Wizards of the Coast's card game Magic: The Gathering is about to dust off the past and repackage it for the modern meta in the form of the Time Spiral Remastered set. While the Kaldheim set is still new, the draft-only Time Spiral Remastered set will be a real treat for experienced players, and the previews have finally arrived.
This set is based on the Time Spiral block of 2006-07, a block that was notorious for its complicated gameplay and for flavor that mainly appealed to enfranchised players. The same may be true of Time Spiral Remastered, and the rebellious white cards are ready to hit the ground running.
The original Time Spiral block contained a remarkable variety of creature types, from Kithkin to Rebels, Wizards and Fungi. The remastered version is no different. A handful of white cards have officially been previewed, and they make it clear that Rebel tribal has arrived. Many traditional tribes appear in recent sets, such as the Elves of Kaldheim, but Rebels operate in a different way.
Rebel is a subtype, meaning Birds, Humans, Kithkin and other creatures can be Rebels, which is what unites them. Rebels also existed in pre-Modern sets, usually in white, and they could search the library for each other to stock up the battlefield quickly and generate some card advantage. Time Spiral Remastered features a white-black Rebel tribe, though the black card will have to wait for later spoilers.
Aven Riftwatcher is a decent flying beater for the Rebel tribe, being a 2/3 with flying for {2}W. This creature has Vanishing 3, meaning it will be lost after its three time counters are removed. Fortunately, Aven Riftwatcher will gain two life when it enters and leaves the battlefield, so saying good-bye won't be too bitter.
Amrou Scout is a cheap Rebel that can pay {4} and tap to search the library for a Rebel permanent (not necessarily creature) with CMC 3 or lower, and put it right onto the battlefield. The Scout can grab Aven Riftwatcher, for example, or seek out Saltfield Recluse. This remarkable Human Rebel Cleric is weak in combat, but it can turn the tide of battle by tapping to give a creature -2/-0, which is traditionally a blue effect. However, these Rebels will use any resource to get ahead, even borrowing effects from other colors to hamper the enemy.
Knight of the Holy Nimbus, meanwhile, packs a lot of power into its 2/2 body. Costing WW, this Human Rebel Knight can weaken its enemy with its Flanking effect. If it would be destroyed, it's regenerated instead, ready to fight another day. This creature allows opponents to pay {2} to shut down that regeneration effect, though its controller can still save it by other means.
Time Spiral Remastered's white cards are ready for white weenie aggro, Rebel style -- but this color has more features than rebellious Kithkin and Knights. Bound in Silence is a tribal Aura for Rebels, meaning Amrou Scout can find it with its ability. The enchanted creature cannot attack or block, which can buy the Rebels some breathing room, though the enchanted creature can still activate its abilities, crew Vehicles, etc. Sunlance might be considered the white Lightning Bolt, a sorcery that deals three damage to a nonwhite creature on command. That should easily get rid of problematic blockers when the Rebels are ready to charge.
Angel's Grace is a notorious reprint, being a core part of the Modern Ad Nauseam combo deck. For just W, at instant speed, Angel's Grace won't allow its caster to lose the game, nor can the opponents win. The caster's life total can't go below one from damage, and (most notably) Angel's Grace cannot be countered since it has the Split Second ability. Once it goes on the stack, nothing else except mana abilities can go onto the stack until Angel's Grace resolves.
Lingering Souls is another heavy-hitting reprint, and it arrives in a retro card frame for extra style. This card is a staple in Abzan midrange decks in Modern, making two 1/1 flying creature tokens for {2}W. Then, it can be cast again with flashback, costing {1}B this time to make two more tokens. Any deck with white and black mana will want to pick up this card in sessions of booster draft Limited.
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