The Masterpiece Series

Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum

Posted on Sept. 12, 2016, 10:52 a.m. by ducttapedeckbox

In a nutshell, we're getting a version of Expeditions for every set. In this case, they're dubbed the Kaladesh Inventions, but are part of a larger Masterpiece Series.

  • They're at an even higher rarity than mythic rare, with an open rate of about 1 per 144 packs.

  • The Kaladesh block will have 54 of these bad boys, spread across Kaladesh and Aether Revolt. This number will vary, but stay around 50 for each block.

  • This series will be included in every block, with the "theme" tied to the block (i.e. all of the Kaladesh Inventions will be artifacts)

  • They will be almost all reprints, with the exception of a few - like how the BFZ lands were also expeditions

  • The reprints have to be conceivable on Kaladesh, so we won't be seeing Umezawa's Jitte in this set

  • They are legal in Limited and any constructed format that the cards are already legal in

  • Check out the full article here

So far we have four of these: meh, eh, ooh, and DAMN!

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Discuss & post new spoilers!

Omfg I want that Mana Crypt. I wouldn't mind that Gauntlet of Power either.

September 12, 2016 10:54 a.m.

00xtremeninja says... #3

Fuck you Wizards. All you do is find ways to take my money

September 12, 2016 11:02 a.m.

CastleSiege says... #4

So, here are some likely canidates:

  • Sol Ring
  • Mana Vault
  • Gilded Lotus
  • Caged Sun
  • Solemn Simulacrum

I guess we'll find out later today at 2PM PST.

September 12, 2016 11:43 a.m.

Jay says... #5

Wurmcoil? Ravager? Pretty much any affinity staple actually lol.

But if there's a Skullclamp I'm gonna spend too much money...

September 12, 2016 11:52 a.m.

Aztraeuz says... #6

Thank you Wizards. My children don't need college funds anyway.

I'm excited for anything I actually play in my decks. I'm especially excited for anything I run in my Zur the Enchanter deck.

September 12, 2016 12:30 p.m.

Guftders says... #7

As for other possible inclusions:

And what I think they won't do:

  • Anything Legendary
  • The signets, keyrunes and cluestones etc are off limits because they reference Ravnica
  • Myr are specific to Mirrodin also so are no-nos.
  • Artifact lands are a no-no because they are specific places on Mirrodin.
  • Phyrexian Altar, again, reference Phyrexia
September 12, 2016 12:49 p.m.

I'm not so sure about this. I find it a little dopey they keep referencing the demand about reprints negatively impacting standard and this is the method they decided to go with. So one expedition out of 144 packs then there is 25-30 different masterpieces per set. What is this really going to do for getting these cards into peoples hands? Shouldn't standard players have the right to have access to some of these awesome cards in their formats without it being introduced as a gimmick? I don't want to be the downer and pessimist but that explanation article sucked.

September 12, 2016 12:49 p.m.

CastleSiege says... #9

MaRo didn't mean the demand for reprints negatively impacts standard. By saying Masterpiece cards help make standard more accessible, he meant people are going to spend more money, crack more boxes and packs, and thus drive the price of standard cards down. By making Masterpiece cards mostly sought after reprints, it ensures that will happen and gives people the reprints they've been clamoring for, albeit not in the quantity that's needed.

September 12, 2016 1:03 p.m.

iBleedPunk says... #10

I don't know how I feel about them releasing this as a series. It's nice to get reprints of older cards but pulling them at a rate of 1/144 packs makes them not so easily attained

September 12, 2016 1:08 p.m.

Reaxetion says... #11

@Everyone saying this isn't a full solution to needed reprints:"It wasn't a total solution for every challenge, but it helped address all of them." -MaRoThis is not their final solution, but it is going to help a bit, plus it is fun! They know more work will need to be done to make all cards accessible, but that is not their sole purpose with this.

Anyways, more possible inclusions:

Batterskull - How sweet would that be?

Mindslaver - Not sure though.

Vedalken Orrery - Fits the theme very well of Kaladesh!

Scroll Rack - Personally I need more of these....

Nevinyrral's Disk - Unlikely thematically, but they seem to like to print this card.

Winter Orb - Unlikely but maybe.

AEther Vial - Id say its in Aether Revolt just because of the name xD.

Zuran Orb - Maybe? Seems underwhelming...

Howling Mine - They like making us EDH players happy, right?

Ensnaring Bridge - Maybe? I'm not convinced though.

The Medallion Series - Seem super useful. (Sapphire Medallion for reference).

September 12, 2016 1:49 p.m.

kanokarob says... #12

I'm hyped for these. Been planning on foiling my Kurkesh deck so hopefully we get some of the cards I've got there. Planar Portal, with some new art and flavor text, may not be completely out of the running.

September 12, 2016 1:52 p.m.

Bovine073 says... #13

The limited playable clause will be interesting. I'm guessing a lot of these will be first pickable.

September 12, 2016 2:34 p.m.

Guftders says... #14

Reaxetion: Zuran Orb is unlikely because it references Zur the Enchanter (hence Zur-an) :p

September 12, 2016 2:44 p.m.

Guftders says... #15

Reaxetion: Zuran Orb is unlikely because it references Zur the Enchanter (hence Zur-an) :p

September 12, 2016 2:44 p.m.

sergiodelrio says... #16

I'm calling Master Transmuter as the Comet Storm of these.

September 12, 2016 2:44 p.m.

Araganor says... #17

Bovine073

Even if they weren't playable you can bet your ass I'm taking the card that would pay for the rest of my drafts that year.

September 12, 2016 2:47 p.m.

capriom85 says... #18

Am I the only one that is excited about Verdurous Gearhulk in any way shape or form? The promo looks amazing here in any event!

Hangarback Walker also looks great, but the the fact that we are getting Gauntlet and Crypt in this is much more satisfying than cool arts on "ok" cards.

September 12, 2016 2:53 p.m.

Bovine073 says... #19

Araganor well yes, of course, but playing a 3 Cmc creature T1 in draft sounds very fun too lol.

September 12, 2016 2:56 p.m.

DemonDragonJ says... #20

I definitely am very excited about this addition to the game, as it will be a great way to obtain older cards with awesome artwork, but it is clearly an attempt by WotC to get more money from players, and I hope that it is not done too often, since it essentially is adding another rarity to the game, which the game most certainly does not need.

As for the cards that may be included in this series, I am hoping for some mana-generating artifacts, such as Sol Ring, Gilded Lotus, or Chromatic Lantern, or for some utility artifacts, such a Planar Portal or Ring of Three Wishes. Hopefully, these cards will not be too expensive.

September 12, 2016 2:57 p.m.

Sloanan says... #21

Any hope for a Crucible of Worlds? Or was that one too lore-based?

September 12, 2016 3:03 p.m.

sergiodelrio says... #22

DemonDragonJ the whole point of these is that they'll be expensive.

September 12, 2016 3:04 p.m.

kanokarob says... #23

Unfortunately for you, DemonDragonJ, this "Masterpiece Series" will be every block, as has been stated in the OP and the Mothership. Relating to the blocks themes, of course. Thankfully, they'll all be reprints or alt arts of new cards, so although they'll be highly sought after, they won't make it any more difficult/expensive to build standard decks, or any other formats, unless you really want them to.

September 12, 2016 3:07 p.m.

Guftders says... #24

Another Top 15-ish notable inclusions that I'm stripping from Gatherer (ignoring anything on Reserved List or references outside of Kaladesh):

September 12, 2016 3:14 p.m.

Guftders says... #25

Also, funnily enough, The Professor predicted something similar would be done for Shadows over Innistrad.... Bet he's going crazy that they're doing it for every single block, EXCEPT the one he thought it would be in XD

September 12, 2016 3:17 p.m.

APPLE01DOJ says... #26

September 12, 2016 3:33 p.m.

APPLE01DOJ says... #27

September 12, 2016 3:34 p.m.

Guftders says... #28

Half an hour to go before we see more of the Masterpieces! "Right now I'm going to start by showing you four of them. The rest will be posted later today. (Check back at 2 p.m. PT.)"

September 12, 2016 4:35 p.m.

erabel says... #29

For the record, y'all, Gilded Lotus is definitely not one of these. Gauntlet's collector number is 12, Hangarback's is 13.

September 12, 2016 4:38 p.m.

00xtremeninja says... #30

September 12, 2016 4:44 p.m.

iBleedPunk says... #31

September 12, 2016 4:50 p.m.

00xtremeninja says... #32

i would actually love if Wizards decided to mess with us and make one of these a Hot Soup

September 12, 2016 4:58 p.m.

griz024 says... #33

September 12, 2016 5:01 p.m.

griz024 says... #34

September 12, 2016 5:01 p.m.

Aether Vial, Chromatic Lantern, Champions Helm spoiled.

September 12, 2016 5:05 p.m.

Crucible of Worlds, Cloudstone Curio, and Chrome Mox

September 12, 2016 5:06 p.m.

Lighting Greaves, Lotus Petal, Mana Vault, Minds Eye, Mox Opal, Painters Servant, Sculpting Steel, Rings of Brightheart, Scroll Rack

September 12, 2016 5:06 p.m. Edited.

Monsmtg says... #38

September 12, 2016 5:11 p.m.

Or that

September 12, 2016 5:12 p.m.

jchudz says... #40

sol ring,painter's servant and rings of brighthearth too

September 12, 2016 5:14 p.m.

Atony1400 says... #41

Pretty much everything you guys predicted is there! Even AEther Vial!

September 12, 2016 5:14 p.m.

iBleedPunk says... #42

I just shit myself

September 12, 2016 5:15 p.m.

bkimpland says... #43

THE ART.. OH GOD THE ART... TOO GOOD... .. ... THE HYPE.. WILL KILL ME..... . .

September 12, 2016 5:19 p.m.

KingTorg1 says... #44

My condolences to anyone who opens the Lightning Greaves.

September 12, 2016 5:30 p.m.

jchudz says... #45

honestly, if Hangarback Walker isn't going to be in standard, it will probably be the lowest, maybe Champion's Helm

September 12, 2016 5:33 p.m.

SamCre1993 says... #46

Guess this is why god gave us two kidneys

September 12, 2016 5:38 p.m.

Aztraeuz says... #47

KingTorg1 I would gladly pull Lightning Greaves. I want like 30 of them for my EDH decks.

September 12, 2016 5:49 p.m.

iBleedPunk says... #48

KingTorg1 I also wouldn't mind pulling the Greaves cuz they are usually a staple in EDH

September 12, 2016 6:01 p.m.

holy butts

September 12, 2016 6:28 p.m.

TobyG says... #50

Just a question: do you think these will bring down the price of the regular cards? I am looking to buy aether vials and am wondering if this will make them cheaper.

September 12, 2016 6:35 p.m.

This discussion has been closed