Elvish Archers

"Remember when this guy was a great two drop?"-Saikuba, Gatherer Comment.

Designed back when off-color abilities got bumped up in rarity, Elvish Archers was for a while considered a great two drop. After all, First Strike is a great ability, and in the color of combat tricks can help take out Juzam's, Erhnams, and even a blocking Shivan. 

I recently built a deck experimenting on first strike and combat tricks, and the archer was front and center of it. After all, in it's time, it was considered a green staple, able to take on many other two and three drops people were realistically dropping in 93-94. 

So how does it fair to the high tuned decks people are running in 2020? Why don't we find out.

Twang

Playability: A 2/1 for two is considered mana efficient since it's power is equal to its mana cost. First Strike is a good ability, and allows it to trade with the likes of knights. It can even kill a Hippy, if it encounters the flying bastard. Its converted CMC is two, but it's a 1G, which unlike the knights, is splash able. This gives it an amazing ability to be built into a multicolored deck. Numerous combat tricks, and several aura's can be used to help it. These include Giant Growth, Bloodlust, Rightousness, and Unholy Strength to name a few. Unlike the knight, it can be pinged, which might not seem like a big deal, but in a format with Pestilence, Icatian Javeliner, and the might Tim, that's a huge liability. Finally, in green, is no lords or crusade style effects. I feel if Elvish Champion or even Kaysa had existed in the format, I could justify giving it a 4, but as it is, its playability is 3/5.

(This rating also applied for A40, where it is a 1/2).

We wouldn't get a proper elf lord until 1999

Art: Anson Maddocks never fails in his art. His art always had a very dark and gritty feel, and the Archers is easily one of his best. The slim muscles, the pale skin, the tattoo, the bow, his depictions of elves are different from the high polished looking elves that were popular in fantasy at the time. The background elements of green and yellows functions very well. There vague enough to capture the imagination, while functioning as a good setting for the Elf. Normally I reduce a point when a plural creature depict a single creature, but Maddocks piece is just to perfect to do that to. 5/5

Flavor: The First Strike actually comes from the fact that it's an archer. Although very quickly the flavor mechanic of being an archer became pinging attacking or blocking creatures or as well as creatures that block flying creatures. However in the context of of what a bow does, it works. Sure, it doesn't work on Knights, wolves, or people with lances, but the flavor in Magic is never perfect. The two power also comes into the context of better weapons. The real icing though, is the amazing flavor text, which features a reference to the Battle of Thermopylae, where the line "we will fight in the shade" is attributed to King Leonidas of Sparta, when the Persian arrows blackened the sky. This bumps the flavor to 4/5.

12/15=4/5. Sure, there's certainly better creatures to throw into your deck. Without tribal support, it's just a 2/1 with a combat ability. The knights outclass it, across the board, as does Kird Ape, and arguable Drudge Skeletons. However, it's a solid creature, and an icon for a reason. Next time you throw together a green deck, try it out. It'll earn it's spot.  

The Wayfarer: A M:tG Short Story (Chapter 1)

Every morning started the same. He woke to the roosters, he crawled over his siblings, wiped the sands from his eyes, and greeted the day. He walked out, to see the first rays of dawn, and he might feed the chicken, or let the cattle loose or dress the horses or if you were lucky, he would get to check the perimeter, which was his favorite job, because he could drag it out all morning long.

It had been ten years, as of last month, since his father had left Benalish City. Ten years since he left the luxury of bread smothered in butter and fresh food cooked deep in spices. However to the young man, every morning felt like a lifetime. He hated it.

"Son, get a move on it, I want you to help your sisters feed the chickens and carry the milk. Then after breakfast, you are to work until sunset on the timbers. I want to see a mountain by sunset."

Too tired to argue, he went with his two sisters. The older one, just two years his junior, had started to bloom in a lovely young woman. It sadly, had come with an attitude as well. The younger sister, was about nine if his math was correct, because she was born on the stead shortly after the move. As far as he was concerned, she wasn't a Benalkin. However, she was blood, and he did love her, even if he thought lesser of her then the other sister.

The older sister, Alesha Croger, had developed something of a 'bad streak', and she would lack on her chores to chase adventure, and the younger sister would gleefully follow. So he was more akin to to a warden, making sure the two did their early morning work, then about helping them. Though they never were kind enough to not request his muscle when he was following them.

He would carry the bags of seed, the buckets of milk, and even, if needed, hold the cow in place, if the cow wasn't cooperating, but that wasn't common. The two girls would gossip among each other, talking in whispers and giggles. He couldn't imagine what exactly they were gossiping about, they never went anywhere.

As the morning started to rise, the sky went from black, to purple to blue, and he knew, breakfast would be ready soon. "Hey girls, any idea what mom is cooking for breakfast?" Alesha shrugged her shoulders "how am I suppose to know, I've been with you this whole time." "I heard her tell Juscon to go with her to the coops, and since we still have some of that pig left, along with some potatoes in the basement I'd guess eggs with ham or bacon jerky, with a side of potato. You know, what we always have!"

The two laughed, as they moved their buckets from the last set of cows, and shooing them off to the field. "Who is supposed to watch them today?" "No one, dads letting the bull out with them, said he'll need some calves for winter, they'll be able to watch them for the time being". "Dammit!" he cussed as he picked up the buckets "Shouldn't you be doing this you milk maids?" "Oh but we're too delicate. How would we become respectable women if we were to work too hard!" More giggles commenced from both of them, as he hulked back to the house "Yeah, only because you two can't be trusted to do your work on your own. I have my own shit to do."

"Please, you're the laziest of all of us" said Alesha "you just want an excuse to go 'do the perimeter' and catch an extra hour of sleep behind the barn". He scowled, knowing that she knew complicated things, and he wondered if she had told their father. It might be why he sent him on these morning tasks. Were they actually a warden for him?! There was no time to wonder about it. He could do that later.

"Gabriel, may you protect over us. May you bless our food, as you've blessed our harvest, and slay evil as it comes near us, and may you give us strength equal to that of your Angelfire. Amen".

The patriarch ended his prayer, the bread was broken, and the meal officially started. The bread was old, preserved in the basement safe from sun light. It kept it free of mold, but not from going hard/ It was dry, tasteless and hard.

"Mother, where is the butter?" moaned Joscun. He was a year younger than the second sister, still a child, but a surprisingly hard working one. Then next to him were two twins, both only five, who followed about the father, as he did whatever tasks he felt he needed to do for himself.  "Alesha hadn't churned any in some time, nor has Alexa, which is distinctly one of their jobs". The mother was once a woman of distinction, and while she now lived as a peasant, her attitude was still that. She gave a cold scorn at the two daughters, and it could be felt to everyone at the table. "I'm sorry... I'll...I'll make sure it gets done! I promise me and..." "NO!" yelled the matriarch "YOU WILL GET THAT TASK DONE! Alexa will be tasked with doing some spring cleaning and laundry here." "But mother" "DID I STUTTER!" The two sisters hung their heads in shame and said in synchronicity "No ma'am." "...and when your done with the butter, help your sister with the laundry, it's been a long winter..."

"This is why I married your mother" a deep light hearted chuckle came from the other side of the small table. The father was a large man, with big forearms, and a stomach just as large. He wasn't always so large, but since finding the farm, he's eaten well. He claimed he might have eaten more while in Benalia, but he didn't eat nearly as well. He dunked the bread in his milk, waiting for it to grow soft before chewing into it. "Honey, since you'll have so much time today, why not taking the cauldron and making a stew. You know the type I like."

"Why don't you make your own stew..." she mumbled. She might complain, but whenever he requested a meal, she made it, no matter how unpractical it was, or how much time it takes to prepare, she cooked it, for at the end of the day, she loved him. That much was true, and it showed.

"Joscun, you're tasked with getting me water, I'm going to need lots of water, please finish quickly". The father chuckled as he finished his meal "please, it can't wait until he's done, the day is young! Gabriel, I really need you to start on that wood, it might be early spring now, but it will be Winter soon, and we got lucky last winter, it was temperate. Don't forget your sword, the saw, the ax, the hatchet, and most importantly, water. Take my water skin with you also, can't be to careful".

"Father" said Gabriel with a smile "who's watching the sheep". "Well the twins". Everyone stopped. Never before, since the two young boys had started to walk, had they left the mans side. "They can walk, they can talk, they can sit on the hill and watch the cattle. If danger was to arise, I won't be that far away. I'm going to do some repairs on the house." He looked at the two children, who's eyes had lightened with a gleam of purpose. "Can I trust this important task to you two?" "Yes Sir!" they said.

The two got up, grabbed toy wooden swords, and ran out the door. "See why can't you all be that enthusiastic! Especially you Gabriel. Now, everyone, you have your tasks!" He stood up "Gabriel I'll come check on you sometime past high noon, and I'll bring you food, as for the rest of you, your mother is in charge of your tasks, and as you know, she's not as forgiving as me... haha..." his laugh could be heard as he disappeared.

Everyone got up, to their tedious tasks. They shambled to them, lack of enthusiasm would be an understatement. Gabriel got his stuff, a necklace of great personal importance, his sword, his hatchet, the saw, the ax, his and his fathers water skin, and a stolen bit of jerky from breakfast. He then proceeded to the well, to see Joscun working the well. Though Joscun was admittedly young, he was a runt, and a mothers boy. He had little in terms of masculine skills, instead working with the mother on various chores. Their father claimed the poor winter in which he'd been born was the reason for his lackluster mannerism, and had hoped he would outgrow it as he had gotten older.

"Boys sometimes come out a little queer in the beginning, but then grow out of it. My younger brother was a runt, but by the time we were men, he could kick my ass... o' course we were in the service, maybe I'll let him get conscripted..."

That memory rang in his head as he watched the boy struggle to simply get water from the well. "Hey, fill up my skins will ya'" "Do it yourself..." he spat as he grabbed the large bucket, and struggled to carry it back to the house. "Damn wimp" he mumbled "One day I'll kick his ass" he bitched as he pushed down the lever. The cool water rushed out of the spout, pouring all over the skins. It was rather wasteful, more water probably spilled out into the sod then in the skins.

Not that he cared, quiet frankly, he hated it. The hard work, the blistering sun, the isolation of the stead, the dry stale bread. He was old enough to remember living in the Eternal City of Benalia. He day dreamed about what was, and what could have been, often. The lumber work dragged on slow, the temperature increased, and before he knew it, his shadow had indicated it was high noon.

His father said he'd check 'after high noon', but he would probably not show up at all. He figured as good a time for a respite as any. He rested onto the back of the saw'd logs, and grabbed the necklace. It was a wolf with seven teeth, with special shines included onto it. Though he admittedly didn't know how it was made, he knew it told his family lineage, with each blood line among Clan Croger, having slightly different designs of shines and glares. The secret behind the making of each family seal was fiercely guarded secret among an order of artisans, that according to his grandfather, had served the empire since the times of Torsten Von Ursus.

He had been wearing it in secret since they day they left. He could never understand why though, why leave the comfort of luxury. Why change exotic foods, buttered bread, sweet juices for the foods of commoners. Sometimes he closed his eyes, and thought about those days. He'd think of memories of his friends, carelessly playing in hallways and streets, of stealing fruits from the vendors. Of warm beds, and of leisure. It was the life.... if only but a dream.

"Taking a wee nap, are we? Well was it worth it?"

"I was only... only resting my eyes."

"Well open your damned eyes, it's dark, you've been resting your eyes for how long? Ah I guess it's no problem, no harm no foul, after all, I should have checked on you, its okay, just glad you're okay, we was worried about you when you never showed up for some stew."

His eyes shot open, the thought of food overcame the want for rest, and he saw the monster he called his father towering over his slumped form.

"Yeah thought that would wake you up. We saved you a bowl, but it's going to be cold, hope that doesn't bother ya to much. Your mother insisted on cleaning the cauldron. before it got dark. and well, we were hungry. I just assumed you were up here working diligently and lost track of the time. No big deal though, I remember I was "

"Yeah... I'm sorry, help me up?"

The two latched hands, and in the glint of the new moons, the wolfs teeth shined.

"Why you still wearing that relic around kid? I told you, we ain't Benalkin anymore. We no longer citizens of Benalia City. Instead you should take pride in our home here in the wilderness of the Kb'Briann Highlands. I'd like you to inherit this land, after all, you're my oldest."

There was something that clicked, something primal, within his soul. His father started walking towards the stead "come on, before one of your siblings steal your stew, I made sure to save ya some bread to, can't have stew without it."

"No."

"Excuse me? You say something?"

"No, I'm not going to inherit this place, I want to go back to Benalia",

"Kid, the heat must have made you go daft. You're still young, you don't know what you want."

"I... I want to taste warm bread with melted butter and cinnamon! I want to eat exotic foods from countries I never heard of, and drink fine wine, not things you made from what spoiled in our basement. I want to be surrounded by beautiful women, and have purses heavy and thick".

"The way you're talking, it's not the only thing you want that's heavy and thick. Did your soul get mixed up with your brothers!" He laughed hardy and said "come home, I will open a bottle from my collection, we can talk it over your dinner."

"No I don't want that rock hard bread! I want real food!"

"Don't bad mouth your mothers cooking or I'll beat you all the way home"

"I'd like to see you try you old man! I'll, I'll leave! I will!"

"You'd just do that, leave your siblings, your parents, at the start of the harvest? What kind of coward are you! Where would you even go!"

"I'd go home! It's only across The Domains! I have a sword, I can read and write! I have all I need"

"Don't be a fool, you're no wimp, but you overestimate your abilities kid. Think about it, your sister is better at the sword then you! You'd honestly not even last a week. You'd wind up a bandit at best, and at worse, a slave. Now this is your last warning, come on or by Gabriel I swear..."

"What?! What will you do!"

"You think you're that strong, go ahead, walk out, see what happens. I'll see ya tomorrow night! I almost guarantee that."

He turned around, spat on the dirt, collected his sword and his largely untouched water skin, and stormed towards the nearest civilization he knew.

"Son... wait!"

He heard his father rush towards him. Perhaps he was going to offer him a hug, for luck, and good tidings. He turned around, his arms outstretched. He instead found a hand pull down his necklace.

"This will offer you no protection! Now get lost! You'll be back."

The two walked in opposite directions, no words were said, no goodbyes, no prayers. Gabriel insisted he would never return.

My musings on stonehands

Enchant Creature spells were in a weird place in early Magic, as they kept trying to one up them for additional mana. Holy Strength got favorable destiny, the wards got the scarabs, and Firebreathing got Stonehands.

When I decided the deck would be a 95 deck (bad idea, Dwarven Traders weren't worth it), but this meant I could replace my Firebreathing with Stonehands, a little known three drop enchant creature spell from Ice Age that gave the firebreathing mechanic as well as an additional +0/+2. In theory, that's great, a format with tons of burn based removal, two additional points of toughness can make a threat. Plus it even fits the theme better, showing dwarves utilizing their magic over the earth.

That's where the issue comes in. With the exception of the Lieutenant and Shivan Dragon, every dwarf in the deck had one toughness which meant they were still well in Lightning Bolt range. Shivan Dragon obviously doesn't need the +0/+2, which leaves only the Lieutenant, which already has it's own, more expensive, but more versatile version of the mechanic. Then there was the cost. Three mana is a lot more then one. Even in a deck running multiple mana flares. Since the primary goal was to make my dwarves unblockable with the Warriors, it was a noble goal, but three additional power, even temporary is probably better than +1/+2.

I guess at the end of the day, this isn't a bad aura, so much as its bad in my deck. I can see it working well in something stronger, like a troll deck, or even orcs. However, the Lollipop Guild is just a little to weak.

Dwarven Lieutenant: The Foreman of the Lollipop Guild

When designing Dwarf tribal, the obvious guy would be the only piece of tribal synergy allowed in the format (Dwarven Pony and Heartwolf aren't legal in OS), so it was obvious, if I was going to do this, I needed to include him. So why did I even want to do this, well that's a story for another article.

Playability: Stating as a 1/2 for 2, Dwarven Lieutenant is about the average curve of a red creature at the time. He does have the Soldier subtype now, which adds a possibility of synergy, but not by much. However, a two cost firebreathing effect is pretty nice, especially since it doesn't have to target him. This allows some tribal synergy with his warrior brothers. However, so can Firebreathing, and be more effective. He can also go in for a swing, and moral the unblocked dwarf that got through. If his fellow tribe members were this efficent, I feel he'd be better, but he's only as good as the men below him, so he's sadly a 3/5. Average, but just good enough on the cusp of playability.



Art: Jeff Menges is always a favorite of mine, but his art usually lacks color. This one goes into a full spectrum of reds, grey, blue, and white. The details between the chain mail, the shadows on the ground, and even the mountains in the background. Everything in this, is deceptively simple, but amazingly distinct. Given the small size of the card frame, it's a testament so much can fit on the art, and not feel cluttered. It leaves a distinct impression on the mind, and the memory. 4/5

Flavor: Dwarves are tough, and a Lieutenant would be something of a stronger dwarf. It makes sense he along can take off a small band of goblin raiders, would be overwhelmed by stronger enemies like orcs or a Goblin Hero. His ability, while nicknamed "fire breathing" isn't actually fire breathing. Instead it represents him boosting moral to other dwarves around him. Why does it require mana? I'm not sure. These days, it would probably be a static or triggered ability. Still it works with what it is. Flavor 3/5.

Final Verdict 3/5. An average card from an average set. Still, it's luckily not a bad card. The ideal card to find in a pack, and much better then a number of Old School creatures, and that's a blessing.

Dwarven Soldiers: The backbone of the Lollipop Guild.

"There is a legend among present-day Dwarves that the Dwarves of Sarpadia will one day return to defend Dwarvenkind against a deadly peril."

This month, for the 95 tournament, I ran a Dwarven tribal deck I called "The Lollipop Guild". First to answer the question of the name. The Lollipop Guild is the name of the midgets that sing in the Hollywood classic of The Wizard of Oz. It's only appropriate that a deck composed of midgets, be named after midgets. 

"We are the Lollipop Guild...."

 While the deck did have a number of weaknesses, goblins hit harder, the deck nukes any hope of winning after I'm done shuffling, and dwarves don't fly, which means skies hit to well. However, there were a number of good plays I managed to do, and I won more then one game, even if I lost every match. This, in part, is due to the brave guild enforcers, the Dwarven Soldier. 

Pay your dues or we will break your shins.

Playability: Two power for two mana is pretty standard for the time. It lacks the one toughness of the Ironclaw Orc, but doesn't have the coward mechanic, and in a pinch, will bravely defend their planeswalker with their life. They have not just one relevant tribe, but actually two, since the GCU have the creature type Soldier, which not amazing, allows it to be synergize with both Fallen Empires lieutenants. The ability is almost relevant, as both Ironclaw Orcs and Orcish Artillery sees play in 94 proper, and Lumberjack sees play in 95. However, its more likely to be flavort ext then an actual mechanic.  Playability: 3/5.

Art: The last card I did with multiple card arts was Brasssclaw Orcs, which I disliked due to how much work was behind it, and somehow, had completely avoided doing a card that fit that, from Fallen Empires, to Alliances. However, since it's my task to review the cards, including art. I shall do it, for my adoring public. 

Douglas Shuler Art:

I always enjoyed how much this looked like Dwarven Warriors from the core set. After all, they were both drawn as Shuler. However, while this art has much going on with it, with some nice little details, it isn't as good looking as Warriors, nor is it Shulers best work. There is just alot going on in the art, and the color are drab, but that's part of it's charm, showing these are common soldiers, strong and steady. Art 3/5.

Randy Asplund Art:

"Orc must die, Orc must die... lets kill this dragon"

Randy Asplund has a long history in medieval art, and it shows. He's the ideal type of artist for early Magic: the Gathering, and it shows perfectly. This piece is no exception, and while not necessarily purely medieval like some of his art, it's certainly an old school fantasy feel, which would be perfect in an old issue of Dragon Magazine, or in an AD&D module. The color is the best part of the piece. The blond hair, the green trees, the red dragon. Even the details are distinct. The notches in the chainmail, the braids of hair, the bones on the dragon, the clouds in the sky, and even the shadow on the ground. This is easily the best of the arts. 5/5

Rob Alexander Art:

This piece of art takes Alexander out of his usual comfort zone of large landscape pieces, and instead focuses on a creature. Well, he sure out did himself with this one. The mono-chrome looks as if he's in a tunnel, with a small light source. The barely visible background elements of ropes and and stands add to the atmosphere of this piece, and while it's not technically the art, this card has the most poignant flavor text of the three, which compliments the art very well. 

"Let no one say we did not fight until the last . . . ."

—Headstone fragment from a mass grave found in the Crimson Peaks

The art helps us remember, that the Fallen Empires is meant to be a depressing set, as the end of civilizations, and this art reminds of us that. 5/5

Flavor: All the flavor texts are the same, showing the ultimately doomed dwarven civilization and it's belief that it will one day return to help present-day dwarves. The mechanics however are where it shines, being stronger fighting it's ancient enemy, the orc. The two power shows it's better training over it's warrior cousins, thanks to it's superior training. Finally, it's one toughness shows how it's ultimately doomed against it's superior enemies. 4/5

Overall (combining the average of the art) 4/5. While not the strongest card, it serves as a great common, to capture the imagination and establish a baseline. It's honestly a shame the orc/Goblin/Dwarf tribal rivalry didn't get to continue on, outside of this set. It would have been great, to establish the colors great identity. Instead in two years, dwarves and orcs were phased out of the game, and outside of one block, we wouldn't get any dwarves until a few years ago, and just two years prior for orcs. Alas, a missed opportunity. I will write another article on that. 

The Lollipop Guild was happy to have their service in their ranks.  

Premium Products

"Wizards of the coast isn't selling a game, they are selling a lifestyle."--Alvin Mason.

"The only noble card game is poker. The only noble wargame is chess"--Anonymous ca/tg/uy

Premium products are nothing new in gaming, whether it be electronic games, or table top. Things like first editions, collector editions, alternative arts, promo's, and exclusive content all plague and riddled these two similar mediums, and have for at least the last twenty years.

However I'm not here to discuss video games, but card games. Magic: the Gathering has been beseeched by an endless slew of not supplement product (which it also has had a problem with), but of premium product.

So what is premium product? Premium products are a product that isn't required to play the game, but its existence adds prestige. Things like alternative art, foils, alternative foils, and until rather recently promo's, all fall under this category.

In contrast, supplement products increase the card pool, with decks, expansions, and so forth. Admittedly, these two lines blur many times in the past, and it can be hard to distinguish them apart.

So where to begin? Well, I guess in the beginning. In the first few years of the games history there were no true premium products, sure beta was more desirable then Unl/Revised, but that was more of a flux.

Instead in the earliest days of Magic, you had promo's. Six promo's exist that originally weren't available in packs. Arena, Sewers of Estark, Windseeker Centaur, Giant Badger, Mana Crypt, and the big one, Nalanthi Dragon.

Nalanthi Dragon was originally given away as a door prize to guests of Dragon Con '94. Its art was drawn by Michael Whelan, who has famously done a number of classic album arts, and was hyped on that fact alone, at least on the cover of Duelist #3. You see, there was so much of a fan backlash over this card, and how exclusive it was, that WotC gave a second copy of it out in the issue. The argument was, that if exclusive cards like that became common, it was only a matter of time before an exclusive tournament staple was printed, that could have dire consequences. Their fears were right, Mana Crypt was a long time favorite for eternal formats, but the true side effect of ignoring this wisdom wouldn't come until the modern era.


So WotC promised this, and for the majority of the 90's, promo's were sort of a weird situation in Magic. It should be noted every other tcg/ccg of the 90's/00's had exclusive promos, but Magic remained one of the few that didn't. Sure alternative art promo's were occasionally giving out, and eventually foils.

Duelist alt art promo

Which leads us to arguably the first premium product, pack/fnm/judge foils. This made way with prerelease foils as well. Prerelease promos (and eventually release promos) are promos that have the date on them of the release stamped in gold lettering. For a long time, they were typically a powerful card in the set, a history that includes such power houses as Emrakul, Wurmcoil Engine, Shelly, Revenant, the kaldra pieces, and False Prophet. Eventually this was changed to much weaker cards, because it "had conflicting interests", before finally being completely randomized among rares (and occasionally uncommons) in the set.

The earliest Pre-release promos weren't foil.

Not that this bothered anyone at the time. They were largely just considered aspects of the game, and pulling a nice foil out of a pack was always a pleasant surprise. As long as you were getting some useful cards, it was no big deal, judges worked hard for their promo's, and getting good cards as a door prize was an awesome incentive. How much things can change in just a decade.

In that decade judge foils went from spontaneous gifts to a major business, pre-release promo's became a joke, fnm promo's even worse (at one point they were tokens). 

However, I'm losing track of myself. The first actual premium collector product you paid money for was none other then the from the vault series. These boxsets were a limited amount of time product, originally released at Gen Con, and would typically contain 15 premium/foil cards loosely following a theme, some following the theme better than others. Eventually, as time moved on, the MSRP got high on them, even before release, fueled entirely on hype and speculation, and they stopped releasing them directly to the customers at Gen Con after the third one. 

However, this was rather tame, the first time WotC attempted a play at the secondary market and forced scarcity was Commander's Arsenal. 

It came with everything a casual player could want. A neat life counter, tons of top shelf premium foils, many for the first time ever, and a fairly coated MSRP. They then sent two to every store in America and told the stores "do whatever". I remember getting into a heated argument with a LGS I frequently attended because of the absurd price he set on his copy. 

"That's what they are going for on ebay"

The other product they started pushing around this time (admittedly probably a year sooner) was the Buy-a-Box promo, which again, was simply an alternative art version of a card that already existed in the set. This eventually gave way to "buy a box premium boosters" for Ixalan block, before WotC changing a 20 year old policy. 

The set Dominaria launched with much hype. With Garfield himself at the helm, it came out with much fanfare, even from otherwise would be critics, and is probably, in my personal opinion, the best set in recent memory. It also had that boy up there, but he could only be purchased if you buy a booster box. Yes, he is literally, a booster box exclusive. However, he had a look warm reception, no the card that broke the proverbial back was this: 

This card saw major play in both type2/standard, and modern, and was only available in the Buy-a-Box promotion. With it's amazing resiliency, and the fact it was an instant, there was little that could be done against it. With it's now legitimate scarcity, it could command quite a bit of money to even pick up one, and while pocket change compared to many OS prices, for what's supposed to be the entry level format, it commanded alot. 

I forgot during this they tried their hands at "Ultra rares" (as we called them), premium cards that weren't even standard legal, but were draft able. These were "invocations" "master pieces" and "expeditions". They came with so much backlash, that they were discontinued almost as soon as they came out, and the Amonkhet ones are still some of the ugliest cards ever printed by WotC. 

However, this wasn't it. In the last two years so much product has dropped, its literally impossible to keep up with them all. Game Night, Modern Horizons, Holiday boxsets. Two "un" sets, annual commander decks, My Little Pony and other Hasbro cards, Mystery Boosters, in addition to the normal set releases for standard, and an introduction to another new format. Its honestly like WotC is trying to throw it all at the wall in an attempt to see what sticks. Almost like WotC isn't doing as well as they like to seem, of course this is just speculation and rumor except...

Yeah that's right. Between over the top 10 dollar premium packs, they drop these, the literal drop series. Each of these are sold directly to the customer, and since their introduction in November, each one is only more expensive on Hasbros online store.

The most recent features a number of fetches, and costs, at least what I'm told, around 100.00 for what amount to five fetches lands. Imagine the profit margin on that one. 

These products have come out flash sale style so quickly, its impossible for them to not be profitable. In fact so many of these have been released so fast I can't find a comprehensive list of cards for it. Seven initial drops, international women's day, year of the rat, and 9 Theros Star Gazing sets. Combine "ultimate", and that will be 19 drops in just a few months. Besides for undercutting their lifeblood of the LGS, they also lie on the honesty of their product doing well. Since these obviously have a huge profit margin, they can say "oh look, we are still growing", though few actual players are buying these products, and instead are being bought by the likes of resellers and speculators. 

The Yugioh-ification of Magic is a term that is often used to describe Magic getting to look more like YuGiOh on how it was when it launched. At that time, Magic thrived as being the best game possible, prided itself on being a thinking man's game, and not staying afloat through cheap gimmicks, and shiny cardboard, the opposite of YGO. 

YGO now prides itself as being a thin Mking man's game with a somewhat level playing field, that's chaotic in it's own constantly changing meta, while Magic survives on it's own cheap gimmicks...

Its starting to look like the later days of the comic book bubble more and more...

Editor note: I forgot about the Comic Con premium planeswalker products. Those exist I guess.

Dakkon "Motherloving" Blackblade: Article 100!!!!

"My power is as vast as the plains, my strength is that of mountains. Each wave that crashes upon the shore thunders like blood in my veins."

—Dakkon Blackblade, Memoirs

Hands down, my favorite legend in the ENTIRE GAME (not just old school) is the French Vanilla badass Dakkon "Motherfucking" Blackblade. Why? He's just a big nightmare that doesn't fly, but he's a big nightmare that doesn't fly with badass art, awesome flavor text, even more badass backstory, and who doesn't like Dakkon smacking down lesser creatures and planeswalkers?

Its strange to think, the first time I ever actually seen this card, was in the book that came with the Anthologies play set. I remember thinking "Oh shit, this guy must be a badass!" I wasn't entirely wrong, and he's been a main stay for me for sometime since then. Even now, whenever I go into an esper build, I always include him, unless, of course, he isn't legal in the format.

That's also Sol'kanar

He's pretty damn awesome, and at one time, was fairly popular. Even getting his own comic, something only a few other characters could make the claim to. So how well does Blackblade hold up to other creatures in the format? Well let's take a look down memory lane.

Playability: At 6 mana, across three colors, he comes in expensive. However, you can get alot of power at that. Assuming on average he will come into play as a 5/5, and only get bigger the longer the game goes on as long as you don't encounter Armageddon. He gets an additional point for being black, making him immune to the likes of Terror. Throw in an Equinox or Consecrate Land, and boom! You have yourself a winning strategy!

Though he admittedly lacks any form of evasion, you can always give him Flight or Invisibility (both easily within his color) or if you want to be cheeky, Fear or Seeker.

In reality, Dakkon is just an imposing, but rather cool, beater. Sure, there are other, much better beaters at the same cost, but few that can gain as big.

Playability 3/5.

Art:  Man, this is the thing that sells the card. The art on the Legends legends is rather hit or miss, but each piece by RKF stands out. However, Dakkon stands out most in my opinion. First, you have the man himself. Enough distinct visuals to capture him to the imagination, with an equal amount of vagueness to leave a taste for the imagination. The previous legend by RKF I reviewed was Kasimir, and I explained how his piece was largely blurry. No Dakkon, for the most part looks distict, and stands out from the alien background behind him. Everything outside his face is well detailed, but most importantly, his sword. Which is both extremely imposing looking, but not to the point of ridiculousness.

The alien background is just icing, making it seem like he belongs to a planet we can't entirely comprehend. The piece looks even better when blown up to it's original size, just look.

See that? Are they clouds? Probably, and the wind, unlike Jedit, the wind is consistent in this piece.This whole piece looks like he's on fucking Venus.

Art 5/5.

The holy grail itself

Flavor: To get into this, you must understand Dakkon's backstory.

I declare March 25th Dakkon Blackblade Day!

Dakkon was originally a blacksmith, and warrior, who was commissioned by the Planeswalker Geyadrone Dihada, to make a "soul drinking sword". Dakkon agreed, and every night, killed a slave, as part of the ritual to make the sword. When he realized the power of the weapon, he refused to return the blade, so Dihada took it, and stabbed Dakkon's shadow, absorbing his soul, but unleashing a Planeswalker spark in the process. Dakkon would wander the planes, searching for her, and wondering why he would be giving so much power by her, just to turn him into her enemy.

He eventually got the sword back with "The Son of Carth", and according to the blog Multiverse in Review, was involved in the Planeswalker war. The Sword would come back to relevance in the story, where it would be attempted to kill a second (Dakkon killed Chromium) Elder Dragon, Nicol Bolas.

However, the card, as printed, doesn't seem to absord souls, but it does absorb power from the land, which is where his apparent power comes from. Judging from this, and his flavor text, it can be summarized he has ultimate physical strength and endurance. While it might not match the lore very well, it works the flavor on this well enough.

Flavor 4/5.

Final Verdict 12/15. He's exactly the type of legend early magic needed. Amazing art, unique effect, and the cusp of play-ability, enough so that you would want to try it out.

As a bonus! Here are a few other official depictions of my favorite legend.

Mtg:O Avatar

Comic Poster 1

 

Comic Poster 2

 

Blackblade Reforged, by RKF.

 

Official WotC Dakkon Blackblade statue.