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Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Standard Set Review: Red and Artifacts

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Welcome back everyone. Yesterday we went over the Black and Multicolored cards from Kamigawa and today we will be going over the Red and Artifact cards. But before we start, let us go over how I'll be doing this set review.

I will not be going over cards that I believe will not see play in Standard and I will not be going over the Commander cards that will not see Standard play. For example, cards like Ancestral Katana and Golden-Tail Disciple will be omitted since they are just Limited cards and saying, "This is just a Limited card" repeatedly gets old rather fast. Do not worry though, I will be covering all the rare and mythic cards in the actual Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty set. So, if you like a certain rare or mythic, it will be mentioned in the review.

Keep in mind I'm rating all these cards for Standard playability. I will mention Modern applications if I believe the card has some.

Each card will be listed by color, then alphabetically by name.

Each card will be given a rating of 1-5. If a card would receive a 0, meaning it will see no play in that format ever, its rating is left off the list.

Rating | Explanation | Standard Examples

0 - Will never see play in this format (0 ratings are not listed).

1 - Unlikely to see play. (Divine Gambit)

2 - Could see fringe play, or occasional sideboard card. (Disdainful Stroke, Annul, Candletrap, Shadows' Verdict)

3 - Commonly played, staple in a single deck, or frequent play in several decks. (Righteous Valkyrie, Behold the Multiverse, Farewell)

4 - Format staples. Sees play in multiple decks, one of the best cards in the format. (Saw it Coming, Werewolf Packleader, Elite Spellbinder, Ranger Class)

5 - Format warping. If you are in these colors, you play that card or keep that card in mind when building decks. (Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, Hullbreaker Horror)

Now that we have that out of the way, let's begin!

Red

Experimental Synthesizer
Experimental Synthesizer - 3 - A very odd Ichor Wellspring that seems pretty nuts if you can get it to work. You will need a low curve though to get going.
Explosive Singularity
Explosive Singularity - 2 - Fitting that a plane that gave us Hidetsugu's Second Rite now gives us Explosive Singularity. Maybe a one off in a go wide token strategy? Otherwise not really sure where you're playing this.
Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki
Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki - 3.5 - Love this Red card to brew around! Especially since it gives you a Magda on chapter one and maybe you can clone that Goldspan Dragon in the future...
Goro-Goro, Disciple of Ryusei
Goro-Goro, Disciple of Ryusei - 2.5 - Goro Goro seems all right at giving your stuff haste. The second ability costs a lot though, especially when Dragonkin Berserker did a similar thing for less mana and the requirement was easier to achieve.
Invoke Calamity
Invoke Calamity - 3 - This Invoke is a sweet one! Reminds me of Finale of Promise. A way more mana intensive Finale of Promise but you get to cast two spells, like two Stone Rains in Historic.
Kami's Flare
Kami's Flare - 3.5 - Searing Blaze, is that you? If your Red deck can turn on the modified portion of this card, play it! That two damage adds up!
Kumano Faces Kakkazan // Etching of Kumano
Kumano Faces Kakkazan // Etching of Kumano - 4 - One of the best ways to trigger modified creatures and deal damage to the opponent. It's a delayed Goblin Guide that you trade in to grow your turn two creature and ping the opponent for one. Seems great to me!
Lizard Blades
Lizard Blades - 2 - A head scratcher... It seems decent to modify your creatures but not sure it is the best way to do so. Seems way to vulnerable to me without any big payoff.
March of Reckless Joy
March of Reckless Joy - 3 - Well, if you liked Experimental Synthesizer, you're going to love this March. You are still going to want a low mana curve to get this one to work consistently.
Ogre-Head Helm
Ogre-Head Healm - 2.5 - I can't get over this art and the card itself seems like a bad Bomat Courier. Not sure aggressive Red decks really want this one.
Rabbit Battery
Rabbit Battery - 3.5 - Now this one I like! It is an aggressive creature that can give future creatures +1/+1 and haste. I like this one way more than Goro-Goro.
Scrap Welder
Scrap Welder - 2.5 - Most of the creatures in Magic get power creeped and just get stronger and stronger. Definitely not true for Goblin Welder. Even still this seems like a fun one still and depending on the artifacts we get in future sets; it could be a powerful one.
Thundering Raiju
Thundering Raiju - 3 - Seems like a fine 4 mana haste creature in Red decks to top the curve. Especially if you can trigger the modified clause.

Top 5 Red Cards

  1. Kumano Faces Kakkazan // Etching of Kumano
  2. Rabbit Battery
  3. Kami's Flare
  4. Fable of the Mirror-Breaker // Reflection of Kiki-Jiki
  5. March of Reckless Joy

Red got some good cards but they still do not have anything on the same level as they did in the past like Experimental Frenzy and Runaway Steam-Kin or just Embercleave. I still feel like Red needs something more to push back into tier one category.

All right, now let's go over the artifacts!

Artifacts

Circuit Mender
Circuit Mender - 2.5 - A better Filigree Familiar isn't insane but is still a solid one for the sideboard, especially since it triggers when it leaves play, not dies. Cool with Teleportation Circle or Soul Herder in Historic.
Containment Construct
Containment Construct - 4 - This one seems nuts to me. Especially in Historic with Faithless Looting and Dragon-Rage Channeler.
Eater of Virtue
Eater of Virtue - 2.5 - I know we have come a long way from Bone Splitter, but I think it could still be good enough, especially with this upside. Not being able to get out multiple really hurts though.
Mechtitan Core
Mechtitan Core - 2.5 - Voltron ASSEMBLE! Another fun one to brew around, maybe alongside Greasefang even, since Greasefang asks you to play a lot of vehicles anyway.
Mirror Box
Mirror Box - 2 - I love Mirror Box, especially with Planeswalkers but it should really shine in a Bard Class deck. You do need to get both out to do seem silly things but if you do? HOT DANG! It will be a wild ride for your opponent!
Reckoner Bankbuster
Reckoner Bankbuster - 4.5 - Heart of Kiran meets Mazemind Tome. Excellent card in aggro, midrange and even control decks. Gets better if you are a deck that can abuse artifacts or vehicles in some way.
Surgehacker Mech
Surgehacker Mech - 2.5 - Flametongue Kavu as a mech seems all right to me. Not crazy but solid in a deck dedicated to Vehicles.

No need for top five here but Bankbuster seems great, and Containment Construct seems nuts in older formats alongside Faithless Looting. Make sure to tune in tomorrow where we'll wrap things up with the Green cards and the lands!

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As always, thanks for reading

Ali Aintrazi

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