Power level feels a bit of a step down from 2025's sets, but that's not a bad thing. I'm really impressed with many of the designs, and it feels lovely to see flavor text so much more often than we've been used to.
I really like this guy. Dragon Sniper is in a lot of Cubes, and rightfully so. A 1mv deathtoucher with almost any other ability is Cubeable across a huge swath of power levels, which is also why I miss Grist, Voracious Larva, who was rightfully cut for being too complex and wordy.
As I've been going more into the life gain subtheme and finding it fun, I think this is a great mix of a bunch of things green wants to do, and if I end up ever going for a small elves tribal subtheme with cards like the above Champions of the Perfect and, more importantly, my beloved Galadhrim Brigade (partially as a way to retain value from jamming 3-5 mana dorks in your deck, which suck to draw late), this is even better.
I don't love a flicker that doesn't help me avoid a wrath, but I still think there's a ton to like about this card. This is basically the only mode anyone ever chose from Charming Prince on an instant. We haven't gotten another 2-drop creature with this ability before as an ETB besides, and while a dedicated flicker deck may not prefer the creature be a token, the instant speed is a big boost here to help your creatures avoid bad blocks or removal spells. Very interested in this one.
Flametongue Yearling didn't do it for me for some reason. I like Vivid a lot as a way to encourage multicolor decks, and this feels very fair, which is its biggest issue. I think I'd cube this without issue if it were a 2/1 -- Fire Imp for the modern day seems like a wholly reasonable thing to have. Still, nice design.
White doesn't really need another big dude, even if I think the more flexible options I'd generally prefer are a little too strong like Overlord of the Mistmoors. That said, I like the ability, even with the memory issue inherent. It doesn't target your opponents creatures so it gets around a lot, and is fantastic to Sneak Attack in early.
I'd rather not include it because it doesn't say what blight does, but I like what it's doing, fiddly mess and all.
I detest ability counters but I love this ability so much I may be able to overlook it. Lots of spicy things to do here, and (very) occasionally using it on your opponent's creatures is going to feel like a "get out of jail free" card. This one kicks ass on turn 2 following almost any turn 1, particularly if that t1 is a Savannah Lion type that was going to be stopped by a 1/2 or 1/3 otherwise.
If this said "non-land", it'd be the easiest include of the set. I think green should have this kind of Etali, Primal Conqueror ability. It's fun, swingy, and I like the way it scales here. Still, I'm pretty interested in this.
Spoilers below:
I love me a Death's Shadow-like, and this is almost one. This one feels less punishing, which is less exciting but more generically playable. It's maybe too much hard work to get it there, though.
I really like this guy. Dragon Sniper is in a lot of Cubes, and rightfully so. A 1mv deathtoucher with almost any other ability is Cubeable across a huge swath of power levels, which is also why I miss Grist, Voracious Larva, who was rightfully cut for being too complex and wordy.
As I've been going more into the life gain subtheme and finding it fun, I think this is a great mix of a bunch of things green wants to do, and if I end up ever going for a small elves tribal subtheme with cards like the above Champions of the Perfect and, more importantly, my beloved Galadhrim Brigade (partially as a way to retain value from jamming 3-5 mana dorks in your deck, which suck to draw late), this is even better.
I don't love a flicker that doesn't help me avoid a wrath, but I still think there's a ton to like about this card. This is basically the only mode anyone ever chose from Charming Prince on an instant. We haven't gotten another 2-drop creature with this ability before as an ETB besides, and while a dedicated flicker deck may not prefer the creature be a token, the instant speed is a big boost here to help your creatures avoid bad blocks or removal spells. Very interested in this one.
Flametongue Yearling didn't do it for me for some reason. I like Vivid a lot as a way to encourage multicolor decks, and this feels very fair, which is its biggest issue. I think I'd cube this without issue if it were a 2/1 -- Fire Imp for the modern day seems like a wholly reasonable thing to have. Still, nice design.
White doesn't really need another big dude, even if I think the more flexible options I'd generally prefer are a little too strong like Overlord of the Mistmoors. That said, I like the ability, even with the memory issue inherent. It doesn't target your opponents creatures so it gets around a lot, and is fantastic to Sneak Attack in early.
I'd rather not include it because it doesn't say what blight does, but I like what it's doing, fiddly mess and all.
I detest ability counters but I love this ability so much I may be able to overlook it. Lots of spicy things to do here, and (very) occasionally using it on your opponent's creatures is going to feel like a "get out of jail free" card. This one kicks ass on turn 2 following almost any turn 1, particularly if that t1 is a Savannah Lion type that was going to be stopped by a 1/2 or 1/3 otherwise.
If this said "non-land", it'd be the easiest include of the set. I think green should have this kind of Etali, Primal Conqueror ability. It's fun, swingy, and I like the way it scales here. Still, I'm pretty interested in this.
Spoilers below:
I love me a Death's Shadow-like, and this is almost one. This one feels less punishing, which is less exciting but more generically playable. It's maybe too much hard work to get it there, though.
. Cast a Faithless Looting and swing with a 4/4 on turn two. I am really clueless regarding constructed, but I'd be shocked if it doesn't see play, probably even in modern.
