This is a pretty interesting set. New Phyrexia cards in rough order of presumed impact:
Praetor's Grasp
Extract has always been borderline playable, and Sadistic Sacrament for a time was an important check on certain linear decks. In the era of Time Vault domination, this is almost strictly better than Grim Tutor. Ignoring the life loss of course, you get a tutor effect that simultaneously denies the same combo to your opponent. Either stealing their Time Vault, or extracting Yawg Will, to use at your leisure, secure from hand disruption to boot. Very solid. I'd expect to see sideboards filling up with these, if not some maindeck copies.
Mental Mistep
I predict this card will radically change Legacy, however it will also become a significant part of vintage. Many of the best cards in Type 1 are played, specifically because they are mistakenly undercosted at 1.
Surgical Extraction
I've always respected Extirpate, even though it doesn't get much play these days. Trading split second for free is on net a decisive upgrade. I like this card. Could see it replacing Ravenous Trap as goto instant yard hate, since its more versatile versus non-dredge.
I've always respected Extirpate, even though it doesn't get much play these days. Trading split second for free is on net a decisive upgrade. I like this card. Could see it replacing Ravenous Trap as goto instant yard hate, since its more versatile versus non-dredge.
Slag Fiend
If workshop agro goes back to its Mountainous roots in order to regain Goblin Welder, which leads one to Bazaar, which leads to this 1 mana Tarmogoyf. Could easily be a 10/10 for R.
Gitaxian Probe
Free cycling, plus gives information. Strictly better Street Wraith, other than can be countered.
Jin-Gitaxis
Not insane to think this could be an Oath creature. Probably requires Krosan Reclamation. Unfortunately getting cards at endstep means you cant immediately vault-volt, but does give you ample disruption for their one turn window.
Phyrexian Metamorph
This is strictly better Sculpting Steel. Can kill legendary creatures, can help win welder wars, stop bleeding vs tgoyf. Pretty good.
Noxious Revival
Ive played Reclaim before, and this can also time walk opponent making them draw a fetchland again for example. Turns out everything is better at free.
Beast Within
Basically instant Vindicate. Ive seen Putrefy being played. This is better. More likely to be able to kill Iona for example, or the Oath in the first place. Also good IN oath, as another means to give them a creature instant speed.
Moltensteel dragon
He packs a punch and cheaper than other evasive Workshop-castable monsters.
Dismember
1 colorless to deal -5 is worth noting. Doesnt kill the really big monsters, but quite costeffective for everything else
Gut Shot
Kills Dconf, Lobra, Welder for free. While nice in the abstract, I'd rather pay 1 mana and be able to hit a wider range of creatures, or gain some extra utility, ie Darkblast, Chain Vapor, Lava Dart, Swords to Plowshares, etc.
I do not see this being playable.
Omen Machine
Quite expensive, probably not as disruptive as Uba Mask
Due Respect
Root Maze type effect with cantrip. Very doubtful worth it at 2.
Psychic Surgery
Kind of cheap and most non-workshop decks shuffle a lot. Maybe this can nick off some key stuff over the course of a game? Doubtful worth a card.
Spined Thopter + Porcelain Legionaire
2 colorless for 2/1 flyer or 3/1 first strike isn't the most exciting thing ever printed, but both are efficient
Torpor Orb
Synergy with Phyrexian Dreadnaught. Hoses Flash, giving even more reason to parole that archetype. A non comprehensive vintage-relevant list of effects of this type, in addition to Protean Hulk and all the related combo creatures: Ingot Chewer, Myr Battlesphere, Trinket Mage, Vendillion Clique, Wispmare, Spellstutter Sprite, Sower of Temptation, Gilded Drake, Sundering Titan, Dragon Breath, Worldgorger Dragon, Duplicant, Manic Vandal, Solemn Simulacrum, almost all of dredge's Dread Return targets, about half the playable aggro goblins, Eternal Witness, Flametongue Kavu, Tidehollow Sculler, Precursor Golem.
Contrary to popular belief, this does NOT stop Painter's Servant, Meddling Mage or Phyrexian Revoker.
Slightly interesting combo with Wormfang Manta and some kind of blink effect (maybe Venser planeswalker) but in a world with Vault-Volt, pretty academic.
Conclusion: Much too narrow to be worth a card.
Free cycling, plus gives information. Strictly better Street Wraith, other than can be countered.
Jin-Gitaxis
Not insane to think this could be an Oath creature. Probably requires Krosan Reclamation. Unfortunately getting cards at endstep means you cant immediately vault-volt, but does give you ample disruption for their one turn window.
Phyrexian Metamorph
This is strictly better Sculpting Steel. Can kill legendary creatures, can help win welder wars, stop bleeding vs tgoyf. Pretty good.
Noxious Revival
Ive played Reclaim before, and this can also time walk opponent making them draw a fetchland again for example. Turns out everything is better at free.
Beast Within
Basically instant Vindicate. Ive seen Putrefy being played. This is better. More likely to be able to kill Iona for example, or the Oath in the first place. Also good IN oath, as another means to give them a creature instant speed.
Moltensteel dragon
He packs a punch and cheaper than other evasive Workshop-castable monsters.
Hex Parasite
Sort of a gorilla shaman for Jace/Tez and also disrupts stax. Dark Depths synergy too. A more versatile, repeatable Hexmage. Pretty niche, but very cheap.
Whipflare
Instant Pyroclasm! However most fish decks are mostly running creatures with toughness>2. Still Pyroclasm has been played before, and this is almost strictly better.Dismember
1 colorless to deal -5 is worth noting. Doesnt kill the really big monsters, but quite costeffective for everything else
Gut Shot
Kills Dconf, Lobra, Welder for free. While nice in the abstract, I'd rather pay 1 mana and be able to hit a wider range of creatures, or gain some extra utility, ie Darkblast, Chain Vapor, Lava Dart, Swords to Plowshares, etc.
I do not see this being playable.
Omen Machine
Quite expensive, probably not as disruptive as Uba Mask
Due Respect
Root Maze type effect with cantrip. Very doubtful worth it at 2.
Psychic Surgery
Kind of cheap and most non-workshop decks shuffle a lot. Maybe this can nick off some key stuff over the course of a game? Doubtful worth a card.
Spined Thopter + Porcelain Legionaire
2 colorless for 2/1 flyer or 3/1 first strike isn't the most exciting thing ever printed, but both are efficient
Torpor Orb
Synergy with Phyrexian Dreadnaught. Hoses Flash, giving even more reason to parole that archetype. A non comprehensive vintage-relevant list of effects of this type, in addition to Protean Hulk and all the related combo creatures: Ingot Chewer, Myr Battlesphere, Trinket Mage, Vendillion Clique, Wispmare, Spellstutter Sprite, Sower of Temptation, Gilded Drake, Sundering Titan, Dragon Breath, Worldgorger Dragon, Duplicant, Manic Vandal, Solemn Simulacrum, almost all of dredge's Dread Return targets, about half the playable aggro goblins, Eternal Witness, Flametongue Kavu, Tidehollow Sculler, Precursor Golem.
Contrary to popular belief, this does NOT stop Painter's Servant, Meddling Mage or Phyrexian Revoker.
Slightly interesting combo with Wormfang Manta and some kind of blink effect (maybe Venser planeswalker) but in a world with Vault-Volt, pretty academic.
Conclusion: Much too narrow to be worth a card.
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