Cave Troll Corner – Battle for Zendikar!

In case you hadn’t heard, the next Magic: the Gathering set is Battle for Zendikar. That’s right, we are returning to the adventure world we loved from 2009, with all of its antics and Cthulloid horrors. Since the prerelease is just around the corner (September 26th and 27th), it seems like a good idea to spread the word as far and as wide as possible. The Eldrazi were released last time we saw the plane of Zendikar, and they have been busy. Adventurers and Allies are sorely needed.

The set contains 274 cards total, including 25 full-art basic lands, 101 commons, 80 uncommons, 53 rares, 15 mythic rares. In addition, there is a chance of opening what is called a Zendikar Expedition. Now, this has caused some confusion, so let us clear it up. An Expedition is going to be one of 25 full-art, foil, non-basic lands. The 25 lands are as follows: All 10 “Fetch lands” (Misty Rainforest, Arid Mesa, Scalding Tarn, Marsh Flats, Verdant Catacombs, Polluted Delta, Windswept Heath, Wooded Foothills, Bloodstained Mire, and Flooded Strand), all 10 “Shock Lands” (Watery Grave, Hallowed Fountain, Breeding Pool, Steam Vents, Stomping Ground, Temple Garden, Overgrown Tomb, Godless Shrine, Blood Crypt, and Sacred Foundry), plus the 5 new “Lag Lands” (Prairie Stream, Sunken Hollow, Smoldering Marsh, Cinder Glade, and Canopy Vista).

Now, here is the confusing part. There will be special legality rules for these cards. First, it is legal in whatever sealed event you are playing. Pull it in your pre-release pool? You can play it. Someone passes one to you in a draft? Sleeve it up and have some fun. They are also legal in any constructed format, like Modern or Legacy, except for Standard. The 5 new “Lag Lands” (Prairie Stream, Sunken Hollow, Smoldering Marsh, Cinder Glade, and Canopy Vista) and the 5 “Fetch Lands” from Khans of Tarkir (Polluted Delta, Windswept Heath, Wooded Foothills, Bloodstained Mire, and Flooded Strand) will also be legal in Standard until Khans rotates out of Standard in March. So, the following 15 WILL NOT be legal in Standard: Misty Rainforest, Arid Mesa, Scalding Tarn, Marsh Flats, Verdant Catacombs, Watery Grave, Hallowed Fountain, Breeding Pool, Steam Vents, Stomping Ground, Temple Garden, Overgrown Tomb, Godless Shrine, Blood Crypt, and Sacred Foundry).

At the prerelease, you will receive a small box-like object containing several things. The first is a deck box. There will also still be a Spindown™ life counter. Now, they have decided to switch up the format based on player feedback. There will be 1 foil promotional card (which can be any rare or mythic rare in the set) and 6 BFZ booster packs. That’s it. Using these cards and basic land provided by the store, you will build a minimum 40 card deck to play through 5 rounds, with prizes based upon attendance. Be at Gatekeeper by 10 am Saturday the 26th or Sunday the 27th with $25 ready to play.
We are also excited to announce that Saturday the 26th at 5 pm we will be running a 2-Headed Giant prerelease event. If you want to participate in this event, bring a partner/friend/minion (each with $25) and we will register you as a team. Each player will receive prerelease kit, which constitutes the team’s card pool. You do not have to keep them separate. If your partner pulls a sweet rare that they can’t use, but you can, you are permitted to use it. Just remember to split the pool up at the end of the day so everyone goes home with new cards.