M10

Picked up a M10 Fat Pack yesterday. I like what I've seen so far. The card names and art are a vast improvement over most everything since at least Mirrodin block.

One thing I've noticed about the art is that it seems unusually and intentionally dark in color and mood. Almost as if each piece was given an additional dark filter layer. Sometimes it gets too dark, but overall I'm satisfied with the art. I'll always prefer the art from the Alpha-to-Mirage era, but at least the Tempest-to-whatever era of art appears to be over.

But there are still some stinkers. Worst art in the set: Canyon Minotaur.

"Where is my center of gravity?"

"My canyon brethren are ridiculous."

I like the basic land art in the set:

Philippines?

North Dakota?

I don't buy or play enough Magic these days to think about creating tournament quality decks. For a challenge, I'm gonna build "Core Set only" 60 card decks. Who wants to play for ante?

I built this B-U-r deck out of the the eight booster packs that I have so far. The 40 card pack of basic land that comes with the Fat Pack is handy, but I still didn't get enough land of each color for just a two color deck. So I splashed a couple red cards.

1x Duress
1x Weakness
1x Drudge Skeletons
2x Mind Rot
3x Kelinore Bats
1x Vampire Aristocrat
1x Gravedigger
2x Tendrils of Corruption
1x Diabolic Tutor
1x Consume Spirit
2x Vampire Nocturnus
1x Xathrid Demon
11x Swamp

1x Lightning Bolt
1x Prodigal Pyromancer
3x Mountain

1x Ponder
1x Unsummon
1x Zephyr Sprite
1x Ice Cage
2x Essence Scatter
2x Negate
2x Merfolk Looter
1x Illusionary Servant
1x Wind Drake
1x Snapping Drake
2x Clone
1x Mind Control
2x Air Elemental
9x Island