APPENDIX E: The Rebels of Mercadian Masques

No mechanic has changed the WW strategy as much as the Rebels have. The basic Rebel can search for a creature costing one more mana than itself (which works very differently from the Mercenaries which search for creatures costing one mana less than themselves, meaning Rebels search for larger creatures while Mercenaries search for smaller creatures) and put it into play.

Former World Champion Jakub Slemr described the impact of the search ability on Mindripper: "…a new white weenie—Rebels—is quite different from its forerunners. It doesn't usually have explosive starts but it is very strong mid-late game and what is very unusual for this archetype, it creates card advantage."

The basic Rebel strategy is to build up an army (whether it is with more small creatures or with larger creatures), then attack with sheer numbers, often supported by Parallax Wave or Reverent Mantra. The search ability is best used at the end of the opponent's turn while holding searchers and mana open (and avoiding playing creatures in hand) until then, but searchers can also put surprise blockers, chump blockers, and Defiant Vanguard blockers into play during combat. Rebels can also select an appropriate creature against an appropriate deck, such as the Gliders with protection.

Ramosian Sergeant is easily the most powerful 1/1 in the Masques Block, as playing it first-turn begins the climb up the Rebel chain, and a blue player can be hard pressed to deal with the uncounterable weenies. Most Rebel players mulligan if they see a slow hand without Ramosian Sergeant.

The true power is Lin-Sivvi, however, who can bypass the higher rungs of the chain. She also recycles Rebels from the graveyard, actually allowing a player to use only one of each key Rebel (such as Defiant Vanguard or a Glider) and recycle it when it is killed. However, tournament Rebel decks had to run four copies of Lin-Sivvi to increase the chances of playing the Legend first, since copies of Lin-Sivvi that enter play die if one is already in play, due to the Legends rule.

Rebels are generally a casual deck in Type I play because they are helpless against powerful mass destruction such as Balance (and responding with a search merely kills another Rebel). Lin-Sivvi's 3-toughness protected it from cards such as Massacre in Type II, but this is in Bolt range in Type I. Rebels can still hold their own against unprepared decks, however, and can overpower a deck with less creatures or send a Nightwind Glider flying over a Keeper deck's Moat and Abyss. Note that modern decks use only three searchers: Ramosian Sergeant, Defiant Falcon and Lin-Sivvi.
 

Early Rebel deck, Warren Marsh
Pro Tour New York 1999 Finalist, Masques Block Constructed

Creatures(18)
3 Ramosian Sergeant
2 Ramosian Lieutenant
4 Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero
1 Ramosian Sky Marshal
1 Jhovall Queen
4 Steadfast Guard
3 Voice of Truth

Removal (8)
2 Seal of Cleansing
2 Disenchant
4 Parallax Wave

Other tricks (8)
4 Reverent Mantra
4 Story Circle

Land (26)
22 Plains
4 Rishadan Port

Sideboard(15)
4 Defender en-Vec
2 Disenchant
1 Distorting Lens
1 Lightbringer
1 Nightwind Glider
1 Seal of Cleansing
4 Topple
1 Voice of Truth

This deck demonstrates the Rebel chain, and some differences such as the higher land count. Also note the three protection from white angels to help against other Rebel decks, a role later filled by Rebel Informer.
 

"Grizzly Bear" Rebels, Elliot Fung
Top 8, US Nationals 2000

Creatures (20)
4 Mother of Runes
4 Ramosian Sergeant
4 Steadfast Guard
4 Fresh Volunteers
4 Longbow Archers

Enhancement (5)
4 Crusade
1 Glorious Anthem

Removal (7)
3 Disenchant
4 Parallax Wave

Others (5)
3 Armageddon
2 Reverent Mantra

Land (23)
19 Plains
4 Rishadan Port

Sideboard (15)
1 Absolute Law
1 Armageddon
1 Circle of Protection: Red
3 Defender en-Vec
1 Disenchant
1 Erase
1 Glorious Anthem
2 Light of Day
4 Wrath of God

The next step for the Rebel deck was to cut the Rebel chain short and search aggressively for the most efficient 2/2 Rebels and back them with Crusades (Later, players would consider Glorious Anthem due to the increasing number of Rebels, and because Glorius Anthem also helped Masticore). These versions could play Armageddon much like standard WW, but a next step was to use Gaea's Cradle for colorless mana to fuel the expanding army.
 

WHITE/GREEN REBELS, BEN RUBIN
Pro Tour New York 1999 Top 8, Masques Constructed

Creatures (23)
4 Ramosian Sergeant
1 Ramosian Lieutenant
4 Fresh Volunteers
1 Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero
1 Ramosian Sky Marshal
4 Blastoderm
4 Voice of Truth
4 Saproling Burst

Removal (7)
4 Parallax Wave
3 Seal of Cleansing

Others (4)
4 Reverent Mantra

Land (26)
12 Forest
13 Plains
1 Rishadan Port

Sideboard (15)
2 Arrest
1 Defiant Falcon
1 Defiant Vanguard
2 Disenchant
3 Invigorate
3 Jhovall Queen
3 Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero
1 Seal of Cleansing
 

"Rebels from the Woods," Jakub Slemr
Test deck published on Mindripper, March 29, 2000

Creatures (28)
4x Mother of Runes
4x Ramosian Sergeant
4x Ramosian Lieutenant
4x Lin-Sivvi
1x Thermal Glider
1x Nightwind Glider
2x Skyshroud Poacher
4x Masticore
4x Deranged Hermit

Enhancement (4)
4x Glorious Anthem

Removal (4)
4x Disenchant

Land (24)
4x Gaea's Cradle
3x Dust Bowl
17x Plains
 
Decks that chose to cut the Rebel chain filled the deck with other cards. Green was one choice, with the power of Blastoderm and Saproling Burst (the core of the Fires of Yavimaya Type II Deck built after the release of Invasion), especially after the banning of Rishadan Port in Masques Block Constructed made it easier to pay for Blastoderm's 2GG. An even funnier choice was to use the Skyshroud Poacher (which happened to be a Rebel) to fetch Deranged Hermit (which happened to be an Elf) and swarm the opponent with tokens that also benefitted from Glorious Anthem. (The Poacher-Hermit combo was later used in green decks without the Rebel chain altogether.)
 

Masques Block Constructed Rebels, Noah Boeken
6-0 in Worlds 2000 MBC

Creatures (18)
4 Ramosian Sergeant
4 Steadfast Guard
1 Fresh Volunteers
4 Chimeric Idol
3 Mageta the Lion
2 Blinding Angel

Removal (11)
2 Topple
4 Parallax Wave
2 Seal of Cleansing
2 Disenchant
1 Aura Fracture

Others (8)
2 Cho-Manno's Blessing
3 Ramosian Rally
3 Story Circle

Land (24)
1 Kor Haven
2 Rath's Edge
1 Dust Bowl
20 Plains

Sideboard (15)
1 Defiant Falcon
1 Rebel Informer
1 Defiant Vanguard
1 Story Circle
1 Topple
2 Voice of Truth
1 Disenchant
1 Aura Fracture
3 Wave of Reckoning
3 Last Breath

This later MBC deck kept to the abbreviated Rebel chain, and used control-oriented cards for its larger creatures. Mageta is usable despite being counter-intuitive to the Rebel strategy simply because it can win by itself, and because Chimeric Idol is unaffected by its effect. Also note that part of the chain is still in the sideboard to fetch Rebel Informer or Defiant Vanguard, a control-oriented development that would evolve Rebel to the opposite extreme after the Urza Block rotated out.
 

Invasion-era Rebel, Kai Budde
Pro Tour Chicago 2000 Champion

Creatures (26)
4 Ramosian Sergeant
2 Defiant Falcon
3 Steadfast Guard
3 Longbow Archer
4 Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero
2 Defiant Vanguard
1 Thermal Glider
1 Rebel Informer
4 Chimeric Idol
2 Ramosian Sky Marshal

Removal (8)
4 Parallax Wave
4 Wax/Wane

Land (26)
16 Plains
4 Brushland
4 Rishadan Port
2 Dust Bowl

Sideboard (15)
4 Armageddon
3 Seal of Cleansing
3 Wrath of God
3 Mageta the Lion
1 Defiant Vanguard
1 Lightbringer
 

With the entry of Invasion, Rebels emerged strong because they hardly lost anything except Masticore to the rotation of sets. The new Type II decks turned from the aggressive "grizzly bear" strategy back to a more flexible control strategy, and brought back the higher rungs of the ladder. In the face of the now playable bigger creatures of Fires of Yavimaya, they needed Defiant Vanguards to block Blastoderms, and Ramosian Sky Marshalls to fly over Saproling Burst tokens. They also turned away from green as a support color and turned to blue to counter key threats such as the new black Extinction, Tsabo's Decree. Finally, Chimeric Idol brought another playable artifact creature to help a mono white strategy in a field with Wrath of God and Wash Out.

One may infer that Kai Budde used Wax/Wane as a cheaper alternative to Disenchant because there were very few artifacts in the post-Masticore Type II. The strategy is actually more subtle, however. Kai actually needed Brushland to hedge against the Flashfires sideboarded against Rebel decks (much like Weatherlight-era red decks used Dwarven Ruins to hedge against Conversion), though the Wane was an amusing surprise that actually won him at least two games.

A striking detail is the lack of Crusades. Alex Shvartsman explained, "Kai's team chose not to play Crusades because they expected lots of Rebels. However, I find it important to beating Fires and an excellent answer to Dread of Night and Massacre—both popular sideboard cards. Crusades won me numerous matchups vs decks with red in them."
 

invasion-era Counter Rebel, Kamiel Cornelissen
Pro Tour Chicago 2000 Finalist

Creatures (13)
4 Ramosian Sergeant
2 Defiant Falcon
2 Defiant Vanguard
2 Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero
1 Rebel Informer
1 Ramosian Sky Marshal
1 Jhovall Queen

Removal (7)
1 Disenchant
2 Dismantling Blow
1 Dominate
2 Wrath of God
1 Rout

Counters (8)
4 Counterspell
4 Absorb

Manipulation (6)
4 Brainstorm
2 Fact or Fiction

Mana (26)
10 Island
8 Plains
4 Adarkar Wastes
4 Coastal Tower

Sideboard (15)
3 Prohibit
2 Fact or Fiction
2 Dominate
2 Disenchant
2 Circle of Protection: Green
2 Mageta the Lion
1 Wrath of God
1 Rout
 

Counter-Rebel was one of the early variants of the Rebel deck, and used Lin-Sivvi to search for Ramosian Sky Marshall and Jhovall Queen while defending with Counterspells. Blue manipulation also helped, and Brainstorm can be used to draw three cards and return two surplus land to the top of the library, where it is reshuffled away by the next search.

Pro Tour Chicago 2000 saw this strategy develop the Rebel deck into the complete antithesis of the original aggressive WW deck. This deck played more like a classic U/W control deck, patiently building up to a Jhovall Queen while protected by countermagic. One of WW's strengths was still evident, however. Against the faster Fires decks, Disenchants and not Counterspells saved this deck from Saproling Bursts. The deck also plays as if it has more creatures than it has, and note that Lin-Sivvi can recycle Defiant Vanguards as needed. Also note that the search abilities require only colorless mana, allowing the deck to use such a radical mana base and respond to Rishadan Ports.

The match between the more conventional, more aggressive Rebel Deck and Counter Rebel proved interesting, and highlighted various strengths of WW. In the first game, Kai dealt 14 damage with Steadfast Guards when the game swung after Kamiel Dominated his Rebel Informer. Kai then played out a swarm of weenies, hoping to deal the final 6 damage, but Kamiel played Rout. Kai's Chimeric Idol won the game soon afterward, however. Rishadan Ports clearly favored the more aggressive Rebel deck, as all three games would show.

In the second game, Kai managed to bring out all three Steadfast Guards and had dealt a lot of damage by the time Kamiel played Mageta. Kai responded with Wrath of God, then played his Lin-Sivvi. A Parallax Wave played when Kamiel had no counter swung the creature battle into Kai's second win.

The following is the report of Sheldon Menery on the last game, taken from the Sideboard:

"Game 3 was one-sided. After the two players traded Ramosian Sergeants, Cornelissen summoned a Defiant Falcon, Budde a Longbow Archer. Budde's Archer attacks were backed up by a succession of Rishadan Ports, stalling Cornelissen's mana development. After Kamiel had finally collected enough mana-and tapped out-to search for Lin-Sivvi, Kai summoned Mageta, the Lion.

"On the ensuing turn, Cornelissen searched for another Rebel, forcing Budde to use the Mageta's ability. Interestingly, he discarded an Armageddon and a Chimeric Idol, a clear signal that he still held an Armageddon in his hand. This was not the case. He held onto a backup Mageta, a Wrath of God and another Port, a move that he later reflected upon as a mistake. The three Ports and the Mageta were serving well enough, however, beating Cornelissen down to 7.

"After Cornelissen had summoned a Ramosian Sergeant, blocked the Mageta and tapped most of his mana to search, Budde seized the day. He used his remaining Port to tap the Cornelissen's last blue mana source at the end of combat. He then played what he had drawn that turn, and spoke dramatically its German name: "Gotterdammerung." Armageddon. For Kamiel Cornelissen, the land, like the day, was no more, and Kai Budde was crowned Champion of Pro Tour Chicago 2000."

Years and over a dozen expansions later, WW's most classic trick still won it the day.

However, a third Rebel strategy was also represented at Pro Tour Chicago 2000, a more moderate Counter Rebel. Alex Shvartsman was one of the highest-ranked players with this version (at 9-4-1 when he conceded the final match to give Zvi Mowshowitz a chance to reach the Top 8 when he realized he no longer could), and he explained, "The main reasons for adding the second color to the deck are the specific anti-Rebel hate cards, especially Flashfires and Tsabo's Decree.

"By playing a second color, I also get to use some non-Plains lands so Flashfires, while still effective, hurts a lot less. A touch of blue also allows me to play just enough
countermagic to deal with the crucial game-breaking spells like Wrath of God and Tsabo's Decree.

"Of course, there are only 7 sources of blue mana in my deck, which makes playing Countespell or Absorb impractical. Power Sink works well in this deck because it requires only 1 blue mana and because most spells I want to stop cost 4 and above."
 

REBEL SEARCHERS:

Lin Sivvi, Defiant Hero
1WW, 1/3
Rare, Creature – Rebel Legend, Nemesis
Card Text: X, Tap: Search your library for a Rebel card with converted mana cost X or less and put that card into play. Then shuffle your library. 3: Put target Rebel card from your graveyard on the bottom of your library.
Artist: rk post
Released: 3/00

Note that having a Lin-Sivvi in play and another in hand allows one to play the second in case the first one dies, and then return the first to the library. However, searching for a Lin-Sivvi with another Lin-Sivvi merely kills the second Lin-Sivvi due to the Legends rule.
 

Ramosian Sergeant
W, 1/1
Common, Creature – Rebel, Mercadian Masques
3, T: Search your library for a Rebel card with converted mana cost 2 or less and put that card into play. Then shuffle your library.
Flavor Text: Her commands are part rallying cry, part sermon, and wholly undeniable.
Artist: Don Hazeltine
Released: 10/1999
 

Defiant Falcon
1W, 1/1
Common, Creature – Rebel Bird, Nemesis
Card Text: Flying 4, Tap: Search your library for a Rebel card with converted mana cost 3 or less and put that card into play. Then shuffle your library.

Rulings:
This card is both a Rebel and a Bird. [Nemesis FAQ 00/02/07]
Artist: Heather Hudson
Released: 3/00

Defiant Falcon is the preferred second-level searcher as its flying makes it a better attacker later on.
 

Ramosian Lieutenant
1W, 1/2
Common, Creature – Rebel, Mercadian Masques
4, T: Search your library for a Rebel card with converted mana cost 3 or less and put that card into play. Then shuffle your library.
Flavor Text: Give me your hand and I will give you victory.".
Artist: Alan Pollack
Released: 10/1999
 

Defiant Vanguard
2W, 2/2
UnCommon, Creature – Rebel, Nemesis
Card Text: When Defiant Vanguard blocks, at end of combat, destroy it and all creatures it blocked this turn. 5, Tap: Search your library for a Rebel card with converted mana cost 4 or less and put that card into play. Then shuffle your library.
Artist: Pete Venters
Released: 3/00

Defiant Vanguard is rarely used as a searcher due to the greater power of Lin-Sivvi. Instead, it is the best blocker in the Rebel army. Note that its ability does not apply when it attacks, only when it is blocks.
 

Ramosian Captain
1WW, 2/2
UnCommon, Creature – Rebel, Mercadian Masques
First strike. 5, T: Search your library for a Rebel card with converted mana cost 4 or less and put that card into play. Then shuffle your library.
Flavor Text: The Cho-Arrim believe in leading by example.
Artist: Matthew D. Wilson
Released: 10/1999
 

Ramosian Commander
2WW, 2/4
UnCommon, Creature – Rebel, Mercadian Masques
Card Text: 6, T: Search your library for a Rebel card with converted mana cost 5 or less and put that card into play. Then shuffle your library. Errata: No Errata for this card. Flavor Text: Cho-Manno guides your spirit. I guide your sword.".
Artist: Scott Hampton
Released: 10/99
 

Ramosian Sky Marshal
3WW, 3/3
Rare, Creature – Rebel, Mercadian Masques
Card Text: Flying. 7, T: Search your library for a Rebel card with converted mana cost 6 or less and put that card into play. Then shuffle your library.
Flavor Text: The Cho-Arrim fell from the sky onto Mercadia City like a vengeful rain.
Artist: Matt Cavotta
Released: 10/99

The Sky Marshall also stopped being used as a searcher after Nemesis brought Lin-Sivvi. Instead, it is the Rebel deck's Serra Angel substitute.
 

Skyshroud Poacher
2GG, 2/2
Rare, Creature – Rebel, Nemesis
Card Text: 3, Tap: Search your library for an Elf card and put that card into play. Then shuffle your library.
Flavor Text: It's OK. They're just elves.
Artist: Ron Spencer
Released: 3/00

This spell is not meant to be cast, though it is played with Gaea's Cradle which can provide green mana. It is meant to fetch a lot of creatures using Deranged Hermit.
 

OTHER REBELS:

Steadfast Guard
WW, 2/2
Common, Creature – Rebel, Mercadian Masques
Attacking doesn't cause Steadfast Guard to tap.
Flavor Text: The Mercadians were prepared for the guard, but the guard was even more prepared for the Mercadians.
Artist: Adam Rex
Released: 10/1999

Many of the supporting Rebels are inefficient or have weak abilities, and Steadfast Guard is the most efficient weenie of the lot. These form the core of the "Grizzly Bears" strategy.
 

Fresh Volunteers
1W, 2/2
Common, Creature – Rebel, Mercadian Masques
No abilities.
Flavor Text: Every Cho-Arrim villager is a potential warrior; when they are called, they abandon their peaceful way of life and take up arms to defend it.
Artist: Jeff Miracola
Released: 10/1999

A clone of green's classic Grizzly Bear, this is added when the "Grizzly Bears" strategy reaches the limit of Steadfast Guards.
 

Thermal Glider
2W, 2/1
Common, Creature – Rebel, Mercadian Masques
Flying, protection from red.
Flavor Text: The Mercadians are too busy looking down on us to see us coming." -Cho-Arrim rebel.
Artist: Mark Zug
Released: 10/1999

A Rebel deck can win simply by searching for a creature with the correct protection.
 

Nightwind Glider
2W, 2/1
Common, Creature – Rebel, Mercadian Masques
Flying, protection from black.
Flavor Text: Once you learn to float on the shadows, you'll never fear them again. Rulings:
Artist: Randy Gallegos
Released: 10/1999

Nightwind Glider has the additional bonus of being immune to both Moat and Abyss.
 

Task Force
2W, 1/3
Common, Creature – Rebel, Mercadian Masques
Whenever Task Force becomes the target of a spell or ability, it gets +0/+3 until end of turn.
Flavor Text: They are the reflection of Rushwood's glow on the edge of a wooden sword.

Rulings:
The +0/+3 bonus is added as a triggered ability upon the playing/announcing of a spell or ability which targets this card. [D'Angelo 99/11/12]
Artist: Gary Ruddell
Released: 10/1999

This mediocre care is noteworthy because it can combo with Reconnaissance and gain infinite toughness. Many casual tricks can be pulled based on this, from About Face and Fling to Diamond Valley.
 

Pious Warrior
3W, 2/3
Common, Creature – Rebel, Mercadian Masques
Whenever Pious Warrior is dealt combat damage, you gain that much life.
Flavor Text: The Cho-Arrim make no distinction between healers and soldiers.
Artist: Jeff Miracola
Released: 10/99
 

Cho-Manno, Revolutionary
2WW, 2/2
Rare, Creature – Rebel Legend, Mercadian Masques
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to Cho-Manno, Revolutionary.
Flavor Text: Mercadia's masks can no longer hide the truth. Our day has come at last."-Cho-Manno.
Artist: Greg & Tim Hildebrandt
Released: 10/99

The Rebels' other mascot and the games' best Pariah target.
 

Rappelling Scouts
2WW, 1/4
Rare, Creature – Rebel, Mercadian Masques
Flying. 2W: Rappelling Scouts gains protection from the color of your choice until end of turn.
Artist: Nelson DeCastro
Released: 10/99
 

Ballista Squad
3W, 2/2
UnCommon, Creature – Rebel, Mercadian Masques
Card Text: XW, T: Ballista Squad deals X damage to target attacking or blocking creature.
Flavor Text: The perfect antidote for a tightly packed formation.
Artist: Matthew D. Wilson
Released: 10/99

The Rebels' Heavy Ballista.
 

Jhovall Rider
4W, 3/3
UnCommon, Creature – Rebel, Mercadian Masques
Trample.
Flavor Text: Don't be fooled by the riders' fluid grace-it takes years of practice to ride these beasts.
Artist: Scott M. Fischer
Released: 10/99
 

Jhovall Queen
5W, 4/7
Rare, Creature – Rebel, Mercadian Masques
Attacking doesn't cause Jhovall Queen to tap.
Flavor Text: War-trained jhovalls eat twice their weight in war-trained soldiers daily.
Artist: Michael Sutfin
Released: 10/99

The last rung of the Rebel deck, and one very good Serra Angel substitute. The Sky Marshall flies, but this one locks up the ground even while attacking.
 

Cho-Arrim Bruiser
5W, 3/4
Rare, Creature – Rebel, Mercadian Masques
Whenever Cho-Arrim Bruiser attacks, you may tap up to two target creatures.
Flavor Text: He doesn't know why the Cho-Arrim fight the Mercadians, but he's happy to bash heads for them anyway.
Artist: Paolo Parente
Released: 10/99
 

Lawbringer
2W, 2/2
Common, Creature – Rebel, Nemesis
Tap, Sacrifice Lawbringer: Remove target red creature from the game.
Flavor Text: One injustice starts a thousand riots. One law stops a thousand crimes.- Lawbringer creed
Artist: Matt Cavotta
Released: 3/00
 

Lightbringer
2W, 2/2
Common, Creature – Rebel, Nemesis
Tap, Sacrifice Lightbringer: Remove target black creature from the game.
Flavor Text: One thought opens a thousand eyes. One sun brings a thousand dawns. - Lightbringer creed
Artist: Paolo Parente
Released: 3/00

Lin-Sivvi's recycle ability allows the use of just one Lawbringer in the deck.
 

Sword Dancer
1W, 1/2
Common, UnCommon, Creature – Rebel, Prophecy
WW: Target attacking creature gets -1/-0 until end of turn.
Flavor Text: Most soldiers think of the sword as a weapon. In the hands of Zho monks, swords are also the strongest of shields.
Artist: Roger Raupp
Released: 6/00

Note that mana intensive Rebels are rarely useful.
 

Shield Dancer
2W, 1/3
UnCommon, Creature – Rebel, Prophecy
2W: The next time target attacking creature would deal combat damage to Shield Dancer this turn, that creature deals that damage to itself instead.
Flavor Text: The harder your strike, the stronger her defense.
Artist: Mike Ploog
Released: 6/00

Another useful blocker, though mana intensive and incapble of killing Blastoderms.
 

Soul Charmer
2W, 2/2
Common, Creature – Rebel, Prophecy
Whenever Soul Charmer deals combat damage to a creature, you gain 2 life unless that creature's controller pays 2.
Flavor Text: She seeks the warmth of the living.
Artist: Glen Angus
Released: 6/00
 

Rebel Informer
2B, 1/2
Rare, Creature - Mercenary Rebel, Prophecy
Errata: ~this~ can't be the target of white spells or abilities. 3: Put target Rebel on the bottom of its owner's library. [WotC Rules Team 00/06/06]
Flavor Text: The problem with rebels is that they so quickly reject authority.
Artist: Scott M. Fischer
Released: 6/00

This card is not meant to be cast, but to be searched and used against opposing Rebels.
 

Mercenary Informer
2W, 2/1
Rare, Creature - Rebel Mercenary, Prophecy
Errata: ~this~ can't be the target of black spells or abilities. 2W: Put target Mercenary on the bottom of its owner's library. [WotC Rules Team 00/06/06]
Flavor Text: The problem with mercenaries is that you can buy their loyalty, others can too.
Artist: Nelson DeCastro
Released: 6/00

In casual play, this is amusing against Mercenaries, as that theme can be disrupted by removing the larger Mercenary searchers (remember that small Mercenaries cannot search for larger ones unlike Rebels, so removing the larger creatures also removes the best searchers).
 

Trenching Steed
3W, 2/3
Common, Creature – Rebel, Prophecy
Sacrifice a land: Trenching Steed gets +0/+3 until end of turn.
Flavor Text: The Keldons took several of the steeds as tropies of war. They'd never seen such a light beast stand so firm.
Artist: Greg & Tim Hildebrandt
Released: 6/00
 

Reveille Squad
2WW, 3/3
UnCommon, Creature – Rebel, Prophecy
Whenever you are attacked, if Reveille Squad is untapped, you may untap all creatures you control.
Flavor Text: To arms! To arms! The Lion roars!

Rulings:
It triggers whenever at least one creature attacks you. [WotC Rules Team 00/06/06]
Artist: Greg & Tim Hildebrandt
Released: 6/00