Avacyn Restored Spoiler/Discussion thread (MtG)

[LiaThistle]

Since it's been announced, may as well start with it.

It, like Rize of the Eldrazi, is going to be a large set with its own limited environment. At 244 cards, it looks like it's going to be big.

Announcement link coming later, when I feel like it.

MaRo tweeted recently (12/19) that DFCs will not be present in this set.

[Silverfin]

Avacyn Restored announcement

And like I said in the other thread, there will probably be none of the mechanics that define Innistrad - no flashback, no morbid, no double-faced cards. Commence speculation about what Avacyn's return does to werewolves, and whether or not vampires and zombies are also affected.

[Liberi Glacialis]

I think Double Faced cards will stay. They can still be used with the return of Avacyn, and maybe ever better then before, due to the whole redemption stchik you can pull out of just the title alone. Think, I don't know, Forsaken Chapel (Land that has a Black-basted activated ability) into Site of Return (L. Land that has a White-basted activated ability) if you cast 3 Angel spells in a turn. Flashback has a shot, but I think the whole Morbid theme is getting dropped/swapped out.

[Kaim Arouet]

Quote:

Are there any Double Faced Cards in Avacyn Restored?
gds3candidate

No. We’ve done things to connect Innistrad and Dark Ascension to Avacyn Restored (lessons learned from Zendikar block) but double-faced cards didn’t make sense with what happens. Obviously, I can’t talk about why yet.

The set is designed by Brian Tinsman who is famous for pushing the boundaries of design so don’t worry, the set will have its fun quirks just not double-faced cards.

MaRo's Tumblr

[LiaThistle]

Actually, since it only says "Restored," I'm under the impression that it's more like Avacyn herself has been restored. As though she were fractured into the demon and her angel self, and now she's back in one piece.

Which would be a potential explanation for the scary looking armor that angel has in the image.

[Silverfin]

LiaThistle

Actually, since it only says "Restored," I'm under the impression that it's more like Avacyn herself has been restored. As though she were fractured into the demon and her angel self, and now she's back in one piece.

Which would be a potential explanation for the scary looking armor that angel has in the image.

It'll be nice to finally have them end the constant speculation of "is Avacyn a Planeswalker?" and "is Avacyn Griselbrand?" But it would have been nice and simple if she were just gone. Serra and Asha both died, and things didn't go crazy. I remember it wasn't quite clear if Asha was still alive before the Conflux, and there were some theories that she was taken to another plane by Malfegor (hmm, an angel missing after fighting with a notorious demon... does this sound familiar?). But then it was revealed that she was dead, and that was actually part of what got Bant into shape to fight in the war. And the jury's still out on Serra with the whole Karona mess, but a multiplanar religion doesn't need their goddess to be alive. Like she said herself, "Believe in the ideal, not the idol." Point is, Avacyn's death could have been used as a strong plot point.

Liberi Glacialis

I think Double Faced cards will stay. Flashback has a shot, but I think the whole Morbid theme is getting dropped/swapped out.

Large sets never share mechanics, at least not back to back like this. They do it to make sure each plays like its own distinct environment without crazy amounts of overlap. I think they did a great job of making Zendikar feel different from Rise of the Eldrazi while making it clear the setting was the same. Hopefully they do the same with Avacyn Restored. Hopefully this set actually makes the plane of Innistrad interesting.

[LiaThistle]

Silverfin

LiaThistle

Actually, since it only says "Restored," I'm under the impression that it's more like Avacyn herself has been restored. As though she were fractured into the demon and her angel self, and now she's back in one piece.

Which would be a potential explanation for the scary looking armor that angel has in the image.

It'll be nice to finally have them end the constant speculation of "is Avacyn a Planeswalker?" and "is Avacyn Griselbrand?" But it would have been nice and simple if she were just gone. Serra and Asha both died, and things didn't go crazy. I remember it wasn't quite clear if Asha was still alive before the Conflux, and there were some theories that she was taken to another plane by Malfegor (hmm, an angel missing after fighting with a notorious demon... does this sound familiar?). But then it was revealed that she was dead, and that was actually part of what got Bant into shape to fight in the war. And the jury's still out on Serra with the whole Karona mess, but a multiplanar religion doesn't need their goddess to be alive. Like she said herself, "Believe in the ideal, not the idol." Point is, Avacyn's death could have been used as a strong plot point.

Liberi Glacialis

I think Double Faced cards will stay. Flashback has a shot, but I think the whole Morbid theme is getting dropped/swapped out.

Large sets never share mechanics, at least not back to back like this. They do it to make sure each plays like its own distinct environment without crazy amounts of overlap. I think they did a great job of making Zendikar feel different from Rise of the Eldrazi while making it clear the setting was the same. Hopefully they do the same with Avacyn Restored. Hopefully this set actually makes the plane of Innistrad interesting.

It could have been, but I'm pretty sure we're going to see some "twists" as is.

Like Sorin being the hero, liberating Avacyn so that the vampire lineage can continue, or perhaps taking control of her similar to Volrath and Selenia ages ago.

I'm saddened by the loss of the mechanics, though. I thought they were fine as they were.

[Silverfin]

LiaThistle

It could have been, but I'm pretty sure we're going to see some "twists" as is.

Like Sorin being the hero, liberating Avacyn so that the vampire lineage can continue, or perhaps taking control of her similar to Volrath and Selenia ages ago.

I'm saddened by the loss of the mechanics, though. I thought they were fine as they were.

Sorin was already the hero of Zendikar block. Actually, he was the only hero of that story. He was the only one who knew about the threat of the Eldrazi returning and tried to do something about it. Everyone else was either a total idiot (Nissa), was tricked by Bolas (Jace, Chandra, Sarkhan), or showed up after it was too late (Gideon). Not that I mind Sorin being the hero, but it's just one more plot point that's been recycled. every passing block just cheapens the good stories of past sets sad

[LiaThistle]

Silverfin

LiaThistle

It could have been, but I'm pretty sure we're going to see some "twists" as is.

Like Sorin being the hero, liberating Avacyn so that the vampire lineage can continue, or perhaps taking control of her similar to Volrath and Selenia ages ago.

I'm saddened by the loss of the mechanics, though. I thought they were fine as they were.

Sorin was already the hero of Zendikar block. Actually, he was the only hero of that story. He was the only one who knew about the threat of the Eldrazi returning and tried to do something about it. Everyone else was either a total idiot (Nissa), was tricked by Bolas (Jace, Chandra, Sarkhan), or showed up after it was too late (Gideon). Not that I mind Sorin being the hero, but it's just one more plot point that's been recycled. every passing block just cheapens the good stories of past sets sad

Really didn't pay attention during Zen block's story.
Heck, didn't pay much attention during Zen block.

[Silverfin]

LiaThistle

Really didn't pay attention during Zen block's story.
Heck, didn't pay much attention during Zen block.

You're not missing much. Robert Wintermute is easily the worst author Wizards has ever hired. Hell, the second word in the book is misspelled, and it only goes downhill from there.

[Silverfin]

So uh... legendary werewolf?

[LiaThistle]

Silverfin

So uh... legendary werewolf?

Yep, he's supposed to be here. Just not as a DFC.

[Connecto Prease]

I'm really interested to see what is going to happen that is going to make DFCs defunct, flavour-wise.

Avacyn's return doesn't just mean that the human's guardian angel is back, it also means that all the demons she locked away in the Helstone are back, too. Including Griselbrand.

I'm sure Liliana's ears twitched as I said that.

Things are going to get a whole lot worse before they got better. Demons and Angels have been in the background mostly during this block, I have a feeling that this will change here.

Also, I wonder what this sets dragon will be like. Because, you know, there has to be a dragon.

[Silverfin]

Malevolent Prophet

I'm really interested to see what is going to happen that is going to make DFCs defunct, flavour-wise.

A few options:
1) Handwave them away and hope we won't notice.
2) Avacyn does something that kills all werewolves (the only DFC-exclusive tribe) or otherwise removes their ability to transform.
3) They take the Lorwyn route, making it either eternal day or eternal night.
4) Werewolves find their own way to prevent transformation.

Right now I'm leaning towards 2, though 1 would totally not surprise me.

[Connecto Prease]

I have a feeling that they're going to be stuck as werewolves.

Like, the light reveals them for what they truly are, or something like that? IDK.