I haven’t gotten around to posting at all in the last week, but today I have another pack to post. Today’s pack is the fifth duplicate rare pack in a row. I have 12 more packs left to open. Also, the website draw3cards.com. This is a website where you can ask and answer questions about Magic: The Gathering. You will usually get a response quickly, so I do recommend it. (Direct Link)

I didn’t have time to post the packs yesterday or the day before, but I will post today’s pack. Nothing good were in any of the three. (I’ve had bad luck so far with this challenge) Before I post the pack, though, I’m going to post the top ten Zendikar cards. The fetchlands are not on the list because there are five and they are utility cards.

10. Day of Judgement

This is apparently the replacement of Wrath of God. It will probably be used just as often as Wrath because regenerators are not used often. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen one, even in casual games.

9.Harrow

I’ve seen Harrow in use, and it defiantly deserves a place on the top ten list. It triggers landfall twice, plus gives you one free land, for a net loss of only one mana. (The two lands come into play untapped) Sure, it can be countered, and then you’re in trouble, but anything can be countered, and the benefits of successfully resolving this usually outweigh the cost and the risk.

8. Ob Nixilis, the Fallen

If this creature is able to survive one turn, it will be out of range any single burn spell. You can play a land right after you play it also. (And because of the priority system, you can play the land before your opponent has a chance to respond) This creature will immediately deal 3 damage and get 3 +1/+1 counters. If you play harrow, that’s 6 damage. It will also be the instant target of any removal, allowing your other big creatures to survive longer.

7. Scute Mob

Scute Mob, while it isn’t as good at surviving, can do more damage if it does. Growing by +5/+5 per turn is huge, even if it doesn’t have trample. The problem is that Scute Mob will be either killed or chump blocked every time.

6. Summoning Trap

This card is definitely worth it. If you play a big creature and it gets countered, you still have a chance of getting out a big creature. If not, it is playable for 6 mana.

5. Rampaging Baloths

This creature is a creature that I think is better than Broodmate Dragon. Because, again, of the priority system, you can play a land before your opponent has a chance to destroy this. That means that for 6 mana, you can have a 6/6 and a 4/4. It can be played using mana of only one color, It has +2/+2 more than broodmate, and if you’re lucky, it can make more than one 4/4. The only downside is the lack of flying, but in my opinion, it’s still better.

4. Vampire Nighthawk

Nighthwak has the potential to keep a whole army at bay for a few turns. It’s a 3 mana creature that will kill you if it doesn’t die soon.

3. Warren Instigator

Notice the double strike. That means that you get to put 2 goblins from your hand into play each time it hits your opponent. It’s another kill or be killed creature, although it is very vulnerable to removal and being blocked by anything with over 2 toughness.

2. Goblin Guide

This is a 2/2 for one. With haste. There isn’t much else to say about it.

1. Lotus Cobra

This might only be a 2/1, meaning it dies to removal, but it is still the best card in Zendikar. If it manages to survive, you get more mana accel than you’ll know what to do with.

Booster Pack

Today I’m going to post my opinions on the 10 best cards in the set. I’m excluding planeswalkers from this list because they were all in Lorwyn already. Garruk  would obviously be high on any list.

Honorable Mentions: (These cards are good cards, but not in the top 10)

10. Birds of Paradise

Early in the game, it’s one extra mana. Later in the game, it’s one extra blocker. Either way, it’s going to help you.

9. Harm’s Way

Harm’s Way is a response to anything that deals damage, making a very useful card. You’re going to lightning bolt me? I think your Birds of Paradise would rather take the 2 damage then my Elspeth!

8. Darksteel Colossus

This is a good card only because of the number of ways to cheat it into play. Once it’s in play, it’s not going to be easy to get rid of. In fact, Path to Exile and Oblivion Ring are the only things that will stop it from running over your creatures and damaging you.

7. Silence

This is a good card, but it is number 7 on the list. Why? Well, let’s look at how it helps you: Your opponents can’t play any more spells. What does that mean? Spells on the stack under Silence will still be able to resolve. Someone can play a spell in response. Someone can play a spell next turn. People can still untap and attack. It won’t stop someone from using lightning bolt on your creatures. It’s still number 7, though, because you would obviously cast it during your opponent’s upkeep in most situations. That would stop that player from playing any creatures, planeswalkers, or sorcerys. This can stop a fast creature based deck in its tracks.

6. Land cycle

Yes, I know, they’re 5 cards, not one. There is no reason for a cycle that’s in the top 10 to take up 5 spots, so I grouped them together. These cards aren’t as good right now, because of all of the nonbasic lands in Lorwyn/Shadowmoor, but when those sets rotate, there will be a lot of cards that hate nonbasic lands, and these benefit from that. (Which is ironic, because they are nonbasic lands)

5. Ball Lightning

In most cases, this will deal 6 damage for 3 mana. It would be a hard choice to waste a lightning blot or path to exile on a creature that’s going to the graveyard anyway at the end of the turn.

4. Pithing Needle

While this is good for stopping creatures from doing anything, it has another upside: Planeswalker abilities are activated abilities. This one card can make a planeswalker sit there doing nothing for the rest of the game.

3. Lightning Bolt

This is a reprint, but it obsoletes almost any other burn spell currently in standard. (Not all of them) Creatures in M10 are weighed by the standard of “3 toughness? It dies to lightning bolt!” or “4 or greater toughness? It’s out of lightning bolt range.” When a card is used to measure other cards, that means it’s a very important card.

2. Honor of the Pure

Crusade was a good card when it came out. It for a slightly harder cost, it gave all white creatures +1/+1. This has an easier cost (Although this would most likely go in a white deck, like Crusade, so going from WW to 1W might not make too much of a difference here) and only pumps your creatures. This is in the white intro pack, so it shouldn’t become too hard to find.

1: Baneslayer Angel

I was defiantly wrong when I said that this was a bad card during the previews. It’s actually the best card in the set. Compared to Serra Angel, for the same mana cost, it loses vigilance, but it gains +1/+1, first strike, lifelink, and protection from 2 creature types that are important in casual and tournaments. (sometimes)

It’s Zach in the new set alot of creatures gain haste!

#5 is

Igneous Pouncer. It is great to throw one or two into the deck so when the opponent is tapped out or has no creatures just pop this guy into play and swing for 5 OR the more likly just cycle him to get yourself a despratly needed land. This guy is great for limited even though he costs a bit much…

Next for #4 is

Alot of poeple are going to be annoyed that I put this in as #4 because its a screwed up akroma angel of wrath! The this is its a 6/6 for a messed up 8 and doent have protection from the main removal color black. Dont get me wronge this is great for playing limited but if your not I’d seggest you go get an angel of wrath.

#3 in the countdown is:

Just plainly who doesnt like a 3/4 that gives evrything haste? Its a 3/4 for 4 mana=good its not monocolored=not so good But it gives your apoclyps hydra haste and all your other goody good jund cards like your dragons haste. It makes for a fun combonation!

#2 is

No matter what this card will do a great deal of damage to your opponent and lets say it gets into a decking battle this card really holds itself up to high expectations….

Now for #1————-

Most people are probobly saying wait? WHAT? but heres the thing, who doesnt like attacking with a 3/2 on turn four and getting a free extra spell. lets say this could be a collosal might? 7 damage turn 4?  is someone else smelling victory or is it just me? (yes this is a great combo for limited yes I used it and Yes I won the games I used it in)

Collossal might:

This review is divided into two parts: The review of the set as a whole, and the top and bottom 10 cards in Alara Reborn. This post is shorter, but the second part will not talk about Alara Reborn, only specific cards in it. (Well, I guess it will compare 20 cards to the rest.)

As a whole, Alara Reborn is a great set. It is all multicolor, which means everything can be much more powerful. The entire Shards of Alara block was designed around this one set. Alara Reborn has only one five colored card, Maelstrom Nexus, but that only makes it better. There are powerhouses like Maelstrom Pulse, great reprints like Meddling Mage, uncommons like Behemoth Sledge that will win limited games, and commons like Quasali Pridemage, which destroys Esper and anyone using that shard. These combined with comboing cards like Glory of Warfare and Knotvine Palidin make this set the best in a long time. The borderposts are great mana fixing cards, and they are easy to get out (although they die to cards like Qusali Pridemage, which can’t kill lands). Even the worst cards in this set are good cards, which would not be true for most sets in the same way. There are some cards that will kill you if they aren’t countered or dealt with in some other way, like Sen Triplets and Slave of Bolas. So, on a scale of one to ten, Alara Reborn rates a 9. Don’t be disappointed that it’s not a 10, it does have its own flaws, but it is still a great set. Come back in the next few days to see the best and worst cards in the set.

Now that all of the cards have been spoiled, what do I think of Conflux? Remember, this is an early review, before I’ve had a chance to actualy play with the cards. (I’ll write another review after the prerelese.) I’m splitting this into 4 categories, limited, constructed, multiplayer, and overall. My visual spoiler is still up, also.

Limited (8/10)

In limited, this set has a lot of commons that are dependant on using all 5 colors. This can be a good thing, if you have enough cards from your Shards of Alara packs to play all 5 colors. If not, you can end up getting too many 5 color commons and not being able to make your deck. If you do get all 5 colors, though, it will be great. You can play any rare you get. (8/10)

Constructed (9/10)

In constructed, the 5 color cards can only help you. If you can actually make a good deck around getting Progenitus into play (which Zach wants to do) you will have a powerhouse deck that can almost never lose. (Hint: Martial Coup) If you can play Megnaloth, and it doesn’t get countered or destroyed, that’s probably the end of the game. (Hint: Vexing Shusher, protective bubble!) There are many cards like that, which scream “KILL ME OR DIE!” and that can actually be used in constructed. Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker, although many people complained about it, is not as bad as some people seem to think it is. It isn’t as good as people were anticipating, so they complained. While it might be worse than cruel ultimatum, it’s a lot more fun. (Just imagine, cruel ulitmatum, which will instantly win if not countered, or Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker, which might be weaker, but at least there is a chance against it. Cruel Ultimatum is just cruel. (And yes, I do realise that that’s why it’s called Cruel Ultimatum) Nicol Bolas is fun, for both you and your opponent.)(9/10)

Multiplayer (9/10)

In multiplayer, play blood tyrrant. That’s all there is to it. OK, that’s not all, but it is a great card. Martial Coup will give you as many 1/1s as you have mana for, and it will kill everything else that isn’t indestructible. (Even if it has shroud, protection, etc…) This will leave th feild empty, and let you kill someone quickly. (And, if you’ve managed to make Blood Tyrrant indestructible, the kill would give it 5 counters. (Hint: If you’re playing 5 colors, which you obviously are because you have Blood Tyrrant and Martial Coup, Spearbreaker Behemoth(But if you have Spearbreaker Behemoth and blood tyrrant, and nobody else has anything, you’ve won anyway. (At least against one person.(I’m just doing this for more parenthesis(If you haven’t figured that out by now(How deep will I go?(Answer: 9(OK, now back to business))))))))) (9/10)

Overall (9/10)

Overall, I like this set. It seems like a fun set, especially if you manage to get out one of the many big creatures. (Or Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker.)  There are people who complain about every set, but I’m exactly the opposite. I like every set. This set is no exception. It could be better, but in my opinion, not by much. (9/10)

This is what I think of the set now. We’ll see how it changes after I’ve had a chance to play with the cards.

If you don’t have From the Vault: Dragons yet, good luck finding one at a reasonable price. I’ve seen them as high as $100, and I haven’t seen a single store with a copy that is priced under $70.  The stores were told that they were only getting two each, and to sell them for as high a price as they could sell them for. Try not to get ripped off, please. It’s worth more than $35, yes, but exactly how much is yet to be seen.

Earlier today, I got an email saying that two copies of FtV:D have shipped to my house! (One’s for Zach, of course!) Now, notice the day: August 28! It comes out tomorrow! (Actually, by the time this post is up, it will probably be past midnight.) Yet it was shipped today. (I got the email at 7:56 PM EDT. That’s 4:56PM on the west coast, so it’s not because of time difference.) Good luck getting one if you haven’t preordered! (This is an honest good luck. I actually mean it. I don’t think it will be easy. )

Now, ready for a surprise? I’m announcing the cards in it now! The cards have been added to Gatherer, so I already know what they are!

We have:

Nice card. Great if you have a dragons deck.

This card has annoyed me so much in Zach’s dragon deck, and now it’s standard-legal again!

9/9 with flying for 16? Actually it’s very good in a 5-color deck, which is exactly where I intend to put it. (a 9/9 with flying for 6.)

If Zach plays this against me, I’m screwed.

This card is a classic. Use this with an infinite mana combo, of course.

This proves that not all dragons are red, multicolored, or artifacts.  It’s a good card for any deck that at least partly uses black.

Recognize the planeswalker in the picture? This card is a nice way to wither away your opponent’s life total. Just be careful to block everything they throw at you.

Use this in a multiplayer game. This is part of a cycle of 5 dragons, but is the only one printed.

Again, this goes straight to my 5-color deck. If your opponent doesn’t have a flying creature, that’s the end of their hand.

This card would still be great even if it was an enchantment. It’s two free damage every turn, plus an extra card every turn! Not to mention that it can block a flier if it has to.

You can’t choose colorless and put a saproling into play for every land you control, but it still is a 6/6 with flying, and you can still get a lot of saprolings. Then, play Rhys the Redeemed, of course!

Dragon Whelp, +3/+2, no downside, only 2 more mana. I think this is too powerful compared to Dragon Whelp. Use it, of course! (and abuse it as much as you want!)

I get the feeling I’m not going to be able to use Rhys the Redeemed with this guy around. In fact, this guy will completely screw over my white deck! (mostly small creatures) If someone (like me) is annoying you with a deck that uses small creatures, or a mimic deck, (like Zach) play this!

I can’t count how many times I’ve been killed by this dragon. Unless I have two fliers, I’m done. All that’s missing is double strike.

Now, most of you probably have noticed one thing by now: that’s only 14 cards, where’s the Shards of Alara preview card, anything like that. If you thought: I’d bet you anything he’s saving that for last, you would be absolutely right! The card is Hellkite Overlord. Remember, this card hasn’t been released except for FtV:D, and will be released in October. I’m going to assume that if you’ve read this far, you don’t mind spoilers, you just want to see the card already, and you don’t want to bother touching the mouse more than you need to, so I’m not going to bother with the “scroll down to see it” that you would find on other websites.  Instead, the card is right here, no problem.

Here it is:

This is going in my 5 color deck. No doubt about it. It’s one of the best dragons I’ve ever seen, and it costs  only 8 mana. Flying, trample, and haste, plus firebreath and regeneration! Here’s a scenario: I have 8 mana, and Zach just attacked me with everything except a 3/3 flyer, and he’s at 5 life. I draw Hellkite Overlord, game over.

One last thing: Which card do you think is the best? The poll closes on October 1, and I’ll post and talk about the results then.

Have fun playing with these cards!