Magical Thinking: Planeshift

Welcome back to Magical Thinking, a retrospective on the cards and art of Magic: the Gathering, set by set, from the beginning, through the eyes of a casual player. Today we are looking at the second set of the Invasion block: Planeshift.

Released in February of 2001, Planeshift continues the war between Dominaria and Phyrexia, a war that Dominaria is losing pretty badly. Fortunately Urza has assembled a team of nine other planeswalkers to take the fight straight to Yawgmoth himself. Unfortunately when Urza gets there he pulls a heel turn and joins up with the Phyrexians. Is Dominaria doomed? Lets find out.

I guess the answer to my question is a robust yes. Dominaria’s not looking so hot right now. Dammit, Urza! You had one job.

You’ll never defeat Gerrard and his power of glowing. Also, once again, this block rewards color splashing. So it won’t work if it shares a color with the most common color among all permanents of a color color color color color. Sorry, got a little color back there. I mean color. I MEAN CONFUSED. Gah, this is gonna be a rough one.

Pretty much the overall mood after last week’s election.

Is he making a fart joke?

In any case, Guff is one of the old school planeswalkers, and I kind of wish he’d get his own planeswalker card now that they are doing that. I mean, come on, they just gave Tevesh Szat a card. We can make from for ol’ Guff. #MakeAGuffCard2021

So they have crop circles on Dominaria. Fun fact, crop circles are not caused by UFO’s, they’re caused by cows and other big animals getting high off their asses eating weeds and berries, and then rolling around on the grass. Now just imagine a kavu doing that and you have the basis for this card.

Everyone has a plan until they start chucking lions at you.

When you and your friends finally settle on a pizza topping.

You tell them Bo. Hey, let’s make this guy a planeswalker card too.

This thing looks like an angry muppet. The fact it’s called a “Snidd” is not helping with that perception.

I like the flavor here where your creature is asleep, but you can wake them up with a well placed poke with something. Next time try a stronger sleeping potion.

Exotic Disease: when you want to kill people, but you want to add a little flair when you do so.

Why would a black toad give up blue and red mana when killed. Who is feeding these toads Izzet mana?

I have no idea what a Scuta is, but I know I don’t want to mess with one. Especially since its kicker is pretty cheap all things considered.

All this time, all this planning and fighting, and Urza just switches sides at the end, and drags Gerrad along with him. This would be like if the end of Return of the Jedi the ghost of Obi Wan shows up and is like “Hey Luke that sounds like a pretty sweet the deal the Emperor is offering. Go for it.” I have mentioned I’m not an Urza fan, right?

Yay, more Kavu! And this one’s tooth game is on point. Look at those chompers. I love it.

I don’t really understand how this card has not been banned in commander. It’s the most bizarre card I’ve ever seen. This feels like an early Magic card as opposed to one from a Weatherlight era set. It’s not just me, right?

Yeah, would have been nice if they had pulled it off instead of letting dumbass Urza ruin it for everyone.

I think this might be the most buff Mogg we’ve seen yet. I mean, look at that guy! The finger wag says it all, you aren’t getting by him.

Unless you get by him. He is just a 1/1, but the more spells you cast a turn the bigger he gets. That can be quite a hassle.

Forget the tooth game on the last Kavu, check out the lips on this Kavu. Now that is one kissable Kavu. ….I’m a bit strange aren’t I?

Nice little Jaya card here. Looks like a normal treefolk, but if you get your Boros on it can bounce damage wherever you want. I feel like there are some combos waiting to happen to this big guy.

Whip it good.

Also, this card just got reprinted in 2021 core, so she’s standard legal right now. Good for her.

And here we have the multicolor cards, featuring a cycle of charms which each do one of three things. I feel like this is something that would be brought back later with other cards.

Picture taken five seconds before disaster. And now we know why the Metathran are extinct. Also, this feels more like a Boros move but whatever.

I like the flavor of this one: How do you improve your Goblin army? Turn them into zombies. Also saves on the mess and upkeep, less fires, everyone is happy. Except the Goblins. Who are dead.

Oh right, Ertai. What has he been up to…yikes! Alright then, you seem to be in the middle of something. I’ll come back.

Meddling Mage: When you know your opponent is playing a complicated combo deck that doesn’t interact with the board and you want to shut it down by naming the last card to finish the combo and just thwacking them to death with a 2/2.

Hey, the Phelddagrif is back. And in non-legendary form too. It has different abilities but the same drawbacks it seems. Anyways, always nice to know Magic isn’t too good for a flying hippo.

OH NO, THE PHYREXIANS GOT DONALD. Actually, is this Phyrexian? There’s so much weird stuff on Dominaria this could just be what ducks look like there.

“Hey Mishra, haven’t seen you since we caused that Ice Age. Good times. Welp, gotta go betray everyone and take a knee to absolute evil. Have fun with whatever you’re up to. Bye.”

I really like this one: just load all your creatures and artifacts onto the flying boat, then you can deploy them as you need them. Just hope no one blows up your boat. One shatter and you’re pretty much screwed.

And finally we come to the lands, and the lairs of the various dragons. I kind of wish they did more with the whole lair subtype. Maybe it’s something to return to later. Ah well.

And that does it with our look at Planeshift. Man, that Urza guy is a real piece of work. What we need is a better planeswalker. Someone big and reliable and maybe made of silver. Ah well, what are the odds of that happening? Tune in next time for the big finale of the Weatherlight saga: Apocalypse. Will Dominaria be saved? Will Phyrexia be destroyed? Will Urza actually face consequences for being such a jerk? Tune in next time, and until then, stay Magical.