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.
alanwescoat says... #2
Atony1400, I am thinking that this set might make a good time to finish the off-color Scars lands cycle from Scars of Mirrodin, like Seachrome Coast and Blackcleave Cliffs. We already have a full set of checklands, and they are not in high demand, whereas an opposing-color set of scars lands would be quie useful in Standard, Modern, and possibly Legacy.
February 14, 2016 1:32 a.m.
I think after KTK leaves, the wedge decks (Tri-color decks) will go too, there was only slight Tri-color affiliation in FRF (leaving too), but virtually none in DTK.
Honestly, I'm sad to see Fate go. I had more fun with this set than any other from current standard. :(
February 14, 2016 1:41 a.m.
Finishing that cycle would be cool. But I also wouldn't be opposed to a new dual land cycle. That said, I hope they do all the enemy colors first and save the allied lands for Eldritch Moon.
The big cards leaving us in Fate are Temur Battle Rage, Tasigur, the Golden Fang, and Ugin, the Spirit Dragon. So good riddance.
February 14, 2016 1:42 a.m.
I did, but Monastery Mentor has had a larger impact on non-rotating/eternal formats, so that's why I forgot it.
February 14, 2016 11:53 a.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #8
JWiley129: do you not mean that it is a good thing that Phyrexia cannot leave Mirrodin yet? Because there is no way that the WotC is going to waste such a grand story opportunity and not have the Phyrexians spread to other planes in the multiverse.
Atony1400, reprints of those lands would be nice, given how expensive they currently are, but I would much rather see enemy-colored counterparts to Canopy Vista, Prairie Stream, and so forth.
February 14, 2016 2:45 p.m.
DemonDragonJ - Indeed, I mean to imply that the spread of the oil of the Phyrexians is good for the greater multiverse. I arrived at this conclusion based on the premise of the following attributes that have been given to us from Wizards based on the lore. Firstly, Phyrexian physiology does not allow for a planeswalker spark to take hold. This inhibits the ability for a Phyrexian planeswalker to so much as exist. Second, planar portals, such as the ones Yawgmoth used in the old storylines, are not nearly as stable as they used to be since the multiverse changing event known as the Mending. Lastly, it is a much more interesting story opportunity to see the schisms between the factions on New Phyrexia as illustrated in the cards from New Phyrexia. This comes from flavor texts such as that on Priest of Urabrask and how the individuality of Red mana causes a philosophical split from the purpose and unity of the Phyrexian oil.
Now let's not talk about this set and not other sets or storylines, please?
February 14, 2016 2:55 p.m.
DemonDragonJ, those would be nice, but I'm believe they are only native to Zendikar, maybe they'll put then in a core,
Just remembered they stopped those.....
February 14, 2016 5:33 p.m.
Atony1400 - Lands are usually named in such a way as they can be put on any plane. So we could see a Canopy Vista on Ravnica, Innistrad, or even Mirrodin if it fit.
February 14, 2016 5:35 p.m.
alanwescoat says... #12
With two blocks per years, it would be great if the year started off with something new and the second block was a return.
February 14, 2016 5:46 p.m.
Technically, SOI and EMN are the first block, and a return. The next two are new. We just don't know what they are yet.....
February 14, 2016 6:07 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #15
JWiley129, I shall say one more thing about Phyrexia, before returning to discussion of Innistrad: it is only a matter of time before someone is able to build a stable planar portal, as I am certain that, in the world of this game, as in actuality, technology is always advancing. For example, I would not be surprised if Niv-Mizzet eventually learns that Ral Zarek is a planeswalker, and then somehow studies him (Zarek) and his spark to build a planar portal. The idea of planar portals becoming unstable after the mending is a rather lame plot device, anyway, in my mind. On that subject, the idea that Phyrexians cannot be planeswalkers is a rather convenient plot device, is it not?
Now, as for Innistrad, I do expect to see at least some multi-colored cards in the block, but might there any three-colored cards, or are those reserved only for rare occasions? Might there finally be a black-and-white angel on that plane?
February 14, 2016 8:42 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #17
I still think that unearth would make perfect sense in this block, and it has been a long time since that mechanic was last used in a set.
February 15, 2016 10:07 a.m.
Captain of the Mists is a reprint, but the other cards capture perfectly Eldtrich horror. All the cards are just so...unsettling. shiver
EDIT: Also, functional reprint of Ghostway?
February 15, 2016 11:46 a.m. Edited.
GoldGhost012 says... #20
It's better cause you can choose exactly which ones get shifted instead of just all of them.
February 15, 2016 11:50 a.m.
DemonDragonJ - By that logic we should see Bands with others in SOI too b/c it's been a while since we've seen it. Also from the spoilers we've seen, I doubt Unearth is coming back. That is mainly b/c it would be limited to the Zombies which are 
in Innistrad.
February 15, 2016 11:58 a.m.
TheNextRedDude says... #23
Is it just me or does Topplegeist seem really good?
February 15, 2016 12:18 p.m.
Topplegeist is very strong, but also very fragile. I just really enjoy the flavor of Topplegeist. I think this Tweet describes it best.
February 15, 2016 2:37 p.m.
I hope either aggro gets some good cards this set or Disdainful Stroke gets a reprint. Otherwise those ramp decks are going to dominate standart pretty bad.
February 20, 2016 6:14 p.m.
Serendipitous_Hummingbird says... #27
Seb McKinnon, once again demonstrating that he belongs next to Nils Hamm for "best nonland artist"
February 20, 2016 6:55 p.m.
Kroto, I kinda agree, but disagree. Invasive Surgery is already a decent answer to it by being only 
to cast and countering Explosive Vegetation and Nissa's Pilgrimage. The decks that I currently see being popular are decks that run G/U, some sort of Grixis deck and possibly, if the cards turn out good, an Izzet/Jeskai deck.
For the other decks such as aggro. Red/Atarka Red is going to need a good creature early because Monastery Swiftspear is gonna be gone. But with some of these cards making Devil tokens, I can see the deck running close to what it is currently, just with some minor changes (Hordeling Outburst, and the Become Immense + Temur Battlerage combo is gone) and just go wide with Atarka's Command. The other aggro decks like Abzan seem to be taking a big hit due to the key creatures and Sorin, Solemn Visitor going away (don't forget Abzan Charm). If they get a decent 4 drop, then the deck could still be OK, just not what it is currently.
Ramp loses their boardwipe in Ugin, the Spirit Dragon so midrange decks likely gotta a slight more shot against them.
February 21, 2016 3:17 a.m.
I should rephrase that to: I see your point; but I disagree.
February 21, 2016 3:25 a.m.
So here's a random speculation question I've been mulling over: what are the odds that we could see another "dynamic duo" card printer? My thought is that in recent sets we've had Anax and Cymede, Pia and Kiran Nalaar, and Mina and Denn, Wildborn. So what are the odds we could see another duo card printed in SoI block? Personally, I would love a legendary card that combines Ghoulcaller Gisa and Stitcher Geralf since they are siblings.
February 22, 2016 11:56 p.m.
Wizno - The only problem there is that Gisa and Geralf don't get along. And we could see a "dynamic duo" however I think they'll only do it when it makes sense.
February 23, 2016 12:02 a.m.
GoldGhost012 says... #32
So apparently this was leaked on 4chan. Dat flavor text tho.
February 25, 2016 5:14 p.m.
Two 2CMC to remove Avacyn or Akroma? I'm down for that.
February 25, 2016 6:10 p.m.
I would have to go fake with that one GoldGhost012. The card is at a slight angle and expansion symbol is directly facing you and pops out more than the rest of the black text.
February 25, 2016 6:25 p.m.
TheFoilAjani says... #37
I hope it's real, 'cause it would probably confirm that Angels going kraykray. I doesn't look real though, like was said. The expansion symbol is a bit off.
February 25, 2016 6:29 p.m.
It might be a real card, but not this pic of a giant sized version.
February 25, 2016 6:33 p.m.
TheFoilAjani says... #39
addaff Awesome good to know I wasn't hallucinating that. Thanks for the confirmation.
February 25, 2016 6:44 p.m.
Clip wings is a pretty hard blow to bogle in modern tho
February 25, 2016 6:51 p.m.
Harashiohorn says... #41
Nothing integral to the boggles game plan is flying though. You can just switch out flying enchantments for different ones. And Slippery Bogle and Gladecover Scout are both unaffected.
February 25, 2016 8:17 p.m.
silverwolf5o says... #42
JWiley129, no it doesn't, sigarda doesn't make you sacrifice things.
February 25, 2016 9:06 p.m.
silverwolf5o - Goddammit...I always forget about that part of Sigarda's abilities....
February 25, 2016 9:08 p.m.
This doesn't necessarily mean that the angels are evil. For example, it can mean that they're going overboard and trying to extinguish vampires as a race completely, or maybe people found out that Avacyn was made by a vampire and now distrust her. Maybe it's thought-warping magic.
February 26, 2016 1:59 a.m.
I'm going to point out that the angel's eyes are gold. As far as I know that points to one thing...cues drumroll the raven man.
February 26, 2016 8:53 a.m.
Welp. Just noticed I was late to this party. Oh well. Pretty in thread visual link.
February 26, 2016 11:19 a.m.
3 Days, 5 Hrs, 42 min.... till what?
Did they simply forget the "1 Month" part, or does Innistrad have really long days?
And what time-zone does that go by? Here, that will end @ 7:00 pm on Thursday.
JWiley129 says... #1
They're likely too good with the buddy lands b/c you could have
, 
, and 
available on turn 2 in an Abzan deck. Not that Abzan would be a big archetype in the next standard, but you never know.
E.g. - In INN/RTR standard the Shocklands/Buddylands had a Standard with that vein and most decks devolved into 3-color goodstuff.
February 14, 2016 12:59 a.m.