Which Would You Pick?

As I approach the completion of my set, I'd like to begin posting larger amounts of previews so that everyone can get a feel for the set as a whole and how the cards interact with each other. Since I'm primarily designing this set to be used for Limited, I figured the best way to spoil multiple cards at the same time would be to organize them like a booster pack. So here's the pack for today. What would you pick?

I could just leave it at this and allow people to initiate discussion, but since I tend not to get comments on this blog, I suppose I'll go down the line and talk a little about each card before saying what I would pick in the next blog post.

Hypno - Wizards always have to be a little overpowered, right? Hypno can do some serious damage if given the opportunity; the random part of his ability is huge. In Limited, a sorcery that makes an opponent discard at random is borderline playable, but the repetition is what would really win me over. In terms of flavor, his ability is a great way of expressing Hypno's ability to confuse and control his prey. I don't think I'd want to sleep if I knew a Hypno might be nearby.

Razor Leaf - Not all pump spells can be Giant Growth, and I wanted to make minor references to Pokemon types by showing that colors sometimes matter. Razor Leaf in Pokemon is a move for only Grass types. The spell in Magic didn't have to reflect that, but using nature to be offensive seems like something only a green creature would do. This kind of card is powerful in the right deck, but I wouldn't consider it viable until I already knew I was going green.

Constrict - Those that have been playing with Gatecrash might recognize this as being very similar to Forced Adaptation. Obviously this is used in a very different way. Given that the one mechanic of the set is conducive to slower matchups, cards like this should be considered real removal. How deep you want to go into picking it up this early is debatable.

Metronome - I'll admit, my flavor rationale for this one was kind of weird. Since it's supposed to call for a random move, I was originally thinking you'd be able to play an instant or sorcery from your hand at random, but the benefit of that seemed a bit too situational. Also, that effect would have to be rare, and I didn't want the card to be a bad rare. Its current state isn't super original (see the Transmute mechanic from Ravnica), but it does make for a very playable common. Late in the game, it can provide you with a decent creature and allow you to stabilize on the same turn. That definitely isn't something to ignore.

Tin Tower Monk - This is the first of a number of Trainer cards that I put into the set. They're the only humans, and generally they put creatures onto the battlefield or have an affect related to a specific Pokemon type. There are only a handful of them, but all of them are definitely worth noting. Tin Tower Monk's creature certainly isn't the most powerful in the world, but three power and toughness and two creatures for three mana shouldn't just be shrugged off.

Eevee - Speaking of making colors matter, Eevee is a great reason to go multicolored. On its own, Eevee is still Grizzly Bears, which is very efficient for Limited. But throw red into the mix and suddenly you have an extremely powerful creature for the early game. For those that remember Arcanine, the RW Aggro deck is definitely out there if you're lucky enough to find all the key pieces.

Submission - Can you spy the Mudkip? I wanted to reprint Wrack with Madness, but the flavor didn't fit right with Pokemon. Submission was the perfect move to match. As I said before, removal is very important, but it's up to you how early you think you should take it.

Bulbasaur - Nothing new to say here in terms of creation. If you'd like to read more about the design process of the Bulbasaur or any of the other three starters, check out my blog post on them here. In terms of its potential for limited, I wouldn't be surprised to see it picked high. Cheap regeneration is always nice, especially on something that can pack a bit of a punch.

Wing Attack - This is another example of putting Pokemon into the set without making them specific creatures. Spearow didn't have enough going for it to be its own card, so I doubled it and made them a sorcery! Two fliers for three mana is always a decent deal, and those who know Pokemon might be able to predict that there aren't too many creatures that can get in their way.

Poilwag - This one's also a bit boring, but there's only so much you can do to make a tadpole seem useful. Given the right matchup, you might want to have a couple of these, but they're very easy to deal with if your opponent isn't just blue.

Diglett - I was going to be satisfied with making him just have something like mountainwalk, but after talking to a couple members of my club, I decided to go all-in with flavor and have him really dig like the mole he is. This guy is repeatable removal, so he's high on my list. While this pack may not show it, there are plenty of ways to make him big, which can potentially lead to complete board domination.

Magikarp - This is another one I've already spoiled. If you'd like to read more about Magikarp and its gigantic counterpart, be sure to read my blog post on evolution. Unless you manage to pull a Gyarados, there's really no reason to consider a fish such as this.

Muk - Now this is a card. Even if your not going aggro, a 4/3 deathtouch creature is a force to be reckoned with at any given point during a game. There are certainly times where this can punish you, but hopefully you'll know how to avoid them.

Destiny Bond - I'll always find a way to put zombie references in a set, even if they have no real place there. With all of the tokens running around in the set, Destiny Bond's downside can only hurt you so much. It's a great cost for a resurrection effect, and I'd happy to run this in any black deck.

Hustle - Talk about risky business. I love the flavor of this card, but that doesn't mean I think that it's a good idea to try. You'll know when you have nothing to lose, but I have a feeling that playing this card in your deck might make that situation come up a bit more than you'd like it to. That being said, the winning side is powerful, so how lucky you feel is really up to you.

Hustle | Artwork by Vitaly S. Alexius

So what's it going to be? As we go deeper into the set, this will become easier for you, especially since you'll have a better idea of what you're getting passed after your decision. I'll let you know what my final decision is at the beginning of my next post. Until next time.