Aegis Angel
Hi, I'm more expensive than Tombstalker, less impactful than Baneslayer Angel, and I hope you'll buy me for your EDH Angel deck!
Angelic Destiny
This card beefs weenies up like what the blue pill does to grandpas. The Rancor effect tries to solve the card-disadvantage of creature enchantments/auras but we all know when to Plow the creature in response to casting it.
Oh, and there's already the Stoneforge Mystic package, so why this?
Gideon's Avenger
Quick question: Why is Knight of the Reliquary played but not Lorescale Coatl?
It's because KotR comes in huge IMMEDIATELY while you have to wait around and stroke the snake a little with cards like Brainstorm to make it big. Even though you don't have to alter your deck in significant ways (you'll be casting Brainstorm anyway), it seems that people just can't wait for things to happen in Legacy.
Now Gideon's Avenger seems that it can get big, but my bet is that people won't play it. Like why play Quirion Dryad when you can play Tarmogoyf?
PS. This applies to all creatures that grow. So if you're thinking of playing Soul Sisters and Ajani's Pridemate in Legacy, think again. (Serra Ascendant is different btw)
Grand Abolisher
Abeyance on a stick! Your spells are now counterspell proof. Your opponent can't fetch during your upkeep/end phase. No more Flashing in of Vendilion Clique nor Vialing in of creatures. And Batterskull comes in only on his turn. Your opponent must choose to activate Pernicious Deed or to cast spells with the mana he has on his turn. It's like making your opponent play fair... while you get to do them yourselves.
I'd buy a playset just because it's irritating, but I don't know what kind of deck would want to use it. Vial decks with Stifle (aka UW Tempo)? Ultimately, I think this punishes the skilled players less than others and opens up avenues of mistakes for your opponents. Being a pessimist on new cards in general, I'd say this is something fun, something like Phyrexian Revoker.
Griffin Rider
This reminds me, Harry Potter will be in cinemas July 14th!
Jace, Memory Adept
Jace, the Mind Sculptor, just cause Standard abandoned you doesn't mean you have to sell yourself for your debut price. Legacy loves you! Look at all the people buying you at $60 and you'll see how much potential you have!
Huh? You're the 3rd Jace? Oops. But if Innistrad really revolves around the graveyard, then things will become interesting in Standard. Still, given the ample Lords in M12, the power of Red with Grim Lavamancer and Goblin Grenade, control will be getting a hard time in the new Standard.
Jace's Archivist
Too slow... Next!
Lord of the Unreal / Phantasmal Bear / Phantasmal Dragon / Phantasmal Image
Blue finally gets a 1 mana 2/2. Though it dies when something touches it, which other 2/2 doesn't? (ok, maybe you can't equip it with your own Jitte) The rest are just more unreal than real, just because there's Phantasmal Mount and Phantasmal Sphere to beef up your tribal deck.
Mind Unbound
Eh... Hive Mind wins faster?
Sphinx of Uthuun
I'd play this in EDH.
Visions of Beyond
The fixed Ancestral Recall. Some people mentioned using it in Dredge, but I don't see it. First, it ain't better than Breakthrough and will only replace cards like Careful Study or some other discard outlet like Putrid Imp if it sees play. In that case, you be diluting the discard portion of your deck and an discard outlet is more necessary to get your engine started than draw spells.
What's interesting in such a build is that it can play slower as a control-combo deck, mixing in Force of Will or what not and aim to win the game turns 3-4 or later with a burst of speed (maybe even with Gitaxian Probe). Try it, and let me know how it turns out.
In other decks, 20 cards in the graveyard is hard to fulfil and you don't want to play a cantrip most of the time. Recall your games and you'll discover that it's only in the control mirror that you'll get to live the dream. Still, an interesting card that I'll pick up if it drops to crap status. (But with people betting on Innistrad, it's unlikely to happen anytime soon)
Monomania
I wonder why I want to even make type so much on Thoughtseize when it's pretty obvious that its high cmc and the fact that it lets your opponent keeps his best card makes it bad.
Rune-Scarred Demon
Yay, Wizards love EDH/Commander!
Sutured Ghoul
Those of you who don't have one please ask for this as a throw-in. It's used sparingly in decks like Cephalid Breakfast.
Vengeful Pharaoh
This is the kind of card advantage I'm interested in. With Zombie Infestation, you get a 2/2 that blocks the biggest threat while you take damage from the smaller one. This then destroys the fattie staring at you across the table. Do it again next turn. Love to see some control deck in Standard playing this. Blue-black? Or Black-Red with Chandra's Phoenix? Speaking of which...
Chandra, the Firebrand / Chandra's Phoenix
I hear people saying it's the next best thing after Jace and I laugh. 1 damage doesn't kill much but it does bring back the flying hasty Phoenix (just reminds you of Harry Potter doesn't it?). Phoenix reminds me of Bloodghast though the important thing is that it blocks. This reminds me of the good old times when counterburn is fun to play.
In Legacy? I don't see it.
Furyborn Hellkite
I'm Big! I'm Fat! I'm Angry!
Arachnus Spinner
Pew pew! Just like Spiderman.
Dungrove Elder
The issue is whether it will be an undercosted fatty just like Tarmogoyf. The answer is likely to be sorry.
Garruk, Primal Hunter
I initially thought its second ability is like Acidic Slime. Then I read again and saw its triple green mana cost. Then again, it has to be mentioned that generating a 3/3 every turn is much better than Elspeth spitting out 1/1 soldier tokens and can win the if left undisturbed.
Primordial Hydra
EDH staple!
Skinshifter
Is the flexibility worth the additional green mana every turn? Just play Tarmogoyf instead.
Adaptive Automaton
Anything Lord! It's bound to be a casual chase as it fits into your Saproling deck along with Thelon of Havenwood. It fits into your Sliver deck as the 3rd Muscle Sliver. Standard now has 8 Goblin lords, 8 Elf lords, 8 Zombie lords, and 8 Illusion lords (12 if you can copy 1 with Phantasmal Image).
But in Legacy? The usual Merfolk, Goblins, Elf tribal decks don't need that as they have better lords available. So what will? Let me know if you can think of any.
Druidic Satchel
Small effects for small costs don't win you the game
Sundial of the Infinite
And if you don't want to play Grand Abolisher to mess around with end of turn stunts, you can play this. Cute, especially with come into play triggers that hurt a lot e.g. Eater of Days, Phyrexian Dreadnought. Doesn't this sound like Torpor Orb? Hmmmm..... Combo lovers will want to mess around with this.
Buried Ruin
Academy Ruins for the non-blue/budget folks.
Conclusion
M12 has interesting stuff for Legacy. Amongst them, Grand Abolisher probably has the best chance of making into viable decks. There's also the bet of Sundial of the Infinite/Torpor Orb redundancy in a combo deck that makes you feel high when you live the dream. I'd love to see them happen so drop me a photo on my facebook page wall if you see it.First to do that gets nothing! Tweet this!
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