You forgot the final piece of why Colossal Dreadmaw became a meme and not any of the other XLN/RIX reprints: The set immediately after that was Master 25, who had the gimmick that every non-basic was from a different set, with Ixalan's contribution being, you guessed it: Colossal Dreadmaw. And just as one more to cement the meme, it was also reprinted in Core Set 2019. Thus making 4 sets in a row with this card.
Dreadmaw was also hilarious because it was power crept IMMEDIATELY in its own set. From a constructed perspective there was no reason to play dreadmaw because carnage tyrant also came out in original Ixalan and was the same cost but with +1 power, hexproof, and it can’t be countered.
Strictly speaking, the gimmick for masters 25 was that it had at least 1 card from every prior set, I do believe it had more than 1 card from a couple different sets, though not many.
I always saw the counter from Explore as representing growing from new experiences. Like an explorer would become tougher after encountering these dangerous things.
One time I was playing a game of brawl, and my opponent played torment of hailfire, I went down to one life. On my next turn I played Form of the Dinosaur and shot back up to 15 and lost nothing from the hailfire. I forgot if won or not, but that alone is one of my favorite mtg memories
Buccee’s is a huge gas station, however no trucks are allowed. It’s an amazing wonderland of food and stuff you don’t need. Highly encourage everyone to experience it at least once.
“I want to draft Ixalan again” same here. It was my first draft format. Now that we’re going back, I want to do an Ixalan/Rivals/Lost Caverns chaos draft
@@krisdaschwab912you are indeed mistaken. It is a Special Guest in The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, meaning it is added to cards that can show up in the List slot of set boosters, with a fancy version showing up in Collector Boosters. This will immediately change a bit in execution with the next set, where Special Guests will be draftable on rare occasion. The box toppers are reprints of fancy artifacts in an Ixalani style, but are not Special Guests. YES THIS IS CONFUSING
If I remember correctly the Ixalan and Rivals of Ixalan sets weren't really sets for trying to make money on pulls, mostly because none of the rares or mythics were really huge hits on the release and only got more pricey as we moved onto other sets and reprints didn't show up for a long while, so the price tag at the end does not surprise me at all. Still, Ixalan is what brought me back into Magic because it had Dinosaurs as a major typal group (Finally!) and it was so much fun to explore (Heh) the lore of the plane leading into the finale of the War of the Spark even if it wasn't the best of plotline conclussions, but such is subjective
It probably helps that the art itself is incredible, done by Villeneuve, a personal favorite of mine among artists who are currently making art for sets. Magali Villeneuve, Wylie Beckert, and Dominic Miller are my top 3.
@@collinbeal The art is well suited to foiling in this case, but the reason I hate foils is the foiling process almost always ruins the art and makes it look worse.
@ 1:53 So Graham. So a "cool story" from when I was working years back at this one store. The internet was SO slow. It was horrible. I worked with the IT guy and he had me get all these screenshots of speed tests through out the days and weeks to show how consistently bad it was. FINALLY they decided to install fiber! EXCEPT, I was told like a week before that, that store was being closed down. Mind you this was not the company I worked for's fault. The building owners would not renew the lease. However apparently no one told the fiber install guys, because multiple people came for installation, which then we had to tell them, not to waste their time since store was shutting down! I was so mad. FINALLY faster internet, but store had to close!
Niche use-case, but if you were to somehow get a Lifelink keyword counter onto Form of the Dinosaur, you could gain 15 every upkeep (and yes, keyword counters work on non-creature permanent surprisingly enough). It'd be a tough sell in Commander, and virtually impossible even in a Chaos draft... but that doesn't make me want to try it any less.
I’ll never forget how at 14 I bought a booster box of this set and got absolutely nothing of value. Then Throne if Eldraine came out and I thought “huh, this is a neat set and the giants are sexy. Maybe I’ll buy a box of it” and I didn’t.
Ixalan block is the most fun I've ever had drafting. It was so chill, and the Designated Fandom Assholes were all too busy complaining about it being underpowered to bother me and my friends at Mox. The calm before the storm, I suppose.
![Conspiracy [Japanese] || Crack-A-Pack - October 24th, 2023](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8Q52gLcblH8/mqdefault.jpg)
![Conspiracy [Japanese] || Crack-A-Pack - October 24th, 2023](/img/tr.png)
You forgot the final piece of why Colossal Dreadmaw became a meme and not any of the other XLN/RIX reprints: The set immediately after that was Master 25, who had the gimmick that every non-basic was from a different set, with Ixalan's contribution being, you guessed it: Colossal Dreadmaw. And just as one more to cement the meme, it was also reprinted in Core Set 2019. Thus making 4 sets in a row with this card.
With that many consecutive reprints, surely it’s the best card they’ve ever produced
Dreadmaw was also hilarious because it was power crept IMMEDIATELY in its own set. From a constructed perspective there was no reason to play dreadmaw because carnage tyrant also came out in original Ixalan and was the same cost but with +1 power, hexproof, and it can’t be countered.
@@NStriplesevenit’s literally the perfect green card. 6 mana, 6/6, trample.
Strictly speaking, the gimmick for masters 25 was that it had at least 1 card from every prior set, I do believe it had more than 1 card from a couple different sets, though not many.
It wasn’t 4 sets in a row, as it wasn’t reprinted in Dominaria. Still, 3 in a row and 4 of 5 ain’t too bad
I always saw the counter from Explore as representing growing from new experiences. Like an explorer would become tougher after encountering these dangerous things.
"Our rare is not, like, strictly playable"
Here we have a prime example of how Graham gives high praise to a mediocre card
One time I was playing a game of brawl, and my opponent played torment of hailfire, I went down to one life. On my next turn I played Form of the Dinosaur and shot back up to 15 and lost nothing from the hailfire. I forgot if won or not, but that alone is one of my favorite mtg memories
That's pretty fuckin funny. Your opponent was probably very bewildered.
The elemental wasn't picked highly because it wasn't a merfolk or pirate. Tribal was really what this set was about.
Buccee’s is a huge gas station, however no trucks are allowed. It’s an amazing wonderland of food and stuff you don’t need. Highly encourage everyone to experience it at least once.
“I want to draft Ixalan again” same here. It was my first draft format.
Now that we’re going back, I want to do an Ixalan/Rivals/Lost Caverns chaos draft
they'll probably bring it back as a draft on Arena either when lost caverns release or soon after
I like to think the flavor of the Explore +1/+1 is that the creature grows more experienced in the search for new land.
The real +1/+1 counters were the friends they made along the way.
The power rangers edits absolutely sent me! Excellent work.
if it didn't come from Matt, I'd expect then from Ulmer.
Well done Editor Matt that was good comedy and swell references.
Was not ready for the Power Ranger clips, but boy do I like that we got them.
Hopefully they'll come back the next time Graham opens a Khans of Tarkir pack...
Pitiless plunderer has really gotten way outta control
Commander players and being sickos for treasure, name a more iconic duo
The plunderer has gotten a reprint just now as a box topper, if I'm not mistaken.
@@krisdaschwab912you are indeed mistaken. It is a Special Guest in The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, meaning it is added to cards that can show up in the List slot of set boosters, with a fancy version showing up in Collector Boosters. This will immediately change a bit in execution with the next set, where Special Guests will be draftable on rare occasion. The box toppers are reprints of fancy artifacts in an Ixalani style, but are not Special Guests. YES THIS IS CONFUSING
Graham's got a power and strength like you've seen before and he's gonna meme and even up the score....Go GO LRRMTG Rangers.
4:41 Ok I read that as "Martyr of Duck," especially with the hat and whatnot, and I was like "You got Un-set in my Ixalan!!" 😅
9:47 Why is the pink ranger doing that? She's just standing there... menacingly!
Too much pink energy is dangerous.
Thankyou so much for all of the Power Rangers references 😂😂❤❤❤
Shout-out to the draft where I got three Spirits of the Rapids and a Hadana's Climb. That went disgustingly well.
I have always wanted to find a deck for Form of Dinosaur. I'm sure there is some life-gain deck it would be... passible in.
It might have been good in commander or something except that it says “you have 15 life”
It's not even like other Form enchantments where your life resets each turn.@@NStripleseven
maybe alongside repurcussion with some damage doublers you could just one shot your opponent
I've seen it in monored prison control decks in Pioneer, alongside Blood Sun and Lotus Field combo.
If I remember correctly the Ixalan and Rivals of Ixalan sets weren't really sets for trying to make money on pulls, mostly because none of the rares or mythics were really huge hits on the release and only got more pricey as we moved onto other sets and reprints didn't show up for a long while, so the price tag at the end does not surprise me at all.
Still, Ixalan is what brought me back into Magic because it had Dinosaurs as a major typal group (Finally!) and it was so much fun to explore (Heh) the lore of the plane leading into the finale of the War of the Spark even if it wasn't the best of plotline conclussions, but such is subjective
I did do a draft with Form and Release into the wind, which gave me a functional 28 life boost in the game.
2:17 As someone who hates foil cards, this foil is frikkin' awesome.
It probably helps that the art itself is incredible, done by Villeneuve, a personal favorite of mine among artists who are currently making art for sets. Magali Villeneuve, Wylie Beckert, and Dominic Miller are my top 3.
@@collinbeal The art is well suited to foiling in this case, but the reason I hate foils is the foiling process almost always ruins the art and makes it look worse.
Ixalan was when I returned to the game after an over decade long break.
@ 1:53 So Graham. So a "cool story" from when I was working years back at this one store. The internet was SO slow. It was horrible. I worked with the IT guy and he had me get all these screenshots of speed tests through out the days and weeks to show how consistently bad it was. FINALLY they decided to install fiber! EXCEPT, I was told like a week before that, that store was being closed down. Mind you this was not the company I worked for's fault. The building owners would not renew the lease. However apparently no one told the fiber install guys, because multiple people came for installation, which then we had to tell them, not to waste their time since store was shutting down! I was so mad. FINALLY faster internet, but store had to close!
i saw form of the dinosaur do well in a cube draft once.
I have a Form of the Dinosaur story. I once opened in a draft. I passed it. I regretted nothing.
Core19 has the best printing of dreadmaw
How much do a pirate's earrings cost?
two dollars or a buck an ear.
Graham's pick is correct....if on pack 1. If later AND you are in G, you take *Enter the Unknown* instead, everytime.
Niche use-case, but if you were to somehow get a Lifelink keyword counter onto Form of the Dinosaur, you could gain 15 every upkeep (and yes, keyword counters work on non-creature permanent surprisingly enough). It'd be a tough sell in Commander, and virtually impossible even in a Chaos draft... but that doesn't make me want to try it any less.
an MTG crack-a-pack from a Canadian comedian might not be the *least* likely place to hear a Buc-ees reference, but it's pretty high on the list.
Buc-ees is so good it transcends borders
Man, I really wish the pack got that one unblockable Merfolk to carry all the jade. Maybe next time, little one.
i dont think ive ever seen that life counter in the background of the card shots before, where is it from?
For Daring Buccaneer, how about ‘Darbucks’?
Alright, Matt, that got me :D
My first set!
So many Power Rangers jokes, but this wasn't even a set WITH Morph! :V
lOVELY
i like dis
Crack! A! Pack!
Nice
I like Piren
Rivals was a really frustrating format. I found that you had to really get in a lane during the draft and that could get messed up very easily.
That was a common complaint of the format, you just pick a lane and then the draft was pretty much on rails assuming you stayed in your lane.
I’ll never forget how at 14 I bought a booster box of this set and got absolutely nothing of value. Then Throne if Eldraine came out and I thought “huh, this is a neat set and the giants are sexy. Maybe I’ll buy a box of it” and I didn’t.
The thought of buying a booster box at 14 seems crazy to me.
@@Mordalon this is why this game should be considered gambling and be 18+. I was far too naive to realize it was and I wasted hundreds of dollars.
Ixalan block is the most fun I've ever had drafting. It was so chill, and the Designated Fandom Assholes were all too busy complaining about it being underpowered to bother me and my friends at Mox.
The calm before the storm, I suppose.
CONSTANT. ENTHUSIASTIC. ENGAGEMENT