General (BLB) Bloomburrow Spoilers

A new mechanic which is a tweak on a mechanic from 2013
This is probably Heroic or Battalion. Given the fact that we've seen a couple of cheap spells that target, my guess is that this is a Heroic variant with the Nadu templating of "Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability..."

• Two mechanics that came out in the same set return each part of a different two-color archetype
I heard someone speculate that these were Scavenge and Populate. However, I think it is also possible that these are two mechanics from Khans– we know Otters are going to have a prowess subtheme, so we may see Raid, Ferocious, Outlast, or Delve headlining a different archetype.

• The word “Squirrels” shows up four times in rules text
Notably, this is the word "Squirrels" plural, not "Squirrel" singular. This means that we're potentially getting multiple cards that buff a board's worth of Squirrels or otherwise utilize a bunch of squirrels for value.

• A mythic cycle with a new symbol
>New Symbol
Remembers the last time this happened in 2016
>{c}
images

PTSD_Chihuahua_Banner.jpg


A noncreature subtype makes its first return
My guess is that these are either Traps, Classes, or maybe a Planeswalker type.


• One of the cutest mechanics we’ve ever made
I think the mechanic will have something to do with this token:
blb-beadle-grimms-bloomburrow-token-set-includes-a-v0-mvf4sf0pfspc1.png

I'm not sure what the mechanic would do exactly, but I would guess that it lets you create a 1/1 copy of the creature.

Also, you left out the creature types and card names!

Here are some creature type lines from the set:

• Creature – Hamster Citizen

• Creature – Frog Advisor

• Creature – Skunk Assassin

• Creature – Raccoon Berserker

• Creature – Squirrel Warlock Bard

• Creature – Rabbit Mouse

• Legendary Creature – Badger Warrior

• Legendary Creature – Weasel Mercenary

• Legendary Creature – Elemental Elk

• Legendary Creature – Bird Dragon

Finally, here are some names in the set:

• Crumb and Get It

• Festivals of Embers

• Hop to It

• Kitnap

• Playful Shove

• Polliwallop

• Rabid Gnaw

• Shrike Force

• War Squeak

• Wishing Well

This set looks very cute. Hopefully the cards end up being good!
 
Some exciting things here!

——

Coin counter
Flood counter
Stash counter
Supply counter

We have seen flood on lands becoming Islands. Could it be something else? Stash and supply sounds a bit samey but I am very excited to see what they came up with. And coin counter sounds flavorful. Some merchant?

——

A noncreature subtype makes its first return

Sad if it’s just planeswalker subtype like Train suggested.
Could it be Siege? (Battles)
I think we are still 1 year too early for more Battles.

——

A mythic cycle with a new symbol

Wooooooow. That’s both pretty scary and pretty exciting! Could it be the official introduction of Acorn symbol?

——

The token Train uploaded above me

Again, wow!

Super complex mechanic if the entire token wording needs to be written out on the token-producing cards.

Could this be the scroll mechanic? These tokens enter the hand and have to be paid to cast?

Of is it just the offspring mechanic? You can get copies of tokens somehow.

I think the mana cost written at the bottom is to not confuse these with real cards that can be included in decks. But there must also be a reason why it has a cost.
 
Sad if it’s just planeswalker subtype like Train suggested.
Could it be Siege? (Battles)
I think we are still 1 year too early for more Battles.
Battles would be cool. However, I think the designers will probably use a new subtype for single-faced Battles next time we see them. That's the main reason I didn't include Sieges in the list!

Of is it just the offspring mechanic? You can get copies of tokens somehow.
That's my thought. Maybe it's like Embalm but copying a creature on the battlefield, or Eternalize but the tokens return as 1/1s? Maybe it's a combination of both, where you copy the creature but it's a 1/1. That would make sense for the Warren Warleader since a three-mana 1/1 is such a bad base rate.
 
• A noncreature subtype makes its first return

Ignoring planeswalkers, battles and tokens (and digital-only / silver-bordered sets, because let's be real here), our options are Arcane, Cartouche, Case, Fortification, Lair, Lesson, Rune, and Trap. If I had to guess, it'd probably be Lair?
 
Ignoring planeswalkers, battles and tokens (and digital-only / silver-bordered sets, because let's be real here), our options are Arcane, Cartouche, Case, Fortification, Lair, Lesson, Rune, and Trap. If I had to guess, it'd probably be Lair?

Locus!! Cave!!
 
Ignoring planeswalkers, battles and tokens (and digital-only / silver-bordered sets, because let's be real here), our options are Arcane, Cartouche, Case, Fortification, Lair, Lesson, Rune, and Trap. If I had to guess, it'd probably be Lair?
I would guess Blood (for the bats) or Junk (for the racoons) actually!
 

Onderzeeboot

Ecstatic Orb
That sounds flavorful.

The problem is Blood tokens have already had a return so this cannot be their first return.
Huh, they did. Several times actually. Exsanguinator Cavalry, Transmutation Font, and Shilgengar, Sire of Famine all used Blood tokens.

I would guess Blood (for the bats) or Junk (for the racoons) actually!
Junk tokens for Raccoons would be very funny though, I like that! Obviously it's more red than green, but Fallout had Break Down and Gunner Conscript, so it's probably fair game as long as it's flavorful, and who doesn't associate trash panda's with junk?! :)
 
Blood tokens in white would be more of a weird fit. I know there is one precedent and they've let off-color rummage happen for set mechanics, but still. I believe it's Junk.

Btw, when today in European time will the debut stream start? Has been a while since I watched one of these with all the hat-sets.
 

Onderzeeboot

Ecstatic Orb
Btw, when today in European time will the debut stream start? Has been a while since I watched one of these with all the hat-sets.
You’re a week early!

“Once we close the pages of Bloomburrow's story, we'll kick off previews with the Bloomburrow debut stream at 9 a.m. PT (12 p.m. ET) on July 9, 2024. Tune in on the official Magic: The Gathering YouTube channel and twitch.tv/Magic, followed by the aftershow on WeeklyMTG.”

So Tuesday, 9th of July, at 18:00 CEST.
 
I love hugs and I also love this card! I might try him! Seems like a natural fit for… wait for it… Wildfire! :)
Huh, I actually still run Wildfire/Burning and was interested in finding a powered down Minsc & Boo replacement. Maybe this is it?

I completely agree with @LadyMapi , I don't love this design or the direction of it. But I may be tempted to run it anyway.
 
I'm so dang sick of "here's a big guy that also gets you a bunch of card/mana advantage".

Especially since I'm really not sure of how they went from "look at this H U G E badger beating up a skeleton monster with his bare paws" to "we took Exploration, upped the cost to {G}{G} so that we could make it a 5/5 trample, and then stapled Commune with Lava on top of that".
While I generally agree that they add too much to cards, a 5/5 trample for RRGG is pretty reasonable, the X="a lot" will be extremely rare due to the base cost of 4, and the Exploration is hitting pretty late for any format that isn't an Eldrazi or Wildfire cube.

I don't actually think this card is very good. It's certainly not bad, but I don't find it offensive. I'll probably run it. I like ramp, I like X spells, and I like RG beaters that don't get chumped by Spawns/Scions.
 
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