Card Talk 21

Cactuar card art

Time for Card Talk! Reminder how this works:

• I go to Scryfall and select 'Random Card'
• I present and blog about the card. I could discuss any aspect: the art, abilities, cost, set, impact on the game, and so on. Stream of consciousness.

Card Talk is a fun, uncurated way to look at Magic's cards, mechanics, history, art, sets, and so on. And of course it exposes some of my own preferences, biases, and memories of the game.

Today's card is . . .

Guardia de patrulla nocturna—a common creature from Salvat 2005.

This one threw me. Salvat 2005 is a reprint-only set that was *not* produced in English, but only Italian, French, and Spanish. The set was released as 10 (or 12, in Italy) theme decks but also packs in a weekly magazine; the link in this paragraph shows the complete set. This MTG Wiki site shows the decklists.

I don't know much about this set, to include why Wizards did it in the first place. A quick web search argues that it was done to expand the game's presence in those European regions; that makes sense, but I'm unclear why they had to create a new set to do so. Anyway, it was reprints only, so I guess that made it easier for them to produce.

The above card is "Nightguard Patrol" in English, and was originally released in the Ravnica set. It has two abilities: first strike and vigilance. First strike means it does its combat damage before the regular damage step; vigilance means it does not tap to attack. Two nice abilities, but with such a low power/toughness and a mana cost of three, this is not a valuable card (you can still get it for pennies).

Until next time . . . keep exploring.

Budget Commander Staples: Selesnya

Concluding this month's theme of two-color allied combos [adjacent color pairs], today I look at budget Commander staples in Selesnya colors (green/white). I focus on four categories: ramp, card draw, targeted removal, and board wipe. And this is budget, so cards cost under $2.

Ramp

Ramp is about accelerating land deployment and/or mana access. Selesnya does this well. Steward of Valeron and Atzocan Seer generate mana. Murasa Rootgrazer enables extra land play. Safewright Quest can be powerful.

Card draw

The main option here is Camaraderie, which is great if you have a lot of creatures on the board. Sumala Woodshaper isn't technically card draw, but (in a way) better with her search ability.

Targeted removal

Selesnya likes destroying artifacts or enchantments (Sundering Growth, Nature's Chant, Elvish Hexhunter). Dromoka's Command likes doing the same but also gives the 'fight' option, which can be a useful creature removal spell.

Board wipe 

There are no 'total' board wipes in exactly Selesnya colors, though Fracturing Gust can take care of pesky artifacts and enchantments. 

Conclusion

The 11 cards shown above are worth considering for any Selesnya Commander deck.

Budget Commander Staples: Gruul

Continuing this month's theme of two-color allied combos [adjacent color pairs], today I look at budget Commander staples in Gruul colors (red/green). I focus on four categories: ramp, card draw, targeted removal, and board wipe. And this is budget, so cards cost under $2.

Ramp

Ramp is about accelerating land deployment and/or mana access. Gruul has two nice options here: Escape to the Wilds and Goblin Anarchomancer (which I count as ramp because it reduces cost).

Card draw

The main option here is Manamorphose, which nets you two mana back (in any color combo!) plus a card; nice.

Targeted removal

This is where Gruul shines. Damage (from Branching Bold and Clan Defiance), taking out creatures (with Pit Fight or Colossal Might), land/artifact destruction (Wreak Havoc), and buffing your creatures with power and haste (Fires of Yavimaya) showcases this color combo's strengths.

Board wipe 

There are no board wipes in exactly Gruul colors. 

Combination

Atarka's Command can be targeted removal, ramp, and/or a buff for your creatures.

Conclusion

The 10 cards shown above are worth considering for any Gruul Commander deck.

Budget Commander Staples: Rakdos

Continue this month's theme of two-color allied combos [adjacent color pairs], today I look at budget Commander staples in Rakdos colors (black/red). I focus on four categories: ramp, card draw, targeted removal, and board wipe. And this is budget, so cards cost under $2.

Ramp

Ramp is about accelerating land deployment and/or mana access. Rakdos has no options here (in exactly two colors).

Card draw

Rakdos has no options here (in exactly two colors).

Targeted removal

This is where Rakdos shines. Damage, discard, and destroying permanents . . . this is a powerful color combo. Kolaghan's Command is a nice option spell at instant speed. Blightning, Rakdos's Return, and Skull Rend do damage and make an opponent discard. Terminate, Bedevil, and Dreadbore are simple removal spells, enabling you to destroy one or more types of permanents. Rakdos Charm gives three options, all of which could be useful. Spiteflame Witch can be fun if you have more life than your opponent. And Angrath's Rampage is helpful when your opponent has few options on the board.

Board wipe 

There are no board wipes in exactly Rakdos colors. 

Conclusion

The 10 cards shown above are worth considering for any Rakdos Commander deck.

Budget Commander Staples: Dimir

Continue this month's theme of two-color allied combos [adjacent color pairs], today I look at budget Commander staples in Dimir colors (blue/black). I focus on four categories: ramp, card draw, targeted removal, and board wipe. And this is budget, so cards cost under $2.

Ramp

Ramp is about accelerating land deployment and/or mana access. Dimir really has no options here (in exactly two colors).

Card draw

Blue likes card draw, but black adds an element of pain. In Dimir, two good options are Notion Rain and Baleful Strix, the latter of which replaces itself and is a nice blocker with flying and deathtouch.

Targeted removal

This is where Dimir shines. Discard, counterspells, destroying permanents . . . this is a powerful color combo. Ertai Resurrected and Drown in the Loch both offer a choice between two valuable effects. Recoil and Thought Erasure are fun discard spells. Hostage Taker and Thief of Sanity are nice exile spells that not only take an opponent's stuff, they let you cast it, too. And Silumgar's Command is expensive to play but gives a host of useful options.

Board wipe 

There are no board wipes in exactly Dimir colors. 

Combos

Dimir Guildmage is both a card draw and removal (through discard) option, valuable for many types of decks. 

Conclusion

The 10 cards shown above are easy 'includes' in any Dimir Commander deck.

Budget Commander Staples: Azorius

A few months ago, I looked at mono-colored Commander staples (see this post for an introduction). This month, I'll continue that theme, but look at two-color allied combos [adjacent color pairs]. Today I look at budget Commander staples in Azorius colors (white/blue), focusing on four categories: ramp, card draw, targeted removal, and board wipe. And this is budget, so most cards cost under $2.

Ramp

Ramp is about accelerating land deployment and/or mana access. Azorius really has no options here (in exactly two colors).

Card draw

White likes life gain, and blue excels at card draw. It's not surprising that Azorius has many options that give you both, be they creatures (Cloudblazer, Elite Guardmage) or instants (Sphinx's Revelation).

Targeted removal

White likes permanents that exile creatures while they remain on the battlefield; blue likes countering spells. Azorius has options in both. Absorb and Dovin's Veto are nice counterspells; Lawmage's Binding and Deputy of Detention are useful exile permanents.

Board wipe 

White likes wiping the board; blue likes returning creatures. Time Wipe does a little of both, and Supreme Verdict is a nice way to get creatures off the board. 

Combos

Hindering Light is both a counterspell and a card draw aid. Azorius Charm can help you draw a card or remove an attacking/blocking creature. 

Conclusion

The 11 cards shown above are easy 'includes' in any Azorius Commander deck.