Tag Archives: Eldrazi

Kozilek, the Great Distortion and the 6th color of Magic

Kozilek, the Great Distortion
Kozilek, the Great Distortion is the first card we’ve seen using “Wastes” mana.

“I told you, if they ever unveiled the sixth color I’d be on the first flight to New York to talk about it in person. You can’t do this kind of thing over the phone.”
-Patrick Chapin

For those of your who have been living under a rock, a new type of basic land has hit the rumor mill: Wastes.

Wastes

Most of this podcast is our heroes riffing and speculating on the interplay between these two cards — and the cards that will likely come with them.

For its part, Kozilek, the Great Distortion has two heretofore unseen mana symbols in the top-right. Patrick and Michael assume that specific mana from lands like Wastes is required to summon Kozilek.

Once on the battlefield, Kozilek, the Great Distortion allows you to “Disrupting Shoal” anything, provided you have the right casting cost of a card to discard. That is a powerful ability (to, among other things, protect Kozilek from removal)… And remember, Kozilek just drew you up to seven cards! Va va va voom!

In addition, Patrick and Michael talk about top Standard decks from the recent Grand Prix.

… And yes, Patrick really did fly to New York.

Check it all out in “Kozilek, the Great Distortion and the 6th color of Magic”

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Catacomb Sifter is the Sleeper!

Catacomb Sifter
Why does Patrick think Catacomb Sifter will be the sleeper card of Battle for Zendikar?

  • Rate: Catacomb Sifter compares favorably to Hordeling Outburst (a Standard quality Staple) on multiple dimensions. It is three power and four toughness (an upgrade over three power and three toughness) for three mana, also over multiple bodies. Though two bodies are less abusable with pump effects than three bodies, Catacomb Sifter is at least closely in the conversation… Not to mention better whenever you don’t have buff cards.
  • Synergies: Catacomb Sifter is a natural best friend to Liliana, Heretical Healer, and great to flip over alongside Liliana with Collected Company. It will both contribute to Ramp strategies and even compete with conventional three drops, like Anafenza, the Foremost!
  • Scrying: Scrying is a heck on an ability to get “for free” … Especially when Catacomb Sifter comes ready with an Eldrazi body to get the Scrying engine going. It can combine with other Eldrazi Scions just as easily. And anyway, if there’s one thing you don’t want to do, it’s let your Eldrazi opponent scry to whatever cards he wants, for free.
  • … and more!

While Catacomb Sifter projects to be the set’s big sleeper, the discussion in this podcast touches on lots of different Eldrazi (and Eldrazi Scion) setups and strategies.

How does From Beyond compare with Explosive Vegetation, Hedron Archive, or Frontier Siege at the four?

Everyone knows that Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger is the Big! Bad! of Battle for Zendikar… But what other giant Eldrazi (or other big threats in general) might you want to ramp up to? What about going after little threats with tutor cards instead?

Crumble to Dust is in many ways an improved Sowing Salt (which makes it almost guaranteed to be a tournament quality card)… But what about using it directly as a setup man for Oblivion Sower? (don’t worry, Mike didn’t realize how crazy synergistic that one is, either)

Check out “Catacomb Sifter is the Sleeper!” now:

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