Ingris StingerquillIngris Stingerquill | Illustrated by Chase Stone
I am so incredibly excited for this set. Seeing cards over the past few years, remixed and reimagined with different color identities and principles, has got me extremely enamored by this set, so I'm going to be playing a lot of this stuff. Let's take a peek at what some other writers are going to use from this set.
Cooper said, "I've got a Meren of Clan Nel TothMeren of Clan Nel Toth deck with Umori, the CollectorUmori, the Collector as the companion. It's a goofy list (65 creatures, 35 lands), but it works! It also powers Meren down to a level that I'm comfortable with. I'm always on the lookout for other uses for Umori, and I think I've found one with Codie, Ravenous CodexCodie, Ravenous Codex. Paired with Umori, this new version of Codie will let me build a Spellslinger deck without any instants or sorceries! I love roundabout; restrictive deckbuilding premises like this, so I'm excited to put this new Codie list together." I love this idea. A five-color Umori Spellslinger deck seems like so much fun! It'll definitely difficult finding way to prepare them all, but I'm excited to see the evolution of this kind of deck.
Kara said, "Draconic VisitorDraconic Visitor is going into my Malcolm, the EyesMalcolm, the Eyes deck. It's a pretty straightforward win condition that can convert Malcolm's underwhelming token-generation into a way to win the game by generating up to 20 power's worth of flyers per turn cycle with Malcolm alone." This is such an incredible addition to this deck. Turning all of your second spells into 5/5 Dragons is pretty powerful.
She is also including Omnath! "Omnath, Locus of the VoidOmnath, Locus of the Void is going into my SixSix artifacts deck. I'm always on the hunt for seven-mana colorless bombs to cast with this deck's Tron lands, and Omnath is both good to cast with them and good to sit in play absorbing the deck's excess mana each turn cycle. I'll inevitably discover something ridiculous to do with the infinite colorless mana I'll get from Omnath while performing Shifting WoodlandShifting Woodland/Aftermath AnalystAftermath Analyst loops." I'm excited to see this Omnath in anything. I'm not sure how this SixSix deck functions, but being able to using Aftermath AnalystAftermath Analyst alongside an Omnath that gets bigger with excess mana is pretty exciting.
Ethan is running the new Yuriko. "I'm working on a Daxos of MeletisDaxos of Meletis Exalted list, and Yuriko, Blade of the MightyYuriko, Blade of the Mighty fits the bill perfectly as a super-charged exalted. It'll also help protect Daxos during combat which is a good bonus, and the deck doesn't rely on instant-speed abilities where Yuriko could be a detriment to me."
Yuriko, Blade of the Mighty
He also said, "I'm also planning on updating an old Thalisse, Reverent MediumThalisse, Reverent Medium deck I have, and Liliana the FaultlessLiliana the Faultless will fit great into it. The deck makes lots of tokens, so Liliana can give a good amount of lifegain and also some evasion as needed." This particular passive Soul Sister-esque kind of effect is really good with a token strategy, especially since Liliana only cares about creatures or planeswalkers that enter under your control.
Owain is upgrading a bunch of his decks with this set. First, "For Tolsimir WolfbloodTolsimir Wolfblood, I'm looking to add Vigorbloom CharmVigorbloom Charm. The initial list is all-multicolor, but I'm very likely to rework the noncreature lineup, and this has some nice utility."
He said, "For Jolrael, Voice of ZhalfirJolrael, Voice of Zhalfir, I see Verdant KrakenVerdant Kraken and Marwyn, the PreserverMarwyn, the Preserver. The former makes land tokens, which is according to keikaku...I mean plan. Marwyn crucially gives those land creatures hexproof, plus the activated ability is sure to grow my hand size for more antics." Being able to make additional attackers for Jolrael's damage triggers with the Kraken and making them hexproof with Marwyn are excellent here. Only being able to make one creature as an attacker for Jolrael is normally a stumbling block here when players target remove them; these cards solve this.
Also, "For Isshin, Two Heavens as OneIsshin, Two Heavens as One I'm going to add Ingris StingerquillIngris Stingerquill. With all the tokens I'll be making, plus the double triggers, means this is going to be a very dangerous card with the right setup. I have high expectations for it." More damage with attacks is ideal. Being able to double that trigger with Isshin is so cool, too.
Still not done, "For Ziatora, the IncineratorZiatora, the Incinerator I'm adding Avacyn, Angel of HorrorAvacyn, Angel of Horror. With Ziatora's end step trigger, I can sacrifice a big beefy thing that didn't attack, get value from the trigger, then bring it back. Normally, this would be a nonbo, but Avacyn counts herself, so I can fling her and get her back on an opponent's turn, ensuring my big stuff can attack when the turn circles back to me." Being able to sac something to Ziatora, get the damage, the Treasures, and get the creature back with Avacyn is so nutty.
"And finally (for now), for Falco Spara, PactweaverFalco Spara, Pactweaver I'm adding Yoshimaru, Beloved CompanionYoshimaru, Beloved Companion and Vigorbloom VanguardVigorbloom Vanguard. The Vanguard gives my stuff vigilance, which is valuable in multiplayer. Plus, the prepared spell kick starts my +1/+1 counters synergies. And Yoshimaru because he's an adorable doggie that acts as a Hardened ScalesHardened Scales." He certainly is cute.
Yoshimaru, Beloved Companion
Jeremy said, "My Krile BaldesionKrile Baldesion Wizards deck is eating very well this set. It could eat even better if I wasn't trying to limit tokens and dice, but Diviner of VictorDiviner of Victory, Divining DuelistDivining Duelist, Seasoned CryomancerSeasoned Cryomancer, and Variable ChaserVariable Chaser all add ETB draw, which is part of the main engine of the deck, paired with ETB bounce." Prepared spells are good here, decent reanimation.
Arnaud said, "Ingris StingerquillIngris Stingerquill is heading right into my Ob Nixilis, Captive KingpinOb Nixilis, Captive Kingpin deck. Easy ping on my turn for minimal mana investment." Triggering Ob off of his own attack is pretty neat.
"Ajani ResoluteAjani Resolute is getting a shot in both my Haliya, Guided by LightHaliya, Guided by Light, and my Ikra Shidiqi, the UsurperIkra Shidiqi, the Usurper/Prava of the Steel LegionPrava of the Steel Legion decks. I believe both have the potential to proc that ultimate multiple times." Lifegain decks will get to the emblem on Ajani in no time.
"Bloodline RecollectorBloodline Recollector is definitely getting into my Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerShirei, Shizo's Caretaker deck. This is going to melt my life total like snow, but the value is impossible to ignore." Be careful of that life total for sure.
"Draconic VisitorDraconic Visitor is going to be a game-ending machine in both my Galazeth PrismariGalazeth Prismari and in my Sami, Wildcat Captain decks. I can't believe this is so cheap. At five mana, it's a steal." It might be a game-ender if you can manage it, but you get the Dragon instead of the Treasure so be careful!
"Hexhaven InvigoratorHexhaven Invigorator is very likely going to be the crown jewel of this set. It's going into basically any of my decks with a strong green streak. It's going to be absolutely wild in Wayta, Trainer ProdigyWayta, Trainer Prodigy, and more generally in any deck that wants to fight or force blocks. An absolute banger of a card." I thought of Wayta immediately when I saw this card. It's so good for that deck.
Bennie said, "Nissa, Leyline TamerNissa, Leyline Tamer seems like a fun build-around depending if I get my hands on a copy. Landfall without green? Cool!" I agree! I'm interested to see what sans-green landfall looks like.
He's also interested in the Invigorator, "I am interested in putting Hexhaven InvigoratorHexhaven Invigorator in my Grothama, All-DevouringGrothama, All-Devouring deck, but I'm not going to pay a fortune for it, so it depends on how far down the prices comes after release. Dealing 10 damage to Invigorator with Grothama is obviously a huge swing!" This is some crazy tech, but the Invigorator is already so insane already.
He said, "I would like to put Carnivorous CultivatorCarnivorous Cultivator in my Hazezon, Shaper of SandHazezon, Shaper of Sand deck; land Entomb does really cool things with Hazezon." Hazezon is good with lands in the graveyard! This card enters prepared too so you get it immediately.
Also, "I am also interested in putting Flickering HoundFlickering Hound in my dungeon-mechanic-themed Rafiq of the ManyRafiq of the Many deck. Loving the idea of blinking initiative creatures like White Plume AdventurerWhite Plume Adventurer, Tomb of Horrors AdventurerTomb of Horrors Adventurer, and Undermountain AdventurerUndermountain Adventurer." Blink is always good with initiative cards. Especially when the creatures you're casting blink other initiatives cards.
Finally, "Depending on its eventual price, I'll be putting Simulacrum ShaperSimulacrum Shaper in a bunch of my green decks, the card is absurd." This card is a little insane so I'll be playing it myself.
"Ajani's AnguishAjani's Anguish is an insane card. There’s nothing comparable in MtG that gives a static trample effect to all of your creatures for one mana. It’s even better than Concordant CrossroadsConcordant Crossroads and Mass HysteriaMass Hysteria because those enchantments grant abilities for your opponents’ creatures as well. Another bonus is you can spend more casting Ajani's AnguishAjani's Anguish to take out a threat or Blaze an opponent. The fact that it’s an enchantment dodging Narset's ReversalNarset's Reversal, Wild RicochetWild Ricochet, and FlusterstormFlusterstorm is fantastic." I couldn't agree more that a one red to give your creatures trample, is huge here. It's another I'll be using myself!
Nicholas said, "Liliana the FaultlessLiliana the Faultless, Teyo, Lightshield ExpertTeyo, Lightshield Expert, and Pia, Aether AsceticPia, Aether Ascetic all make it into my Saffi EriksdotterSaffi Eriksdotter AlurenAluren deck. Lilly is another soul sister effect which I love, Teyo is a cheap creature that can protect and Pia is a great way to find AlurenAluren and other important enchantments the deck needs." The Pia is really good here to fetch AlurenAluren, if your whole deck revolves around it.
For me Ajani's AnguishAjani's Anguish is going into my Coram, the UndertakerCoram, the Undertaker deck. More ways to give Coram trample for a low cost is always welcome. Coram is a self mill, but commander damage oriented deck. I need a way to give Coram evasion.
I'm thinking about Draconic VisitorDraconic Visitor for my Prosper, Tome-BoundProsper, Tome-Bound deck. Turning my Treasures into creatures when I want to go of on a certain turn might be a win condition. It's fragile but worth it.
Flickering HoundFlickering Hound is going in my Tivit, Seller of SecretsTivit, Seller of Secrets deck. I play a ton of creature spells that flicker in my deck and now my Hound gives me more of that. Flickering Tivit over and over is so powerful here.
Verdant KrakenVerdant Kraken is going into my Zimone, Mystery UnravelerZimone, Mystery Unraveler and Kiora, Sovereign of the DeepKiora, Sovereign of the Deep deck. In Zimone it gets me a manifest dread every turn, which is ideal in my deck to flip more things on my turn to attack with. It's also a great thing to cheat into play. In Kiora, it ramps me into bigger spells but also is a big Kraken that will trigger my free cast off of Kiora. Seven mana is the sweet spot for cards in Kiora because a lot of my spells are six mana value.
Lastly I want, Ingris StingerquillIngris Stingerquill, for my Caesar, Legion's EmperorCaesar, Legion's Emperor deck. I play a lot of attack trigger-doublers and tokens in my strategy. Being able to double those triggers and burn the table out is huge in this deck.
There are a ton of really cool cards coming out for this set. Let us know which ones you're most excited for! I'm @strixhavendropout on everything.
