Timey-Wimey-Fairy-Tail-y

While previews continue to pull us across the blind eternities, and with Universes Beyond across time itself, it's a perfect time to reflect on the recent return to Eldraine. There are still more Adventures to be had, so throw out your Virtues because things are about to get Wild.

The Design Team leaned hard into the fairy tale origins of the plane, strengthening elements from Throne of Eldraine, to really nail the flavor of this set. Of note, this third iteration of the Adventure spell brings us the first off-color pairings, and break the mold of some famous fairy tales that make up the set archetypes for Wilds of Eldraine. Let's check out a few of these fun Adventures worth adding to your library.

Every Card Tells A Story

Don't let yourself get caught in the Wicked Slumber lest the Cruel Somnophage desires to be your personal Nightmare, milling your memories to feed its power (Can't Wake Up, Sorcery, ). After the defeat of the Phyrexian invasion, the nightmares are seeking new dreamers to feast upon.

While the name is a not-so-subtle reference to sleeping beauty syndrome, this card ties nicely (or maybe not so nicely) into the Blue/Black story of the set - the Wicked Slumber. And if your nightmare desires a midnight snack, casting the creature side of our second Blue/Black Adventure, Spellscorn Coven, for should do the trick as it eats one of our opponent's cards on ETB.

Shifting themes to Red/Blue we find trials of an Apprentice Sorcerer named Johann. The elementals have gotten a bit out of hand, and a Frolicking Familiar may have flooded the basement. This Otter Wizard (we get TWO otters in this set, both Adventures) does what Izzet does best: making spells matter! Players can Blow Off Steam for a Red and a Damage to any target, then recast for {l} to bring out that mischievous mammal with flying. Starting as a 2/2, every instant or sorcery you cast grants him a +1/+1 boost until end of turn.

But others should enjoy the spell-slinging fun! With Scalding {V}{i}{p}, whenever an opponent casts a spell with mana value 3 or less, this steamy serpent deals them 1 damage. Both of these adventures are quick and effective for Wizards on the go - the airport paperback of planar travelers (omenpath paperback?).

Keeping with Blue-tinted, off-color pairings, we have our second Otter, and this one is a bit Elusive and generous. For X Green you can distribute X +1/+1 counters among any number of target creatures you control. While this provides no benefit to the Elusive Otter, it does benefit from a spells matter playstyle thanks to Prowess. Casting for a Blue, creatures with power less than Elusive Otter's power can't block it. This is a book you can clearly judge by its cover.

Green/Blue in Wilds alludes to the story of Jack and the Beanstalk with several creatures from the menagerie within Stormkeld Castle. It's fitting that the protagonist of this mini-story in Eldraine is a Vedalken from Ravnica to match the Simic nature of the Elusive Otter and its partner the Tempest Hart. For you can Scan the Clouds for danger, drawing two and discarding two. The real fun starts with to cast the elemental elk with Trample that gains a +1/+1 counter whenever you cast a spell of mana value 5 or more. Pair it with our Vedalken protagonist Troyan, Gutsy Explorer who taps to create Green Blue to use on CMC 5 or greater spells.

Once Upon A Time

Not every pair fits the fairy tale mold exactly though, and this is what makes these adventure cards fun: their versatility. Each fits nicely in most two-color decks, pulling from the more traditional archetypes in Magic: The Gathering we all know and love. There is no Adventures Matter archetype, with the Design Team focused on interaction through getting more spells into your deck.

Black/White as a pairing draws inspiration from Snow White in Wilds of Eldraine, maintaining a clear sacrifice-yields-benefit archetype. Devouring Sugarmaw is a perfect example of this, despite its Hansel and Gretal flavor (tied to Green/Black in the set). The clear Orzhov style shines through: cast Have for Dinner for to create a 1/1 Human token and a Food token, then pay for a 6/6 Horror with Menace and Trample. But, there's a catch. On your upkeep you must make a sacrifice, lest you tap the Sugarmaw - and you conveniently have two tokens ready to feed this monstrosity thanks to the Adventure. It's mechanically familiar, much like the stories we all grew up on that inspired this plane

Bring Your Stories To Life!

If you need to tie the room together to match your new library of Adventures, check out Beluna Grandsquall. Beluna is one of the first Legendary Creature Adventures (one of two), and a perfect Narrator to tell your stories from across the Wilds of Eldraine - at least to Seek Thrills from the Courts of Garenbrig (Green), Vantress (Blue), and Embereth (Red). Beluna's instant at mills seven, allowing you to place all milled Adventures in your hand. When cast as a creature for , Beluna makes permanents with an Adventure cost less. As the keeper of Stormkeld Castle, she definitely has a few interesting creatures hidden about.

Now, go forth and lose yourself in an Adventure!

Matt McCarty

Twitter: @SouthernmostDM