[GTC] Gatecrash - LIMITED REVIEW (Page 3 of 4)

TehAuthor wrote:

Soul ransom doesn't make the opponent get the creature back, it's just sacced and the opponent loses 2 cards while you get 2 cards. I feel it's great card advantage while dealing with the biggest threat on the table macar un 3 merita.

the owner of the sacrificed creature gets the 2 cards.

I think you didn't read this card. Read it again.... again..... and one more time. 4 Mana mind control. If opponent discards 2 cards, the creature dies BUT THE MIND CONTROL OWNER DRAWS 2.
4.0 Score. Easy.

I'm sorry to say but i think you undervalued a few cards. Allow me to make a few changes.

Soul Ransom

2.0– Soul Ransom is weaker than Mind Control in Limited because it gives your opponent the chance to get his creature back much more easier. Even if his hand is empty when you steal his creature, he will get to draw two cards (most of the time lands) and dump them in the grave as fast as lightning just to get his/her bomb back. I’m afraid this ain’t gonna be a good maindeck card. I requires a lot of discard and the opponent to play enough bombs to be relevant.

I think you didn't read this card. Read it again.... again..... and one more time. 4 Mana mind control. If opponent discards 2 cards, the creature dies BUT THE MIND CONTROL OWNER DRAWS 2.
4.0 Score. Easy.

Cum a ajuns Killing Glare la 4 cand Grisly Spectacle este 3? Corect anumite creaturi ucide mai usor.. dar altele mai greu (pt mai multa mana).

Din prima tre sa va anunt ca sunt un pic mai critic cu evaluarea acestei parti si se pare ca avem opinii diferite dar asta este un lucru buna pana la ruma.

Death's Approach - Consider ca aceasta carte este un removal decent. La o singura mana chiar ok zic eu (in limited). Din cauza ca limited are multe creaturi din care cateva o sa si moare consider ca este un -3/-3 pt 1 mana care este bun. Faptul ca poate sa fie si mai bun doar ridica valoare. Intr-adevar daca nu ai ucis nici o creatura adversarului (prin combat.... nu neaparat prim 8-9 removal ) atunci nu te ajuta.. dar atunci oricum ai probleme . Faptul ca e enchantment poate sa fie si negativ (bounce) dar poate sa fie si pozitiv daca ne gandim ca uneori vrei macar sa incetinesti o creatura cu evasion pana cand rezolvi ceva.

Devour Flesh - 3.. nu prea cred. Daca adversarul are o singura creatura sau esti foarte agresiv...da e bun... in rest...nu nu e bun. Va sacrifica ceva total nesemnificativ (poate ceva chiar cu un echanment pe ea) sau poate va folosi de partea cu life gain. Devine mai bun cu cat ai mai mult removal in deck dar e situational...si orice carte situationala ...e situationala

Dying Wish - nu e bomba..evident..dar nici 0. Pentru 2-4 drain eu zic ca merge. Daca pui pe ceva maricel e chiar bun evident, dar si daca pui pe ceva cu damage dar fragil ca si Syndicate Enforcer (daca adversarul nu are un 1/4 evident) incat daca da damage e bine.. daca moare tot e bine...e situational...dar nu 0

Gutter Skulk - nu am numarat cate 2 drops sunt pt combinatii de negru (am numarat sunt practic 6 din care doar 2 necomune) si nu stiu cat de rapid va fi formatul dar a bear is a bear si 2 drops are important

Horror of the Dim desi in sine nu este foarte bun cartea (3/4 pt 5 mana) esti sigur ca hexproof-ul nu este important cand ai atatea echantment si removal in set?

Cum a ajuns Killing Glare la 4 cand Grisly Spectacle este 3? Corect anumite creaturi ucide mai usor.. dar altele mai greu (pt mai multa mana). Iar cu cate artefact-creature avem in set downside-ul nu cred ca este chiar relevant la Spectacle.

Shadow Alley Denizen -Gaining intimidate is relevant but I don’t feel is good for the black decks this time around

- pacat ca negru nu are un mechanic care sa profite de evasion sau macar de era jucat cu alte culori care au echamenturi cum este alb sau albastru....mare pacat

Call of the Nightwing - e bun.. dar poate nu chiar asa de bun

Soul Ransom - temporal removal or massive card advantage...good in my book

Dimir charm - situational removal (lots of 1/x-s vezi evolve si defendere), practic 0 counter.. si probabil un mic time walk incat poti sa pui ceva pe top care sa nu-l ajuta

Aritcol in continuare fain... unde-i urmatorul ?

I've tabulated the casting cost, power and toughness of all non-rare creatures (and also again for all common creatures) in GTC and both come out with means, medians and modes as follows:

Casting Cost: 3
Power: 2
Toughness: 2

(Compare this to RTR 3.5, 2.5, 3 - no surprise with all those 3/3 centaurs going around)

The upshot of this is 1) GTC is a little faster than RTR and 2) Where as in RTR you wanted a wall with 4 toughness, in GTG you want 3 toughness.

Informatia o am de pe un site de mtg:

I've tabulated the casting cost, power and toughness of all non-rare creatures (and also again for all common creatures) in GTC and both come out with means, medians and modes as follows:

Casting Cost: 3
Power: 2
Toughness: 2

(Compare this to RTR 3.5, 2.5, 3 - no surprise with all those 3/3 centaurs going around)

The upshot of this is 1) GTC is a little faster than RTR and 2) Where as in RTR you wanted a wall with 4 toughness, in GTG you want 3 toughness.

Aerial Maneuver

Boros: 1.5 , Orzhov:1.5 – the [CARD]Swift Justice[/CARD] of sorts of the Set. Every set nowadays has one like this and actually they see play quite a lot. In AVR, [CARD]Zealous Strike[/CARD] was a very good combat trick and so was [CARD]Moment of Heroism[/CARD] in Innistrad. This will not make the deck 100% of the time, but at times, when  you need that 23rd card this might be the best candidate for it. It is a decent combat trick and the fact that it gives the creature flying can act as a finisher, especially in Boros decks.

Angelic Edict

Boros: 2 , Orzhov:3.5 – Removal is removal whether it is expensive or not and unconditional removal might just make the cut in every white deck you will play and because it makes such a good splash it will find itself even in non-Boros, non-Orzhov decks with a Gate or two behind it.  I haven’t  looked yet at the entire’s set removal, but if the removal is weak then Angelic Edict will be a sought after limited card even thought is just a Sorcery Speed one. Sometimes you just have to get rid of those pesky utility, flying or unblockable guys (which we will see, are quite relevant in the set)

Angelic Skirmisher

Boros: 3.5 , Orzhov:3.0 – We don’t know the speed of this format but seeing that only Boros is truly aggressive with Gruul making a distant second such powerful rares are welcomed most of the time. If you open one of these you know you want to play white. This is its power on the player. A 4/4 Flying for 6 mana with big upside, well that’s what we call a limited bomb nowdays. Remember that its ability can be activated during each combat, not only during your own so you can actually choose vigilance while attacking and first strike while blocking on the subsequent turn. Not much to hate about this card except the double white in the cost which actually does make the card playable only in white based decks, but maybe with the release of DGM we will have 5 color draft decks everywhere and this one will be a star.

Assault Griffin

Boros: 3.0 , Orzhov:2.0 – Solid flyer that in the perfect deck can make games end quickly. I think its best place in GTC is in Boros but he can also play defense/offense in Orzhov decks at certain times.  Three power flyers usually have mana cost of 4 or greater and seeing this one at only 4 and being splashable makes every drafter happy to pick it if the decision is to go the aggressive route.

Basilica Guards

Boros: 1.0 , Orzhov:3.0 – Now this card is actually an enabler. If you want to play the Orzhov deck you need to have creatures like this. It does everything you want and more. 1 / 4 stats are quite good at 3 mana and the fact that it extorts is just a bonus that can make the card a rightful finisher in the Orzhov deck. Holding down the Boros attackers is something this card does very well and if I plan on playing the long game, I will always try to find it a place in the deck.

Blind Obedience

Boros: 3.0 , Orzhov:2.0 – This card might have a place in constructed but In limited it is quite underwhelming. The impact on the board is minimum when it lands and it server little to no purpose in the Orzhov deck since it will cost you a card in the deck and can’t act as defense. This is not a limited intended card but since it’s a rare that’s really ok because we won’t see it that often in boosters.

Boros Elite

Boros: 2.5 , Orzhov:0.5 – I don’t know how to rate 1 drops in limited because they are usually so rarely useful. This one, as an attacker will most of the time have great stats and therefore I think he will make the cut in every Boros-all In deck there will be. This is no [CARD]Rakdos Cackler[/CARD], it can block when needed and can serve as a battalion trouper as soon as turn 3 when you can have 3 creatures on the battlefield. Seeing as it’s one of the only one drops in Boros, he might just be the piece that binds Boros wining decks in the early turns of the game.

Court Street Denizen

Boros: 3.0 , Orzhov:1.0 – repeatable tap ability on a 2/2 is definitely something that will see play in limited, especially in a heavy white deck (coupled with red most of the time because the cards is offensive) but since it is a 2/2 for 3 most of the time I don’t think people will look at it in the first 1-6 picks in draft. We will have to see how many white aggressive creatures there are in the format in order to clearly upgrade or downgrade this one.

Daring Skyjek

Boros: 3.0 , Orzhov:1.0  – This one I actually see it played in all Boros decks and along Court Street Denizen when it’s possible. A 3/1 for 2 that can turn flying when you’re pushing for the win. Why yes! Although I personally don’t like games that end on the 4-5th turn of the games there are those that love that and Wizards have to please everyone. When going aggressive, this is one of the best 2 drops you can have (I’ll get to the other one when I talk Boros)

Debtor's Pulpit

Boros: 1.5 , Orzhov:3.0 – Now I know it’s an enchantment but be careful when reading it because this card can actually help you win games. It is an Orzhov card all the way and will help most Orzhov decks win by stalling forever and ever. You can always stop their biggest attacker or make way for one of yours. All for the cost of just one mana (of course, after you cast it). If I open one of these  I might just try going to long game because it can be fun and I know I have a powerful piece that can help me play a long game. There’s a cycle of Enchant Lands, like in Return to Ravnica, and this one is the only Uncommon of the cycle. That is with good reason, no one would like to play against many of these. They can become a nightmare for the opposing player since it’s hard to get rid of them and they have written on them “you slowly lose the game”

Dutiful Thrull

Boros: 1.0 , Orzhov:2.0 – The Dutiful Thrull is quite Dutiful when you need him, and that’s in an Orzhov deck. Sometimes you just need that guy that can stop the early attackers. He is the best at doing that as long as the creatures of your opponents don’t have trample. It’s an early solution for Orzhov against some Boros or Gruul decks (without too many early tramplers)

Frontline Medic

Boros: 3.5 , Orzhov:1.5 – There’s no excuse to not play this card if you open it Pack1Pick1 and know that you can go the boros route. It can come in handy also if you are already building a Gruul deck and this can make a good splash . It is much better in construced regarding its second ability but in limited you will find that having indestructible attackers feels quite good.

Gideon, Champion of Justice

Boros: 4.5 , Orzhov:3.5 – In limited, planeswalkers are kings. Whether they are good or bad as cards overall, in limited you will play almost any planeswalker you get. This one is actually quite good in limited because it can grow itself enourmous with its +1 ability since stalemates are quite common in limited play. You will also have ways to protect him by using your own creatures. The ultimate is quite irrelevant but what actually matters is when you make it a creature and turn in sideways.  It will almost always make your opponents block him and lose a creature because by the time you are attacking with him (be it 1 or 2 turn away after casting him) he will be Large (talking 9/9, 10/10 large).

Guardian of the Gateless

Boros: 2.0 , Orzhov:3.0 – This one, I feel it is quite an interesting design since it introduces the Gateless storywise, which will have a greater impact in DGM and as a card itself is nothing to scoff at. A 3/3 Flying for 5 at uncommon is good, but when you read its other abilities you realize that it is intended to be used especially in Orzhov decks and can block 4/4’s and trade with them. The fact that it can block any number of creatures can net you a turn till you find that Sweeper (I know there aren’t many but it is possible)

Guildscorn Ward

Boros: 1.0 , Orzhov:0.5    – I will call this card unplayable for now but I’m sure that with DGM it might get some love. There are just not enough multicolored creatures/cards for it to be relevant.  It might be a hidden gem, but as I said, not for DGM but for the set to come where draft is DGM-GTC-RTR.  Don’t play it in GTC limited.

Hold the Gates

Boros: 1.5 , Orzhov:2.0    – the number of enchantments in this set is quite big and some of them might be marginally playable but others just have that thing that makes your deck good. This one can be quite useful for Orzhov when they plan on lifedraining and attacking here and there while not leaving themselves vulnerable. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe its just an OK card, not reaching higher grounds but in the perfect Orzhov deck it might have a place as the 22nd, 23rd card.

Holy Mantle

Boros: 3.5 , Orzhov:2.5 – Holy Balloney! If this card is used right It can just easily win the game in 2-3 turns tops. With the removal announcing itself slim, this card is a legit bomb at uncommon and will drive your opponents crazy when they can’t deal with it. It’s still and aura that suffers from the same side effects of other auras but its ups are quite bigger that its down so It will se play especially in Boros decks but other strategies such as Esper will love it too since it can also Cipher something onto it and go to town.

Knight of Obligation

Boros: 1.5 , Orzhov:2.5 – Knight of Obligation is a good card. I don’t think it should have been an Uncommon since we just had a 2/4 flash vigilance common for 4 in RTR but since it seems like a key role player in Orzhov decks its appearances might have been limited just for that. The extort on it does make this card more relevant since it is also an enabler like the 1 / 4 defender common with extort and together they can stop the attacks and drain each turn for some amount.

Knight Watch

Boros: 2.0 , Orzhov:1.5 – This ain’t[CARD]Knightly Valor[/CARD], not close. Valor was a 4.0 common for its ability to make a huge beater while also getting material to populate. Gatecrash does not have populate and few mechanics profit from having more weenies in play, the important one being Battalion which might want something else at 5 mana then 2 2/2 vigilance knights. This one will see play but It won’t help decks to much. It is a plant for DGM-GTC-RTR draft.

Luminate Primordial

Boros: 2.5 , Orzhov:3.5 – The Primordial cycle is quite good in EDH but is also good in Limited. For 7 mana you get a huge beatstick (4/7 vigilance) and you get to remove the most important threat on the other side of the table. Be sure to first pick that and not regret it. It will not be good in Boros decks but it will shine in Orzhov decks, and since it is quite splashable at 7 mana it can be played in Naya and Esper, three-color combinations that Gatecrash will feature the majority of the time. (more on these later)

Murder Investigation

Boros:1.5 , Orzhov:1.5 – Although it can enable some combos, this card is not what you might think it is. It’s only enchant creature you control – and it suffers from being in the color that does not have many big guys. It might be better with simic/gruul because of the bigger power among creatures but still, it wants to enable battalion but does that very poorly. Maybe it will shine but as the format is still young, it won’t see too much play.

Nav Squad Commandos

Boros: 1.5 , Orzhov:2.0 – here we have our first miss on a Battalion card. It is quite underwhelming, it costs a bit too much and the only thing that will make you want to play it in Boros is the fact that it Untaps and the end of combat so that it can block your opponents threats. Maybe I’m not reading it right but in a normal deck it will often be just [CARD]Azors Elecutors[/CARD] or [CARD]Thraben Purebloods[/CARD] which are good yet underwhelming cards.

Righteous Charge

Boros: 2.5 , Orzhov:0.5    – This is a reprint that fills a hole in a Boros deck. It will finish some games before they should be finished but other times ,you will just wish it was an instant so that you can save one of your creatures. In Boros-attack mode is where this card shines but it need at least a full battalion active in order to be a beating and it can be disrupted by removal especially when trying to alpha. Being a sorcery is actually relevant because the opponent will have that gap the answer properly.

Shielded Passage

Boros: 0.5 , Orzhov:0.5 – If this cards would have said “Target creature gains protection from chosen color” It would have been good. Stave off was definitely a good card but as this is I do not see myself wanting to play it and whoever does play it must have serious use for it. I can’t think of it even as a sideboard option. This I call a trap.

Smite

Boros: 2.0 , Orzhov:4.0    – Now this is more likely. A great piece of cards that will see play in many decks no matter if the are base white or just splashing for white. It’s cheap, It is effective and it requires you only to have a creature to block one of your opponents creatures. It is that simple. Of course, Flyers and Unblockables are this card’s greatest nightmares. Be careful when playing against Dimir especially to board this one out if he/she plays too many unblockable threats.

Syndic of Tithes

Boros: 2.5 , Orzhov:2.0    – I keep reading this card as Syndic of Tits but that’s an issue of accommodation with the cards name. This card feels Orzhov in flavor but believe me, it is at its best in a Boros deck. It just does what Boros wants. It is a good 2 drop and with a white mana you can just drain opponents for every cheap creature you play afterwards.  Orzhov decks will most often use it as a one time blocker. Boros will get much more use from it, limited wise.

Urbis Protector

Boros: 2.5 , Orzhov:3.0 – This card is good in limited because it nets you 5 power (4 of it Flying) for just 6 mana and that having two bodies. It is a strong uncommon and can be good in either Boros or Orzhov since it activates Battalion pretty easy and can play both offense and defense pretty easy. The mana cost is what might make it be played not more than 1 per deck, although I feel that 2 of these could be quite strong. Those angels are quite a beating.

Zarichi Tiger

Boros: 0.5 , Orzhov:2.0    – What, what, the cat? This cat is marginally good in Orzhov decks but it requires a lot of mana investment for a 2/3 that can, from time to time, gain you some life. I would not play this unless I don’t have enough playables. It is just so underwhelming in both its power and toughness status and in its ability. It might be a trap card for new players since they love lifegain so much.

Ætherize

Simic:3.0 Dimir:2.0 – This is actually better than it looks at first glance. You might think it’s just another [CARD]Sleep[/CARD] or B[CARD]lustersquall[/CARD] but this card is definitely more than that. The fact that it can tempo out the opponent that’s trying to race with you is huge and it fits best in Simic where the removal is not that great but you can hit your opponent on the next turn with you fatties. It is just 4 mana and if your opponent is playing Boros or other creature heavy decks he will have to replay 2-3 dudes while you will develop the board quite nicely. Of course, as the format will evolve this will fall into a 2.0 – 2.5 category since having 4 mana up will be quite the sign.

Agoraphobia

Simic:3.5 Dimir:3.0  – You see this card and think that it is just another variation of [CARD]Sensory Deprivation[/CARD], maybe with a bit more of a twist. But actually, this card has many applications in GTC limited. For instance it can help you get to the late game, it can help you evolve some already evolved guys and can act as removal for many times in the course of a game. This card is one of the best removal spells for Simic, if not the best since it gives you protection from all those unblockable or flying guys that otherwise you will hardly deal with.  It is so versatile in this format that I will call it first pick material even if I might be wrong. It also enables combo-like situations with evolve guys.

Clinging Anemones

Simic:1.5 Dimir:1.5  – I know we’ve had some good defenders so far but this one does not qualify for such a category. It is 4 mana, it comes in as a 1 / 4 and it tries to provide blocking for a deck like Simic which already has high toughness creatures. It might be mediocre in Dimir where you will want some protection but the fact that it comes so late into the game and it cost you to invest a full 4 mana for such an effect does not feel right.

Cloudfin Raptor

Simic:3.0 Dimir:3.0  – I can get behind this evolver. He is, lets say, the Wingcrafter of this set who you will love to play turn one, especially in a Simic but it is also very good in Dimir and has many applications in the turns to come since you can always grow it and encode a spell with cipher onto it. The evasion really puts you in the driver’s seat once this one is out there in the first few turns of the game. Remember Delver? It was kind of hard to get that guy active in limited fast enough. With this one you just need to play creatures which limited is already plenty of. Up till I’ve only reviewed a good number of one drops in this format. Maybe Wizards have learned how to make one drops playable in limited.

Diluvian Primordial

Simic:3.0 Dimir:3.0  – This rare has mostly one side in limited, that of a 5/5 flyers for 5UU but that is definitely not something weak. The fact that you might be able to cast something in your opponent’s graveyard from time to time is just a bonus. In a perfect situation you can cast it, play a removal spell from your opponent’s graveyard for free and win the game with this card. It is though, seven mana, which even in limited is a bit steep to get to but as a finisher, both Simic and Dimir decks will love this card since they already plan on going either midrange or the control route.

Enter the Infinite

Simic:0.00 Dimir:0.00     – I know it is fun and all but just don’t play this card. The ramp is not good enough in limited and after you manage to cast you will most likely mill yourself the next turn if you cannot find that specific “You win the game on the spot” card.

Frilled Oculus

Simic:2.5 Dimir:1.0  – He is niche, and he is a common but boy is he good in a Simic deck. I’d say he is as good or even better than [CARD]Darkthicket Wolf[/CARD] was in Innistrad. As you can notice he is not a great evolver enabler but he is only 2 mana and can be a 3/5 on turn 3 that can start the pressure on your opponent. His big toughness is relevant because it can help your other evolvers grow. Because he is just good in Simic or Simic related decks he cannot pass the 2.0 test so easily but he will be played a lot in GTC limited. 

Gridlock

Simic:3.0 Dimir:1.5  – Gridlock is the [CARD]Blustersquall[/CARD] of this set and not Aetherize. Gridlock will have a very powerful presence especially in Simic decks where evasion will not be the deck’s forte. In Dimir deck’s he will be only mediocre because of the so many evasion guys that Dimir provides already. Still, it is also good for earning a turn when the opponent is trying to alpha strike but I wouldn’t pick it first or second unless the pack is really bad.

Hands of Binding

Simic:3.0 Dimir:3.0 – Hands of Binding is the best Cipher card period. It is costed efficiently and can be gamebreaking if ciphered on an unblockable dude. It is almost always keep you attacking while your opponents best creature will chill for a while. Being a sorcery is the reason this card is only 2 mana but making this card an instant would not be all that important since the effect is best played as a sorcery since it gets tapped for a longer period of time.
I will always play this in Dimir decks and even in Simic decks will help you a lot if you have an evasion guy that wants to get in as much as possible (ex. Cloudfin Raptor or Krasis Drake or Elusive Krasis)

Incursion Specialist

Simic:1.5 Dimir:2.0 – This card is intended to be played especially in Dimir decks since this time around the secretive guild is all about evasion or mill but it is actually a good reliable card in simic decks also because card advantage won’t be a problem for simic decks and playing at least 2 spells a turn won’t be that hard since you will have creatures and spells with relatively low cost. A 3/3 unblockable will be very hard to deal with. I think that in a game, whether you are playing Dimir of Simic he will turn into an unblockable creatures at most 2-3 times. But I think that is relevant enough to play him. Still, not first pickable and definitely not a game changer.

Keymaster Rogue

Simic:2.0 Dimir:3.0 – This guy really is an unblockable menace, ready to win many games for you. Even a 2/2 unblockable is a real clock for an opponent but you have a 3 power unblockable things change drastically. At the point you cast him, your opponent will start racing you since he knows that only a removal spell will save him and even if he has one he can’t risk letting you get to later turns where you can just play other evasion guys and defeat him. His downside is definitely tricky since it will most of the time be a disadvantage but there will be some games where this will be relevant. That is with creatures that have ETB (enter the battlefield) abilities. I will let you guys search for those – he is like[CARD] Faerie Imposter[/CARD] where she would return a Detain guy a play it again on the same turn or on the next one.

Last Thoughts

Simic:1.0 Dimir:2.0    – What does Blue want most of the time? Card advantage is the answer. Well, the tricky part is that you need to have at least one guy to pass through with this encoded onto him in order to get some value out of this card. A simple cantrip for 4 mana isn’t gonna cut it but be sure that when this is paired with some of the creatures in Dimir’s arsenal it will bury you in card advantage and help you win from there. These Cipher cards are really tricky to design since any mistake in the mana cost can make overpowered cards.

Leyline Phantom

Simic:2.0 Dimir:1.0  – This one is just an Evolve enabler that keeps growing your early plays turn after turn. He can also play defense quite well since it will hold most of your opponents guy back for a turn or two. He has a role in the next limited season but I’m not sure he’s gonna make a lot of decks. Maybe only the needy ones.

Metropolis Sprite

Simic:1.5 Dimir:2.0  - You all remember Welkin Tern and how good that card was in Zendikar, right? It was only average in M13 and now it returns in another form, that of a faerie that wants to be able to block 1/1 and not die. It also gained the ability to block overall because the Tern had that as a downside. This one has a downside of always paying U when trying to be aggressive but I think that’s more than fine and can make this card good . You should take into account that she is an evasive creature for the Dimir deck that comes down early and can be encoded with crazy cipher spells. As the format will evolve she will be more la 2.5 – 3.0 I think since she will be an invaluable piece of Dimir decks.

Mindeye Drake

Simic:3.0  Dimir:3.0  – This flyer is amazing both for Simic decks since it can evolve most of the creatures and in Dimir where if you go for the Mill plan we will help you a lot in getting there by holding down the offense and hitting the opponent for the last five cards. Rembember that you can kill/sacrifice him if needed so that the last cards in your opponent’s library will be put into his or her graveyard. Legit flyers that will be first picked from time to time.

Rapid Hybridization

Simic:2.0 Dimir:2.0  – This is the bomb removal of the set. It doesn’t matter what your bomb does, he just gets you a vanilla instead. Be sure you are prepared to block the Frog Lizard cause it will be very angry because it lost its great form (creature that was destroyed) and became such a pathetic creature. Actually, if you play this in you deck, I think you should be playing Simic. For Dimir there are definitely better removal spells and also, dimir does not block well those 3/3’s. This card will also come in handy in 4-5 color decks when the time is right but right now he is just a bomb removal that gets rid of that Obzedat and gives the opponent a 3/3. In some cases, you can also target one of your removal targeted creature so that you can still put the pressure. I doubt that will happen too often.

Realmwright

Simic:1.0 Dimir:1.0  – This guy is a one drop I would not like to play in Limited. The only place I see it mediocre or good is in DGM-GTC-RTR draft where he can help enable some 5 color decks. Still, do not play this card because it’s effect isn’t good enough to justify a 1/1 for 1.

Sage's Row Denizen

Simic:1.0 Dimir:1.5  – Seems like all the Denizen’s have something to do with entering the battlefield of other creatures of the same color. The white one tapped a creature, therefore was good in aggressive decks. This one mills the opponent for 2 each time, therefore making it good in a grindy deck. He is not good enough even in the mill deck, I think, since you will need at least 6-7 blue creatures besides him in order to make him work which I doubt it will be at all times possible especially with to many spells to cast in a Dimir deck. But if, and only if, you manage to draft multiple blue denizens, you should try and build around them. Having 2-3 on the battlefield at the same time and playing 1-2 creatures afterwards will get you the advantage much needed in a long game. There are many ways to mill your opponent in GTC, this one feels subpar when compared to the others.

Sapphire Drake

Simic:4.0 Dimir:2.5  – This card is the real deal. I know it is good only in simic but it is very good in that deck. You will have a bunch of do nothing evolvers that will lie on the table and wait for something to happen but when this guy will hit down, all of your 6/2 , 1/3, 2/3 evolvers will go unleashed. He is, in itself a great card being a 4/4 for just 5U being also easy to splash. It is perfect for Simic decks but he will also be played in Dimir decks.

Scatter Arc

Simic:0.5 Dimir:0.5  – the cost and the effect is not good for limited. Most of the time you will have to wait with it in your hand for your opponent to cast any spell. He is just a sideboard card and might be slightly better once Dragon’s Maze hits.

Simic Fluxmage

Simic:2.5 Dimir:2.5  – This evolver actually helps the Drake I talked about earlier to be even better. He can give +1/+1 counters to any creature which is relevant. It works mostly in Simic but he will also be good in making your 3/2 unblockable a 4/3 unblockable or this sort of shenanigans.

Simic Manipulator

Simic:3.0 Dimir:2.0  – Play it. It is a 0/1 that can steal at least 1-2 creatures during a game. He is better when you can protect yourself with other creatures since he will have some other work to do. Be careful that he requires you to play a relevant number of creatures in order to make it work. I would suggest going Simic only,  if you draft this guy. He needs beef around him to feel safe.

Skygames

Simic:2.0 Dimir:1.0  – This land enchant isn’t that great. He is cheap, he will be played from time to time in Dimir decks when encoding something good is a must and there are no evasive creatures on the table but it will still be a card in your deck that won’t help build up a table. I’m sure that people will learn how to play with this card in this format and it might jump to 2.0 but for the moment, when the format is young, this card won’t feel at home in any deck. (I know that making your 6/2 evolver a flyers is great but that’s just a situation where everything goes according to plan)

Spell Rupture

Simic:1.5 Dimir:1.0  – A better counterspell couldn’t have been printed in the set…for constructed. This card might be good in Bant control but since we’re talking about Limited I must say I am quite disappointed by this card since it will be good but only in very specific cases, when you already have a creature on the table (and actually a big creature). It is almost never good in Dimir since all your guys are 1 or 2 power and in Simic it should be good but it might not make the deck most of the time. I just see outclassed by other cards and when talking about counterspells, there is a Dimir counterspell that should be good in limited.

Stolen Identity

Simic:3.0 Dimir:3.5  – This is a very powerful cipher card (explained by its rarity also) because it can make you unblockable dudes each and every turn or why not just attack with an unblockable or flyer and get more big blockers on the battlefield. Even without ciphering this card can be quite good on its own since it will almost always copy the best creature out there. I must remind you that it can also copy creatures on the opposing side of the battlefield so that if an opponent got his bomb you can also play with it.

Totally Lost

Simic:2.0 Dimir:1.5  – This card is tempo oriented and since it is a common it will come more frequently in limited than [CARD]Vanishment[/CARD] came a few sets ago and it can be quite relevant using Dimir’s Mill cards since you will be able, to get rid of that annoying Nonland Permanent your opponent is playing for good. I rated it a 2.0 because it will not be very useful in all situations (such as a battalion of 4 attacking you for lethal) but it will create tempo swings from time to time and that’s part of why Magic is fun.

Voidwalk

Simic:1.5 Dimir:1.5  – Such an effect could be good if the set has many enter the battlefield creatures but as is there aren’t so many and therefore it might just be useful to reset some evolved guys, to get rid of some tokens and to free a creature you control from an opposing enchantment. It won’t be played that frequently but in certain decks can really come in handy if it can be supported by the rest of the cards.  As any other cipher card (except 1-2) it is a bit overcosted as an effect but can be powerful enough to be played.

Way of the Thief

Simic:2.5 Dimir:1.5  – This card reminds me of Tricks of the Trade from M13 which had a role in that limited format. In this one it has a much bigger role since it can be used by the Dimir to fully take advantage of the Cipher ability. The “control a gate” clause will mostly affect the decisions of players to pick this card early since they will not know for sure if their deck will get any gates or if they will need any. Surely, this card justifies playing at least one guildgate but without 2-3 pieces a deck won’t be able to fully take advantage of this enchantment.

Basilica Screecher

Orzhov:2.0 Dimir:1.5  – I know that this bat is trying to act Orzhov but I feel he is at home in Dimir decks. Evasion is all that Dimir decks hope to have. They’ve got plenty  in blue and dimir cards but a few black cards here and there with evasion are welcomed any time. Unlike the Sprite, this flyer can’t turn on the aggressive mode and we’ll just have to be ok with Extort on it which can act as a +1/+1 from time to time. Sadly he is pretty bad at blocking, all 1 / 2’s are. The best thing about the bat is that he will carry enchantments and be encoded a lot so that he becomes from a semi-unplayable card, a sought after one. Still, there are many better 2 drops out there, even for Dimir and Orzhov.

Balustrade Spy

Orzhov:2.5 Dimir:2.5  – I believe that this flyer is a solid one since with its 2/3 stats he can block 2/2’s all day long. Besides blocking, he is a very good attacker by having evasion and 2 power. Its other ability is there just to grind the opponent some more in a grind centric deck (Grind is a mechanic that never got to print – Mark Rosewater intended on having it the Dimir mechanic for Gatecrash but he designed Cipher in the end – still tough, a lot of cards with the grind mechanic were printed in this set)

Contaminated Ground
   

Orzhov:0.5 Dimir:0.5  – Some enchant lands are actually good but this one is a bad one. It reminds me of [CARD]Chronic Flooding[/CARD], a card that punished new players for thinking only the best case scenario. In truth, [CARD]Chronic Flooding[/CARD] turned out to be a constructed plant that enabled self mill deck but this this ain’t worth it even in constructed. It is merely a sideboard card at best against 4-5 color decks. Sadly, those decks will run Black and therefore having only the 2 life loss for maybe once in a match but here I’m being optimistic.

Corpse Blockade

Orzhov:2.0 Dimir:1.5  – Only now did I notice there might be a common Defender cycle of 1 / 4’s in GTC.  The white one had extort and was good in Orzhov, the blue one was underpowered but had evolve to grow a little and now we have this defender which I think, it will turn out to be pretty good. Blocking 3/3, 2/3, 2/4 etc and being able to kill those creatures from time to time is relevant enough to play these guys in the most grindiest decks out there (looking at Orzhov but Dimir isn’t known for its short games either)

Crypt Ghast

Orzhov:2.0 Dimir:2.0   – This guy is good but don’t be fooled by its power in constructed. In limited is not where his playground lies. He’s just a bear that ramps you a bit. Not sure if he can be on par with other for drops in the format that have better stats for limited. His ramp will only be relevant from time to time and since you won’t be playing mono-black any time soon then maybe he will just ramp with just 2-3 mana at most. I don’t think I would play this card if my deck doesn’t have at least one or two 6-7 drop.

Death's Approach

Orzhov: 1.0, Dimir (cipher): 1.0– Bad enchantment is bad. He may cost just one mana but sometimes and that’s maybe a lot of times he will just be a blank card. The best deck for him might be one with a lot of removal and when I say a lot I mean over 8-9 pieces. It always wants you to already be in the drivers seat by having already casted a bunch of removal. Not recommended for decks even if your removal is slim.
Dimir(MILL) 2.5    – Now I know I have criticized it a lot in the last paragraph but I think I found its place. If you play it with at least 5-6 mill cards it will be viable even though you do not play a ton of removal. Therefore, in a mill deck it will be an all-star and guess what? It will come as a 11th -12th pick so if you go the mill route some bonus cards will be awaiting you at the end of the pack, it seems.

Devour Flesh

Orzhov:2.5 Dimir:2.0   – Devour Flesh is awesome. An edict is an edict and should be treated with respect. The lifegain won’t be that relevant since Dimir wants to win with incremental advantage (mostly card advantage but it can also mill the opponent pretty well) and Orzhov tends to be the grindiest deck of them all. This card should be picked till 4 pack at most so be sure to pick them up for your slow deck.

Dying Wish

Orzhov:0.0 Dimir:0.0 – Trappy trap card is trap. If you change the T with a C in all instances you get the same thing. We are not in AVR where you would have a big loner out there and once you get that [CARD]Essence Harvest[/CARD] you just cast it for lethal. That was possible but it did not happen that often. In GTC there aren’t so many big boys surrounding black cards so this one Is just a trap card since it also requires you to have that creature dead. If it would be too big than it might just win the game on its own and it is very possible that your opponent won’t be able to block it to death. It is a really bad card. Thank God it’s uncommon and will not come that often in limited. I wouldn’t want my dying wish to be this card.

Gateway Shade

Orzhov:2.5 Dimir:2.5  – The shade is good. Almost any shade is good in limited and this one makes no exception. It is one of the first shades I have seen that can be activated with something other than black, and even for more power. This card will make every 4-5 color deck feel strong. It has the ability to let that player get into the late game with ease. It’s also good in Dimir or Orzhov where you can encode it on get to the late game and tap a lot of lands to give it boost.

Grisly Spectacle

Orzhov:3.0 Dimir:3.0  – Grisly Spectacle is a solid removal card. For just 4 mana you get an instant speed removal that gets rid of almost any creature on the battlefield. As a bonus, you get to mill some cards too. As far as I can see, black seems to get a lot of removal this time around, and at common too so maybe it will regain its true power as the best removal color. In the last sets it kinda lacked that since removal was scarce overall and long lasting games weren’t that often played. I would play this card in all my black decks.

Gutter Skulk

Orzhov:1.0 Dimir:1.5  – Nothing cool about this card to tell. He is a 2/2 bear in a format where black decks are the slowest of them all. I would not play this card in this format unless I don’t have any other ok card to put in that 2 drop slot.

Horror of the Dim

Orzhov:1.0 Dimir:1.5  – Seems like that [CARD]Rubbleback Rhino[/CARD] we had a set ago wasn’t ok leveled in power and Wizards decided to make a black one that requires activation cost for hexproof. I don’t think I would play this card because of its not so great stats on a 5 drop. He can just fill some role from time to time. Best thing to do with it is to enchant it with some ridiculous enchantment because he is I think, the only hexproof-er of the set. Hexproof on demand that is, for one U. 

Illness in the Ranks

Orzhov:0.5 Dimir:0.5  – Sideboard for limited but not in GTC. There aren’t so many relevant token generators in GTC to make it playable or even sideboard worthy. It will be good in the spring just against [CARD]Eyes in the skies[/CARD] and shrinking centaur and knight tokens but I don’t think anyone would love to have this in his/her deck.

Killing Glare

Orzhov:3.5 Dimir:4.0  – Another great removal spell. Maybe the best in the set. I would play this card even in non-black decks. It reminds me of Death Wind but It is a shame it’s an uncommon. It is a very much needed removal spell in a limited and it will not come around so often.

Lord of the Void

Orzhov:4.0 Dimir:4.0, Dimir Mill:4.5  – Ridiculous bomb it is. 7/7 flyers for 7 mana would be good on its own but it also mills the opponent and almost always nets you another creature. I’ve found the reason to play [CARD]Crypt Ghast[/CARD] in limited, seriously (yep, rare and mythic...quite possible indeed). Play this in every black deck you make because 7 mana isn’t something you will never get to . This time around, black is paired with white and blue and has a lot of defensive cards.

Mental Vapors

Orzhov:1.0 Dimir:1.0  – Weak card in limited. Even repeatable discard is something that is worthless in 50% of the game. Some opponents will just drop anything they have by turn 4-5 and leave you with a 4-mana do nothing. Of course it is great against other controlish decks that try to win by gaining card advantage. I would definitely use after sideboard against those strategies but I’m not sure is worth mainboarding it that often. It feels like Mind Rot at most.

Midnight Recovery

Orzhov:2.5 Dimir:2.5  – Now this is one cipher card I’m eager to try. It is some sort of combo enabler, I feel. It is a [CARD]Disentomb[/CARD] a turn if played on the correct creature and in a deck with the 1 / 4 defender than can get deathtouch for sacrificing a creature or with other “sacrifice a creature:do that”  it seems like a good card. As I said, repeatable graveyard recursion feels powerful enough to mainboard.

Ogre Slumlord

Orzhov:3.5 Dimir:3.5  – It’s very powerful in a black deck. You’ve seen how many removal spells black holds and this one plays well with black deck strategies. You will slow the game so much that your opponent will  feel  it’s impossible for them to win. It’s that incremental advantage that counts for black decks and this a fantastic card for that. It needs support but it is also good on its own. 3/3 for 5 is good enough to be played and that fact that any creature that dies transforms into a token on your side of the field is great.

Sepulchral Primordial

Orzhov:4.0 Dimir:4.0  – Each of these primordials are great in Limited. Even though they were made for EDH they are actually great value in limited too. The black one has the advantage of being in the grindiest color of them all and having one of the most powerful abilities out there for limited. Besides Intimidate with almost guarantees a 5/4 unblockable, it also revives a creature from your opponent’s graveyard and puts it directly onto the battlefield under your control. Very good seven drop

Shadow Alley Denizen

Orzhov:1.0 Dimir:1.0  – A one-drop that does not impress at all. Gaining intimidate is relevant but I don’t feel is good for the black decks this time around. Maybe in another environment would make more sense.

Shadow Slice

Orzhov:1.5,  Dimir:2.5, Dimir Mill:1.0 –[CARD]Bump in the Night[/CARD]variant that feels much more powerful overall. This can turn your black unblockable 1/3’s , 2/2’s into fantastic beaters and can change your game plan all together. It will have its role in an evasion deck. But it only feels good for Dimir decks so it doesn’t pass the 2.5 test.

Slate Street Ruffian

Orzhov:1.5 Dimir:2.0  – The Ruffian is a bear with a certain upside. He feels like an unblockable card for the first few turns of the game when your opponent will prefer 2 damage instead of discarding a card. After some time though, he will just be a 2/2 like any other bear out there. Still, he does fill a 3-drop spot in the Dimir Deck and will be playe accordingly. Do not play this in Orzhov decks because it doesn’t seem to fit there that well.

Smog Elemental

Orzhov:3.0  Dimir:2.5 – 6 mana for 3/3 flyer is definitely worth it when it ensure that your opponents flyers are smaller and can trade or get eaten by the Smog. The flavor seems fantastic on this card and its power in limited cannot be denied. Play it in your black decks as often as possible, you will not be disappointed.

Syndicate Enforcer

Orzhov:2.0 Dimir:1.5 – A 3/2 extorter for 4 mana. I’m not sure where he works best. It is somewhere between Orzhov and Dimir but for the moment I cannot find that spot where he’s good. But I guess he does wonders in an all Extort deck. That’s right, Orzhov will thrive best when you will assemble a board full of extorters. Having a minimum of 4-5 on the table seems like  powerful extortions.

Thrull Parasite

Orzhov:1.5 Dimir:1.0  – If this card gets played in anything it will only be in Extort centred decks that I talked about earlier. Unless you play him in that deck he does not seem too powerful. The pay 2 life ability will very rarely be useful in limited since that’s a Simic thing and Simic has evolve and can just get the counters back pretty 'easy. Also, paying 2 life is not worth it. Maybe in constructed it can be ridiculous against some artifact or Planeswalkers but in Limited he is good only in Extort.deck

Undercity Informer

Orzhov:2.0 Dimir:2.0, Dimir Mill:3.0   – The stats are already great for a 3 drop. What else does it do? It grinds for 1 mana and a creature. The creature cost is kind of steep but it is actually the mana cost that makes it not broken in constructed. Therefore, they had to double cost it like this, otherwise it would have made some infinite combo’s in modern and mill the opponent out with 2-3 pieces assembled. The creature cost, as I said, in limited feels kind of bad but with that “ 3-mana return to hand when dies creature ” you can assemble a 4-mana combo grind, out of a common and an uncommon. It also works good with the cipher card that returns a creature from graveyard to hand. I feel he will be a good piece for the mill deck and will table a lot of the times, making the mill deck much more appealing for draft, unless it will be the deck to beat in the format and everyone will try drafting it which could dilute its power overall.

Undercity Plague

Orzhov:1.5 Dimir:1.5  – This card is good only because it has “target player sacrifices a permanent on it”. Repeatable sacrifice a permanent in limited is very powerful but it does not deserve a better grade because in limited, players tend to mana flood a lot of the times and they will sacrifice their lands most of the time. The lose 1 life isn’t all that relevant and the discard a card clause can come in handy but I wouldn’t count on it, just like with the other cipher card that discards a card every turn.

Wight of Precinct Six

Orzhov:1.0 Dimir:1.0 Dimir Mill:2.5  – This guy is ideal for Mill decks as a secondary plan if the grind cards fail to win you the game. He can get gigantic if you get to mill at least 5-6 creatures which in limited isn’t that impossible. In a mill oriented deck he will be like a 3.5 because of the great boost that he can get. And by the way, everyone plays at least 9-10 creatures in limited so he can find enough creatures when the opponent is milled.

Structural Collapse

Boros:0.00 Gruul:0.00  – Now this is unplayable for sure. 6 mana for letting your opponent choose what to sac when it comes to lands feels pretty bad in limited. The 2 damage it gives to the player and the “destroy artifact” part ain’t gonna make it any better.

Poate n-am inteles eu bine ce-ai scris, sau poate ai scris iar review-ul pe la 3 dimineata si nu ai citit bine, dar acolo zice "and" nu "or". Deci you don't let your opponent choose what to sac. He has to sac both. If available, of course