Something for Everyone

"Apathy" card art

The latest Magic expansion, Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, does not interest me. I wasn't playing Magic the first time they visited the Kamigawa plane (2004-5), and the motif (based in Japanese culture) never appealed. The mechanics of this set are fine, but the enchantment focus was recently done (in Theros: Beyond Death), so I'm not enthralled there, either. In short, I won't be buying or playing much Neon Dynasty. But it still holds value.

The cool thing about Magic is that you don't have to participate in every set. I didn't like Strixhaven, either, so I mostly ignored it. It's nice to get a breather every now and then, stepping back and enjoying the cards you already have (as you save for the next expansion that looks interesting to you). But even when a set (as a whole) doesn't appeal, I still recommend perusing the card list. Often, I find a card or two that I really want to bolster an existing Modern deck. In Neon Dynasty, there are two that jump out:

These fit nicely into my Selesnya enchantment deck on Arena:

5 Plains (THB) 279

2 Doomskar (KHM) 9

5 Forest (THB) 287

4 Alseid of Life's Bounty (THB) 1

4 Banishing Light (THB) 4

4 Setessan Champion (THB) 198

4 Branchloft Pathway (ZNR) 258

4 Season of Growth (M20) 191

4 Blossoming Sands (M21) 244

4 All That Glitters (ELD) 2

4 Setessan Training (THB) 201

2 Temple Garden (GRN) 258

2 Temple of Plenty (THB) 248

4 Spirited Companion (NEO) 38

4 Jukai Naturalist (NEO) 225

4 Hallowed Haunting (VOW) 17

Sideboard

2 Archon of Sun's Grace (THB) 3

Combined with Setessan Champion, these two cards pack a punch. When Setessan Champion is on the board, playing Spirited Companion nets me two cards and a +1/+1 counter on the former. Season of Growth combined with All That Glitters and Setessan Training are also crazy. And when you add in Jukai Naturalist to make them all cheaper . . . things go bonkers fast. (In fact, at times I've had problems drawing too many cards . . . )

There's always something worth exploring in a Magic expansion, even if the overall theme or mechanics don't appeal. You can tailor your participation as you wish, but it's always worth it to give each new set at least a glance.

Deck Dump

Smothering Tithe card art- my gross way of depicting a deck dump

It's that time again . . . need to clear away some decks in Arena to make room for new possibilities. Below is a list of decks I've tried. They varied in effectiveness, although my willingness to 'dump' them means they weren't my favorites.

Drizzt or Not

4 Drizzt Do'Urden (AFR) 220

9 Forest (MID) 384

9 Plains (MID) 380

4 Cleric Class (AFR) 6

3 Ranger Class (AFR) 202

4 Prosperous Innkeeper (AFR) 200

4 Kor Celebrant (ZNR) 22

2 Snakeskin Veil (KHM) 194

2 Battle for Bretagard (KHM) 203

4 Branchloft Pathway (ZNR) 258

3 Trelasarra, Moon Dancer (AFR) 236

3 Revitalize (KHM) 23

2 Maja, Bretagard Protector (KHM) 222

2 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 24

4 Borrowed Time (MID) 6

1 Intrepid Adversary (MID) 25

Drizzt or Not v2

2 Drizzt Do'Urden (AFR) 220

9 Forest (MID) 384

10 Plains (MID) 380

4 Cleric Class (AFR) 6

4 Prosperous Innkeeper (AFR) 200

4 Kor Celebrant (ZNR) 22

4 Snakeskin Veil (KHM) 194

4 Branchloft Pathway (ZNR) 258

3 Trelasarra, Moon Dancer (AFR) 236

4 Righteous Valkyrie (KHM) 24

4 Borrowed Time (MID) 6

1 Intrepid Adversary (MID) 25

3 Inscription of Abundance (ZNR) 186

4 Priest of Ancient Lore (AFR) 35

Zombie FD

4 Overgrown Tomb (GRN) 253

4 Collected Company (AKR) 186

4 Cryptbreaker (EMN) 86

4 Death Baron (M19) 90

4 Diregraf Ghoul (M19) 92

4 Rotting Regisaur (M20) 111

4 Graveyard Marshal (M19) 99

4 Mire Triton (THB) 105

1 Temple of Malady (M20) 254

3 Temple of Malady (M21) 253

4 Lazotep Reaver (WAR) 96

2 Midnight Reaper (GRN) 77

2 Murderous Rider (ELD) 97

12 Swamp (IKO) 268

4 Woodland Cemetery (DAR) 248

VOLO

4 Volo, Guide to Monsters (AFR) 238

1 Dream Strix (STX) 42

2 Blizzard Brawl (KHM) 162

10 Snow-Covered Forest (KHM) 285

1 Overgrown Arch (STX) 139

2 Spirit of the Aldergard (KHM) 195

1 Glasspool Mimic (ZNR) 60

1 Neverwinter Dryad (AFR) 195

1 Lotus Cobra (ZNR) 193

2 Prosperous Innkeeper (AFR) 200

1 Mind Flayer (AFR) 63

10 Snow-Covered Island (KHM) 279

2 Needlethorn Drake (STX) 208

2 Quandrix Cultivator (STX) 218

2 Faceless Haven (KHM) 255

2 Rimewood Falls (KHM) 266

2 Battle Mammoth (KHM) 160

2 Eureka Moment (STX) 184

3 Saw It Coming (KHM) 76

1 Alrund's Epiphany (KHM) 41

2 Koma, Cosmos Serpent (KHM) 221

2 You Come to a River (AFR) 83

1 Ascendant Spirit (KHM) 43

1 Fading Hope (MID) 51

2 Divide by Zero (STX) 41

Sideboard

2 Introduction to Annihilation (STX) 3

2 Introduction to Prophecy (STX) 4

2 Environmental Sciences (STX) 1

1 Fractal Summoning (STX) 187

Stomp

1 Thrashing Brontodon (M20) 197

3 The Great Henge (ELD) 161

4 Lovestruck Beast (ELD) 165

3 Questing Beast (ELD) 171

4 Stonecoil Serpent (ELD) 235

3 Castle Garenbrig (ELD) 240

1 Gemrazer (IKO) 155

1 Vivien, Monsters' Advocate (IKO) 175

3 Primal Might (M21) 197

4 Scavenging Ooze (M21) 204

4 Kazandu Mammoth (ZNR) 189

2 Swarm Shambler (ZNR) 207

2 Blizzard Brawl (KHM) 162

2 Faceless Haven (KHM) 255

18 Snow-Covered Forest (KHM) 285

1 Snakeskin Veil (STA) 57

1 Snakeskin Veil (KHM) 194

2 Heroic Intervention (M21) 188

1 Inscription of Abundance (ZNR) 186

Stomp2

4 Ilysian Caryatid (THB) 174

24 Forest (ANA) 20

4 Rabid Bite (M20) 190

4 Scavenging Ooze (M21) 204

4 Wildborn Preserver (ELD) 182

4 Llanowar Visionary (M21) 193

4 Yorvo, Lord of Garenbrig (ELD) 185

4 Questing Beast (ELD) 171

2 Elder Gargaroth (M21) 179

1 Kogla, the Titan Ape (IKO) 162

2 The Great Henge (ELD) 161

1 Titanoth Rex (IKO) 174

1 Primal Might (M21) 197

1 Thorn Mammoth (ELD) 323

Viva Las Vega

4 Lunarch Veteran (MID) 27

10 Island (MID) 381

2 Doomskar (KHM) 9

4 Chaplain of Alms (MID) 13

10 Plains (MID) 380

2 Overwhelmed Archivist (MID) 68

4 Dennick, Pious Apprentice (MID) 217

4 Devoted Grafkeeper (MID) 218

4 The Raven's Warning (KHM) 227

4 Borrowed Time (MID) 6

4 Minimus Containment (AFR) 24

3 Hengegate Pathway (KHM) 260

3 Vega, the Watcher (KHM) 233

2 Fateful Absence (MID) 18

Sideboard

1 Alrund's Epiphany (KHM) 41

1 Alrund, God of the Cosmos (KHM) 40

2 Invoke the Divine (DAR) 22

1 Vanquish the Horde (MID) 41

1 Field of Ruin (MID) 262

1 Jwari Disruption (ZNR) 64

Callbacks

When the Midnight Hunt set released, I laughed when I saw Champion of the Perished. It was a clear reference to a much older card- Champion of the Parish- from the original Innistrad set. In other words, it was a callback.

In Magic: the Gathering, a 'callback' is when a card references, or is reminiscent of, an older card (either in name or ability). Sometimes, it's a play on the name:

Other times, it's the similarity of the art and ability:

It could 'amplify' an original card:

Or could combine two older cards: Llanowar Elves + Elvish Visionary = Llanowar Visionary.

Callbacks are fun ways to pay homage to the game's history and give 'easter eggs' to long-time fans without isolating new players. They show up more in sets like Modern Horizons (see here) or Modern Horizons 2 (see here), but any set can have them- especially ones that revisit previous planes (here are five from Midnight Hunt, for example). Magic has a history, and makes good use of it. Pay attention, and you mind uncover some fun surprises.

Blink and You'll Miss It

Ephemerate card art

Magic has many cards with "enter the battlefield" abilities. Like Coiling Oracle below:

The effects can be powerful when they trigger only once. What if you could make it happen again? That is the very concept behind a 'blink' deck.

In Magic parlance, blinking a permanent is when you have it leave, and then immediately return to, the battlefield. There are many cards that do this, most often in blue or white. Cards like Ephemerate or Ghostly Flicker:

Now, I should be more precise with my terminology: it's not leaving and returning to the battlefield. Blinking means a permanent is exiled and then it enters the battlefield (ETB) again. So its ETB ability triggers again. That's powerful. It also counts as a new object- and this is an important nuance.

Since blinking a creature makes it count as a new object, it is a way to evade removal spells. If, for example, an opponent plays a Murder ("destroy target creature") targeting your Coiling Oracle, you can respond by playing Ephemerate, also targeting your creature. Ephemerate is the top card on the stack, so it is first to resolve. Coiling Oracle is exiled and returns to the battlefield (triggering its ETB ability- handy). And it is a new object, so when your opponent's Murder resolves, there is no target, and the spell was wasted. Powerful! But not necessarily intuitive.

Most of Magic's rules make sense to me. But I always struggled with this one. Why doesn't the blinked creature count as the same creature? The answer is in the comprehensive rules, rule 400.7:

400.7. An object that moves from one zone to another becomes a new object with no memory of, or relation to, its previous existence.

That's all there is to it. Blinking means moving from the battlefield to exile (another zone) and back to the battlefield. That means- among other things- that any counters on an object go away if you blink it. So there are drawbacks as well as advantages. Either way, it is an important rule to remember.