This was a very core set-ish pack. Only one card with a set mechanic, 2 vanillas, 2 french vanillas, and a bunch of really simple spells. I kind of liked that about Dominaria overall though. It feels very "quintessential Magic" while still having a little of its own identity.
As a Kiwi, the fact Wizards didn't expand the "gift" wasn't our fault. You were limited in how many you could redeem so after a while they were useless. Anyone who wanted them didn't need them and some people just prefer in person magic. I miss the code for a sealed match you used to get from PreRelease packs. Six packs is still good though.
I played kitchen table as a kid from 8ED through Coldsnap but came back during Dominaria. I was listening to all the magic content creators at the time saying how good DOM was and unfortunately I only truly realized that in retrospect. Most of the sets since have just been dissapointing compared to DOM. DOM was so balanced, almost every archetype was viable, had great build arounds, and the best decks weren't too good to where draft was still self-corrected when people knew the best decks later in the format. The only significant flaw with it was maybe Cold-Water Snapper which had sorta like Invisible Stalker feel-bads, but not nearly as bad since it was 6 mana.
I really like Evra, from the flavor to the mechanics. I'm sure there are dozens upon dozens of cards that reference the Thran Empire and everything that led to its fall, but Evra and Fall of the Thran stood out to me as being unique windows into that history. Which, I have no real affinity for since I started playing Magic when Kamigawa block came along. Also, *love* the art for Memorial to War and its ominous monument to Karona.
The Thran are cool. They were the precursor civilization that Urza and Mishra were studying. There is a novel about them. (See the link.) It is the story of when Yawgmoth discovered Phyrexia. Very cool. th-cam.com/video/0k7Bv4J_piM/w-d-xo.html
@@N8Maple01 I'm fully aware of all the history via wiki articles. And it's a real shame that WotC doesn't feel the need to reprint all the old novels in some sort of anniversary set.
Man I love crack-a-pack, and can I just give Matt a shout out? Their editing is seamless, the card shots and such, and the side notes they add are priceless! You really make me laugh with them and I just want you to know that your work is appreciated!
Learning recently how deathtouch works when attacking makes it being a 5/5 make sense. Blocking with a 3/3 and 4/4 kills them both so you're always trading up in multiblock situations.
I remember during one particular draft of this set, I actually ended up winning at least one round by just recurring and bouncing my navigator's compass over and over until I had too much health my opponent to deal with 🤣🤣
New Zealander here, I remember getting these "reward inside" boosters at the Prerelease! Not sure if they were distributed in other sealed products, so that booster you opened is very special.
Warlord's Fury was also one of the many cantrips that the Arclight Phoenix deck would run in GRN. It was the first more or less meta deck I ever built and I loved it.
These videos are so fun to watch. It has the same energy as hanging out with your favorite cousin that you never get to see, and just shooting the shit for hours on end.
The editing felt very snappy on this one, and I wanted to say I appreciated it. I don't know how, because its length is about the same as previous crack-a-packs, but it just feels like there was less... empty space? Anyways it was good :)
So, I think that the main reason this set is so low in price is the Supply and Demand inverse. A ton of people bought this set when it came out in large quantities, so there's a ton of it out there.
I played Navigator's compass in my Muldrotha Brawl deck because I pulled a foil one and thought it looked nice enough to play while being mildly playable
a 5/5 with deathtouch is absolutely backbreaking to get rid of through combat, because you're often trading away more than 5 toughness to kill something with 5 toughness. You throw a 2/3 and a 3/3 in front of it and you're still losing both of them.
Another reason it was so good is that it usually traded up in card quality. There were very few other common creatures at common with 5+ power. (only Fire Elemental, Pardic Wanderer, and Dreadmaw) So to trade 1-for-1, oppo had to use a card that was either removal or a creature that was likely higher quality. If they were smart they would side in Fire Elemental/Pardic Wanderer in G2.
On the print quality: I had the same issue with Dominaria packs I got from that set's fat pack (I think it's called bundle now?). Entire packs had a very matte finish and the colors were a little less vibrant. Some of the packs were fine, but it was very weird. And annoying when you had multiples of a card but some were normal and some were the weird matte finish.
1:45 Gram will return with more funny facts next week. Also, if you want to call 3/1 creatures "blades", could you then call creatures with at least 2 power higher than their toughness (like 4/2 or 5/3) a "cleaver"?
Graham I think new Zealand told them it was too good Dominaria was virtually always sold out. Every one I knew got there 10 codes and they were selling online for about 10 cent each
Wizards made the thorn elemental ability because they thought Trample was too complex for core sets. It came out in Urza's Destiny they range from (sorted by Power/Toughness shown with first print) Lone Wolf 2/2 Portal Second Age Pride of Lions 4/4 Starter 1999 Spinebiter 3/4 Infect New Phyrexia Rhox 5/5 Regenerate Nemesis Tornado elemental 6/6 ETB 6 dmg to flyers5th dawn Gurzigost 6/8 Only does this ability if you pay GG Torment Deathcoil worm 7/6 Portal second age Wolf pack 7/6 Portal 3 Kingdoms Thorn Elemental 7/7 Urzas Destiny
Evra was also good defensively, in a way? During the pre-release of Dominaria, my opponent simply refused to die by having good blockers and swapping his life total as soon as it became lower than 4. It took me a legendary dragon topdeck to defeat the guy, but he held me at bay for six or seven turns before that!
That evangel seems a bit, "Yeah, I'm working for the spawn of darkness here, but it's a gig, damn it. *You* try being selective about your clients right out of evangel school. See how long you last."
Thinking about it, though it's very expensive compared to cards that basically do the same, or combos, I actually quite like Evra. Maybe in a cost reduction deck. Edit: $0.14, added to the 'one day buy' list. FYI: did you know Black's _Fling_ spell has lifelink and doesn't sac the creature, for just _1_ more than Red's. Oh, ohhhhhhh, ohhoohoho: reduce the activation cost to one, then spam it for life gain effects.
![Saviors of Kamigawa [French] || Crack-A-Pack - May 16, 2023](/img/n.gif)
This was a very core set-ish pack. Only one card with a set mechanic, 2 vanillas, 2 french vanillas, and a bunch of really simple spells. I kind of liked that about Dominaria overall though. It feels very "quintessential Magic" while still having a little of its own identity.
what is a french vanilla?
@@thatsdynamo creature that only has keyword abilities (flying, trample, menace, etc.)
Twas a good draft dominaria
@@thatsdynamo A creature whose only abilities are normal creature keywords like flying or trample.
I also felt that Dominaria was a 3rd part for the ixalan sets, finished the land cycle, tribal themes
As a Kiwi, the fact Wizards didn't expand the "gift" wasn't our fault. You were limited in how many you could redeem so after a while they were useless. Anyone who wanted them didn't need them and some people just prefer in person magic. I miss the code for a sealed match you used to get from PreRelease packs. Six packs is still good though.
Yeah you racked up those ten codes really quickly and then they were useless
7:45 I always called a crown. Legendary cards have the crown on their frame. I think it fits even if it wasn’t what they were going for.
I feel like Matt had some fun with this one. A nice, solid level of textual snark
Yes, this was very Matt.
Always a fun time with the edits.
Gotta say, I appreciate the combo of Graham's solo rambling accompanied by Matt's snappy editing commentary, makes for a great combo!
Oh man, thorn elemental. I remember that one fondly from the 7th edition starter kit. Interesting to see it at uncommon here.
This is the set that was out when I really started playing Magic it will always have a special place in my heart.
Same for me! It was my first prerelease.
Same. Fond memories.
I played kitchen table as a kid from 8ED through Coldsnap but came back during Dominaria. I was listening to all the magic content creators at the time saying how good DOM was and unfortunately I only truly realized that in retrospect. Most of the sets since have just been dissapointing compared to DOM. DOM was so balanced, almost every archetype was viable, had great build arounds, and the best decks weren't too good to where draft was still self-corrected when people knew the best decks later in the format. The only significant flaw with it was maybe Cold-Water Snapper which had sorta like Invisible Stalker feel-bads, but not nearly as bad since it was 6 mana.
@@howdoifixmyspacebar I also liked they had a legendary in each pack because that's when I learned about EDH witch is my favorite format now.
I really like Evra, from the flavor to the mechanics. I'm sure there are dozens upon dozens of cards that reference the Thran Empire and everything that led to its fall, but Evra and Fall of the Thran stood out to me as being unique windows into that history. Which, I have no real affinity for since I started playing Magic when Kamigawa block came along. Also, *love* the art for Memorial to War and its ominous monument to Karona.
The Thran are cool. They were the precursor civilization that Urza and Mishra were studying. There is a novel about them. (See the link.) It is the story of when Yawgmoth discovered Phyrexia. Very cool.
th-cam.com/video/0k7Bv4J_piM/w-d-xo.html
@@N8Maple01 I'm fully aware of all the history via wiki articles. And it's a real shame that WotC doesn't feel the need to reprint all the old novels in some sort of anniversary set.
I always get really excited when I hear someone outside of NZ talking about us.
I feel like that’s a universal kiwi experience
Man I love crack-a-pack, and can I just give Matt a shout out? Their editing is seamless, the card shots and such, and the side notes they add are priceless! You really make me laugh with them and I just want you to know that your work is appreciated!
"THEY DON'T HAVE HANDS, GRAHAM" Was an excellent addition to this crack-a-pack and I appreciate it greatly.
Learning recently how deathtouch works when attacking makes it being a 5/5 make sense. Blocking with a 3/3 and 4/4 kills them both so you're always trading up in multiblock situations.
Also sometimes your opponent has like a 4/6
Also very tasty if you can get trample somehow.
I think the doodley-doo on the card borders is called "scrolling"or "scroll work"
I remember during one particular draft of this set, I actually ended up winning at least one round by just recurring and bouncing my navigator's compass over and over until I had too much health my opponent to deal with 🤣🤣
New Zealander here, I remember getting these "reward inside" boosters at the Prerelease! Not sure if they were distributed in other sealed products, so that booster you opened is very special.
It took me until 7:47 to realize I'm wearing the same Desert Bus for Hope shirt as Graham while watching this.
Warlord's Fury was also one of the many cantrips that the Arclight Phoenix deck would run in GRN. It was the first more or less meta deck I ever built and I loved it.
Navigator's compass could also trigger historic, if you needed it
These videos are so fun to watch. It has the same energy as hanging out with your favorite cousin that you never get to see, and just shooting the shit for hours on end.
I totally called that we'd be Skittering Surveyors for this one
The editing felt very snappy on this one, and I wanted to say I appreciated it. I don't know how, because its length is about the same as previous crack-a-packs, but it just feels like there was less... empty space? Anyways it was good :)
So, I think that the main reason this set is so low in price is the Supply and Demand inverse. A ton of people bought this set when it came out in large quantities, so there's a ton of it out there.
Yea that should be it. Teferi was in it and this set did really well draft wise. And anecdotally it seemed to introduce lotsa people to magic
@@DimT670 Well, not only that but it brought back a ton of people to the format as well.
The editing has only gotten better as this series has continued. I love it
Dominaria was when Magic really hooked it's claws into me and I attended my first GP, it was great.
Just curious : how long can your backlog support our LRR addiction ?
Back around the time of its magic.
It's turtles all the way down.
Would not be surprised if LRR gets packs faster than Graham can open them.
I feel historically would be cool to bring back in the upcoming Kamigawa set
With Dominaria United and The Brother's War coming up next year, I can definitely see a return of the Historic mechanic.
With the madness around the main LRR channel, I'm glad to have this still regularly happening.
What's going on with the main channel?
According to Twitter, their MCN shut down. And they didn't know it would cause this to happen.
I think 5/5 deathtouch is potentially good in this set just because of all the kicker shenanigans
I played Navigator's compass in my Muldrotha Brawl deck because I pulled a foil one and thought it looked nice enough to play while being mildly playable
if you want to keep pushing 3/1s as "Blades" would 1/3s be "sheaths?"
Matt killin' the onscreen commentary! *chef's kiss*
a 5/5 with deathtouch is absolutely backbreaking to get rid of through combat, because you're often trading away more than 5 toughness to kill something with 5 toughness. You throw a 2/3 and a 3/3 in front of it and you're still losing both of them.
Another reason it was so good is that it usually traded up in card quality. There were very few other common creatures at common with 5+ power. (only Fire Elemental, Pardic Wanderer, and Dreadmaw) So to trade 1-for-1, oppo had to use a card that was either removal or a creature that was likely higher quality. If they were smart they would side in Fire Elemental/Pardic Wanderer in G2.
Please do some drafts with these packs!
Wild that Warlord's Fury is the most expensive card. A common I did not know existed.
Thorn Elemental almost sounds like it could be a keyword ability.
They don't use it enough to justify that. And thank goodness. That would be miserable, I think.
Top notch edit as always ❤️
I remember my pre-release for this set... 2 forbear's blades and an Evra, not many people had answers to that xD
Propose we call the "horns" around the new legendaries wainscoting.
4:19 thats the grayest-looking power and toughness I've ever seen
How dare you call me a Skittering Surveyor. Im personally more of a Solemn Simulacrum.
Engagement for the engagement god! Also, sympathies for the main channel woes.
0.91 CAD! That's like a whole New Zealand dollar!!!
Thanks for the content
One thing I’d like to mention, I don’t think Evra would become a 20/20 right? The text says switch power, not power and toughness.
On the print quality: I had the same issue with Dominaria packs I got from that set's fat pack (I think it's called bundle now?). Entire packs had a very matte finish and the colors were a little less vibrant. Some of the packs were fine, but it was very weird. And annoying when you had multiples of a card but some were normal and some were the weird matte finish.
I'm curious to see what further 'batching' like [Historic] or [Party] they choose to create in the future.
Something for instants and sorceries
1:45 Gram will return with more funny facts next week.
Also, if you want to call 3/1 creatures "blades", could you then call creatures with at least 2 power higher than their toughness (like 4/2 or 5/3) a "cleaver"?
Matt just walked up and hit editing home run after editing home run! Holy bus!
I got a whole box of these when Dominaria came out. I don't remember the codes giving all that much.
Oh, I also remember all the uncommon legends had a really weird misprint, where the ring on the back was more purple than blue.
always neat to see Dominaria ^^
I run a playset of the compasses in a mono blue artifact storm deck
*Gasp.* At 0:08, the booster doesn't have the "REWARD INSIDE" banner. Shenanigans are afoot!
I forgot to shoot that bit before opening the pack, and we didn’t have another one
I wonder if they'll include historic stuff in Kamigawa since it's in the future?
They might actually. Would be cool if they did.
Dominaria was opened to oblivion if I recall
Could the word used for the new boarder for legendaries be filigree?
I remember that new zealand thing, it's how I learned that new zealand has roughly the same population and 5x the area of my local metropolitan area.
Very cool. I'll send a pack to Crack open
In pokemon the codes are nice. I wish Magic had them.
You might have been looking for the word "scrollwork" to describe the border of legendary cards.
At pre-release for dominaria I got to befuddle someone's Evra in response to activation..... it was the height of my magic career lol
Graham I think new Zealand told them it was too good Dominaria was virtually always sold out. Every one I knew got there 10 codes and they were selling online for about 10 cent each
Was filagree the word Grahm was looking for?
Wizards made the thorn elemental ability because they thought Trample was too complex for core sets. It came out in Urza's Destiny
they range from (sorted by Power/Toughness shown with first print)
Lone Wolf 2/2 Portal Second Age
Pride of Lions 4/4 Starter 1999
Spinebiter 3/4 Infect New Phyrexia
Rhox 5/5 Regenerate Nemesis
Tornado elemental 6/6 ETB 6 dmg to flyers5th dawn
Gurzigost 6/8 Only does this ability if you pay GG Torment
Deathcoil worm 7/6 Portal second age
Wolf pack 7/6 Portal 3 Kingdoms
Thorn Elemental 7/7 Urzas Destiny
Evra in commander with indestructible sounds broke as hell (by giving it indestructible)
I have navigator's compass in my pauper domain zoo deck :)
well that sounds like something you need to work through on your own
@@ymmijx6061 lol, it's quite good in it as a mini nylea's domain but definitely something that gets cut often after sideboarding
Pretty sure they did arena codes in packs after Dominaria. For at least a couple of years or more. Player from NZ BTW.
Is there an Evra lifegain CEDH deck?
Some MTGA Dev: "...why the hell did 12,238 random Americans and Canadians try to redeem the same expired New Zealand code today?"
I'm glad you clarified which Mummy we'd want to see that Remake was god awful
I guess the reward inside was the puns we made along the way
Last time I was this early was never; I'm a chronic procrastinator.
5/5s tend to have effective Deathtouch.
Didn't Dominaria packs have a slot for a second Legendary card, or did the code (somehow) take up that slot?
I keep waiting for these to become tedious. It has not yet happened. I am GRIPPED.
Evra was also good defensively, in a way? During the pre-release of Dominaria, my opponent simply refused to die by having good blockers and swapping his life total as soon as it became lower than 4. It took me a legendary dragon topdeck to defeat the guy, but he held me at bay for six or seven turns before that!
The vast majority of players I draft with every week totally boycott MTG Arena so maybe there is a larger divide between physical vs. digital players?
has there been a spicy crack other than from collector's? Seems like so many dud packs XD
Helm of obedience in the alliances pack was probably the best pull so far!
I'd choose Thorn Elemental or Arcane flight cause it's decent and lolz.
That evangel seems a bit, "Yeah, I'm working for the spawn of darkness here, but it's a gig, damn it. *You* try being selective about your clients right out of evangel school. See how long you last."
9:16 damn can’t believe graham always forgets what he’s using to record audio, smh. (Btw M is mike in the phonetic alphabet)
Whoop Whoop
Thinking about it, though it's very expensive compared to cards that basically do the same, or combos, I actually quite like Evra.
Maybe in a cost reduction deck. Edit: $0.14, added to the 'one day buy' list.
FYI: did you know Black's _Fling_ spell has lifelink and doesn't sac the creature, for just _1_ more than Red's.
Oh, ohhhhhhh, ohhoohoho: reduce the activation cost to one, then spam it for life gain effects.
shouldn't sanctum spirit read "discard AN historic card"?
Only if you pronounce historic without the h.
Thank you for using a better mic! Graham sounds much smoother now.
Did Graham intentionally Carol Burnett someone in the world, or was that a legitimate itch, do you think?
All hail!
I'd just call ornate framing
Yeah there's no reason for mtg packs to not have codes for arena like pokemon does at this point except for pure greed on wizards part.
Edging is indeed NOT the terminology you probably wanna give the border finish.
(reward inside)
MANCY, M is for MANCY.
Isn’t Kathleen originally from NZ…? 🤔
Oooze?
Rare was a cool card
Hi Gideon
Crack! A! Pack!
Crack-A-Teferi!
I am engaging with the algorithm
Engagement.
the cards were upside down because New Zealand is upside down