War of the Spark: Spoilers and Speculation
Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum
Posted on March 31, 2019, 10:56 a.m. by AgentGreen
Spoiler season technically kicks off today
What is truly sad is the set with 36 planes walker has the worst tools to deal with them. I mean Vraska's Contempt , Assassin's Trophy , The Immortal Sun , Plaguecrafter the worse part quite a few will rotate out in the fall. While we have Bedevil and a few others to help but we need more with that many Planeswalkers coming. It is kind of disheartening
April 11, 2019 3:59 p.m.
hejtmane - we are not done with Spoilers yet, and I have reason to suspect we will start seeing the removal spells shortly. They are doing something different with spoilers this set--they are trying to tell a story through each day's spoilers.
The first couple days involved Bolas arriving in Ravnica, and generally making a mess of things. After that, there were several days of spoilers involving planeswalkers fighting against Bolas, and the tide of war seemed to turn against Bolas.
Today we saw the arrival of even more Eternals, and some pretty powerful ones--the God-Eternals. I suspect Bolas is going to have a couple days where his army is gaining traction, and expect that we'll see the cards designed to deal with the array of planeswalkers against him during this surge.
April 11, 2019 4:07 p.m.
That Tamiyo is going to be straight gas in a jank Simic Eternal Command brew that I’ve been working on for awhile. She’s basically an extra copy of Eternal Witness , and she helps me dig. I am hype.
April 11, 2019 4:08 p.m.
JANKYARD_DOG says... #5
God-Eternal Rhonas
Legendary Creature - Zombie God
Deathtouch
When God-Eternal Rhonas enters the battlefield, double the power of each other creature you control until end of turn. Those creatures gain vigilance until end of turn.
When God-Eternal Rhonas dies or is put into exile from the battlefield, you may put it into its owner's library third from the top.
5/5
April 11, 2019 6:36 p.m.
JANKYARD_DOG says... #6
Surprised we haven't seen Kefnet yet, as he/she has appeared on a few cards already.
April 11, 2019 6:42 p.m.
AgentGreen says... #7
Kefnet and Oketra are coming
Rhonas was annoying AF before; and they made him EVEN WORSE now.
April 11, 2019 7:14 p.m.
JANKYARD_DOG says... #8
Here's something we can get excited for. Well, I can at least.
God-Eternal Kefnet
Legendary Creature - Zombie God
Flying
You may reveal the first card you draw each turn as you draw it. Whenever you reveal an instant or sorcery card this way, copy that card and you may cast that copy. That copy costs 2 less to cast.
When God-Eternal Kefnet dies or is put into exile from the battlefield, you may put it into its owner's library third from the top.
4/5
April 12, 2019 12:15 a.m.
AgentGreen says... #9
Nivy is back....and he is not like any Niv-Mizzet printed:
Niv-Mizzet Reborn
6/6 Flying Legendary Creature - Dragon Avatar
When Niv-Mizzet Reborn enters the battlefield, reveal the top ten cards of your library. For each color pair, choose a card that's exactly those colors from among them. Put the chosen cards into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Commander players are probably salivating
April 12, 2019 11:16 a.m.
ZendikariWol says... #10
1) yes, AgentGreen. Yes, we are.
2) theory: Niv dies and is reborn as the new Living Guildpact.
April 12, 2019 11:31 a.m.
Niv died. We even got a card inderectly depicting Bolas killing Niv:
But other than that, Niv died/disappeared in GRN, we now see what has happened. But a smart dragon always prepares, as Nicol himself would testify.
April 12, 2019 11:49 a.m.
ShutUpMokuba says... #12
Talking about smart dragons.. i can't wait for Ugin to show up...
April 12, 2019 12:16 p.m.
ZendikariWol I had the same thought! It's a great explanation for why his reborn self is all five colors
April 12, 2019 12:19 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #14
So anyone see the Bond cycle that's popping up? Worries me a little bit. Dear Wizards, please return to Alara, and please don't replace it! If it were the Khans of Tarkir three-color combos that may be a little better (because while Tarkir is my favorite plane, and I do much prefer it under the Khans, if the Khans aren't returning I still want more stuff in those colors). Anyway. TL;DR, I love the idea of a united Ravnica, but plz don't make it new Alara.
April 12, 2019 12:20 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #15
And saj0219 I was alluding more to the fact that the new Niv looks through the top ten cards of your deck for cards of every color pair. This likely symbolizes Niv-Mizzet somehow bringing peace (or at least greater unity) to Ravnica.
April 12, 2019 12:22 p.m.
New Kefnet is insane with any hand-to-library engine ( Jace, the Mind Sculptor , Scroll Rack , etc.). You can set up an infinite engine of casting the copy, putting the original back, then drawing it again to cast the copy.
Like...even Divination is nuts. You get to ": Draw 2 cards" each turn.
April 12, 2019 3:45 p.m.
ShutUpMokuba says... #17
I love this team made of Jace, Ral and Vraska shown in "Contentious Plan". The flavor texts is basically Niv saying:"Guys, just don't mess things up and everything will be fine, ok?"
April 12, 2019 4:11 p.m.
I'd rather see Alara on Ravnica than Guilds becoming monocolored. So Simic and Selesnya team up aswell as Orzhov and Azorious.
As Simic and Selesnya take Green, that means Golgari has to go with black and Gruul has to go with Red.
As Orzhov and Azorious take White, that means Boros have to go with Red.
Next pair: Boros + Gruul. Lol. (Battle)
That also means we have Rakdos for Black, teaming up with Golgari. (Death)
That also means Izzet for Blue, leaves Dimir as the rest, so Izzet and Dimir team up. (Knowledge)
Logic does things.
April 12, 2019 5:30 p.m.
JANKYARD_DOG says... #19
------ there will likely be a bond for each color pairing regardless of what side they started on because I believe everyone is coming to realize Bolas and his master plan is good for no one but him.
April 12, 2019 5:43 p.m.
yeah looks like you are right, because they just spoilered a chainbreaker. Not a bad idea either, propably those bonds wont last long tho.
April 12, 2019 5:52 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #21
I am actually kinda bummed- the Gruul and Rakdos would have been a decent combo. They share the same love of violence, if for different reasons.
April 12, 2019 5:57 p.m.
Seriously - no! That´s so generic, bland and boring that WotC propably does that. Propably I shouldn't have assumed that the idiots over at WotC use logic or creativity in the first place.
April 12, 2019 6:04 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #23
------ who are you talking to, Mj or me? Either way, tone it done plz, we’re all friends here.
April 12, 2019 6:46 p.m.
ShutUpMokuba says... #24
the flavour text on "Bond of flourishing" is funny though… However i agree that the team ups should be the ones ------ suggested…
April 12, 2019 6:49 p.m.
or wait, I was actually right with all bond matchups? Nevermind then, just ignore my last post.
Gruul + Boros
Rakdos + Golgari
Dimir + Izzet
Simic + Selesnya
Orzhov + Azorious
April 12, 2019 9:03 p.m.
Another theory:
All planeswalkers that have a + Ability will survive Ravnica, all planeswalkers that lack a + Ability will die there.
-> Chandra got a +, Dovin Baan does not. -> Sorin got a +, Nahiri does not.
My theories: Chandra kills Dovin, Sorin kills Nahiri.
April 12, 2019 9:16 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #27
I... doubt it. Here’s the problem with your theory, ------, there are a pile of new walkers in the uncommon slot. It would be tacky to kill them off on their first go.
April 12, 2019 10:47 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #28
Funkydiscogod, you asked for it. This is all speculation though, and I do tend to be wrong. It happens.
Seeing again for sure or would require a very specific death: Angrath, Vraska, Teyo (replacing Gids, sad beans imo), Wanderer, Kasmina (new walker, more to explore)
Probably seeing again: Kaya, Saheeli, Samut, Davriel (if they kill him I’ll cry), Arlinn, Jiang
Wouldn’t be surprised to not see again: Dovin (lose to Chandra), Kiora (dead weight), Nahiri (lose to Sorin), Nixxy (lose to someone ig), Jaya (sacrifices herself for Chandra), Tibalt
April 12, 2019 11:23 p.m.
@Funkydiscogod Chandra is confirmed to survive, because she’s got a comic that takes place after the events of War. Tibalt is also confirmed to survive. Hooray!
In terms of who’s going to die, I feel like Jaya is in serious danger because her death would complete her arc of training Chandra as a pyromancer. Gideon is also looking less and less likely to survive, considering the planeswalker deck leaks from the other day. Other candidates for death (complete speculation here) include minor characters we already know: Dovin (which seems pretty bloody likely, as there’s literally a card with a picture of him burning to death), Domri Rade, Kaya, Ob Nixilis, and Kiora. This is simply based on how much screen time these characters have gotten before and what they still have yet to offer the story. I sincerely hope I’m wrong, because I like several of these characters (Kiora in particular has tons of space to explore in regards to her character), but I guess we’ll just have to see.
April 13, 2019 12:34 a.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #30
Contentious plan is very nice, but I will not be replacing Steady Progress in my Atraxa deck with it, because I will gladly pay 1 additional mana for it being instant speed.
However, perhaps I could replace Tezzeret's Gambit with it, as that doing so would lower the mana curve of that deck even further, and I will gladly sacrifice one card for 2 less mana.
April 13, 2019 1:26 a.m.
ZendikariWol says... #31
Well really, DemonDragonJ it’s not so much two mana as one mana and two life to draw an extra card and that kinda seems sweet to me.
April 13, 2019 2:38 p.m.
Ugin, the Ineffable
6
Legendary Planeswalker - Ugin
Colorless spells you cast cost 2 less.
+1: Exile the top card of your library face down. You may look at it at any time. Create a 2/2 colorless Spirit creature token. When that token leaves the battlefield, put the exiled card into your hand.
-3: Destroy target permanent that is one or more colors.
Reading the comments on mythic spoiler are hilarious. "Wow this Ugin sucks only 4 loyalty?!?!?!?!?!"
Motherfucker did you not read the part where you get a token and Grim Monolith / Eldrazi Mimic are now free?
April 13, 2019 5:37 p.m.
ShutUpMokuba says... #33
Ugin is nice.. Probably the ones that are disapponited expected some broken effect..
April 13, 2019 6:47 p.m.
Hi_diddly_ho_neighbor says... #34
I think the issue is that the first Ugin card set the bar so high and since FRF, WoTC has been building his character up to near Bolas levels of epicness. Folks likely had unrealistic expectations, but this card seems pretty solid. A lot of Kozilek, the Great Distortion players are probably excited.
April 13, 2019 7:17 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #36
Oketra is out on mythicspoiler and holy shit that think is insane.
Also Ashiok was a pretty big letdown- especially as someone who LOVES spelljacking.
April 15, 2019 12:21 p.m.
Domri dies.
Many others plansewalkers die.
Bolas controling the Gatewatch???
April 15, 2019 12:45 p.m.
ShutUpMokuba says... #38
I dislike Domri so i don't care if he dies. Oketra looks very good. It's a shame "Deliver Unto Evil" doesn't have a flavour text...
However the artwork on "Commence the Endgame" is insane.
April 15, 2019 1:09 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #39
K guys all that is well and good but can we talk about how MaRo either lied or was totally wrong about the number of rares in this set?
"With that out of the way, we had one last issue to tackle. Which Planeswalkers would be in this set? We ended up with 20 uncommons, two of each monocolor and one of each hybrid combination. Three mythic rares representing the major protagonists and antagonist in the story, and a whole bunch of rares (it ended up being thirteen) in both monocolor and multicolor."
Thus far we have fifteen rares- Gideon, Jace, Chandra, Sarkhan, Nissa, Vivien, 7/10 multicolor rares, Karn, and Ugin. Not only that, but note that we only have 7/10 multicolors? Either they're leaving it a little over two thirds complete or (more likely) we're getting more in the near future. That would leave us with twenty rares, assuning they're not giving us two rares/mythics in any of the other monocolors.
So what's up with that, Mark?
April 15, 2019 1:18 p.m.
We have only had 11 of the 13 Rare Planeswalkers spoiled, not 15 (also, Gideon is Mythic, not Rare). Nor do I recall ever seeing a statement saying there would be rares for each colour combination.
MaRo clearly delineated what the 36 walkers rarities were--3 mythics, 20 uncommons, 13 rares. It's pretty clear the Rares and Mythics were designed based on story, not to fill out the colour roster, whereas Uncommons were the only group where a desire to fill out the colours played a role in design.
April 15, 2019 1:45 p.m. Edited.
ZendikariWol says... #41
Oh. That's weird. Why does the Gideon only have two abilities?
Anyhow, that means we've got all the rares! I'm happy with it, but not freaking out or anything. My colors got some sweet legends to tinker with, but honestly no planeswalkers of note.
April 15, 2019 1:59 p.m.
LittleBlueHero says... #42
I don't think Ashiok is a letdown at all, at least from a commander standpoint.
Keeping my opponents from tutoring while simultaneously taking care of any graveyard shenanigans is pretty solid for one card.
I love all the new God cards, im a little sad that none of them give me a reason to build them as a commander but I like that all of them fit pretty well into existing strategies.
Varina zombies here we go! Also The Elderspell is bonkers... card might as well read remove target opponent playing superfriends from the game.
April 15, 2019 2:02 p.m.
ZendikariWol Gideon has four total abilities - two static, two Loyalty abilities.
April 15, 2019 2:02 p.m.
JANKYARD_DOG says... #44
New Sarkhan... tfw you want a super friends deck AND a dragon deck.
Sarkhan the Masterless
Legendary Planeswalker - Sarkhan
Whenever a creature attacks you or a planeswalker you control, each dragon you control does 1 point of damage to that creature.
+1: Until end of turn, each planeswalker you control becomes a 4/4 red dragon and gains flying.
-3: Create a 4/4 Dragon creature token with flying.
5
April 15, 2019 2:44 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #45
Oh! Okay. Didn't catch that, cdkime. Really oughta wear my glasses more.
April 15, 2019 3:05 p.m.
Hi_diddly_ho_neighbor says... #47
O.K., now this set now has my attention (beyond just Niv and Feather). Spark Harvest and The Elder Spell are two very well costed direct interactions with PW's putting us up to 3 with one at each (non-mythic) rarity. There are actually 5 total in the set if you count Heartfire and that one gorgon (which are both at common). I'd still like to see one more way to deal with them, but I am glad WotC is making me eat my own words and giving us a decent amount of interaction to keep Limited healthy.
Wow, Seb Mckinnon did it again. I love how Deliver Unto Evil looks like a what you might see on an old religious tapestry or stained glass window. Even the card's name sounds like a prayer. That is pretty cool.
Speaking of art, someone on mythicspoiler pointed out that in Oketra's art, she is shooting towards the direction which the sparks are flowing (i.e. Bolas). That would be an interesting story arc for her to somehow still revolt against Bolas.
April 15, 2019 5:03 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #48
Hey, Hi_diddly_ho_neighbor I actually noticed the Oketra thing too!! Excited for what that may imply.
April 15, 2019 5:12 p.m.
ShutUpMokuba says... #49
Well she is not present in Enter the God-Eternals so that may be another hint..
April 15, 2019 5:19 p.m.
ZendikariWol says... #50
Well, ShutUpMokuba neither is Rhonas so that’s not necessarily an indication.
JANKYARD_DOG says... #1
Tamiyo, Collector of Tales
Legendary Planeswalker - Tamiyo
Spells and abilities your opponents control can't cause you to discard cards or sacrifice permanents.
+1: Choose a non land card name, then reveal the top 4 cards of your library. Put all cards with the chosen name from among them into your hand and the rest into your graveyard.
-3: Return target card from your graveyard to your hand.
5
April 11, 2019 3:45 p.m.