DOMINARIA!

Well I'm glad I took the time to write an article about the problems with Mecha Frieza just for bandai to errata it a few days after :P. That aside this week I would like to talk to you about standard's lord and savior: Dominaria.

  So the next standard set to be released is going to be Dominaria, which I'm sure you all know if you don't live under rocks. This is the first time I've been excited for a standard set since Tarkir block and let me tell you why. First and foremost, this plane is where I started playing Magic, I started in Odyssey block and this is without a doubt my favourite plane in the multiverse, this is where it all began. Magic's first books, the stories that established the history that the entire game is based on were for the most part all set on Dominaria (if you play Magic or even if you don't please read them they are amazing, I have Ebook copies at the store so swing by with a USB and I'll put them on it for you.) this plane was the setting for the Brother's War, the discovery of mana and without a doubt the greatest struggle in Magic's history. So yeah, nostalgia is great.

  The power level of this set is higher than standard has had in a long time, for people who play older formats standard can be frustrating because most of the time you're playing versions of the cards you play in those formats that are two to three steps down in power level, this can be frustrating. Dominaria however has stepped it up a lot and the power is well distributed among the rarities which makes buying boxes a lot more attractive also that sweet buy a box promo that's not in the set, well played wizards. I'll refrain from talking about individual cards because there are too many I want to talk about.

  THE ART! OH MY WORD THE ART! This set has some of the best art in a long time, granted I am sporting nostalgia goggles but there are so many cards in the set that artist's nailed. I will talk about a few cards here: Jaya Ballard a.k.a proto-Chandra, this art is perfect, Jaya set up a monastery on Keralia for young pyromancers to learn to control their abilities and have a safe haven (She's basically Charles Xavier) Then disappeared for a long time. The art for her card reflects this perfectly, she's aged, wizened even, is dressed as a wanderer and looks determined to complete her objective whatever it may be. Yawgmoth's Vile Offering, it's hard to talk about this one without spoiling anything but take my word for it, it's a perfect depiction. Finally, all of the sagas, most of these are really important parts of Dominaria's history and I think they did a really good job of using the space they had with the art, my one qualm with them is that I really wish they used a scroll graphic for the text box that would've been perfect. 

  So, get pumped for Dominaria and if you are so inclined, read up on it's history, Magic's story has been questionable at best lately but I assure you this was far from the case in it's early days.

 

  That's all I've got for you guys today, as always thanks for reading.

  Sam