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M13 Set Review: White and Red!
Conley Woods
7/5/2012 11:10:00 AM M13 Set Review: Black and Green White and Red Blue, Artifact and Lands Welcome back to another day of our M13 set review! Yesterday we took a look at all of the Black and Green cards in the set and found some build-around me's as well as some cards that we will definitely need to play with to know their true power level. Today, we are going to hope to be wowed a little more often as we take a look at the White and Red cards of M13. We will continue looking at both the limited applications of the card, as well as the constructed potential that the card has. As always though, we need not do that alone. Instead, we have the following pair of handy scales to help us out with that endeavor.  Constructed 5: These cards are all-stars and their greatness spans multiple formats usually. Generally the chase cards of a set such as Tarmogoyf or Jace, the Mind Sculptor. 5's should not be given out lightly as the really have to have a big impact across formats. 4: These cards are going to be seen in decks of their color more often than not but may be less universal than 5's. These will usually be dominant in certain formats but not so much in others much like Bloodbraid Elf or Baneslayer Angel. Note that with a shift to how Extended is, 4's tend to see both Extended and Standard play, but have not made the jump to eternal. 3: These are the backbone of Standard and usually serve some utility but are more restrictive in archetype, like a Makeshift Mannequin or Mind Spring. 2: These cards are generally much more restrictive in use and application. Occasional sideboard appearances or cameos in some combo deck are the most frequent uses here such as Splinter Twin or Acidic Slime 1: These are basically unplayable and only see use in the most rare of occasions such as bad card poster boy One with Nothing Limited 5.0: I will always play this card. Period. 4.5: I will almost always play this card, regardless of what else I get. 4.0: I will strongly consider playing this as the only card of its color. 3.5: I feel a strong pull into this card's color. 3.0: This card makes me want to play this color. (Given that I'm playing that color, I will play this card 100% of the time.) 2.5: Several cards of this power level start to pull me into this color. If playing that color, I essentially always play these. (Given that I'm playing that color, I will play this card 90% of the time.) 2.0: If I'm playing this color, I usually play these. (70%) 1.5: This card will make the cut into the main deck about half the times I play this color. (50%) 1.0: I feel bad when this card is in my main deck. (30%) 0.5: There are situations where I might sideboard this into my deck, but I'll never start it. (10%) 0.0: I will never put this card into my deck (main deck or after sideboarding). (0%) And with that, let's move on to the cards! White
Ajani, Caller of the Pride Constructed: 3 While I do think this cat is being a little overrated right now, it is still going to be quite powerful in Standard and possibly Modern as well. Three mana for a Walker is cheap enough that the abilities can be a bit weaker, and Ajani still has some decent abilities. The big kicker though, is 4 loyalty to start. That helps make up for the fact that this cannot really defend itself at least a little bit. This as a turn 2 play off of Avacyn's Pilgrim or Birds is going to be one of the more powerful plays in the format still, so grab you 3-4 copies asap. Limited: 4.5 This goes back to being a total beating in limited, like most walkers. Pumping creatures, granting evasion, and producing an army in a can are all very desirable effects in limited and this can come down early enough that your opponent might not even have a creature in play to pressure it! First pick, etc.
Ajani's Sunstriker Constructed: 1 This is no Knight of the Meadowgrain nor Kor Firewalker, and I think people excited by this want it to be both of those. First strike and a relevant creature type were crucial on the Knight, and Mono Red can just throw a Shock at this before lifelink even matters. Limited: 2.0 This is pretty difficult to cast, but in a White heavy deck, you essentially get a more durable Child of Night, which was always solid. The lack of a good creature type hurts, but this is still going to give you what you expect to get out of it most of the time.
Attended Knight Constructed: 1 This is barely off the curve for what you want in Constructed. Blade Splicer does a similar thing but provides 4 power for 3 mana, which is much more impressive than 3. Still a fine card, but I don't see it making any splashes. Limited: 2.5 This guy is pretty bonkers in limited though. On turn 3, this adds 3 power to the field, some of which has First Strike, and its split across 2 bodies. This is the exact type of creature White decks need to add a little card advantage to their limited decks.
Battleflight Eagle Constructed: 1 Welkin Guide had a full 2 years to prove himself in constructed and he never made that moment count. This has half the time to leave an impression, and I expect the outcome to be the same. Limited: 2.0-2.5 In Zendikar, Welkin Guide was a little slow for the format, so it really was just your finisher, pushing through a fatty out of nowhere. This core set is likely to be significantly slower, so the evasion will be just as relevant, but the 2/2 body is also likely to matter more. That makes this slightly better here than Zendikar, where it was a solid playable.
Captain's Call Constructed: 1 This is so far below the curve when compared to Lingering Souls or Spectral Procession that even if it were fringe playable, I think most players would be turned off by that fact alone. If this were block, this card would have a shot in Block Constructed, but a little too slow and clunky for Standard. Limited: 2.0 This card is not all that exciting at face value, but when you factor in that it provides a lot of fodder for Exalted attacks, and has a lot of synergy with other soldier themed stuff, it should be an important part of at least 1 archetype.
Crusader of Odric Constructed: 1 Scion of the Wild was essentially the same card as this and never even got considered for constructed really. These cards often paint you into the win-more role, which is never a good thing. Limited: 2.0 This is typically going to be a 3/3 but will range from being a lowly 1/1 up to something like a 5/5. The dream of him being gigantic is a bit of a false place to be, because again, you are likely winning in that situation anyway. He is quite good at beating board stalls, and is fine on curve, but I wouldn't be looking to this guy to be my consistent warhorse or anything like that.
Faith's Reward Constructed: 2 This card has been printed before, at a mana cheaper (Second Sunrise) and its primary purpose is to do unfair things, such as combo you out for the win. If this version sees play, I suspect it will be doing much of the same. Whether the pieces exist to do this in Standard is unknown right now, but I am sure plenty of people are looking. Limited: 2.5 I actually think this can be a total blowout and should make your deck almost every time. You get to block in such a way that the most trades possible happen, then rebuy all of your creatures with this. Similarly, you can let your opponent use removal on your guys, and then surprise them mid combat with this, or wait until end of turn hoping to get additional value.
Griffin Protector Constructed: 1 Restoration Angel would like to have a word with you Mr. Griffin. Limited: 2.5 A pretty nice sized flier under normal conditions, and the upside here can be insane. With a Captain's Call cast in the same turn, you are attacking with Mahamotti Djinn, which is pretty dang good. Even with just 1 creature a turn, this is getting in for 3, which is typical of a 4 casting cost flier. In the game, this will run out of fuel, but hopefully you have gotten enough value by that point that you do not mind.
Guardian Lions Constructed: 1 If I need to explain why this one is not making the cut, you really haven't been paying attention, have you? Limited: 1.0 Typically this will be a sideboard card against Green decks or similar style decks. It is too expensive to main deck as a defensive option, but out of the board, this is ok at stopping those undercosted 4/4's and 5/5's.
Healer of the Pride Constructed: 1.5 This is significantly more mana to get online than something like Soul Warden, but it is also more durable and produces double the effect. I could see this in a Birthing Pod style of deck, or possibly a Soul Sisters shell, should that sort of thing be plausible. Limited: 2.5 These Soul Warden creatures are always underrated and they always seem to win games. This won't track your first creature or two, due to being 4 mana, but that is quickly made up for by the fact that 2 life per creature is a lot. This does only keep track of your own guys, which is a bummer, but he will still be quite annoying to play against.
Knight of Glory Constructed: 2 This is essentially the same thing as the Black version from yesterday, except there is one key difference; it's White. That means it has a more natural home and the exalted can be put to better use. In addition, having protection from one of the common removal colors is much better than Protection from White, which usually only matters in combat. Limited: 2.0 In limited, the protection from White clause is likely better than protection from Black, but both knights are so similar here that you will pick them about the same time depending on your respective color.
Odric, Master Tactician Constructed: 2.5 I find this to be a little weaker than Hero of Bladehold, which I would give a 3 these days, so I went just under that bench mark. If you get to attack and meet the clause on this, you are almost assuredly going to win, whether you get to Plague Wind their team, or attack unblocked for lethal. This has the same stats and cost as Hero, so I think the comparison is apt and it should be an interesting card to see where it ends up. Limited: 4.5 If this did not have double White in the cost, it would probably be a 5. A 3/4 First Striker for 4 mana is already well above the curve and then there is that little clause, that when you attack with 4 things, a common occurrence in limited, the game literally ends. This will be a frustrating one to lose to.
Prized Elephant Constructed: 1 While I like the cycle of Kird Apes, this one is worse than basically every constructed playable 4 drop even after you have powered it up. Then spending a Green on it each turn is a big downside as well. Limited: 2.5 This obviously gets weaker without a Forest in play, but it still offers a Hill Giant which is already acceptable. But, let us specifically focus on this in a Green/White shell. As a 4/4 trampler, this is well above the curve of what you would expect to get. Now obviously limiting the colors you can be is tough, as is the constant upkeep of a Green for trample, but this is still going to produce a ton of pressure starting on turn 4, which is quite scary. Should be a high pick even when you do not know if you will be pairing with Green, as the Hill Giant fall back plan is hardly a bad one to be on.
Rhox Faithmender Constructed: 1 Again, we arrive at the definition of win more. I don't doubt this is a fun card (for the person playing with it) but spending 4 mana on a 1/5 that doesn't do much on its own, only to cascade life gain spells over and over is a bit grindy and unnecessary in my opinion. For example, I don't think a deck like Soul Sisters would have even wanted this, as is likely the case for Martyr of Sands decks. Limited: 2.0 The body this offers you in limited is much more reasonable, as it will be holding off most ground creatures and threatening life gain as a result. This is not the most offensive of cards, but in a deck looking to stall until they play some bomb or something, this is awesome. Most decks will want this, like UW fliers, but there will be some aggressive decks that ignore this for a Hill Giant or something.
Show of Valor Constructed: 1 Two mana pump spells usually need to do something fantastic to make it into constructed play. Vines of the Vastwood is a good example of this as the shroud it provided was both desired and rare. This is fairly generic and not all that powerful, so I don't expect much from it. Limited: 3.0 I really like what this does for White in limited though. We have gone through Moment of Heroism and Skillful Lunge, and this one, while worse than the former, is usually better than the later, which is nice. Having pump effects in two different colors really changes how limited plays though, so pay attention at your prerelease!
Sublime Archangel Constructed: 2.5-3 Rafiq of the Many may not be back, but this is pretty nifty too. This has the effect of coming down and immediately making one attacker insanely large (or just a little larger) which is pretty nice. Once this gets to start attacking though, you have an evasive giant body that the opponents have to contend with. Remember that a creature can have multiple instances of Exalted by the way! Limited: 4.0 I think this is slightly worse than Odric, as it doesn't necessarily end the game immediately, but you are in a great spot regardless. The benefit of exalted from an opposing perspective, is that at least for every chump blocker I have, I theoretically buy myself another draw step. Odric does not allow the same mercy. This is still insane though, of course.
Touch of the Eternal Constructed: 2 This card most reminds me of Form of the Dragon, which has been a constructed powerhouse for years, whether it has been cheated into play, or cast the hard way. This obviously does not restrict the attackers or Deal Damage, but you do get your life total set to a significantly higher amount than Form. You have to think you are at a minimum going to 8 each turn, and probably more. That can be a difficult thing for an aggro deck to push through, especially with Wrath effects etc. Now, whether or not this will find 56 other cards that want to go around, I am doubtful. Limited: ? I really couldn't tell you how good this is in limited. You are less likely to be able to abuse the ability, and also less likely to cast this, so I doubt it is main deckable. That said, I could easily see this effect being nearly unbeatable, so I really want to play with this card to find out for myself.
War Falcon Constructed: 1 There was a time when this would be a rare and hyped up a ton, but creatures have gotten better, and players have gotten wiser. They know that when your already bad top deck 1 drop is actually just a dead card, that isn't good. In addition, you can't open a hand with this and keep it in isolation. You could have 4 of these and unless you have a turn 2 helper, it isn't going to happen. Inconsistency is the biggest problem here. Limited: 1.5-2.0 Obviously we are not going to be including this in a deck without Knights or Soldiers, so let's assume that condition has been met. At the 5-8 range, you are probably looking at about a 1.5 as you could still come up empty handed and have a dead card. Once we hit 10+ though, we can legitimately see attacking with this guy consistently. Then he is only a 2/1 flier, but he is fast and that is huge.
Warclamp Mastiff Constructed: 1 Tundra Wolves finally looked into his family tree. Limited: 1.0 This is about as unexciting as a 1 drop can get and still be playable. I want this in a deck with a ton of equipment and aggressive creatures, and that is about it. Red
Chandra's Fury Constructed: 1 In tournament Magic, people expect to pay 2 mana for this sort of thing. Limited: 1.5 I think this will be a clutch sideboard card at times against token making decks or whatever, and the super aggressive Red decks will be happy to use it as a Lava Axe. Outside of that though, not many people want this effect main.
Cleaver Riot Constructed: 1 The Red Overrun is just about as big a drop off from Overrun in constructed as it is limited! Limited: 1.0-1.5 I am not sure exactly how good this is, but I expect it to be played a third of the time or so and be a blowout on occasion and a dead 5 drop on others. This is obviously for board stalls, but the damage output is unreliable, and it costs so much mana!
Craterize Constructed: 1 Seriously? Can a rogue get a Stone Rain ONE TIME!?! Limited: 0.5 This is basically only going to be a sideboard card, but some aggro red decks will need the 23rd card. Take out utility lands like Crater Hellion or the exalted one, or stop the 5 color player from having decent mana.
Crimson Muckwader Constructed: 1 If this had the creature type Zombie or Vampire, we would be looking at something, but a Lizard just ain't gonna cut it. The Regeneration cost is also too high to really be considered any kind of upside on this. Limited: 1.5-2.5 This guy might have the biggest difference from Mono color to 2 color decks. As a Goblin Piker, this is playable, but barely exciting. As a 3/2 regenerator for two mana though, this is quite the beating. The Regeneration cost is quite high, so there may be some turns you need to take attacking off, but usually you can attack with open mana and bluff the regen.
Dragon Hatchling Constructed: 1 I like that we have a cheap fire breather in theory, but this kind of mana sink is never playable and we all know it. Limited: 1.5-2.5 Just like the Muckwader, this is going to change depending on whether you are mono colored or dual colored, except this time, in the reverse manner. In Mono Red, this is a staggering late game clock and will get some pokes in early. In dual color decks, it cannot close games as fast, but is still fine as an evasive Blaze.
Firewing Phoenix Constructed: 1.5 While recursive effects like this always have the potential to be abused, I only see one use for this, and that is as a threat against draw-go decks. Basically, these fight through everything short of Dissipate, so I could see rare sideboard use in that situation. Limited: 4.0 So, you get an efficiently costed flier and it has the ability to come back from most removal and trades? Yea, that sounds perfect! This is an all-star in limited and really is only stopped by Oblivion Ring or Pacifism, which is quite the accomplishment.
Flames of the Firebrand Constructed: 2 Just like Arc Trail in constructed now, and Arc Lightning back in the day, the potential to pick off small guys early, and not have the effect be symmetrical, is often desired. This is not the most efficient card at doing that, but it does do it. I would expect this to see some sideboard play once Arc Trail rotates out. Limited: 3.5 A premier removal spell due to the versatility it provides. You can take out a medium sized creature but will often be getting a 2-for-1 out of the deal. This is not Scars of Mirrodin, where that effect is the best thing in the format, but it will still be a stand out first pick.
Goblin Battle Jester Constructed: 1 Frenzied Goblin was a pretty popular card back in the day, but the difference between 1 and 4 mana in an aggressive deck is basically the world. Limited: 2.5 This will likely prove to be the backbone of at least one aggressive strategy, as he can just take over a game when a player should be stabilizing. This may even provide enough incentive for Mono Red when the Dragon is taken into account.
Krenko, Mob Boss Constructed: 2 I don't think this will be popular in Standard, but I cannot say what the legacy community will think about it. Playing this with an active Warchief means you are instantly making a bunch of guys, and then those guys also have haste. Seems fun. Limited: 3.5-4.0 This is a bomb rare no matter what, but the number of goblins you have in your deck does change the value slightly. If you have none other than Krenko, you still have a token producer that doubles up every turn. The problem is that the opponent has an extra turn or two to deal with Krenko, as 1 or 3 tokens isn't that big of a deal. In a Goblin heavy deck, if Krenko Threatens to put 3 or 4 tokens into play immediately, the pressure for the opponent to find a removal spell is much stronger, as Krenko barrels out of control at that rate.
Krenko's Command Constructed: 1.5 This seeing play hinges on whether a Goblin deck surfaces and even then, it isn't a shoe-in by any means. Limited: 2.0 Dragon Fodder was a solid card, and I expect this to be pretty strong as well. There are enough Goblin synergies that this is not just tokens, and even if it were, that is perfectly reasonable for the low price of 2 mana.
Magmaquake Constructed: 2.5 This is the Earthquake for control decks and ramp decks, which should make it pretty popular. Bonfire of the Damned is very good, but it is also expensive and control decks cannot take advantage of the damage it deals too much. Magmaquake takes out any number of Planeswalkers though, and clears the ground without hurting you in anyway. There are a lot of alternatives right now, so this may not be universally accepted, but it is powerful regardless. Limited: 4.0 This is worse than Wrath of God at being Wrath of God, but you can use this in conjunction with your fliers to cause some havoc and it does act like a Wrath most of the time, just at a premium cost. It is also nice knowing that when you have one of these in your deck, you have an out to 5 of the best cards in the format in the Planeswalkers.
Mindclaw Shaman Constructed: 2 Certainly a Birthing Pod target you should be willing to try out, at least in the sideboard. As for a creature that you hardcast, I can see this disrupting expensive combos in Standard and maybe Modern. Limited: 2.5 I think you are always going to run this in hopes of stealing their removal spell, but I don't actually know how reliable that plan is. This guy is unique enough that he is tough to evaluate, but he seems like the kind of card that is amazing at his best, and pretty bad at his worst, but has so much upside that you run him regardless.
Reckless Brute Constructed: 1 It dies to Gut Shot. Alright, that is only one reason this is bad, I will let you find the others on your own. Limited: 1.5 This is a fine card, the issue is that he is very deck specific. You want this, and many of them, in your aggressive red deck, but in your midrange or control decks, this is going to stink.
Rummaging Goblin Constructed: 1 Merfolk Looter this is not, for far too many reasons to even consider this playable. Limited: 2.0 While this guy is kind of expensive for a Looter, fragile, and significantly worse than Merfolk Looter, it is still a Looter and therefore it will be good. This is Mad Prophet without haste or the bigger body, and Mad Prophet is a very solid card in Avacyn Restored. Goblin based cards work with this too, which is nice.
Searing Spear Constructed: 2 Remember Incinerate? Yea, this will basically be doing the same things as it, only limited to Standard exclusively. Incinerate would have been nice to deal with Wolfir Avenger, and the name is a million times better than this, so I wish they would have reprinted it, but oh well. Limited: 3.0 Solid removal, but it is damage based and it doesn't do anything fancy. Still a very high pick of course, but Murder is most certainly going to be better most of the time for example. Depending on the speed of the format, this might move up to 3.5 in a faster environment.
Slumbering Dragon Constructed: 1 Increasing Savagery? Anyone? Bueller? In all seriousness though, playing a card that requires the opponent to play into an on board text box is just bad. They can very easily it you 4 times, cast their removal on this, and continue winning. If you are trying to combo with this on your own, there are better places to invest your time. Limited: 3.0 This seems really strong in limited though. If you play this early, it actually demands a removal spell, likely not damage based, or it will warp the game around itself. I don't expect this to be attacking too often, but Moat is also good right? I could be very wrong about this card, but it seems like it will often act as Blinding Angel for a few turns and then eat removal, which is still very good.
Smelt Constructed: 2 For the 49th time in Magic history, Shatter has once again be invalidated as a card. This should see more play than Shatter, but only in Standard, as every other format has much better options than this. Limited: 0.5 Obvious sideboard card is obvious. After your opponent reveals their artifact bomb in game 1, bring this in and go to town, but you never want to be main decking this. There are not enough artifacts to really even consider it.
Thundermaw Hellkite Constructed: 3.5 I am not quite ready to put this into the Baneslayer camp, but it comes very close. The stats match up nicely, and haste is reasonable in place of Lifelink. The big difference is this kills some small fliers and taps some big ones, where as Baneslayer had a bunch of protection clauses. In the right environment, this could be better than Baneslayer, but in general, I think less decks will want this, even though the ones that do, really do. Limited: 4.5 Was Rorix any good in limited? Oh, only a top 3 card in the set? And this is basically waaaayyyy better? Yea, enjoy filling in the W column every time you resolve this.
Wild Guess Constructed: 2 This seems like it could see play in some reanimator lists who are tired of running Tracker's Instincts or whatever, even if the mana is a bit of a pain to pull off. I could see aggressive Red mages trying this out as well, although I am skeptical of its usefulness there. Limited: 1.5 This is a little worse than Faithless Looting at doing what Faithless Looting did, despite being better than any half of Looting. Looting was great because it would find you lands early and find you spells later. This can do the same, but only one or the other. I may be underrating this, because I do think it is good, but it might be an auto-play in Red decks.
Worldfire Constructed: 1 I'll suspend Rift Bolt. I'll cast Worldfire. GG. Unfortunately for that scenario, 9 mana is a million mana, so I don't know how realistic it is. If people can work around the casting cost, this is a highly abusable effect, so I am interested in seeing what, if anything, people come up with. Limited: 0.0 Just don't even try it. You almost assuredly cannot break the symmetry here, and even if you could, it is still 9 mana... Wrap Up Well, we certainly had a few more highlights than yesterday, although about the same average power level from the new class of cards. Aggressive red decks look to be getting some help from M13, and Thundermaw Hellkite is one hellkite of a card, so we will be seeing that in the near future. There are also some very powerful cards that need to find homes in Standard, but there is a lot of potential out there at least. Tomorrow we will be back with the remainder of the set. That will mean we will be covering Blue, and then all of the artifacts, lands, and gold cards from the set. Yep, for the first time ever, there is a gold card in a core set. Exciting stuff eh? Blue always has the goodies though, so we will see if that remains true! --Conley Woods |
  
 Voice of Resurgence - as low as $32.50Ral Zarek - as low as $14.99Blood Baron of Vizkopa - as low as $6.75Legion's Initiative - as low as $4.98Progenitor Mimic - as low as $4.75Master of Cruelties - as low as $4.00Advent of the Wurm - as low as $3.62Deadbridge Chant - as low as $3.50Savageborn Hydra - as low as $3.31AEtherling - as low as $3.00
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