The official day of spoilers has started, and the mothership has introduced quite a load of card already. The first card, Pharagax Giant, introduces the "tribute" mechanic which allows an opponent to prevent one's creature from coming into the battlefield with a specific number of +1/+1 counters by having the creature deal some sort of damage or do an ability as it comes into the battlefield. For Pharagax Giant, I wouldn't mind making it a 5/5 instead of taking five damage myself since it does not have trample, haste, or first strike. I could simply block it with any creature I have.
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| Pharagax Giant (image from WOTC) |
Moving on, Pain Seer is very reminiscent of Bob, also known as Dark Confidant. Bob has been a staple in Modern, and I've personally seen his price soar every since his debut in Ravnica: City of Guilds. Pain Seer has a greater toughness, bein a 2/2 for the same mana cost of 1B, however, the card drawing abilities do not happen as easily as in Bob's. Pain Seer either has to attack or should be targeted with a spell to tap it, in order for
inspired to happen as it untaps and does the card-drawing-lose-life ability. We'll have to see how the players think of ways to perhaps abuse this one.
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| Pain Seer (image from WOTC) |
Finally, Oreskos Sun Guide seems to be a welcome addition for white weenie decks that could be a mayhem in terms of providing massive life points. I think that we all remember the nightmare of Knight of Meadowgrain back in Kithkin days of Lorwyn. Aside from the spectacular artwork, Oreskos Sun Guide can easily be put in a multi-color deck because of its 1W mana cost. Perhaps it'd be great to use in an Orzhov or Selesnya deck. Just pump it with a spell or an aura spell, and go for the offensive while gaining life points later.
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| Oreskos Sun Guide (image from WOTC) |
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