There are annoying methods to lose a recreation of Magic: The Gathering. When a crimson aggro deck filled with creatures with haste demolishes you by flip three, as an example. Or when a blue management deck counters every thing you strive, simply flip after flip of “nope” till they lastly get round to ending you off. However there are additionally enjoyable methods to lose at Magic, and being bodied by a combo you did not see coming is one in every of them.
I used to be taking part in Commander utilizing the preconstructed decks launched as a part of the most recent set, Wilds of Eldraine. The theme is fairytales, with a facet of Arthurian legend, and the deck I used to be ruined by went robust on the faeries. Whereas I would summoned a coalition so diverse it included angels and oxen, I used to be dealing with a power completely manufactured from flying fey. Which is why the Kindred Dominance card, which helps you to choose a creature kind after which destroy each creature that does not match that kind, was so efficient. My opponent picked “faeries”, and I stated goodbye to my oxen and angels and every thing else.
That will have been dangerous sufficient, however he adopted it with Thrilling Encore, which helps you to steal each creature put within the graveyard that flip, deliver them again to life, and make them your personal. My total military joined the faerie power, and everybody lived fortunately ever after. Aside from me. I died instantly.
In contrast to the earlier set, Commander Masters, Wilds of Eldraine is legitimate in a number of codecs. It is the primary Customary-legal launch we have had since Might, and even that was a “micro set” moderately than a tentpole launch. Whereas Magic gamers on Reddit endlessly moan about there being too many releases to maintain up with, should you do not play each single format the rhythm of releases is loads simpler to deal with.
It seems like Customary is due for a shake-up, however I am unsure Wilds of Eldraine will ship it. Again in Might, Wizards of the Coast introduced that rotation would sluggish, and units now take three years to drop out of Customary as a substitute of two. That makes it cheaper to be a part of the aggressive scene—you will not have to cycle out all these playing cards from the Innistrad units, Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, and Streets of New Capenna for a complete ‘nother 12 months.
The final deck I put collectively in Enviornment, which is the place I’m going to play Customary, is a Selesnya Enchantments deck. Which means it is inexperienced/white and, because the identify suggests, has loads of enchantment playing cards in it. It attracts closely on Kamigawa for playing cards like Kami of Transience—a creature that good points +1/+1 each time I forged an enchantment and, if killed, bounces again out of the graveyard into my hand once I subsequent lose an enchantment.
Whereas Wilds of Eldraine performs a powerful enchantment recreation, I am unsure this deck wants them. I may pop in Yenna, Redtooth Regent, who makes copies of different enchantments, however who would I eliminate? With previous playing cards staying Customary-legal for longer, it is more durable to justify biking within the new ones.
Wilds of Eldraine does not really feel important, until you need to choose up that faerie-themed Commander deck, otherwise you’re actually into the theme. It’s a nice theme, although. Take a look at Three Bowls of Porridge, which has three completely different results as you Goldilocks your approach by its three bowls, or Syr Ginger, the Meal Ender, a badass gingerbread warrior. Just like the current Center-earth set, it advantages from familiarity. As an alternative of a bunch of planeswalkers that solely individuals who learn the tie-in books and comics care about, there are playing cards referencing the Pied Piper of Hamelin, Snow White, Cinderella, Three Blind Mice, Magnificence and the Beast, and varied bits of folklore—like Cooped Up, an enchantment that represents chilly iron’s skill to lure faeries.
Really, I will make room in my Selesnya Enchantments deck for that one. It might not have been an annoying approach to lose, however I’ve nonetheless obtained a little bit of a grudge towards faeries lately.
Wilds of Eldraine is obtainable now.