#mtg battlebond

[mtg-cards-hourly]

Spellweaver Duo

Synchronized spell weaving is a difficult but rewarding skill to master.

Artist: Steve Argyle TCG Player Link Scryfall Link EDHREC Link

[overgrown-estate]

Now that the Omenpaths have opened the Multiverse to travelers, I really want to see Kylem in a Standard set. Perhaps show the people of Kylem building out other forms of entertainment. After the Phyrexian Invasion, though, who knows what could happen. Prior to the invasion, the Elves were pretty much in charge of the plane. The Azra could take control of Valor's Reach and throw any off-world visitors in the arena. I really want the characters from Battlebond to be fleshed out. Maybe Kylem will be the third plane that "Death Race" takes place on?

[haaaaaaaaaaaave-you-met-ted]

Spellseeker by Tommy Arnold

[magicmalcolm]

Chakram Slinger / Chakram Retriever

[mtg-flashback]

This is an experimental cube/set concept where each eligable set in mtg history gets six cards added to this card list, five being a monocolor card of each color (if possible) and one card as a land/colorless/multicolor card (again, if possible).

The rules are as follows:

The card added must be a first printing.

No power nine or other extremely powerful cards (im aiming for a mid power set).

No cards with esoteric card types (ie: conspiracy, plane, scheme, etc) or ante/dex/racist cards. (If its banned in vintage its banned here).

Cost is NOT a factor, this cube will, without doubt, be very expensive and ill be using proxies once this project is completed for budget reasons.

The sets im including (may add more if i forgot any):

All expansion sets, up to and including march of the machines aftermath [582 cards]

Magic 2010 thru 2015, Origins, Core 19 thru 21 (these are the only non alpha core sets that have original printings assuming my search was correct) [60 cards]

Alpha/Beta (as one set, given beta doesnt have enough original printings) [6 cards]

Conspiracy (and TtC bundled with it), Battlebond, Jumpstart, Jumpstart 22, MH1, and MH2 [36 cards]

Commander 11, Commander 13 thru 21, and Baldur's Gate [66 cards]

This adds up to a grand total of 750 Cards (assuming i can fill every slot). I will post semi frequently about which cards i feel like are deserving for their respective slot, focusing on more unique and medium power level cards.

[luminous-licid]

Sam compares what MtG is becoming to Funko Pop, a toy which exists only to let you express your enjoyment of other franchises. I think you might also compare Magic, in its Universes Beyond era, to Fortnite, which similarly has a strong mechanical identity, a nominal plot, and makes a lot of money by selling “hang out with your friends while ‘dressed’ as your favorite characters”.

I think a reasonable story you can tell about Universes Beyond is that someone there to five years ago pitched the WoTC execs on “what if we made Commander the next Fortnite” and at least so far it seems like they were right. The hardest part of getting people to play Magic is getting the cards into their hands, and Fortnite: Wizard Squares is the best way to do it. Besides everyone knows Vorthos doesn’t buy cards anyway.

That’s another lens to look at this, I guess, the cyclical embrace and rejection of the Vorthoses. @sam-keeper wrote the closest thing I’ve seen to the definitive history of this back in 2018, but that was six years ago and since then it seems like not only is the lore community not what it used to be, but there’s been a turn away from using lore and narrative to sell the game. Magic Story isn’t necessarily going anywhere, and it seems to have found a happy niche being written by outside professionals who also love the game, but it’s being outstripped by supplemental products that don’t get lore documents, either because they’re UB or they’re remaster sets, horizon sets, secret lairs, Jumpstart, Commander…remember when Conspiracy and Battlebond got stories? Remember when the Commander legends got a little blurb explaining their deal? There’s no need for that anymore, everyone knows who Legolas is, and if you don’t there’s ChatGPT Google.

…I got a bit carried away there, whoops

Pro player Ben Stark once claimed that the game would be just as engaging if there were no distinctive names or pictures on the cards, just rules text. As Universes Beyond become a bigger part of Magic, it feels like we’re taking one step closer towards testing his claim.

Rhystic Studies rarely misses, and they are right on the money with this one. I’d recommend anyone giving it a read.

[thecornwall]

Cornwall's Random Card of the Day #762: Return to the Earth

Return to the Earth is a common from Fate Reforged, seen here in its Battlebond printing.

This is quite possibly the first combination of these effects in green common. All the effects have been around in green before, the first two being usually combined in Naturalise, but not with the flying killing. It's called Role Compression, getting a lot of things needed shoved down into one unit(in MtG, that would be a card). It's pretty useful. Green always needs help with flying creatures, and this also keeps you safe from bomby artifacts and enchantments.

The problem with these of course is that they are sideboard fodder, and with so much limited being played through Arena nowadays, which does best-of-ones, I feel these type of cards' days are numbered. I guess with the booster pack rework going on now they'll be upshifted to uncommon and that might be a better place for them.

[flavoracle]

Battlebond And the Masters of the Multiverse 

I’m curious to see if there are any other He-Man/She-Ra easter eggs we can find. 

Want to give us any clues @gavinverhey? (Don’t try to deny it!) 

[commandtower]

Last One Standing ~ Art by Svetlin Velinov

[5ecardaday]

The next card from bowtochris’ choices, Luxury Suite, from the upcoming set Battlebond. I really enjoyed writing the description for this land, and honestly, I was surprised a land was chosen in the first place. I drew a lot of inspiration for this description from those fancy travel shows. You know the ones, where a nice british lady talks about how fancy a place is, and how much it would cost to go/stay/live there?

In the arena of Valor’s Reach, the many inhabitants of Kylem come together to enjoy, and sometimes participate, in the world’s greatest sport, martial magic. But even a sport enjoyed by nearly every citizen on Kylem can still occasionally cater to the rich and famous with a dose of exclusivity. Enter the numerous Luxury Suites that are to be found in the pillars that ring Valor’s Reach. Each pillar holds a number of suites, with the elegance and decadence of each suite increasing as you move higher. At the very top of each pillar, in the highest levels, sits a single incredible suite filled with a number of lavish amenities meant to satisfy any need that the most elite of spectators could have.

These ultimate luxury suites are filled with magically crafted furniture and gizmos to make the stressful life of a top spectator just a little bit easier. The furniture found within consists of ebony sofas and lounge chairs, upholstered with velvet enchanted to resist stains and prevent tearing while achieving maximum comfort. The floor is carpeted with designer fabrics crafted by Kylem’s most renowned designers, and produced with a bit of magic which instantly drains the stress from those who step on it, making it feel as if you’re walking on air. Each suite also comes with a dining area, including a grand table fixed to summon a heroes’ feast at a moment’s request, which is doubled in size to feed up to 24 guests at once. Decorating the walls of the suite are unique works of art, commissioned by Valor’s Reach from the hottest artists across Kylem, each designed with the style of the luxury suite in mind, to better mesh with the overall aesthetic. And for downtime in between matches, Valor’s Reach has created a series of magical screens placed in each suite, from which some of the most famed battles of the arena’s history can be viewed, with the same level of detail as if they were happening at that moment.

And in the luxury suite, service is no slouch either. If the dining table doesn’t conjure up anything to your liking, or if you’re in the mood for something with a bit of a kick to it, a single ring of the Service Bell summons a spectral host from the kitchens below the arena. Nearly any order can be placed with the host, at which point the kitchens of Valor’s Reach will fix the exact item you’re hoping for, before delivering it straight to your room. And while some may worry the distance from the windows of the suite to the arena below would be cause for concern, even that minor detail has been worked out. The glass windows of the luxury suite are enchanted to allow a guest to zoom in on the floor of the arena with a single gesture, allowing you to take in a match of martial magic as if you were sitting in the arena itself, right next to the future champions of Valor’s Reach.

This level of comfort doesn’t come without a matching price tag however- renting out the luxury suite for a match costs a fortune of its own, but discounts can be had for those with the coin to rent a suite for several days in a row. In such cases, the suite has a bedroom with matching decor, including its own tinted window that a guest can watch an ongoing match from without needing to worry about any peeping toms. For most, the dream of renting a luxury suite will always remain just that- a dream. But for elite martial magic coaches, exclusive arena sponsors, the heads of Kylem industry, and even Valor’s Reach champions themselves, a stay in a luxury suite is almost a guarantee on any visit.

[mtg-cards-hourly]

Generous Patron

Artist: Lucas Graciano TCG Player Link Scryfall Link EDHREC Link

[imbeingheldagainstmywill]

[haaaaaaaaaaaave-you-met-ted]

Brightling by Steve Argyle

[magicmalcolm]

Totally Lost

[callmearas]

Everyones going crazy over Regna and Krav, but we have done a great diservice in forgetting Magic’s original power couple.

[renxamamiya]

Will and Rowan Kenrith - by Anna Steinbauer