A Brief Look at Worldwake

Worldwake is the newest set in Magic and has added some new cards into the mix, changing up both Standard and Limited. The biggest additions that were immediately evident were new blue cards. If you remember when I wrote about the four different deck archetypes (aggro, mid-range, combo, control), I wrote about control decks and how those work. For the last three years (or more) control has dominated the Standard meta-game, and most control decks are reliant on very strong blue cards, which there had been many of in past years. In the most recently released sets the power of blue has diminished...well, until Worldwake.

Though Worldwake doesn't feature any strong counter spells, which is traditionally the backbone of control decks, it does feature a powerful new planeswalker and some very relevant card drawing enhancers. Control isn't the dominant force it used to be by any means (which makes me incredibly happy, let me tell you), but it's starting to make a comeback, most notably with Patrick Chapin's new blue/white control deck.

While everyone saw (and was really excited about) the rise in power level for blue, there were a couple of other cards that have clawed their way into constructed play. The most surprising of these cards, I think, is one called Stoneforge Mystic, a small white creature who searches out an equipment card from your deck when she comes into play (or enters the battlefield as they say these days). Word on the street, even early on, was that she would be good in the next set, which is slated for release in April. However, Louis-Scott Vargas (LSV) featured her in his new Naya aggro deck which got him a 10-0 record at PT San Diego. Now this little mystic's price is quickly scaling the charts.

But, other than that, I would have to say the biggest contribution of Worldwake is its new man-lands, which are dual lands, unlike the originals which were mono-colored (for those of you who don't know, a dual land is a land that taps for two colors of mana). They have greatly enhanced already existing decks like Jund and made possibly previously unplayed decks like blue/white control.

All in all I would say that Worldwake adds a nice dimension to the competitive formats without introducing any cards that are ridiculously dominating. It's true that the new planeswalker (Jace 2.0, aka “The Wallet Sculptor” named for his $60 price tag) is incredibly powerful, but after having played against it, I don't believe he changes the dynamic of the game in an unfair way. While he has allowed for the advent of new decks, he hasn't made decks that were already being played irrelevant.

I am unsure of when the next major event is (or at least the next one that Team DOTS will attend is), but of course, when there is event coverage it will be posted here. In the meantime I think I will chronicle some of my experiences at local events and try to give all of you readers out there some insight into how I go about choosing, constructing, and fine-tuning decks.


Upcoming: whatever I just said would be upcoming


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