Invasion Cards A-D (re: Starcity Article)

Beyond Dominia: The Limited Magic Mill: Invasion Cards A-D (re: Starcity Article)

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By Nevyn, the Village Idiot (Nevyn) on Wednesday, October 25, 2000 - 01:21 am:

This is a quick rundown of the cards in Invasion
(this post will handle A-D). It is there to help people who have read my starcity submission judge
colour combinations for themselves. Feel free to comment on this or the article. If you have a beef about a card, though, please start a new topic for it to keep Rakso happy.

Card: Absorb
Colour(s): White Blue
Rating(s): Good
Discussion: 3 life means little, but WU can tae a while to stabilize so it helps. The main reason this card is good
is because saying no is never a bad ability to have

Card: Addle
Colour(s): Black
Rating(s): Playable . With blue playable+
Discussion: Discard by itself in limited is often not quite good enough. Cards like ravenous rats
provide card advantage, but addle provides none. But BU limited decks in Invasion have a strong
bounce/discard symmetry, so while you'd rather have better options, you won't mind playing this
in that combinatin


Card: Aether Rift
Colour(s): Red Green
Rating(s): Playable/Chaff
Discussion: You would have to draft your deck around it. And it would still be pretty bad

Card: Aggresive Urge
Colour(s): Green
Rating(s): Playable+
Discussion: This is a tricky one. It replaces itself and gives a useful effect. But not all that useful.
It's a decent trick you shouldn't feel bad about playing, but it's not a card you look to get, and there
are so many valuable trick in the set, that this will not get a slot too often.

Card: Agonising Demise
Colour(s): Black
Rating(s): Good . With red good+
Discussion: Removal is good. Go figure. The kicker is just gravy.

Card: Alabaster Leech
Colour(s): White
Rating(s): Playable
Discussion: I'd love to call it chaff. But the fact is that splashes are pretty common in Invasion draft,
and if you have few white spells, this guy is a reasonable low curve creature. Problem is low curve creatures
are not what you normally like to splash.

Card: Ancient Kavu
Colour(s): Red
Rating(s): Good
Discussion: Hill Giants are good. And this guy can get around red hate, which is more useful than you'd think.

Card: Andradite Leech
Colour(s): Black
Rating(s): Good-
Discussion: Another leech. In general, I hate these guys. But the shade ability is pretty useful, and while I wouldnt
kill for this card, he's something that must be dealt with and I'd play him.

Card: Angel of Mercy
Colour(s): White
Rating(s): Good
Discussion: If you don't know that 3/3 flyers are good in limited, guess what, they are. 5 is a reasonable cost, and
while the lifegain is nothing special, I'd play it without lifegain, so why not have a little gravy.

Card: Angelic Shield
Colour(s): White Blue
Rating(s): Playable
Discussion: WU is deep, and you dont need to waste time on cards like this. It's useful, but my least favourite of
the sacrifice enchantments. Good sb vs red decks.

Card: Annihilate
Colour(s): Black
Rating(s): Good
Discussion: Did I mention removal is good. Well cantrip removal is AMAZING.

Card: Ardent Soldier
Colour(s): White
Rating(s): Playable
Discussion: If you're short on creatures, why not? But this guy is very low priority he just
won't do enough by himself for what you pay.

Card: Armadillo Cloak
Colour(s): Green White
Rating(s): Excellent-
Discussion: Rollin Rollin Rollin (sing it with me). About 30-50% of the time this is card
disadvantage. The rest of the time it just wins.

Card: Armored Guardian
Colour(s): White Blue
Rating(s): Good
Discussion: Speaking of things that just win, this can make other decks cry. It's
not amazing, but it makes your opponents removal into dead cards, and can send unblockable
attackers and invincible blockers.

Card: Artifact Mutation
Colour(s): Red Green
Rating(s): Playable
Discussion: Pure sideboard. Other than a golem, the occasional tek or a cameo (which you won't
see much), there are just not enough artifacts that you want to kill.

Card: Assault/Battery
Colour(s): Red/Green
Rating(s): Red = Good, Green = Good, Red Green = Excellent-
Discussion: In close contention for best split card (edged out but close). This is something either
colour wants in it's deck. Versatility like this improves your draft deck tremendously.

Card: Atalya, Samite Master
Colour(s): White
Rating(s): Good
Discussion: Why does lifegain suck? Because you blow a card an effect which does not affect your board
position, buying you a little time, bt providing no means to win and getting you no closer to that goal.
Why does Atalya not suck? Because reusable lifegain can give lots more time, damage prevention can win you
combat matchups you should lose,and with this card, you auto win unblockable damage races,which happen frequently
in Invasion.

Card: Aura Mutation
Colour(s): White Green
Rating(s): Playable
Discussion: Better than it's artifact cousin, this card is still dwarfed by the amount of enchantment destruction
white already has available. Also, ten of the enchantments this could encounter can force this spell to fizzle, negating
the benefit. If you can't remove enchantments AND there are no top picks AND you are already in White and Green, take this card.

Card: Aura Shards
Colour(s): White Green
Rating(s): Playable
Discussion: Reusable enchantment destruction sounds nice. Here are the problems. a) you just gave your opponent's dismantling blow
a target, thanks for the two cards. b) during a game, you will typically face maybe two enchantments that must be killed, and often less
c) to kill your first enchantment, you need to cast a creature too, so this may not even kill stuff on the same turn. In other words,
this card is at best a sideboard option, or should be drafted like it is. Play it maindeck only if it's your only way to kill enchantments.
And if that's the case, sulk.

Card: Backlash
Colour(s): Black Red
Rating(s): Good-
Discussion: I counted ths as a good card, but barely. The direct damage can be very nice as a finisher, and getting rid of that pesky
blocker can push an aggresive deck through. Alternatively, this can also break your dragon (or whatever) out of master decoy lock for
a key turn. Just remember that this deck needs a strong supporting cast. If your deck is teetering towards weak, this won't make it better.

Card: Barrin's Spite
Colour(s): Black Blue
Rating(s): Good+
Discussion: At first I thought this card was near broken. The problem is that just like the divvy cards, your opponent gets a crucial choice.
So when one creature absolutely must die for good, this will just stall it instead. Backed up by excludes or discard, this is incredible. Otherwise,
it's strong but not as much as you'd think.

Card: Barrin's Unmaking
Colour(s): Blue
Rating(s): Playable
Discussion: One of a few "sideboard if he's in my colours" cards. I would only consider this for maindeck if I was rochestering and my
opponent was matching my colours.

Card: Benalish Emissary
Colour(s): White
Rating(s): Chaff . with Green: Playable+
Discussion: mmmm. Card advantage. I dont count it because, for that much mana, the creature I get ought to be somewhat useful. With green, side it against that 5cg deck.
Without Green, don't even think about it.

Card: Benalish Heralds
Colour(s): White
Rating(s): Playable . with Blue: Good+
Discussion: Drawing cards is good. Fat asses are good. And while not quite Jennifer Lopez, this puppy will draw you cards and stop hill giants. Gotta Love it

Card: Benalish Lancer
Colour(s): White
Rating(s): Good
Discussion: 4/4 first strike makes this guy bigger than any common green beef. How did that happen? The cost ain't great, but he's worth it.

Card: Benalish Trapper
Colour(s): White
Rating(s): Good
Discussion: MMMM .... master decoy. Ever seen an opponent look like he wants to strangle you? Hold back his armadillo cloaked dragon with this and you will. Also good for
turning on the offense, and can't be pinged away. Also helps that it never requires a splash.

Card: Bend or Break
Colour(s): Red
Rating(s): Playable
Discussion: If he's on low life AND you have a major land stall, this could bust you through. Red has direct damage for that. This just isnt enough.

Card: Bind
Colour(s): Green
Rating(s): Chaff
Discussion: No thanks.

Card: Blazing Spectre
Colour(s): Red Black
Rating(s): Excellent-
Discussion: Let me think about this. Evasion is good. Surprise and speed are good. Card advantage is good. That would make this card .......
Good?

Card: Blind Seer
Colour(s): Blue
Rating(s): Good
Discussion: Hill Giants are good. And there are a million ways to mess with your opponent using his ability. Not broken but very fun.

Card: Blinding Light
Colour(s): White
Rating(s): Playable
Discussion: "My eyes, the goggles do nothing!". But seriously, this card could break through for you, but in this particular set. You
gotta be pretty desperate to draft this for your maindeck. As an instant, this card would be close to a bomb.

Card: Blurred Mongoose
Colour(s): Green
Rating(s): Playable
Discussion: I don't want my 5/5's to be countered or targetted. My 2 drops, he can take.

Card: Bog Initiate
Colour(s): Black
Rating(s): Good-
Discussion: I can see this getting argued. he's not a high pick. but he can help you get the most out of cards like Soul Burn, the black
leech and cinder shade, and thus makes black a lot more splashable.

Card: Breaking Wave
Colour(s): Blue
Rating(s): Playable+
Discussion: At 6 mana, it's a slightly better falter in a colour that can kill with evasion. At 4, it's pretty ugly. You can play little
tricks to make this card better, but in general, you'll find it just doesnt do enough.

Card: Breath of Darigaaz
Colour(s): Red
Rating(s): Good-
Discussion: Mass removal is good. And knocking down an opponents life total is a nice bonus. Still, barely makes the cut.

Card: Callous Giant
Colour(s): Red
Rating(s): Good
Discussion: A little overcosted, but no team blocking makes this guy awfully nasty.

Card: Canopy Surge
Colour(s): Green
Rating(s): Playable+
Discussion: Why is breath good and this not? Did you play squall? There are several cases where this can't help, and since
Green is now the colour of splashing and it's ally white has several flyers, getting rid of flyers is not nearly as big a problem.

Card: Capashen Unicorn
Colour(s): White
Rating(s): Playable+
Discussion: In MM, if I'd never heard of Devout Witness and instead there was this card, I would probably have played one.
In Invasion, I don't mind playing these, and can easily pick them up, but they are pretty wimpy, and I usually have nothing for them
to kill. Nothing wrong with it, but no more than one for the maindeck.

Card: Captain Sisay
Colour(s): Green White
Rating(s): Playable
Discussion: I like my legends big and nasty. Sisay isn't. In a deck where I already have 2 broken legends, I'd take it. Otherwise, no.

Card: Cauldron Dance
Colour(s): Red Black
Rating(s): Good
Discussion: Like Spinal Embrace, the key with this card is timing. In other words, don't be too picky with it. Still, this is a great way
to bust through stalled games. Nothing good in your grave? Send your best fatty, taking out a couple blockers. Next turn, dance him back into your hand
(with some damage to boot). Just dont wait too long setting this up.

Card: Chaotic Strike
Colour(s): Red
Rating(s): Playable-
Discussion: Didnt call it chaff cos' I like flipping coins and drawing cards. Still sucks.

Card: Charging Troll
Colour(s): Green White
Rating(s): Good+
Discussion: Really nasty. One of the better creatures in the set. Don't count heavily on the regen though, cos' almost all invasion
removal can kill this guy, dead.

Card: Cinder Shade
Colour(s): Black Red
Rating(s): Good+
Discussion: Removal is good. Creatures that grow are good. Just make sure you have the black to support him. You only need R but you'll
need tons of black.

Card: Collapsing Borders
Colour(s): Red
Rating(s): Chaff
Discussion: A 5cg alternate damage source? An aggresive decks finisher? Pure crap. C, final answer.

Card: Cremate
Colour(s): Black
Rating(s): Playable
Discussion: Mostly useless ability, but a cantrip where you can cast the card you draw. Draft it like an off-colour cycling card. In other
words , don't if you can help it.

Card: Crimson Acolyte
Colour(s): White
Rating(s): Good-
Discussion: Small, but absolutely ruining a colour is a good thing. Great for the sideboard, fine for the deck (not in multiples)

Card: Crown of Flames
Colour(s): Red
Rating(s): Playable+
Discussion: Tons of cool tricks are available with this, but it requires a heavy commitment to a color I only want to splash, and it really
doesnt do that much a lot of the time. If your going to have lots of first strike, this can be maindeck.

Card: Crusading Knight
Colour(s): White
Rating(s): Good-
Discussion: If your opponent has black as a main colour, u win with this guy (trust me). Otherwise, he's reasonable but overcosted. Just barely
makes my maindeck. I know I have a strong deck when I start him in the sideboard. One of those 'watermark' cards.

Card: Crypt Angel
Colour(s): Black
Rating(s): Good+
Discussion: A little review. Is flying good? Is card advantage good? Wow .. Gold star for you.

Card: Crystal Spray
Colour(s): Blue
Rating(s): Chaff
Discussion: Make it draw two cards and i'll play it. A desperation sideboard ....

Card: Cursed Flesh
Colour(s): Black
Rating(s): Playable+
Discussion: Removal is good. Marginal removal is .... not so good.

Card: Death or Glory
Colour(s): White
Rating(s): Good
Discussion: Can swing you the game. often just a minor card advantage. Still, a worthy card.

Card: Defiling Tears
Colour(s): Black
Rating(s): Playable
Discussion: Surprise Card. Marginal Removal. D'rather not play it please thanks.

Card: Stand/Deliver
Colour(s): White/Blue
Rating(s): White = playable . Blue = Good- . White Blue = Good
Discussion: Bouncing permanents can help in all sorts of ways. Damage prevntion is a marginal
trick. This card is maindeck only through versatility.

Card: Desperate Research
Colour(s): Black
Rating(s): Playable
Discussion: Desperate is an understatement.

Card: Devouring Strossus
Colour(s): Black
Rating(s): Good
Discussion: This guy will occasionally go pretty late. And that is probably a mistake. Your opponent
has one turn to bounce him (cant remove him. cant shackles effectively) or he takes nine or loses flyers
and takes damage anyway. Great way to cast off those initiates and rats once they've done their duty.
And with cauldron dance, this is the nastiest surprise ever. Still, the upkeep is harsh and you cant
splash him. So just good.

Card: Dismantling Blow
Colour(s): White
Rating(s): Playable- . with Blue: Good-
Discussion: One of the really talked about invasion cards. With no blue mana, this is not a maindeck card.
With a blue mana, it is if you play it right. Let me clarify. If im holding a disenchant, I'll keep it until
I see an artifact or enchantment that can really hurt me. DO NOT use this card like that unless you are
in firm control , and know he has a breaker this can kill. use this when you can and take the card advantage.
For those wondering why I called it good-, it's because so many strong enchantments can fizzle this. Which
negates the card advantage aspect.

Card: Disrupt
Colour(s): Blue
Rating(s): Good-
Discussion: A strong case could be made that this is strictly sideboard material. But it is a cheap cantrip,
a good game 1 surprise and you shouldnt have too much trouble finding a target. (hint: play this on a harrow,
and watch your opponent cry). Again, don't wait for the opponent to tap out on a target, take the cantrip
when you can.

Card: Distorting Wake
Colour(s): Blue
Rating(s): Good+
Discussion: Needs a heavy blue commitment. If you make it, this card wins.

Card: Divine Presence
Colour(s): White
Rating(s): Playable
Discussion: Just not enough.

Card: Do or Die
Colour(s): Black
Rating(s): Excellent
Discussion: In constructed, this is iffy. In limited, this is VERY nasty. Just make the piles carefully.

Card: Dream Thrush
Colour(s): Blue
Rating(s): Good
Discussion: Flies. Helps mana. Screws opponent's mana. Yum

Card: Dredge
Colour(s): Black
Rating(s): Chaff+
Discussion: OH! can I , can I?

Card: Dueling Grouds
Colour(s): White Green
Rating(s): Good-
Discussion: Haven't tried this yet, but it ought to be good. Fun with decoys, "you can send a creature, just
not that one". Keeps annoying swarms at bay, and is dynamite with a cloaked creature.

Card: Duskwalker
Colour(s): Black
Rating(s): Good
Discussion: Hill Giant size + evasion. Yummy


By Nevyn, the Village Idiot (Nevyn) on Thursday, October 26, 2000 - 10:14 pm:

I apologize if anyone has been eagerly awaiting the rest of the evaluations. Due to lack of feedback and the enormous time commitment typing these up requires, I decided not to continue. If anyone would really like to see the rest, let me know and I'll put them up.


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