I can now understand that opening Magic: the Gathering booster boxes are between a hit and a miss. We opened mostly mediocre cards from the set on the first video, though it was somewhat expected because of their current value in the trading market. Even Thalia and the enemy pair lands ain’t enough on the count. Our Mythics got back some ROI as we got Olivia Crimson Bride, Henrika, and Wedding Ring.

In part two of the set booster box opening, I did hope I could open one more Mythic that is worth the value and get to sell it while there is still the hype.

Here below is the second part of my opening video of the Innistrad: Crimson Vow Set booster box.

We all know that the current core colors for the Magic: the Gathering control deck in the Standard format is Blue and Black, with the former catering counterspells and the latter on spot and mass removals. Today’s Standard deck feature has empowered the return of an old control menace in the triad of colors: Esper. Check out the decklist below.

Maindeck
25 LANDS (27)
4 Brightclimb Pathway
4 Clearwater Pathway
1 Deserted Beach
2 Field of Ruin
2 Hall of Storm Giants
2 Island
1 Plains
3 Shattered Sanctum
4 Shipwreck Marsh
2 Swamp

10 CREATURES
2 Edgar, Charmed Groom
4 Graveyard Trespasser
2 Henrika Domnathi
2 Iymrith, Desert Doom

19 INSTANTS and SORC.
4 Infernal Grasp
2 Jwari Disruption
3 Memory Deluge
3 Path of Peril
3 Siphon Insight
1 Soul Shatter
1 Test of Talents
2 Wash Away

6 OTHER SPELLS
3 Sorin the Mirthless
3 The Meathook Massacre

Sideboard
2 Curse of Silence
2 Fracture
3 Go Blank
2 Malevolent Hermit
1 Path of Peril
1 Soul Shatter
2 Test of Talents
2 Vanishing Verse

Dimir still fills most of the list whereas the access to White opens to two copies of Edgar, Charmed Groom is sort of a token producer when flipped to Edgar Markov’s Coffin to be able to put pressure while preventing opponents to develop their board.

The sideboard card choices also adjusted to the color options to maximize the cards to use in certain situations. For instance, Fracture and Vanishing Verse are good card upgrades to deal with the variance of removals to use.

Can we expect Esper Control to be one of the top-tier decks in the metagame in the coming weeks? We shall see.

The continuous development of the decks in the current Magic: the Gathering Standard format is very satisfying. Browsing through several MTG Youtubers’ deck tech runs on Magic Arena, it is certain that there is a wide range of deck strategies that can be worked with, even with the limited sets available.

Today’s deck feature spotlights on an unusual build for this color combination. What we would expect of the Selesnya archetype as based on the previous decklists, is the tokens route with Chariots and Wrenn for the late game plan strategy. This list below, however, goes with the life gain route. Each life gain triggers get its creatures +1/+1 counters. Kind of messy to deal with right?

Selesnya Lifegain Aggro by Luis Alberto. 2nd place, Chill Out 7 @ MTG: La Gedencia.

Maindeck
23 LANDS (24)
4 Branchloft Pathway
1 Cave of the Frost Dragon
5 Forest
1 Lair of the Hydra
3 Overgrown Farmland
9 Plains

27 CREATURES
4 Luminarch Aspirant
4 Lunarch Veteran
3 Ollenbock Escort
4 Prosperous Innkeeper
4 Righteous Valkyrie
1 Skyclave Cleric
3 Trelasarra, Moon Dancer
2 Valkyrie Harbinger
2 Voice of the Blessed

3 INSTANTS and SORC.
1 Snakeskin Veil
2 Valorous Stance

7 OTHER SPELLS
3 Cleric Class
3 Ranger Class
1 Sigarda’s Splendor

SIDEBOARD
1 Dawnbringer Cleric
1 Elite Spellbinder
1 Fateful Absence
1 Inscription of Abundance
1 Maul of the Skyclaves
1 Paladin Class
1 Portable Hole
2 Reidane, God of the Worthy
2 Skyclave Apparition
1 Snakeskin Veil
3 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben

With the dominance of Mono-Green and White decks in the current Magic: the Gathering Standard format, it seems that the other well-known Mono-Red Aggro deck has decreased in popularity. The deck still maintains its consistency, but then the metagame might not be in favor of them. They are still the lesser deck choice for some local tournaments.

Today, we check on the current decklist with the addition of Innistrad: Crimson Vow in their deckbuild. Check out the full deck below.

Maindeck
18 LANDS (25)
4 Den of the Bugbear
10 Mountain
4 Riverglide Pathway

24 CREATURES
2 Bloodthirsty Adversary
4 Falkenrath Pit Fighter
4 Hall Monitor
2 Kessig Wolfrider
4 Moonveil Regent
4 Reckless Stormseeker
4 Voltaic Visionary

16 INSTANTS and SORC.
1 Alchemist’s Gambit
4 Dragon’s Fire
4 Play with Fire
4 Shatterskull Smashing
3 Spikefield Hazard

2 OTHER SPELLS
2 Chandra, Dressed to Kill

SIDEBOARD
1 Abrade
1 Alchemist’s Gambit
4 Burning Hands
2 Chandra, Dressed to Kill
2 Cinderclasm
3 Goldspan Dragon
2 Roiling Vortex

Reference: https://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=33328&d=454343&f=ST

Today’s Magic: The Gathering Innistrad Crimson Vow Standard deck feature looks to check on the updated build of the Boros Aggro deck archetype. While the Mono-White version goes with the consistency in the mana-base, having access to Red is a minimal change with the lot of dual lands in the format for mana-fixing.

The deck maintains the strategy of just swarming with cheap casting creatures on their board and overwhelming opponents before reaching their sweep spells. Clarion Spirit and Usher of the Fallen generate free tokens pretty well, so you would commit less on your other creature spells and make them as the backup batch in case. Reckless Stormseeker grants haste which is relevant in dealing damage on idle turns where you cast your non-haste critters.

The late-game card draw of choice is still Showdown of the Skalds and also gives free +1/+1 to your dudes whenever you cast a spell in the next turns. Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, the new addtion to the White aggro lineup, is considered as a sideboard on this deck build. Maybe it is given that aggro was the dominant deck in the tournament.

The full decklist below was played by Steffen Berning in the Crokeyz Crimson Vow Tournament @ Team Liquid last Nov. 13th. He finished in the Top 16 of the event, out of 356 players.

Reference: https://www.mtgtop8.com/event?e=33321&d=454309

I have thought of this deck for a while ever since the Innistrad: Crimson Vow card previews started, and it confirmed my thoughts last time that Vampires will get full support in this new Magic: the Gathering set. We had initiated a previous decklist with the Rakdos colors, and the upgrade is adding a third color on White. The main reason is the printing of Edgar, Charmed Groom, and other support Vampires.

I have created a deck tech video for the Mardu Vampires deck last night, which I uploaded on my Youtube channel Deathmarked TV. Explained in the video are the details on the creature and spell choices as well as the sideboard plan for the current and expected metagame.

Check it out below.

Here is a quick rundown of the main decklist:

3 Abrade
4 Blightstep Pathway // Searstep Pathway
1 Bloodvial Purveyor
2 Brightclimb Pathway // Grimclimb Pathway
2 Cemetery Gatekeeper
1 Drana, the Last Bloodchief
4 Edgar, Charmed Groom // Edgar Markov’s Coffin
4 Falkenrath Pit Fighter
2 Furycalm Snarl
2 Mountain
2 Needleverge Pathway // Pillarverge Pathway
2 Nullpriest of Oblivion
1 Plains
2 Shattered Sanctum
4 Shineshadow Snarl
2 Sorin the Mirthless
2 Swamp
4 Vampire Socialite
2 Vampires’ Vengeance
4 Vanishing Verse
4 Voldaren Epicure
3 Voldaren Estate
2 Welcoming Vampire
1 Zagras, Thief of Heartbeats

I have mentioned in a previous blog post that the Dimir (U/B) Zombies deck will have a fully functional deck once the full Magic: the Gathering Innistrad: Crimson Vow card spoilers are out and that people will know what cards to utilize and fill the decklist. This is then be followed by a trial playtest in the actual face-to-face or via Magic Arena to see its actual gameplay and also check if the added cards are relevant or not.

At the moment, I did not have the time and resources to do an Arena playtest of this deck archetype, and so, I will get the reference from a few of my followed MTG Arena streamers. Today’s decklist and gameplay are courtesy of LegenVD Youtube channel. His version of the deck utilizes the Exploit mechanic combined with the shenanigans of Zombie tokens produced.

See his full decklist and gameplay below.

As of this posting, I am already forming the idea of a Mardu (Red-Black-White) version of the Vampires Tribal deck based on the current cards spoiled from the upcoming Innistrad Crimson Vow set. The Vampire Elder Edgar Markov has revealed earlier today in the flip card Edgar, Charmed Groom / Edgar Markov’s Coffin, and the colors were Orzhov.

That said, today’s card feature also leans on White as the 3rd color to consider in the deck build.

Please welcome the Welcoming Vampire:

Vampires’ power is usually two, and they just get the anthem effects from Enchantments or creatures such as Hero of Bladehold. These creatures get the benefit of one card draws every turn for at least one creature that enters the battlefield on your turn. You can cast the new Sorin after this one and get the value, or just do cast your removal bait creature for opponents to deal with, then cast this one after a resolved Sorin in play to cantrip to your threats.

Other token generator sources can also mean that Welcoming Vampire will not only be utilized in a Vampires deck. It will be also possible for decks like Green-White Midrange where it has Felidar Retreat as a token creature generator. Also, a straightforward Mono White Tokens deck is a likely viable option.

That will be a wrap for now. Stay tuned as I will be having an initial Mardu Vampires decklist for Standard by this week or the next depending on the new card spoilers posted.

Thanks for reading and until the next blog post.

The Magic: the Gathering‘s upcoming set, Innistrad: Crimson Vow, will be released on November 19, and as of now, I had no idea yet if the stocks and products on Innistrad: Midnight Hunt has arrived at our local game store. I was excited to do some booster openings but just resorted for now on the deck building and Standard deck updates on my blog posts. Anyway, more card previews for today, and we start with the following batch. A lot of card strategies come into mind so let us put them into writing.

Let us start with this newest Izzet lackey, the Wandering Mind.

Wandering Mind
1UR
Creature – Horror
Flying
When Wandering Mind enters the battlefield, look at the top six cards of your library. You may reveal a noncreature, nonland card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in random order.
2/1

More Izzet support cards are being previewed and one of them is this flying Horror creature. Leaned towards the Spells deck build, It can dig up your relevant spells such as the Epiphany and just plainly do a beatdown in the air or trade for random X/2s.

Glorious Sunrise
3GG
Enchantment
At the beginning of combat on your turn, choose one –
*Creature you control get +1/+1 and gain trample until end of turn.
*Target land gains “T: Add GGG” until the end of turn.
*Draw a card if you control a creature with power 3 or greater.
*You gain 3 life.

Mono-Green gets another utility Enchantment card which can be grabbed by Storm the Festival. What is more advantageous on this is not only the pump effect but also having options to draw a card or gain life depending on the situation needed. Facing the control matchup but running out of creature threats? Sure, draw a card. Lethal damage on your next turn? Gain 3 life.

Bloodvial Purveyor
2BB
Creature – Vampire
Flying, trample

Whenever an opponent casts a spell, that player creates a Blood token.
Whenever Bloodvial Purveyor attacks, it gets +1/+0 for each Blood token defending player controls.

Probably today’s most hype Vampire in the set, the power/toughness, and ability compared to its mana cost just basically zero drawbacks. It can fend off an opponent’s Goldspan Dragons and can survive a 5-damage spot removal. The attack trigger ability was announced by MaRo on a tweet that it will errata to “until end of turn.” This will probably fit on the end curve of the Vampires, or just plainly add it to a Mono-Black Aggro deck.

Headless Rider
2B
Creature – Zombie
Whenever Headless Rider or another nontoken Zombie you control dies, create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token.

I have mentioned in a previous blog post of Zombies Tribal deck in Standard getting support in the new set, and this is one of the recent ones. A Rotlung Reanimator for Zombies, basically keeps the aggro hits of the deck going replacing your nontoken Zombies killed in combat or spot removal to a 2/2 Zombie creature token.

Markov Purifier
1WB
Creature – Vampire Cleric
Lifelink
At the beginning of your end step, if you gained life this turn, you may pay 2. If you do, draw a card.

Black White Clerics already exists in the Standard metagame and here comes a new card utility for it to use. I have noticed in several Arena gameplay matches streamed by Professional streamers that the Clerics deck has several instance that it ran out of gas, and Markov Purifier is an added card draw support with the lifegain as its main strategy.

Old Rutstein
1BG

Legendary Creature – Human Peasant
When Old Rutstein enters the battlefield or at the beginning of your upkeep, mill a card. If a land card is milled this way, create a Treasure token. If a creature card is milled this way, create a 1/1 green Insect creature token. If a noncreature, nonland card is milled this way, create a Blood token.

Gaining extra value from the top card of your library is literally making its ability ideal for any Golgari-based midrange deck build. Given that it is also a deck blocker early on, entering the battlefield already gets you the first value and it gets better if your deck build gains benefit on the cards on graveyards.

Falkenrath Forebear
2B

Flying
Creature-Vampire
Falkenrath Forebear can’t block.
Whenever Falkenrath Forebear deals combat damage to a player, create a Blood token.
B, Sacrifice two Blood tokens: Return Falkenrath Forebear from your graveyard to the battlefield.

Another possible creature curve inclusion for the Vampires Tribal deck, going for three in the air continues the aggro if the opponents established a ground blocker. The bonus Blood tokens generated can be used later on for getting back to the battefield in an “undying” fashion. The Black’s Phoenix effect. That is if I get enough gas that I would not need to sacrifice these Blood tokens for card draws.

That is a wrap for now for the Innistrad: Crimson Vow card prevews. Stay tuned for Batch No. 2 as the new cards a being revealed in various sites in the interwebs.

Until the next blog post and thanks for reading.

For today’s Magic: the Gathering news on the upcoming set Innistrad: Crimson Vow, Maro, or Mark Rosewater posted on his Tumblr account and on a Tweet earlier about a list of teasers on what cards will contain the previews. As we all love to ponder and guess on partial information, he posted the teasers ala-Duelist style.

Here they are below.

• The following counter types: bloodline, croak, invitation, judgment, omen, slime, and suspect

• A new mechanic that removes something never removed before

• A popular and powerful creature card from an Innistrad set gets reprinted

• A new artifact token, along the lines of Clue, Food and Treasure

• A card that makes red Dragon Illusion creature tokens with flying and haste

• A mechanic that first appeared as a faction mechanic returns

• A new legendary creature card that combines two characters that previously each had their own legendary creature card

• A new card that lets you cast certain cards off the top of your library

• A new mechanic which is a mirror of an already existing mechanic

• A legendary character returns, but now as a Vampire

Next, here are some rules text that will be showing up on cards:

• “Choose a number between 0 and 13.”

• “with mana value less than or equal to the number of Vampires you control”

• “If it’s red, you may cast it this turn.”

• “Zombies you control have flying.”

• “At the beginning of your upkeep, any opponent may sacrifice a creature.”

• “Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus, or Serpent”

• “twice that many of those tokens are created instead.”

• “Whenever a Human you control dies,”

• “equal to the number of permanents you control that are Spirits and/or enchantments.”

• “Then if you control exactly thirteen permanents,”

Finally, here are some creature type lines in the set:

• Creature – Human Ranger Werewolf

• Creature – Angel Soldier

• Creature – Zombie Scorpion

• Creature – Serpent Egg

• Creature – Eye Horror

• Legendary Creature – Human Peasant

• Legendary Creature – Spirit Warlock

• Legendary Creature – Slug Horror

• Legendary Creature – Kraken Horror

• Legendary Creature – Vampire Noble (two new ones)

The official Innistrad: Crimson Vow previews start on October 28th. You can check here the list of various websites as to where to find these previews.

While I had yet to acquire an actual Innistrad: Midnight Hunt product from my local game store here in Iloilo City, Wizards Magic: the Gathering official Twitter page announced the start date of the previews of the next set Innistrad: Crimson Vow. This will happen on October 28, 2021.

I would expect more Vampire and Werewolves themes in this set as the plot revealed the failure of the Harvesttive Festival, and so with the new cards that will support these tribal decks. Gruul Werewolves will either become a staple Aggro deck or lean towards a Midrange-ish build with late-game bombs such as Wrenn and Seven. More so, I am hoping for the return of my Rakdos Vampires favorite deck archetype with the current Standard version.

As for the local Prerelease, I do hope the next set will have it face2face and on schedule, with expected health protocols observed. I do long for a social interactive Magic games environment.

Check out the announcement poster below.