Exploring Wilds of Eldraine

Archive Dragon card art

I've decided to start a new series this year. "Exploring [set]" will look at recent Magic releases and reflect on their mechanics and themes. I make no attempt to be exhaustive. First up: Wilds of Eldraine (WOE), released in September 2023.

Mechanics

WOE introduces the following keywords or ability words:

- Bargain: [something good happens] if you choose to sacrifice an artifact, enchantment, or token as you cast this spell. See Candy Grapple as an example.

- Celebration: [something good happens] as long as two or more nonland permanents entered the battlefield under your control this turn. See Gallant Pie-Wielder as an example.

- Roles: cursed, monster, royal, wicked, sorceror, young hero. These are enchantments that are played on creatures and grant abilities as they indicate (see below token cards). They are created by some cards in WOE (see Cursed Courtier as an example).

Returning are adventures: cards that are 'two in one,' in a sense, that can be played for their one ability (on the left) and then cast later as a creature. See Mosswood Dreadknight as an example.

Themes/Flavor

Like the first Eldraine-based set, WOE reminds us of fairy tales. The first time around, it was more about knights (think King Arthur). This time, it is about faeries, rats, and sweets. A full 24 cards are faeries in this set (mostly blue/black), 18 cards are or mention rats (mostly black/red), and a number are related to sweets/food in name or mechanic. Examples below.

Thoughts

I loved the first Eldraine set. WOE is okay. I enjoy the punning and light themes ("Tough Cookie" and "Mintstrosity" are personal favorites). Faeries and Rats are cool. The mechanics aren't as great; I generally prefer keywords (which this set lacks, outside of evergeen ones) to ability words, and I really dislike the Role concept, because it is hard to follow without token cards and/or playing online. Anything that seems geared towards digital worries me; paper Magic is where the game should center.

Ultimately, I enjoy a few cards from this and play a few decks, but I think the mechanics could have been better.