'they're baaaaaack'
Zendikar is being released in a few short weeks and duelists are clamoring to see what new cards are coming along with it. It is natural to be excited about the shiny untarnished images of soon-to-be-released cards. However there is a force that pulls in the opposite direction. The excitement brought on by nostalgic re-printings can be even more than a match for anything fresh. This was evidenced by Magic 2010’s decision to re-release a few of MTG’s most popular and flavorful cards ever. Instead of creating a list of fundamental cards that represent each color and card-type, like with usual core set, WotC used the idea of dusting off old cards to as a hook to sell new ones. Re-prints can be cool, but far too often they are examples of cards that have over-stayed their welcome. Why not take more risks in the re-printing of older cards?
not again. . .
Ask any WotC developer how the decision is made to include old cards in new expansions and the reply will likely be: ‘When they fit within the set.’ Simple response, to the point and it makes perfect sense. Almost. Looming over every new set list are thousands of older cards just waiting for another opportunity to show what they can do. In an expansion there are many chances to include these, yet only very few make the cut. Usually this has more to do with the type of card than the card itself. Not including core sets, most every re-print is a ‘utility’ card. Meaning it does a specific task Wizard’s wants done in each set. There is a reason Cancel has been printed four times since 2007. Blue always needs simple counter magic to remain, well blue. The wow cards from each set are reserved for new prints, probably as a way to generate interest in the product. Re-prints are reserved for cards players expect to find in each expansion or core set. However, classic re-prints can be low hanging fruit for WotC. And there is a very recent example.
like jello there's always room for a 6/1 trampler
Ball Lightning became the poster child for the cool ‘back to the future’ vibe M10 oozed from every pore. Far from being the best card in the set, BL still made as many message boards erupt as more dynamic cards like Silence or Captain of the Watch. The statement was obvious, there is interest in re-printing classics. The question is when. Players get excited about re-prints for two reasons. The card has a strong connection with a player’s roots in Magic or the card is just flat out good. The difficulty is matching wanna-be re-prints with this criteria. When Reflecting Pool was announced in Shadowmoor many players were happy not because it revitalized a slice of their youth, but because it was a damn good card. Occasionally a perfect balance between the two forces is struck as with Lightning Bolt, a utilitarian card that brings back misty memories of duels past. Wizards may not be able to hit a mark so perfectly every set, but it seems they should at least try. Zendikar would be well served if it included a re-print like Armageddon or Ivory Tower. Creating more interest in a new product is never a bad thing.
noble effort. . . just short
What is bad however, is when WotC revives a card that has neither real use or fan adoration to defend it. Bogardan Hellkite is an example of a card the was cool for a while then faded into obscurity when it’s combo pieces were removed, then came back to mixed reviews as a mythic rare in Magic 2010. The above-mentioned Cancel could probably use a rest, but appears to also be included in Zendikar. And while every set needs a blue counterspell re-printing the same card in each expansion tends to stifle enthusiasm. Perhaps it is time for Convolute or Mana Leak to take a few reps. Perhaps instead of throwing Shivan Dragon out every core set, how about a replacement rare re-print like Blood Moon. If the card isn’t playable outside limited formats, then it should be enticing in some other way. Even after doing such a fantastic job with most of the M10 re-prints, Wizard’s does not always make the right choice.
Almost every card idea has been printed and we need cards we understand and feel comfortable with even within an truly unique expansion like Zendikar. So re-prints are a necessary evil. Drafts and sealed tournaments depend heavily on them to keep grounded. Too bad many of these stand-byes don’t generate any excitement. One thing is clear: there remains an opening for the right re-prints at the right time. During the 2010 pre-release some players would have given their right arm for a playset of Lightning Bolts. The Lorwyn planeswalkers generated more interest as an inclusion in M10 than in the set they were originally printed for. In fact, we look at cards like Nissa Revane and Sorin Markov and can’t help wondering, ‘When will we see that again?’ Releasing older cards in a new set can be used to manufacture interest, satisfy veteran players, and maintain a sense of history. With the upcoming release of Zendikar and Worldwake hopefully Wizards won’t miss an opportunity.
Here is a look at the latest Zendikar spoiler cards. Stay up to date with the full Zendikar spoiler list here.
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I really don’t think they use reprints enough, and ought to do even more of it. There are thousands of cards from past sets, and many of them could be viable in the right standard environment. Reprints allow experienced players to use the old cards, and give newer players that chance to get a hold of something from past days and use it.
I know that’s what the main set was about, up until Magic 2010, but I don’t think it ever did enough. I know they’ve tried to make the base set less complicated than the expansion sets, and as a result, plenty of cards that would be interesting for reprinting have been passed over because of complexity. And with M10 now printing a bunch of new cards – and more emphasis on the main set’s “flavor”, it seems we may see even fewer reprints in the future.
So if they’re so interested in the main set’s flavor, why not introduce a companion to the main set, something in the vein of Chronicles, based entirely on reprinting cards? Use it as the location to reprint the cards that don’t fit because of flavor, or are too “complex” for the main set. It would increase the card pool for standard and extended, allow access to older cards for new players, and give more life to old cards that are now sitting in boxes unused.
Keep in mind that within the last couple of years WotC received strong feedback that Standard card pools were TOO big, and therefore intentionally reduced set sizes (both core and expansion).
One of the reprints everyone is drooling over is Harrow. It’s not big, but in this format, it’s very flashy. Sometimes a reprint is made because there’s no need to create a new card. MaRo talked about this during Mirrodin block for Annul.
And please no more Mana Leak, it’s a bad Blue card, and should be a White one. I wouldn’t mind different counterspell reprints, just not that one.
AGREE. As always. But if they were to reprint anything I wish, as much chaos it would create i know…bring back dark ritual, and counterspell…come on…….
Is it just me or are there an absurd number of mythic rares in Zendikar?
I count 14 mythics so far. I also count 39 rares, although there are still two missing from the cycle of rare non-fetch lands (Valakut, etc.) so it’s more like 41 rares so far. Anyone remember off the top of their heads what the normal count for each rarity is in a set this size?
Just wanted to include a list of the reprints confirmed to be in Zendikar thus far:
Cancel
River Boa
Mind Sludge
Demolish
Harrow
Several points:
1) Amen on Cancel being overdone. It’s starting to feel a bit stale.
2) You say that Zendikar would be well served by a reprint of Ivory Tower or Armageddon, but you give no explanation as to why. Ivory Tower makes no sense at all – the effect is unrelated to the world of Zendikar, and even the existence of an intact large building contradicts the flavor of Zendikar. In case you haven’t been reading, any structures larger than a small community/settlement is in ruins. Ivory Tower would hurt the set significantly. Armageddon might make more sense, but WotC has been saying for a long time now that they want to keep “unfun” effects like land destruction to a minimum; Armageddon would fly in the face of that. So in what way(s) would those cards “well serve” Zendikar? Do you have good reasons to make that claim, or would you just personally like to have those cards?
3) I agree on Bogardan Hellkite. He seemed weird to include in M10 (for that matter, so did Warp World, IMO).
4) “Perhaps instead of throwing Shivan Dragon out every core set, how about a replacement rare re-print like Blood Moon. If the card isn’t playable outside limited formats, then it should be enticing in some other way.”
Why? What’s wrong with a limited bomb that is only a limited bomb? If we go by that idea, LOTS of cards have to come out, like Craw Wurm, Blinding Mage, Entagling Vines, and plenty more. Or do you just mean that rares shouldn’t be limited-only?
5) “The Lorwyn planeswalkers generated more interest as an inclusion in M10 than in the set they were originally printed for.” According to whom, exactly? I seem to recall people standing up and screaming when they first-picked a planeswalker at a Lorwyn pre-release when no one in the world had them yet. I’ve personally seen no more excitement for planeswalkers at M10 events than for most of the other rares in the set.
Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but I think you need to work on your writing. You keep making these suprising, seemingly non-intuitive claims and then failing to support or even explain them. Unless you’re thinking that your statements will ring true for most people and be self-explanatory, please take the time to offer your perspective. When you just state that Ivory Tower would help Zendikar, I think you’re crazy; if you CONVINCE me that it would help, then my mind is blown.
Just my two cents, and open to rebuttal.
I guess I’ll go point by point:
1. Hey we agree!
2. Truthfully I don’t care for Armegeddon or Ivory Tower. My only suggstions was to bring something people were nostalgic about back in Zendikar. Or any other expansion for that matter. Perhaps not the best two choices admittedly, but the point remains the same.
3. Totally forced, like WotC said ‘We need a mythic red card, any ideaas?’ And somebody threw this one out. Ugh.
4. I love Shivan Dragon in limited, but the idea is to generate interest in the product. Create more space for cards that people will be happy to see any time they pull them.
5. I’m basing my ‘level of interest’ on the value of the five OG planeswalkers after each release. Sites like ebay, cardkingdom, troll and toad showed me people were willing to pay more for them after M10 came out than ever before.
2) Ah, I see – sort of like Terminate in Alara Reborn. Yeah, I think things like that are good.
4) To be fair, Blood Moon would be exciting only for constructed, while being a let-down in limited (the opposite of Shivan Dragon). Thus, it’s not really an example of something that’s always a welcome sight when you open it.
@Jiggy I don’t think anyone would read our articles if we went on about each claim we made in a given article for two or three paragraphs.
As a writer of opinion myself, I find it’s best to leave a bit hanging for disagreement in an effort to encourage commenters like your self to disagree openly!
Its all an evil plan to illicit a response from our readers. And I must say in all seriousness that you fill that role absolutely perfectly. I appreciate what you bring to the table by keeping us honest and on our toes. I hope everyone takes the time to read the conversations we have in the comment sections because I really think they add to the articles. We get to say what there wasn’t time to say in 1000 words.
So thanks again!
Thanks and you’re welcome!
To clarify my bit about explaining claims, I was more thinking of quick parenthetical references, rather than paragraphs of explanation, and only on the less “obvious” claims. For instance, if you claimed that Path to Exile was the best removal spell ever, there would be room to disagree, but no one would be baffled by the very idea, so there’s no need to explain until someone challenges you (unless that’s the subject at hand). And for the example of gauging planeswalkers’ popularity, I was picturing something more like, “… (judging by the online price trends I saw).” You know, just something to give an idea of what the train of thought was, while still leaving room for comments.
Or, if as you say you’re just trying to get your readers to be longwinded, then I guess don’t change a thing.
Reprints I want to see:
Broken Ambitions (in 2011)
Bad Moon
Counterspell
Mind Twist
City of Brass
Ernham Djinn
Sengir Vampire
I predict alot of the M10, Lorwyn, and Alara Planeswalkers won’t see a reprint in 2011. Some are just too powerful and I’m sure they’ll be pushing the newer ones from this block. I like that they still print Shivan Dragon, Serra Angel and I’d like to see Ernham Djinn and Sengir Vampire just for old times sake as Uncommons. They fill slots of better rare 5-6 drops for those of us who can’t afford or find them.
I think as long as Mind Shatter is around yout out of luck with Mind Twist. Still more likely than Dark Ritual though.
now, Plainswalker’s Mischief, that would be a fun return and it would give blue a boost that it desperately needs. While on the topic of blue:
Rushing Rivers
and Second Chance.
I loved blue for so long…
Did you really just say that blue “desperately needs” a boost? Seriously? Is it the loss of the “Faerie Menace” from Standard that’s got you down? Or is it the fact that the Power 9 includes artifacts instead of just blue spells? Blue’s trademarks (drawing and countering) were broken to begin with (Alpha), and only now, 15 years later, is blue finally starting to get appropriately balanced against the other colors/mechanics.
I have to say, that out of the four magic sites I read, (and the one I watch on Youtube) this one always has the most insightful articles on the game.
Personally, I see the Mythic slot in the core set as the perfect opportunity to throw in classics or future classics. I agree with Bogardan Hellkite being crappy Mythic. I could see it as a rare and accept it and Ball Lightning could be swapped in. If you came into the game late, you have the chance to buy them again. If you’re a 15 year+ player you have the chance to crack one in a pack again or get one with a new artwork.
@JC: I agree. There will probably be 16 Mythics all together, like in Shards of Alara. This is too many in my opinion. They could weed out some of the unmythics mentioned in a previous article here. I’d appreciate about 10-12 in a large set and 5-6 in the small sets. But then again, I have a negative attitude to Mythics in the general, though.
Let’s not forget the chance for a veteran player to throw some of those old classics in Standard legal decks.
Its a small reward for holding onto your cards for a while.
I agree, cancel has been way overdone. I don’t mind Bogardan Hellkite, though, it was arguably mythic-worthy and certainly a lot of fun to play if you actually got it out. All in all, I guess I’m in favor of reprintng a few cards in each set, but not too many. I’d like to see Life and Limb here; Scapeshift would be good too.