The way I'm going to look at these new cards is by 3 levels: what I think is Good, Bad, and what I Expect them to turn out in the end. Other than allowing you to form your own judgement, this also allows me to escape embarrassing moments when I find I'm horribly wrong later on (hi Green Sun's Zenith!).
By the way, I'm more of a pessimistic person and what you're about to see are not affected by others' opinion yet (since I've not seen other's reviews).
Ready? Here goes:
Karn Liberated 7
Planeswalker - Karn
+4: Target player exiles a card from his or her hand.
-3: Exile target permanent.
-14: Set aside all non-Aura permanent cards exiled with Karn, then restart the game. Then put all cards set aside this way onto the battlefield under your control.
Illus. Jason Chan #1/175 6
The Good
What makes a Planeswalker good? I've previously argued that a Planeswalker with staying power and that offers incremental benefits will be a powerful Planeswalker.
Karn starts at 6 loyalty which is thus very tough to kill. His improved Liliana Vess +4 ability makes its loyalty go through the roof and it definitely will stay on board for quite some time. Like Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker Karn can deal with problematic permanents with his -3 ability. Karn even surpasses the elder dragon as he is colorless and can be placed in any deck. Imagine Karn in a mono black control deck (hi Innistrad!) filled with creature removal. Heck, imagine Karn in ANY control deck filled with board removal. How can it not be good?
The Bad
How long do you think you need to get to 7 mana? After successfully controlling the board, why spend 7 mana and a few more turns to cast Karn when you need 6 mana to win with Painter Grindstone? And his ultimate doesn't even win the game cause you have to do it all over again! It'll be like playing Lands but worse – you might not even have time to win game 1.
Expected
Karn isn't the worst Planeswalker, nor is it Jace. Even if it eats a Bolt after Vindicating something, it's still a Desert Twister + Duress. But that's not good enough for Legacy. It's unlikely that there will be a home for Karn in the current scene (I don't think it fits a deck with Ancient Tomb + Metalworker/Grim Monolith) and unless someone proves me wrong, expect this to be like Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker.
Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite 5ww
Legendary Creature - Praetor
Vigilance
Other creatures you control get +2/+2.
Creatures your opponents control get -2/-2.
"The Gitaxians whisper among themselves of other worlds. If they exist, we must bring Phyrexia's magnificence to them."
Illus. Igor Kieryluk #9/175 4/7
The Good
Die weenies! Die opposing 5 power Tarmogoyf and Tombstalker! And the art is nice!
The Bad
7 mana again? And isn't Humility a better card if you're dealing with creatures?
Expected
Hmmm... Do I really need to say that this won't see Legacy play unless “Elesh's Victory” is printed?
Norn's Annex 3 (w/p) (w/p)
Artifact
( (w/p) may be paid for with either w or 2 life.)
Creatures can't attack you or planeswalkers you control unless their controller pays (w/p) for each attacking creature.
Illus. James Paick #17/175
The Good
Phyrexian mana is a very interesting mechanic as it allows you to cheat things out at potentially very little costs. In Legacy, any cost saving mechanic is worth a look (hi Tombstalker!). Plus, 2 life per mana saved is not too great a cost.
Interestingly, this artifact version of Ghostly Prison fits into any, repeat ANY color. And if your opponent doesn't play white, he'll have to pay in blood. That'll quickly add up.
The Bad
Unfortunately, this artifact allows the attacker to pay 2 life to continue the assault. Control decks probably won't want to use this as they don't even use Ghostly Prison/Propaganda when the colour's right. Will green/black/red control decks use it? Don't think so.
Expected
Can you see any deck that'll want this? Burn? Maybe not.
Phyrexian Unlife 2w
Enchantment
You don't lose the game for having 0 or less life.
As long as your life total is 0 or less, sources that deal damage to you have infect.
Illus. Jason Chan #18/175
The Good
Wow, you get double the life!
The Bad
Wow, if it works, you lose if it get Krosan Gripped! And Krosan Grip is everywhere! So is Qasali Pridemage!
Expected
Nice art!
Puresteel Paladin ww
Creature - Human Knight
Whenever an Equipment enters the battlefield under your control, you may draw a card.
Metalcraft - As long as you control 3 or more artifacts, each Equipment you control has equip 0.
Illus. Jason Chan #20/175 2/2
The Good
Save on mana, save on cards! Stoneforge Mystic cantrips into a Jitte and this makes the Jitte cantrip. White card advantage for the win! Vial, Ancient Den and the equipment fetched activates Metalcraft pretty easily. If you really want it, Chrome Mox might help. Hmmm... Armageddon... Cataclysm...
The Bad
2 white mana for a 2/2 that's totally vanilla the turn it lands. Will cantriping make all the difference? Yes for the case of Dark Confidant as it does this every single turn. Packing a deck with multiple equipment can do this, though it'll dilute your creature density (Living Weapon anyone?).
Expected
I don't expect him to be an all-star and neither should you. But its potential is there especially when a few Swords and a Jitte on board makes any top-decked creature Goyf size or bigger.
Psychic Surgery 1u
Enchantment
Whenever an opponent shuffles his or her library, you may look at the top 2 cards of that library. If you do, you may exile one of them. Then put the rest on top of that player's library in any order.
Illus. Anthony Francisco #44/175
The Good
Fateseal is good. In a world of Fetchlands, you'd probably get to do this quite often. Controlling an opponent's draw can mean a Time Walk if done right. And for the low low cost of 1u, you'd get to do it over and over again!
The Bad
Conditional Fateseal isn't that good. Plus you'd not want to add cards like Soldier of Fortune, though Portent is manageable. And please don't add Psychogenic Probe and cards like these.
Oh, and what if your opponent cast a turn 1 Sensei's Divining Top? Fateseal? What Fateseal?
Expected
Hi Johhny! I'd like to introduce you to this surgery.
Xenograft 4u
Enchantment
When ~ enters the battlefield, choose a creature type.
Creatures you control are the chosen type in addition to their other creature types.
"There is no word more worthless than "evolution" from the mouth of Vorinclex. The only one who knows true Progress is me." -Jin-Gitaxis, Core Augur
Illus. Daniel Ljunggren #51/175
The Good
Now my Merfolk are also Goblins!
The Bad
But my opponents aren't playing Goblin King.
Expected
Hi Reaper King! Meet your new best EDH friend!
Chancellor of the Dross 4bbb
Creature - Vampire
If ~ is in your opening hand, you may reveal it. If you do, at the beginning of your first upkeep, you may have each opponent lose 3 life. Gain life equal to the life lost this way.
Flying, Lifelink
Illus. Stephan Martiniere #54/175 6/6
The Good
Big scary vampire that sucks the life out of your opponent even before you play a land!
The Bad
Big scary vampire that sucks a card slot from your hand unless you have Brainstorm! A card for 3 life? No way!
Expected
Have you watched Vampires Suck? I did, and there wasn't any background music. It doesn't just suck, it swallows.
Glistening Oil bb
Enchantment - Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature has Infect.
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a -1/-1 counter on enchanted creature.
When ~ is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, return ~ to its owner's hand.
Illus. Steven Belledin #62/175
The Good
1 more card for my 5c Infect EDH deck!
The Bad
1 more card for my 5c Infect EDH deck!
Expected
1 more card for my 5c Infect EDH deck!
Phyrexian Obliterator bbbb
Creature - Horror
Trample
Whenever a source deals damage to ~, that source's controller sacrifices that many permanents.
Illus. Todd Lockwood #68/175 5/5
The Good
Phyrexian Negator, but better! Dark Ritual for the win! Dark Ritual also happens to reduce Tombstalker's cost by 4. Eva Green comeback? They'd better have a Plow for that cause you can't effectively block it!
The Bad
bbbb limits it to mono-black or black with a splash of something. When you think of Dark Ritual and Tombstalker, you're omitting Dark Confidant and that may just be worth it.
Expected
This really does seem to have some potential in it, especially against other creature based decks. It can break a standstill and can stop an onslaught. At bbbb, it's a challenge especially if you don't have Dark Ritual. But when it does land turn 2, you'd probably win if your opponent doesn't top deck a Plow.
Praetor's Grip 1bb
Sorcery
Search target opponent's library for a card and exile it face down, then that player shuffles his or her library. As long as it remains exiled, you may look at it and cast it as though it were in your hand.
Illus. Steve Argyle #71/175
The Good
I'll take your Yawgmoth's Will. Thanks!
The Bad
What? Yawgmoth's Will is banned in Legacy? What? I can take only Show and Tell/Natural Order/Tarmogoyf/Coralhelm Commander/Goblin Piledriver? What? If I want to disrupt a combo there's already Sadistic Sacrament/Extract?
Expected
Nope, don't see it.
Surgical Extraction (b/p)
Instant
( (b/p)can be paid with either b or 2 life.)
Choose target card in a graveyard other than a basic land card. Search its owner's graveyard, hand, and library for all cards with the same name as that card and exile them. Then that player shuffles his or her library.
Illus. Greg Staples #74/175
The Good
Extirpate, only more surprising! Now you can cast it at no mana! Extirpate for any deck! Now you can play Stifle, Wasteland, Extirpate, and this to really try to color screw your opponent.
The Bad
Unlike Extirpate, it can be countered. And Extirpate isn't the most effective graveyard hate, so this probably will be just a surprise sideboard card much the same as Nihil Spellbomb is to other artifact hate, if it even sees play.
Expected
Dredge is dead? No way!
Chancellor of the Forge 4rrr
Creature - Giant
If ~ is in your opening hand, you may reveal it. If you do, at the beginning of your first turn's upkeep, you may put a 1/1 red Goblin creature token with haste onto the battlefield.
When Chancellor of the Furnace enters the battlefield, put X 1/1 red Goblin creatures with haste onto the battlefield, where X is the number of creatures you control.
Illus. Chippy #85/175 5/5
The Good
Wow! You get a 1/1 red goblin with Haste for free!
The Bad
Huh? You get just a 1/1 red goblin with Haste for free?
Expected
Ok... So it's just a 1/1 red goblin with Haste for free...
Invader Parasite 3rr
Creature - Insect
Imprint - When ~ enters the battlefield, exile target land.
Whenever a land with the same name as the exiled card enters the battlefield under an opponent's control, ~ deals 2 damage to that player.
Illus. Volkan Baga #87/175 3/2
The Good
It's an Ankh of Mishra on a sick Avalanche Rider!
The Bad
It's only an Ankh of Mishra on a mono-coloured deck that may not even work against control decks since at 4 lands, your opponent can cast almost every spell in his deck! Oh, and do Legacy decks play dual lands?
Expected
Nice card!
Slag Fiend r
Creature - Construct
~'s power and toughness are each equal to the number of artifact cards in all graveyards.
Illus. Mike Bierek #95/175 */*
The Good
If you've not think of it yet, Time Vault decks have another win con in this!
The Bad
In order for this to be huge, you'll need a large number of artifacts in your graveyard cause your opponent probably won't have many in his. Only Affinity or decks with Chalice/Ancient Tomb will make full use of this, and only after they've devastated you with Shattering Spree. Even so, this is not Cranial Plating. If you want a cheap fat creature, why not play Goyf over this?
Expected
It's a Construct and what the heck is a Construct? Will the creature type have potential in the future? Get it as a throw in if you want.
Urabrask the Hidden 3rr
Legendary Creature - Praetor
Creatures you control have Haste.
Creatures your opponents control enter the battlefield tapped.
Illus. Brad Righey #98/175 4/4
The Good
It's of a decent size, it's got Haste, it's red, it makes your creatures hit 1 turn more. What's not to like about this?
The Bad
In Legacy, 5 mana spells have to be quite game winning. This is far from game winning.
Expected
Fires of Yavimaya in standard?
Birthing Pod 3 (g/p)
Artifact
( (g/p) may be paid for with either g or 2 life.)
1(g/p), tap, Sacrifice a creature: Search your library for a creature with converted mana cost equal to the sacrificed creature's converted mana cost plus one and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
Illus. Daarken #104/175
The Good
Your Dryad Arbor becomes a Wild Nacatl/Goblin Welder/Noble Hierarch, which becomes a Qasali Pridemage/Dark Confidant/Stoneforge Mystic/Painter's Servant/Tarmogoyf, which becomes a Knight of the Reliquary/Terravore etc...
The Bad
You need 4 mana to cast and activate this for the first time. And if you're playing green, why not Green Sun's Zenith? Unless you want to fetch out a non-green creature...
Expected
It's interesting cards like this that tickles me. Just wondering if a 'flashed' in Goblin Welder or Orcish Lumberjack will wreck some havoc...
Fresh Meat 3g
Instant
Put a 3/3 green Beast creature token onto the battlefield for each creature put into your graveyard from the battlefield this turn.
Illus. Dave Allsop #109/175
The Good
Caller of the Claw, but bigger! And it counts token creatures too! Eldrazi spawn for the win! Add some Fecundity to draw and Greater Good for mana and you get yourself a fun combo deck.
The Bad
How about Natural Order for 4 mana?
Expected
Hi Jonny, nice to see you again!
Caged Sun 6
Artifact
When Caged Sun enters the battlefield, choose a color.
Creatures you control of the chosen color have +1/+1.
Whenever you tap a land for one or more mana of the chosen color, add one mana of the chosen color to your mana pool.
Illus. Scott Chou #132/175
The Good
Gauntlet of Power!
The Bad
Have you seen Gauntlet of Power in Legacy decks?
Expected
EDH staple
Hex Parasite 1
Artifact Creature - Insect
x(b/p): Target a permanent. Remove up to X counters from that permanent. ~ gains +1/+0 until end of turn for each counter removed this way.
( (b/p) may be paid for with either b or 2 life.)
Illus. Raymond Swanland #137/175 1/1
The Good
Looking at the results of the Star City Games Open Series, Aether Vial is arguably the best card in Legacy, and I'm not the only one saying this. One of the reason is that there's no effective answer to it.
At just 1 cmc, Vial can only be stopped by free counterspells like Force of Will. Thoughtseize may just be a turn too late and Qasali Pridemage trades with the artifact after a turn or more of activation and at a mana disadvantage. Other cards like Pithing Needle and (to a lesser degree) Phyrexian Revoker are less main deck material. This is where Hex Parasite comes in
At just 1 colorless mana to cast and 1 colorless mana + 2 life to activate, this can effectively keep Aether Vial forever at 1 counter for any deck. Better still, it can remove loyalty counters of Jace and other planeswalkers. As it doesn't need to tap itself, you don't need to wait a turn, which might make a world of difference. And it pumps itself and attacks! All pluses...
The Bad
until you consider that the Upkeep cost of 1 mana and 2 life to render Vial useless. Of course, that's if you don't play black. And killing a planeswalker actually takes an eternity cause you still need mana to activate it.
And not all decks play cards with counters, so why not sideboard Phyrexian Revoker instead? Or simply just play a deck that beats Vial. You'll have more game against a majority of the field that way.
Expected
Phyrexian Revoker received some hype, and to my knowledge, it's still not maindeck material. Hex Parasite affects less cards and will just fade into the darkness unless there's an unknown combo. Would be interesting to see it in a black based Vial deck that shuts down opposing Vial decks and regresses its own Vial @ 3 to drop a Tarmogoyf.
Lashwrithe 4
Artifact - Equipment
Living weapon
Equip (b/p)(b/p) ( (b/p) may be paid for with either b or 2 life.)
Equipped creature gets +1/+1 for each Swamp you control.
Illus. Jason Felix #143/175
The Good
It's a Nightmare Lash with better Equip costs!
The Bad
It's a Nightmare Lash!
Expected
Is that it?
Spellskite 2
Artifact Creature - Horror
(u/p): Target spell or ability that targets only a single creature targets ~ instead.
((u/p) may be paid for with either u or 2 life.)
Illus. Chippy #159/175 0/4
The Good
Steal any aura just for 1 mana or 2 life! Protect your creature from a Bolt!
The Bad
Is it worth 3 mana to save a creature from a Plow? And it just sits around blocking Wild Nacatls until that happens? Just look at the opportunity costs and you'll see why.
Expected
I really think I should stop writing so much when I most often say “nah”.
So what do you think about New Phyrexia so far? Any cards you disagree on? Let me know by commenting or post on my facebook page! Tweet this!
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