Soul and Titans... And more quick picks!

Titan Cycle + Wurmcoil Engine

Soul Cycle

The Titan cycle (+ Wurmcoil) was awesome! They have very definitive roles when they were in standard, bringing out strategies like Primeval-Wolf-run, Solar Flare, Zombies, Pod, etc. Some (Sun Titan. Primeval Titan (Banned in EDH, saw fringe play in modern)) were even highly sought after post-rotation. For the case of Wurmcoil Engine, well... needless to say it's an extremely powerful card in both limited and in constructed. 

Now the thing is this, Titan cycle saw the titans giving unique effects with ETB trigger and when it attacks. Soul cycle on the other hand, gives effects via mana cost. Very high mana cost. Now with that difference, the Titan cycles were more effective with the effect : cost ratio as they trigger when, as said, ETB and when attacking. We now have to see the abilities and whether or not if it is worth paying that 5-6 mana to activate the ability. On Starcitygames.com preorder site, the price tag of these souls are ranked as followed:

1. Soul of New Phyrexia ($24.99)
2. Soul of Theros ($9.99)
3. Soul of Shandalar ($5.99)
4. Soul of Innistrad ($4.99)
5. Soul of Zendikar ($4.99)
6. Soul of Ravnica ($2.99)

Now it's pretty obvious by looking at the abilities and casting cost, which is the most overpowered from the lot, and the price do show. We know Souls of New Phyrexia and Theros are pretty awesome just by looking at its ability, with no further explanation needed; Shandalar looks neat, not only with its 3/3 damage to player/creature, but its first strike ability, making it harder to kill in combat damage.

Innistrad and Zendikar... They're quite alright I think... but really looks underwhelming honestly. To recur 3 creature cards back to hand, it seems fine but would actually be better if I can recur back cards instead of just creatures. But, hey, 5 mana to return 3 cards, ain't too shabby actually. I'm torn between praising Soul of Zendikar or just downright hating it. 5 mana to produce a 3/3 beast is... I mean... I don't know, 4/4 Rhino or something? or probably 3 1/1 saprolings? More bodies to chump the opponents? I just find that a 3/3 beast for the 5 mana seemed a little.. Average. Too average. Sure, that 3/3 beast can come down at instant speed, able to take down quite a number of creatures but I feel that if it was a 4/4 Rhino/Wurm or something along like 4 1/1 saprolings or 2 2/2 creatures you know, giving more bodies to block. In short, I feel that a 4/4 or combination of up to 4-power would be a better option. Anything more is simply overpowered.

Soul of Ravnica, really? 1 card for each colour, he is heavy on blue, which that already makes him at a disadvantage with that high mana to draw card (yea instant speed, but hey, Opportunity is may be looking much better than this!) and devoting or splashing it doesn't really make good sense paying that kind of mana. Sure, with the next set rumoured to feature tri-colors like Shards of Alara, I'm not too sure about how his ability seem to be able to fit good in mono or dual coloured decks that are focused as of now before rotation. It's okay considering it's a 6/6 evasion with a good ability, don't get me wrong, but expecting to pay out a high mana cost just to draw may require some thinking on how to use the card. For one, I would expect it to be draft bomb, being able to refill my hand with at least 1-2 cards, and that for the same reason in draw/go strategies to maintain tempo. I'll keep in view for this. I'm not saying it's bad, but I'll reckon it's going to be the underdog among the 6 titans. 

More Quick Picks!

Is this Jace good? I'll let you think about it why I say yes. His +1 ability let's you scry 2. The throw into graveyard thing... well we have Snapcaster Mage isn't it? Or how about Reanimator / Dredge strategies? -3 for Jace, the Living Guildpact is basically a trolling Karn's -3 ability. Instead of exile, I'll bounce. You cast again, Bounce again later! -8 is like a Time Reversal ability. It's quite neat but... it won't see much of its effect in constructed play. However, with the same mana casting cost as Jace, AOT, I'm thinking that some form of control variants pre-existing with Jace, AOT will reform itself to suit it with this guy. Is he modern viable? Probably, but a lot of proving his worth will be needed. As of now, not really a control-based planeswalker is suited to fit into the role of any control decks; they kind of out-grew from them.

Orni's back! Take a look at the flavour text and think along of the lines in M15 being an overhaul for Magic: the Gathering. Well played Wizards...

Well we like Pithing Needle... So let's bring back this guy cos we miss it so much once RTR rotates out? Plus side is that this guy is a needle with a body. So he can actually help attack and block, but downside is that it's a creature; it'll be easier to get rid of this guy. Then again it is good and bad, depends on your strategies (*cough* Pod! *Cough*).

I know people who will be overjoyed to see this reprint. I personally will be getting a copy to set into my EDH as a mana fixer. It's too good to pass. Especially when I'm playing 3 colours.

I hate this card.... Not because it sucks or anything. It's going to be a card will be used as a sideboard card in Modern. This stops all ETB triggers. My deck works on ETB triggers. Great... Just when Torpor Orb isn't enough....

This card is a make or break thing... Terrible things can be done with this card, yet it feels like it will require some support to make it work. Any draw is good actually but if you have to sacrifice a creature then draw, the card won't work at its best by itself.

Any love for Harmonic Sliver? Presenting the Elf Version!

This beauty is really screaming to be played with! It's a freaking Doubling Season; Planeswalker's Edition! I'm not sure how much will be played in constructed, if somehow a planeswalker-based deck is made, we'll see this beauty rock out some unfair strategies! Also, EDH decks can look at this deck to abuse their planeswalkers. It's an unfair world out there... But it's even more cool to play unfair from your end. Not convinced? The card ability reads one of its loyalty abilities once FOR EACH PLANESWALKER! You know what are we getting at?! A direct fire off by each walker's ulti-ability, at no cost! Think about how much havoc you create from this. Think about the devastation and madness you'll see on the ground. It's just plain unfair. Yet beautiful.(3/7/14 Edit): I had a discussion with my friends earlier regarding the text ruling of the card. Apparently I may be wrong in that my initial interpretation; it should have been as followed: I am able to activate the loyalty ability twice. Once with the planeswalker itself, another by this card. Yes, it's still unfair actually when we think about it, and the doubling season reference does still apply if you think about it with + abilities (vice-versa for - abilities). In all, it is still a sick card. Having able to activate your planeswalker's ability once can change the game. Being able to activate twice, now that's going to be some unfair stuff to be brewing...

This version of Garruk is looking extremely badass... The artwork really brings out the beast, hunter and the wild-look he have all these while. His abilities are great! two +1 abilities which are pretty relevant and actually really nice to have; considering a planeswalker destroying another and his trademark beast spawn, with deathtouch now included! His -3 ability serves life a Server Soul and oh wait.... nicely done wizards... nicely done... His last ability is great a finish..... wait what? Wait.... whaaaaat?! I just got mind-screwed by this! Not to myself, but to another player?! Why?! It's great for EDH politics, that you help to kill off players posing a threat to you, but... Really? That help will come back to haunt you..