Dies to Removal

Some mythics on the mothership.

Nivix Cyclops is from manadeprived.
Warped Physique is from Forbes.

More meh

The cyclops looks like he escaped from BioShock--cool art. I like the Orzhov mythic--uber-scary in limited.

warped physique is a very good removal spell, especially for limited

I really like the flavor of Warped Physique. I love cards that tell a story. And it's essentially +4 -4 for 2cmc, which isn't bad.

The other previews themselves are eh. The Orhzov mythic looks playable in some sort of Orhzov lifegain-control deck thingy. Some deck that doesn't exist. Yeah. Protection from black and white removal is relevant, though.

The Blood Baron is a great card even if the 30 life / 10 life ability will seldom be activated.

I don't know the current meta but Malakir Bloodwitch saw fringe play due to the pro-white + lifegain. That was also a meta where she chumped Baneslayer all day so who knows now if the Baron will see competitive play.

^ I came here to write that, but I see a Magumbo beat me to it.

And lets be reasonable, Serra's Avatar saw play with a relevant 30 life ability, so it could happen if the right deck can be found.

30 life was with two Soul's Attendants, a Tarmogoyf analog, and without having to deal a single point to your opponent. And in all instances, it was fringe non-EDH play (wasn't it errata'd for EDH?).
Having to Vampire Lacerate your opponent is more relevant on actual Lacerator, because he'll get your opponent there without much fuss. On a 5-mana 4/4, it's a bit harder.

I don't expect great things from it in the current Standard and in the future Standard, it has protection from none of the colors of Mizzium Mortars.

It's a build around me Johnny card, so it'll make someone really happy at some point. I, too, cast a fair number of Serra Ascendent in the hopes that I could be at Infinity Life and cast a 6/6 flier for 1.

Edit: I say this even in a format with Thragtusk and Sphinx's Revelation. Thragtusk I think is the better man 7 days a week, but in decks that can cast this but not Thragtusk... and maybe even then.

I'm liking the Nivix Cyclops. He's brutal with Fuse spells, has nice synergy with the overload mechanic, and will be a nasty combat trick.

Four toughness seems to be the new baseline. Hold on to those Mizzium Mortars. Buy some if you can get them cheap.

Four toughness seems to be the new baseline. Hold on to those Mizzium Mortars. Buy some if you can get them cheap.

I've noticed this as well. Dare we speculate about getting Lightning Bolt back in Standard?

I like the vampire for his protection, but Obzedat is better. It's still playable though.

Also, I could see the enchantment replacing Staff of Nin as a 1-of in Jund decks.

The Baron is pretty much immune to all non MM removal that's actually seeing play in standard.

In addition, he can't be chumped by the most common tokens...

I think it could be good.

Four toughness seems to be the new baseline. Hold on to those Mizzium Mortars. Buy some if you can get them cheap.

I've noticed this as well. Dare we speculate about getting Lightning Bolt back in Standard?

The next set, Theros, is based on Greek/Roman mythology. I can't imagine not getting Lightning Bolt back in the core set.

I hate the vampire because it seems bad. Thats my take on it.

You can't imagine? They balance for power level before theme sir.

The Baron is pretty much immune to all non MM removal that's actually seeing play in standard.

In addition, he can't be chumped by the most common tokens...

I think it could be good.

the most common tokens are beasts and wolves, which can chump the vampire.

Also, I could see the enchantment replacing Staff of Nin as a 1-of in Jund decks.

out of all of the non-planeswalker, non-2/2 for 2 mythics in the set, i actually like this pseudo-yawgmoth's agenda the most. getting a free extra draw out of spells you've played and that presumably are good at a point in the game where jund doesn't have sphinx's revelation seems like a card advantage hole that the deadbridge chant can fill

Four toughness seems to be the new baseline. Hold on to those Mizzium Mortars. Buy some if you can get them cheap.

. Dare we speculate about getting Lightning Bolt back in Standard?

The next set, Theros, is based on Greek/Roman mythology.

also, i'm pretty sure vampires are dimirs creatures WHAT THE FUCK WIZARDS

i'm more surprised there aren't any extort vampires considering the entire mechanic is about bleeding an opponent dry.