Comments on: Return to Ravnica Visual Spoiler (Complete)

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 08:43:11 +0000

Carrotus, you’re nuts if you think either of those sets were among the best ever. Ravnica was the best ever, end of story. Thats why boxes so for 500 a pop! Rise was interesting and very different but but once that novelty wore off you had a below average set IMO. The new and different style was tremendous but the overall quality was lacking a bit. Innistrad was as bleh as it gets. Calking it average is kind.

By: Carrotus

Carrotus — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 11:43:52 +0000

Jimmay, in Limited, no single common is “format defining”. For a recent example, think of how good Mist Raven was in Avacyn Restored, and how well it worked with so many diffrent cards (namely blinking effects). It was still miles off of being “Format defining”. Return to Ravnica is, I think, a very intresting set with many avilable strategies that are both solid and possible to draft.

A single card, especially one that is nothing more than an awesome combat trick, is just not going to ruin anything. As for Magic having nothing new to offer – I think two recent sets (Rise of the Eldrazi & Innistrad) prove that Magic is growing and evolving all of the time, since they were probably the best sets, ever, at least for Limited.

By: Jimmay

Jimmay — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 21:21:48 +0000

Corpsejack menace means that it will be more than two counters often enough and there is a ton of token production in this set. Not saprolings, grown ass centaurs, for two. The average power and toughness in this set is 3/3 for 3, meaning that Common Bond will regularly create blowouts out of trades. Format defining, yes. I know it sucks that the current state of design is to pump out sequels with new mechanics, but it is what it is. Magic isn’t about creating something new anymore. It is about making sure the new coat of paint is shiny.

By: Shaun

Shaun — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 07:25:17 +0000

@Jimmay: Travel Prep can also target the same creature, when you flash it back. Travel Prep only costs 2 mana for the same amount of counters as Common Bond, and if you pay another 2 (which doesn’t have to be the same turn, mind you) you get double that amount. While making it instant is quite good, I don’t think that quite makes it “more broken” than a card that gives you almost the same value for less mana or strictly double the value for only one mana more, distributed over turns.

Plus, Travel Prep was so broken because GW had a large number of already good creatures for 2 or 3 mana, meaning you could curve out, with let’s say turn 3 Lingering Souls, turn 4 Travel Prep + flashback attack for 6 in the air. It doesn’t look to me as if GW could benefit that much from those measly two counters in RtR.

Again, not saying Common Bond isn’t a good card. But it certainly isn’t nearly as good as Travel Prep was in DII, let alone “more broken” or “going to define the format”.

By: Jimmay

Jimmay — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:55:57 +0000

The entire spoiler is up and the overall impression is meh. Izzet fanboys will dominate the pre-release, but Selesnya is going to dominate. The card that is going to define this format is sadly a lot like the last format; Common Bond is the new and even more broken travel preps. Now you can target the same creature and it’s an instant? Why do the Wizards think this is a common effect?

By: billy

billy — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 16:11:51 +0000

Ah, interesting insight. Thank you.

By: Mobz

Mobz — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 08:38:10 +0000

I generally agree with Brendan.