April 2016: Shadows over Innistrad
Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum
Posted on Oct. 31, 2015, 6:42 p.m. by JWiley129
Announced during GP Indy, the Spring 2016 set is Shadows over Innistrad!
Edits for FAQ:
- Here is Mark Rosewater on why we're getting two returns in a row.
I've been at my LGS all day, and I saw Avacyn and I was quite surprised. She's (obviously) good in Commander & Limited, but I'm curious about if she's good in Standard. For a while I misread her transform trigger, missing the "at the beginning of the next upkeep" part, but she's still great. It's hard to flip her the turn you cast her, but Nantuko Husk is still in Standard!
All I know is I'm excited to put Avacyn in my Kalemne deck!
March 5, 2016 11:58 p.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #4
Yeah, it's super cool. Hopefully it's legit.
Vindicate reprint? /s
But seriously, I'd be okay with an Utter End reprint if that was the art. Or a playmat.
March 6, 2016 12:17 a.m.
Sorin looks so pissed. My god I'm loving this set so much.
March 6, 2016 12:17 a.m.
Can we all just take a moment to appreciate the fact that Wizards really seem like they listened to the fan base this set, everything is just... so great so far.
March 6, 2016 12:28 a.m.
The art and storyline in this set is better than the actual cards, which is awesome!
March 6, 2016 12:35 a.m.
Yeah this set is just everything battle for zendikar wasn't and that's a great thing.
March 6, 2016 12:44 a.m.
FatherLiir says... #9
Dumb question, and this may just be me hoping or not hoping, but does the way Avacyn's wings bend remind you of a particular Titan?
March 6, 2016 1:20 a.m.
Phexians do more than just drive things mad. They cange the appaearnce of their victims nothing really looks too out of place here. Emrakul's speciality however is making things fo mad / crazy. Ulamog devors, kozilek distorts reality and Emrakul warps the mind. I dont think emrakul is behind this but i do think someone at wizrds is having fun leading people in the direction with the many cathulu-esk shout outs
March 6, 2016 1:42 a.m.
passes PhotogenicParasympathetic an inhaler
Breathe friend, just breathe and let it wash over you.
March 6, 2016 1:54 a.m.
PhotogenicParasympathetic says... #15
I CANT. I MUST HAVE. ALSO I THINK MY CAPS LOCK IS BROKEN.
March 6, 2016 1:59 a.m.
I didn't think the hype train could go any faster. I was wrong.
March 6, 2016 2:06 a.m.
That's the thing about the hype train, NarejED, there's always another speed.
March 6, 2016 2:09 a.m.
I was hoping for more I guess? I'm not sure how new Avacyn will fit in Kaalia. Perhaps Kaalia won't get significant toys this set.
March 6, 2016 2:32 a.m.
The hype train can always go faster since it exists for the future a force we can never truly hope to touch not obtain.
March 6, 2016 2:46 a.m.
And now I find Avacyn interesting. The fact that she has a transforming card indicates that there is a trigger in the story. She also transforms into a red card, so put that with the fact that she transforms when something she seeks to protect dies, it must be that she's driven mad. This is different from being like Radiant or being vindictive.
As a card? Neat. In modern even, you could consider it a Restoration Angel that doesn't combo but becomes a lot beefier (without even transforming) for only one white more. Still, a shame that it dies to the Lightning Axe test ;)
March 6, 2016 4:28 a.m.
Got actually scared when Avacyn appeared in the new trailer. Really hopes the block doesn't end up with her dead T.T
Also I like Jace's new apparel. About time he got a change in the wardrobe.
March 6, 2016 6:46 a.m.
Homura_Akemi says... #22
I can't believe Avacyn turned evil! I bet Liliana will have another Killing Wave with the flavor text "I never liked angels anyway". Maybe Jace called Lili to Innistrad for some angel crowd control
March 6, 2016 6:48 a.m.
EverythingIsK says... #23
I always forget that Jace and Lili were lovers at one point in time. I can't remember all the facts, so I'm going to go read up on what went on back then.
March 6, 2016 6:59 a.m.
elpokitolama says... #24
EverythingIsK that never happened as far as I remember. Or so I hope. x)
March 6, 2016 7:21 a.m.
Homura_Akemi says... #25
It did happen. Lili was working for Nicol Bolas and had to befriend Jace. They fell in love, but eventually Lili regretfully betrayed Jace, abandoning him because of Bolas' orders. They recently went on a date on a Pre Battle For Zendikar story.
March 6, 2016 7:28 a.m.
TFW people think that mad people are evil. Have you heard of a character called Urza?
March 6, 2016 7:33 a.m.
Does anyone think the new Avaycn will be good for control? I can see having some way of activating it through Secure the Wastes tokens, but even if you can't, you can still cast it at the end of your opponent's turn if they played nothing noteworthy this turn, ambush a Dragonlord Ojutai and can hit them while still being able to block.
Also, if you do manage to flip her, the boardwipe is great.
March 6, 2016 8:02 a.m.
For some reason, I can't get on the map anymore. Anyone else have that problem?
March 6, 2016 8:11 a.m.
elpokitolama says... #32
Are you using Chrome? If yes, I do too. It looks like the website thinks my computer is a phone in landscape mode... So I'm using Edge or FIrefox to get there. :p
Also, there's not a lot of points to get there anymore, as every single card it could show has already been spoiled. Well, let's wait for the site to update itself on monday I guess!
March 6, 2016 8:24 a.m. Edited.
elpokitolama says... #34
Ow yeah, and it is about to go even further beyond Goku style when the walkers will be revealed!
March 6, 2016 8:48 a.m.
for those who may have missed it:
also Bellock86: interesting. certainly sounds like phyrexia with the extra arms etes and tentacles plus the symbol on ormendahls head? phyrexia confirmed lol pls no
March 6, 2016 8:48 a.m.
shame Rally the Ancestors will be rotating. avacyn would be broken in rally.
March 6, 2016 9:31 a.m.
So, I think I figured out the story (and promptly get murdered for this):
The evil it is covering Innistrad is a Pre-Avacynian god. Remember Runo Stromkirk? In life, he was a high priest of a god of the sea and storms. Look at the trailer, specifically to that circle of "sliver-heads" (Sorry, the resemblance is too uncanny to resist). Lightining touching each of the points, a shore with some shipwreck in the background. The structure surrounding what looks like a portal. Now look at the promo art for Eldritch Moon. Notice more shipwrecks? Lightning? Oh, and the art with Avacyn's death, notice how Nahiri is absent. Notice how the "sliver-heads" look like they were made out of stone. And how the moon works with the tides of the sea. Oh, and isn't eldritch used to define a kraken-like creature? Aren't we talking about a god of sea and storms here?
It all points to this: Long ago, Avacyn and the original Church members sealed away these gods. Now, Nahiri is wreaking havoc on Innistrad by completeing a ritual that releases the pre-Avacynian gods, starting with the god of the sea and storms, and those "sliver-heads" are a symbol of this god. This god would then use its power to drive the plane into madness, and driving Avacyn into her teenage menstrual problems (Just kidding. I meant madness).
...Or Nahiri could be trying to summon Sliver Queen!!!!
March 6, 2016 9:47 a.m.
elpokitolama says... #38
Phaetion that would be far more interesting than anything imlpying Emrakul or Phyrexia in my opinion. Well, not the queen obviously, but hell that would be fun :p
March 6, 2016 9:54 a.m. Edited.
Some people on my forum are suggesting they might decide to bring Marit Lage into the equation, perhaps as this sea god. They dont have any real evidence other than the fact that a token is being printed in FTV Lore, which would/could bring Lage back into mainstream view.
March 6, 2016 9:59 a.m.
EverythingIsK says... #40
@Phaetion You had me until you said nahiri is trying to be sliver queen :)
I like what you wrote in your theory, got links to any articles about what you wrote?
March 6, 2016 10 a.m.
Would the new Avacyn be a good fit as a 1of in a deck like this: Kiki-Kontrol?
It doesnt do much for the combo, but flash 4/4 is great. Maybe save creatures if you have the mana open, and your opponent has to think twice before blocking a snappy :)
March 6, 2016 10:04 a.m.
EverythingIsK says... #42
I personally don't see any reason to play her over RestoAngel.
You can't even have resto flicker Avacyn. The deck plays well without her, so why fix what doesn't need fixing?
March 6, 2016 10:08 a.m.
New Avacyn + Eldrazi Displacer/Eerie Interlude, anyone?
March 6, 2016 10:57 a.m.
Grantley91 says... #44
So I understand that technically the new Avacyn flips to become Red, but since there's no red nana symbol, you can still run her in a mono-W (or really anything that has white but no red) EDH deck?
March 6, 2016 11:05 a.m.
EverythingIsK says... #45
To my understanding, you can use her as your RW commander, but I'm not sure if you can run her in a mono-white build. I can imagine if you can use Boros Reckoner in a mono-red/ mono-white deck, I wouldn't see why not her. I think the only deck she'd be excluded from is mono-red.
March 6, 2016 11:11 a.m.
Grantley91: No you can't. Her color identity includes all part of the card so, therefore, her color identity is 
.
March 6, 2016 11:13 a.m.
What happens if you sacrifice an eldrazi token, does it trigger Avacyn's flip ability?
March 6, 2016 11:14 a.m.
EverythingIsK: The Sliver queen thing was a joke. Anyway, I do not have a link. All of the theories were in my head, but see the edit below. I could write a mini-article on it, but the questions are when and is it worth it?
EDIT: I'm on my phone, but I can pull together where I found all the clues.
March 6, 2016 11:19 a.m. Edited.
EverythingIsK says... #49
I knew it was a joke :P
I'd read whatever you'd write about it, I've been reading mtg lore since 10 last night haha.
March 6, 2016 11:23 a.m.
Grrvvpp23: Yes the new Avacyn will trigger since it saw a creature you control die. Sacrificing is a form of dying.
Serendipitous_Hummingbird says... #1
Before we all get too excited about the phyrexian mana symbol, remember that Magma Jet was printed in theros with art that looks like it belongs on Innistrad
March 5, 2016 11:55 p.m.