Here is another article on pauper for my magic the gathering folks enjoy and may your day be awesome where ever in the world you may live.
KIMBERLY
TV REALITY MOM
http://www.tcgunity.net/magic-the-gathering-shadows-over-innistrad-set-review-for-pauper/
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April 9, 2016
Magic The Gathering, Trading Card Games, Uncategorized
Shadows
Over Innistrad has been one of the most widely anticipated Magic: The
Gathering sets to come out in a long time. Eternal formats especially
have been sitting up and taking notice of new sets lately, now that
they’re all shaking off Eldrazi Winter 2016 (never forget!). Pauper
format is no exception. There’s been some buzz about SoI cards in the
Pauper community.
But we’re on steadier ground here in Pauper compared to my Modern
review. New cards entering Pauper, ironically, have a much higher bar to
entry than Modern. They’re either above the salt or they’re not; the
nature of common rarity precludes Wizards from printing absolute bombs.
There’s been some hype around SoI commons, so I’m going to load up a
slingshot and bust a few bubbles.My unscientific ratings scale:
When I pick a card, it gets 1-or-2-to-5, 2 being “maybe worth a try,”
to 5 being “get four copies immediately before the price spikes.” A
“1?” means “God only knows if this card will be awesome or a dud, but it
will be interesting to test.” A 1 rating means it’s either (a) a unique
effect we’ve never had before, (b) a budget substitute for an
already-played card, or (c) a card that could fit into an existing deck
that may not necessarily want it. As always, I will be ignoring reprints
and anything that doesn’t look interesting.
Shadows Over Innistrad cards to watch out for in Pauper:
Angelic Purge – (2) – This is one of those over-hyped cards I’m talking about. A lot of people seem to forget that Oblivion Ring is in the format already, so if you need 3-mana sorcery-speed removal that’s a catch-all, that’s your ticket. That leaves the only upsides to this as that it gives white an unlimited sacrifice outlet for any permanent, and isn’t likely to be undone with enchantment hate. Those are two decent considerations, but they’re two edge cases so narrow that there isn’t a deck to stand on them just yet.
Chaplain’s Blessing
– (3) – An interesting print. Pauper is full of aggro decks; Soul
Sisters type strategies are more viable than in other formats. And this
is definitely one of the highest life-gain to mana ratios ever printed,
but Sunspring Expedition is already a card in the format and undoes 2.66 Lava Spike
worth of damage for relatively low investment. But Chaplain’s Blessing
is instant gratification right now without hassling with landfall, so it
gets a nod here.
Stern Constable – (1?) – Mono-white now has a cheap discard outlet – with a more useful effect than Tireless Tribe!
We have no idea why we should be happy about that yet, but if the
madness mechanic has an impact on Pauper at all, it will probably be
through this card in white-based decks.
Thraben Inspector – (2) – A Sanctuary Cat that cantrips? Could be good, if it has enough friends to make a theme. For a total of three mana, this is kinda comparable to Phyrexian Rager. The one less power is a downside, but white isn’t exactly swimming in card advantage at the pauper level and will do well with whatever it can get.
Vessel of Ephemera – (4) – While the mana investment is cruddy, Pauper has previously had just three ways to put multiple flying tokens on the battlefield with a single card before: Battle Screech (in every white deck), Triplicate Spirits (hardly played), and Rise of Eagles (trash). So this is actually pretty good here, and easy ways to recur enchantments such as Auramancer in the format make it a notch better.
Pieces of the Puzzle – (1?) – The only deck I have in mind for this is UB Teachings, which is already hanging out on the fringes of playable. Even then, Peer Through Depths is a card and yields one less card for one less mana in an instant. For that matter, blue is spoiled rotten in card advantage in Pauper already; Ponder, Preordain, and Brainstorm are enough for almost any deck. And yes, blue got shafted so hard in this set that there’s even only one blue card with Pauper potential!
Alms of the Vein – (5!) – Again as I said in Modern, a one-mana Lightning Helix is nuttier than a fruitcake, and you will have a hysterical time pitching this to madness outlets and doming your opponent until Gary drops.
Sanitarium Skeleton – (5!) – Jeez, where to start? This may come as a shock, but Pauper has never before had a creature that comes back from the grave on its own steam. Sure, we have plenty of cards that return something else from the bin – Gravedigger, Ghoulraiser, Cadaver Imp, etc. – and we’ve got a few guys with unearth and dredge, but for just straight infinite recursion to your hand on a single common card, that’s never happened before. The combos with this guy have unlimited possibilities, not to mention this is one devotion you can guarantee to have out before Gary drops.
Shamble Back – (3) – This is one of those humble cards that provide so much utility for one mana, you have to at least give them a nod. While Vile Rebirth is out there already, this provides two life as well as hating the graveyard and putting some boots on the ground.
Twins of Maurer Estate – (2) – The madness ability is the only reason to consider this card. Three mana is pretty cheap for such a big butt blocker, Pauper being the aggro-happy format it is. While Gurmag Angler provides better value for its typical cost, this doesn’t need delve and can even work well in the same kind of deck as the zombie fish.
Bloodmad Vampire – (0!) – Another card that’s been the subject of Pauper hype, you can color me unimpressed. Sure, the madness cost can give it pseudo-haste, but it’s never getting very far. It dies to a block from a stinkin’ goblin token and even if it doesn’t, it still dies to Disfigure even after it gets a +1 counter.
Dual Shot – (4) – As in Modern, it’s a solid removal spell when your opponent is foolish enough to have two unflipped Delver of Secrets out at once, which happens embarrassingly often. Though Electrickery may still reign here, this makes a nice compliment at one mana.
Ember-Eye Wolf – (3) – Oddly enough, it’s rare to get both firebreathing and haste on the same dude in Pauper. This little doggy is good at any stage of the game, and will be a harsh topdeck late game for many a shocked opponent who thought they were in the clear.
Fork in the Road – (4) – While it’s nothing to get excited about, this is the cheapest total mana cost available to find two land cards. True, one goes to the grave, but that doesn’t slow down pauper green a bit with dudes like Tilling Treefolk running around and can even help turn on delirium for what that’s worth.
Hinterland Logger – (4) – I predict this could become a staple in green Stompy decks. It fits right into Stompy’s mana curve, and is the cheapest way to get four trample damage on a single card with no help from Rancor. It gets even better with Rancor, of course.
Moldgraf Scavenger – (3) – Runaway hype train alert! I have heard this card called, repeatedly, I quote, “the Pauper Tarmogoyf,” endquote. No, no it is not. What it is is Werebear without the mana dork ability and with a slightly easier way to turn it on than threshold. Also with far less funny flavor text. Yes, I suggest at least testing it out and it can beat some face, but it compares poorly to the aforementioned Hinterland Logger because when it’s not turned on it’s just a wall, and when it is turned on it doesn’t have trample.
Watcher in the Web – (4) – So it’s a common, and it’s a 2/5 with reach, and it can block up to eight guys? What’s the catch? Well, at 5 CMC it’s actually pretty slow for Pauper, and especially slow against the kind of weenie aggro you want this against, but this is still bound to find its way into a sideboard or two. Note, it has reach and 2 power, it can kill flipped Delver.
In conclusion…
Alright, that covers the pauper end of SoI. It’s a crazy ride of hits
and misses, but without a doubt we can say that the second visit to
Innistrad delivered every bit of steak with its sizzle. Tune in next
time when I dig into Commander format to try to predict which one of
this set’s crazy overpowered monsters will fit into there.
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