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Eldritch Moon Spoilers: Limited Review for July 5


Welcome to even more spoiler discussions for Eldritch Moon! Today we have sweet multicolor Uncommons and ridiculous Mythic Rares to evaluate.

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)

Blue

Mind's Dilation

$ 0.00 $ 0.00

D

If you play Mind's Dilation and it's around for 5+ turns, you might still lose the game. Removal spells you get can't hit creatures on the stack. Spells like Murderous Compulsion or Silverstrike won't usually work, and lands are a complete blank. Your opponent can also choose to not cast unimportant spells, giving you fewer chances to hit with Mind's Dilation.

A seven mana enchantment that doesn't do enough when you're losing, doesn't help you win faster when you're winning, and might not be enough value on a stalled board is not my kind of card. A very strong control deck might be able to use this enchantment as a finisher, but don't count on Mind's Dilation as your only win condition or it will likely let you down.

Black

Cryptbreaker

$ 0.00 $ 0.00

A-

Cryptbreaker requires some upfront in the form of making two Zombies, but it can be a powerful engine once it gets started. Eventually you'll be drawing an extra card a turn and cashing your madness cards and extra lands in for more 2/2 Zombies. If you don't have anything worth discarding, then Cryptbreaker won't do much besides block once and die.

This Zombie has an almost Pack Rat level of power if played on curve. If your opponent can't remove this 1/1, then you'll be drawing extra cards as early as Turn 3 and making an army simultaneously. Good luck to anyone who has to try to beat that.

Red

Falkenrath Reaver

$ 0.00 $ 0.00

C

Stop the press! Red has never before gotten a Grizzly Bears for 1R without downside. Falkenrath Reaver even comes with Vampire synergy. You won't need these 2/2's in draft unless you're heavy Vampire tribal, but you'll gladly play them when your curve needs a 2-drop.

Mirrorwing Dragon

$ 0.00 $ 0.00

A

Mirrorwing Dragon is brutally efficient. It attacks well, it blocks well, and it's pseudo-immune to most removal spells. Your opponent can't Just the Wind or Murder this Dagon without casting a one sided Evacuation or Damnation on themselves. The best they can hope for is to kill this 4/5 in combat, whenever they have an empty board, or with a Clip Wings from the sideboard.

You can also have some fun with this Dragon and pump your whole team using Confront the Unknown, Uncaged Fury, Rush of Adrenaline, or another sweet pump spell.

Green

Permeating Mass

$ 0.00 $ 0.00

B-

Permeating Mass may be my favorite card in the set. It's not great for Limited gameplay, but it is completely hilarious.

Once you cast Permeating Mass, your opponent is highly discouraged to attack with ground creatures until they can remove it. If they decide to take down the Spirit on their own, the same problem comes back to stare you in the face. I'm not sure exactly how this card will play out, but I think I'll always want one in my non-aggressive Green decks.

Multicolor

Mercurial Geists

$ 0.00 $ 0.00

B

Wee Dragonauts just got a little bit bigger and a little more easy to abuse. With Uncaged FuryMercurial Geists hits for 10. Add in a Rush of Adrenaline to get it to 20 damage with Trample. Between Giests and Bloodmad Vampire, your opponent had better find a way to block.

Grim Flayer

$ 0.00 $ 0.00

A-

An early uncontested Grim Flayer is a great way to run away with a game. The scry-like mill ability allows you to draw lands or spells as necessary while simultaneously turning on delirium as fast as possible. If you don't draw Grim Flayer until later in the game, it can still force your opponent to leave back one or two big blockers a turn to prevent you from getting its damage trigger.

Mournwillow

$ 0.00 $ 0.00

B-

Mournwillow is weird and for that I love it. Golgari is always looking for a different take on their "put your library in your graveyard, then put your graveyard in your hand, then put your hand in your graveyard again" theme they always get.

Mournwillow is a fine turn three play when your opponent has no blocker, but it doesn't get much better than that. The longer you wait to cast this Plant Skeleton while trying to get Delirium, the more likely it is that your opponent's blockers will have greater than two power.

Ride Down

$ 0.00 $ 0.00

B

Ride Down is a welcome reprint and fits well in most Red-White decks. When you just have to get past a creature with lifelink or sneak a few more points of damage through, Ride Down is often the best card for the job.

Colorless

Lashweed Lurker

$ 0.00 $ 0.00

B

While Lashweed Lurker is in the colorless section, you really don't want to be casting this Eldrazi outside of a Blue-Green deck. Like all emerge cards, it will be interesting to see how often emerge is an aggressive play on turn four versus how often you wait a few turns and get value by sacrificing a cheaper, more expendable creature.

Conclusion

We've got only three days left and we're less than half way through the new cards of Eldritch Moon. Please join me for more spoilers and more Limited review Wednesday and Thursday as the spoilers wrap up. Reach out to me on Twitter @JakeStilesMTG or in the comments below with your thoughts on the new cards.



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