Posted on: July 11, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 1

We just started playing Magic: The Gathering after the 2012 Core Set dropped, and have noticed that this year has had a number of impressive releases by Wizards of the Coast. Whether it was the addition of the Graveborn deck to the Premiunm Deck Series or the Venser Vs. Koth Duel Deck, players have been able to access a wide array of gameplay styles and see the diversity of game play elements and styles.

The Core Set is a collection of old and new cards alike, and it has brought three clans – Cats, Merfolk, and Goblins – back to the fore. There are two new planeswalkers – Ajani, Caller of the Pride (which allows +1/+1 counters, a one-turn double strike, or a number of 2/2 cat tokens), Liliana of the Dark Realms (which tutors Swamps, buffs or hinders creatures, or ramps black mana considerably), dual lands (coming into play tapped if they are the first land out), and some game-shattering artifacts.

We’re a big fan of Akroma’s Memorial, which gives a player’s creatures a bevy of abilities (flying, first strike, vigilance, trample, haste, and protection from black and red sources), but Sands of Delirium allows players to mill their opponents to death. Krenko, Mob Boss is a legendary creature and will drastically bolster the amount of goblins that one has on the board. Talrand, Sky Summoner is similarly strong and works in tandem with Innistrad’s Snapcaster Mage – every time one casts an instant or a sorcery, they can put a 2/2 flying blue drake on the battlefield.

The intro deck that we received is a blue/red deck that builds off of the resurgent Merfolks, headed up by the aforementioned Talrand, Sky Summoner. The deck is able to provide players with a great beginning point, while the move to two booster packs in the intro pack makes it easy to bolster the deck. Make sure to pick up a box or two of Magic 2013 when it drops down on shelves at the end of the week.

Rating: 9.5/10

Magic: The Gathering: 2013 Core Set / http://www.wizards.com / http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Default.aspx

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