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.
Orzhov control is really strong. Gruul wolves is really strong.
April 2, 2016 6:33 p.m.
elpokitolama says... #5
I've been the only one today at my prerelease not to get a single mythic. Everybody got at least two of those, and when I say mythics... One dude even got in the same kit two fucking foil Arlynn, a Sorin, a Nahiri, Avacyn and a few good rares.
By the way, Sin Prodder may be good in Jeskai control. I say may, because I've just run into a player that had this idea but I was playing Grixis delver, so not a single one of the four I faced during both games saw an upkeep to be useful. Monastery mentor syndrom, I guess... But at least the mentor can do something if you try to protect it.
April 2, 2016 6:40 p.m.
Pool was really middle of the road, could have really picked any 2 colors - went with a W/U flyer enchant build. Didn't get any really outstanding cards.
Was really hoping for an abbey or decent zombie, but oh well.
April 2, 2016 6:44 p.m.
Anyone have any suggestions for 2hg tomorrow? I'm new to it. Do I get to pool my sealed pack with my partner and then make 2 decks?
April 2, 2016 6:58 p.m.
I think you both keep your own pools but you can certainly build for synergy plays.
April 2, 2016 7:02 p.m.
ItchiUchiha117 says... #9
In a 2HG sealed, both players pool all of their cards together and make two decks from the combined selection.
April 2, 2016 7:10 p.m.
Now I'm glad I don't go to prerelease. And I still think that Sin Prodder is terrible, but apparently nobody knows about the Browbeat dilemma.
April 2, 2016 7:14 p.m.
Today, Sin Prodder convinced me it can and will be a thing in standard. It's a bomb.
April 2, 2016 9:18 p.m.
PistonGolem says... #12
It is a Dark Confidant that makes your opponent take the hit instead, except if you draw a low CMC card or a land...
April 2, 2016 9:28 p.m.
The_Redpill says... #13
Just got home from a prerelease. Took second place with R/B Vampire Madness.
April 2, 2016 11:12 p.m.
i played W/B aggro with sorin top end and didnt lose a game. i decided to split after i was 3-0 to get 7 packs. In one of those packs i got a mindwrack demon and an arlinn kord. And since my foil promo was descend upon the sinful, i think i did pretty well.
April 3, 2016 1:33 a.m.
Everyone gettin so lucky when I know I'm gonna pull shit :/
April 3, 2016 2:14 a.m.
Anyone know what is going on with Mindwrack Demon?
His price has been increasing steadily. Is he being played in a certain deck?
April 3, 2016 2:26 a.m.
From my experience, everything except Blue is strong, with green being the most dominant.
All of our top eight ran green. I think 5 were running GW or GWx.
April 3, 2016 2:45 a.m.
April 3, 2016 6:10 a.m.
Anybody know what cards hose aggro (especially mono-red) in 
in standard? Or why Archangel of Tithes is spiking in price?
April 3, 2016 6:19 a.m.
Picked up another Westvale Abbey Flip today, two The Gitrog Monsters and a couple of Declaration in Stone.
April 3, 2016 6:28 a.m.
lemmingllama says... #21
@DarkLaw The difference between Browbeat and Sin Prodder is that one is a 3/2 menace. Even if your opponent chooses the least relevant thing every time he flips a card, he still also provides some value for being on the board.
I wouldn't say that Sin Prodder is the most powerful card in SoI. But it certainly is one of the best punisher cards we've seen in a long time.
April 3, 2016 7:57 a.m.
Archangel of Tithes might be spiking due to the prospect of using it in 
Control decks.
April 3, 2016 8:15 a.m.
I also think Archangel of Tithes becomes better when mana fixing is less good. It's really hard to hit in a 3-4 color deck, but with fetches leaving fewer decks will go above two colors...
April 3, 2016 8:34 a.m.
kanokarob Yeah from what I can tell most stores do one on Sunday. I'm going to the 2HG prerelease today with 5 other guys.
April 3, 2016 8:35 a.m.
2 headed giant? Nah that's like everywhere.
Edit: I see how you misinterpreted xD it's also the name of one of your local game stores.
April 3, 2016 8:39 a.m. Edited.
Oh I thought 2HG was the game store you were going to, I misread.
April 3, 2016 8:40 a.m.
Yep I edited my comment, I get how you misunderstood. Easy mistake to make :p
April 3, 2016 8:41 a.m.
Sin Prodder is meant for reanimation in edh.
Players will decide to feed the graveyard with creatures or put them in the owner's hand.
April 3, 2016 10:01 a.m.
zephramtripp says... #31
Which packs do you think will be in the SOI deckbuilder's toolkit?
April 3, 2016 10:21 a.m.
Sin Prodder will certainly find at least some homes, definitely in casual.
lemmingllama You raise an interesting point. Is it better to just have Browbeat, or a 3/2 Menace for 
that releases the value of a worse Browbeat over around 4 turns? (Worse because your opponent sees every card individually and chooses whether to give it to you rather than in one block of unrevealed cards, and 4 turns because lands just get dumped.)
Personally, I would go with Browbeat. Another problem with Sin Prodder is that stuff like Bygone Bishop and Tireless Tracker is just better.
Wait, so is that a cycle of rare creatures which give conditional "card draw"? Bygone Bishop, Forgotten Creation, Asylum Visitor, Sin Prodder, Tireless Tracker.
April 3, 2016 10:27 a.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #34
A guy at the prerelease yesterday had a Sin Prodder as his DSP and opened another. Having the opportunity to draw 3 cards per turn or having me lost a lot of life each turn was very powerful in a limited environment.
April 3, 2016 10:45 a.m.
Rasta_Viking29 says... #35
DarkLaw Browbeat should have no bearing on your evaluation of Sin Prodder as there is really no parallel to draw upon on. If you wanted to compare a 0cmc Browbeat to Prodder's ability that would make more sense. I'm pretty sure you'd agree that casting a mini Browbeat for free on each of your turns is pure value regardless of which choice the opponent makes. Sin Prodder makes you draw 2 cards a turn while providing a solid body. Regardless of whether the opponent makes you bin the card and gives you a free burn spell or lets you keep the extra draw you have created card advantage.
Everyone I've talked to yesterday that has played against it said it is most likely better than Goblin Rabblemaster. Either you kill it or lose to the advantage it creates much like Rabblemaster. What separates them is Rabblemaster could be dealt with in combat while Sin Prodder can bury you regardless of if you have blockers. The card is a Standard bomb.
April 3, 2016 10:53 a.m. Edited.
AgentGreen says... #36
I manage to get pull 2 Flameblade Angels; one as my promo. Now i'm thinking what should my second color be. My next pack was a Jace. That deck went 3-2 and a top 8 finish
April 3, 2016 11:06 a.m.
Rasta_Viking29 Browbeat costs the same as Sin Prodder and does similar things, and I've already linked to an article explaining why Browbeat was bad, despite the "value" or "card advantage" that it provides.
Prerelease =/= Standard Constructed.
April 3, 2016 11:22 a.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #38
Ignore the card advantage ability and it's still a 3/2 for 3 with evasion. Just the body alone is quite good in aggressive decks.
April 3, 2016 11:26 a.m. Edited.
MindAblaze says... #39
Sin Prodder is a 3/3 menace though. Browbeat is a card where you always get the thing you wanted less. They're not comparable beyond the fact your opponent gets choice and they're three mana.
April 3, 2016 11:27 a.m.
Sin Prodder is not comparable to Browbeat in any way. Browbeat is a one-shot effect that always gives you the worse deal. Sin Prodder is a continuous effect that might always give you the worse deal, but it's going to do that again, and again, and again and accumulate more value anyway - even at its worst case. It DOES let the opponent choose, but in a midrange, grindy deck both choices spell death.
April 3, 2016 11:30 a.m.
Nobody else gets it? It's ability is like 1/3 of a Browbeat and triggers once per turn. No? The entire card depends on how good a 3/2 Menace plus a Browbeat if the card sticks around for is. Maybe it's good enough for Standard. I wouldn't be Shocked, but I don't expect it.
April 3, 2016 11:46 a.m.
Nightdragon779 says... #44
Did anyone have any success with Pale Rider of Trostad, he seems good
April 3, 2016 11:49 a.m.
JKLawson89 says... #45
Sin Prodder and Goblin Dark-Dwellers synergy is enough to play them for me.
April 3, 2016 11:51 a.m.
DarkLaw except for the fact that it's not 1/3 of a Browbeat, sure. Sin Prodder in standard is going to be doing about 2.5-3 damage to an opponent on average per turn. And if not it draws you an extra card. EVEN IF that card is a land, it's value because it gets you closer to the next card in your deck, cycling you through.
So in an average turn in standard it's either half of a browbeat or a third depending on the mode.
But it's just not a 1-for-1 easy comparison because again, youre comparing a one-shot effect to continuous advantage.
April 3, 2016 noon
You still get your draw step so you haven't lost anything. It's just a unanimously good way to spend mana. You get a threat that's difficult to block. You may also get cards and damage but that's uncertain. However you've only spent 3.
April 3, 2016 12:01 p.m.
I will say that Investigate ended up helping quite a bit in Prerelease for Tamiyo's Journal and to help keep from stalls due to poor draw.
April 3, 2016 1:23 p.m.
I feel like this could get cloggy, so I'll put it in a spoiler tag.
I henceforth name red "bob" Rob (if such a comparison can be made).
April 3, 2016 1:37 p.m.
I'm 100% playing 4 in my Jund deck. Paired alongside Pulse of Murasa I don't care what they bin. It's all value. I'm excited for it.
CChaos says... #1
I got an insane pull from my pack, ill post the good stuff only.
Prerelease foil Thing in the Ice Flip.
Foil Fiery Temper, beautiful art.
Foil Asylum Visitor.
Falkenrath Gorger.
Westvale Abbey Flip.
Ulvenwald Hydra.
Olivia, Mobilized for War.
Sorin, Grim Nemesis.
Arlinn Kord Flip.
April 2, 2016 2:30 p.m.