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!

Teaser Video

Edits for FAQ:

  • Here is Mark Rosewater on why we're getting two returns in a row.

Shadows over Innistrad Trailer

Shadows over Innistrad Card Image Gallery

DemonDragonJ says... #1

How likely is it that skulk shall become an evergreen ability? I would like that very much, as I believe that it is a nice alternative to complete unblockability.

April 3, 2016 6:26 p.m.

Minelia5 says... #2

Went with multiple friends and our notable pulls were:
Me: 2 arlin (well, I mean, my dad pulled one, but ya know)
Friend 1: Sorin
Friend 2: Gitrog
Friend 3: Gitrog
Also in the mix were many other mythics including Relentless Dead, but those were the most notable pulls.

April 3, 2016 7:47 p.m.

Minelia5 says... #3

Also, I'm gonna say that sin prodder is actually a great card from my experience at prerelease, and people imho are criticising it too much.

April 3, 2016 7:49 p.m.

Ashockfan says... #4

I did 2 prereleases, did really well both times.

Got Declaration in Stone as my promo both times (15$ each)

First deck was great. I played Jeskai and had 3x Pyre Hound along with the best removal spells... And lots of them. 2 Lightning Axe, 2 Angelic Purge, Avacyn's Judgment, Burn from Within, Welcome to the Fold, etc. only lost to a crazy WB Aggro deck with 2 From Under the Floorboards in the final round.

Second deck was also great. I played Jund and had Arlinn Kord  Flip alongside Mindwrack Demon and a great werewolf base including the silverwolf rare thing. Only lost games where I got mana screwed.

April 3, 2016 11:38 p.m.

EverythingIsK says... #5

Got my first 6 packs of SoI a few minutes ago, I'm pretty happy with what I got, between things I wanted and value.

Wants I pulled:

Value and Notables I pulled:

I pulled the Thing in the Ice  Flip and Arlinn Kord  Flip from the same pack. That was pretty exciting.

I also managed to pull the same Clue Token 3 times out of all the clues I got. (the Door and staff of the symbol of Avacyn?)

April 8, 2016 6:14 p.m.

JohnnyBaggins says... #6

You legitly pulled more value from 6 packs than I did in six prereleases, 14 price packs from these prereleases and a draft.

April 8, 2016 6:23 p.m.

Ashockfan says... #7

Btw guys, trade away your arlinns ASAP. They will not hold at 27, and as I'm writing this are falling. Meanwhile, sorin WILL hold its price. He's getting plugged right in to any Grindy or control deck.

I traded my Arlinn for a sorin and a shadow land at the prerelease and was happy even though I technically lost a couple bucks on the value back then.

April 8, 2016 6:46 p.m.

EverythingIsK says... #8

She's really going to drop? She seems like she's RGx Good Stuff in Standard at least and probably modern.

I don't know economics too well, so if there's somewhere I can read up about magic stock market ins and outs, please link me on my profile.

April 8, 2016 6:49 p.m.

DrFunk27 says... #9

There is 0 indication Arlinn will drop and there is 0 indication Sorin will hold value. It's much to early to make those claims. In all probability both will drop to $15 until the meta figures out how to use them. My guess is they both stay around $20 but Arlinn will likely see more play than Sorin solely based on Converted Mana Cost.

April 8, 2016 6:59 p.m.

Harashiohorn says... #10

EverythingIsK

Arlinn is not going to modern. There is not a R/G deck already existing that she fits into, control and foundry combo are going to be the things people are playing with, she isn't a archetype enabler, and most importantly she dies to bolt. I hate to be a downer, but Do Not Hold onto Arlinn for Modern Value, standard value sure, but definitely not modern in the foreseeable future.

April 8, 2016 8:16 p.m.

DrFunk27 says... #11

Harashiohorn She does not die to bolt.....also, she actually works nicely in Jund. Wolves tribal will play her and could become a viable tribal deck in modern. She's going to be better in standard, sure, she she will fit into modern.

April 8, 2016 8:22 p.m.

TobyG says... #12

DrFunk27 how does she not die to bolt? To be fair though, so does huntmaster and Olivia

April 8, 2016 8:34 p.m.

DrFunk27 says... #13

+1 she's at 4....you always get priority to activate walkers even over instants.

April 8, 2016 8:39 p.m.

TobyG says... #14

True, but most of the time flipping her would be better.

April 8, 2016 11:02 p.m.

DrFunk27 says... #15

Why? You know your opponent has Bolt so you play around it...lol Seriously, dies to Bolt and dies to Doom Blade are terrible "logical" reasons to say a card is bad.

April 8, 2016 11:07 p.m.

GearNoir says... #16

If anything, she just saved you from a Bolt.

April 8, 2016 11:09 p.m.

EverythingIsK says... #17

In no way am I comparing Tibalt to Arlinn, but that's one thing I like about tibalt, is that he potentially is your 2-mana lightning rod in aggro/ burn match-ups.

Not practical in the least, but I've always seen planeswalkers that as long as they make an impact in some way significantly (whether board or card advantage) is worthwhile to play in your deck.

Arlinn is no exception to the above. She's got a ton going for her.

April 8, 2016 11:15 p.m.

lemmingllama says... #18

@DrFunk27 Right now I know that Arlinn is being tested in Jund. She's replacing Huntmaster of the Fells  Flip or Chandra, Pyromaster in some lists. Hasty Tarmogoyf, trample to get through thopters, and the wolf/bolt sequence are all very powerful.

April 9, 2016 7:44 a.m.

Ej1997 says... #19

Harashiohorn Arlinn is a good top end in any aggro deck running r/g in modern. If you're so afraid of bolt +1 and make your goyf or wild nacatal scarier then usual. Then next turn generate a threat and flip. Then boost your entire team by plussing Arlinn. And by saying right now there are no decks that want a r/g top end is nonsense. Naya zoo would love this card to give there threats that last little push to the finish either by boosting your entire team or giving you an additional bolt you your opponents face. Not to mention Arlinn has effectively 5 options for you to play including the ultimate that all do things to help you win faster.

And for your comment on the foundry combo. You know you're playing r/g right? You literally have so many options in removal in both colors including 1 drop removal in natural state and natures claim(take your pick) and in two drops we have ancient grudge(which later flash backs for 1) destructive revelry and smash to smithereens(who both help burn your opponent for 2&3 respectively. So saying that one combo makes a card unplayable is nonsense. Combo decks have always existed and if anything aggro has always had a fun time of hurting them while they search for combo pieces.

April 9, 2016 9 a.m.

DrFunk27 says... #20

Arlinn is also being tested in Kiki Chord lists.

April 9, 2016 11:28 a.m.

Harashiohorn says... #21

Ej1997 Ok, so firstly my comment about the foundry combo deck was just that, that deck is probably going to be seeing more thought and brewing effort than R/G aggro decks right now. Not that Foundry is going to be any good (It probably wont).

As for the Naya zoo deck... that is 1% of the meta, Jund is 3%. Sure those numbers are skewed by the Eldrazi, but Arlinn isn't helping against Affinity, its not helping against RDW, it's useless against lantern control, not where you want to be against UW control, weak to hatebears, and not what you want to be doing against Tron. I don't know what Arlinn does against Creatures Toolbox, but she doesn't seem particularly good there. Infect doesn't care since she is a turn four play that doesn't kill their guy. So I suppose the question is, why? Why would you want to run Arlinn? I get that she can be a value engine in Jund, but Jund isn't that good right now. I guess my point is that R/G aggro is a only 4% of the meta, and while the Eldrazi are significantly weaker, Arlinn does not suddenly make Jund or Naya Zoo viable again. Anguished Unmaking is a FANTASTIC card in BW tokens, but I would not bet on its value because of that, since BW tokens has a tiny meta share. Likewise I would not bet on Arlinn until I see proof that R/G Aggro is viable again.

DrFunk27 You are right that dies to bolt doesn't make a card bad, but there is a reason that Deceiver Exarch was a 4 of while Pestermite was only a 2 or 3 of.

April 9, 2016 2:42 p.m.

DrFunk27 says... #22

Harashiohorn But she DOESNT die to bolt. You can +1 her.

April 9, 2016 3:09 p.m.

car says... #23

wtf. make jund viable? wtf are u talking about?

April 9, 2016 4:04 p.m.

DrFunk27 says... #24

Jund is already viable and easily one of the best aggressive tempo decks available. This keeps getting funnier.

April 9, 2016 4:48 p.m.

GearNoir says... #25

Anyone need a popcorn refill? I think we're just getting to the good part.

April 9, 2016 5:16 p.m.

I'll take extra butter on mine, please

April 9, 2016 5:17 p.m.

PistonGolem says... #27

Get me dat extra large coke, this is going to be a long show...

April 9, 2016 7:33 p.m.

00xtremeninja says... #28

But what if you plus one her and someone plus ones their lightning bolt?

April 9, 2016 9:25 p.m.

DrFunk27 says... #29

DOUBLE LIGHTNING BOLT?! WHAT?! ded

April 9, 2016 9:49 p.m.

MindAblaze says... #30

I flashback my Increasing Vengeance and copy that lightning bolt twice. More dead.

April 9, 2016 10:05 p.m.

Ej1997 says... #31

If someone wants to do all that to kill Arlin good for them they just 2 for 1 themselves. Though don't forget if you're playing delver they can just flashback the lighting bolt with a snapcaster

April 9, 2016 11:20 p.m.

zephramtripp says... #32

But what if they Boros Charm?

April 9, 2016 11:23 p.m.

EverythingIsK says... #33

Then just run 4 MB Leyline of Sanctity.

Back to more on topic, I got a fat pack, and found two more Arlinns. I should go get some lottery tickets.

April 9, 2016 11:26 p.m.

DrFunk27 says... #34

EverythingIsK Trade them to meeeeeeeee

April 9, 2016 11:49 p.m.

Ej1997 says... #35

EverythingIsK

I'd just keep buying packs. Don't ruin that lucky streak.

April 9, 2016 11:58 p.m.

EverythingIsK says... #36

@Ej1997 Don't tempt me, I just got my paycheck for the week 5 minutes ago.

April 10, 2016 12:07 a.m.

Ej1997 says... #37

EverythingIsK

Offers packs

April 10, 2016 12:41 a.m.

-Orvos- says... #38

We all die to lightning bolt. Therefore that must mean we all suck and should never ever play magic again.

April 10, 2016 4 a.m.

Kroto says... #39

EverythingIsK can I buy the packs you touched?

April 10, 2016 4:08 a.m.

PistonGolem says... #40

On the subject of killing Arlinn, you guys forgot one option...enter image description here

April 10, 2016 7:29 a.m.

00xtremeninja says... #41

Not good strat, Patrick dies to bolt

April 10, 2016 9:19 a.m.

Ashockfan says... #42

Not to start an argument again, but on my testing and others (even some pros) Arlinn feels lackluster. She just died too quickly. It's not that she does or doesn't die to bolt or doom blade, it's that she DIES. Period. Essentially most games she's 4 mana get a wolf and gain 3 or so life... That's not good enough for standard let alone modern.

I was also on the train for having her in modern Jund... But not so much anymore. Also, she can't be plugged into any deck... You gotta build around her, but the build around cards might not be good enough.

Just my two cents.

Ps. Also, sorin will hold its value. If you've been watching Scgbalt, he's getting plugged into everything

April 10, 2016 10:39 a.m.

PistonGolem says... #43

Does this mean her price will drop?

April 10, 2016 11:08 a.m.

I just wish the new Sorin wasn't so high on CMC

I would love to try him in modern but I don't think that his CMC will make the cut, unless you are running an abzan ramp deck he just doesn't come out fast enough

April 10, 2016 11:47 a.m.

I feel like Equestrian Skill would have been sooo much more flavorful if it would have granted the Enchanted creature Horsemanship.

April 11, 2016 1 a.m.

This discussion has been closed