Concerning:

Worldwake common Treasure Hunt :: Worldwake mythic rare Jace, the Mind Sculptor

First of all, I don’t even know how these cards are real.

Let’s talk about the chase [mythic] rare first.

I had to look at the card a little bit, but I think Jace, the Mind Sculptor will end up being one of the strongest cards out of Worldwake. While it will take six turns of consecutive “plus” abilities to get to the point of a lethal Ultimate, once Jace fires off the [-12], yer dead. Mind Twist + Archive Trap (that is, lots of Archive Traps), all in one.

The other abilities range from pretty good to great.

[+2] “Look at the top card of target player’s library. You may put that card on the bottom of that player’s library.

This ability is “fine”; for one thing, it will either help you hit your land drops or give you in some matches detailed information about the opponent’s topdecks, allowing you to plan your turns and resource expenditures to match. For another thing, this [+2] is the only clear path to [-12].

[0] Brainstorm!

What the!?!

I mean this is pretty awesome as it is, but when paired with Treasure Hunt, [0] is upgraded to Ancestral Recall (or better)!

[-1] Unsummon.

I think it’s kind of goofball how two different cards that cost U are on two different lines on Jace, the Mind Sculptor, and the one that the Sinestro Corps would offer a ring to is the [0] and the seldom-played near-Constructed Unplayable gets the [-1], but who am I to argue with Erik Lauer (I assume) on this?

[-12] Kill ya.

You better warm up your Blightnings, son. I don’t think many will be walking away from this Ultimate.

Okay, now let’s move to Treasure Hunt.

BDM pointed out in last week’s Top 8 Magic podcast that this is a card that I have tried with all my heart to make. I have paid a full mana more for Gift of the Gargantuan, which also is not 100% reliable in two-for-one-ness. Treasure Hunt will generally be worth slightly more than one card, but in the cases that it only gives you one card, that card will always be a spell.

There are many great combinations with this card, including the Legacy deck that is just all full of lands, but I predict the most iconic will be in concert with Jace, the Mind Sculptor (as they, like Spectral Force and Scryb Ranger, come packaged in the same color, in the same set).

Treasure Hunt… This is basically my dream card, my Lash Out of the set, if that makes any sense.

Jace is Staple / Flagship and Treasure Hunt a firm Staple.

LOVE
MIKE

Currently Reading: Captain America: Road to Reborn