Wizards of the Coast really isn’t waiting around during the Lorwyn Eclipsed spoiler season. While we’ve known for some time that it’d only last for four days, the sheer volume of cards we’re getting is insane. Today, on top of the expected slew of main set cards, Wizards also revealed both Lorwyn Eclipsed precons.
While we’re a few weeks away from seeing how these decks really play, it’s hard not to get excited about the Dance of the Elements deck. As a five-color Elemental Typal-focused deck, this precon has tons of unique synergy. In particular, the new secondary face Commander within the deck looks like an absolute monster, both figuratively and literally.
Mass of Mysteries
While not as iconic as Dance of the Elements’ face Commander, Ashling, the Limitless, Mass of Mysteries is definitely worthy of attention. Heck, thanks to its WUBRG casting cost, it arguably even feels like the deck’s intended Commander. Given its potential for shenanigans with Myriad, it’s potentially deserving of that spot too.
While the Myriad granting ability is somewhat basic, it works wonders with a great deal of Elementals. Many creatures with this type have incredible enters abilities, such as the Modern Horizons 2 Evoke Elementals. Getting to make two copies of any one of these cards presents a huge value swing.
Outside of this incredibly powerful cycle, there are tons of other Elementals that are worth using with Myriad. Avatar of Growth and Avenger of Zendikar, for instance, can give you tons of ramp or tokens. Even just using Mass of Mysteries with a Mulldrifter will get you four extra cards that turn.
With how easy this Myriad ability is to exploit, having easy access to Mass of Mysteries definitely seems like a strong play. This card’s body isn’t bad either, as First Strike, Vigilance, and Trample make it a major threat.
Belonging
While somewhat saved by its solid stat line, Belonging doesn’t do a great deal for six mana. Getting three 1/1 Shapeshifters on entry is just okay on its own, and Encore, to get nine more, is decent but not incredible. Thankfully, you’re rarely going to be playing this card on its own, and it’s perfect for any white-aligned typal deck.
No matter what type you’re building around, Belonging essentially provides 12 bodies to synergize with. If you’ve got strong enters synergy, or just a boatload of buffs, these piddly tokens can become real value engines. You will have to spend a total of 14 mana for all these tokens, but that’s genuinely not bad. In Elf Typal, for instance, these bodies can easily pay for themselves.
Notably, while Mass of Mysteries is incredibly powerful, Ashling the Limitless works wonders with all the new Incarnations. Thanks to her Evoke ability, you can play this cycle of cards for just four mana, which makes them all quite aggressively costed.
Subterfuge
Much like Belonging, Subterfuge really excels when you bring it back using its Encore ability. While it costs a whopping nine mana, you can easily turn this into nine cards if your opponents are open in the air. Simply target each of the Subterfuge copies with itself, and swing in for on-rate card draw.
While this potential power is very exciting, Subterfuge isn’t terrible when it enters for the first time. So long as one opponent is open, you can easily give your most powerful threat Flying and sneak it through. So long as you’re drawing more than a couple of cards, paying five mana for this… thing, isn’t too bad.
Lamentation
In somewhat of a running theme for this cycle, Lamentation is overcosted at first, and then has better value when Encore-ed. That said, it might be the worst of the bunch, as it’s only really creature removal on a stick. Paying six mana for this, even with somewhat decent stats and some life gain attached, really doesn’t feel great.
Even when using the Encore ability, while the value proposition is better, you’re only removing three things for eight mana. While this is a hell of a lot better than something like Meteor Golem, it does lack the spice the rest of this cycle has. Still, if you can keep it around and get a few extra activations from Mass of Mysteries’ Myriad ability, then you’re cooking with gas.
Impulsivity
As the most expensive card in this cycle within Dance of the Elements, Impulsivity is, unsurprisingly, rather dangerous. Getting to cast a spell from a graveyard for free isn’t amazing for seven mana, but it is still useful. Whether you’re casting something you really need, stealing an opponent’s spell, or casting a milled bomb like Rise of the Eldrazi, there’s undeniably potential.
Once again, things get even spicier when you bring Impulsivity using its Encore effect. Getting three free instants or sorceries from the bin presents a huge value swing that could easily turn the table’s tide. While optimistic, the combo of a board wipe, Rise of the Dark Realms, and World at War should easily be game-ending.
Jubilation
For six mana, Jubilation is one hell of a threat. Offering Overcome on a stick, this card is already decently powerful when playing it for the first time. If your deck goes wide enough, Jubilation can easily end the game without too much trouble. When bringing it back with Encore, however, things get really scary.
Not only will the three Encore copies of Jubilation give your board a +6/+6 and Trample buff, but they’ll also be attacking. Even without any extra support, this means you’re aiming an 11/11 Trampler at each opponent. As if this isn’t enough for your liking, adding in a token doubler like Doubling Season pushes things to the extreme.
Springleaf Parade
To put it lightly, Springleaf Parade is likely going to see an awful lot of play. While its color identity somewhat limits things, a vast number of typal decks will want this card. Much like Belonging, any deck with strong Lords or enters synergies can get explosive value out of this card.
While this potential can easily make Springleaf Parade a staple, its second ability really pushes it over the edge. Essentially, any mana that you put into the X cost of Springleaf Parade, you’ll get back the next turn. Hell, if you have a Haste enabler like Concordant Crossroads, then you instantly get all but two mana back.
Thanks to this extra almost mana-doubling utility, Springleaf Parade has great value in a huge number of decks. Expect to see a lot of this card going forward, especially in any deck that can push its limits.
Elemental Spectacle
Unlike the other new MTG cards from Dance of the Elements, the ceiling on Elemental Spectacle feels quite low. At best, this spell can get you five 5/5 Elementals and a bunch of life for six mana. This isn’t a bad rate, of course, but compared to the shenanigans of Springleaf Parade, it’s shockingly tame.
The upside of this card, however, especially in Dance of the Elements, is that it’s easy to activate. So long as you’ve got something like Mass of Mysteries in play, then you’ll get maximum value. Without that, even getting two or three 5/5s isn’t awful, but it’s unlikely to completely upset the table.
New Lands, Old Cycles
With the Dance of the Elements precon, there are three new lands for MTG players to enjoy.
Out of these lands, Abundant Countryside is definitely the most interesting and should quickly become a staple. Offering any color of mana for creature spells and a Shapeshifter token for six mana, the general utility of this land is high. Even if you don’t use the final ability, easy untapped fixing for creature-focused decks is always a blessing.
For better or worse, Sodden Verdue and Rain-Slicked Copse aren’t nearly as interesting, but they are useful. Continuing existing cycles that’ve been growing in Commander precons, it’s always nice to have more land options, especially with basic types. I expect we’ll see a lot more of these lands in future Commander decks.
Main Set Inclusions
To fuse the main set and Dance of the Elements precon together, Wizards is including three Lorwyn Eclipsed cards in this deck. Sadly, none of these is that impressive, but they should still perform admirably within the precon itself. That said, they’re clearly a step down from the insane might of the Incarnation cycle.
Out of the main set trio, Flamebraider and Eclipsed Flamekin are definitely the most interesting. Offering a useful Elemental-focused ramp ability and mild Elemental-focused card selection, both these cards have decent utility. Eclipsed Flamekin, in particular, feels very helpful if you’re mana screwed or you’re hunting for a bomb.
Shimmercreep, on the other hand, is just okay. At best, you’re getting a 3/5 for five that drains each opponent for five. While this is potentially a 30-life swing, it requires some work to get going. Much like Elemental Spectacle, however, it works well with Mass of Mysteries, especially its Myriad ability.
Reasonable Reprints
For better or worse, there aren’t a ton of ultra-expensive reprints within the Dance of the Elements precon. In fact, only five cards are worth more than $6 at the moment. Out of these, Cream of the Crop is easily the value frontrunner, offering an impressive $22 of near-mint value. Notably, while powerful, this card is more scarce than it is a staple, so this price will likely crash soon.
Thankfully, the same shouldn’t happen to the other expensive Dance of the Elements reprints. Timeless Lotus, for instance, is worth around $16 and sees healthy play at the moment. Similarly, both Omnath, Locus of the Roil and Endurance, which sell for $8.50, are well-played staples. Kindred Summons, which is the final $6 reprint, is similarly less played, but its price may be knocked slightly.
Outside of value, a lot of the Dance of the Elements precon reprints just make sense. Horde of Notions is here, for instance, as are tons of generally powerful Elements with strong enters effects. Cavalier of Thorns, Avenger of Zendikar, and Maelstrom Wanderer might not be worth a great deal, but they’re fantastic alongside Mass of Mysteries.
A Very Solid Start
While we don’t know exactly how Dance of the Elements looks, this deck seems rather strong. Thanks to the focus on Elemental Typal, it seems there’s a ton of synergies to exploit, especially with Mass of Mysteries. With a few upgrades, there’s a good chance this deck could easily perform well in bracket three.
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