General [SOS] Secrets of Strixhaven Testing/Includes

[Brad]

This is a testing/includes thread. Post pictures using /ci or a text list using /c with what cards you plan to include and what cards you plan to test.

Every New Card
Main Set
Commander
Mystical Archive

Did anyone here learn any secrets?

Disappointed to see them change 4 of the 5 main tokens from the plane. Adds more tokens to the token box as well as making cards slightly more confusing if you run both Pests, for example.

Life gain might finally be on the menu.

WotC is loving that they learned how to split the text box in half with Adventures, Omens, and Prepare.

Spoiler: Eldrazi Cube Maybes

I'm currently reworking my wheel to be 5 pairs/triplets instead of 10 pairs so that there can be a "Green Eldrazi" focused part of the wheel and a White part of the wheel that doesn't care about Eldrazi rather than trying to make some of these color combinations work that are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

That said, I'm definitely eyeing the enemy wheel and one other potential wheel right now. As such, my "maybes" section here has a lot of multicolor cards that only make it if they're in the final wheel. WB, RW, and GU are all definitely making it. I'm also not sure of my archetypes, so anything that's possible makes my list here.

I also have a strong interest in Onslaught creature types, so a few cards might make the list that normally wouldn't if they weren't a Bird Elf Wizard.

The token cards in this set haven't motivated me to expand my token pile, so none of those will make this list.

 

[TekLazar]

Been awhile since I've had so many cards to add, usually I will have one to two a set.

Upgrading Urban Evolution, which was always a decent card for the ramp deck, but I like having my other simic deck hold up counterspell mana and then punishing when opponent passes, I want my guild cards to be a bit more competitive rather than having it always wheel to one deck. Also having two new charms for the guilds with the least options is sweet.
Testing

Skycoach is my only prepared card, so I might cut, but having the reminder text helps it a lot. I like a restoration angel that doesn't break with my pet card kiki-jiki, mirror breaker, and it's cool that you can set up on an opponent's turn.
Traumatic Critique is in over Ral's Outburst which basically no one played, and I think having a slightly narrower abandon attachments is a good floor, but it might be a smidge strong compared to my izzet charm? Idk, probably overthinking, the izzet deck will happily play both.
Quandrix is in as an occasional, could see it cut if too strong, but ramping Maelstrom Wanderer into it is a dream I want to see at least once.

 

[ravnic]

9Not too much this time. I am trying to resist token creep too and I also decided to not go for prepare for now.

Core

Certainly:



Shattered Acolyte is worse than Cathar Commando, but I was searching for a swap that allows me one more cheap lifegain source, so I'll play the new dwarf instead.

And of course I am delighted to finally play all ten bicycle lands, no proxies, and I even like these two's artworks.

Maybe:



Muse Seeker has the best chances to maybe replace Enclave Cryptologist. Wander off is just an elegant removal option with beautiful art.


Occasionals

Certainly:



Practiced Scrollsmith is now the closest to a red-white prowess card. I'll play it to signal that theme better but it will be replaced at some point, hopefully. Primary Research is a cool way to occasionally make white appear in graveyard decks.

Maybe:



A bunch of cool black cards, wow, but I still think I currently love all my black occasionals more. Izzet could get a cool wrath.

I am most hyped on Killian's Confidence, because it so beautifully links white prowess and black ninjas, potentially signalling a cool aggro deck.

 

[Nanonox]

This set singlehandedly has me adding back my instant and sorcery matters payoffs as a couple of cards are just so perfect with what the cube is doing. In addition, there is a high number of cards that I think will stay for a long time, which is quite rare!

For now, I am passing on the Prepared mechanic. I'm not a huge fan of the frame alongside Adventures and I already run most of the nostalgic cards offered (Bolt, STP, Demonic Tutor, Channel, Regrowth and so on).

Slam dunk



Tidecaller and Seeker fit so well with the spell velocity, discard and GY themes in my environment. They come down early, when it matters, and let you churn through your deck (or even win with Tidecaller). They have land matter equivalents in Rydia, Summoner of Mist and Hedron Crab, but I appreciate the redundancy.

Fractal Anomaly has the potential to be huge, especially with draw 7s and give Blue more counter cards to go alongside Proft's Eidetic Memory. Being a noncreature creature is perfect for this color and is what I want Orcish Bowmaster to be (the Orc token, not the pinging!).

Flashback gives Red more recursion at a very cheap cost. Using Storm cards again has me most excited, but even a Time Warp can be impactful. Also has leave the GY implications for the next card.

Academic's rate is strong and brings a welcome free discard outlet to White decks. The star of the show is the leave the GY trigger, as pumping out counters is a powerful ability. It's also a welcome GY matters card in White. I don't have any persist combos, but if I did, I would include it alongside Luminous Broodmoth.

Excited to test



I know Plumb the Forbidden already exists and is an instant, but I find myself excited by the prospect of killing the opponent during a big turn. It's essentially a Blood Artist effect if you want it to be or a set up piece.

Maybe



I like hitting PW and not exiling more than Path to Exile, but I am hesitant to cut classics.



Another solid GY hate piece, not sure I need another Heritage Reclamation.



Ral does a lot of cool things in Black decks. I don't know if I want to slot him above other 3 MV Liliana's tough (and his art is ass).

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Wanted to shoutout two cool designs from the Commander decks that don't fit into this cube project



The Bull cares about mana value, not mana spent and isn't capped to once a turn. Meaning a Gush or something can be brutal (+10 damage!). Also works with 0 mana suspend cards fwiw.

Spirit is a cool clone effect that scales nicely.