Leaks and Magic: The Gathering really do go hand in hand. It seems we can’t get a new set without a few cards or details being unexpectedly revealed early. We’ve even seen this trend hit Secret Lair drops recently, and it doesn’t show any signs of stopping. Ahead of MagicCon: Atlanta this weekend, the first few MTG Lorwyn Eclipsed spoilers have been leaked early.
As always with leaks, there’s a non-zero chance these cards we’re seeing are fake. Oddly, it’s worth amplifying the usual skepticism we have with leaks here for a few key details. For starters, we’ve yet to see the set symbol or code for this set, so we can’t verify those details. Arguably more importantly than this, however, is the fact that these leaks are so clean.
Typically, Magic: The Gathering leaks are almost incomprehensibly blurry, but these leaks are near pristine. The closest thing we have to a blur is the simulated foil effect on one of the cards. If anything, this just adds to the authenticity of these leaks, as this is a very Wizards of the Coast detail.
Either way, while it’s worth keeping in mind that these leaks aren’t confirmed, we can’t resist talking about them. As such, we’ll be discussing these cards as if they are the real deal and that we’ll be seeing them in a few days.
Bitterbloom Bearer
It wouldn’t be Lorwyn without a little bit of Bitterblossom. Bitterbloom Bearer is exactly that, being almost exactly Bitterblossom on a stick. The only difference is a slight change to the mana value, but that cost is well worth it. Sure, as a creature, Bitterbloom Bearer is slightly more removable, but it’s also a threat in its own right.
Beyond just being a threat that can poke in for a damage each turn, Bitterbloom Bearer notably has Flash. This is the card’s major upside, as it allows you to play it right before your upkeep on your opponent’s end step. This should guarantee you get somewhat decent value out of it, even if it gets removed on the next turn.
Realistically, the incredibly weak toughness of Bitterbloom Bearer may make it a hard sell in competitive formats. This card certainly has potential, especially in a Dimir deck, but it’s definitely beatable. In Commander, meanwhile, this card is bound to be a staple, seeing play alongside Bittomblossom in most scenarios.
Figure of the Fable
Kithkin are back in Lorwyn Eclipsed! Despite murmurings around a Hobbit set, it seems this creature type isn’t being errata-ed into Halfling after all. This is great news for fans of this iconic plane, as Kithkin are undoubtedly its defining feature. Beyond just being flavorful, Figure of the Fable seems pretty compellingly strong, too.
While it does take a decent amount of investment, it doesn’t take long for Figure of the Fable to start hitting hard. By turn three, you can reliably deal six damage with this single creature, provided it’s not blocked. Beyond this, Figure of the Fable has the potential to be a massive end-game threat.
While there’s potential here, much like there was for Figure of Destiny, competitively, it’s hardly a sure thing. To maximize Figure of the Fable’s effectiveness, you essentially need to dedicate your first three turns to it. Sadly, this is likely too high a cost for competitive formats, especially without any early in-built protection.
Thankfully, in Commander, Figure of the Fable is definitely going to be a strong performer. Being able to steadily ramp up this threat, while having the mana for its final level, gives it immense potential. In this format, Figure of the Fable is Figure of Destiny on steroids, and it’s definitely one to watch.
Mutable Explorer
Speaking of iconic elements of Lorwyn, the prevalence of Shapeshifters is another key aspect. On its own, the fact that we’re getting more Shapeshifters is exciting, but this card is actually nuts. Getting a Mutavault token for three mana, on top of an admittedly small body, is a fantastic deal.
Essentially, at worst, Mutable Explorer is a three-mana ramp spell, which isn’t bad at all. If your deck is loaded with typal synergies, both it and the Mutavault can easily become threats too. As you might expect, this means this card will be a shoo-in for a great many Commander decks. For competitive formats, meanwhile, this card will be a much harder sell.
While Lorwyn could shore up some existing typal archetypes, right now, this card is too slow. The ramp isn’t fast enough to compete with aggro decks, and the Mutavault isn’t a game-breaking threat. Still, it’ll be very interesting to watch what MTG players do with this card.
Beyond the immediate gameplay implications of Mutable Explorer, it’ll be very interesting to see where this card design goes. While it’s not all the way, creating tokens of cards like this is very Alchemy and Conjure-esque. Personally, I love this design space and direction, even though it does come with some added complexity. Hopefully, the default variant of this card will actually explain what Mutavault does.
Sygg, Wanderwine Wisom // Sygg Wanderbrine Shield
Last, but by no means least, Sygg, Wanderwine Wisom seems like another powerful Lorwyn Eclipsed card. That said, the first impressions of this card are rather deceiving, as there are a bunch of caveats to consider. For starters, the card draw and protection abilities on both sides of Sygg only last until the end of the turn. On top of this, you can only transform Sygg at the beginning of your first main phase.
Due to these restrictions, you’ll only be able to draw a card or protect something with Sygg every other turn. While this isn’t terrible, you’ll have to pay for the privilege, which adds up over time. As a result of this, Sygg, Wanderwine Wisom might not see much play outside of Commander, but it should put in work in that format.
Mechanics of the card aside, Sygg notably shows a bit of a twist to Wizards’ usual art direction. In the past, we’ve seen art elements covering up the text on a card. While this is usually only seen on reprints or alternative variants, MTG players haven’t exactly loved this feature. For Sygg, however, the card text takes precedent.
Despite the art of Sygg spilling over into the text box, the card’s text is overlaid atop the artwork. Admittedly, this does look a little strange, potentially due to the lack of shadow and/or text border, but it’s a welcome solution. MTG players need to know what cards do, after all, especially new cards that haven’t been seen before.
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