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.
VampireArmy - Mr. Sin does not affect your draw. You will still draw a random card. A card your opponent does not see nor have any say in.
All Mr Sin does is select another random card and ask your opponent if they would rather you have that card or take damage. - This doesn't prevent prevent/alter/change your regular random card draw, at all.
March 21, 2016 12:27 p.m.
elpokitolama says... #3
As I have two friends in my meta that run the deck, I've played tens of games against Lantern Control and it requires much more than a single shredder and a single lantern to win. It can win without the bridge only if the opponent isn't playing creatures at all or draw all the removals it needs after succeeding in its top lockdown strategy (which happens with at least two mill outlets and a lantern).
This new card leave your opponent a choice, but remember that while he is burning himself, he have to deal with at the very least a 3/2 that is fairly hard to block... Which makes it the absolute perfect draw engine for a burn deck.
March 21, 2016 12:27 p.m.
I like sin because he also fuels discard fuel for other cards potentially like heir of falkenwrath or that 1/3 guy that gets +2/+2 every time you discard a card. Or in modern it's something to pitch to liliana of the veil and gives you card advantage or burn your opponent. The deck he'd work best in would probably be running a relatively low curve which means less lands to potentially flip.
March 21, 2016 12:34 p.m.
Stormcaller says... #5
Lets say one has a 60 card deck and goes first:
You play the prodder on turn 3.At the start of your turn you have 50 Cards left in your deck (7 card starting hand, 1 land fetched via Evolving Wilds, 2 Cards drawn).
If you are looking for a specific card, which you have 4 copies of, you have a 4 in 50 chance to draw this card. If you don't draw that card your odds improve to 4 in 49 on your regular draw. Which means it is more likely you draw this card regularly. It's just a small increase but if you keep it up just a few turns it makes a big difference!
March 21, 2016 12:35 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #6
I mean in perspective, it's a red Card to its truest. Playing in decks that care what you draw is a recipe for failure.
March 21, 2016 12:38 p.m.
Some of these new Showlands are preordering $9+. With the tangos around $3-$5 I'm thinking these will follow suite quickly and plummet. Thoughts?
March 21, 2016 12:40 p.m.
elpokitolama Sin is a terrible card for burn. All of the burn spells are 1 CMC. You're trading 3 damage for 1. That's so inefficient. Not to mention, it evades a single blocker but dies to so much. The only way this card would be good is if it was played in a UR shell that had access to Jace Vryn's Prodigy or Snapcaster. You could play Goblin Dark Dwellers, but that's a high curve.
March 21, 2016 12:43 p.m.
Not to mention how easy it is to build a deck with cards that work well with him...
Fiery Temper = Would you like to take 3, or give me discard fodder... giving me the ability to activate something like "Call the Bloodline" and only par 
to deal 3?
Lingering Souls = Would you like to take 3, or let me get 2x 1/1's into play allowing me to deal more than 3 over a few turns... oh, and by the way, I'll put another 2x 1/1's in play soon anyway.
Rift Bolt = Would you like to take 3 or let me pay to deal 3 next upkeep... which I may use on a creature.
I'd even be fine with revealing a Lightning Bolt... of course they'll pay 1 life. - But I still get a card draw, and start the process again next turn.
If I reveal a land... they'll probably get rid of it for free... but I have 3+ land already, so I don't need it. - It'll feed my Grim Lavamancer - So they let me keep it because of Grim Lavamancer? Good, I'll draw my regular card play the land, and keep playing as though nothing happened...
I see almost no situation where it's bad for any deck that might consider playing it.
March 21, 2016 12:49 p.m.
elpokitolama says... #10
You are right, I completly overlooked this. It is much better in decks that are taking advantage of the graveyard, yet also like to play those spells from their hands.
On the other hand, the Dark Dwellers are exactly what this card want to reveal, along Kommand, etc: high cmc, but high value and can play around what has already been send 6 feet underground. ;)
March 21, 2016 12:52 p.m.
Rasta_Viking29 says... #11
Bleh I've been checking SCG every 5 mins waiting for Prodder to pre sell and in between checking he was listed at $3 and sold out...
March 21, 2016 1:22 p.m.
EverythingIsK says... #12
I'll iterate here that since it's a 3-drop on a 3/2 body with menace wouldn't seem as appealing if it were a 2-drop 2/1 with menace. It doesn't seem as worth it for coming down a turn later. It's kinda of a card you would need to build around, but it's not strong enough to build around.
March 21, 2016 1:24 p.m.
Rasta_Viking29 says... #13
EverythingIsK it would be amazing as a 2/1 with Menace for 
and it is still solid as a 3/2 for 
. This card's effect and impact are kind of a combo of Courser of Kruphix, Outpost Siege, and Goblin Rabblemaster which are all powerful enough to see play as cornerstones of top decks.
March 21, 2016 1:37 p.m. Edited.
MagicalHacker says... #14
Sin is good for EDH/Commander though, so please let them stay low-ish?
March 21, 2016 1:46 p.m.
Stormcaller says... #15
MagicalHacker: Feldon of the Third Path loves this guy!
March 21, 2016 1:56 p.m.
If the red card would cost 2 instead of 3 it would make a huge impact on eternal formats, like Dark Confidant or Snapcaster Mage. Still a good card, but maybe not in eternal formats.
March 21, 2016 1:56 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #17
You know how modern has a power 2-drop creature for every color except red? It "coulda been a contender."
March 21, 2016 2:11 p.m.
canterlotguardian says... #18
So funny story, these new dual lands. I distinctly remember someone on here mentioning exactly what they do when we were speculating about what eventually became the Tango Lands. Someone in Wizards is listening to the community.
March 21, 2016 2:12 p.m.
canterlotguardian Im sure they listen, it would be stupid not to. Altho, these lands were probably locked in when we were discussing the Tango Lands.
March 21, 2016 2:14 p.m.
MagicalHacker There was a Q&A panel where someone asked wizards why red didnt have a 2-drop powerhouse. Their response was pretty simple.. "Red gets Lightning Bolt"
March 21, 2016 2:16 p.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #21
There's some contention that Young Pyromancer holds that slot, but it's really only "broken" in Legacy and Vintage.
March 21, 2016 2:17 p.m.
EverythingIsK says... #22
The closest to a the strongest 2-drop in red would be Abbot of Keral Keep, and even then it's not that great. You could slam 4 Bobs, snaps, goyfs, and mystics in a deck that has those colors and it'll automatically be amazing. You can't exactly do that with abbot.
March 21, 2016 2:20 p.m.
I'm sure I'm going to feel like an idiot when I get the answer, and sorry for not sticking strictly the spoilers, but: what is white's 2 drop a powerhouse?
March 21, 2016 2:20 p.m.
PistonGolem says... #24
MaRo said in an interview that fans were begging for a red "op 2-drop" but I think that WotC doesn't want anything like that in standard now...
Also, why are basic lands not FA?
March 21, 2016 2:23 p.m.
While it is banned in modern, Stoneforge Mystic probably fits that bill.
March 21, 2016 2:23 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #26
Thalia, Guardian of Thraben if talking all time
Thalias Human guy if you mean standard.
Edit: or mystic.
March 21, 2016 2:24 p.m. Edited.
PistonGolem: While it could be argued that they should just put full-art lands in every set, they don't. They are reserved for Zendikar where "lands matter", as well as the Un- sets: Unglued and Unhinged. Apart from that, they don't print Full-art lands.
March 21, 2016 2:25 p.m.
saj0219 If you're talking standard, it's Thalia's Lieutenant but outside of that it's between Stoneforge and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben.
March 21, 2016 2:26 p.m.
EverythingIsK says... #32
In a sense, Eidolon of the Great Revel fits the bill, but we're looking at s. So that it's easily splashable.
March 21, 2016 2:33 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #34
Thalia is my main bitch mang:) (aside from drana of course)
I dunno if anyone has seen the articles yet but rb/(u) madness and uw/x Are gonna be huge this season
March 21, 2016 2:35 p.m.
DrFunk27, I was thinking modern specifically. MagicalHacker's comment got me thinking... Snappy, Tarmogyf, Dark Condidant, and __. Clearly Stone Forge if she were legal, and I guess Thalia fits the bill... She just feels a bit outclassed in that list.
March 21, 2016 2:37 p.m.
EverythingIsK says... #36
I don't put Thalia there because she's legendary. But that's just me.
March 21, 2016 2:44 p.m.
EverythingIsK: And yet, the deck's I play her in I wish I could have 5 :P
March 21, 2016 2:47 p.m.
Rasta_Viking29 says... #38
VampireArmy I'm interested if you want to share some links.
March 21, 2016 2:49 p.m.
saj0219 Thalia is typically referred to as the OP white 2 drop. While legendary, she's great.
March 21, 2016 3 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #40
Can't remember where the uwx list was but anything rocking jace thing in the ice and epiphany is going to be a good start
March 21, 2016 3 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #41
Huh...just realized i linked the wrong grixis deck. Lemmie dig up the other one. My bad
Edit: there we go
March 21, 2016 3:29 p.m. Edited.
I think it got a little glossed over due to Mr Sin.... but Tireless Tracker is pretty darn good as well.
Imagine a 3CMC 3/2 with "Landfall - You may pay , if you do draw a card and put a +1/+1 counter on this creature."
Seems okay... but this allows you to defer cost until it's more convenient for you... and even if it dies, you will still have the draw. - Yeah, I like it!
Not Modern strength, maybe not even Standard... but I feel it's close.
March 21, 2016 4:12 p.m. Edited.
Anyone explain why Drana spiked? I suspect that it was because of SOI tribal hype, but honestly, it still seems really lackluster (I am aware that there is a thread for discussing this, but this also seems like a suitable place).
New dual land cycle seems decent. I wish they were typed themselves, though.
Sin Prodder seems deceptively bad and Tireless Tracker seems deceptively good (see Seer's Sundial).
March 21, 2016 4:20 p.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #45
Drana is actually really really good. She just can't find a place in all the 4-color decks running around.
March 21, 2016 4:23 p.m.
Drana just seems eh.
Seriously though, when I see Tireless Tracker, the first thing I think? Courser of Kruphix. Now, I know that they aren't the same, but they fulfill similar functions as far as I know. I feel like it's pretty damn good.
March 21, 2016 4:29 p.m.
Rasta_Viking29 says... #47
I like the tracker as well but can't tell if it's playable. The ability says let's grind it out and the 3/2 body encourages being aggressive.
March 21, 2016 4:58 p.m.
I can't tell if I love or hate that they took Geist of Saint Traft's text and stapled it onto an enchantment
KillDatBUG says... #1
Am I like, the only person who doesn't care about Modern right now? That format's garbage now, and it's not gonna get better when Eldrazi gets axed. I'm much more excited about Standard, and Sin Prodder could be pretty good there. Yeah, giving your opponent choices is bad, and they probably won't let you draw a card, but.. How bad is Sin Prodder then? Even if it doesn't deal that much damage, a 3/2 Menace is a pretty decent body notwithstanding tokens. And sometimes, your opponent will just have to let you draw a card, because you probably won't be playing Sin Prodder in anything other than Red Aggro.
Then again, I don't know. It does die to Fiery Impulse, and it's pretty shitty against something like Ramp. There might not even be a deck where you'd want to play this, either. Remember Goblin Piledriver? Yeah... Guess we'll just have to wait and see.
March 21, 2016 12:23 p.m.