Stalking the Midnight Hunt

Innistrad: Midnight Hunt released earlier this month. After giving time for the Daybound to reassert themselves, your intrepid researcher sought out new viewpoints. Here’s what the staff at CMO Games had to say about the new set.

My research follows a simple question and answer format. In the headers you’ll find the query. While the answers, and applicable cards, will follow in regular text. Time to start the hunt.

Which is the single best card in the set?

Happy – Best card? Otherworldly Gaze and I will die on that hill! Do you need a reason? Well then, one mana, instant speed, filters and fills your graveyard, and comes with flashback to do it again. Yes, please!

I’ll take four

Elijah – I’ll take Teferi, Who Slows the Sunset. First, there has never been a bad Teferi. Second, look at him. All the abilities are powerful. At +1 you’re busy manipulating the board state and gaining life. Then at -2 you’re gaining card advantage and filtering the library. The ultimate is just bonkers, you’re permanents are always available every player turn. Plus, Lithoform Engine opens up an infinite combo!

There are no bad Teferis!

Nick – Kess, Dissident Mage is a card that already sees Eternal play. Lier does everything she does, but better. Recast all the instants and sorceries in your graveyard and prevent them for being countered. Sure, Lier costs an extra generic mana, but makes up for it by being mono Blue instead of Grixis.

I’m better than her.
Wait till my next incarnation.

Which Midnight Hunt card surprised you in a good way?

Happy – Just a solid, dependable card. Two mana, instant speed creature and planeswalker removal for white. Downside? The target’s controller investigates, i.e. not a downside.

Too late again, Sorin.

Elijah – Wrenn and Seven. I love callbacks to older cards. Wrenn and Seven is a worthy successor to Wrenn and Six. All her abilities are very powerful. She’ll find a good home in Commander, especially for landfall decks.

The best Wrenn until her next evolution, Wrenn and Eight!

Nick – Surprisingly pleased with Diregraf Rebirth. Strong reanimator effect available in an uncommon slot. Easy to discount by 1, 2, or more mana in the second Main Phase after simple combat trades and/or spot removal.

Good to see Gisa keeping up with her hobbies.

Which card disappointed you the most?

Happy – Vivisection, what were they thinking?! Four mana and sacrifice a creature to draw three cards at sorcery speed. Really? In Blue? No way, just, no way.

They were thinking they could only put 4 Otherworldly Gazes in a deck?

Elijah – Hostile Hostel had me with the name and the thought of a sneaky Eldrazi leftover. Instead the card isn’t very good for what it is trying to do. Either you’re producing mana or building up souls for the transformation. The buildup takes too long and involves many missed opportunity costs to get there.

Strictly better than the Hostel movies.
Hostile Hostel
No need to stream, they’ll bring it right over.

Nick – Bloodline Culling. “Creature TOKENS get -2/-2…” Creatures at that cost would make a fantastically versatile removal spell. Only mass targeting Tokens put it into the bargain bin.

No one puts Olivia in the bargain bin.

Which Midnight Hunt card(s) have the jankiest potential?

Happy – Unnatural Growth. Five mana, four of it green, is a hefty cost, but if you can get it out your big, dumb dudes will wreck shop.

Nick – Unnatural Growth. Exponential fun for everyone, every combat, forever. Pure jank.

Good doggie?

Elijah – Do I have to choose just one?

Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer combines anti-burn and enhanced burn on a 3 mana, flying, haste creature.

A bird, a horse? No it is Captain Gryff!

Triskaidekaphile brings more fun with the number thirteen. Take her for the no maximum hand size. Get surprised if your opponent actually lets you get to thirteen cards.

13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13 …

Lier, Disciple of the Drowned flashback and anti-counter for all your spells on a durable 3/4.

Jank? I thought I was a best card!

For extra credit, pick three themed cards (C, UC, R or MR) to build a deck around?

Happy
Common – Ecstatic Awakener, perfect for decayed / Aristocrats shenanigans.
Uncommon – Let’s be real, Delver of Secrets, without question. Once that Izzet list gets figured out Delver will be nasty. Play with Fire and Consider are going to be so, so good.
Mythic – Teferi, Who Slows the Sunset. Icey manipulator x3, a -2 that sifts your top 3, and an ultimate that lets you untap and draw on your opponent’s turns? Control is going to be so, so, so sweet!

Innistrad, home to humans doing great things.

Elijah – Novice Occultist, Rite of Oblivion, and Liesa, Forgotten Archangel are my three. Sac the cultist to Rite of of Oblivion. Draw 1, lose 1, and exile target nonland. Liesa puts Cultists back in your hand. Cast Novice Occultist.

The circle of death.

Nick – Three Teferis in a trench coat!

Concept art, not an actual card.

Author – No, I don’t know what that meant either.

And that ends our foray into the horrors of Innistrad for this month. Join us in November for Crimson Vow. Until then carry some wolves bane and stay inside to avoid the midnight hunt.

All pictures are property of Wizards of the Coast and taken from Gatherer, your official site for Magic cards and oracle text.

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