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By: romellos, A. Atasoy
Jan 16 2015 1:00pm
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    Hello everyone. Last week I have gone through the financial value of the first week spoilers, expect the Dragon cards. Today, I will continue with the official second week spoilers to finalize my Fate Reforged evaluations. And as different from the first week, I will also widely evaluate some uncommon and common cards that have the potential to make an impact in Standard & Modern formats.

Now, let's start to our review of the rest cards... 

Mastery of the Unseen  Mobilization

Mastery of the Unseen reminds me a bit Mobilization, where we get a 2/2 creature instead of 1/1 Soldier with Vigilance. This card will be strong in limited formats. But, I have doubts that it will see some serious play in Standard. Currently, I can only imagine Mastery of the Unseen as a SB in Jeskai or Abzan decks against Burn oriented ones as one copy, maybe? Mastery of the Unseen seems as a good engine, but investing four mana to get a 2/2 creature is tempo killer. My price expectation for it is to be around 0.05-0.15 tix range.

Rally the Ancestors  Hammer of Purphoros

Rally the Ancestors would be a powerful card, if it also granted Haste to the reanimated creatures. This card only seems as a defensive spell that will be relevant in limited formats. Still, we got Hammer of Purphoros around to make it work in Standard. Will the result worth of our efforts against the already proved Standard deck archetypes? I guess not, but it will be fun to test it.

Overall, Rally the Ancestors seems as a bulk rare card. But, I'm not disregarding its potential for some combo or new deck type. So, my expectation will be 0.10-0.25 tix.

Mardu Woe-Reaper

I guess it is official now that there will be more Warrior decks around that before. It seems, Wizards' support for the Warrior tribe was not a fluke. And with the Fate Reforged, we get some new recruits to the Warrior barracks.

In that regard, Mardu Woe-Reaper is coming as a new hate Lion that will help the Warrior deck prevail against the Sultai or Abzan Whip decks. I like it.  

Torrent Elemental  Misthollow Griffin

Torrent Elemental is one of the strongest limited cards that will single handedly carry the game. But, its Standard application is another story. There is only Misthollow Griffin as a semi-similar card that we can compare Torrent Elemental. Misthollow Griffin was an underdog during its Standard legal days. And, I also don't expect much from Torrent Elemental. .

The exception to all above comments, I also believe, Torrent Elemental may have a spot in a potential Mono Blue Devotion deck as a high end finisher. Currently, that deck type gets some new cheap toys and it may kindle once again in new meta. If, this ever happens, Torrent Elemental may jump to 3-4 tix ranges. Until then, my general evaluation will a bulk mythic card with 1-1.5 tix price range.

Cloudform  Frost Walker 

Personally, I really like Cloudform and Frost Walker as cheap and aggressive enablers for the Mono Blue Devotion. Maybe Frost Walker would be a niche card there, but it is so aggressive. I will even test it within a Temur deck, 4/1 for two CMC is something that can't be underestimated.

Jeskai Sage  Refocus

Jeskai Sage and Refocus are screaming as combo cards. Watch out for Jeskai Ascendancy in upcoming days...

Neutralizing Blast 

Neutralizing Blast is a MUST card that we all should have for its Modern format applications. In the current Standard environment, there are lots of multicolored spells that Neutralizing Blast can target. But, in the vacuum, Disdainful Stroke is just a better option. And that brings us to the Modern format, where Neutralizing Blast can shine against most of the existing deck types, in a certain meta.

Reality Shift  Curse of the Swine  Pongify

Reality Shift is a real conundrum. Basically, it can exile any creature for a manifest drawback. A very strong effect, yet manifest can be also troublesome with some bad luck.

As a best case scenario, Reality Shift will be the Standard's new Path to Exile. And, as a worst case scenario, it will be another Curse of the Swine, Rapid Hybridization or Pongify. A tricky riddle, isn't it?

Mardu Strike Leader   

Mardu Strike Leader is an amazing addition to the Warrior tribe that can summon 2/1 Warrior token each time, he attacks. These days, we are getting so many creature cards that can consistently produce creature tokens and somehow Mardu Strike Leader seems underwhelming after we played with the broken ones. Overall, Mardu Strike Leader is a good card and my price expectation will be around 0.75-1 tix.

Tasigur, the Golden Fang is indeed quite strong Khan with his Delve synergy at his CMC and activated ability for further Delve cards. He is on the curve for both Abzan or Sultai decks, or even maybe within Golgari or Dimir versions. Currently, Sidisi, Brood Tyrant is one of the dominant sides of the Whip decks. But, things may change after the next rotation. The foundation of the current reanimation deck and Whip of Erebos was one of the deck types that we expect to see this year, even before Khans of Tarkir was ever spoiled.

I believe, Tasigur, the Golden Fang will become better after Theros & M15 rotates out. He has a better body and consistent ability that may easily shine with a right approach. I think, he will start with 1-1.5 tix price range and will settle around 0.5-0.75 during upcoming months.

Ghastly Conscription

I think lots of people are quite underestimating the potential power of Ghastly Conscription. Yes, it won't be a main deck card. Yet, it can easily find a place in SB as one or two copies against the Sultai/ Abzan Whip or Control decks. The seven mana requirement is not very hard to fulfill these days. And just imagine, you targeted Whip opponent's graveyard with Ghastly Conscription during late game. We are talking around min 3-4 creatures to 7-8 creatures. And all will be guaranteed morph creatures. This scenario is not something very hard to achieve in this current meta environment 

Regardless of my thoughts about Ghastly Conscription, it seems its price will be positioned around 0.75 to 1.25 tix ranges.

Alesha, Who Smiles at Death  Goblin Rabblemaster  Seeker of the Way

I will just call her Alesha and will skip all the who jokes.

Regardless of her name trivia, Alesha is a very strong card that will mostly find a place in Mardu, Boros and maybe in Jeskai decks. I don't think this card needs any extra advertisement than just saying, Alesha can resurrect Goblin Rabblemaster or Seeker of the Way.

My price expectation will be 1.5 to 2 tix ranges and maybe even above, based on her popularity.

Mob Rule 

Mob Rule is going to be a quite fun card in a Commander format. Maybe, it can also see some rogue play in Midrange Mardu decks as a SB option against Tokens or Whip decks. My price expectation will be 0.15 to 0.25 tix.

On the other hand, Arcbond will be a pure Commander card with a bulk price, 0.05 tix.

  Collateral Damage 

Basically, Wild Slash is an improved Shock with an extra effect. It seems as a relevant card, especially against the protection factors. But, it's not easy to achieve Ferocious most of the times, except Temur or Mardu decks. And I doubt, they will main deck Wild Slash, instead of already proved removal spells.

Collateral Damage is closest thing we ever get as a Lightning Bolt these days. Sacrificing a creature is a huge drawback, unless you're playing with a Token deck. Even then, I don't think it will worth to sacrifice a 1/1 token just for an extra one damage, when we can play with Wild Slash at same CMC. As virtually, that 1/1 token creature may deal more damage during the course of the game.

  Figure of Destiny

Warden of the First Tree is our new Figure of Destiny for the Abzan or Naya aggro decks. He is on the curve with Fleecemane Lion and/ or Rakshasa Deathdealer. We can play him during turn one and may even activate his first evolution based on the cards at our hand. During late game phases, Warden of the First Tree will still continue to be effective, where we can freely channel our mana for his further evolution steps. And his third ability can be pumped multiple times.

Warden of the First Tree is a strong card without any question marks. And I expect him to start his journey at 14-18 tix price range. After a few months and some meta adjustments, his price may settle down at 5 to 7 tix ranges, unless Warden of the First Tree conquers the lands of Standard.

Wildcall 

Wildcall seems as a Green Sun's Zenith-esque card, where we can pump 2/2 manifest creature with extra X +1/+1 counters. And if we manage to hit an actual creature with the manifestation, it will be double value situation during combat phases. My price expectation for Wildcall will be 0.25 to 0.50 tix.

Sandsteppe Mastodon

Only few words; a bulk card with 0.05 tix price.  

Scroll of the Masters

Personally, I like this card. The CMC and activated ability cost of Scroll of the Masters also seems within reasonable limits. But, to see a competitive play is always a different story. At least, it would be cool to see one copy in Jeskai Burn or Token deck for flavorful matter. I expect Scroll of the Masters to be a bulk card with 0.05 to 0.10 tix price range.

 

And finally, here are the Dragons...

 Wardscale Dragon  Mindscour Dragon  Noxious Dragon

 Lightning Shrieker  Shockmaw Dragon  Destructor Dragon

The Fate Reforged set had become one of the historical set for the Dragons. I guess, we will see even more Dragons around with the third set, Dragons of Tarkir. In this set, we get five allied colored Legendary Dragons, five uncommon Dragons at each color and one common Dragon. The uncommon and common ones will be only relevant in the limited formats.

Dromoka, the Eternal  Ajani, Mentor of Heroes

I don't know you, but I'm very excited for Dromoka, the Eternal. This G/W Dragon is a very powerful card as 5/5 with flying and bolster two and all this package is coming just for a five mana. She is something like Ajani, Mentor of Heroes that can attack.  

I'm not sure about this Standard season, but Dromoka, the Eternal will definitely have a huge chance for the next year as high end to most of the decks with G/W. And there will be no more Elspeth, Sun's Champion around.

I think, Dromoka, the Eternal will wander at 0.75 to 1.25 ranges, most of the times. She is a good card.

Kolaghan, the Storm’s Fury 

Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury is basically a Thundermaw Hellkite with her Dash CMC. Currently, we got Stormbreath Dragon and Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker at five CMC range as better candidates. Maybe, her luck will be better after next rotation. My price expectation is 0.15 to 0.35 tix ranges.

Silumgar, the Drifting Death

Silumgar, the Drifting Death is clearly the best Dragon in this cycle. She will immediately start to see play at U/B Control decks as a hoser to Token and Elspeth, Sun's Champion based strategies. Even Hornet Queen and her deadly hornets will have hard times to stop Silumgar, the Drifting Death with removal backup.

I think, Silumgar, the Drifting Death will start as 1.5-2 tix card and may even see 3-4 tix ranges, based on her popularity.

Ojutai, Soul of Winter  Atarka, World Render

Ojutai, Soul of Winter and Atarka, World Render are good like their sisters. But, their seven CMC will be a huge barrier to make them relevant for the Standard format. Personally, I don't expect much from these two Dragons. And, my price expectation for them will be as; Ojutai, Soul of Winter around 0.25 to 0.50 tix and Atarka, World Render at 0.10 to 0.25 tix ranges.

Crucible of the Spirit Dragon  Fungal Reaches  Sliver Hive

Crucible of the Spirit Dragon is a huge disappointment as a tribal land for the Dragons. Basically, this is a storage land just for the Dragons spells and activated abilities. It is so obvious that Crucible of the Spirit Dragon won't see any serious Standard play. And in Commander format, the original Time Spiral storage lands are better than it. At least, I would be happy to receive a Dragon tribal land as something like Sliver Hive or Primal Beyond. Crucible of the Spirit Dragon is fated to be a bulk card with 0.05 tix price tag.

See you next time in the "Days of Standard" series...