In today’s WeeklyMTG Stream, Wizards of the Coast announced a brand new format on Magic Arena, Alchemy. With the announcement there was a LOT of new information about the format, including some new cards! Today we’ll break down everything that came in the announcement, so buckle up.
What is Alchemy?
Alchemy is a digital only format on MTG Arena that will be releasing on December 9th, 2021. The card pool for the format will be the Standard card pool and it will rotate once standard rotates. There will be NEW cards added to Alchemy, and some cards that are in Standard will be rebalanced for Alchemy, but stay the same in Standard. This makes the format feel a bit closer to Hearthstone in terms of flexibility of change for these cards.
Alchemy isn’t going to replace any formats, but will be a new addition to the game. It will also have ranked and unranked modes, where the ranked versions will share the same rank as your existing constructed rank. For the standard cards that will be rebalanced, if you own the card for Standard, then you own the rebalanced version of the card as well.
Of note, the rebalanced cards, as well as the new Alchemy cards will be legal in Alchemy and Historic / Historic Brawl. Rebalanced cards will replace the “paper” versions in Historic, as Historic is a “Live Format”, where Standard is a “Paper Format”.
Alchemy Rebalanced Cards
There’s 11 cards being “rebalanced” for Alchemy that are in current standard. Since there’s a lot to cover, I’ll be posting a picture of the original card, and the rebalanced card, and whether or not the card was nerfed or buffed and what change was made. Again, these changes are ONLY for the Alchemy format and Historic / Historic Brawl.
Esika’s Chariot
Esika’s Chariot was nerfed. Instead of creating 2 cats, it now makes 1, but it can now be crewed for 2 instead of 4.
Goldspan Dragon
Goldspan Dragon was nerfed. This only creates a treasure when it attacks, instead of when it was targeted by a spell and attacks.
Alrund’s Epiphany
Alrund’s Epiphany was nerfed. There was a few changes here. First the Foretold cost was increased, so there’s no mana savings. Secondly the bird tokens will only be made if the spell was foretold when it is cast. If it’s copied, or cast from the hand, you won’t get the birds.
Faceless Haven
Faceless Haven was nerfed. Instead of being a 4/3, it’s now a 3/3.
Omnath, Locus of Creation
Omnath, Locus of Creation is getting nerfed (but becoming legal). It’s mana cost was increase by 1, and instead of drawing a card when it enters play, it now will scry 1.
Luminarch Aspirant
Luminarch Aspirant is being nerfed. Instead of putting the +1/+1 counter on a creature at the beginning of combat, it will happen at the beginning of your end step.
Cosmos Elixir
Cosmos Elixir is getting buffed. In addition to the gain 2 life, you will also scry 1.
Druid Class
Druid Class is getting a buff. The cost to level the card to level 3 is being reduced.
Wizard Class
In a similar fashion to Druid Class, Wizard Class is being buffed. The level 3 cost is being reduced as well.
Phylath, World Sculptor
Phylath, World Sculptor got a buff. This now will give trample to the plant token in addition to the 4 +1/+1 counters.
Demilich
Demilich is getting buffed. It’s getting an additional point of toughness.
READ MORE: Best Cards to Buy For Umbris, Fear Manifest in Commander
New Alchemy Cards
Alchemy will be getting new “digital only” cards, similar to the ones found in Jumpstart: Historic Horizons. New cards will be released with each new Standard set. They will come out a few weeks after the set releases, and will have roughly about 30 cards in them themed around the set the release along with. This release of new cards will be 63 cards to account for all the sets currently in Standard. We were given 10 cards today during the stream, so I’ll show the picture of each and talk briefly about it.
Toralf’s Disciple
Toralf’s Disciple uses the conjure mechanic to put 4 Lightning Bolts into your deck whenever it attacks.
Absorb Energy
Absorb Energy is a counter spell that gives your spells a reduction in cost if they share the same card type as the spell you countered.
Ishkanah, Broodmother
Ishkanah, Broodmother is a returning character, but a new card. She features a new mechanic, Draft. Draft will function the same way that Davriel, Soul Broker’s -2 ability, where you’ll be give a choice of 3 from a list. The 2nd picture has the full list of cards you could hit, and they’re all spider themed.
Begin Anew
Begin Anew is a Selesnya Sweeper effect but will give any creatures you have in hand +1/+1 permanently.
Gitrog, Horror of Zhava
Another returning character, Gitrog, Horror of Zhava uses the Seek mechanic, and is inspired by Desecration Demon.
Captain Eberhart
Captain Eberhart is a card that cares about spells that you and your opponent have drawn in the current turn. Yours get cheaper, and you tax your opponent’s.
Patient Zero
Patient Zero is the first time that Wizards has considered having persistent damage on creatures. Normally damage will be removed at the end of a turn, but not with this card.
Fosaken Crossroads
Forsaken Crossroads is the first card that cares about who is on the play and who is on the draw. If you’re on the draw, every copy of this can basically come in untapped.
Geistchanneler
Geistchanneler takes advantage of perpetual to give your expensive spells a cost reduction.
Ominous Traveler
Ominous Traveler is another card that uses Draft and has a spellbook. The cards from the spell book are all new Innistrad cards, and has a bit of repetition to it as well.
Previews for the rest of the cards will be happening over the next few days. Here’s where you can find them:
- Friday, December 3rd – CovertGoBlue and Amazonian
- Monday, December 6th – NumotTheNummy and Crokeyz
- Tuesday, December 7th – MTGNerdGirl and Ali Eldrazi
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READ MORE: MTG Lead Designer is Taking Requests for Future Universes Beyond Sets
How to Get Alchemy Cards
Alchemy cards will be obtainable through normal methods. You can get packs, and craft them with wild cards. The packs will be the same price as other packs, and there will be a 1 time bundle that you can purchase as well.
We will be going more in depth into these cards as they are released, so stay tuned for that. If you want to learn more about Alchemy in detail, check out this DailyMTG article. What are your thoughts on this format? Do you like that Magic is getting a format that can be balanced a bit more rapidly, or is this embrace of Digital Only becoming a bit too much? Let us know in the comments
