The Sackville-BagginsesThe Sackville-Bagginses | Art by Denman Rooke

There are a lot of powerful cards coming out in The Hobbit. We got a ton of Goblin and Elf support — not that either of these archetypes needed any more assistance. I'm certainly stoked to see what our fellow EDHREC writers are choosing from this set to put in their decks.

Jeremy Rowe

Rowe said, "Most Decrepit Old BirdMost Decrepit Old Bird is going into my Balmor, Battlemage CaptainBalmor, Battlemage Captain Izzet Birds deck. It's an aggressive Bird Typal deck mashed with a Spellslinger subtheme, so a cheap, evasive Bird that grows itself and comes with a built-in sorcery that has a good chance of finding us another instant or sorcery is exactly what the deck wants. Factor in that I can Unsummon it to re-use the Adventure and find more action and Balmor triggers, and this can swing games!"

This is a great addition to this deck because it allows for another flyer that benefits off lots of instants and sorceries going to the bin at resolution. Buffing Birds is a great way to get in with damage.

Landon Crispens

Crispens said, "I really like the design of Glóin the MightyGlóin the Mighty. The Easy Pickings sorcery is one-sided indirect creature damage that synergies with Ghyrson Starn, KelermorphGhyrson Starn, Kelermorph, Solphim, Mayhem DominusSolphim, Mayhem Dominus, and Torbran, Thane of Red FellTorbran, Thane of Red Fell. Furthermore, Glóin the MightyGlóin the Mighty’s two mana ramp effect fuels casting higher mana cost spells and finishers like Fiery EmancipationFiery Emancipation, Drakuseth, Maw of FlamesDrakuseth, Maw of Flames, and an overloaded Mizzix's MasteryMizzix's Mastery."

Mana acceleration like this in red is fairly rare, so I'm glad he's mentioning it. Being able to double the damage of the Easy Pickings might be a decent board wipe if the opponents are rocking 2/2s or 1/1s with a damage doubler like Fiery EmancipationFiery Emancipation.

Brian Cain

Said Cain: "Ratadrabik of UrborgRatadrabik of Urborg is getting three new cards. The Queen of DaleThe Queen of Dale is replacing Esper SentinelEsper Sentinel as a card velocity piece that is 1) not optional for opponents, 2) a way to fill the graveyard for things like Living DeathLiving Death and Teshar, Ancestor's ApostleTeshar, Ancestor's Apostle, and 3) legendary."

I think The Queen of DaleThe Queen of Dale is a really strong card. In a deck that likely ReanimateReanimates like Ratadrabik, I agree wholly with this.

He went on to say, "The Sackville-BagginsesThe Sackville-Bagginses is also a great addition, going in over Nasty EndNasty End. I get yet another legend into the deck that is also a sacrifice outlet, ramp, card velocity, and a win condition. It’s exactly what the deck wants."

It is definitely a win condition, when doing basic things in Ratadrabik, like sacrificing tokens. It usually means life totals go down. That Ratadrabik and Boromir, Warden of the TowerBoromir, Warden of the Tower combo has another outlet.

He finished with, "I think I might also throw in Hobbit HoleHobbit Hole as a utility land. I don’t run any tutors outside of Sidisi, Undead VizierSidisi, Undead Vizier, but this can find Gollum, Patient PlotterGollum, Patient Plotter or Samwise the StoutheartedSamwise the Stouthearted; both pieces of my ring tempt combos. With enough mana, it can even find Sam and I can play him at instant speed."

Halflingcycling seems like the kind of joke keyword we'd see on Reddit, but no, it's real. And it's fairly strong. Getting any of the cards Brian mentions above, or a Lotho, Corrupt ShirriffLotho, Corrupt Shirriff or Delighted HalflingDelighted Halfling, is going to be great in some situations.

Nicholas Lucchesi

Lucchesi said, "The easiest addition to a deck in a long time for me is Wizard's StaffWizard's Staff in my Kefka, Court MageKefka, Court Mage Wizards deck. It does everything that deck wants to do by double triggering my Wizards and giving prowess."

I agree, getting an additional trigger out of a Wizard for three total mana is completely worth it.

He also mentioned, "My version of Ratadrabik will also likely add The Queen of DaleThe Queen of Dale, because it card filters and fills the graveyard and that deck cares about legends. I will also be adding The Sackville-BagginsesThe Sackville-Bagginses as a legendary Mirkwood BatsMirkwood Bats effect that can sacrifice one of my creatures or artifacts. That deck is also looking at Azog, Moria's RuinAzog, Moria's Ruin as a removal piece that I get on a legendary body that can do some fun stuff by killing off my own creatures."

A legendary removal piece in Ratadrabik like Azog is going to be great if you can find a way to sac it. I'm sure this deck will have ways.

"The Eagles Are Coming!The Eagles Are Coming! is possibly my favorite card from the set, but one I love for my Saffi EriksdotterSaffi Eriksdotter deck focused on AlurenAluren and cheap mana value creatures. I bounce a lot of creatures back to my own hand and play just about every Soul SisterSoul Sister effect in that deck, so recasting them is great for me. For that same deck I am looking at The Mountain-king's ReturnThe Mountain-king's Return. It can be card filtering and reanimation for my creatures and the final chapter doesn't hurt."

I definitely see The Eagles Are Coming!The Eagles Are Coming! as a really flexible protection spell. The Mountain-king's ReturnThe Mountain-king's Return's second chapter is a pretty neat; being able to get a kind of Teshar, Ancestor's ApostleTeshar, Ancestor's Apostle-effect, if the deck cares about this ability, might be relevant.

Ezra Sassaman

Sassaman started with, "I'm excited about the lands Elven PassageElven Passage and Hobbit HoleHobbit Hole for my "Elves and Archers matter" deck led by Ohabi CaleriaOhabi Caleria. Elven PassageElven Passage looks like an on-theme version of Prismatic VistaPrismatic Vista (that hopefully won't be as expensive to buy!) Hobbit HoleHobbit Hole's versatility is exactly what this deck needs. It's simply a land in the early game, but can turn into a changeling like Mirror EntityMirror Entity or even Crib SwapCrib Swap once the deck has enough mana online."

This Elven PassageElven Passage is really strong in an Elf deck. It's a basic fetch land that comes in untapped for basically little effort in a deck like that.

He went on to say, "Bilbo, LuckwearerBilbo, Luckwearer looks like a fun addition in my build of The RaniThe Rani. The creature itself can easily wear "Mark of the Rani" tokens and connect to get card selection (and long-term advantage through Clues). The Adventure half is also awesome for exchanging control of Mark of the Rani Aura tokens already on creatures – they'll stay attached and not much will change, but maybe I'll be able to steal a high-impact enchantment in the process."

This Bilbo card is so interesting. I hadn't noticed until I read Sassaman's response that this card existed. I think it would be really strong in this particular deck. It would also do well in a Gonti, Canny AcquisitorGonti, Canny Acquisitor deck.

Lastly he said, "Finally, Desolation of SmaugDesolation of Smaug is a perfect fit in my Rith, Liberated PrimevalRith, Liberated Primeval 'excess damage matters' deck. There are already fun one-sided sweepers like EarthquakeEarthquake and MagmaquakeMagmaquake, so why not one more with an explicit Dragons-matter theme?"

It's definitely a way to deal all this damage and recoup the mana in a Dragon deck. That it's a red card, but gives you any combination of colors, is insane.

John Sherwood

Sherwood said, "Bilbo, Thief in the NightBilbo, Thief in the Night will be right at home in my Vhal, Candlekeep ResearcherVhal, Candlekeep Researcher deck. The cost reduction is especially helpful for foretell, flashback, and Adventures, and who doesn't like recursion?"

It's a great addition to any deck that wants to cast from alternate zones. Being locked to blue is interesting, but I don't disagree it should have been this color, if it had to only be one.

Owain Roberts

Roberts said, "Elven PassageElven Passage: Either this will be a second copy of Fabled PassageFabled Passage, or I swap them. Either way, I don't mind a little land searching to ensure I cast my stuff. Woodland WeavemasterWoodland Weavemaster: I don't know if I need (yet) another mana dork, but this isn't too bad. It might not make it in because of the Elf only restriction. Cantankerous KeepersCantankerous Keepers: This is effectively a Sylvan MessengerSylvan Messenger that makes itself cheaper and has better stats. Again, might not make it, but I do have a tab on it."

Woodland WeavemasterWoodland Weavemaster is so incredibly strong, buffing itself temporarily when Elves enter. It doesn't even care if the things entering are tokens or not. It also adds mana for more Elf shenanigans. And it has vigilance so it can attack and then tap for mana? Powerful.

Cas Hinds

The first two cards that I have my eye on are probably The Queen of DaleThe Queen of Dale and The ArkenstoneThe Arkenstone for my Dihada, Binder of WillsDihada, Binder of Wills Legendaries-Matter Reanimator deck. Being able to choose cards in my hand to toss to the graveyard is pretty great. It is so low cost that I could get it out fairly early. Each noncreature spell fills up my graveyard passively. In a way, it's also card advantage, keeping what I want in hand while getting key pieces into the graveyard. It also makes blockers for Dihada.

The ArkenstoneThe Arkenstone is another The SeriemaThe Seriema. It's a legendary that I can pick out with Dihada's -3 ability and put to hand. I can play for three to tutor out a game winning legend, and then use it for something else later. Five mana to lightly buff my board and draw a card on my end step isn't really worth five mana, but the tutor for three is, so it's worth it.

Conclusion

I'm really excited for whatever else The Hobbit has to offer. Legendaries-Matter, Elf, and Goblin decks are eating really good. I can't wait to play at a Prerelease. Tell us what you want to put in your decks from this set. I'm @strixhavendropout on everything.