[Sage of the Bulk Bin] EOE

Autumn D
Jul 18
5 min read

Updated: Jul 19

With this set review, I want to focus on the unsung Common and Uncommon heroes from each slice of the color pie. There is a lot going on with set mechanics in this set, so I figured it would be nice to take a dive into the bulk bin to see what themes and power creep has snuck its way into sealed events coming soon to an LGS near you.

White

White arguably has some of the strongest bulk of the set. It has very strong creature buffs and synergies, but is lacking proactive removal.

[Honor] Sorcery that gives a +1 counter and card draw for one white pip. Hard to go wrong with strengthening your board for either aggro or Spaceship mid-range.

[Reroute Systems] A crazy strong instant cast that lets you either save your ship/creature or potentially snipe a creature attempting to crew an opponents' ship. (Keep in mind that you can stop a ship from being stationed AFTER they have tapped a creature to station!)

[Dual-Sun Technique] An insanely strong combat trick with double strike and card draw for 2 mana. Just about every strategy can find space for this cantrip.

[Banishing Light] What more needs to be said? It gets printed as draft chaff almost every set. Extra-strength exile removal that requires enchantment removal to resume your opponents' game plan. Tempo players rejoice!

Blue

Blue is looking very supplemental to other colors and prime for mid-range players. Graveyard fillers, ramp, and large CMC payoffs! It is hard to give an easy recommendation for any of these commons and uncommons, but depending on your strategy, some of these will become more apparent as relatively better cards depending on your other chosen color.

[Annul] is a very strong counter spell. If you are going blue heavy during sealed, I would highly recommend this card. Even more so if you can out-ramp the downside of leaving one island open to cast this counterspell.

[Codecracker Hound] is a direct upgrade of [Sibsig Appraiser] from Tarkir: Dragonstorm. Anyone who played Sultai in sealed knows the strength of essentially surveiling 2 and drawing 1 while also having a body on your board - except now you can cast it twice while synergizing with any Void mechanics.

[Starbreach Whale] is a card I see being a solid choice for Izzet aggro. Cast it for its 2 mana warp cost, pay 1 red pip for [Full Bore] and swing in for 6 damage with a Haste, Flying, Trample by turn 3. Absolutely insane value - and that's not considering you get to surveil and cast it later for its full cost in 2 turns.

[Mechan Assembler] has some potential with decks hoping to play defensive and station some spaceships. Cast ships, get a free token to station with. Perhaps it could also see some play in sacrifice heavy aristocrat decks.

Black

Black is looking to be my favorite slice of the color pie this set. It has some super strong card draw and removal that plays heavily in to the Warp mechanic. I have a feeling you wont be seeing many black cards handed over to you during draft.

[Tragic Trajectory] It's [Tragic Slip] in a different font. It's not at flash speed which is a bit of a nerf, but it's Void requirement is much easier to fulfill and should allow you to kill most anything that comes your way. A go-to defensive pick in my opinion.

[Hymn of the Faller] is reliable card draw that can pull you out of getting flooded or fill your graveyard with its surveil ability. Again, it synergizes well with Warp or aggro strategies.

[Timeline Culler] is insane. If you can get multiple of these you have an insane start to a very strong deck. Fill your graveyard with these guys, and then warp them in to keep the synergies and discounts rolling. Quite possibly one of the best bulk in the set.

[Faller's Faithful] Is a card that should be included sparingly. I imagine this card as a game closer or a desperate solution to pull yourself up if you fall behind in the early game. Removal, blocking, and stationing at the cost of giving your opponent some card draw is not the worst if its the piece you need to win or stay relevant.

Red

Red is full of artifact love and instant speed removal. Artifacts of all kinds, whether token or nontoken are all over the place in this set. [Full Bore] is an uncommon that I am expecting to create a big enough splash that you will see people push their color picks just to include it in their decks.

[Full Bore] comes out of the gate swinging. An insane instant for 1 red pip that will absolutely dominate. Station strategies will love this to get those spaceships online and aggro will swing for a fourth of your opponent's life total by turn 3 or less.

[Melded Moxite] has solid value for 2 CMC. This card is a solid foundation for just about any strategy. Artifact synergy, graveyard fill, or pay 3 to have a body on the board. Very versatile, very efficient, very strong.

[Weftstalker Ardent] Combos well with [Full Bore] and will be a delightful path to burning your opponent down the longer the game goes on. [Reckless Fireweaver] in a different font.

[Lithobraking] Ramp, artifact synergy, and a possible board sweeper. Having to pay 2 to get the lander ramp to pay off can be a bit of an L, but if you are focusing on artifacts or growing lands, this is a great choice to keep the board clear while getting to your payoff.

Green

Green is going for the long con. You are aiming at going to Turns with this color pie. There are a few cards that stand out for control strategies, but for the most part, green is shaping up to be a strong defensive color in this set.

[Meltstrider's Resolve] Tricky little aura that functions as a fight spell while demanding 1v1s during combat selections. A very good choice for aggro.

[Seedship Impact] Is one of the best removal in the set. Almost every key card in this set is an artifact or enchantment. Cast it early on or deny your opponent a token later in the game to ramp yourself. Very solid pick in any strategy.

[Broodgaurd Elite] Much more of a narrow strategy with this guy. Invest in counters and watch them stay on the board. Some synergy with warp if your deck cares for that.

[Harmonious Grovestrider] Spam landers until you outramp your opponent and then beat them to death with a ward cost they wont want to pay. Gruul will be eating well with this guy.

Colorless

I wont do a full breakdown for each of these cards as they are mostly draft chaff to either color fix or card draw smooth your sealed deck, but it is worth noting the value of [Nutrient Block] and the Warp aggro potential of [Bygone Colossus].