|
|
| |
|
| ||
|
 |
by David S. Wilson
Stretching Dominia Dollars, Part VII I have postponed my Baker's Dozen of the best Type II artifacts for bargain conscious newbies until next month to allow me to handle something I consider a more burning issue. See, if a newbie was to ask me what I consider to be the best investment right now... I'd have to say Portal. Even without instants, interrupts, and artifacts, I think Portal has more to offer then any other type II legal boosters still being sold. So let me ramble on for a few minutes and see if I can't convince you to give it a try. The first thing I like about Portal Boosters is they include lands. I'm tired of having to buy more expensive starter boxes when I need a few more lands. I'd rather get extra lands than my 10th or 11th copy of many common cards. And, as a matter of fact I prefer the giant icons found only on Portal lands. I think the Swamps with the giant skull are much more artistic, and I have replaced many of my older swamps with the Portal swamps. The next thing I noticed about Portal is it includes some of the most powerful Magic cards ever published. If you don't have cards like Wrath of God, Armagedden, Earthquake and Hurricane, then I advise you buy Portal boosters. Since Portal only contains 221 cards you have a better chance to get these power cards if you buy Portal, rather than if you buy Fifth Edition. Another thing about Portal making it so appealing is that in some cases they have cards as powerful as older Magic cards, but with different names. Example: King's Assassin. Just another Royal Assassin. But that means I can now have a deck featuring 8 assassins! Take the time to check the spoiler list of this booster set and you'll see several other similar cases. Like Dragons? Try Portal. They offer such cards as the Alabaster Dragon which goes from the graveyard back into your library. How about the Ebon Dragon who forces your opponent to discard 1 of their cards when it comes into play. Maybe the Fire Dragon and it's ability to deal damage to another creature equal to the number of mountains you have in play. And yes, there's still several other dragons in all colors with all types of special abilities. If it's Dragons you want, try Portal. And they aren't even the tough guys of Portal. No sir, not with cards like Thundermare, Archangel, Djinn of the Lamp, Dread Reaper or Whiptail Wurm all included in the set. And we've just begun to scratch the surface of sorcery and summon cards being offered in Portal. Want or need color hoses? Try cards like Boiling Seas to destroy all Islands Or Nature's Ruin to destroy all green creatures. Short on mana? Use Gift of Estates, the new Land Tax that add 3 plains to your hand. Want some new creatures? Try Phantom Warriors - 2/2 creatures that can't be blocked. That's better than any landwalker. Try the Fire Imp who does 2 damage to 1 target creature when he comes into play. How about Endless Cockroaches, 1/1 creatures who go from the graveyard back to your hand? Try the Rain of Salt which destroys 2 lands instead of 1! Try the Lava Axe and do 5 damage for 5 mana. Try summoning The Spiritual Guardian so you get a 3/4 creature and gain 4 life. Attack your opponent then cast False Peace. Try Defiant Stand, Devastation, Lava Flow, Serpent Assassin, Theft of Dreams and Venerable Monk. All good cards that are part of the Portal set. What's that? I didn't tell you what those cards do. You're right; I didn't. And there's a reason I didn't. One of the first things newbies need to learn to do is read the spoiler lists when they come out. So Click on over to: http://www.wizards.com/Cardlists/Portal/Portal.txt and see if you too don't become a supporter of Portals as the best boosters available...today. Well I had my say and I feel better now. Come back next month and I'll try and provide the 13 best Type II artifact bargains. Until then........ BUY PORTALS!! Thank you - Dave
|
|