M10 Set Review

Heya,

After actually getting to play with the cards from M10, I feel I can now do a set review. I participated at the pre-release at my FLGS and had a blast. As far as core sets go, I believe this is the best one since Revised- and that’s saying a lot because 10th edition was pretty good in its own right. Anyway, here are my thoughts on M10 pertaining to Vintage:

White-

Elite Vanguard: There may be a soldier deck lurking somewhere in Vintage. Cards like Aether Vial, Lotus Petal, and Mox Diamond can help power out weenies in a hurry. Elite Vanguard is an upgrade IMO to the venerable Savannah Lions of Alpha. However, like all non-disruptive creatures, it has little shot to be used in a serious Vintage deck.

Mesa Enchantress: If Parfait ever catches on, and I think it would take the unrestricting of Balance to accomplish that, this card may have a spot. The only problem IMO is the double WW in its casting cost. Even in a mono-colored deck, that’s hard to achieve fast enough to make a difference in the game. Maybe someday they’ll print a cheaper variant.

Safe Passage: Over costed. At W it would be worth a look. At 2W, it’s just too much.

Silence: This may be the best card for Vintage out of the set. A UW “Time Walk” deck featuring these, Abeyance, Orim’s Chant, and the original of course, could find a way into the meta with some solid support from cards like Ethersworn Canonist and Aven Mindcensor. Silence can’t be Misdirected, so that’s a major plus in my book. White is at its lowest ebb ever in Magic right now, so it may be a few years before this card has a chance to shine.

Tempest of Light: An instant version of Tranquility! I only mention it because it is a massive upgrade to that card.

Blue-

Cancel: This card is an insult.

Djinn of Wishes: Well, Vintage is the place to abuse its ability. There are plenty of topdeck tutors that combo well with it. The problem is getting it in play fast enough to matter. This card is probably better in theory than it ever will be in practice.

Fabricate: I maintain that this card is a lot more castable than Vintage players give it credit. I’m not saying it’s good, just saying it’s better than the “crap uncommon” label it has gotten.

Negate: One of the better 1U counterspells.

Polymorph: It’s a Tinker for Standard! Now that DSC is back, we’ll see it that little combo sees play in Type 2.

Ponder: Wow, this card is so busted, it deserves a spot on the restricted list! Aaaaaanyway, I do recommend picking up a copy from the M10 set. The artwork is miles better than the one from Lorwyn.

Sleep: In Limited, this thing is a Time Walk. You basically get two unmolested attack phases. That’s about as much of a win now card as you can get in modern Magic. This card might even see some play in Standard now that Wrath of God is out of print. Very nice design IMO and powerful at the uncommon slot.

Snapping Drake: I guess Phantom Monster is just too broken to reprint anymore.

Telepathy: I’ve often wondered if this card were widely played in Vintage if it would be any good. Knowing what your opponent has in his hand is powerful. One blue isn’t a high casting cost IMO, and enchantment kill is rarely ever played. I guess deck space is too much at a premium for something like this. It’s a shame. I think it’s a decent effect.

Black-

Duress: This is one of the top spells played in Vintage month to month. We now have three different artworks to choose from. Honestly, though, I don’t care much for any of them.

Sign in Blood: The artwork harkens back to cards like Contract From Below. However, it’s a bad Night’s Whisper. Nothing to see here.

Red-

Burning Inquiry: Wow, there’s a lot going on with this card. Drawing 3 cards for one mana is always worth a look in Vintage. However, the drawbacks are STEEP. First, it’s card disadvantage since you discard the same number you draw. Second, it symmetrically affects your opponent. That’s just too much even for a draw three. I don’t think even a Belcher deck would play this.

Goblin Chieftain: This is a nice upgrade to Goblin King. I don’t know if it will get played in Vintage Goblin lists, but I’m sure there’s other Goblin decks out there salivating for when this card becomes legal.

Lightning Bolt: Count me in the crowd that thought this card would never be reprinted. For all those who longed for this thing in the new card frame, here’s your chance!

Pyroclasm: This has always been a decent board sweeper in Vintage. Firespout doesn’t give you much more utility in this format as it does in others, Pyroclasm is still the best cheap sweeper in Vintage IMO (unless you count Balance of course). Solid card if you are in a heavy Fish meta.

Shatter: Shouldn’t this thing cost only one mana by now?

Green-

Elvish Archdruid: It’s an expensive Priest of Titania. I don’t see Elf decks messing around with this all that much in Vintage.

Great Stable Stag: If 9 Land Stompy were still around, this would be a key card for it IMO. We’ve come a little ways since the days of Scragnoth. Maybe someday they’ll print something similar just 1 mana less. That card might have a chance at seeing play in Vintage.

Mold Adder: Not bad in a Zoo deck, but it has to compete with Skyshroud Elite and Wild Nacatl at the same casting cost. I find it unlikely to see play.

Nature’s Spiral: The three best cards that can be recovered by Regrowth are Time Walk, Ancestral Recall, and Black Lotus. This one gets Lotus at least! However, it’s probably worse than Reconstruct or Agrivian Find in that department.

Artifact-

Darksteel Colossus: For many years, the best artifact creature in Vintage. Now, a forgotten memory.

Mirror of Fate: It’s a nice try to use the new Exile zone, but it provides nothing Doomsday doesn’t.

Pithing Needle: Getting more of these in print is nice. I just wish it had new art. Every Vintage player should have a couple in their collection.

Land-

Gargoyle Castle: I think Landstill has all the manlands it needs. Casual players will love this, though. Too bad Crucible of Worlds wasn’t reprinted.

New Duals: When evaluating mana sources in Vintage, one always has to consider the mulligan. These lands are terrible in a mulligan hand and therefore are probably ranked behind the shocklands and painlands as alternatives to the original duals.

Grades-

Limited: A+
Standard A-
Vintage: D-

What did you expect? Outside of Silence and Pithing Needle, there’s not much for Vintage. The prerelease was a blast, and I’ll be at my local launch party. And I know Standard will be greatly impacted by this set. But I think we’ll have to wait until Zendikar for anything worthwhile to come to Vintage. Here’s to another three months of waiting.

Peace,

-Troy