New Horizons: March of the Machine Commander
This week on New Horizons, we’re exploring and speculating new cards in
The March of the Machine Commander product was launched with five brand-new decks. This product offers great value for its price, but limited investment opportunities. The decks are well-balanced against each other and come with the added feature of Planechase, which enhances their gameplay experience. While it is possible to enjoy the decks without using the Planechase cards, give them a try at least once to fully appreciate their unique gameplay.
Regarding the financial aspect of each deck, while some cards are more valuable than others, none stand out as leagues ahead of others. Most notably, the Cavalry Charge deck contains some higher priced reprints such as
Excise the Imperfect
Introducing Excise the Imperfect, a new removal card from the Growing Threat deck. This card allows you to exile a target nonland permanent, but with a drawback, which is a common effect found in other instant cards like
Although Excise the Imperfect may be useful in eternal formats, it is mainly intended for EDH. While some have suggested its use in other formats, such as Legacy, the desired effect may not be quick enough for those formats. Therefore the card's potential across various formats will only become clearer with time.
| Excise the Imperfect | ||
|---|---|---|
| Commander: March of the Machine | ||
| Commander: March of the Machine | ||
Bitterthorn, Nissa's Animus
Bitterthorn, Nissa's Animus joins the ever-increasing ranks of three-mana creatures that search for a basic land when a condition is met (although this technically isn’t a creature, it just makes one on entry). While most creatures in this category trigger upon entering the battlefield, such as
Considering that Bitterthorn comes in at an additional cost of one extra mana, this overcomes the biggest drawback of needing to be equipped. Entering the battlefield along with a 0/0 Germ token already attached ensures the availability of a creature able to utilize the attack trigger. Alternatively, the legendary artifact can be equipped with a larger threat or an evasive creature and keep generating value. Circling back to the earlier comparison, Sword of the Animist requires a total of four mana to be played and equipped along with a creature already on the battlefield.
Over time the predicted price of Bitterthorn will increase at the same rate as its predecessor if not at a slightly accelerated tempo due to the limited availability.
| Bitterthorn, Nissa's Animus | ||
|---|---|---|
| Commander: March of the Machine | ||
| Commander: March of the Machine | ||
Conjurer's Mantle
Conjurer's Mantle can be difficult to evaluate due to its unique abilities. Initially, the card may appear to be a two-mana Equipment that gives a creature +1/+1 and vigilance, which is slightly less effective than
Conjurer's Mantle is a potent tool in a deck that focuses on creatures of the same type, which typically has 20 to 30 creatures. Through calculations, it’s evident that even with just 20 creatures, there is an ~85% chance of drawing at least one creature that shares a type with the equipped creature from the top six cards. While drawing cards with attack triggers is generally a more potent ability, the chance of hitting a creature with Conjurer's Mantle is worth it against the potential of drawing a land.
Currently priced around $12.50, the likelihood of which will steadily increase once participants become aware of its success rate in drawing cards. As previously mentioned with
| Conjurer's Mantle | ||
|---|---|---|
| Commander: March of the Machine | ||
| Commander: March of the Machine | ||
Honorable Mention: Begin the Invasion
Since the recent unveiling of battles and their mechanics, Begin the Invasion comes in as an honorable mention. The X and five-color sorcery allows the player to tutor up X different battles, directing them immediately into play. Although some of the battles currently available in the game may lack power, there are certain exceptions, for example, the
Since battles aren’t confined to a single set, it’s reasonable to expect that more will be added in the future, with the possibility of including a Battle for Helm's Deep in the upcoming set,
| Begin the Invasion | ||
|---|---|---|
| Commander: March of the Machine | ||
| Commander: March of the Machine | ||
Conclusion
The latest Commander set presents an excellent opportunity for newcomers to enter the game, with the reintroduction of Planechase enhancing the gameplay variability. It is especially conducive for novices interested in experiencing EDH while still offering room for improvement through upgrades. Although some seasoned players may express disappointment with the perceived lack of individual card strength, it’s important to note that the format's primary aim is to provide a relaxed, social experience for a broad audience. Additionally, the inclusion of Planechase expands the potential for new Archenemy schemes, broadening the game's possibilities even further.
Join me again in two weeks when we’ll cover
Check out these other articles:
Modern Times - March of the Machine by Corey Williams
History, Restapled: Power Creep Before Dollar Creep by Steve Heisler
The Big Things: World Championship Decks by Harvey McGuinness
Matt Grzechnik started playing Magic with the release of Dragon's Maze. Since then he has tried and experimented with all of the formats before discovering his love for EDH and Pauper. Piloting the same Jund deck for the last 10 years, he now tries to both understand and break Sealed as a format.
