[JOU] Setessan Tactics Preview From MTG-JP

The Japanese Magic: The Gathering website has just unveiled a new green Journey Into Nyx card for all of us to see. Interestingly, the artwork depicts a human warrior or a similar creature that is trying to take down a giant, and where the blade is supposed to strike is reminiscent of Shingeki no Kyojin, otherwise known as Attack on Titan. Roughly translating to Setessan Tactics, this is what it basically does:

1G
Instant
Strive: costs G more to cast for each target beyond the first.
Any number of target creatures each get +1/+1 and gain "T: Fight another target creature."

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[JOU]: Iroas, God of Victory leads the pack with an introductory price of $25.49; Godsend and Keranos close behind

Iroas, God of Victory is currently the priciest card for the third and last set of the Theros Block, currently priced at $25.49. Previewed first at reddit, the Boros God is a clear powerhouse and perhaps the best multi-colored god out there as of now, with a staggering 7/5 body for a mere 2RW. Aside from that, it gives Boros an advantage against other aggro builds such as G/R Aggro as this basically makes your creatures nearly unblockable, and if they were blocked, they would not take any damage at all. Note that the damage is not specified as combat damage, meaning that as long as your creatures are attacking, they cannot be Lightning Bolt-ed into oblivion. However, when Iroas is in play, the ability of Boros, Reckoner will unlikely happen as all damage to it when it attacks would be prevented. However, that really does not make it a reason to not play the two together in the same deck. On another note, would Iroas dethrone Thassa for the "best god" award?

The second runner-up at this time is Godsend, the legendary equipment used by Elspeth, which is priced at a hefty $19.99. Moreover, Godsend costs 1WW, so it would probably be best two play it either in mono-color or at most with three colors, unless you have a lot of expensive lands. Moreover, Godsend is a decent card. It is not weak, but it is not overpowered either. Indeed, the opponent can opt not to block the equipped creature and try to survive with the means he/she has, but on another note, the creatures of the opponents would normally be at risk of being blocked by the
"Godsent" creature. What would make this a great card, though, is if the creatures you control have vigilance. Attack and block with the knowledge that your opponents are thinking hard on how to get rid of the creature, and ideally, the artifact itself.

Keranos, God of Storms, is, whether you like it or not, the god for the Izzet guild. Priced at $18.99 (just a dollar away from that of Godsend), this card costs one more than Iroas, and is actually weaker on the offensive side. However, it provides U/R with exactly what it is good at: card advantage, control, and constant pressure. It avoids you from topdecking into perhaps a useless land. If you first draw a land during your turn, you get to draw another card to perhaps dig for the right game-finisher. Additionally, if you reveal probably-useful nonland card, Keranos would be dealing a Lightning Bolt of three damage to a creature or to a player of your choice. God of Storms, indeed!

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Journey into Nyx: Sage of Hours and Sightless Brawler

All those Time Walk and Time Stretch fans, what do you think of the latest Mythical Rare in Journey into Nyx? Sage of Hours is a 1/1 for 1U that can strengthen itself through the heroic ability. Not only are the +1/+1s essential in keeping this alive and useful as the game progresses, it can also be used to take an extra turn. However, a misplay would involve the order of actions taken. First, if your Sage of Hours already has at least five +1/+1 counters, it would be better to attack with it first, either to kill an opponent's creature or give direct damage, than to use the ability and make the human wizard weaker again. A good thing about this card is that it does not have to be sacrificed to have an additional turn, and it could even provide the beatdown for blue if given the opportunity.

As for Sightless Brawler, it is indeed a decent uncommon for white weenie. It is even good for Boros Deck Wins, as it only needs one white mana and the other is colorless. Moreover, a second-turn play of this 3/2, provided that a first-turn creature was played, can prove deadly. Imagine if you had an Isamaru, Hound of Konda played in your first turn, then attack for two and play the Braweler. Third turn, you attack with those two creatures and the opponent is already down by seven points. If you're playing cheese, you are only a few Lightning Helixes, Lightning Bolts, and Incinerates away from victory.

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Journey Into Nyx: "How many cats do you need?", asks two Ajanis

First of all, let us imagine that this rule did not exist for this situation:

"7/1/2013 If a player controls two or more planeswalkers that share a planeswalker type, that player chooses one of them and the rest are put into their owner's graveyards as a state-based action."

Ajani, Mentor of Heroes has just been released, and everyone is just going bonkers at the ultimate ability that gives you an additional 100 life points. So, aside from a combo with Felidar Sovereign, what else can you do with it? How about teaming up with Ajani, Caller of the Pride for more cats than you can handle? Well, since the latest Ajani is a G/W card, you're probably either using Bant or Selesnya, so might as well have Doubling Season in play. Remember to have both Caller of the Pride and Mentor of Heroes in play. Activate the ultimate ability of the latter first, giving you an 100 life points. Next, activate that of the former, which would normally give you at least a hundred cats. However, with Doubling Season in play, it becomes at least two hundred 2/2 cats. How catastrophic.

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Journey Into Nyx: Ajani, Mentor of Heroes gives you 100 life points

Remember the days of Lorwyn when Ajani Goldmane entered the scene? It was a good card to have when you were using Kithkin, with all the Wizened Cenn and Goldmeadow Stalwarts providing early aggression. Then came Ajani Vengeant and Caller of the Pride for Boros and for monowhite, respectively. Today, Wizards of the Coast has unveiled the Green/White version called Ajani, Mentor of Heroes which looks really fun to play despite not looking like an immediate staple in tournament play or even in the Standard format. The last ability alone is very fun to use, regardless if you were about to lose or not, as an additional 100 life points would be a tiring obstacle for weenie or cheese decks. Moreover, Felidar Sovereign is very glad for the arrival of GW Ajani.

With the current standard decks, what ability could be proven useful? Well, the first ability does not activate heroic abilities because heroic is only triggered by spells, the second one, however is basically a nifty card advantage tool for G/W decks, not to mention it can get that much needed creature or enchantment aura for a needed activation of a card with constellation. As for a deck that would welcome Mentor of Heroes, would Bant Superfriends accept him? What do you guys think?

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BNG, JIN Preview - Heroic Path + XENAGOS GOD ART + ELVISH MYSTIC as Februrary 2014 FNM Promo

While we are all aware of Xenagos, the Reveler (which I actually like since not only is he a slightly affordable planeswalker, but it reminds me about the good ol' days of beast decks in the Onslaught block) as a planeswalker, the mothership has also revealed new artworks for him. This also serves as a sneak peek of what the remaining two sets, Born of the Gods and Journey into Nyx, of the Theros Block has in store for us. And yes, his GOD VERSION. Not only is he looking like being born from a mountain, you can also clearly see that he's in battle against Ajani and Elspeth. What is Ajani doing there? We'll find out soon enough.

Xenagos God Art (Born of the Gods)

Xenagos God Art (Journey into Nyx)

A planeswalker turned god? Yes? No?
It's that time of the Theros block again wherein players going to the prerelease tournaments must choose their heroic path based on their favourite mana colour.

For Born of the Gods, each color represents:
WHITE - Destined to Lead
BLUE - Destined to Outwit
BLACK - Destined to Dominate
RED - Destined to Conquer
GREEN - Destined to Thrive

And, according to MTG Realm, each "seeded" PR pack will have the following:
- 1 Seeder booster pack
- The (traditional) Premium Foil PR Promo Card
- 1 Activity Card
- 1 Spindown Life Counter
- 1 Welcome Letter
- 1 Hero Card
- 2 Born of the Gods Booster Packs
- 3 Theros Booster Packs



Coming in from the mothership, it looks like the good ol' elves are at it again to get the spotlight as the FNM prize for February next year. Elvish Mystic is of course the long-lost twin brother of Llanowar Elves. So what do you guys think of the art? I actually like the both of them. The FNM version seems like the more "mana-giving" between them though, and he really looks like a 1/1. I can imagine the original version's illustration as a 2/1 or even a 2/2. Anyway, here is the full illustration of the FNM version of Elvish Mystic by Winona Nelson:



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