Shadows over Innistrad Spoilers: Limited Review for March 15
Welcome back to spoiler reviews. I didn't know it was possible, but I'm even more excited than yesterday about Shadows over Innistrad. Another Planeswalker has shown her face today (her two faces actually), and we're guaranteed another two Planewalkers coming in the set. In today's article, we'll talk about Arlinn and five other cards.
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 Shadows over Innistrad 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. (Dragonmaster Outcast, Linvala, the Preserver)
B: This card is rarely cut from a deck that can cast it. In draft, it signals that a color or archetype is open. (Clutch of Currents, Baloth Null)
C: Cards like this make up the majority of limited decks. You're neither excited nor embarrassed to have them in your deck. (Culling Drone, Akoum Flameseeker)
D: I'm not putting this in my main deck unless I have a specific reason or I'm low on playables. (Geyserfield Stalker, Dazzling Reflection)
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. (Prism Array, Hedron Alignment)
White
Odric, Lunarch Marshal
B+
What seems at first to be an innocuous keyword can become absurdly powerful when granted to your entire team. Odric, Lunarch Marshal does little alone, but combine it with one evasive flyer or Menace creature and you could be getting in for tons of damage. Or combine it with Double strike or Lifelink and laugh as your opponent tries to win a damage race.
I really like the "Gotta catch 'em all" feeling that Odric, Lunarch Marshal creates and how he might incentivize picking up less exciting creatures to round out a keyword suite. Is Farbog Revenant looking especially exciting to anyone?
Blue
Rattlechains
B-
Translation:
Rattlechains - R
Creature - Spirit
Flash, flying
When ~ enters the battlefield, target Spirit gains hexproof until end of turn.
You can cast Spirit spells as though they had flash.
2/1
Two mana two power flyers are always decent and sticking Flash on it is pure upside, even if you'd rather attack with Rattlechains than surprise block something. Between Rattlechains and Drogskol Cavalry, Spirit tribal is looking like it's being set up to be a real tribe again. Probably not Devouring Greed levels of real, but we might see Battleground Geist and Gallows Warden again.
Black
Macabre Waltz
C
Macabre Waltz is a sweet reprint that will help sculpt the graveyard for Delirium while enabling Madness. Also the art this time is much less likely to give you nightmares; it's impressive that something could be creepier than a picture of Liliana dancing with a corpse.
To the Slaughter
C-
In Limited, this is just an expensive Diabolic Edict. If your opponent's deck is short on token creatures, you may find yourself wanting to play this, but I don't think it will be a high pick for Black decks.
Red
Falkenrath Gorger
B-
Translation:
Falkenrath Gorger - R
Creature - Vampire Warrior
Each vampire creature card you own that isn't on the battlefield has Madness. Its Madness cost is equal to its mana cost.
2/1
Today is a day that will go down in history. Red has never before gotten a Savannah Lions without a downside.
Limited doesn't care about one-drops as much as aggressive Constructed decks do, but this Vampire will still be a good card and ensure you get value from your discard outlets.
Green
Sage of Ancient Lore
B
Sage of Ancient Lore is the coolest Rare in Shadows over Innistrad so far. While he may not start out large, his transform trigger and power/toughness definition ask the same thing of you: hold onto your spells. And while you're flipping the sage into a scary Werewolf, your opponent is scrambling to empty their hand, both to power down the Werewolf and to try to flip it back over. I love Rares like this one that offer interesting play patterns besides the usual "Remove this creature or I win" style of creature that tends to show up so frequently.
Multicolored
Arlinn Kord
A+
Unlike Nahiri, the Harbinger whom we saw yesterday, Arlinn Kord is completely and totally ridiculous in Limited. If the board is stalled or you're ahead, alternating between getting a Wolf and mini-Overrun will put the game away quickly. If you're losing, alternating between 2/2 Wolves and Lightning Bolts is a lot better than most other cards you could draw, and it can buy you time to draw more creatures. I don't look forward to trying to defeat Arlinn Kord, but I do look forward to first-picking her, forcing Red-Green, and never looking back.
Conclusion
As we Limited fans continue to search for the Uncommons and Commons of Shadows over Innistrad, I have to imagine the constructed players are getting happier and happier. While it'd be more informative to learn the Commons and the speed and nature of the Limited environment, I must say I still enjoy looking through all the sweet Rares and Mythics as well. Join me for more spoilers and more Limited review throughout the rest of these week and next. Reach out to me on Twitter @JakeStilesMTG or in the comments below with your thoughts on the new cards.
