I Recall this Card!

Modern Masters is almost here. It’s preview time.  Can we preview something never before seen? Of course not – Modern Masters is entirely reprints. But some reprints are better than others. This could be great, or this could be another copy of Pacifism with recycled art and maybe a new frame.  Here at PureMTGO.com, we do get some marginal cards to preview, but we also get solid cards like Disdainful Stroke.  Today's card in in the latter category.

 

Here’s my checklist for whether a reprint is awesome. Let’s see – and hear - how we do. I hired Zurgo Bellstriker to whack his bell for each hit on the checklist.   Ready?  Here we go: 

 

·         Is it regularly played in a competitive format?  BONG!

o   Is it widely played?   BONG!

o   Is it likely to see play going forward?   BONG!

o   Is it a format staple?   BONG!

·         Does it retail for a decent price?      BONG! 

·         Is it worth reprinting – meaning not too many copies in the system?   BONG!

·         Does the reprint offer something new, like: 

o   First time in the new card frame?   Bink.

o   New art?    -- crickets --

o   First time in black border?  --more crickets--

·         Is this an instant for 1U, like our last couple really good preview cards?     BONG!

·         Can I use a list of questions to make people scroll down the page?  

 

Hiring Zurgo may have been a mistake – my ears are still ringing.  Still, out preview card scores on seven of ten; scoring big on some and getting a tap on the ninth. Pretty good.

 

Here’s our card: 

 

 

 

This card was $30 yesterday. It may drop a bit once this article goes up, but the card is a sideboard staple in Vintage and sees play whenever Affinity gets obnoxious in Legacy and Modern. It also plays a part in storm decks, or even in strange combo decks like Puresteel Paladin. It is a solid card that will see play for a long time. 

 

Our preview card does not have new art, and while the card frame is only very slightly different from that printed before (it adds the hologram oval), I really cannot complain. This is a $30 tournament staple being reprinted for the first time since Tenth Edition.  Sweet! 

 

My only regret is that I didn’t sell off my 10E copies beforehand, but I was taking no chances with my playset until I was sure it would be reprinted. The card is too good to be without.

 

PRJ