With the recent Wizards sanctioning Pauper, many players of the format have been following the new collections even more closely, expecting some cards to fit perfectly into the main decks of the current metagame.
However, as might be expected, the design of the collections is well thought out in advance and obviously focusing on Standard, the golden goose of the Magic: the Gathering business. As such, there does not appear to be any card in this set capable of leveraging some forgotten deck or reinforcing the main decks of the format.
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But we cannot be frustrated for three reasons: First, the sanctioning of the format is the best news in years and we are still experiencing the impact of this, especially on the IRL; second, Modern Horizons shook the format, generating new decks - with debatable letters - and a new metagame; And lastly, yes, there are some Throne of Eldraine cards that can see play. Let's analyze and discuss some of them.
WHITE
These seem to me to be the white cards that can see play, especially on the Monowhite Heroic deck or in a variation of UW Fairies.
Faerie Guidemother // Gift of the Fae help with a fairy build that has Seeker of the Way or Ninja of the Deep Hours, giving + 2 / + 1 and Flying (in case the Seeker would give + 3 / + 2), returning later to the field as a fairy who can help make body for Spellstutter Sprite counterspell or even block.
Beloved Princess can also appear in a Heroic or even a GW Auras. Not being blocked by large creatures can cause a lot of damage to pass along with enchantments like Armadillo Cloak and Ethereal Armor.
Silverflame Squire // On Alert looks the least promising, as Adventure's ability would help in a surprise block on the opponent (although 2W is expensive for that). In fact, it won't be so easy to see this card play, but one or two copies may be surprising.
Trapped in the Tower can paint as a good side against black and green creatures that have skills such as Cuombajj Witches, Okiba-Gang Shinobi, Timberwatch Elf and even Ulamog Crusher. Not as good as Journey to Nowhere, but it can be a cheap option.
Outflank will be a great side board option on decks like Fractius, with the white removal the deck needed to deal with some threats from decks like Stompy or even a Gurmag Angler or Ulamog Crusher.
GREEN
Regarding green, there are options for decks like Elves, Stompy and maybe even Infect.
Fierce Witchstalker Ferino is not something that changes the reality of green decks either, represented in the current metagame mainly by Elves and Stompy. However, having trample and 4 endurance can disrupt opponents' strategy with endurance creatures 2 and 3 (Pauper's default). The Elf deck can field this creature on Turn 3 and then the opponent can start clocking.
Insatiable Appetite itself looks bad, but it may make sense in a combo with Fell the Pheasant to finish a game. With 4 mana you can deal 5 damage to target creature, sacrifice food token and give + 5 / + 5 to your creature.
Rosethorn Acolyte also seems to have some space on two-color decks to filter mana, mostly through adventure. Maybe summoning her as a creature won't even be used that much on Pauper, but filtering mana can always bring some surprises.
Wildwood Tracker basically fits into an elf deck as a first-round option, and can now block as 2/2. It might even be a Stompy option for the Skarrgan Pit-Skulk, but as Burning Tree Emissary is a human, the strategy goes down the drain.
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Rosethorn Alberd can fit decks like UG Infect and maybe even be tested on Stompy, although there are between 7 and 8 humans on the traditional deck lists. However, with just one mana, a + 2 / + 1 device is still a good option.
BLUE
Blue, once considered Pauper's best color, has gained a few more options to reinforce monocolored decks as well as some Tier format decks.
Witching Well is a blue artifact that can play on decks like Affinity or even Jeskai versions that need artifacts to summon Glint Hawk. Scry 2 is a good skill, and in late game paying four manas to draw two cards can save some games.
Run Away Together seems to me to be the best blue card for Pauper in this collection. It is an improved version of Curfew as you choose the targets. You can end games, return a summoned Ulamog Crusher from the graveyard, a large green or white creature, and even aid in the effects of your ETB-possessed creatures.
Merfolk Secretkeeper // Venture Deeper will be present on Mill decks, as with only two manas you put a 0/4 body on the field and make your opponent put 4 library cards in the graveyard.
Mantle of Tides is another pleasant surprise to reinforce blue, main creatures. With just one mana it is possible to put the equipment in a Delver of Secrets, leaving it 4/4 and evading removals like Lightning Bolt. Have you ever imagined spending 2 manas to have a 4/4 Flying creature?
So Tiny can appear in Mono U lists with a slight touch of Control, as it practically “nullifies” large creatures that can appear on decks like Stompy, Elves and Reanimator. Lampejo's ability is key in this card and the great differential.
RED
Weaselback Redcap can work on Goblin decks as another drop 1 option, can be ramp on turns where you have no creatures to go down, and can also be a bushing for Goblin Grenade.
Merchant of the Vale // Haggle can enter any graveyard combo deck that needs to dig some magic.
Barge In can make a beautiful Goblins deck combo along with Goblin Bushwhacker. Or maybe we can have an RG or even RGW version of Fractius?
Crystal Slipper can be a way out for decks that depend on one or two creatures, and the Ímpeto can make a huge difference.
Thrill of Possibility is already emerging as one of the best cards in the collection and is sure to appear on Pauper decks as it performs the same function as the Tormenting Voice card, but has the advantage of being instant magic.
BLACK
The color that seems to most need options in Pauper, although it has a great monocolor deck, has also gained options that should appear in MBC.
Lost Legion is sure to appear in MBC as an alternative to Phyrexian Rager. Of course he doesn't draw, but gives Scry 2, counts more to black devotion, it's 2/3 and doesn't deal you 1 damage. It will really make a difference just by tracking the results in play. But it is a nice addition to the format.
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Forever Young seems to be the best Pauper letter of this edition so far. Being able to return for example 2 or 3 Chittering Rats or Cuombajj Witches and already buying one can work very well in MBC, and this card can be used in various color combinations like BW and UB.
Lash of Thorns will be a great removal when MBC faces decks like Bogles and Stompy. It should appear on the sideboard in some initial tests.
Eye Collector may appear by surprise on some decks or sideboards, as it is a 1-mana (hard to find in black), flying (even harder) creature that generates discard. Against some matches like Elfos, it can greatly disrupt your opponent's game plan.
LAND
Idyllic Grange seems to fit like a glove on Monowhite Heroic and we are sure to see 1 or 2 copies on the deck. The fact that you can still go untapped after turn 3 can help you finish games already on turn 4.
Witch's Cottage is another opportunity to return creatures from the graveyard to the library. It should appear in MBC as well.
Gingerbread Cabin seems to have a poor ability compared to other colors, but can be used for the Apetite Insaciável combo on Monogreen decks, generating the food token that will be sacrificed. It could appear on decks like Stompy and even UG Infect.
Mystic Sanctuary is the best terrain of this cycle, as it can work very well on interactions that return hand-held terrain like Deprive and blink effects like Ghostly Flicker.
COLORLESS ARTIFACTS
Crashing Drawbridge may be the only card that may play on a deck like Fractius or Goblins, although there are better options for the red color. Ímpeto's ability is little used in format, at least on major decks, and can make a huge difference in Aggro decks.
So what do you think will see game? Did you enjoy the Pauper additions?
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