After taking my first stab at card reviews, I then started listening to the experts. And they have a great deal of expertise. I think some of my biggest misses were in blue. Let’s take a look. Here were my top three:

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I was putting a high priority on Things in the Graveyard. And while I stand by that for the Scattered Thoughts card advantage and the Binding Geist’s Disturb, I think it was a hard miss on Fear of Death. Sure the milling is nice, but this is a set with exploit which makes enchantment-based “removal” even worse than usual. Who are our contenders to seize the medal podium?

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Three very interesting, very different cards. Lantern Bearer is a flying man on the front and a nice little +1/+1 aura on the back. Cruel Witness is Phantom Monster with mild upside. And Chill of the Grave is a cantrip, which puts its floor very high indeed (see Startle). To the tale of the tape!

Lantern bearer

pro

Right now it looks like this has a home in every archetype. As a 1/1 flier with added value, it loves the aggressive/aura deck in UW. However, as a cheap creature that makes great sacrifice fodder, it also is a good fit in the UB exploit deck. Assuming UG is self-mill, being a decent Disturb is great value.

con

UR is missing as an ineffective blocker + creature enchantment doesn’t scream natural fit in “spells matter”. Also, while one-drops are dreamy in the opening hand, this is a pretty sad topdeck late in the game.

Chill of the grave

pro

As mentioned above, anything that cantrips has a very high floor. Super-tapping something is usually what you want to do in an aggressive deck, but shutting down an attacker for two turns is passable in a more controlling shell.

con

Being able to do this for two mana is great. For three mana… that’s a little more steep. And only blue and black have zombies enough to reasonably guarantee the discount, which makes me worry it’s not exactly a “good common in every deck.

Cruel witness

pro

A 3/3 flier for 4 has always had a home in my heart, it’s a legit threat that needs answering. Being able to “surveil” on noncreature spells is nice little gravy as well.

con

There is a very real ceiling on the number of 4-drops you can field in a deck (unless it’s Organ Hoarder). Combine that with the UU in the casting cost and I worry about the overall utility.

winner