In what will probably be another of many Innistrad articles going up on this site for the next week, I want to look at what we've got so far and possibly what else we can expect to see, starting with:

Dearly Departed (That's a link to its picture)

I'll be the first to say that at the current time, this card looks like bulk. Unless they bring back Buried Alive and make it cost less, or even a reprint of Entomb, this card probably won't see much play. It's rather underwhelming even if you had ways to put them straight into the yard, since most of the humans you would want to play come down early.

Next card up is one that I can see being worth some cash even if it's a promo, much like Mirran Crusader, because it's just that awesome.

Elite Inquisitor

If it's not a promo, it'll be worth more. If there ends up being widespread use of Vampires, Werewolves, and Zombies, then I expect the Inquisition will also see some use. I hope that people undervalue this card, because currently it has my vote for "Card you should pick up while it's low", and SCG is selling them for $1.99.

Next up is Mentor of the Meek

At this point, I need to point out that I loved having Lightning Bolt around to deal with the highly annoying "3-toughness-everywhere" theme of recent times. I'm very happy to see things back down to 2 for the most part.

Mentor seems solid. I want to see more of the set, but it's looking like white aggro may be possible. You know what else is awesome? Squadron Hawk with this guy. A turn 4 hawk gives you 3 other hawks, an addition card drawn, and a shuffle, and every other hawk is another card as well. Already at $3.99, you're looking at paying market value if you buy them, so trade for them if possible. On to the next card!

Mikaeus, the Lunarch

I'm reminded of Ajani Goldmane when I look at this card, only more vulnerable. He has cool abilities, and there is the possibility of him being used, but he's more novelty concept than tournament staple. Great for limited, much as Ajani was, and given the correct circumstances he could be very good, I'm just not sold on him.

Moving into blue, I have to say my obligatory piece about the double sided cards. It's an awesome idea, that pushes the boundaries of design and changes a fundamental constant (the card backs) that we've seen for a long time now. On that end, I think it's a great idea. On the end of "how many game losses will this cause", drafting with the set, and other small issues I think this might be horrible, but we'll see how things pan out when the set is here.

Ludvic's Test Subject // Ludvic's Abomination

Awesome flavored card is awesome? It's a twelve mana investment total in a 0/3 to get a 13/13 trampler. Perhaps with proliferation effects this could see some use, but even that may be stretching it a bit. Timmy card for sure, and will hold casual value if nothing else. It's also the only rare blue card spoiled so far, so moving on.

Bloodgift Demon

A flying 5/4 for 3BB that lets you draw more cards, or deal damage to your opponent? I kinda like it. At rare, I actually really like it. Sure, it's no Phyrexian Arena, but that's ok. I'll be looking for a few of these in the future, but at prices lower than the $2.99 that SCG wants.

Reaper of the Abyss

Personally, I think the "6/6 for 6 mythic rares" thing is getting old. He's pretty awesome, a targeted Grave Pact that hits anything non-demon, so he doesn't kill himself, all he wants is for you to kill things. He's at $4.99 right now on SCG, but I'm not sold on that being a good price yet, and black still has Grave Titan in that slot to use as a finisher.

Red also only has a single rare to look at so far, and following in the tradition of Red rare X spells, this one probably won't see use either.

Devil's Play

Granted, it has flashback and that's rather cool, but does that push it into constructed playability? For that matter, does it warrant SCG selling them for $2.49? No, I don't think it does.

Green is looking fairly brutal so far, and I like where it's going. Lot's of transformation cards, and cards like Moonmist make them even better.

Daybreak Ranger // Nightfall Predator

Keeping with the theme from white of fairly costed 2/2's for 3 with cool abilities comes this guy. I like the transform mechanic quite a bit, and having a 4/4 to pick off other annoying creatures early on could be really amazing. It's another card with tons of flavor, and SCG has them at $1.49. For that price, I bought a set since if all else fails, I should be able to get at least $2 in trade value to players looking to build their awesome Werewolf decks.

Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha

This guy might make the deck a reality. I'm sure Moonmist isn't the only card that will force a transformation, so keeping him as a 3/3 lord creature that produces more 2/2 wolves (3/3's when he transformed) every turn shouldn't be hard. At $2.99, I'm willing to gamble a bit on him, so I've also picked up a set of these as well.

Olivia Voldaren

Not bad at all, a 3/3 flyer for 4 that can shoot something twice and become a 5/5 the turn after it comes down. She also steals other creatures to boot? Yeah, she's pretty awesome, and looks constructed playable at this point, but with so much of the set still missing, it's really hard to say. I'm also not willing to gamble $7.99 each on her, at least not yet.

The new enemy land set is also awesome, and fills a demand void we've had for a while. Sure, the fetchlands helped that a bit, but it just wasn't the same as always having the option. SCG wants $5.99 each for them, and while it's a (currently) justifiable price, it will die down once players have their initial set. They will most likely follow the M10/M11 land pattern, where the highly used ones maintain this price, and the other 2-3 that are rarely/never used calm down to $1.99 or lower.

I wanted to end this article touching back on something I said earlier, about Entomb possibly being reprinted. It is a possibility, one that would drive down it's price quite rapidly. If I had any and wasn't using them, I would probably sell them now, just to avoid the possibility of being stung by a reprint.

Thanks for reading,

Stephen Moss