Mercadian Masques, Part Seventeen Gary Wise The following is the final installment of my series looking at Mercadian Masques for booster draft, focussing this time on White's rares. A few thoughts... Well, why should White stop now? With the deepest common core in the set and an above-average collection of uncommons, White's strength is continued in the rare slots. Not only is this where we find the top end of the Rebel chain, but we also find on e of the set's five best rares in Wave of Reckoning. Rares Wave of Reckoning - Mass kill is always good, and here we have one of the best. The Wave allows its caster to set the table with creature whose toughness are greater than their power (Ramosian Lieutenant, Task Force, Pious Warrior) while their opponent over-commits. Especially effective in a fat WG deck with Spidersilk Armor, the Wave is likely the most splashable card in the set. Ramosian Skymarshall - If this were a mere 3/3 flyer for 5, it would still be one of the better cards in the set. This said, the possibility of a) getting that 3/3 for free, and b) having it produce more free creatures, makes this guy a little bit obscene, especially if you have any of the 6 casting cost rebels in your deck. Jhovall Queen - Undercosted much? Who cares if this thing's a rebel, it absolutely dominates the field of play. Not only is it 4/7, but it's in the same color as protective spells like Ramosian Rally, Orim's Cure and Cho-Manno's Blessing, making it almost impossible to gang-block. If this thing tapped when attacking, it would be reasonable. Cho-Arrim Bruiser - Yet another broken Rebel, this guy is just sick once he gets going. Once it's attacked, barring a trick like Tidal Bore, there will almost never be anything of defensive value left to block as it barrels through. Especially cool with Crackdown or Cowardice. Rappelling Scouts - Fetchable by the Commander and the Captain, this Rebel may be the best blocker in the environment, with its ability making it impossible to kill. Slightly anemic on defense, I'll often take a Glider over it, but if I have the Captain and/or Commander, it gets the nod. Cho-Manno - Another great defender, if they aren't playing black this guy's ability is REALLY annoying. A bane to RG decks, I would always take a Glider first, with the Legend's ability ranking very close to his Blessing. Reverent Mantra - An extremely versatile card, the Mantra can function (in the right situation) as mass kill, as creature Enchantment destruction or as a way to send all of your attackers through in one final assault. Unlike Misdirection and Cave Sense, it's pretty easy to cast, so the pitch ability doesn't get used as often. Crackdown - When I'm drafting Green, there is no card I hate passing more than this annoyance. Locking down fat creatures, Crackdown's strength comes in the fact that it doesn't lock down large White creatures. Can be especially effective if you have ways to tap creatures (Sandsquid, Bruiser), and I've seen it used in tandem with Ancestral Mask to eliminate smaller creatures. Fountain Watch - Major drop here, the Watch obviously becomes more playable as your deck relies more and more on Enchantments and Artifacts. That is also provides a large defensive body is a nice bonus. Armistice - Card advantage is good. Period. The negative side effect inherent in the activation is a serious liability, but not serious enough to not play it if you have a number of evasion creatures in your deck who's premature attacks will make up for the life your opponent gains in this way. Cho-Arrim Alchemist - A marginal 23rd card, the Alchemist is good at repelling that one explosive assault on your life column, but is no permanent solution, often sending the controller into a downward spiral from which they can't recover. Don't let yourself rely on this ability too much, and remember that you gain the life only after lethal damage is dealt. Honor the Fallen - An applicable sideboard card against black graveyard decks, removing those annoying Highway Robbers and effectively countering Midnight Ritual. The Instant speed can also be used to win the race. Spiritual Focus - Desperate sideboard measure against Scandalmonger, but I can't really believe I'd ever let my desperation get to this point. Ivory Mask - It's worth $5! Not really effective in an environment without direct damage, at least they have to target them self if they want to Lunge your creature. Security Detail - Great card in Backdraft Cornered Market - Even better! Common Cause - The best!