Zendikar Spoilers: Article 5

Welcome to yet another Zendikar spoiler article! As usual, let's jump right in to the Zendikar goodness. Spoiler time!

Gatekeeper of Malakir
Creature - Vampire Warrior
Kicker  (You may pay an additional  as you cast this spell.) When Gatekeeper of Malakir enters the battlefield, if it was kicked, target player sacrifices a creature.
"You may enter the city - once the toll is paid."
Illus. Karl Kopinski	2/2

Wow! This is certainly a card that's going to go into the Modern Suicide Black deck when I revisit it. A great three-drop (this isn't really a 2-drop. Ever.) to complement Vampire Nighthawk. Child of Night might see a place in the deck too. You never know.

Oracle of Mul Daya
Creature - Elf Shaman
You can play one additional land on each of your turns. Play with the top card of your library revealed. You may play the top card of your library if it's a land card.
Illus. Vance Kovacs #172/249	2/2

I don't think this'll see play: remember Keeper of Progenitus? Okay, that saw a TINY amount of play in Warp World, but still.

Crypt of Agadeem
Land
Crypt of Agadeem enters the battlefield tapped. : Add  to your mana pool. , : Add  to your mana pool for each black creature card in your graveyard.

As featured in my Vampire deck, this card can power out a Consume Spirit in Vampire Aggro as a late-game strategy, and also could see play in a midrange G/B deck to add extra mileage to it. However, this card needs 4 black creatures in your graveyard to break ahead of a swamp, and 5-6 to really get going. Will this card see play? Time will tell.

Sphinx of Lost Truths
Creature - Sphinx
Kicker  (You may pay an additional  as you cast this spell) Flying When Sphinx of Lost Truths enters the battlefield, draw three cards. Then if it wasn't kicked, discard three cards.
	3/5

Sweet. This is an awesome control card. It'll probably see play in Zendikar block, but with Baneslayer Angel is doubted to see Standard play at the moment. Baneslayer Angel simply beats every other creature in the format for power at the moment, and will probably continue to do so for some time.

Pitfall Trap
Instant - Trap
If exactly one creature is attacking, you may pay  instead of paying Pitfall Trap's mana cost. Destroy target attacking creature without flying.

Nice card there. Comparable to Path to Exile, and first or second pick in a draft, this could be top-tier removal, until people get wise to it. Still, useful to bluff with until you get 3 mana and can play it anyway.

Devout Lightcaster
Creature - Kor Cleric
Protection from black When Devout Lightcaster enters the battlefield, exile target black permanent.
	2/2

The opposite of Gatekeeper of Malakir. For WWW vs. BBB, both take care of a card, and both can kill the other. Devout Lightcaster will probably see play in Mono-White Soldiers if Vampires turns out to be popular, as it's a great trump against them. A good role player.

Bala Ged Thief
Creature - Human Rogue Ally
Whenever Bala Ged Thief or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, target player reveals a number of cards from his or her hand equal to the number of Allies you control. Choose one of them. That player discards that card.
	2/2

I doubt this card'll see play. You're unlikely to get enough allies to truly use it in Limited, and it's too slow for Constructed. Sorry buddy.

Geyser Glider
Creature - Elemental Beast
Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, Geyser Glider gains flying until end of turn.
"Quit pontificating, mage. The last thing we want to do is give it more hot air." -Tala Vertan, Makindi shieldmate
Illus. Warren Mahy	4/4

4/4's for 5 are generally good in Limited, especially if it has flying (even some of the time). It may not always fly, but it's always a 4/4, which is playable. (think Berserkers of Blood Ridge). There are much more efficient cards in Constructed to finish off an opponent with, however.

Blade of the Bloodchief
Artifact - Equipment
Whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on equipped creature. If equipped creature is a Vampire, put two +1/+1 counters on it instead. Equip
Illus. Jung Park #196/249

This'll be a strong Limited card. There's a lot of trading in Limited, and turning a 2/2 into a 5/5 (or an 8/8 if it happens to be a vampire) is generally a good deal for 2 mana and no card disadvantage.

Needlebite Trap
Instant - Trap
If an opponent gained life this turn, you may pay  rather than pay Needlebite Trap's mana cost. Target player loses 5 life and you gain 5 life.
The traps around the vampire city of Malakir hint at the thirst of its inhabitants.
Illus. Daarken #105/249

Unlikely to see play. If the opponent has lifegain, it's very efficient, but it doesn't actually influence the board. Too situational in Limited, not strong enough in Constructed.


See you tomorrow!


NOTE: The article is now updated.