March of the Machine Set Review Part 2 || North 100 Ep150

[@GanixUA]

It would be great if you made some kind of "End of Season" Podcast. After some months of the cards being played, reviewing those that really made it into the format and those that seemed to be great but failed to shine.

[@kpoffaas]

Yeah, maybe when standard rotates review the cards that came out during the time period that is rotating out. I would love to see a retrospective 1 year after those cards came out and see what is still relevant, what got missed, what evaluations were right, what were wrong.

[@fwg1994]

@@kpoffaas It happened to be in the middle of a new set coming out, but I'm pretty sure they just had their big year end tournament for CanLander. Pretty sure after that is the most apt time to review how new cards and decks have been doing.

[@Lucarioguild7]

I definitely miss when this podcast was more than just a set review, I understand why it had to be that during the pandemic but now that in person events are happening I'd love to hear an episode about the state of the metagame

[@maxwelllehman5290]

I'm pretty surprised to not see Death-Greeter's Champion. It's already above rate in the first place as a 3 mana 3/2 with double strike and it can impact the board immediately by pumping another creature. The dash also really puts it over the top and I'm super high on the card.

[@itsover9000]

+1 for Death-Greeter's Champion.

[@TheRealWormbo]

Funny thing about Thalia and The Gitrog Monster: The official lore is that Gitrog got annoyed by the Phyrexians preventing its worshipers from bringing it more food. It left its swamp, went to Thraben where it met Thalia and essentially was like: "You. Feed me!"

[@D-Skotes]

I love how confused she was and was just like "Okay it's gonna let me ride it...I guess this is my life now."

[@TheBluemechanic]

That Khenra is probably my favourite card too. I don't even care about the ward or the trample, it has double prowess. It can Prowess twice at the same time

[@LucasTheDrgn]

I think every time I read Urabrask until now I read the "transform Urabrask" line and instantly flipped it and started foaming at the mouth before I could see you have to cast 3 instants or sorceries in one turn to flip it

[@moundsofmayhem]

@@ignisbad9158 i think a 4 mana card needs to do more

[@theriderdwaft]

Honestly I really want some north 100 content that isn't set reviews not that I don't love the set reviews. There is a lot about this format I would love to hear Nelson, Serge, and Wheeler talk about like deck archetypes and what to do against them.

[@petrseghman4283]

I don't really play Canlander at all... But the insight is so great for both DC and Magic in general that this is just the BEST set review podcast ever. EVER!

[@lavashot449]

Watching Ben do the thing on Urabrask, and then seeing the nickname for him on the nicknames episode be that exact bit makes me happy

[@narfidy444]

A CanLander strategy tier list would be funny sometime between sets

[@samwalter940]

14:00 I can confirm I have swapped out Birgi for Urabrask in commander. Games in my meta usually don't end until turn 7 so slamming him on turn 3 off a ritual, flipping after casting 3 1 mana value instants/sorceries, and then getting a Yawg will on turn 5 if he lives seems fine for me. I absolutely agree that it isn't good in this format just because Birgi exists, does a similar enough thing, costs 1 less mana, and already isn't broken.

[@gedtheflayer]

Not surprised by the Urabrask chat. They just had Defiler of Instinct in DMU with the same statline and similar mana-saving and damage abilities, but it's non-legendary, has a more defined home, and doesn't have magical Christmasland text on the back to lure the unwary.

[@Pintyhet]

I know Slimefoot and Squee is sort of a commander card, but it just makes me so happy.

[@diestormlie]

I think Urabrask gets the dander of so many up because... I mean... Once the Saga finishes, you get the creature back! You can cycle him back and forth... Forever! (What do you mean, Canlander Games *end?*)

[@Slagomancer]

I've been largely out of Magic since Khans Block, the North 100 folks got me back into at least watching content ( too many sets for my budget to keep up with ). Thanks for the work you guys do and thanks Wheeler especially for being willing to "antagonize" people when a card is pretty much a win more card like Urabrask.

[@mattperkinson9604]

I think there are a few battles in red that are worth considering, mostly for the front side with the potential value of the back pushing them over the edge. I’d play invasion of tarkir in a medium red or big red list, I’d play invasion of mercadia in decks that like thrill of possibility/bitter reunion, and I’d at least consider invasion of karsus in decks looking for a way to stall aggro opponents, especially if you have lots of creatures that survive taking 3 damage to flip it immediately

[@bassface1018]

Excise the Imperfect looks like a bad skyclave appetizer. Your opponent gets almost immediate access to the token it SA would generate on death, AND you're giving them an artifact and that can be a negative. The only upside is it potentially "saving" one of your own cards in response to removal, but I'd rather run a God's willing.

[@arcan0r47]

Great as always. I was wondering if there are any plans for non set review episodes, especially now with Nelly on the team.

[@megablin6412]

I just want to say you are all wonderful people.

[@cousinpatsey2471]

I was also surprised to see so many people down on Vorinclex. I'm not saying he's amazing, but his floor is high relative to every other praetor, and his Magical Christmas Land side is easier to get to that the others. Also rip elementals. Maybe one day, after Modern Horizons 3's convoke cycle.

[@Oakenbull]

Great video, I don't even play Canadian Highlander but you guys make great content

[@davidwright8094]

I really think you guys should talk about Invasion of Tarkir. Being able to hit anything on the fron seems really good even though its 2 mana

[@markbrierley6367]

Sorcery speed and overcosted compared to similar cards in the format and a backside you will ignore because decks that would even consider 2 mana sorcery speed shock just want to burn face asap? Yeah, I was curious when they skipped it and then I properly evaluated the card for the format.

[@cousinpatsey2471]

@@markbrierley6367 reminder that there is a fairly real medium red deck that plays dragons to scale the damage up, and also that you're coming off as an ass purely so you can try and dunk on someone you've never met online. Be better dude.

[@daithomas1430]

@@markbrierley6367 maybe it goes into big/medium red?

[@markbrierley6367]

@@daithomas1430 no deck in Canlander is interested in the front side. It's not efficient enough in a format that can run lightning bolt and chain lightning. Both sides are too weak for big red. Medium red maybe would be ok in the damage investment to flip it, but still doesn't want to play that front side just to possibly get the back.

[@colaocha1115]

You can also flicker the Battles with some cards, so a Flicker/Initiative-Flicker deck would probably love Invasion of Ixalan espeically.

[@KumaKaori]

9:20, someone put Wheeler's explanation there as dub over the explanation of how to use the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch XD. (5 is right out!)

[@Pacier]

wheeler actually complementing my favorite card in the set because double prowess just tickles my brain stem

[@zeke2465]

north100 is my favorite set review podcast

[@poikl73]

in addition to the other comments suggesting a Season Recap/Reflection episode, such an episode would be good for discussing the couple of noteworthy Aftermath cards. nice lil "tying of loose ends we may have missed" episode. i just want more canlander content please

[@JeeCistion]

The two cards that I missed were Stormclaw Rager and Kogla&Yidaro. First one for aristocrats considerations, second one as uncounterable naturalize+good natural order target.

[@MakeVarahHappen]

12:06 Wheeler should play Tiny Leaders! Great format, no 4 drops.

[@JohnSmith-hs9ez]

Unironically this

[@MakeVarahHappen]

@@JohnSmith-hs9ez Also unironic.

[@AkryllyK]

Urabrask is the best commander card people are going to try to make work in every other format

[@patrickffolliott709]

I think it might have legs in Legacy, if the storm deck already using Birgi can afford the extra mana. It being a source of mana and effectively a grapeshot seems pretty strong

[@AkryllyK]

@@patrickffolliott709 I dont know if the birgi storm decks need the extra copies unless they're paranoid about getting surgicaled

[@patrickffolliott709]

@@AkryllyK Not gonna lie, I also didn't notice Urabrask only triggers on instant & sorcery cast. Card sucks lol

[@TheCalamity13]

I love this show and don't think you missed anything and appreciate you guys talking about the big mythics. I don't think you missed anything but just in case gimbal in the old rutstein token deck might be a house as it would likely creat a 3/3 at end step.

[@JohnWilliams-vk8ru]

I think the only relevant part of wrenn and realmbreaker is giving your land creatures hexproof. Previous effects like this would make your land creatures even more weak to removal (strip and creature removal) but hexproof means they can now only die to a board wipe (which they did before) or through combat. Sometimes you need a sylvan caryatid to punch face.

[@JohnWilliams-vk8ru]

Also botanical brawler triggering off EACH incubate token is very spicy

[@greatdinn8489]

I 100% agree that Urabrask is a bad fit for CanLander, but it's interesting to me that they keep referring to The Great Work as "a mid Past in Flames" or "Yawgmoth's Will" and ignoring or missing that it reads any graveyard, not just yours. Like, that won't change anything, not everyone will be playing instants/sorceries you'll want to or be able to cast, but it is a distinction I think is glossed over.

[@LeonaDX]

When I first read W&R, I thought it was one of the best planeswalkers of all time. I’m gonna test it in my lands deck and probably some of my midrange decks. Genuinely think the card is bonkers, but after today I would not be surprised if I was wrong.

[@jacefairis1289]

two other cards I like - 1: Invasion of Kaldheim. it's a bad top deck, but can easily provide 3+ cards of card advantage if you jam it fairly early and have playable stuff left in your hand to get exiled. like: turn 3 off some kind of ramp, you play Invasion, exile land + three-drop + burn spell + uncastable 6-drop, draw four new cards, and still play 3 of the 4 exiled cards next turn? pretty tight. it's also fairly easy to flip, at only 4 counters, and the back side is some powerful inevitability. 2: invasion of Regatha. it's 3 mana for 4 damage to the face + sometimes killing a mana dork, thalia, vendillion clique, etc. I strongly doubt mono-red will ever want to point 5 damage anywhere other than the face to flip it, but if it ever comes up, it's just gravy on top. 4 damage to the face for 3 mana is like, basically fine, and the upside of sometimes being a 2-for-1 if your opponent plays an X/1 is enough to make me consider it.

[@345tom]

I was going to post about this, if only because I had some success with it in Standard in a bigger red shell, but I think it's too expensive for a format that could just wheel instead. The turn you play it is too often not going to impact the board.

[@trinir2581]

they did not crap on my favorite card of the set i see this as a absolute win

[@j4bon505]

is rashmi and ragavan from the commander decks too ‘do nothing’? my automatic answer is yes because: no etb 4 drop legend you have to wait until YOUR next turn (and have more spells) to do anything. i just figured I’d ask since I pulled one from a set booster and it feels sweet but my soul dropped when I saw ‘on each of YOUR turns’

[@JeeCistion]

I think Wrenn is a whole lot better than it looks like on the surface. 3/3 vigilances take the initiative AND protect the initiative really well. Furthermore they stall the board with no easy way of being interacted with outside of blocking. Boardwipes are bad right now so no indestructible on the land is not an issue. If you need that last land you can grab it with the minus, if you need a threat you can grab it with the minus. And the ultimate let’s you recast Wrenn immediately out of the graveyard letting you activate her again for the 3/3. I think this card will be good in those temur or abzan land/initiative midrange decks, that want to accrue as much value as possible. The advantage of the omni land fixing is almost entirely cognitive lol, not having to think about your mana frees up so much mental space.

[@DefinitelyNotReal627]

I like Thalia and Gitrog. at first glance It's not your super amazing carry build around, but three, maybe even four role players in a 4/4 trench coat is hard to pass up.

[@spiffinn_music_lists]

Urabrask also doesn't trigger off of Grinning Ignus, closing off one of the lines of play with Birgi and Runaway Steam-Kin.

[@spiffinn_music_lists]

I play Birgi-Ignus storm in historic on occasion and have no interest in Urabrask

[@sandmanlives3]

Excellent, as always. Thank you.

[@ironpage]

Love the prowess trample card a lot and I am definitely getting Thalia and The Gitrog to make an Abzan lands/sacrifice commander deck.

[@IndigoRose13]

I'm part of the fairly large group of people who don't play canlander but nevertheless love these set reviews, but that's not why I'm making this comment. I'm making this comment so that Wheeler will remember me. Because that's an offer that's too good to pass up.

[@DPSSOC]

Surprised Invasion of Kaldheim didnt make the cut. A wheel that flips into a seismic assault that draws you cards seems really good to me. I'm guessing too expensive at 4?

[@RinandStyx]

What about deeproot in the rock? Feel like that would be really powerful with the tempo, land package, and self mill it already has

[@clemos1845]

I would love if you could close the set review with 1 new card each, wich you like flavor-wise. Just for fun.

[@BorisTheIllithid]

Could Urabrask fit into storm, either UR or UBR? Or more traditional U/UB, splashing for this and Underworld Breach? Or is coming down at 4 prohibitive even for those decks? I'm guessing that the combination of only giving mana off instants/sorceries, being double red, and being 4 CMC takes it out of consideration?

[@michaelhuerta7469]

This Urabrask best fit is heading a storm commander deck or in the 99 of a UR storm commander deck

[@williampeterson1154]

What are your thoughts on Death-greeter’s champion? I’m excited to try it in RGx Monsters

[@SleenpyMan2084]

I was hoping to see something about slimefoot and squee. If you guys think it has absolutely no place in the format then alright. I just love Jund so much.

[@borkfork2723]

Oh you read these you say? Well Wheeler you are looking fresh in this

[@bwheelermtg]

Thank

[@eirh]

I'm very excited for Urabrask, but I don't think Canlander is the right format for him. I can see him doing wonders in 60 card formats that allows you to play a higher density of cheap draw/cycle and rituals, also he is probably fine in commander (not a format I play, can't really judge that)

[@thomasleffers5304]

What are those!!!? Where did Wheeler get those shoes?

[@lightfut]

Y'all read all these comments eh? Well i look forward to meeting y'all at MC Minneapolis and getting some cards signed

[@peewee0224]

I’m kinda disappointed in the new omnath. I just wish it’s trigger wasn’t so restrictive.

[@diggerdog9205]

If they ever do Friday Nights again I hope Wheeler is in it

[@ericmilligan6603]

I'm just happy knowing Wheeler is going to read this comment. I feel seen.

[@bwheelermtg]

I see all

[@jgmweston]

March of the (Engagement) Machine

[@mostlikelymaybe]

I've got a memes and moxes deck that Chandra will fit in nicely

[@SmallConeGaming]

Wheeler, Nelly, and Serge, I am looking to become an mtg Judge. What are your suggestions for new judges? Also, I need a lvl 2 judge to sponsor me, so if any of you are willing...? 😐

[@theimmortalleanwalker1307]

Canadian Highlander wizards what is the verdict on invasion of tarkir?

[@killerkonnat]

If your opponent does Karakas on Zilortha, I don't know how giving you an another tutor is exactly bad for you...

[@cousinpatsey2471]

Mostly because it's a major tempo loss. If it's flipped, you likely spent the turn (through Hexmage) or combat getting it onto the field. So for essentially one mana, your opponent kills your entire turn. While getting a tutor back is nice, if you had the 8/8 out already chances are you wanted the 8/8 more than the tutor.

[@Swoozman]

I just want to play Yargle + Multani then Fling it every game for the rest of my life.

[@KaldarisX]

Here is my KZbin comment for engagement showing suppourt for my Cinnamon Son, my Hairy, Bearded Son, and my Large Son. ♥

[@ScornfulEg0tist]

Urabrask seems like it belongs mostly in commander It's just too expensive and vulnerable for even standard Edit: I will say though, in magical Christmas land where you manage to flip it and both it and you live till chapter 3, it does put itself back into play, and you'll at least be able to play the three spells again you used to flip it Urabrask is basically a dark ritual in that situation Still it's way too slow and weak to probably ever get there

[@345tom]

My problem with urabrask in standard is the lack of cheap spells that are getting you the flip, that are also contextlessly good for you to recast with the third part of the saga. There might be an izzet shell there, but my experience of standard so far is fighting through either black midrange sheoldreds, or blue blue/white control decks, and to get to the point of casting and flipping urabrask is going to be a challenge. Personally, I think there's a historic storm deck with birgi that could use urabrask, where the base side is still useful, and the flip slide can help if you whiff too hard on storm.

[@ScornfulEg0tist]

@@345tom I definitely think it has potential in a historic shell where there's more protection available

[@MagizardInternet]

@@345tom It does seem to have a home in Alchemy, even in Ranked. Mostly probably because of Spellchain Scatter, which can easily get you up to three with a lot of other cards

[@Mogg001]

Hi Ben!

[@sneakysquid9917]

I’m a bit surprised wheeler is so down on Urabrask. I don’t think it’s amazing but a 4/4 for 4 with first strike is pretty great if you can play it a turn or two early. I think playing it in a more fair way in some kind of Izzet spellslinger is probably the best case scenario for him

[@janmelantu7490]

I’m surprised they focused on flipping it, I just want the ritual on every instant & sorcery.

[@spiffinn_music_lists]

they mentioned how it's hard to flip, but that wasn't the focus. the main point is that 1) Birgi gets us that effect at 3 mana and doesn't see play and 2) it's a 4 mana legend with no etb. A 4 mana 4/4 first strike isn't good enough

[@frizbehobit9919]

Love this show. Wish I was rich to see if you would get paid to make bonus episodes.

[@SodaSeth]

I get that they're talking about a lot of these cards to "appease the comments," but I feel like these episodes could be improved by talking about fewer cards instead of dunking on a bunch of cards that seem obviously unplayable. The bar for playable cards in the format is so high now, and I feel like the podcast should reflect that more.

[@aonarfaileas4554]

While I intellectually understand Urabrask isn't good in canlander, I can't listen to you slandering my boy like this. :P (100% agreed spellspear is one of, if not the, best card in this set though. :P)

[@dontpanic9772]

Hey Bwheeler, do you think my avatar is cute?

[@notsm]

Oh, that arm was Thalia's. She is really into vore.

[@tocu98]

Ward 5 right out

[@macromite3758]

urabrask should be winning the game on the turn you play it. probably not the best for canadian highlander. but modern? bolt bolt bolt bolt flip into bolt 5, plus 4 from the mana generation ability. 19 on turn 5 from hand

[@macromite3758]

actually wait keep saying sits bad so I cna purchase urabrask on the cheap

[@cousinpatsey2471]

@@macromite3758 respectfully, when's the last time you played against a modern deck where you had 4 bolts on turn 5 and your opponent didn't remove your creature?

[@macromite3758]

@@cousinpatsey2471 today

[@cousinpatsey2471]

@@macromite3758 gl making him work then

[@macromite3758]

@@cousinpatsey2471 tbh it was iffy, but v1 of deck that is weird can be like that.

[@rachasaur5]

poor wheeler is getting mike wazowski’d by the front face of the battles

[@martinphillips2461]

Love.

[@TalenLee]

(whiny voice) polukranos got norted!

[@Cryonicity]

Nelly!

[@MrMielke]

I've gotta say, as much as I love you guys' analyses, I've started to get really tired of Wheeler's way of dunking on other people's opinion at every opportunity. I don't care if he's right, it's no way to talk to or about other people, and it really stands out among the otherwise very wholesome LLR-content.

[@isaaceagel3220]

hahaaa engagement

[@AutumnReel4444]

Who the hell recommended Excise? Embarrassing card, wouldn't play it even in Standard