MagicCon: Atlanta is finally here, and we’re already getting bombarded with new information. Thanks to today’s preview panel, we got our first look at some cool spoilers and the official reveal of the upcoming MTG Netflix show! On top of that, a variety of play promos for the Nauctis MTG season have been revealed, showcasing a mixed bag of choices.
MTG Nauctis Store Championship Promos
As with every Standard set, players will have the opportunity to participate in Store Championship events after Nauctis: The Sunken Realm releases. All three promos this time around do see some Constructed play, but ironically, most of this falls outside of Standard.
Kicking things off, all players will receive a beautiful copy of
Novice Inspector
Novice Inspector
When this creature enters, investigate. (Create a Clue token. It's an artifact with "{2}, Sacrifice this token: Draw a card.")
just for signing up. Since its debut in Murders at Karlov Manor, this
Thraben Inspector
Thraben Inspector
When this creature enters, investigate. (Create a Clue token. It's an artifact with "{2}, Sacrifice this token: Draw a card.")
duplicate has helped add consistency to a multitude of archetypes.
This tool is at its best in Pauper, serving as a value engine to bounce with
Kor Skyfisher
Kor Skyfisher
Flying
When this creature enters, return a permanent you control to its owner's hand.
in Mono-White Weenie decks or
Moon-Circuit Hacker
Moon-Circuit Hacker
Ninjutsu {U} ({U}, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.)
Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card. If you do, discard a card unless this creature entered this turn.
in aggressive Esper Affinity decklists. Boros Convoke decks in Pioneer also make great use of the one-drop, which provides fodder for
Gleeful Demolition
Gleeful Demolition
Destroy target artifact. If you controlled that artifact, create three 1/1 red Phyrexian Goblin creature tokens.
.
While it is just a $0.25 common at the end of the day, players can now add some extra flair to their decks.
The promo given to those who make the top 8 of the Store Championship,
Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd
Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd
Flash
Whenever Phelia attacks, exile up to one other target nonland permanent. At the beginning of the next end step, return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control. If it entered under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on Phelia.
, then kicks things up a notch. This good Dog is a Modern and Legacy staple of Blink decks, letting players exile Warped
Quantum Riddler
Quantum Riddler
Flying
When this creature enters, draw a card.
As long as you have one or fewer cards in hand, if you would draw one or more cards, you draw that many cards plus one instead.
Warp {1}{U}
s and then return them to play for good!
Of course, Blink decks are also quite popular in Commander, and Phelia appears in the 99 of over 100,000 decks, according to EDHREC. Considering all of this play, you may be surprised to hear that Phelia is a $0.50 card.
While the reprint value of Phelia isn’t much to get excited about, this premium variant may end up going for a bit more thanks to how much it’s played.
For those who are fortunate enough to win the whole event, you get to take home a textless copy of
Cosmogrand Zenith
Cosmogrand Zenith
Whenever you cast your second spell each turn, choose one —
• Create two 1/1 white Human Soldier creature tokens.
• Put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
on top of everything else. Interestingly, though, this card sees far less play than Phelia, primarily showing up in Pioneer Boros Convoke and some Azorius Blink Standard shells.
As such, despite being a mythic from Edge of Eternities, it barely eclipses $6. Compared to some other heavy-hitter textless promos like
Ocelot Pride
Ocelot Pride
First strike, lifelink
Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.)
At the beginning of your end step, if you gained life this turn, create a 1/1 white Cat creature token. Then if you have the city's blessing, for each token you control that entered this turn, create a token that's a copy of it.
and
Urza’s Saga
Urza’s Saga
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after III.)
I — This Saga gains "{T}: Add {C}."
II — This Saga gains "{2}, {T}: Create a 0/0 colorless Construct artifact creature token with 'This token gets +1/+1 for each artifact you control.'"
III — Search your library for an artifact card with mana cost {0} or {1}, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.
, Cosmogrand Zenith definitely falls flat.
Still, given its scarcity, this printing will likely go for much more. While it’s unlikely to reach $185 like Pride or the absurd $500+ value of Urza’s Saga, don’t be surprised if it sells for a pretty penny.
These Store Championship events run from February 19th to March 18th, 2027. While these aren’t the best Store Championship promos we’ve ever seen, they do feel like a step up from the recent Reality Fracture ones.
Variety of Other Play Promos
Beyond just the Store Championship, there will be plenty of other opportunities to play unique MTG events at your LGS during the Nauctis season.
Kicking things off on February 1st, players can take part in the Magic Presents: Black History Month Celebration. This casual Commander event runs throughout the month, and for every participant, Wizards will donate $1 to Black Girls Code.
All players will receive a
Vivien Reid
Vivien Reid
+1: Look at the top four cards of your library. You may reveal a creature or land card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
−3: Destroy target artifact, enchantment, or creature with flying.
−8: You get an emblem with "Creatures you control get +2/+2 and have vigilance, trample, and indestructible."
promo for participating. While Vivien Reid is only worth just $0.40 and isn’t a particularly strong Planeswalker, it still has use in some Commander decks, especially as an answer to problematic artifacts and enchantments.
Continuing the Commander fun, both the Commander Party and Two-Headed Giant Commander Night events will feature a
Broadside Barrage
Broadside Barrage
Broadside Barrage deals 5 damage to target creature or planeswalker. Draw a card, then discard a card.
promo as a special treat. This instant is a solid answer to five-toughness creatures like
Eddymurk Crab
Eddymurk Crab
Flash
This spell costs {1} less to cast for each instant and sorcery card in your graveyard.
This creature enters tapped if it's not your turn.
When this creature enters, tap up to two target creatures.
, and thus sees play in some Standard Izzet sideboards.
This is yet another poor reprint, as it’s just a $0.30 uncommon, but Broadside Barrage is receiving its first retro design, which is nice. Commander Party events take place February 12th to 18th and March 19th to 25th, while Two-Headed Giant events run February 5th through April 1st.
Also taking place February 5th to April 1st, the Standard Showdown events give players the chance to play for
Gene Pollinator
Gene Pollinator
{T}, Tap an untapped permanent you control: Add one mana of any color.
promos. This card is an important source of ramp for decks like Jund Sacrifice and Selesnya
Ouroboroid
Ouroboroid
At the beginning of combat on your turn, put X +1/+1 counters on each creature you control, where X is this creature's power.
, the latter of which saw a popularity spike at the World Championship.
This card is also worth $0.30 and is receiving its first retro-style printing, just like Broadside Barrage, but Pollinator could be a fun upgrade to the many players who already use it.
Finally, for fans of chaotic booster draft experiences, the Magic Presents: Sunken Trove event could be right up your alley. Taking place from March 5th to April 1st, 2027, this event tweaks the rules, allowing players to either generate card advantage or extra mana every upkeep!
Anyone with a winning record gets an
Unexpected Windfall
Unexpected Windfall
As an additional cost to cast this spell, discard a card.
Draw two cards and create two Treasure tokens. (They're artifacts with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
promo for their troubles. While this card is just a harder-to-cast
Big Score
Big Score
As an additional cost to cast this spell, discard a card.
Draw two cards and create two Treasure tokens. (They're artifacts with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
, it still sees play in over 400,000 Commander decks, according to EDHREC.
This demand has driven the common to nearly $2 in its cheapest form. This time around, the promo will feature the same art as the Foundations Commander printing, but in a retro frame.
Honestly, these Nauctis promos look pretty underwhelming, but we can’t say the same for the Nauctis: The Sunken Realm First Look. With tons of interesting cards on display, including a new Black Lotus retrain, there’s still lots to be excited about.
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