Magic: the Gathering Articles

This category will try to bring you new content as it pertains to the card game of Magic: the Gathering. Decklists will be provided for various formats such as EDH, Standard and Legacy.

Happy Reading!

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Gatecrash Preview: Daring Skyjek

daringskyjekAggressively costed? You think?

If, like myself, you were around Time Spiral block then you remember the following creature:

blade of the sixth pride

Me- Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! 

This vanilla 3/1 for 2 mana might not seem like much but it was a first. It’s almost like now where they are making 3/3’s for 3 mana with bonuses all over the place. It’s become a very aggressive place, this Magic: the Gathering universe!

So now we have a similar card with better creature types and a decent upside. Nice! is it going to make the cut in weenie decks? Perhaps… I would consider it for sure. In a random Boros deck example you can curve out with it.

Turn 1 

boros elite

Turn 2

daringskyjek

Turn 3

skyknight

Huzzaaaaah!!!

You’re attacking for 8 damage here (with potentially 1 damage on your turn 2). It’s nothing to sneeze at. From a limited standpoint, it’s the nuts! Constructed-wise your opponent ‘can’ come back from that, it’s just not a certainty. If you follow up with a Boros Charm (either for the 4 burn or double strike a flier), you have dealt 20 damage!

keanu-reeves-whoa

That’s right Keanu!

So don’t just pass this card off as a random aggro dork, he can and will surprise you. (I meant the Skyjek, not Keanu)

 

 

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Gatecrash Preview: Crowned Ceratok

crownedceratokTrample your Evolve guys, Rhino Style!

A great beefy creature in both limited and low budget constructed, the Ceratok can provide a nice late game push to your team of beefy trampleless creatures. The quote is a bit funny too.

It can combo well with older casual Ally decks from Zendikar block or Spikes from Tempest block if you just need a low cost finisher for those kinds of decks. In limited I would for sure put him in any of the green-based decks as his stats and random benefit + built-in trample make him playable.

 

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Gatecrash Preview: Crocanura

crocanura

Giant Spider is back! with a growing vengeance!

It’s quite apparent this will be mostly relegated to Limited play. It’s a more aggressively costed Giant Spider(aka. the Core Set sole -Surviror)

 

giant spider survivor

 

He sadly never saw M13

It turns into a Giant Spider if you drop a 2-power or greater creature and just has the potential do block bigger and better creatures with flying after that.

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Gatecrash Preview: Crackling Perimeter

cracklingperimeterGuildgates Assemble!

I don’t care to analyse the Standard possibilities for this card, just that it must be a blast to play with in a Casual deck. Play it with green for Gatecreeper Vine and maybe Urban Evolution for lots of laughs. Pinging your opponent has never been so ‘odd’.

gatecreeper vince

“Yay! I found a home!”

I suppose if you really want to stretch it in Standard it can ping away a few planeswalkers, eventually. But don’t hold your breath.

 

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Gatecrash Preview: Corpse Blockade

corpseblockadeZombies blocking your way? Sucks to be you!

The quote is kinda funny. Another sacrifice outlet, but more for limited. A great way to hinder Boros decks and force them to play a removal on this wall or waste one of their guys on it. It can also allow you to make use of a creature that is already on its way to the graveyard by giving this deathtouch and daring your opponent to expend a creature.

 

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Gatecrash Preview: Contaminated Ground

contaminatedgroundI feel icky just touching the card

Yes, it’s bad. I would not consider packing it in my 40-card deck, even as a 22-23d card. If I got stuck with some multiples I MIGHT consider siding them in versus opponents that seem to get color/mana screwed. That’s a stretch even at that. if your opponent is playing black, you might end up helping them.

Ew!

 

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Gatecrash Preview: Coerced Confession

coerced confessionCute, but inefficient

Flavour is there. Lazav approves. I just don’t like it. You’re paying 5 for something that should have Cipher, but doesn’t.

Some grindy casual low budget mill decks will run it and have fun though.

I would hesitate to play it even in Draft and 100% not playing it in Sealed.

 

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Gatecrash Preview: Cloudfin Raptor

cloudfinraptor

Having a bad ‘Birds’ flashback!

If there is one ‘Evolve’ creature that is expected to see Constructed play, this is it. It gets dropped on turn 1 and continues to deliver the beatdown as long as you can curve out. Dropping a second one on turn 2 followed by a 1 power creature like Delver of Secrets (for example) can be big. Next turn, flip Delver, play a 2 power guy and attack for 7 in the air!

delver of secrets 1 delver of secrets 2

Standard Delver ressurgence? Maybe …

I know it sounds a little sketchy, but trust me. You will see this across from you in a Standard event. Maybe even something like Red/Blue Weenie burn. Who knows?

Just like a Sweepstakes: many will enter, few will win.

Now go evolve your new Standard decks with Gatecrash!