Ixalan: archetypes

The most representative cards for these archetypes are:

U/B Pirates
Deadeye Plunderers, Blight Keeper, Deadeye Plunderers, Storm Fleet Aerialist, Prosperous Pirates, Ruthless Knave, Dire Fleet Hoarder, Contract Killing, Air Elemental, Dark Nourishment, Wind Strider, Depths of Desire, Costly Plunder

B/R Pirates
Dire Fleet Captain, Fathom Fleet Firebrand, Headstrong Brute, Rigging Runner, Skulduggery, Dire Fleet Hoarder,

U/R Pirates
Marauding Looter, Pirate’s Cutlass Shop Now , Storm Fleet Aerialist, Siren Stormtamer, Lightning-Rig Crew, Storm Fleet Pyromancer, Storm Fleet Spy.

R/G Dinosaurs
Ranging Raptors, Colossal Dreadmaw, Charging Monstrosaur, Raging Swordtooth, Otepec Huntmaster, Drover of the Mighty, Blossom Dryad, New Horizons, Snapping Sailback, Thundering Spineback.

W/G Dinosaurs
Looming Altisaur, Kinjalli's Caller, Ancient Brontodon, Belligerent Brontodon, Atzocan Archer

W/R Dinosaurs
Territorial Hammerskull, Bonded Horncrest, Sky Terror, Tilonalli’s Knight, Raptor Companion, Nest Robber, Imperial Aerosaur, Charging Monstrosaur

W/B Vampires
Anointed Deacon, Bishop of the Bloodstained, Call to the Feast, Glorifier of Dusk, Legion Conquistador

U/G Merfolk
River Heralds' Boon, Vineshaper Mystic, Shaper Apprentice, Shapers of Nature, Deeproot Warrior, Tempest Caller

U/W Skies
Air Elemental, Pious Interdiction, Territorial Hammerskull, Run Aground, Favorable Winds, Shining Aerosaur, Skyblade of the Legion, Siren Lookout, Wind Strider, Imperial Aerosaur.

B/G Explore
Wildgrowth Walker Shop Now , Tishana’s Wayfinder, Seekers' Squire, Lurking Chupacabra

How to draft Ixalan?

Bombs:
black: -
blue: -
white: -
red: Burning Sun's Avatar, Vance's Blasting Cannons
green: Ripjaw Raptor, Waker of the Wilds
multi: Hostage Taker, Regisaur Alpha, Vona, Butcher of Magan, Vraska, Relic Seeker

Very good cards:
black: Sanctum Seeker, Vraska’s Contempt, Walk the Plank
blue: Dreamcaller Siren, Entrancing Melody,
white: -
red: Captivating Crew, Repeating Barrage
green: Carnage Tyrant, Savage Stomp
multi: Gishath, Sun's Avatar, Huatli, Warrior Poet

Best commons:
black: Dire Fleet Interloper, Skulduggery, Skymarch Bloodletter, Vanquish the Weak, Contract Killing.
blue: Prosperous Pirates, Opt, Run Aground, Watertrap Weaver, Siren Lookout
white: Raptor Companion, Paladin of the Bloodstained, Legion’s Judgment, Territorial Hammerskull, Pious Interdiction.
red: Storm Fleet Pyromancer, Thrash of Raptors, Headstrong Brute, Unfriendly Fire, Firecannon Blast
green: Deeproot Warrior, River Heralds’ Boon, Grazing Whiptail, Tishana’s Wayfinder, Pounce

Magic the Gathering: Arena

Last week, Wizards of the Coast officially unveiled its latest game: Magic the Gathering: Arena. The Arena will not replace or compete with Magic Online - the target audience is beginner players, people playing budget or casual. The game will be released in the form of free to play with optional micro payments. It will focus on Standard legal cards only.

MTG Arena is still in the Pre-Alpha version, but even at this early stage, the developers have big plans and ambitions for its development. On the stream, we had the opportunity to see the prototype of this new digital vision of MTG, in which streamers Amaz and Gaby Spartz played a few matches in front of the spectators with a decks containing some previously unspoilered cards from the upcoming expansion - Ixalan. Game modes that are currently predicted are constructed, ranked and draft. The gameplay will be melding of Magic Online and Magic Duels. The game is designed in Unity, so sooner or later it will appear on tablets and other mobile devices. However, the beta will only be available on PC.


You may sign up for the Closed Beta at PlayMTGArena.com

Iconic Masters

The Iconic Masters set was spoilered today. Notable Reprints wrap up:

Mana Drain, Channel, Primeval Titan, Thoughtseize, Ancestral Vision, Auriok Champion, Glimpse the Unthinkable, Oblivion Stone, Mishra's Bauble, Grove of the Burnwillows, Horizon Canopy, Aether Vial, Restoration Angel, Flusterstorm, Bloodghast

That’s the second time Mana Drain has been printed in a paper set. The first was in Legends twenty-three years ago. Some of you may be surprised, but it wasn't on the Reserved List, because somehow it was uncommon in Legends.

The release date for Iconic Masters is November 17th, 2017

Ixalan: mechanics

Ixalan set is on the way, hence it is high time to introduce new mechanics:

• Explore — Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back on top or into your graveyard. Most creatures explore while entering the battlefield.
• Enrage — Whenever a creature with this ability word is dealt damage, it triggers and has some consequences. This is the signature mechanic of the Dinosaurs.

Returning mechanics: 

• Raid. If you attacked with a creature this turn, it triggers.
• Crew. Vehicles in the form of pirate ships.
• Double-faced cards. Instead of creatures transforming into another version of itself, the double-faced cards of this set highlight the tales and tools of discovery.

The "planeswalker uniqueness rule" is going away, so you may control Liliana of the Veil and Liliana, the Last Hope in the same time.