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.
The girl in the picture might be Sorin's wife/relative who took over power now that Sorin has been away for so long... and started a bloody war that destroyed the balance on Innistrad (or unleashed a race that has been sealed away for centuries and has been forgotten by everyone).
Another possibility is that the girl (who imo looks like a vampire) is Drana (I think her spark ignited when she defeated that Eldrazi) who followed Jace to another planes with vampires.
November 2, 2015 4:56 p.m.
bennybubbles says... #3
A little bit of a topic change, but I think there are no werewolves on Innistrad any more, that's what the cursemute was for, to make both sides of the werewolves unified. Am I correct or did I interpret it wrong?
November 2, 2015 5:02 p.m.
Now that I look more closely at the picture, you see angels floathing in the air... so it might be Avacyn turned evil, disrupting the balance of the world.
Jace would be starting his search for Sorin on Innistrad and may have to help them restore the balance before anyone actually gives him any information.
November 2, 2015 5:03 p.m.
Yeah I think it's avacyn because you can see the symbols of avacyn and angels all flying around the lady. Her corruption would have to be related to with Bolas, phyrexians, or the Eldrazi because it'd be pretty idiotic if they totally changed their storytelling only to come up with a whole new villain just for one block.
November 2, 2015 5:55 p.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #6
Probably not Phyrexians, since they can't (as far as we know) planeswalk. But I would be behind Bolas being back once more.
I find it very ironic that Avacyn, who may be the purest source of white mana on the entire plane, may be susceptible to color corruption; but I guess that's feasible after spending months trapped inside a silver monolith surrounded by demons of black mana.
November 2, 2015 6:10 p.m.
GoldGhost012 - Phyrexians can't planeswalk, it's because their physiology can't hold a spark. They did in the past by making planeswalking ships, like Venser was trying to make at the beginning of the Scars-Block storyline. Also the Mending made Planar Portals and planeswalking ships unstable and hard to create.
November 2, 2015 6:12 p.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #8
Right, and they haven't recreated those yet, if they ever will. Maybe they're too busy fighting the resistance to even think of other planes.
November 2, 2015 6:21 p.m.
Chandrian: Drana is undead and isnt able to have a spark
November 2, 2015 6:53 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #10
IS that Jace in the promo artwork for this set? If so, why? He already has a major role in Battle for Zendikar, and has absolutely no connection to Innistrad of which I am aware, so why must WotC continue to emphasize him? In my mind, if that really is Jace, this confirms his status as the "creator's pet" of this game; there can be no other explanation for his appearance in this set other than that WotC is inexplicably fond of him.
As for other major characters, I expect to see Sorin, again, but not Liliana; her business on Innistrad is finished, so I doubt that she shall be there. However, a new version of Tibalt would be nice, so that people can stop complaining that he is weak or inferior, and I also am fully expecting that Edgar Markov, the cause of much of Innistrad's troubles, will finally make a grand appearance, as well.
November 2, 2015 6:58 p.m.
DemonDragonJ ugin sent jace to look for sorin, so thats probably why hes there
November 2, 2015 7:04 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #12
swkelly89, but why did it need to be Jace? Have we not seen enough of him already? And is not Sorin currently searching for Nahiri? Now the story has one character looking for another, who is looking for yet another. Why would Ugin send someone to find Sorin, when he knows that Sorin is searching for Nahiri? Surely, Ugin must know that Sorin shall return when he is ready to do so?
November 2, 2015 9:37 p.m.
DemonDragonJ BC jace was the first planeswalker ugin talked to? idk? im sure he wouldve told gideon or nissa to do the same thing, and ugin doesnt trust sorin bc sorin pretty much does whatever he wants
to be honest, im getting tired of the 5 OG walkers
November 2, 2015 9:46 p.m. Edited.
Jace and Liliana are on-again-off-again lovers, so I could see Jace going to Innistrad to find Lili and also make Ugin happy and find Sorin.
November 2, 2015 9:49 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #15
swkelly89: me, also. I really dislike it when a story focuses too heavily on one character or group of characters, since it can often seem as if those characters are the only ones who are important in the story (with series such as Dragon Ball, Digimon Frontier, or Naruto being some of the worst offenders in that category). Of course, some stories can go too far in the opposite direct, and focus on so many different characters that the story may as well not have a main protagonist, such as A Song of Ice and Fire. In my mind, some stories that do an excellent job of balancing their focus between the central and supporting characters are Bleach and Lord of the Rings.
As for this block, if Jace is searching for Sorin, then perhaps the eldrazi may not have much role in it, but the Lovecraftian name is definitely not a coincidence, in my mind. I also would like to see another appearance by Tamiyo, since she was last seen on Innistrad, as well.
November 2, 2015 10:09 p.m.
Jace wasn't in Theros or Khans at all, so we can't really say Jace is the favourite of WotC.
November 3, 2015 11:55 a.m.
If we get a return to innistrad that is focusing on eldrazi, i'm gonna be real fuckin disappointed. If Kozilek shows up and plays a part of something, great. If it's another "save the planet from annihilation!" thing... well, it had better not be.
And I agree. Jace needs to go back to ravnica and not be reprinted for another three sets. Unfortunately, Magic Origins doesn't count as an actual Jace Planeswalker Printing, as it's removed from the main story. On the plus side, whatever version of jace they make for Shadows Over Innistrad won't be playable as long as Jace, Vryn's Prodigy is in standard.
November 7, 2015 7:58 p.m. Edited.
Also, in case anyone hasn't seen the Duel Deck: Blessed vs. Cursed symbol, the set symbol looks exactly like the warped Avacyn symbol at the end of the Shadows Over Innistrad video.
November 7, 2015 8:07 p.m.
MindAblaze says... #19
When Shadows rotates in we'll have DTK/Origins, BFZ/Oath and Shadows, so Jace, Vryn's Prodigy Flip will still be standard legal.
November 7, 2015 10:31 p.m.
MindAblaze says... #20
Oh...no I hear what you're saying. Because "overhyped" 2 drop Jace is good.
November 7, 2015 10:32 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #21
BRING BACK BOLAS
It's been a looong time since he got a printing, and he's THE main bad guy of this entire storyline... could he have some spotlight please WotC?
November 7, 2015 10:34 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON - The best bad guys aren't seen all that often, and are saved for the most climactic moments.
November 7, 2015 10:41 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #23
Uuuumm Eldrazi raging war over supposedly multiple planes, basically half the planeswalker population trying (and so far, failing) to stop them, add all the little sub-plots (the Chained Veil, time-bending on Tarkir) and the fact that he just fought Ugin (in that messed-up timeline)... I would say that this is a pretty ideal moment for him to come back.
November 7, 2015 10:51 p.m.
MindAblaze I don't know what part of him you think is overhyped, but he isn't. He comes down on turn two, gets rid of 1-3 cards that are unplayable in the early game to dig for better threats/answers/land drops. He then turns into a walker that not only buys you time to find more answers with his +1, but he also gives you access to already used resources, at your choice. The card is nuts, and yes he's expensive, but no part of him is over hyped.
November 7, 2015 10:59 p.m.
Every Magic story can't be a Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker story. Just like every Batman story can't be a Joker story.
But yeah, he's probably going to pop up in the next few blocks or so.
November 7, 2015 11 p.m.
MindAblaze says... #26
"Over hyped" in quotations...not my words. That's open to discussion. I think he's strong.
November 7, 2015 11:57 p.m.
Concerning the Eldrazi:
Kozilek and Emrakul haven't been seen in a while, this doesn't mean that they've left the Zendikar.
I think Kozilek is still on Zendikar (no idea about Emrakul) because the text on Kozilek's Channeler Kozilek's Sentinel.
I think Kozilek went deep into the earth on Zendikar... so maybe Emrakul is on the highest mountain or something and so the Eldrazi story will be closed for a while again after Oath of the Gatewatch.
November 8, 2015 6:19 a.m.
silverwolf5o says... #28
The oath of the gate watch symbol is the shape of the heads of all the kozilek eldrazi, so I don't really think that kozilek will be on innistrad unless he escapes and the story just follows his path of destruction.
November 8, 2015 11:46 a.m.
silverwolf5o - Except the set symbol is actually just the Symbol of Avacyn turned upside down...
November 8, 2015 12:44 p.m.
JWiley129 Silverwolf was talking about the symbol of Oath of the Gatewatch, not Shadows over Innistrad.
The point he makes (and I make a similar point in the post before that) is that Kozilek (and maybe Emrakul) are still on Zendikar, so the Eldrazi probably won't be on Innistrad (unless Emrakul went solo).
November 8, 2015 1:05 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #31
silverwolf5o, Chandrian, I highly doubt that WotC shall have all three Eldrazi titans be defeated at once, as that would be too anticlimactic; after building the Eldrazi as some of the greatest threats that the multiverse has ever seen, the writers will want to get maximum drama from them. Ulamog alone, the least of the titans, is devastating Zendikar, so there is no way that the heroes could defeat all three titans without some incredible deus ex machina. I expect that the battles against Kozilek and Emrakul shall be just as epic and intense as the current battle against Ulamog (but hopefully, not too repetitive), and I shall again state that the Lovecraftian name of this block cannot be a coincidence (as the Eldrazi are clearly molded after beings from the works of H.P. Lovecraft).
November 8, 2015 2:22 p.m.
I just want to see the following from this set:
1) The return of werewolves and a legendary werewolf to make a real EDH viable
2) Change up the 'Transform' mechanic enough so that flipping a werewolf could actually be flipped in standard.
3) Ghoulcaller Gisa and Stitcher Geralf printed for standard so zombies can have some new awesome lords to lead the hordes.
4) A badass Tibalt to make everyone regret making fun of him.
November 11, 2015 11:57 p.m.
I haven't really been paying too much attention to this thread, so please forgive if this has already been talked about.
Anyway, what planeswalkers do you think will show up in this set and who do you think will see an actual card printing?
Tamiyo should have a new card, since she's studying the moon on Innistrad and it seems to be playing a very important role in this set.
I'm a believer in the Avacyn/Nahiri theory, so I think she'll be printed as a flipwalker in some way.
Tibalt should get a new card because he is best and haters just hatin'.
Apparently Ugin is sending Jace to Innistrad (I haven't been too up to date on the U/R's so I don't know what's up), but I don't think he'll get another card printing in this current standard.
I don't think Liliana is going to pop up, unless she goes back to getting Jace's help again. But she's done her stuff there so not any real reason to go back. Then again, Raven Guy could do some stuff. :P
Pretty sure Sorin is going to Innistrad, mostly because that's his plane. Also because of the Avacyn/Nahiri theory.
So what are you guys hoping for/think?
November 12, 2015 3:59 a.m.
I would be very surprised to see either Tamiyo or Tibalt in SoI. These are planeswalkers and can show up on any plane. Odds are we'll get a new Liliana, a new Jace, and a new Sorin. As far as the other planeswalkers? I have no idea. Nahiri would be great to have show up, but I think there's something more going on there.
November 12, 2015 8:24 a.m.
Canadion the last UR story about Nahiri took place like 1000 years ago, well after avacyn was created. sorin made avacyn in his image, that is why she has pale skin and white hair
November 12, 2015 8:43 a.m.
TheFoilAjani says... #36
Wow. I haven't commented on this thread for awhile. Anyways. When all the Origin 5 except Lili were confirmed to be in bfz, they also said that Lili would benin the next block. So next set, we get another Jace, Nissa, and Chandra. That's why I don't want Jace on Innistrad. It will make 3 Jaces in standard which is dumb, and wotc seems to be giving Jace way too much screen time. At least Lili is in SoI. That's my opinion, anyway.
November 12, 2015 9:18 a.m.
TheFoilAjani - I highly doubt we'll get 3 planeswalkers in OGW. We're definitely getting a Chandra, and I'm leaning towards us getting a Nissa, but I don't think we'll be getting a Jace there.
Also, Jace is Wizard's Mickey Mouse. Jace is the most popular planeswalker in the multiverse, so of course he's going to get screen time.
November 12, 2015 9:22 a.m.
There's only one thing that would make me actually like the idea of a Jace card in SoI...
If he somehow becomes corrupted by the 'shadows', and becomes a 
Walker instead of just .
A little too reminiscent of Garruk's corruption during the last Innistrad Block? Possibly, but I still like the idea of Jace being , and adding some decent Discard effects.
November 12, 2015 10:43 a.m.
Further to the question as to why Lili would have further reasons to be on Innistrad... aside from it simply being one of her favourite Planes... has it not been alluded to that the Raven Man is from there, or at least seen there often?
November 12, 2015 10:45 a.m.
MindAblaze says... #40
You know if Jace goes dark side, we're getting another Memory Adept right?
I'd like to see more of Ashiok.
November 12, 2015 11:28 a.m.
TheFoilAjani says... #41
JWiley129 I believe that Jace was confirmed for OotG in the SDCC panel. Also, Jace appeared in the lore and on cards. I find it more unlikely that he wouldn't be in theset. Also, ofc Jace is Mickey Mouse. That doesn't make it right that he is in so many blocks in a row.
November 12, 2015 12:31 p.m.
First, it has NOT been confirmed we're getting a Jace card in OWG, just that he's in the story. Second, in that same panel they said they are more willing to put a planeswalker into the story and not on the cards. Third, he was absent from Theros and Tarkir, so Jace showing up a bit more often isn't a bad thing. Finally, did you also expect an Ugin card in this block? Because if so that would also be a misunderstanding of what WotC has said with regards to the story.
November 12, 2015 12:36 p.m.
TheFoilAjani says... #43
JWiley129 First off, you're coming off a little aggressively, at least to my mind. I could be totally off on that, but that's just my perception.
Anyway, as for your first point, that could be entirely correct, it's just really ambiguous in the panel.
Your second point shows the confusion on this topic. I can forsee problems with WotC doing that. Someone could say Tibalt is in SoI, but is he a card or just on some cards? I'm totally fine with the idea of peeps just on card. That's whats been happening for forever. But by saying Jace is in BfZ block in the panel, yet him not being a card, is confusing to say the least.
Thirdly, Jace is appearing more and more, even if not on the cards. Jace appearing more is (subjectively, at least) worse than him appearing less. It takes away from all the other cool characters in the multiverse if Jace is in so central to the plot. It turns a huge cast of main characters in a bunch of unimportant fluff. He looks like he is appearing in 5 straight sets. Why not have someone interesting be in the story? The Professor made a good video explaining why Jace is an uninteresting character.
Point 4, the f*ck? I wouldn't expect Ugin. Why would I? Like you said, Jace is the MM. Ugin isn't hardley as big as Jace. Ugin wasn't mentioned as far as I remember on the panel, the source of the confusion. I mean, I would much prefer Ugin over Jace. Infinitely. But I wouldn't expect it.
November 12, 2015 3:59 p.m.
I apologize if I come off aggressively, I'll tack that up to the internet not protraying tone effectively.
For the point of Jace not getting a card in OGW, MaRo has said the default is 3 planeswalkers in the large set and 2 in the small set. This means that in OGW we're getting two of Chandra, Nissa, and Jace. Now Chandra is almost a shoe-in because she ins't in BFZ and she's in the key art for OGW. That means we're getting one of Jace or Nissa. I'm leaning towards Nissa because we haven't had as many of her whereas we've had many Jaces.
Now for the why. If we're focusing more on the story, then more planeswalkers are going to show up. Already in BFZ we've had Gideon, Jace, Nissa, Ob Nixilis, Kiora, and Ugin. Note how only three of them have cards. Then in OGW we know we're adding Chandra to the mix, so we're at 7 planeswalkers in BFZ lore-wise, but only 5 cards for them to fill up. So it has to be the case that a planeswalker can show up in the story but not on a card.
For the third point, Jace is the most popular character, regardless of whether he's interesting or not. So we're going to see more of him than not. This is much to my chagrin too, because I want to see more of other characters.
As to the fourth point, if we follow the logical conclusion of "If a planeswalker shows up in the story, then they get a card." Then we should get an Ugin card in BFZ. However by your own admission, you didn't expect an Ugin card in BFZ despite him being in the story. Which goes back and proves the point I was making, about how a planeswalker can show up story wise and not show up as a card.
November 12, 2015 4:41 p.m.
TheFoilAjani says... #45
I agree, internet is tough.
Anyways, if it is only 2 walkers, then yes, Chandra and Nissa make the most sense. Nissa was also in some key art that didn't appear in BfZ. Thank god.
As for the third point, Jace's 2 dimensionless was basically my point. It sucks that we have to see him more. He's not a great character. The only reason his is somewhat interesting is because other people around him are interesting. It's the other guild leaders and such that give Jace a reason to exists.
As for the fourth point, I addressed most of that in my 2nd/3rd points. I did say that characters appear on cards without having one themselves, yes? The only reason I thought that Jace would be in OotG was because the SDCC panel plus his appearance in the lore. The reason Ugin isn't expected, at least by me, is that there wasn't anything said or indicated by WotC that would lead to another Ugin card.
November 12, 2015 5:32 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #46
Thank gosh somebody out there also thinks Jace is boring! He plays the "straight man" in the story to all the otherworldly characters around him. He has very little personality of his own. Gotta agree with TheFoilAjani.
November 13, 2015 4:42 p.m.
TheNextRedDude says... #49
So, what mechanics are you hoping to return? I personally hope for undying and maybe DFCs. Anything that can support a good Mono-X aggro or tribal aggro.
Chubbub says... #1
Looks like he might be u/b.
November 2, 2015 4:52 p.m.