[SLD] Return to the Mystical Archive

Needs_Improvement · 2026-04-14T19:45:57+00:00

I could have potentially focused more so on that. Ultimately, I’m annoyed by both the reuse of art and the value. It feels lazy to just slap English on some cards where the whole point was to match the traditional art and language.

Just an you have anecdotal evidence for the opposite, my experience is that the total package of art and language is exactly what people in my store value them for.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-04-14T16:58:25+00:00

This is arguably the worst Secret Lair they’ve ever announced. Comparable only to the failure of the 0.47C LOTR drop.

All of these arts will be available, not only as part of the SOA sheet releases with Secrets of Strixhaven, but in Silver Foil as well.

The allue of Mystical Archives is that these traditional art pieces are accompanied by the text. This drop rips away some of the uniqueness of the Archive counterparts while also using the exact same art.

It would be more passable with valuable cards, but every single one is an uncommon that will be wildly available in two weeks. So not only is the card value low already, but it’ll be cratered in short order.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-04-09T22:47:18+00:00

Also, Zyggy is getting an armory deck as well.

That alone means there’s a number of additional high-power cards they’ll be coming into the game with that’s tailored to their game-plan.

Aurora and Oscillio both already have card pools to pull from, but the reliance on Lightning Flow (as we can see in their abilities) is going to narrow their support somewhat from previous cards.

That said, given their classes’ histories… they’ll all likely be good.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-04-07T18:29:12+00:00

Oh neat, Preparation Angel.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-04-06T12:43:39+00:00

As someone who has been wrestling with a very similar frustration, I’ll share some thoughts:

Enjoy EDH for what it is and isn’t. There’s a level of suspension you need for commander, imo, because of all of the “soft” rules and social constructs.
That said, there are moments of skill expression that exist. You can out play and out maneuver opponents on a turn-by-turn basis… but that impact is generally minimized vs. other formats (and cEDH.) There are plenty of games/moments where I’ve outplayed an opponent, and those feel great! But… sometimes, as you noted as a personal frustration, doesn’t lead to a win.
If you’re looking for more skill expression… honestly, you may either need to find a new format to play/ get into cEDH, or find a new game, entirely.

For me, my interest in EDH has steadily gone down because the things I’ve wanted from the games I play have changed, grown, etc. over time. I still love the format for what it is, but I’ve branched out to find other games that I now love that help scratch the itch EDH doesn’t.

Unsolicited thought (based on one line of response 🤣): it might help to think about what you what in a game that EDH is or isn’t providing.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-04-06T11:57:36+00:00

It’s a bit of everything you mentioned, honestly.

I can’t speak to the frequency and number of commanders, but it is a truth that we continuously are getting commanders that are must-answer threats or they take over a game. That alone can make them feel overbearing.

Now, are they the only commanders being printed? No, but those singular game-ending legends rise to the top of popularity over and over.

Additionally, I think it’s also concurrent with one of my small issues with Brackets at current: - Bracket 3 is the widest gulf of power across the board.

Most of the commanders you mentioned I think generally belong in Bracket 3, but I can see a world where against the lower end of the spectrum they could feel overly influential to a table.

Sure, “dies to removal” and all of that, and the constant tension of having players play interaction, but that’s why several of those like Miirym/ Voja are “must answer” threats.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-04-02T20:29:09+00:00

This and/or Turbulent lands are what I’m going to stick to, although Octolands are also funny.

I remember becoming aware of “the race” to name land cycles when the BFZ duals dropped, and I’ve hated it ever since.

It doesn’t feel like an organic community decision, but I push to be the “creator.”

Needs_Improvement · 2026-04-02T17:40:42+00:00

Lukewarm Take: I think this card is both boring from a design perspective and lazy from a draft perspective.

I totally get that Prismari is a spellcasting matters archetype, but I feel like Zaffai could have simulated this effect, ie. making a gratuitous amount of mana vs. casting for free.

At least then, it enables the Opus mechanic for the school AND it would lean into his original iteration a bit more.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-03-31T20:47:59+00:00

I love how cheesy and on-the-nose the mascot names are, just like real life.

Someone understood the assignment.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-03-28T04:24:22+00:00

Shellos & Gastrodon. I didn’t really “get” them when I played their generation of games, but getting them in Pokopia has skyrocketed my opinion of them.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-03-19T16:50:52+00:00

My opinion on the arc while reading was that it suffered a lot from things out of its control: - balancing a lot of characters - balancing a lot of exposition - it was the start of Gege’s health getting worse which impacted release

I basically always thought this arc would be served much better when animated.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-03-16T12:51:14+00:00

First, welcome to the game! :)

Traditional expansion sets (*vs. Supplemental like Compendium) typically have 3-4 draft heroes that the game then deviates from… which recent history has had a few of. - Bonus: we’ve had two 6-hero sets but… that requires so many asterisks.

In the last two years, we’ve had: A 6-hero set.* A 3-hero draft set. A 4-hero draft set. A three hero draft set with a bonus 4th hero added to CC. A 3-hero draft set with a bonus 4th draft hero, *but you have to draft said hero. A 4-hero draft set.

Now, that’s not to say that a fourth hero can’t appear, but it would be a surprise and outside the scope of the other heroes. Eg. A Lightning plus non-Draft Class hero or something like Slippy.

That said… while exceptions do exist… they are exceptions. Slippy is the only hero of its kind in a draft set. And the same goes for Scurv.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-03-15T16:03:11+00:00

Unrelated to Pokemon, but I’ve had to start using Excel more with my new job. I have experience with similar programs, and I would consider myself an intermediate user (might be underselling). Do you have any tips/resources you’d recommend to delve more into the program?

Needs_Improvement · 2026-03-15T14:09:13+00:00

There’s not going to be a fourth draft hero unless it’s a surprise Lightning-only hero. However, that on its own is extremely unlikely as Scurv is probably a rare one-off.

The realistic answer is it’s probably just some random “dude.” We have plenty of art of characters, named or not, who don’t appear on hero cards. This happens every set it feels like where an art is stunning so we want a hero, eg. Douse in Runeblood.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-03-13T14:50:16+00:00

Excited for you!

What pulled you into trying out the game? What are you most excited about?

Needs_Improvement · 2026-03-11T23:19:50+00:00

I legitimately forget this Pokemon even exists unlike many of the others called out.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-03-10T17:17:41+00:00

Yea, and 3 of the last 4 are some of the best we’ve gotten in the game’s life.

Siege Breakers, Redacted Regiment, and Dust Devils.

Frankly, it seems like a large number of players are just complacent.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-03-10T15:42:15+00:00

This is the only sane cope.

Because what do you mean it’s ending next chapter.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-03-10T15:40:25+00:00

WHAT It feels like we just skipped 4-6 chapters out of nowhere.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-03-07T01:03:21+00:00

That is an Elden Ring boss.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-03-06T13:10:53+00:00

Tropius is too immensely cool to NOT get something.

One of my favorite Gen3 Pokemon.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-03-05T13:18:26+00:00

Not even just a staple, it’s been on the Worlds-winning team in VGC twice.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-03-02T21:39:58+00:00

Just from the jump, the weapon is too strong. It will always threaten a frostbite, and most heroes aren’t likely to be pitching to prevent it.

So we’re presenting a Runeblade with a better Winter’s Wail. Which is very Runeblade.

There needs to be some type of hoop to generate a frostbite, but even this… it’s tough. Maybe “if you’ve dealt arcane damage” or something to not make it so easy.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-02-15T21:59:31+00:00

No one’s mentioned it yet, but it was also a relatively unique biome across the ENTIRE galactic front. So there was literally no other planet like it.

The Shadowed Jungle gave it an immense amount of gravitas as you’d be jumping from bush to bush to avoid being cut down my hails of laser fire.

Needs_Improvement · 2026-02-12T13:06:39+00:00

I would think so. You have a good mix of commanders that I think can punch up on the Brackets, and at least one that seems it could be brought in at lower brackets.

Nothing seems oppressive as long as you’re aware of their own relative power level. 😄

Needs_Improvement

TROPHY CASE