Preview season really is the best. I skipped the last few sets because A) ew, alchemy and B) Lil Liliana is definitely more of a howler than Chandra was. But as we pull out of the first 60 days (still objectively terrible) it’s time to look forward to something fun!

CLeaving Skyrider

I am loving what these off-color kickers are providing! So our floor is a 3-mana 2/2 flash flying. That is… a card. It’s fine. Rarely exciting, unlikely to “flash in and eat an attacker” but it’s fine. But there is a very interesting kicker that turns it into a mini-Kavu. So if you’re attacking with three creatures, the Skyrider can be cast to deal three damage. Sweet! This can be used before blocks to remove a blocker or maybe in response to a trick. Note that the Skyrider itself isn’t attacking. It can also go straight to face or a planeswalker. That said, this is a classic “win-more” card, in that if you have good attacks, the Skyrider makes those attacks even better. As such, it’ll play in any aggressive white deck and provide a sweet little high-end if the red splash is available.

Variable playable

Yotia Declares war

Yes! You will respect the Yotian Soldier, as the stat line of 1/4 Vigilance for 3 mana was actually fairly respectable during the Clinton administration. Apparently the saga gives you an Ornithopter instead, which is a bit of a flavor fail, but I’m still excited.

Where was I? Okay, this Saga has a lot going on, depending both on board state and if you want to fast-forward. If played out in a vacuum, you’ll get an 0/2, ping a creature for 1, and then turn that Ornithopter into a 4/4 flier for one turn. That is probably worth a card, barely.

But that’s not all. If you have other artifacts in play, suddenly you are dealing a lot more damage. There appears to be some fairly playable artifacts at common, so it’s not unreasonable to have this reliably churn out , 2-4 damage. Finally, the flexibility of “Read Ahead” can turn it straight into dealing the damage or boosting a creature to 4/4 if that’s the final edge you need to get over the finish line. All said, I think this will find a home in an aggressive red deck that has a good number of artifacts, but I’m not taking it early to try and make it work.

Variable Playable

Phyrexian Espionage

Hoo boy, I am not looking forward to this. A Divination with a nice kicker that takes your opponent’s card is pretty flexible. This can be the turn-3 play to go looking for lands or a late-game topdeck that draws you into action while potentially sniping opponent’s best card.

It’s important to note that it’s not at instant speed, which matters a lot. A classic play pattern is holding the mana open for a counterspell, and if your opponent passes the turn, cast the card-draw spell on end step instead. What keeps this from being a best common is that you really can have too many of these, but the overall potential power of a 3-for-1 at common is to be respected. Keep a land in your land if you don’t have to play it out.

Variable Playable