Eldritch Moon Spoilers: Limited Review for July 4
Welcome to the second week of spoiler discussions for Eldritch Moon! We've got a Planeswalker, a Legendary Spider, and a new Superfriends card to review today, so let's get to it.
I'll be reviewing these 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 Eldritch Moon page. Please note that if I haven't yet reviewed a card, it's probably because the official 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. (Linvala, the Preserver, Tireless Tracker)
B: This card is rarely cut from a deck that can cast it. In draft, it signals that a color or archetype is open. (Baloth Null, Forgotten Creation)
C: Cards like this make up the majority of limited decks. You're neither excited nor embarrassed to have them in your deck. (Akoum Flameseeker, Moorland Drifter)
D: I'm not putting this in my main deck unless I have a specific reason or I'm low on playables. (Dazzling Reflection, Merciless Resolve)
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. (Hedron Alignment, Harness the Storm)
White
Deploy the Gatewatch
F-
If you ever have 2+ Planeswalkers in your deck, you're better served by including another blocker than trying to get lucky with Deploy the Gatewatch. My apologies to anyone who ever opens it in a Sealed pool.
Providence
D-
It's hard to imagine a deck that is aggressive enough to warrant you needing a pure life gain spell but slow enough to allow you to cast a seven mana sorcery. If you find a situation where you want Providence in your deck, you'd likely still better served by having a defensive creature or removal spell instead.
Selfless Spirit
C+
A flyer with decent stats is a boon to aggressive and control decks alike, and Selfless Soul's ability to trade itself in to save a larger creature is nice. This Spirit is also a combo with Damnation, which means it must surely be getting a reprint, right?
Blue
Summary Dismissal
D+
Cancel is usually a fringe card in Limited. Adding an extra mana for some extra fringe applications doesn't make Summary Dismissal a good deal. Keep it in mind as a sideboard option.
Turn Aside
D
This reprint is like a bad Regenerate because it can't save a creature from combat. Turn Aside does counter the occasional bounce or exile spell, but it's generally too situational to be worth holding up mana at all times. You could bring this Instant in out of the sideboard to counter an especially brutal targeted spell such as Welcome to the Fold.
Black
Liliana, the Last Hope
A
Imagine casting Liliana, the Last Hope and taking out your opponent's only creature. The plus ability combined with blocking will make it difficult if not impossible for your opponent to remove her loyalty counters before you get in range of her ultimate.
If you can't cast her on turn three and take over a game, she could still be good to pick off a creature or buy back a creature card later in the game. She's not incredible all the time, but how much can you ask of a three mana Planeswalker?
Oath of Liliana
D
The format was already unkind to To the Slaughter, and restricting it to sorcery speed with Oath of Liliana limits it even more. If you have a Planeswalker in your deck, this can become a Gatekeeper of Malakir which is actually pretty good.
Red
Incendiary Flow
B-
Yes, Incendiary Flow is a sorcery. Yes, we'll all be playing it anyways. It hurts the Delirium and recursion so abundant in Innistrad, costs only two mana, and has sweet art and flavor text on top of all that. Now I dare you to complain about it.
Collective Defiance
B
The creature removal option is all Collective Defiance would need to be playable, and the other modes are just pure upside. Think twice before wheeling your opponent's hand. You might discard their sweet spells but maybe you'll dig them closer to their bomb while also fueling their Delirium. If you are going to choose the first option, save some extra lands in hand and target yourself.
Green
Ishkanah, Grafwidow
B+
Delirium is the difference between Ishkanah, Grafwidow being a lonely spider and a huge attack force. Given that this spider is more defensive than offensive, you can wait until you've had time to sculpt your graveyard before casting it. Whether you block with the Spider tokens or use them to threaten damage with the activated ability, they're sure to generate value.
Spirit of the Hunt
B
This set's Vile Redeemer, Spirit of the Hunt is fine as a 3/3 with Flash, but its secondary ability is unlikely to be all that relevant. Also take note of the double Green mana cost and try to bias your mana base towards being able to cast this creature on turn three.
Colorless
Nephalia Academy
D-
Never play Nephalia Academy main deck and only sideboard it in if you really need to protect your cards from Creeping Dread or similar. Even when this land keeps a discard ability in check, it still won't be a blowout, so don't be excited to pick this card up for your sideboard.
Conclusion
What have you loved so far from Eldritch Moon and what do you think remains to be revealed? Please join me for more spoilers and more Limited review throughout the rest of the week as the official spoilers wrap up. Reach out to me on Twitter @JakeStilesMTG or in the comments below with your thoughts on the new cards.
