spoiled Accorder Paladin. A two drop for a 3/1 body with battle cry is nice and I think that this guy will work out well in a deck like this unless something better comes out but for something else with battle cry for this deck i think is great. Mirran Crusader is a 2/2 double strike for three and pro black and green which I think will help shape the meta even if a deck like this does not take off. Next we got the boss of the deck Knight Exemplar which gives all your knights +1/+1 and indestructible. Now this is big make all your guy stand up to burn spell and kill spells is always good. now yes she can still be killed but hey that's why you play four of this card because two out at the same time make the game really hard for the other person. Hero of Bladehold is 2ww to play for a 3/4 body with battle cry and when it attacks you get two 1/1 guys in play and swinging. She is a knight which help but the tokens are not but they are 2/1 coming in swinging just for attacking. Now we can talk about Ajani Goldmane which I think from what I see now will be seeing more play in knights and Tempered Steel deck because maybe not on the pro level but these decks will see more play and get better. Ajani Goldmane can help against red with life gain but the get thing is going to being pumping your guys every turn and giving them vigilance. Ok so lets look at the other spells now, first we look at Brave the Elements that for only one mana gives all your white creatures you control gain protection from any color you pick til end of turn.. Next we have Honor of the Pure for an enchantment that in this deck gives all your guys +1/+1, Its great to try to get your guys out of bolt range if you have not found a Knight Exemplar yet and just seems like a great four of in this deck Well I think a little bit of removal is always nice and for spot removal I don't really like any of the white spells right now but I hate Journey to Nowhere less then the other and and help clear big guys out of your guys way. I can see aggro decks getting better so three Day of Judgment is great to wipe out bored and rebuild. Now one of the great thing in this deck is if Knight Exemplar is on the field and you day, then only knight of yours that will be destroyed is Knight Exemplar.I think a build like this could do good at FNM level maybe even higher but we will just have to wait and see. But this deck can pump it guys up with a few cards and then most of your guys have the upper hand in combat with first strike.Well I know I will be trying this deck out and maybe some of you will also oh maybe even make it better.

Well first we will look at the mechanics that are returning from Scars of Mirrodin.

Metalcraft-


Now I think everyone knew that this was coming back. Now I think as we get more cards with metalcraft and more artifacts in this block the better that a deck built around this will become. Well the new card to show of metalcraft is Razorfield Rhino. We seen cards like this is scars with Chrome Steed, its a 4/4 for 6 mana and then as long as you have metalcraft it get +2/+2. I don't see this card really being played in standard but I can see where this card could be good in draft and/or sealed. Metalcraft deck in limited would love this guy, it gives you a big body and in limited that never that bad to have. Now one thing that I think we really need for metalcraft to make a splash in standard is metalcraft cards with better effects. There are a few with power but really need more to make a deck work.

Infect-

    

I am a big fan of infect and I am ready to see what new infect guys we get. know with Priests of Norn we know that infect will bleed over to other color which I think could be great in standard depending on what else "off color" infect cards we get. But I really like this for limited, this also depends on what else comes out but the idea of not being stuck in green black and blue for infect is great. 3 mana for a 1/4 vigilance and infect guy I think could be good in limited, but not going to make a splash in standard unless something crazy is printed to really help make this card better.

Proliferate-


The last of the returning effects. This is a very strong mechanic and with right support card could be a a power house. Spread the Sickness is a sorcery for 5 mana, one of them being a black ( which I love to see proliferate out of blue and artifacts) to destroy target creature then proliferate. I other great card I think for limited. Any infect deck in draft wants one or 2 of this card. Removal and proliferate is great for that deck and 5 mana is not that bad. Now 5 mana and sorcery may be to much for it to see play in standard but it does kill and creature so maybe it will find a home.

Battle Cry-

    

Whenever this creature attacks, each other attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn. Now that a great effect. Just swing til you cant swing anymore. Now we have only seen this on 2 guys right now but I have high hopes for this mechanic. Accorder Paladin is one and a white for and 3/1 knight with battle cry. Now I think this card will be good in limited and if it is not out classed by other card could find a room in a standard deck, even if only at FNM level. It being a knight does give it hope because Knight Exemplar can help cover for that 1 toughness. All in all I think this card is good and maybe could be better depending how limited and standard metas shape.

Poisoned-


It seems like is an effect that will give some kind of effect if your opponent has a poison counter. Septic Rats is 1bb to play for a 2/2 infect and whenever Septic Rats attacks, if defending player is poisoned, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn. Now in standard I think this card gets out classed by Phyrexian Crusader but in limited infect deck will like this card alot. A 3/3 infect guy for 3 is something limited deck will love and I think will be a high-ish pick in draft. I can't wait to see other poisoned cards.

Living Weapon-

    

Living weapon is a effect that is going to be one equipments and when it comes into play you get a 0/0 black germ creature token and equip it to the equipment. Now this seems like a fun effect. Flayer Husk is 1 to play and 2 to equip and give the guy +1/+1 and has living weapon. Other card i just dont see in standard but limited I think this could be good for metalcraft deck. for 1 you get a 1/1 and when it dies you still have an artifact. I really want to see what eles they do with living weapon.

Well that is it for me this week. I thought I was going to just share a few ideas but tricky WOTC gives me 6 new cards to talk about and new mechanics just to make me want a full spoiler even more.I really think this set is going to be good for standard and limited and like I said before I am just ready to see new cards.Well have fun and til next time - You stay classy San Diego and/or Tapped Out

exarkun809 says... #1

I'm definitely buying white knights the most out of what we've seen so far. Tiny White Fists of Fury is what I made with what's been revealed... With only 20 cards spoiled, it's already pretty complete.

Cool article. Got me even more excited about beseiged.

January 13, 2011 11:03 a.m.

popeyroach says... #2

I enjoyed the article, but please proof read the next article you write before you post, because this was hard to read. some sentences just don't make sense (even though I know what you're trying to say).

January 13, 2011 1:02 p.m.

squire1 says... #3

proofing is partially my fault. please tell me what sentences/portions are problems. I will go back in and fix them. [email protected] is my email

January 13, 2011 3:27 p.m.

landot says... #4

Mirrodin Besieged Orbs of Insight are up: There are two -- one

Phyrexian

and one

Mirran .

January 13, 2011 6:14 p.m.

landot says... #5

sorry -- those two might be reversed.

January 13, 2011 6:52 p.m.

Siegfried says... #6

Accorder Paladin is amazing. At uncommon level, a 3/1 for 2 mana which pumps the power of everything else attacking with it? I've said it before, I'll say it again: white knights are going to go off tap in Standard.

With the whole "poisoned" keyword, do you think there might be cards which benefit the player afflicted with this most heinous of counters? Maybe the reverse of Septic Rats, a 2/2 for 3 mana which gets +1/+1 whenever it attacks if its controller is poisoned. Hopefully something slightly more efficient then THAT, if they hope to see it actually used =).

Living Weapon is possibly one of the coolest mechanics I have ever seen.

January 14, 2011 11:21 a.m.

Xander574 says... #7

my assumption is there will be something along the lines of

cmc 1 (in green or black or artifact) infect if opponent is poisoned then card name gets +1/+1 (or +1/+0) until end of turn

0/1

January 14, 2011 4:02 p.m.

Zungx says... #8

Nicely compiled information.

On the topic of Besieged, I have to say it was a genius idea. I myself am one of those people who like the lore and art more than gameplay, I know many of my friends do not like the Phyrexia vs. Mirrodin atmosphere because they feel it will cut a gap between game play styles or limit them.

I actually love the idea because it gives gameplay a unique flavor, which is very important.

I am certainly looking forward to what blue cards are coming out in Besieged, seeing as blue is the intermediary color between the factions.

January 15, 2011 7:09 p.m.

Prophylaxis says... #9

One thing that got my mind running... If the next set is Mirrodin Pure/New Phyrexia, what about drafting?

January 16, 2011 2:25 a.m.

Zungx says... #10

I would imagine if they were one way or the other, drafting would be similar to the scars drafts.

If mirrodin wins, then all five colors are represented equally and there will be no problem getting decks together.

If phyrexia wins, I am sure that all the colors will not convert to infect and limited tactics. They would most likely still have mirrodin and 5 color unity concepts, but with a darker twist.

January 16, 2011 10:45 a.m.

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