We know that Crimson Vow is meant to be all about Vampires, and you should obviously check out the preview gallery if you haven’t already, because there are some great ones here. However, we’re pretty sure everyone agrees that all tribes are completely irrelevant in the face of a good amphibian.
It’s impossible not to be on board with a good Frog, you know? We’re green with envy for how good they are. We’d be hopping mad if it weren’t for the fact that we’ve Crimson Vow is bringing with it an amazing new legendary Frog. Thankfully, Grolnok has it licked, and we’re over the moon.
All hail Grolnok
Grolnok, the Omnivore
Grolnok, the Omnivore
Whenever a Frog you control attacks, mill three cards.
Whenever a permanent card is put into your graveyard from your library, exile it with a croak counter on it.
You may play lands and cast spells from among cards you own in exile with croak counters on them.
is a four-mana green and blue 3/3 Frog. That’s probably enough, but there’s so much more. It reads, “Whenever a Frog you control attacks, mill three cards. Whenever a permanent card is put into your graveyard from your library, exile it with a croak counter on it. You may play lands and cast spells from among cards you own in exile with croak counters on them.”
In essence, here is a card that’ll reward you for playing Frog tribal. It’s also one that rewards self mill, and it allows you to cast things that you mill as long as Grolnox is in play. It’s a lot of value, especially as Simic often wants to be flirting with self mill anyway.
Also, and we’re not sure we’ve made this clear enough yet, Grolnok is a giant Frog. The only bad thing about them is that they’re not Sultai, because not being able to also put in
The Gitrog Monster
The Gitrog Monster
Deathtouch
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice The Gitrog Monster unless you sacrifice a land.
You may play an additional land on each of your turns.
Whenever one or more land cards are put into your graveyard from anywhere, draw a card.
kind of sucks.
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Frogs everywhere
There aren’t that many Frogs in MTG in just blue and green, but there are some very powerful ones. Probably the most obvious one is the
Froghemoth
Froghemoth
Trample, haste
Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, exile up to that many target cards from their graveyard. Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature for each creature card exiled this way. You gain 1 life for each noncreature card exiled this way.
. This five-mana green 4/4 with trample and haste reads, “Whenever Froghemoth deals combat damage to a player, exile up to that many target cards from their graveyard. Put a +1/+1 counter on Froghemoth for each creature card exiled this way. You gain 1 life for each noncreature card exiled this way.” That’s all good stuff.
Of course, the real hero is probably
Spore Frog
Spore Frog
Sacrifice this creature: Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.
, which allows you to sacrifice it in order to prevent all combat damage that would be dealt in that turn. It’s a staple of
Meren of Clan Nel Toth
Meren of Clan Nel Toth
Whenever another creature you control dies, you get an experience counter.
At the beginning of your end step, choose target creature card in your graveyard. If that card's mana value is less than or equal to the number of experience counters you have, return it to the battlefield. Otherwise, put it into your hand.
, but it’s also just good in general, and kind of cute.
All you need then is to throw in every other Frog you can find, all the Changelings, or maybe just
Maskwood Nexus
Maskwood Nexus
Creatures you control are every creature type. The same is true for creature spells you control and creature cards you own that aren't on the battlefield.
{3}, {T}: Create a 2/2 blue Shapeshifter creature token with changeling. (It is every creature type.)
, and you’re going to be living in a froggy paradise. That’s gotta be better than being surrounded by Vampires or Werewolves, all of whom no doubt want to eat you. At least if Grolnok munches on you you’ll help to make a Frog even stronger.
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