Now in the home stretch of reviewing Avacyn Restored, I get to continue my trend of reviewing colors I love. While I’m a red mage at heart, I love the options Green provides. Between color fixing, mana acceleration and some of the best non-creature removal options out there, you can’t go wrong with it.

Casual and Commander Review: Avacyn Restored
White | Blue | Black | Red | Green | Gold, Artifacts & Lands

Abundant Growth

I really like how Wizards is actively making auras that aren’t automatic card disadvantage for simply existing. The draw a card aspect of this is a nice touch, but the simple fact is this just is a mana fixer, not mana acceleration. If you’re playing some weird five color monstrosity (which I’ve been known to do) that isn’t domain, it’s a fine way to make sure you don’t get screwed. Plus it doesn’t mention other mana symbols specifically, so it works fine in any Commander deck with green.

Blessings of Nature

This can quickly become a cornerstone of an odd counter based deck. Being able to reload a Triskelion or augment any modular creature makes this a decent spell. The miracle cost is very nice and could theoretically give you a 6/6 on turn 2 if you’re playing Isamaru or something similar. The sorcery speed holds it back from being really excellent though. Read the rest of this entry »

I know there is something wrong with me when it comes to Commander, because I’m one of those weird people who still play monored after all these years of people saying red can’t do enough. But looking over at the new cards offered in Avacyn Restored, I can’t be happier to find new spells and creatures to cram into my Jaya Ballard deck.

Casual and Commander Review: Avacyn Restored
White | Blue | Black | Red | Green | Gold, Artifacts & Lands

Aggravate

Okay, this isn’t the best start. Paying 5 mana for Simoon isn’t exactly a bargain, but the combination of Simoon and essentially Siren’s Call makes me interested in how this can play out. Forcing a player to attack can be just what it needed to either finish them off by removing their defenses or finish off another player who happens to be lacking in defense. The multiple uses make me interested in how it can be used politically.

Archwing Dragon

Kaalia will love this. So will Norin the Wary’s Pandemonium deck. But where I really see this card shining is part of complex tricks where you trade creatures. Archwing Dragon and Confusion in the Ranks is bound to be a losing proposition for almost everyone else. And then that stops working, you still have a 4/4 hasty flier that is immune to sorcery speed removal! Read the rest of this entry »

Wizards has had a current role of not making the storyline so good versus evil which translates to white versus black. Ever since the demise of the Ineffable at the end of Apocalypse, the villains have been spread across the color pie. But with Avacyn Restored, it is pretty clear that the good guys are white and the bad guys are black, which sadly means black got the short straw.

Casual and Commander Review: Avacyn Restored
White | Blue | Black | Red | Green | Gold, Artifacts & Lands

Appetite for Brains

Targeted discard of any type in multiplayer is bound to be a bad idea. Much like counterspells, the return just isn’t there so you’re left targeting a single player in hopes of making the right call. I love this card for dueling, but in multiplayer, Syphon Mind is still the gold standard.

Barter in Blood

While this is a reprint, it’s a fantastic one. Innocent Blood is amazing and doubling it just makes it even better – usually. With so many creatures persisting or undying or being indestructible, having a way to get rid of a lot of them in one fell swoop is a great play. If you aren’t playing this already, seriously think about it! Read the rest of this entry »

With white behind us in the Avacyn Restored Casual and Commander review, it is on to possibly my least favorite color in Magic – blue! Nothing stalls a game like a blue mage ruining everything (but I shouldn’t talk, I’m pretty sure half my decks run blue). But if you’re looking for some unique spells to change up the dynamic at your table, Avacyn Restored will definitely get your gears moving.

Casual and Commander Review: Avacyn Restored
White | Blue | Black | Red | Green | Gold, Artifacts & Lands

Alchemist’s Apprentice

At first glance, this card isn’t that exciting. My initial gut reaction is to compare it to Hapless Researcher, but they fulfill completely different roles. Alchemist’s Apprentice essentially cycles for 1U, and if you can get creative with a recursion combo, he can fill a similar role as Elvish Visionary.

Amass the Components

A new take on Sift, this sorcery speed card draw is just a bigger See Beyond and a must consider in any kind of combo deck that wants certain spells out of your hand. I really like that it just puts the card on the bottom of your library, which generally keeps it safe from milling. Not a ground breaking spell, but some decks will make great use of this. Read the rest of this entry »

With Avacyn Restored just being released, it seems oddly unanimous that this set is all about casual and Commander players. Much like Rise of the Eldrazi, Avacyn Restored throws the classic block format out of whack, so if you want to learn all about awesome drafting strategies, I would advise going elsewhere. If you want to know which gems in this set will drive your opponents mad in a game of Star or be just the cog you’re looking for in Commander, we’ve got you covered.

Once again, I will be doing this on a card by card basis, and that means I’ll do my best to say something about every card.

Casual and Commander Review: Avacyn Restored
White | Blue | Black | Red | Green | Gold, Artifacts & Lands

Angel of Glory’s Rise

The other side of the Zombie Apocalypse coin, Angel of Glory’s Rise is the first gem that will often result in me saying “this goes in Kaalia.” Sadly, none of the really fun stuff like Xenograft or Conspiracy works with her which is a real shame – unless you name Human.

A one-sided Patriarch’s Bidding is deadly (or if you want to get really mean, check out Artificial Evolution to change either part to something else). At the end of the day though, she’s a 4/6 flier for seven, which isn’t the most exciting creature in the game.

Angel of Jubilation

Mana cost aside, this angel is the whole package! She evades, she pumps the rest of your team and she hoses some deck strategies. If Survival of the Fittest/Recurring Nightmare decks are an issue, she stops those. And Birthing Pod. And all Phyrexian mana.

But she’s another Glorious Anthem for your commander decks! Sure, Kaalia and she might not get along perfectly, but that’s not the Angel of Jubilation’s problem. Read the rest of this entry »

It seems like the last few weeks have been one giant blur, but I mostly blame PAX. After three days of non-stop game playing – panel attending madness, I am only just now able to play some of the games I picked up. One small expansion I grabbed, I didn’t even know existed but knew I needed to own it: Zombie Dice 2!

It’s a blockbuster!

Suggested ages: 10 and up
Number of players: 2 or more
Playing time: 10 to 20 minutes
Contents: 3 dice, rules insert (requires Zombie Dice to play)
Retail price: $7.95 available at Amazon.com or Warehouse 23

I got the set and tossed it into my bag of holding. It wasn’t until PAX East was over that I finally got the chance to take it out and play a round. Or I would have, but upon opening my Zombie Dice, I discovered three were missing! Being down two green and a yellow meant playing the game on “hard mode.” Thankfully, the fantastic people at Steve Jackson Games lent a hand (or was it a brain?) and sent me some replacements in a matter of days! So with the right amount of dice, Rachael and I were finally able to play. Read the rest of this entry »

The latest Magic: the Gathering Duel Decks set just got released and I managed to track down a copy with minimal ease for once. Telling the story of Scars of Mirrodin, Koth versus Venser is an interesting set of decks. If you’re looking for a deck with the absurd value of Elspeth vs. Tezzeret, you aren’t going to find it here. But for casual players looking for some well balanced decks ready to be tweaked and a handful of Commander cards, this is a great starting point.

Two Planeswalkers, one compassionate, one calculating, gave their all to save a world. The Planeswalker Koth, from the metal plane of Mirrodin, sought help when his world darkened. He traveled to Dominaria to enlist allies and met fellow Planeswalker Venser.

When Venser recognized the threat to Koth’s world was none other than Phyrexia, he knew that the only hope for Mirrodin was to find its maker. But that would mean forsaking its people in the meantime. Koth would rather die than turn his back on his fellow Mirrans. But Venser knew they would all die anyway if they failed to reach Karn, his former mentor and creator of Mirrodin.

Two Planeswalkers, one goal, very different methods. Recreate the struggle to lead the way to Mirrodin’s salvation. Read the rest of this entry »

In Brief

The ever-increasing popularity of George R. R. Martin‘s A Song of Ice and Fire book series finds its home in the sturdy and functional Green Ronin RPG of the same name. It uses its own classless system and has a steady emphasis on noble houses and the sweep of history. Green Ronin is a solid company with a good reputation and it’s simple and elegant Song of Ice and Fire system is definitely something to try out, especially if you want to make a big event of Sunday’s Season 2 launch with your gaming group.

Genre: Heroic fantasy-realism.
System: d6-based original system.
Potential Library: Small (3 sourcebooks and 2 adventures).
Publisher: Green Ronin Publishing.

The lands of Westeros sit upon a brink. Robert Baratheon sits the Iron Throne, having taken it in a rebellion against the Mad King, Arys Targaryen. The seven kingdoms are hardly at peace, however, when the Ironmen of the western islands are still fuming over their recent rebellion, the Dornish in the south still smart over the death of their beloved princess in Robert’s rebellion, the Riverlands lords and the Westermen constantly squabble, and the North and the Eyrie remove themselves as much as possible from supporting the king. Everyone wants the Iron Throne and they will need to go through King Robert to do so. But in the Game of Thrones you either win or you die.

Read the rest of this entry »

OK, so this game is really called the Game of Thrones Board Game, but ever since a friend (shout out to the Cherv!) coined the phrase “Game of Game of Thrones” it’s stuck more than the original. And yes, since I know you’re wondering, there is a Game of Game of Thrones Throne (or, alternatively the Throne of the Game of Game of Thrones). I got this wonderful baby for Christmas and I’ve been talking friends into playing it since I can’t get enough. With the second season of the Game of Thrones series on HBO starting on Sunday, I thought I owed it to our readers to get a review together so you can get excited in earnest. And a blogger always pays his debts.

Read the rest of this entry »