Legacy: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Review

Cowabunga, Legacy community! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set is almost here. Let's see which cards in it can see play in Legacy.

But, before we do that, we have to discuss the elephant in the room, that is, a topic that was brought up when Marvel's Spider-Man came out and is back now: we got another Universes Beyond set that isn't inspired by a "medieval fantasy" universe. I've seen many players mention they did not like this decision. Some are even praying this set is as weak as the Spider-Man set so that they don't have to use cards that don't fit what they consider the best aesthetic for MTG. Universes Beyond have been considered saturated for a while now in all online spheres, so I won't go too deep into it, but I believe it was important to mention this particular matter.

Personally, I don't mind seeing these franchises in MTG, but I believe that those that are too different from the original MTG universe would be better off in Secret Lairs, for instance, outside main sets. Final Fantasy and Avatar: The Last Airbender fit the MTG universe a lot more and were well-received by the community.

That being said, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise was a big part of my childhood, and I was curious to see it in MTG.

To sum up, the main mechanic in this set is Sneak, a Ninjutsu variation. You may return an attacker that wasn't blocked as an additional cost to use Sneak. The first difference is that this ability doesn't show up only on Ninja creatures. Instead, you'll find it on other types of spells as well. Similar to the original mechanic, the creatures you summon through Sneak enter play tapped and attacking.

Sneak is also an alternative cost, so these spells will be summoned and can be countered. Ninjutsu, on the other side, is an activated ability and, as such, is only affected by effects that deal with abilities.

There is also Disappear, that is, abilities that trigger at the end of your turn if a permanent you control left the battlefield. Alliance, Channel, Enrage, Evolve, Raid, Replicate, and Squad have also returned as mechanics.

Without further ado, let's see what we can use from this set in Legacy:

Agent Bishop, Man in Black

We can conveniently tutor this card with Recruiter of the Guard. As for what it does, it allows creature decks to put pressure on the opponent faster. Please note that, in the worst-case scenario, you can use its ability on itself.

Continue?

This card can create a lot of value. It is an answer to board clears and creates value with Goblin Bombardment.

Leonardo, Cutting Edge

Leo interacts really nicely with 2 cards that already see a lot of play in Legacy: Guide of Souls and Ocelot Pride. Furthermore, its Sneak cost is cheap enough for you to reuse several triggered effects that show up in white decks, like Skyclave Apparition, Ajani, Nacatl Pariah, or Recruiter of the Guard.

Leonardo’s Technique

This spell is an interesting option to set up attacks one after the other. Imagine returning Ajani, Nacatl Pariah and Broadside Bombardiers all at once, for instance.

Lita, Little Orphan Amphibian

This card also has potential in white decks that fill the board with creatures, as all its abilities are relevant. It both creates food tokens and gets the city's blessing for you with Ocelot Pride.

Donatello, Way with Machines

Donnie resembles Patchwork Automaton a lot because it grows as you throw artifacts on the board. Pros: Donatello grows even with tokens, like the ones from Pinnacle Emissary and artifact lands, has evasion, and can pay for Force of Will. Cons: it costs 1 more mana, which is a lot in Legacy, and it is more vulnerable to removals than Automaton. I believe it could show up as the 5th or 6th copy of your 4 Automaton.

Krang, Master Mind

It's funny that Krang came out now, when the old 8-cast lists are bit by bit becoming "0-cast" lists, leaning more towards aggression instead of card draw. However, unlike Thoughtcast and Thought Monitor, Krang is not just a card draw engine. It is a significant threat by itself.

Sewer-veillance Cam

Sewer-veillance Cam is already impacting the community because it can, hypothetically, trigger infinitely with Goblin Welder. Returning or sacrificing Cam untaps Welder, which triggers again and lets you return/sacrifice Cam. If the other artifact involved in this loop is a Mox Opal, you'll create infinite mana. If it's Cryogen Relic or Melded Moxite, you'll draw your entire deck. If it's Legion Extruder, it represents infinite damage.

All of these artifacts already show up in lists with Goblin Welder, so now they'll have another card to set up these infinite combos.

Super Shredder

Like Moonshadow, Super Shredder will also grow quite fast as its deck does what it is supposed to do naturally: use fetch lands, Wastelands, and Baubles. Unlike this powerful Lorwyn Eclipse 1-drop, it won't grow when you cycle Street Wraith or when you Surveil. On the other side, it also grows when you destroy your opponent's permanents and when they sacrifice their own cards. It will make a rising strategy even better.

Casey Jones, Jury-Rig Justiciar

This card will be efficient in the right deck. It and the Ravenous Robots below could make Izzet Affinity rise.

Casey Jones, Vigilante

Drawing 3 cards for 3 mana, even temporarily, is rare for red cards. I believe this one could be interesting in burn decks, for instance.

Electric Seaweed

Besides giving nightmares to anyone who played the original Ninja Turtles game on the NES, this seaweed barrier can explode token boards and practically all other creatures in play. It will also leave a body behind to defend you. I believe it is better than it seems.

Ravenous Robots

Pinnacle Emissary has already proved to us that creating hordes of tokens for very cheap has a place in this format. That seems to be a trend in this set: less powerful versions of cards that already see play in Legacy. They might not be good enough to see play as well but might replace a few cards in certain strategies.

Bebop & Rocksteady

This card could do something similar to Rotting Regisaur in Oops' sideboard. You'll lose 1 toughness but gain flexibility regarding what you can discard/sacrifice.

Tokka & Rahzar, Terrible Twos

There are many cards that functionally cost less than their actual mana value, so this duo could deal a lot of damage. I can see it in Monoblack.

Chrome Dome

Chrome Dome makes your creature artifact tokens twice as efficient, and, if the game drags on, it can copy Kappa Cannoneer and end the game. Cards that are useful at several moments of the game are always great.

Skateboard

Lavaspur Boots is the prime target for Urza's Saga's third chapter nowadays. Skateboard replaced Ward 1 for the ability to tap a permanent. I'd say that this new ability is more useful than Ward 1, as Ward might not be relevant against many opponents. Nonetheless, Skate will remove blockers from your way and even open new paths through cards like Karakas or Maze of Ith.

Imagine a Marit Lage token sliding down on a skateboard straight through the victory line? I believe it will replace Boots in decks with Urza's Saga.

From a purely technical perspective, this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set probably won't affect Legacy much. Skateboard is technically an upgraded Lavaspur Boots. Donatello, Way with Machines, Super Shredder, and Ravenous Robots could work as extra copies of their better versions, Patchwork Automaton, Moonshadow, and Pinnacle Emissary, respectively. For decks that want more of them, they're definitely worth a try.

There is still one question: will Sewer-veillance Cam make Painter a bit better? Overall, I'd say this set is more like Final Fantasy and Spider-Man than Avatar or Edge of Eternities, at least for Legacy.

What do you think? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!