Welcome back for part three of my Gatecrash Review for Green, Artifact & Lands.
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Constructed Rating
5 – Not only does this card go in every deck that plays those colors but you should warp your deck so that this card is part of it.
4 – If you play these colors this card will appear in your maindeck.
3 – This card will appear in a large portion of the decks across formats that can support it or a guaranteed sideboard staple for years to come.
2 – This card will see moderate play in Standard or Modern or will be a decent sideboard card in all formats.
1 – A moderate sideboard card at best and may see some main deck play.
0 – This should never see any serious constructed play.
Limited Rating
5 – Pack 2, Pick 1. Yeah it’s that good you should warp your deck for after opening this.
4 – This will always see play in if your deck can support it or it will be hate drafted for sure.
3 – A limited deck staple that will push your deck over the top and win games.
2 – The bread and butter of most limited decks.
1 – Cards that will be added to your deck to fill those last slots.
0 – NEVER play this card.
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Green
[card]Alpha Authority[/card]
Constructed – 1
I could see this as some techy sideboard stuff in the Bant Auras deck.
Limited – 1
If you can attach this to one of your fatties, this can help cause some serious damage.
[card]Burst of Strength[/card]
Constructed – 0
Burst of Yawn!!!
Limited – 1
This can be a nice combat trick with the Untap mechanic.
[card]Crowned Ceratok[/card]
Constructed – 0
Normally Wizards is pretty good at teaching Biology by giving new words for other animals, unfortunately Ceratok is not a thing.
Limited – 2
Ignoring the counter ability, a 4/3 trampler is certainly a good value.
[card]Forced Adaptation[/card]
Constructed – 0
At first glance, this seems like it has Bant Auras potential but having to wait turns is not a good idea.
Limited – 1
Letting your creature grow turn after turn can lead to potentially positive results.
[card]Giant Adephage[/card]
Constructed – 0
Wizards listened to my request to add Trample.
Limited – 3
If you untap with this you win the game, however similar to other cards in this set, seven mana may be a lot.
[card]Greenside Watcher[/card]
Constructed – 0
Mana dorks need to cost one to see any play unless their ability is through the roof.
Limited – 2
Even without a gate I would play this 100% of the time.
[card]Hindervines[/card]
Constructed – 0
While this is certainly a unique take on [Card]Fog[/Card] it’s not a good one.
Limited – 0
The condition on the card can be as detrimental as it can be positive.
[card]Ivy Lane Denizen[/card]
Constructed – 0
On the plus side it’s finally over, on the down side, this one is finally respectable.
Limited – 2
Unlike the other Denizens I will always play this card as long as Green is not a splash.
[card]Miming Slime[/card]
Constructed – 1
Even in a deck with [card]Thragtusk[/card] this could at worst turn out to be a 5/5. There are certainly some interesting combinations that this card offers and wouldn’t be surprised if I see this played against me.
Limited – 2
While this might be dependant on the creatures you have in play, at worst you’ll be getting a creature that passes the Vanilla Test.
[card]Naturalize[/card]
Constructed – 1
[card]Naturalize[/card] occasionally sees some play out of the sideboard.
Limited – 1
I’m not in favour of playing this in my main deck like some people are but it is certainly a stone cold answer to many different cards.
[card]Ooze Flux[/card]
Constructed – 0
It certainly seems like a cute trick but don’t expect it to ooze its way into Standard.
Limited – 2
It’s a given this card will require a small army but once you get three guys with Evolve this will be pumping out 3/3s for two mana, continuously.
[card]Predator’s Rapport[/card]
Constructed – 0
This is not the life gain you’re looking for.
Limited – 0
I don’t believe spells whose sole purpose is gaining life should be played.
[card]Rust Scarab[/card]
Constructed – 0
There are better ways to get rid of Artifacts and Enchanments.
Limited – 2
Occasionally you will get lucky with the artifact and enchantment clause. Otherwise this is a creature that can attack with no signs of rust.
[card]Serene Remembrance[/card]
Constructed – 0
If reanimation becomes a thing, decks without access to White mana or Black mana or [Card]Deathrite Shaman[/Card] could consider playing this.
Limited – 0
This card should Cantrip.
[card]Spire Tracer[/card]
Constructed – 0
If this had Hexproof, Bogles would be going wild. As it is, there should be no trace of this in Constructed.
Limited – 0
1/1s for ones are quickly outclassed by everything so avoid playing this.
[card]Sylvan Primordial[/card]
Constructed – 0
The last of the cycle. These will all be Commander staples and foils can probably be traded for a decent amount but they will never pop up in sanctioned constructed.
Limited – 2
I wouldn’t be disappointed with having this guy. Obviously the cost is the most restrictive part of this guy but getting to cast him can be a game changer as at worst it destroys a land.
[card]Tower Defense[/card]
Constructed – 0
If this was an Enchantment it would be seeing constructed play. Since it’s not let me recommend playing [card]Tower Defense[/card] games and avoiding this.
Limited – 2
An additional 5 toughness is actually really big as it allows your creatures to block their alpha strike and all survive.
[card]Verdant Haven[/card]
Constructed – 0
The cycle of Enchant Lands comes to an end with a slightly worse [Card]Fertile Ground[/Card].
Limited – 1
Like the Green Denizen I can see this seeing a little play for mana fixing.
[card]Wildwood Rebirth[/card]
Constructed – 0
I misread this card originally thinking that [Card]Regrowth[/Card] had been spiritually reborn until I read the creature part.
Limited – 2
Creatures are the bread and butter of Limited decks and being able to bring one back at a reasonable cost is awesome. What’s interesting is that this card is an Instant, so you can also produce some Bloodrush shenanigans.
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Artifacts
[card]Armored Transport[/card]
Constructed – 0
This is just awful as a card in every way.
Limited – 0
Still awful.
[card]Glaring Spotlight[/card]
Constructed – 1
You’ve heard everything about this card about how it is very flavourfully built, how people are reading the card upside down, blah, blah, blah. That aside that card is marginally good at best.
Limited – 1
I can’t see myself cutting this card from my deck but I will also be playing it as a 4 mana all your creatures are unblockable spell.
[card]Illusionist’s Bracers[/card]
Constructed – 0
Cool effect, ineffective in constructed.
Limited – 1
There is certainly the possibility to draft a bunch of Guildmages or things that interact with this but most of the time this should stay on the sidelines.
[card]Millennial Gargoyle[/card]
Constructed – 0
There was never a millennium where this was playable.
Limited – 1
Stay away, these gargoyles only carry ill omens.
[card]Prophetic Prism[/card]
Constructed – 1
Last time around, this card saw some play so I wouldn’t discount it this time around, though mana fixing might be unnecessary.
Limited – 1
It cantrips and fixes mana. Aggressive decks won’t want this but I suspect every other deck will be playing as many as they can.
[card]Razortip Whip[/card]
Constructed – 0
[Card]Curse of Pierced Heart[/Card] doesn’t see play and neither will this.
Limited – 1
Cards that ping your opponent are never exciting but often see play for the sense of inevitability, Mr. Anderson.
[card]Riot Gear[/card]
Constructed – 0
Unless a riot breaks out and destroys all your other magic cards, you should not be playing this.
Limited – 0
If you play this, you should gear yourself up for disappointment.
[card]Skyblinder Staff[/card]
Constructed – 0
The thought of playing this card is giving me a blinding pain.
Limited – 0
On the bright side, the artwork has bats!
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Lands
Guildgates (Boros, Dimir, Gruul, Orzhov & Simic)
Constructed – 0
Having tested these out when Return to Ravnica was printed, there is no reason you need 12 lands that produce the same colors and these should stay on the draft tables.
Limited – 3
My love of cubing has given me insight into highly valuing mana fixing and these are generally picked really high for me, especially since most Limited decks run more than two colors and mana requirements are tight.
Shocklands ([Card]Breeding Pool[/Card], [Card]Godless Shrine[/Card], [Card]Sacred Foundry[/Card], [Card]Stomping Ground[/Card] & [Card]Watery Grave[/Card])
Constructed – 4
There is only one set of better lands in all of Magic and those are dual lands, which do not have the damage clause. So if those are the Gold Standard, than these are the Silver Standard and being a Modern staple, make sure you have your playset of these.
Limited – 4
If the guildgates are a 3 than these are even better, and since you can draft these for value and mana fixing it’s rare you’re seeing any unless you opened them.
[card]Thespian’s Stage[/card]
Constructed – 1
Don’t get me wrong, I love this card and it will be a Commander staple forever. It is very comparable to [Card]Vesuva[/Card] as the two do similar things each with their own pros and cons but Vesuva doesn’t see Modern play and without any Legendary Lands in Standard, I don’t see this getting any reps. Also [Card]Vesuva[/Card] is a better card than this based solely on the fact that it has the greatest Flavour Text of all time.
Limited – 2
I am always playing this card in my deck. At worst it copies a basic land, but its true value will shine through when you can duplicate a dual land, whether it’s yours or your opponent’s is left to be seen.
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That wraps up part three of my set review. Once again, thanks for reading and check back later for part four: Boros. You should also check out the Horde of Notions Podcast, sponsored by Face to Face Games, on MTGCast.
William