Modern Masters 2015 has been and gone, and with it’s departure we welcome the final core set: Magic Origins.

Whilst this is essentially a core set, where the cards are less flashy and more back to basics, there is a small twist in double sided Planeswalkers. Check them out and let me know what you think of them.

I had the privilege of playing in back to back events over the previous weekends, and I got to open some packs. So lets discuss what I think of some of the cards in the packs.

Commons

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First thing to point out, is that there are only 9 commons in this pack, so more on that later. Core sets tend to just have your basic commons. Don’t expect anything too flashy, a mix of solid cards that fit a curve, to big green dumb creatures and the odd blue counter spell or two.

There isn’t too much depth in any of the colours other than black in this selection.

Enshrouding Mist is an interesting combat trick. As this prevents the damage dealt to your creature, it makes blocking either trade a card in your hand for at worse a card in their hand (using a pump spell to put their creature above lethal, or a removal spell) or straight up kill the creature.

Negate is a card that will mostly live in my limited sideboards, but there have been times that I would run one main, as it can catch a handful of cards. However as it is extremely narrow, I’m not going to be first picking this.

Black is interesting here. Thornbow Archer doesn’t quite offer enough, and will be easily outclassed by most creatures. Weight of the Underworld is a mediocre removal spell, where I would probably try to pick 1 up for my deck. ­2 doesn’t kill everything, but combined with the ­3 power it can essentially remove a creature’s ability to tussle.

From what I’ve seen Nantuko Husk has exceeded my expectations. Whilst the pump is obvious, it still needs to be respected. The card can be drafted around, and with cards such as Weight of the Underworld and Suppression Bonds, having an outlet to remove those useless creatures for a benefit is an attractive proposition.

Bellows Lizard is not a card that ends up in my deck. The 1/1 for 1 body is accompanied by an over costed fire breathing effect, and whilst Cobblebrute gets in fights to trade with big things, the 2 toughness really means he ends up as filler for me most of the time.

Orchard Spirit provides green with something it usually lacks, evasion. This pseudo-­flying ability does mean that it can’t block flyers itself, but being able to get through when the ground has been blocked up from both sides, gives this card an edge over what would be simply a Gray Ogre. For me Alchemist Vial want’s a home in an aggressive deck that has played a  lot of creatures, where it can take out a blocker and force the last points of damage through. I don’t normally like cards like this, but at least this one replaces itself by giving you an extra draw.

Uncommons

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Goblin Glory Chaser, whilst having a fantastic name, seems to be lacking if it’s not cast on the first turn. Menace would seem fantastic on this card, but as it’s only active after the renown trigger it puts the card in an odd place.

The green cards are on two different sides of the spectrum. Somberwald Alpha is a solid creature, that will catch people off guard if they don’t realise it triggers for each of your creatures and not just it. I was impressed with the card, but i’m unsure if that’s because I did manage to catch people who didn’t read the card.

Elemental Bond is a card you can build around if you decide you want to pick it up early, and therefore can choose the creatures that trigger the card. However, I want to play creatures on curve turns 2 to 5, so this doesn’t quite fit where it want to be.

Rare(s)

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Well this is change of pace, as one of these were foil, so 2 rares to talk about. Molten Vortex is a card that is fine, as long as you remember that it is in your deck. It comes down to finding the sweet spot of holding lands so that you only have what you need for the top of your curve, which will then turn each extra land into a shock. If you draft this card, hold any additional lands for when you draw this.

I like to consider two things when playing equipment: the initial cost of playing the card, and the ability the card grants for equip cost. Sword of the Animist has a relatively cheap cost to initially play, so what does it offer after that. For the 2 mana the +1/+1 is a slight pump that is under the going rate of most pump spells that cost 2 mana. The bonus rampant growth effect does help offset this, and if the creatures can keep swinging, the effect of removing the lands will eventually ensure you have inevitability to find your bigger threats.

My Pick

I actually think that the overall power level of this pack to be relatively weak. Of the commons Nantuko Husk is my favourite, but I think that Somberwald Alpha does outclass it slightly, mainly as I prefer green marginally in Magic Origins.

I thought long and hard about the two rares in this pack, as both seemed like fine picks. The Sword of the Animist keeps you open as it is a colourless card, and therefore lets you take the best cards from the first few picks. Molten Vortex works on a different axis, that turns all your lands into a real clock. If you can draft an aggressive deck that stops at 4 or 5 , then every land after the 6th can turn into a shock, which can take out a blocker, nullify a pump spell that would prevent a trade or even do the last few points of damage. Whilst the Sword of the Animist is sweet, I think that I prefer the Molten Vortex, due to it giving inevitability that it will do some work for me.

I found this a tough pack to think about, so what’s your thoughts on it. What would be your pick? Vote for your pick at the following link: http://strawpoll.me/5027698 and leave some comments.

You can find me on twitter at @TrollTraderAdam

Until next time; draft.