Faithless Brewing, Episode 50: A Brewers’ Guide to Ikoria, Lair of Behemoths
Several months ago, an article from WotC R&D issued a cryptic warning. Standard set releases, they said, were going to be intentionally powered up. Throne of Eldraine was at “approximately the desired power level” — ominous words for a set whose headliners, Oko and Once Upon a Time, have since received the Gitaxian Probe treatment and are now banned in nearly all formats. Even beyond those outliers, efficient powerhouses like Mystic Sanctuary, Brazen Borrower, and Mystical Dispute have become format-defining cards, with additional cross-format staples up and down the spoiler.
Theros: Beyond Death had giant footsteps to fill, yet it broke loose even more forcefully. The top tier Pioneer metagame is almost entirely defined by Theros-powered decks, while Uro and Kroxa are running rampant in Modern, and the Legacy ban list gained a fine new addition in Underworld Breach.
So it is with great trepidation that we greet the arrival of Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths. Can a battlecruiser set full of casual Godzilla monsters really make an impact on Magic’s eternal formats?
Yes, yes it can.
In this special double-header edition, we present our comprehensive Brewer’s Guide to Ikoria, analyzing every card that we expect to have an impact on Modern and Pioneer. The set is so stuffed with power top to bottom that we couldn’t even fit it all into one recording. Instead we are dividing this weeks’ show into two parts, clocking in at more than four hours of content. Check back for Part 2 of our Brewer’s Guide very soon!
Part 1: Companions, Mutants, and Planeswalkers
Outline + Timestamps
The Companions
12:32 Kaheera, the Orphanguard17:24 Yorion, Sky Nomad22:15 Lurrus of the Dream-Den28:11 Obosh, the Preypiercer34:02 Jegantha, the Wellspring39:22 Zidri, the Dawnwaker44:03 Umori, the Collector47:57 Lutri, the Spellchaser55:02 Keruga, the Macrosage59:53 Gyruda, Doom of Depths The Planeswalkers
1:05:12 Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast1:09:54 Vivien, Monsters’ Advocate1:15:16 Narset of the Ancient Way The Mutants
1:23:18 Snapdax, Apex Predator1:26:42 Brokkos, Apex of Forever1:30:31 Necroi, Apex of Death1:33:55 Vadrok, Apex of Thunder1:38:35 Illuna, Apex of Wishes1:41:41 Sea-Dasher Octopus1:45:37 Lore Drakkis1:48:25 Gemrazer1:51:25 Migratory Greathorn1:53:42 Everquill Phoenix1:56:16 Dirge Bat1:59:08 Parcelbeast2:03:06 Pollywog Symbiote2:06:22 Mysterious Egg
In Part 2, we will cover the wedge cycles, cycling, and the best of the rest. Stay tuned!
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