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.
Including:
Including if Accessible:
Testing:
This was a surprisingly light set. I was expecting there to be lots of cool Dragons and Three-Color cards here for a variety of Cubes, but most of what we got here seems pretty dialed in for retail limited or Commander. There are plenty of solid "cards for Cube" in here, but they seem to be mostly the generic stuff that could have gone into any set like Savannah Lions with a Twist or "please don't break an eternal format" Cantrip. While I was happy to see these cards here, since I want to increase the as-fan of Tarkir-themed things in my Cube, it's a bit disappointing that the "main event" of the set, A.K.A. the three-color cards and the Dragons, were on the lackluster side. For example, what on earth is going on with the Spirit Dragon cycle? Only two of them really tie in with what their clans are trying to do in this set, and one of them has such an insane drawback that it's probably just unplayable unless you cast basically no spells after resolving it. I think all of these cards are much worse designs than the Dragonlords, which is sad because I think everyone would have loved these cards if they were as well designed. The Mardu seem to be the main exception here: they have several cool cards, including the best-designed Khan and the most interesting uncommon Dragon. I think their Spirit dragon is also the coolest, if a bit underpowered. Despite this, none of the Mardu designs stick out to me as having the "star power" to become iconic like Siege Rhino or Mantis Rider from the original Khans block did in the long run. By contrast, I think the Abzan have the most well-rounded three-color card in the set, Skirmish Rhino, who is likely to make it into many Cubes by virtue of being similar to an iconic card while having more potential synergies. However, I think the rest of their three-color cards are really rough. They didn't really need the help beyond the new Rhino, but it's a shame to see.
Overall, I think this set is fine, but I don't think it has the "X factor" other recent sets like Duskmourn or Dominaria United had. I think the actual structure of the set, including the new mechanics and updated clans, is very strong, but they filled the "house" with gaudy furnishings that clash with what the ideal version of this set would have been. Hopefully, some of the cards in my (entirely too long) testing list have some staying power, but I am a bit sad there weren't more slam-dunks.
What are your plans for this set?
–GT