[ARB] Review

[Mythrandir]

And once again, my review of the new set - Alara Reborn - in the point of a Highlander player.
Here goes:

Ardent plea - Cascade is a very interesting ability. It lets you play a free spell, even it the cascade spell was countered, really interesting. It may well see some play in UW builds.

Aven Mimeomancer - I think this has a lot of potential, the "may" clause is what makes this good, you can pump (+ evasion) your weaker creatures (tokens...) and even remove threats/fatties

Mask of riddles - This set brought us loads of (good) equipments. This one isn't the best, but good nonthless, UB aren't the most used colors (specially with a heavy creature component)

Time Sieve - well, wotc, did a good job not building a broken artifact, instead they left us with a interesting design, but useless (IMO) card.

Anathemancer - I think i'll hate this card... =/ repeateable PoP? Althouhg the unearth is very expensive, this card is a bomb. Ohh, why WOTC, why??

Demonspine whip - Another great equipment. Fire breathing for colorless? Ouch... very powerful. And it's in the colors of good aggro decks.

Blitz hellion - well, i´m not sure about this one, but it might see some play.. 5CMC is a bit, though for RG beatz

Bloodbraid elf - this one is very good, 3/2 haste that lets you play another 3 cmc (or less) spell? Quite good.

Mage slayer - Another good equipment, doesn't give evasion nor pump, but all you need to do is tap (attak) and (some) damage goes through.

Predatory advantage - this one could have been such a good anti-aggro card, instead they did an anti control card.. oh, well.

Spellbreaker behemoth - Not the best ability, but the 5/5 body is nice for its cost

Behemoth sledge - IMO, one of the best cards in the set. This equipment is a bomb, pump, evasion (sort of) and lifegain. A good CMC,and a good equip cost. This will sure see play.

Quasali Pridemage - Common? Sometimes i just don't understand cards rarity... this should be uncommon, minimum. Excellent card, specially for aggro (nice early drop, nice late drop vs moat)

Necromancers covenant - Interesting card, too high CMC. So, won't see play probably.

Spellbound dragon - Is an interesting card. it lets you "cycle" cards while pumping the dragon, too bad UR combination isnt very used.

Lord of extinction - Screams to be broken (oath?), but since it doesnt have any protection nor evasion it makes it not as good as other options, however i won't be surprised to see this one in decks.

Maelstrom pulse - well, i was more excited about this one when it came out, now i really don't know (for my 5cc), it isnt instant, doesnt hit lands, the "same name" isnt a big deal in Highlander (unless facing tokens). But will definitely see play. One of the chase rares of the set.

Cerodon yearling - Another great card aggro card (like they needed it )

Lorescale Coatl  - Well, this one will definitely see play, i´m willing to test it. Great with brainstorm.

Etherwrought Page - For me, this card could have been better (lower cmc, better "black" part) but even like this, i feel like testing it. Good vs aggro (lifegain) good vs control (blue part) and sort of finisher. I really don't know what to cut, but i really wanted to test this one.

Sen triplets - A lot of buzz about this one, however i feel it's too weak in our format. Doesn't have an immediate impact on the game, its a bit expensive, vs aggro isn't very good, easily dealt with (lightning bolt, removal, etc)

Sphinx of the steel wind - Another fattie for oath? don't think so, the lack of haste and it's protections doesnt make it an akroma. I'd prefer to run an empiryal archangel over this.

Madrush cyclops - The colors aren't very usual in highlander, but other than that good card.

Jenara - Absolutely bomb card. cheap, good body, relevant ability + evasion. Excellent.

Maelstrom Nexus - ANother card that screams to be broken.. but i dont think that it will work.

Esper stormblade - Good in UW builds that use lots of multicolor

Slave of bolas - Such a beatiful art wasted on an ordinary card... =/

Well, i think that sums it all... Any comments? ANy cards i left out?

[Georg B]

Ok, cards that will see play in highlander (my opinion):
Aven Mineomancer - in UW Skies! All the 1/1 creatures... thats great!
Wall of Denial - in UW control; It is a nearly endless blocker!
Anacemancer - well, it is not as good as POP, but well, I would say its a good cards for RB-Aggro.
Colossal Might - definatly in RG, and maybe in Naya Zoo.
Spellbreaker Behemoth - in RG I think.
Vithian Renegades - great card!
Behemoth's Sledge - well, I think its worse than Warhammer, but because of the hype her in the forum, I think it will see play.
Dauthless Escord - Good card for Naya. Great against control.
Mycoid Sheperd - great stats and the ability could be great against aggro. Not as good as Hierarch, but fine.
Quasil Pridemage - In all decks with green and white it is better than Viridian Shaman, and that card was good.
Zealous Persecution - Maybe in Ying Yang Weeny... I will test it. Should be a great combat trick!
Mealstrom Pulse - Yeah, maybe not thet good in 5c, but it definatly will see play. (in Rock, or something like that).
Cerodon Yearling - omg, it is better than the RG-guy from Shards! Great card for Boros or Naya!
Lorescale Coatl - it is 3/3 in the first turn it can attack and each drawspell is a combat trick... nice in UG-Grow!
Nulltreat Gargantuan - Nice in Survival! Big Body and you can replay a good cip-creature.
Madrush Cyclops - maybe in RGB-Tokenmania...
Flurry of Wings - in a Bant-like aggro deck maybe.
Jenara - same here... in an UGW aggro control deck.
Trace of Abundance - In some sort of Mana Ramp or Heartbeat.
Mirisi's Twinclaws - With some pumpspells maybe.

[Mythrandir]

ohh, i forgot the escort. yes, definitely. great against mass removal!

Flurry of wings is meh, IMO.
Also i don't know about the wall, do you really wanna a wall just for block? Plumeveil or wall of reverence are better, IMO. Or older stuff like wall of blossoms (other colors)

All the others i have the same opinion as yours. Maelstrom will definitely see play, but i was a bit more excited when i first read it, now i don't know. The sorcery speed makes me a bit aprehensive, if the format would slows down a bit, a definitely yes.

I think this expansion mainly brought a lot of good equipments

[grizzledmage]

Anathemancer - I think i'll hate this card... =/ repeateable PoP? Althouhg the unearth is very expensive, this card is a bomb. Ohh, why WOTC, why??

I'm not prepared to say if or how this could/should/will impact HL, but I believe this was made in response to the current T2 environment (and this was obliquely and intelligently referenced by a recent comment from Nastaboi). The current T2 environment is really screaming for some non-basic hate/hosing, and Anathemancer is finally here (just in time for Reflecting Pool and the Vivid lands to rotate out in ~4-5 months).

[Mythrandir]

Anathemancer - I think i'll hate this card... =/ repeateable PoP? Althouhg the unearth is very expensive, this card is a bomb. Ohh, why WOTC, why??

I'm not prepared to say if or how this could/should/will impact HL, but I believe this was made in response to the current T2 environment (and this was obliquely and intelligently referenced by a recent comment from Nastaboi). The current T2 environment is really screaming for some non-basic hate/hosing, and Anathemancer is finally here (just in time for Reflecting Pool and the Vivid lands to rotate out in ~4-5 months).

Yeap, i understand why it was made. WOTC rarely (at least IMO) consider casual formats. Their main goal is certainly T2, extend and vintage and legacy (not necessarily by this order).
At worst this is a 3 CMC 2/2 that can come back late (very late) game. Even vs mono or duo colored decks this can easily deal 1-3 damage, since most decks have nonbasic lands and with the difference that you don´t suffer damage. So, it won't warp the format, but it is definitely an auto-include in BR aggro decks.
I still dream of the day that WOTC prints basic hosers!

[silex]

Good analysis.  If I had to limit my top 5 picks for what will make an impact on Highlander, I think I'd go with:

#1 - Qasali Pridemage
Part Watchwolf, part Naturalize.  Tougher to cast, but I think many people will replace Kami of Ancient Law or Ronom Unicorn with this guy if they are in both G and W.

#2 - Anathemancer
For reasons already stated.

#3 - Behemoth's Sledge
You can now play two Loxodon Warhammers in Highlander.

#4 - Bloodbraid Elf
Get a free card on a nice aggressive body.

#5 - Maelstrom Pulse
Maelstrom Pulse is no Vindicate, especially in Highlander.  It is still quality removal though.  If you could run two Putrefy in Highlander, chances are most of the time you would.


Overall, a great set though with lots of playables.  Probably one of my favorites in a long while. 

The only card that I think has potential that is not mentioned so far in this thread is Knotvine Paladin.  Slap a sledge or warhammer on him, make some tokens, and he's just disgustingly strong for GW.

[Mythrandir]

Good analysis.  If I had to limit my top 5 picks for what will make an impact on Highlander, I think I'd go with:

#1 - Qasali Pridemage
Part Watchwolf, part Naturalize.  Tougher to cast, but I think many people will replace Kami of Ancient Law or Ronom Unicorn with this guy if they are in both G and W.

#2 - Anathemancer
For reasons already stated.

#3 - Behemoth's Sledge
You can now play two Loxodon Warhammers in Highlander.

#4 - Bloodbraid Elf
Get a free card on a nice aggressive body.

#5 - Maelstrom Pulse
Maelstrom Pulse is no Vindicate, especially in Highlander.  It is still quality removal though.  If you could run two Putrefy in Highlander, chances are most of the time you would.


Overall, a great set though with lots of playables.  Probably one of my favorites in a long while. 

The only card that I think has potential that is not mentioned so far in this thread is Knotvine Paladin.  Slap a sledge or warhammer on him, make some tokens, and he's just disgustingly strong for GW.

Good top, it's a bit hard to just choose 5.. i think i'd try to fit there aven mimeomancer. Great for UW builds.

But yes, qasali pridemage is my number 1 too.

I was hoping for something different with this set. the idea of multicolor only seemed that there could have been more "card making decks" and more near brokeness..

[Vazdru]

My top 5 of Alara Reborn:

1 Qasali Pridemage
Watchwolf meets Disenchant.

2 Dauthless Escort
Nice body, great ability.

3 Jenara, Asura of War
Decent card for aggro-control.

4 Anathemancer
MORE non-basic-hate

5 Lord of Extinction
I like it.

(Maelstrom Pulse + Meddling Mage + Thought Hemorrhage) no huge impact on HL but GREAT cards for constructed (DCI) play