Card of the Day - July, 2012 | MAGIC: THE GATHERING

By Monty Ashley

Reconstruction – Antiquities common. The original printing of Reconstruction in Antiquities was accidentally printed without an expansion symbol. It is therefore almost identical to the Revised version of Reconstruction, except for the color of its border.

Lab Rats – Stronghold common. Have you ever really looked at the art on Lab Rats? That rat is in a tiny little wheelchair! Poor little rat!

Sonic Burst – Exodus common. This week's card of the day theme has been, roughly "large bovines" like the buffalo. So you may be interested to know that an American buffalo that's doomed to get hit by a Sonic Burst cast by William Shakespeare could be anagrammed into a Curst Bison.

Eyes of the Wisent – Lorwyn rare. "Wisent" is not a word invented for Magic. In fact, it's a name for the European bison. Fascinating!

Aurochs – Ice Age common. When Aurochs was printed in Ice Age, it was the only card of its card type. But when Coldsnap came along years later, Aurochs Herd, Bull Aurochs, and Rimehorn Aurochs added to the herd.

Ronin Cliffrider – Betrayers of Kamigawa uncommon. That's a strange animal that the Ronin Cliffrider is riding. But it must be relatively common on Kamigawa, because Godo, Bandit Warlord is also riding one.

Pillarfield Ox – Magic 2013 common. There are seven Ox creatures in Magic. In addition to the literal oxen (Ironhoof, Pillarfield, Wild, and Zodiac), there are two ox-shaped elementals (Arc Runner and Longhorn Firebeast) and Raging Bull.

Giant Oyster – Homelands uncommon. If you're not very good at identifying bivalves, here's the main difference between clams and oysters: clams move around and oysters don't. Also, sometimes oysters contain pearls.

Barren Moor – Onslaught common. When cycling was introduced in Urza's Saga, all the costs were

. This allowed for some shenanigans with Fluctuator, so when cycling came back in Onslaught, it had more interesting costs, like Barren Moor's

Plover Knights – Lorwyn common. Plovers are real-world birds, which the Kithkin Plover Knights ride. If you're curious, a group of plovers is a "Stand," a "Wing," or a "Congregation."

Mystifying Maze – Magic 2011 rare. As a maze that neutralizes an attacking creature, Mystifying Maze is a riff on Maze of Ith. It's unknown how Ith feels about his maze being out-mystified.

Wit's End – Magic 2013 rare. According to Wit's End, it costs

to have any player discard his or her hand. If you're trying to do it on the cheap, One With Nothing lets you do it for only

, although it does come with the slight drawback that the player has to be you.

Switcheroo – Magic 2013 uncommon. From the Magic 2013 FAQ: You don't have to control either target. If the same player controls both creatures when Switcheroo resolves, nothing happens.

Serra Avatar – Magic 2013 mythic rare. From the Magic 2013 FAQ: The ability that defines Serra Avatar's power and toughness works in all zones, not just the battlefield.

Public Execution – Magic 2013 uncommon. From the Magic 2013 FAQ: Only creatures controlled by the player when Public Execution resolves will get -2/-0. Creatures that enter the battlefield under that player's control or that the player gains control of later in the turn are unaffected.

Omniscience – Magic 2013 mythic rare. From the Magic 2013 FAQ: If you cast a card "without paying its mana cost," you can't pay any alternative costs. You can pay additional costs such as kicker costs. If the card has mandatory additional costs, you must pay those.

Ring of Evos Isle – Magic 2013 uncommon. Wondering where Evos Isle is? The Magic 2013 FAQ has the answer! "The Magic 2013 core set has a cycle of Equipment that, in addition to giving the equipped creature another bonus, puts a +1/+1 counter on the equipped creature on each of your turns if it's a specific color. Each is named for a particular kingdom, country, or location on the plane of Shandalar."

Primal Clay – Magic 2013 uncommon. The Magic 2013 Core Set Prerelease is July 7-8, and you can see all the cards on the Magic 2013 Card Image Gallery.

Elixir of Immortality – Magic 2013 uncommon. The Magic 2013 Core Set Prerelease is July 7-8, and you can see all the cards on the Magic 2013 Card Image Gallery.

Tormod's Crypt – Magic 2013 uncommon. The Magic 2013 Core Set Prerelease is July 7-8, and you can see all the cards on the Magic 2013 Card Image Gallery.

Jayemdae Tome – Magic 2013 uncommon. The Magic 2013 Core Set Prerelease is July 7-8, and you can see all the cards on the Magic 2013 Card Image Gallery.

Clock of Omens – Magic 2013 uncommon. The Magic 2013 Core Set Prerelease is July 7-8, and you can see all the cards on the Magic 2013 Card Image Gallery.

Posted in Feature on July 2, 2012

Card of the Day - July, 2012

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