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.
WolfDice66 says... #2
I could see Wizards making Eldrazi the new Planar antagonists, similar to the role Phyrexians played. Emrakul can planeswalk through the Blind Eternities easier than using a Thran Portal. It would make sense to save such a popular Legend and creature type for a rainy day (sort of how the BFZ block felt), although it could also work to keep up the momentum of the colorless and ally tribal mechanics by finishing the Eldrazi conflict sooner rather than later. I agree that it would seem risky and a little convoluted to the flavor of the block to include such iconic characters in an equally different and iconic setting. I'm being hopeful in wanting to see a Lovecraftian twist on this new horror block (as implied by the set name?). The surprise of seeing Emrakul would be reason enough to include her. It would tear the aeons and shatter minds! It would be awesome if they hid her presence in the set and released the card similar to the expeditions to lessen her appearance but to play up her influence.
January 28, 2016 7:17 p.m.
Harashiohorn says... #3
The problem with the Eldrazi as the go to villain grouping, is that they are a little too destructive, and unique. They force a big colorless influence, and can't pull off the less plane destroying-but-still-relevant villainy of say Bolas. I think the last of the Eldrazi will be saved for a big event in the fairly distant future. The phyrexians deserve some more attention (I mean, they got a whole plane already at this point, they have to spread to more eventually), but they fall into the same problem as the Eldrazi, if they win the Plane is ruined, if they lose the plane is still devastated. I think Bolas will be getting together with Obby this next set with maybe a surprise visit by Tezzeret, to set up something with the phyrexians. Obby+Bolas also provides the grounds for Lliana to have to join team superfriends with Jace and Co. to save Innistrad.
January 28, 2016 10 p.m.
BringBackBolas2016
I just really want a Bolas that's playable outside of asual EDH.
January 28, 2016 10:02 p.m.
bennybubbles says... #5
WolfDice66 can I marry you? That is hands down the best theory I have ever seen for anything and it encompasses everything that I have been predicting for the set and threads it together masterfully. Do you work at WOTC by any chance?
January 29, 2016 6:27 a.m.
I love this idea being conceived here for the upcoming block. I was reviewing some of the cards from the original Zendikar block and compared it to the BFZ block to further probe how the return to Innistrad might be handled. One thing I did pick up was that some of the main creature cards we're seeing in the BFZ block were referenced in the flavor text of the original Zendikar block (e.g., Noyan Dar). If that pattern were to carry over into SoI then I think we could see cards like Ludevic or Edgar Markov be printed. I imagine we will also see new variations of some of the major players from the previous block like Olivia Voldaren or Thalia, Guardian of Thraben.
I know this theory would be way out there but if my recollection of the lore is correct, I believe Baron Sengir was about to march an army through a portal into a new plane. While it would be highly unlikely to occur, how would you like to see an updated version of one of the biggest bars around (lore-wise) invade Innistrad? Or,crackpot theory #2, Tybalt returns from the dead and corrupts Avacyn as an act of revenge upon Sorin.
January 30, 2016 10:24 p.m.
Wizno, Yay, another new Sorin, not! I'd rather see Avacyn be a walker (because I believe Gideon died, or because Elspeth died), although, another 
walker would be nice, too.
January 31, 2016 5:50 p.m.
Atony1400 - Gideon didn't die. Elspeth is in Theros's Underworld. And Angels can't become planeswalkers.
January 31, 2016 6 p.m.
Stranger things have happened, look at Narset Transcendent.
January 31, 2016 6:08 p.m.
That was wholly expected by those people who followed the lore. Try again.
January 31, 2016 8:05 p.m.
http://mtgsalvation.gamepedia.com/Withengar
I just found this. I believe we may have another potential villain since it is not confirmed what happened to withengar our powerful demon overlord friend. It could be very likely he's the new big bad on innistrad.
February 1, 2016 8:08 a.m.
I feel obligated to say this: people believe that power level reasons dictate that we can't get a reprint of Snapcaster because of Jace (and we are probably getting a new Jace too). It was previously mentioned by Maro that sets are set in stone once the name of the set is revealed (and likely for some time before that), which happened October 31st. The release date of Magic Origins was July 17th. There is no way they would pull the plug on a card after seeing another synergistic card be abused for all of 2-3 months.
I can still hold out hope for the power level of the set to be decent, unlike BFZ, and for some nice reprints.
February 2, 2016 3:34 p.m.
Yeah, Snapcaster Mage has been confirmed too strong for Standard. I also wouldn't want to play in a Standard environment with Jace, Vryn's Prodigy Flip and Snapcaster Mage.
February 2, 2016 3:39 p.m.
Serendipitous_Hummingbird says... #16
You're all wrong. Urza comes back from the dead as our first and only 
'walker and brings the enemy fetchlands and common Tarmogoyfs with him
All aboard the Flavorless Fetch Reprint Hype Train!
And the Slightly Less Flavorless 'Goyf Reprint Hype Train!
There are necromancers on ISD, right? And the graveyard strategies involve green, so why not 'goyf?
February 2, 2016 5:09 p.m.
I think the crucial question here is how to get Serendipitous_Hummingbird into the Big Chief seat.
+1 on your idea!
February 3, 2016 4:08 a.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #20
What might this block have in terms of dual lands and mana-generating artifacts? I imagine that enemy-colored "battle lands" would not make sense from a story perspective, but what about reprints of the dual lands from the first Innistrad block? Would Chromatic Lantern make sense in this block, or is it too strongly associated with Ravnica?
February 3, 2016 10:27 p.m.
I could see reprints of innistrad stands as the rare land cycle but I can't see chromatic lantern. Flavor wise it doesn't mesh well.
February 4, 2016 8:16 a.m.
Reprint.
MADNESS IS BACK! HELL YES! Also, reprint.
Madness enabler.
Interesting mechanic. Also, Dispel counterpart?
Interesting mechanic.
FBLTHP! Also, interesting... You get the picture (HA).
More flip cards!
Nahiri, Sorin and Eldrazi? Looks like Kozilek's magic.
Doesn't look like any transforming reprints.
February 6, 2016 1:45 p.m.
I meant transforming cards, not flip cards. Apologies.
February 6, 2016 1:47 p.m.
One nitpick, the Pack Guardian doesn't enable Madness b/c he specifies discarding a land card.
February 6, 2016 1:53 p.m.
Is it possible for them to print a land with madness?
February 6, 2016 2:03 p.m.
I'd say no since Madness does say "cast" and not "play".
Also, here are all the old Madness cards from Torment and Time Spiral.
February 6, 2016 2:06 p.m.
Well, it seems like you've set up a thread specifically for the spoilers, so I'll link it.
February 6, 2016 2:14 p.m.
ok so it looks like Nahiri is super pissed at sorin and is taking it out on innistrad
February 6, 2016 5:14 p.m.
Serendipitous_Hummingbird says... #29
Okay so we get madness, delerium, and the super flavorful mechanics skulk and investigate
We get the greatest creature type ever printed (maybe I'll finally have the tools for homunculus tribal!)
We get the macabre and darkly comedic flavor text. Devil's Playground and Watcher in the Web in particular.
Colorless transform cards seem fun too
Oh and we will likely get a nihiri planeswalker card.
This set will be awesome
February 6, 2016 11:26 p.m.
guys, new spoiled card. this means that we know the basics of the set. We are getting red wolves, g/w/r humans. black vamps. blue geists and some more. what do yall make of this
February 6, 2016 11:45 p.m.
Jimmy_Chinchila says... #31
Anyone notice the Sigarda quote as flavor text on Expose Evil? I'm thinking Avacyn's three buddies are gonna be seen again with more important plot roles. We just saw Linvala revamped, even Acacyn came back as a crappy Guardian Angel.
Please be a new Sigarda, Host of Herons, Bruna, Light of Alabaster and Gisela, Blade of Goldnight!
Also a Restoration Angel reprint would be nice...
February 7, 2016 1:17 a.m.
I want to clear something up.
Nahiri is not necessarily causing trouble. The structural deformations indicate that it was Eldrazi magic. The flavor text could show Nahiri merely commenting on the appearance of Eldrazi on Innistrad.
That said, there is an interesting feminine humanoid figure on the right of the image.
February 7, 2016 3:41 a.m.
Wow, that perspective is great.
The possibility of her not being angry at Sorin, but at the eldrazi appearing on another plane will make the story less complex (character relationships). I think this idea is more solid than Nahiri being angry at Sorin.
February 7, 2016 5:45 a.m.
The notion that Nahiri was using Eldrazi magic to ruin Sorin's day seems... Unlikely.
I'm pretty sure that it is Eldrazi magic because of the exile clause, and just how the deformed structure looks. Also, hooray for a way better Demolish (which land destruction decks were forced to play). In any case, judging by the humanoid figure, an Eldrazi sympathiser is the one casting the magic- hence why it isn't devoid and it is the magic of a dead titan (as far as we know). This is backed up by Rosewater saying that they were trying to reprint IoK in OGW, and that it would make sense flavorfully if it was an Eldrazi sympathiser and not an Eldrazi casting the magic (because it isn't devoid).
In addition to this, people were suggesting that cultists were trying to summon Emrakul, etc. This makes sense if compared to Shadows Over Innsmouth and other Lovecraftian fiction- cultists try to summon the almighty Cthulu (the titans were based off of Lovecraftian monsters) and there are a lot of Lovecraftian mechanics- madness, delirium, investigate, etc.
Just some food for thought.
On a completely unrelated topic, I didn't realise how much I liked the delirium mechanic until now. Note that the earlier spoiled demon effectively has it, and there's a good sideboard counterspell with it. Seriously though. Invasive surgery. Modern sideboards? Probably not if Eldrazi keep tearing everything limb from limb.
February 7, 2016 8:37 a.m.
ItchiUchiha117 says... #35
Wh-what if it's Nahiri using Eldrazi magics to try and draw the Eldrazi from Zendikar to Innistrad?
February 7, 2016 8:47 a.m.
Nahiri would never. Any 'good' person would never. I doubt that she even knows how. Besides, the Eldrazi aren't on Zendikar anymore. The last titan is in an unknown location, and didn't remain to feast upon Zendikar even though both other titans did.
February 7, 2016 11:17 a.m.
please please please give us Tortured Existence! it could fit lorewise and is great with madness and delirium!!!
February 7, 2016 5:06 p.m.
Well in the spoilers, there's a red land destruction spell that has nahiri being really mad in the flavor text. My guess? Someone's pissed at sorin.
That could be a great storyline, getting away from the eldrazi and to a battle of walkers
Also hoping nahiri is gonna be red white (sorta like ajani vengeant)
About the walkers in the set:Nahiri is now a must. She's mad at probably sorin so he's gonna be there. Lili HAS to be there....That's about it tho... Tibalt is dead, and nobody else has reason to go there.
February 8, 2016 7:33 a.m.
Who is spreading rumors that Tibqlt is dead!? It's like a plague. I would like a source showing that Tibalt is dead
February 8, 2016 9:27 a.m.
TheFoilAjani says... #40
I'm pretty sure Tibalt is Ai-oh-kay. When he fought with Sorin, he got rekted, but Sorin let him live.
February 8, 2016 9:49 a.m.
"But we let her live. Because thats what heroes do. They show mercy." ~Handsome Jack
February 8, 2016 9:57 a.m.
Eldritch Moon announced as the second set.
Two things.
1) EMRAKUL
2) Liliana PW card
February 8, 2016 12:34 p.m.
Three Things:
1) No.
2) Yes and/or duh
3) can we keep this about SOI and not EMN, a set that won't come out until July?
February 8, 2016 12:36 p.m.
1) Seems likely. I want to say 76%.
3) Well, technically, you the block is called Shadows Over Innistrad and you never explicitly specified block or set. Also, this gives us clues about the first set in the block.
February 8, 2016 12:43 p.m.
I think it's unlikely we'll see Emrakul in the SOI block. I'd hedge at about 30% chance of Emrakul showing up, and that's me being generous.
February 8, 2016 12:45 p.m.
I don't know. Firstly, Nahiri and what appears to be Eldrazi magic on Innistrad. Secondly, Emrakul was based on Lovecraftian horror, and they aren't even trying to be subtle about the Lovecraft theme now. Thirdly, Emrakul was meant to be in the third set of BFZ, hence why it appears so soon after BFZ.
Only problem is that there is no strong hint, just lots of small hints.
February 8, 2016 12:54 p.m.
Sticking point, you can have Eldritch horror without large tentacled monsters. The true nature of Lovecraftian horror is the horror of the mind. How things aren't as they seem. How reality is unravelling, or at least how you perceive reality. You descend into madness believing that you are seeing things more clearly that your fellow man. And while you see the truth, everyone else doesn't believe you, they think you're mad. THAT is the essence of Eldritch horror.
February 8, 2016 1:07 p.m.
TheFoilAjani says... #49
DarkLaw The title says "April". This is not the place for EDM. Semantics aside, the intention is clear.
February 8, 2016 1:49 p.m.
TheFoilAjani says... #50
That said, Emrakul seems 50/50 for me. Maybe, maybe not
JWiley129 says... #1
I'm 99% sure that we won't be seeing the Eldrazi in SOI. And frankly, I'd be surprised if we did so soon to us leaving Zendikar. It doesn't make sense storywise to run into Emrakul so soon.
January 28, 2016 6:12 p.m.