Conclusions and Additions from Core 2021

Nothing too remarkable to say here. This is very much a core set. Lots of powerful and useful cards but little in the way of theming or flavour. High power and high levels of usefulness. Power creep continues too. I could make a reasonable case for this being one of the most powerful sets much like I seem to do for most new releases. While the overall power is high there doesn't seem to be any oppressively good cards like Oko or Once Upon a Time which is exactly what you want. Lots of stuff around the bar without too much above or below. There were a few more win more or polar cards than I would like to see. Not just a load of Baneslayer Angels but actual Baneslayer as well! Beyond those minor critiques the set looks great. Core sets tend to do well in cube what with less in the way of narrow synergy cards and more in the way of direct and clean staple cards. Core 2021 feels like it follows this trend well.





Cube Additions


Teferi, Master of Time
Garruk, Unleashed
Barrin, Tolarian Archmage
Terror of the Peaks
Garruk's Harbinger
Angelic Ascension
Eliminate
Heartfire Immolator
Seasoned Hallowblade
Llanowar Visionary




Cards to test with high hopes


Elder Gargaroth
Basri Ket
Liliana, Waker of the Dead
Chandra, Heart of Fire
Discontinuity
Waker of Waves
See the Truth
Hobblefiend
Mazemind Tome
Soul Sear



Cards to test with low hopes


Subira, Tulzidi Caravanner
Fiery Emancipation
Mangara, the Diplomat
Basri's Lieutenant
Chandra's Incinerator
Liliana's Standard Bearer
Gadrak, teh Crown-Scourge
Stormwing Entity
Primal Might
Sublime Empiphany
Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
Miscast
Chandra's Pyreling
Fungal Rebirth
Silversmote Ghoul
Sparkhunter Masticore



Cards for the constructed reserves




Pack Leader
Peer into the Abyss
Feline Soveign
Demonic Embrace
Ghostly Pilferer
Shacklegiest
Conspicuous Snoop
Kaevek the Spiteful
Joreal, Mwonvuli Recluse
Nine Lives
Transmogrify
Sporeweb Weaver
Teferi's Ageless Insight
Thieve's Guild Enforcer
Speaker of the Heavens
Archfiend's Vessel
Garruk's Uprising
Selfless Savior
Unleashed Fury
Drowsing Tyrannodon
Alpine Houndmaster (+ Alpine Watchdog and Igneous Cur)
Liliana's Steward
Village Rites
Rhada, Heart of Keld
Niabi, Esteemed Speaker
Conclave Mentor
Watcher of the Spheres
Obsessive Stitcher
Chromatic Orrery
Griffin Aerie
Light of Promise
Lofty Denial
Basri's Solidarity
Invigorating Surge