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Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Standard Set Review - Black and Multicolor

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We went over the Blue cards of Innistrad: Midnight Hunt yesterday, make sure to check that out. Today we dive into the Black and Multicolored cards; but, before we start, let's go over how I will be rating the them.

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 Clarion Cathars and Stormrider Spirit 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 Innistrad: Midnight Hunt set. So, if you like a certain rare or mythic, it will be mentioned in the review.

Keep in mind I am 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, Devastating Mastery)

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

4 - Format staples. Sees play in multiple decks, one of the best cards in the format. (Saw it Coming, Fateful Absence, Werewolf Pack Leader)

5 - Format warping. If you are in these colors, you play that card or keep that card in mind when building decks. (Goldspan Dragon, Alrund's Epiphany, Esika's Chariot)

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

Black

Bloodline Culling
Bloodline Culling - 2 - More of a sideboard card with Infernal Grasp running around and no real token strategy. Keep an eye on it in case a token strategy does pop up.
Champion of the Perished
Champion of the Perished - 3 - Champion of the Perished is an excellent 1-drop for a zombie deck, but I'm not quite sure if it is good enough. It could be after the next Innistrad set comes out.
Curse of Leeches // Leeching Lurker
Curse of Leeches // Leeching Lurker - 2 - Just way too slow and unreliable of a card. Not a huge fan of it.
Duress
Duress - 2 - Duress is always a staple in the Sideboard of every Standard it is legal in and this one is no different!
Eaten Alive
Eaten Alive - 3 - Nice answer in a sacrifice deck or a good use of a decayed Zombie. 1 mana removal spells are just solid all around, especially if they can hit planeswalker as well.
Gisa, Glorious Resurrector
Gisa, Glorious Resurrector - 2 - Gisa is no Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet. She could see play in the sideboard of control decks but that's the only hope I have for this manic wizard. That or a Commander deck!
Graveyard Trespasser // Graveyard Glutton
Graveyard Trespasser // Graveyard Glutton - 2 - A decent sideboard card against graveyard strategies. Otherwise, a three-mana 3/3 is unimpressive, even if it has the possibility to be a 4/4.
Infernal Grasp
Infernal Grasp - 3.5 - White has Fateful Absence and Black has Infernal Grasp. While I like Fateful Absence a lot more, Infernal Grasp is an unconditional removal spell that every Nlack deck should play. I just wouldn't jam four in my decks blindly. Two life adds up!
Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia
Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia - 3.5 - A creature that gives you a 2/2 every turn to attack with or sacrifice, whatever you want to do. Jadar is a great engine for many a deck. I'm a fan!
Jerren, Corrupted Bishop // Ormendahl, the Corrupter
Jerren, Corrupted Bishop // Ormendahl, the Corrupter - 3 - I like Jerren. He's solid on his day side and that is what is important. If you can transform him into Ormendahl, it is lights out for the opponent!
Lord of the Forsaken
Lord of the Forsaken - 2 - Cute demon but too costly and doesn't do enough when it comes into play. We are long past that.
Mask of Griselbrand
Mask of Griselbrand - 2 - Look what they did to my boy. Griselbrand may you rest in peace because your legacy does not live on.
The Meathook Massacre
The Meathook Massacre - 5 - This is one of the best cards in the set if not the best. The Meathook Massacre is a Fumigate and more that sticks around. Insane in older formats too. You should definitely consider playing it if you are playing Black.
Slaughter Specialist
Slaughter Specialist - 2 - I know this creature grows when an opponent's creature dies but I really do not want to give my opponent any creatures. Especially if they are an aggressive deck with anthems.
Tainted Adversary
Tainted Adversary - 3.5 - A 2/3 with Deathtouch and upside in zombie tokens? I'll take it! Even if the zombies are decayed.

Top 5 Black Cards

  1. The Meathook Massacre
  2. Infernal Grasp
  3. Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia
  4. Tainted Adversary
  5. Champion of the Perished

After looking at the Black cards, Zombies is really close to being a good deck. It might be even now with powerful zombies in Champion, Jadar, and the Adversary. My favorite card is The Meathook Massacre, I look forward to casting that card in multiple formats.

Now onto the multicolored cards!

Multicolored

Angelfire Ignition
Angelfire Ignition - 2.5 - Cool card as a finisher or a way to gain life. Love that you can use it on Velomachus Lorehold then start hitting Alrund's Epiphany with Velomachus!
Arlinn, the Pack's Hope // Arlinn, the Moon's Fury
Arlinn, the Pack's Hope // Arlinn, the Moon's Fury - 4 - Extremely powerful planeswalker that gives you threats, mana, and even hasty threats. What more could you ask for from a planeswalker?
Arcane Infusion
Arcane Infusion - 3 - Peer through Depths for one less card but it has flashback! I really like it in combo decks or counter turns with Alrund's Epiphany. Especially if you are copying that Epiphany with Galvanic Iteration.
Bladestitched Skaab
Bladestitched Skaab - 2 - Not the best zombie lord I've seen. This card is underwhelming as a zombie lord.
Can't Stay Away
Can't Stay Away - 2 - A worse Call of the Death-Dwellers in my eyes, especially since it cat not return a 3-drop. I'm glad it can't honestly as I don't want it to return Lurrus in older formats.
Croaking Counterpart
Croaking Counterpart - 2 - A super fun and wacky card. Seems like it is just fringe playable but hopefully I'm wrong and it finds a home.
Dennick, Pious Apprentice // Dennick, Pious Apparition - 2 - An excellent Sideboard card for human decks and a way to slow down some graveyard decks. I like it as a sideboard option.
Dire-Strain Rampage
Dire-Strain Rampage - 3.5 - A long worded Harrow that can also be a sorcery speed Assassin's Trophy of sorts. Solid card for ramp decks if you play enough basics!
Diregraf Rebirth
Diregraf Rebirth - 2.5 - Very awkward reanimation spell but it is still a reanimation spell with flashback. That is a low of value, too bad it is not in the colors of Faithful Mending so you could pitch Koma then bring it back. Four color reanimator maybe?
Faithful Mending
Faithful Mending - 4 - People know this card is strong, but I still think they are underestimating, especially as just a way to filter cards in a control deck. Works beautifully with Memory Deluge.
Fleshtaker
Fleshtaker - 2 - These cards are not good unless the sacrifice is free. You are no Woe Strider, Fleshtaker!
Florian, Voldaren Scion
Florian, Voldaren Scion - 3.5 - Cool way to gain card advantage in your br aggressive deck, I am a fan of this one!
Galvanic Iteration
Galvanic Iteration - 3 - I really think this card can make a Izzet control deck that just wins the game by copying Alrund's Epiphany a couple of times.
Ghoulcaller's Harvest
Ghoulcaller's Harvest - 2 - Too slow and I am also not a fan of making a bunch of tokens that cannot block and die when they attack.
Hallowed Respite
Hallowed Respite - 2 - Really wish this was instant speed and just a slightly better Momentary Blink. As is, I do not think it is very good.
Hungry for More
Hungry for More - 3.5 - Hellspark Elemental but now with lifelink? I know a good aggressive card when I see one because I have died to many Hellspark Elementals back in my day and Hungry for More is an excellent aggressive card.
Katilda, Dawnhart Prime
Katilda, Dawnhart Prime - 3.5 - Seems excellent in a human deck allowing you to dump your hand and then pump your team later. Manaweft Sliver is one of the best Slivers because it allows that for its tribe and Katlida does that and grows your team.
Kessig Naturalist // Lord of the Ulvenwald
Kessig Naturalist // Lord of the Ulvenwald - 4 - Kessig Naturalist is an awesome werewolf lord. It is a mana ramp creature that ramps when you attack. How sick and powerful is that?! Then if he transforms, he is a 3/3 that still gives you mana and becomes an actual wolf lord. Very powerful!
Liesa, Forgotten Archangel
Liesa, Forgotten Archangel - 4 - Liesa is a sleeper card. It is Baneslayer Angel but with so much upside, especially in a Blacke/White control deck or Black/White cleric deck. I have been extremely impressed with her so far.
Ludevic, Necrogenius // Olag, Ludevic's Hubris
Ludevic, Necrogenius // Olag, Ludevic's Hubris - 2 - A slightly better but more complicated Lazav, the Multifarious. Super sweet Commander card!
Old Stickfingers
Old Stickfingers - 2 - Does not do enough for Standard. This one is more of a Commander card especially since you put so much mana into Stickfingers and nothing goes into your hand.
Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer
Rem Karolus, Stalwart Slayer - 3 - Rem is great at protecting you and killing your opponent faster. It all comes on a body so that you can do all this even quicker. Not to mention he is a human which is a very relevant tribe.
Rite of Harmony
Rite of Harmony - 2 - Glimpse of Nature that costs one more but is also great with tokens and has flashback. Probably not amazing in Standard but this card has huge combo potential, especially in older formats.
Rootcoil Creeper
Rootcoil Creeper - 3.5 - Super solid mana dork that ramps you then double ramps you for flashback cards THEN can also rebuy your flashback card like Memory Deluge. I love it!
Sacred Fire
Sacred Fire - 3.5 - Difference between three damage and two damage is a lot. It is okay against small creature decks but has a rough time against Mono-Green and dragons. Cannot really see a world where this is played in a control deck but maybe is some rw midrange deck.
Sigarda, Champion of Light
Sigarda, Champion of Light - 2 - An aggressive card for humans but that casting cost can be a bit rough for them. I just like Intrepid Adversary more for the aggressive deck.
Siphon Insight
Siphon Insight - 2.5 - Powerful for control decks, especially in the Sideboard against other control decks. Think Twice with choices is good.
Slogurk, the Overslime
Slogurk, the Overslime - 2 - Extremely wordy for Life from the Loam but as a creature. Omnath being banned makes me not like slogurk. It is a sweet creature and a cool one to build around in commander but not so much for Standard.
Sunrise Cavalier
Sunrise Cavalier - 3 - Solid aggressive threat for your humans deck. Humnas as lot of options and I think it is a viable tribe for Standard.
Teferi, Who Slows the Sunset
Teferi, Who Slows the Sunset - 4 - Teferi is underrated. Sure, he is not broken but he is very similar to Jace, Architect of Thought and if you have mana ramp in artifact form then he just costs two-mana and his plus one becomes a powerful ramp spell.
Tovolar, Dire Overlord // Tovolar, the Midnight Scourge
Tovolar, Dire Overlord // Tovolar, the Midnight Scourge - 4 - Werewolves is definitely a powerful tribe in Innistrad and it has the tools to be a competitive deck. Love the werewolves and how they all work together to give you mana, pump each other up, and transform each other. Super cool and I'm excited to try one out!
Vadrik, Astral Archmage
Vadrik, Astral Archmage - 2 - Too slow and takes too much time to setup for Standard. Another one that is cool for Commander but just too slow for Constructed.
Wake to Slaughter
Wake to Slaughter - 3 - I love reanimator strategies and Wake to Slaughter fuels that. We just need a few better ways to get them into the graveyard. The best way is Faithful Mending but that is not in our colors at all, and I don't think we can support four colors.

Top 5 Multicolored Cards

  1. Kessig Naturalist // Lord of the Ulvenwald
  2. Tovolar, Dire Overlord // Tovolar, the Midnight Scourge
  3. Liesa, Forgotten Archangel
  4. Teferi, Who Slows the Sunset
  5. Arlinn, the Pack's Hope // Arlinn, the Moon's Fury

Werewolves has three slots in the top five! Excited to see how that shapes up as they all seem to work extremely well together. I know we all are pretty tired of Teferi but he is my favorite card in this top five. I think he is extremely fair, and I am excited to brew with him. I love the incidental life gain and how that can just help you stabilize against aggressive decks.

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Tomorrow we will go over the Black and multicolored cards, do not miss it! As always, thanks for reading.

Ali Aintrazi

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