First Pick:

 

Exclusive Spoiler - Tree of Perdition

 

SLIDE #1 - MELD

Hanweir Battlements & Hanweir Garrison = Hanweir, the Writhing Township

 

Gisela, the Broken Blade & Bruna, the Fading Light  = Brisela, Voice of Nightmares

 

Via Maxime - our own Mishra’s Photoshop - ERUBEN

 

SLIDE #2 - EMERGE & ESCALATE

Emerge - Wretched Gryff

 

Escalate - Borrowed Malevolence & Blessed Alliance

 

SLIDE #3 - DELVER COMPLETED

 

Delver of Secrets & Insectile Aberration - Innistrad

Aberrant Research & Perfected Form - Shadows over Innistrad

Docent of Perfection & Final Iteration - Eldritch Moon

 

SLIDE #4 - THALIA & IDENTITY THIEF

 

Sigarda, Host of Herons protects from original Emrakul abilities

Sigarda, Heron’s Grace protects from new Emrakul abilities

 

Gather the Townsfolk

Can’t look at Sideboards during Mindslaver effects anymore - even Wishes don’t work.

https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/4pplrm/rules_update_controlling_another_player_and/

 

When Emrakul, the Promised End and Coax from the Blind Eternities were previewed earlier this week, it inspired a lot of discussion about a little-known corner of the tournament rules. Quoting from Section 3.15, Sideboard:

"During a game, players may look at their own sideboard and the sideboard of any players they currently control. The sideboard must remain clearly distinguishable from other cards."

As of Eldritch Moon, this rule is changing. Simply put, you can now never see an opponent's sideboard, even if you control that opponent. The exact language of the rule is being finalized.

The philosophy of the old rule makes sense: You can look at your sideboard. I control you, so I can see whatever you can see. Ergo, I can see your sideboard. But this has huge ramifications at every level of tournament play. It brings up questions of informational access, lengthy note-taking delays, the timing of strategic concessions, team dynamics, even the physical interactions between players.

If you force a player you're controlling to cast a "Wish," you can't have them access any cards in their sideboard. If you make them cast Death Wish, the same rule applies: no cards, even at random sight unseen.

I'm sorry it took the cards' public unveiling to really bring this issue to light, but I'm happy with the result. Now Emrakul can go be the monster she was meant to be.

This rule will be in effect for Magic Online play after the Eldritch Moon release. In addition, I believe (but don't quote me on this one) that there will be better functionality to support looking at your own sideboard.

 

Not being able to look at their sideboard even for wishes? Feels like not being able to look at their deck when using fetches.

 

From Matt Tabak:

 

“There are many reasonable arguments that you should be able to look at an opponent's sideboard while having them cast a Wish. I just wanted to note that that alternative was discussed, considered, but ultimately not passed. We feel this is a corner case interaction, and opted for the overall cleaner rule. MTGO also played a role here. So, if you're decrying the change for that reason, I get you. But don't lose sight of the larger gain. If you feel the larger gain sucks and isn't a gain at all, well, that's cool too.”

 

Desperate Ravings:

Expensive Visa needed for #PTEMN?

https://twitter.com/efropoker/status/747974055471386624

https://twitter.com/mechalink/status/747975005200392196

 

“Friends going to PT Sydney, check your emails! Apparently we need a special visa to enter Australia as a result of going there for the PT. According to them the process can take several weeks.” --Christian Calcano

Early reports:

 

$175 Cost

Takes weeks to get

 

Going Infinite:

Should Pauper Be a GP format?

https://twitter.com/ChannelFireball/status/746718574962741249

 

The Finisher:

This week, Mark Rosewater got his twitter account hacked by a porn spambot. Luckily it was a pretty tame one, happily for the Magic community, but it does make me wonder: what would you expect to be tweeted from the real life Robo Rosewater spambot?