#mtgima

[haaaaaaaaaaaave-you-met-ted]

Keiga, the Tide Star by Svetlin Velinov

[the-burnished-hart]

Iconic Masters Draft Archetypes

White-Blue Control

Blue-Black Mill

Black-Red Dragons

Red-Green Ramp

Green-White Go-Tall Counters

White-Black Lifegain

Blue-Red Spells

Black-Green Go-Wide Counters

Red-White Aggro

Green-Blue Defenders

[vorthosjay]

New Art Reprints of Iconic Masters

Today I’m going to talk a little about some of my favorite new pieces of art from Iconic Masters, which used its art budget well to straight upgrade a number of cards. They’re all good, but these few stand out for flavor or design reasons.

The Kamigawa Spirit Dragons

I want to include all the Spirit Dragons here, but Keiga’s art stands out the most as intimidating. Shout-outs to all the rest, because while the original Spirit Dragons certainly had an elegant style, they had off-putting features similar to many of the Kami from the block. Bizarre vents, orb eyes, the lack of a distinct skull all makes them a bit more unsettling than I would have liked. The new art stays true to the overall designs of the originals while giving them more of a classic feel.

Bladewing the Risen

Nothing says Zombie Dragon than a giant skeleton, amirite? The Masters sets have been good to Bladewing, as Rorix, Risen, and Thrall all have new (better) artwork. And this one actually has flesh, making it a Zombie instead of a Skeleton!

Guttersnipe

“Of course Jay picked the goblin!” You’re darn tootin’ I did. I like Steve Prescott’s original, but it’s a little too obviously Ravnican, and this new art could make it an alleyway on any plane with the green style of goblin. Rather than lurking and presumed threat, it’s also very in-your-face intimidating. How has Mathias Kollros only ever been commissioned for one goblin before? That needs to change.

Furnace Whelp

Furnace Whelp by Shreya Shetty

The original Furnace Whelp is... not a pretty creature, and it’s pretty inextricably tied to Mirrodin. That’s a minor problem, as Mirrodin is now New Phyrexia and there aren’t really any baby dragons hanging out being incompleat. The solution? Given the pieces to the queen of cute monsters, and let her go to town. The new piece could still be Mirrodin, but it could also be just about anywhere else.

Ancestral Vision

Ancestral Vision by John Avon

This is by far my favorite new piece of art, depicting what appears to be an ancient Thran city (note the skyships). The original art references the classic Ancestral Recall, but what that ended up meaning was some random ziggurats of a culture no one was in touch with. The new version will feel right at home during our return to Dominaria.

Phantom Tiger

Seb McKinnon’s art always amazes. This Phantom Tiger manages to be both hauntingly beautiful and genuinely intimidating. The original art looked more like a giant gray wolverine than a spirit tiger.

Serra Ascendant 

Serra Ascendant is a very powerful card (especially in Commander), but the original art doesn’t do a fantastic job of telling you what’s going on. Is that a Kor? Why is that cloak billowing like that? What’s with those random streamers? Howard Lion’s piece takes the same concept but clarifies those questions. No, it’s not a Kor, it’s a pale bald human. That cloak and those streamers are the manifestation of divinity in the monk. The concept of a monk in transition to divinity is much more clear in then new art.

Auriok Champion

Remember how I mentioned the problem with Furnace Whelp? Auriok Champion has the same issue, ain’t no Aurioks chillin’ in the mana-shine on the surface anymore. Between this and Phyrexian Arena, I really like cards being flavored to reflect the current state of Mirrodin. It helps the players - even those less established as vorthos - realize what’s going on in the time since we’ve been there. The Mirrans are underground in the furnace layer, but they’re not to be counted out yet.

[mtggoldfish]

Iconic Masters Cards — Live Update Thread

Iconic Masters reveals are live at HASCON!

[moxymtg]

Sorry I haven’t been on much, it’s been tough to keep everything up with the kids and I’ve been focusing on some anime cosplays. But here is a silly thing I made tonight to wear on a live stream tomorrow on Discussing Tabletop! http://www.twitch.tv/tantusndracovin at 1 pm Eastern. We’re gonna talk Ixalan, flavor writing, cosplay, Magic Art Show, D&D, Pathfinder, Dragons Conquer America, Whitehall, Iconic Masters, and probably just be stupid. It’s Liliana and Nissa guesting! Have a good night y’all.

[magical-leak]

Iconic Master 3/3

[wtrob]

This card looks alright

[the-burnished-hart]

Iconic Masters - New Downshifted Cards for Pauper!