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Future Sight was one of our favorite small sets. The premise is terrific — cards from the future! The set included 81 cards with a special “from the future” card frame. The idea was that these cards were from the future, just as Time Spiral had had cards in an old frame from the past, and Planar Chaos had had cards in a special frame “from alternate presents.”

Since Time Spiral block was all about time running amok, the future had intruded on the past, allowing us a glimpse into what will become.

Or rather, what might become. Wizards of the Coast said at the time that the cards from the future might be from actual futures, and might be from futures that do not come to pass.

Well, let’s be serious for a second. If you print cards and say they’re from the future, but then you say that they’re from futures that won’t happen, what fun is that? That’s not very fun. It’s a lot more fun when the cards from Future Sight actually were from the future, isn’t it?

That means reprinting them.

There were 81 “futureshifted” cards. For every one genuinely reprinted as though it were a new card, Wizards gets a point on our Future Sight Scorecard. The higher the score, the cooler Future Sight was, looking back on it. It has to be reprinted as though it were a new card, because in order to have been from the future, it has to be “from” the later set. Is that a time paradox? Wrap your head around that one for a second.

Now, Wizards will never get a perfect score of 81, because Steamflogger Boss lol. But that’s OK. Let’s just see how things are going so far.

Cards worth points

Mistmeadow Skulk — This is a great job. Well done. This card came from the very near future — the very next block. Well, the half-block after the very next half-block — Shadowmoor. Since sets are decided in advance, it’s clear that this card was a bona fide look into an already decided future. So that’s terrific.

Bloodshot Trainee — whoa, we’re into red already? That’s not good. Anyway. This one was reprinted in Scars of Mirrodin. It doesn’t seem to have a ton to do with that block, but nice job anyway.

Boldwyr Intimidator — A fantastic reprint. It’s from Morningtide, a set about Warriors! You can’t do much better than that. Great job, kudos all around.

Phosphorescent Feast — From Eventide. It’s too bad the Future Sight version doesn’t have the Chroma keyword, but credit where credit is due. It was from the future.

Graven Cairn — Not only was this printed in Shadowmoor, but the whole cycle made it into the block! Great job. The Future Sight version talks about a future land of Kar-Sengir — no doubt a ferocious land of vampires. Wait, they just did a vampire block. Oh, no, that means Kar-Sengir will probably never materialize. That’s OK. This card was from the future anyway. Maybe it got twisted in time along the way.

Zoetic Cavern — This is from — Commander? Is that a real set? Well, it’s a set with new cards, so, we say that counts. Note that it barely counts, because what does Commander have to do with morph? Apparently, Zoetic Cavern is from a terrifying future world where brave, ignorant commanders who are incapable of understanding spells outside their own colors do battle. That’s worth a point.

Special bonus points

Tarmogoyf — This card has never been reprinted. But you know what? The Future Sight printing of the card mentions planeswalkers, which didn’t exist as cards yet. That’s so great that we’re willing to give a point. Clearly, this card came from the future, even if we don’t know what set.

Ghostfire — This card also has not actually been reprinted. But it talks about the Eye of Ugin, which later turned out to be in Zendikar; and as a colorless instant, it hints at Rise of the Eldrazi! We’re going to give this one a point for being from Emrakul’s favorite future.

Goldmeadow Lookout — A reader pointed out this one, as you’ll see if you read the comments! It makes Goldmeadow Harrier tokens, which are from the future, Lorwyn. That should count, too. Excellent job.

Cards reprinted but not worth any points

Sarcomite Myr — reprinted in Planechase. Planechase was all reprints, at least so far. That does not count, because it doesn’t reveal what “future set” Sarcomite Myr was “from.”

Spin into Myth — reprinted in Archenemy. Same thing.

Frenzy Sliver, Homing Sliver, Virulent Sliver — reprinted in the premium Sliver deck. That’s not even a set. That’s like, “a card from an unimaginable future where we reprint it.” That definitely doesn’t count.

Mass of Ghouls — reprinted in 10th Edition. The whole point of this card being futureshifted was that it was in a textless frame. We love that, honestly. We’d reprint Watchwolf in a textless frame in two seconds. The reprint in 10th Edition is in a normal frame. Was Mass of Ghouls from a nightmare future where vanilla creatures appear in normal card frames? We don’t think so. Doesn’t count.

Edge of Autumn — reprinted in a duel deck. This is basically the same issue as reprinting it in a premium deck. No point.

Final score — 9/81

Frankly, if we were in charge, it would be required to reprint at least one futureshifted card per year.

We’ll check back in a year to see if the score has changed.

Hi! What do you think of this card as a general for EDH?

Sid’s cards is a feature where Sid asks you what you think of a card.

RENTON, Wash. — Wizards of the Coast announced Friday that it has realized that any color of Magic can be justified as being able to do anything.

“Direct damage, for example, can be red because of fire or lightning,” said Matt Cavotta, writing for Wizards of the Coast. “Direct damage can also be black, representing vampiric consumption,” he said.

“However, direct damage could be white, which represents arrows or catapult shots,” Cavotta said. “It could also be blue, representing psionic attack,” he told reporters Friday.

“Finally, direct damage can also be green, representing wind and bees. Bees, raining down from the sky and stinging everyone,” he said.

“That’s right. It’s raining bees,” he said.

Wizards of the Coast offered a breakdown of how, in the future, every color will be able to do anything.

Counterspells

Counterspells can be blue, because blue has the ability to control magic.

Counterspells can also be white, because white tries to assert rules and make other people conform.

Counterspells can also be green, because green believes that nothing should disturb the natural order.

Counterspells could be black, because black is the keeper of ancient knowledge. Also, black will do anything to win.

Finally, counterspells could be red, because you don’t tell red what to do. Red doesn’t play by your stupid rules, man. Red does whatever the fuck it wants. Fuck you.

Land Destruction

Land destruction can be red, because red represents the earth and primal forces such as earthquakes.

Land destruction can be green, because green represents the earth and primal forces such as gophers digging up everything in sight.

Land destruction can be black, because black loves to destroy. Also, black will do anything to win.

Land destruction can be white, because white is the color of taxing the living crap out of you.

Finally, land destruction can be blue, because lands make mana, and blue is the color of doing something to your mana until everything sucks and you don’t have any mana and blue has all the mana.

Discard

Discard can be black, because black attacks the mind and rends your very soul. Black will do anything to win.

Discard can be blue, because blue attacks your mind and blue takes the cards in your mind and makes you discard them.

Discard can be white, because white makes rules for everyone, and you not having cards is a new rule.

Discard can be red, because red can do anything. We’ll just give it some kind of drawback.

Finally, discard can be green, because green wants everyone to play with creatures on the table, not stupid cards in your hand where they don’t belong. Having cards in your hand sounds like something blue would do. And green hates blue.

Searching Out Lands

Land search can be green, because green represents growth and nature, and lands are the natural areas of the game.

Land search can be white, because white represents order, the march of civilization, the work of farmers and the creation of communities.

Land search can be red, because red represents rock and stone and the power of the earth.

Land search can be black, because black seeks out ancient secrets and uses them to win. Black will do anything to win. Black also represents getting out like a dozen Swamps and winning with some huge spell that has an X in its mana cost, and in order to do that, you’re going to need a lot of land. Also, black can already search for like any card, so what the hell. Searching for just lands is less powerful. “Duh.”

Finally, land search can be blue, because blue represents tidal waves, and so searching out Islands is like the flow of a huge tidal wave. Also, blue is the color of deck manipulation. Blue is also the color of drawing cards. Blue steals lands, and searching out a land is like stealing one from your mind. Blue is also the color of having more lands than you. However many lands you have, blue should have more, because you should be able to win with a lot less land than blue. If you can’t, there’s something wrong with you. A good player could just play around it.

- Feb. 9, 2007

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The staff of The Magic Lampoon has got its hands on the complete decklist for an Avacyn Restored intro pack!

Now, we don’t know what the cards do yet. Just the names! But we’ll give you more information as we find out.

In the meantime, here’s the decklist for Grave Injustice! Bold card names indicate cards from Avacyn Restored!

14 Forest
10 Island
——————————————————————————–
24 lands

1 Acidic Slime
1 Æther Adept
1 Alluring Siren
2 Ambush Viper
3 Armored Skaab
2 Boneyard Wurm
1 Brindle Boar
2 Chasm Drake
3 Dawnsnuffer Wurm
2 Deranged Assistant
1 Ghoulcreeper
2 Hollow Moontree
2 Moon Heron
1 Splinterfright
2 Woodsplinter Fright
——————————————————————————–
26 creatures

1 Dweomer Stone
1 Gnaw to the Bone
2 Haunting Howl
2 Mulch
2 Trackless Path
2 Wreath of Geists
——————————————————————————–
10 other spells

Hi! What do you think of this card?

Sid’s cards is a feature where Sid asks you what you think of a card.

By Crovax, evincar of Rath

I’d like to ask everyone to please stand back, and do not disturb anything in the room.

Gentlemen, I believe that what we’re looking at here is … murder.

I’m going to have to ask that everyone remain here, as each of you are suspects.

Murder? Indeed. I suspected … murder … the moment I entered the room.

How have I arrived at this deduction, you might ask?

Upon entering, I noticed a detail that may have escaped the untrained eye. The cranium of the deceased appears to have been violently shattered against the floor.

I’m afraid that this means that one of you is a dangerous … murderer.

Such a heinous killing may seem to be beyond the capabilities of everyone present. And yet, each of you has a motive.

It was you, Karn, who long coveted the toy that the victim carried on his person. Others might have failed to notice the glances you frequently gave the device. But I deduced their meaning, back when I served with you on the Weatherlight.

It was you, Hanna, who often said that she had grown “tired” of the deceased’s “antics.” Why, the very last time I saw you aboard the Weatherlight, during the sounding of the dinner bell, you expressed this sentiment once more.

How could I have heard you, you might ask? I could not. Your voice was drowned out by the loud clanging of the dinner bell, as you correctly assume.

However, unbeknownst to you, I was able to read your lips — a skill I developed in my youth on many silent Urborg panther hunts.

It was you, Gerrard, who often spoke that the deceased would someday jeopardize one of your missions. You secretly wished to rid yourself of him, didn’t you? You wondered how you might do so, didn’t you? A convenient way to eliminate the deceased — ordering him into certain danger in my citadel, yes? And then you sneak ahead, away from the others, and do him in yourself? A plan that only the most cunning of leaders could devise.

It was you, Ertai, who hated the deceased most of all. He mocked you, didn’t he? Yes, you pretended to abide his constant mockery. But I was able to detect the hint of rage in your upcurled lip during the most recent episode. The left side of your face has always betrayed your deepest emotions, wizard. Oh, others would not have seen such a slight display. But my practiced eye spotted it as the same facial tick that inadvertently manifests when casting spells at your enemies.

Yes, I know what each of you are thinking. Each of you hopes to point out and accuse one of the others for this … murder.

But I will not be fooled.

No one of you could have committed this … murder … alone. Each of you has an alibi, contingent upon the testimony of one or more of the others. Hanna — you claim that you were in the hallway, with Gerrard. Ertai — you say that you joined my side months ago and that you were elsewhere in the stronghold. Karn — you say that I was keeping you in a cell.

Rubbish. A lesser man might have remained baffled at your confusing plot. However, I have correctly deduced the truth — all of you are the murderers.

Guards, seize them.

- Jan. 11, 2010