The new commander deck lists posted yesterday, and with them new art for reprints! For this post, I’ll be looking at cards from Dance of the Elements.
Distant Melody is always welcome for Kindred decks. I like how Rimekin are established to exist in both Shadowmoor and Lorwyn. I haven’t had the chance to read the current story so I’m not certain if there are other instances of Shadowmoor-only creatures existing in the day/in an Eclipse.
Endurance especially is a great reprint, plenty of fun loops you can do! Fury’s art feels very different from original Lorwyn’s elementals. There were big, scary beasties to be sure, but they were always off in the wilderness while the main conflict was between the humanoids. Shadowmoor was the realm where you had big monsters rampaging through villages. It’s another way to show how there are bits of the dark half of the plane peaking through in the daytime.
It’s fun to see Faeburrow Elder from Eldraine get art for Lorwyn, especially given how much thematic and world design the two share. The original art would have fit in with the aesthetic, but Mark Zug’s piece sells the cozy feel of Lorwyn and the kindly-grandparent role the Treefolk play.
Sol Ring and Arcane Signet both get new art for both decks, showcasing the faith of Eirdu and Isilu. The shadowplay art in this set is so unique, and I love that staples get to show it off so prominently and accessibly. It’s easily my favorite for any Selesnya deck moving forward. Magical musical instruments are also perfect for a whimsical set/deck.
Guilds of Ravnica and Ravnica Allegiance used dark shadows and the season of fall to create a sense of imminent change in the plane. Alayna Danner’s Secluded Courtyard takes the theme of fall and sunset in a similar manner, but her warm tones give the change a much less ominous feel. It’s as if Lorwyn itself has come to accept that Shadowmoor is coming, and doesn’t fear the night anymore.
Brighthearth, as mentioned in the flavor text, refers to the title of a Flamekin ambassador rather than the name of a city. Flamekin do build villages but like the other peoples of Lorwyn these tend to be smaller. I’ll write up a post about the Path of Flame, the spiritual pilgrimage of the Flamekin, once we see the full spoilers for Lorwyn Eclipsed!
