Battle for Zendikar Spoilers - Limited Review for September 16
We received eight more sweet spoilers to look at today including some more Exile synergy at Common. I'll be reviewing these new cards from the standpoint of how well I expect them to perform in Limited. We can't rate the cards completely accurately without knowing the entire set, but we can evaluate the cards in an "average" limited format.
You can find all the latest spoilers on the Battle for Zendikar page. Please note that if I haven't yet reviewed a card, it's probably because the official English spoiler for it has not been released yet.
Grading scale
A: This card will often be the best card in one's deck. I'd consider splashing it where possible. (Dragonlord Atarka, Tragic Arrogance)
B: This card is rarely cut from a deck that can cast it. In draft, it signals that a color or archetype is open. (Death Wind, Blessed Spirits)
C: Cards like this make up the majority of limited decks. You're neither excited nor embarrassed to have them in your deck. (Screamreach Brawler, Aspiring Aeronaut)
D: I'm not putting this in my main deck unless I have a specific reason or I'm low on playables. (Blessed Reincarnation, Gather the Pack)
F: This card will have little or no impact on the game if I draw it or is strictly sideboard-material. If I cast this card, please stage an intervention for me. (Keeper of the Lens, Jace's Sanctum)
Blue
C+
I was pretty harsh on Mist Intruder, but I'm glad that I held out for something better. Benthic Infiltrator's evasion is foolproof and its 1/4 body means that it can stay back to block when you need it to. Whether this gets enchanted or equipped and turned into a threat or is just used to chip away and make food for Eldrazi Processors, this seems like a solid card in a Limited deck.
C+
We're already used to our Man-o'-Wars costing four thanks to Separatist Voidmage, and this is close to that. Getting Devoid synergies is a nice pick-up, but the +1 power interests me a bit more. The existence of good, cheap Processors at Common means that Ingest is actually going to be an important keyword and it may shoot up the ratings of cards like Benthic Infiltrator once we see how many good Ingest creatures there are to choose from.
Black
C+
As a faster version of Reave Soul, I predict that Complete Disregard is going to be good, but not great, removal in the format. It gets rid of early attackers that might try to run you over before you can cast your big Eldrazi, and it fuels your Eldrazi Processor that need the exile zone stocked. I don't expect this to be as good as Gideon's Reproach which can take out more creatures for less mana, but I expect it to still be one of the better Black Commons.
C
Glory Seeker was not a good card back in Rise of the Eldrazi and it's time to check if that assumption will hold true in Battle for Zendikar. Will the format be fast enough that even the Eldrazi decks will want 2/2s? Aggressive Devoid decks running cards like Forerunner of Slaughter will want this card. Slow decks that care about Ingest will want this card.
How will it compare to the other creatures at Common? That remains to be seen.
A-
While not as unbeatable as her previous incarnation as Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief, Drana, Liberator of Malakir is a huge force in Limited. A turn or two of attacks will pump your team to epic proportions and make it nigh impossible for your opponent to deal with your creatures. If you can't attack because you're under too much pressure, her ability to block well is a great tool for keeping you alive.
C
Between this and Defiant Bloodlord, Black is shaping up to have some pretty underwhelming Rares. This could be a good finisher for an aggressive deck, especially one going wide with Eldrazi Scions, but it's not good in a creature-light deck and doesn't pose a threat unless you manage to trigger it with Swamps multiple times.
C-
The fact that all the Eldrazi Processors use the same resources means it will be important to budget what you're spending those exiled cards on. Mind Raker's ability is fine, but it's less powerful than many of the other Processors running around. That makes this an unexciting Hill Giant to me and I won't be happy to play it unless I have a lot of Devoid synergy in my deck.
Colorless
B
Speaking of Devoid-matters, this is one intimidating card in that category. This card has Plague Wind levels of blowout potential at a relatively cheap cost.
It's true that this card will sometimes do nothing or just remove a single creature, but that's partially because Gruesome Slaughter really wants to be in the right kind of deck. If all or almost all of your creatures are Devoid or naturally colorless, this card could easily be the best card in your deck. We'll have to wait and see just how many good, colorless creatures exist at Common before knowing how difficult or how easy it will be to build around this card.
Conclusion
Only one day of spoiler articles left until Friday when we get the full picture of the new Limited environment. There are still over a hundred cards to see so prepare yourself! Reach out to me on Twitter @JakeStilesMTG or in the comments below with your thoughts on the new cards.
