Whenever Wizards of the Coast releases a new set or product I have a standard three-step response.  First, I demand to know what composes the set.  Second, I wish for cards I hope will compose it.  And I wish hard!  Third, I simply decide to wait and be surprised when the product releases.  When it comes to the Divine vs Demonic theme decks I am fully immersed in stage two.  Based on the stunningly cool Jace vs Chandra decks, my hopes are very high.  In keeping with the theme, and reality (I'm at peace with no Wrath of God/Damnation appearances) there are a few cards I humbly request be included.

Foremost to be included are the heroic White Knight and his foil, the insidious Black Knight.  These two represent the colors too perfectly to be left off the list.  The protection issue could prove to be problematic.  Nobody wants a match to come down to who draws their protection card first, but their are ways to deal with this issue.  Besides the nostalgia factor is great enough to overcome small obsticals like this.  Every veteran MTG player can cherish these two and yearns to use them again.   In fact, I am upgrading this wish to a demand.  I demand these cards be included!

Another perfect set in the Angel versus Demon theme are Zombify and Breath of Life.  There may have been better cards produced recently that doe pretty much the same thing, sure.  But the unilateral casting cost/effect of these two is perfect for a duel deck premise.  Especially in light of the clear conflict over which color truly owns reanimation magic.  Barring the inclusion of Zombify, I would love to see Animate Dead make a return to life . . . ahem. . .   Apologies, I got carried away there, on to the next hopeful.

In the history of white magic, there have been many board sweeping cards.  Maybe none more game-altering than Armageddon, the ultimate land destruction spell.  While destroying every land in play rarely makes the game much quicker, there is a definite advantage to the white player.  The strategy is to achieve board advantage with weenies, hold a few lands back, and cast Armageddon around turn five.  That usually meant game over.  While the Angelic nature of this card is dubious, it is a classic and a fitting response to black's Demonic Tutor.

Speaking of classic cards that can change a game, is it too much to ask we get Pestilence back for black?  Pyrohemia was nice, but red already has a bevy of mass-effect creature damaging cards.  Let us take this one back to the swamps.  I for one am not content to let a card this beautiful swap colors the way Disenchant and Fog did before it.  Is there nothing sacred?  Pestilence was long considered a black representative along with cards like Terror and Nightmare.  Maybe this is the MTG version of comfort food, but Pestilence belongs in any deck claiming to encompass black magic.

Now that I have softened Wizards up, time for a totally unreasonable request.  The best mana-accelerator in Magic history, Dark Ritual.  Few things make me happier than the thought of a turn three Liliana Vess or maybe a first turn Hypnotic Specter.   Of course this card has been banned before, and now relegated to Legacy formats.  So what?  That was the fate of Counterspell before it was re-released in Jace vs Chandra.  Give the people what they want!

Last but certainly not least, Serra Angel should be there lending her support to the righteous cause.  There are already two rare angels confirmed so it might be overkill squeezing in one more.  But we have to include Serra Angel for pity's sake!  For a good five years there wasn't a better white creature.  Not to mention Serra Angel embodies everything good and holy in Dominaria.  What a shame if she were left out of these decks.  Besides, it appears from this article that they've demoted her to uncommon status anyway.  The least WotC can do is include the original angel in it's Angelic theme deck.

[caption id="attachment_1236" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="good versus evil. . . the battle has been joined"][/caption]

When spoilers start popping up I hope we see a few of these cards on those lists.  Hey, a boy can dream can't he?