March of the Machines-Set Review

The new set is up, and here! Let's talk about it.

First: New card type! I think that Battles are a cool thing but I'm not sure it actually encourages interaction-at least so far and certainly not in duels. 

In the case of Planeswalkers, players are forced to manage them in some way because their suite of abilities, if not managed, will take over a game. The Battles don't have that kind of power at this point. 

Second, the hidden cost to get the full benefit of the card is very real: the lowest count on Battles is three the highest seven, so now instead of reducing your opponent's life total by that amount, you've effectively given them a free wall. Are the ETB benefits of any of these Battles strong enough to make them worth it on their own? I'm not sure. 

In multiplayer, though these cards might have a real chance to shine and change the politics of the table. That IS cool and I look forward to what that will mean. 

The only other new mechanic is Backup and I have to say: I really like this. The effect it offers provides interesting strategic options which is always a plus. 

Incubate isn't exactly new but what I will say about it is that it's a mana sink, so it's probably well suited to the Limited environment. 

White
Sunfall might be the big removal spell White could use. Costing one less than Phyrexian Rebirth is a thing, and having a creature after it's over is a great way to close the game out. 

The Phyrexians seem slow in this set, largely the result of the Incubate mechanic I suppose. WotC has been creating very good limited environments lately though, so I suppose it's worth seeing things in action. I do like the Phyrexian tribal support overall-Norn's Inquisitor and Phyrexian Censor look like important keys for an actual tribal deck. But I'm not jazzed about what's here-it's not bad, it isn't exciting. 

Blue
Corruption of Towashi is what I was thinking of when I said the Phyrexians were slow. Paying five mana to create a token that one has to pay two more mana into so that a 4/4 creature and a card can be drawn seems like a Bad Deal. Seven mana for a 4/4 and a card? This is a strategy that seems like it needs a lot to go right. 

Zhalfirin Shapecraft seem like one of the more interesting Blue "gotcha!" spells to appear in a bit. Making anything that's a 3/2 or less better for only two mana really has some potential.

A small world glitch: the mechanic 'Stun' does not appear in Kamigawa or Neon Dynasty to having that be the Battle's ability feels weird. Stun was a mechanic from Dominaria...so what gives?

Black
I'll start with another world glitch: why does every other creature infected with the Phyrexian oil end up understanding a greater compleatness, and Ayara, Widow of the Realm is somehow unaffected? 

After that, there's some great art here: Mirrodin Avenged, Ichor Shade, Breach the Multiverse...just very cool stuff. However, the cards themselves aren't shaking things up for me. Nothing here seems bad, right? (Except for Scorn-Blade Berzerker but...) Nothing seems great, either. 

Still, Scorn-Blade can go in my garbage cube, and it's been awhile since I've had an addition!

Red
Well I was bummed that Etali got compleated! I love that dinosaur! Also, there are dinosaurs again!

Invasion of Karus might be the a playable Battle-the ETB effect is pretty good, the mana cost is within tolerance and the follow up isn't bad. I'm not sure if the flip effect is worth the squeeze but it's worth consideration. 

Bloodfeather Phoenix might fit into my Phoenix deck and that one is right on the edge of maybe tier 1.75 playability! So I'm interested in that. 

I do wonder when Red will have a critical mass of 'play from exile' cards to make it a force to be reckoned with on Blue's level. It's already starting to happen since there's a Red storm deck utilizing Galvanic Relay. I don't believe Wrenn's Resolve is the critical mass card to do that but you know it's coming.

Green
There are more dinosaurs! 

Looks like Green is getting the 'holy shit' Planeswalker this time. Wrenn & Worldbreaker can arrive turn 2. I'm sure that won't cause any problems whatsoever. 

It took this long but I've noticed a small milling theme in this set. Nothing too obvious but I've read that the next Ixalan set is supposed to take place underground-a "Journey to the Center of the Earth" vibe and I am hoping that mechanically, this is a link to that. 

Multicolor
The partnership cards are big and dumb. That is a compliment, of course; we should have big and dumb in the multicolor portion of the set where it's clear that the Phyrexians are going to get their asses kicked. Most of the cards are signaling Commander, but Errant and Giada and Baral and Kari Zev have some potential in other formats! They're cheap enough, have some evasion and generate value that can rapidly become overwhelming. 

After that, Marshal of Zhalfir could be a fun lord or a new Knights deck. There's already a White Knights deck (ha!)-splashing Blue has a lot of benefits. Add that with Invasion of New Phyrexia and you could really close a game out. 

Artifact
Whoa! For a set called "March of the Machines" this deck has fewer artifact cards than they've done in a long, long time. I'm glad the Sword cycle is done but there isn't much to talk about here. I suppose things might've looked different if the Phyrexians were going to be winners, but since their plane is getting winked out of existence...

The lands are all commons, and...that's it!

Overall impressions
Well, for something that was hyped as 'changing Magic forever' March is underwhelming. A new card type is cool, but I am wholly unconvinced regarding its power level. Is there a lot of potential in Battle cards? Of course. 

But look at how long it look WotC to make enchantments truly interesting, with the advent of Sagas-or on the other hand, how long it took for them to produce broken Planeswalkers (Jace the Mind Sculptor) or equipment. Umazawa's Jitte.