Magic 2019 Set Review - Blue (soft spoken)

Introduction

Hey everyone! Tonight we are continuing with my review of Magic 2019, extending our deep dive into the blue cards of the set. Also known as Core Set 2019, this review is designed to help limited players form their decks, mainly focusing on common and uncommon cards' relevance to the format. Without further ado, let’s hop right into it!

1. Dive Down

First up, Dive Down offers a quick boost, giving a target creature +1/+0 and making it unblockable. High-risk, high-reward spells like this can turn large creatures into direct damage dealers. Be mindful of removal spells, but in creature-heavy green or mixed decks, Dive Down can provide a significant advantage.

2. Anticipate

Next, Anticipate allows you to look at the top three cards and put one in your hand. This is a solid pick in blue-red spells decks, though be careful not to overload on card selection tools at the expense of creatures.

3. Aviation Pioneer

A low-cost two-drop, Aviation Pioneer creates an additional 1/1 flying Thopter. This card brings good value and contributes to the artifact synergy, particularly in blue-white builds.

4. Bone to Ash

Bone to Ash is a four-mana instant counter spell that also draws a card. While the card advantage is nice, the high mana cost can be limiting. It’s fine for control decks but beware of being too mana-heavy.

5. Cancel

Cancel is a straightforward three-mana counterspell. Effective, but generally outclassed by cheaper or more specialized counters like Essence Scatter.

6. Departed Deckhand

This two-mana 2/2 creature becomes unblockable and offers the utility to make other creatures unblockable as well for four mana. Its drawback of being sacrificed upon being targeted can be minor compared to its upside.

7. Disperse

Disperse is versatile but less efficient than pure removal. However, it finds a place in blue-red spells decks for its tempo advantage.

8. Divination

A classic draw spell, Divination’s efficiency relies on the format’s speed. Useful in grindy, slow formats, but possibly a liability in fast-paced metas.

9. Djinn of Wishes

Djinn of Wishes is a five-mana 4/4 flyer with three "wish" counters. Removing a counter allows you to play the top card of your library for free, making it a solid finisher.

10. Dwindle

Dwindle turns a creature’s power to zero and destroys it if it blocks, acting as decent pseudo-removal in blue.

11. Essence Scatter

Essence Scatter is an excellent counterspell in creature-centric formats.

12. Exclusion Mage

Exclusion Mage is a three-mana 2/2 that bounces an opponent's creature upon entry. It's a strong tempo play.

13. Frilled Sea Serpent

Frilled Sea Serpent, a 6-mana 4/6 that can become unblockable, is better suited as a late-game finisher in control decks.

14. Gearsmith Prodigy

Gearsmith Prodigy is a 1-mana 1/2 that gets a power boost if you control an artifact. It’s a playable one-drop in artifact-focused decks.

15. Ghost Form

This one-mana spell makes two creatures unblockable until end of turn, useful in breaking board stalls, but generally subpar compared to continuous effects.

16. Horizon Scholar

Horizon Scholar is a six-mana 4/4 flyer that scries two upon entry. It’s a solid, if expensive, late game flier.

17. Metamorphic Alteration

This aura can turn any creature into a copy of another. It's highly situational but versatile.

18. Mirror Image

Mirror Image, a three-mana clone restricted to creatures you control, is highly dependent on your board state.

19. Mistcaller

Mistcaller is a sideboard card for constructed formats, not advisable for limited play due to its narrow utility.

20. Mystic Archaeologist

Mystic Archaeologist is incredibly valuable for card advantage, transforming from a two-mana 2/1 into a card drawing engine in the late game.

21. Omenspeaker

Omenspeaker offers a 1/3 body that scries two, valuable in controlling or tempo-oriented decks.

22. Omniscience

Omniscience, an enchantment costing 10 mana, is generally unplayable in limited due to its prohibitive cost.

23. One with the Machine

One with the Machine is excellent in artifact-heavy decks, drawing cards equal to your biggest artifact’s mana cost.

24. Patient Rebuilding

Patient Rebuilding mills an opponent and draws you cards every turn, a strong control win condition.

25. Psychic Corrosion

Psychic Corrosion is aimed at mill strategies but lacks consistent support in limited environments.

26. Salvager of Secrets

The Salvager of Secrets, a five-mana 2/2, recurs an instant or sorcery from the graveyard to your hand.

27. Scholar of the Stars

This four-mana 3/2 can effectively cantrip if you control an artifact. Best in blue-white artifact decks.

28. Sift

Sift, a four-mana spell, offers better value than Divination, drawing three and discarding one.

29. Skilled Animator

This three-mana 1/3 can turn any artifact into a 5/5 for as long as it remains on the field. Best in artifact-heavy decks.

30. Sleep

Sleep taps all creatures an opponent controls and keeps them tapped through their next upkeep, effectively a two-turn lockdown.

31. Snapping Drake

Snapping Drake is a basic but effective four-mana 3/2 flyer.

32. Supreme Phantom

This two-mana 1/3 flyer boosts other spirits. Its value is situational depending on the presence of other spirits in your deck.

33. Surge Mare

Surge Mare, an 0/5 that can buff itself and loot on damage is a versatile card with good defensive stats.

34. Switcheroo

This five-mana sorcery can swap your worst creature for your opponent’s best, albeit at a card disadvantage.

35. Tezzeret, Artifice Master

Tezzeret is a multi-functional planeswalker creating Thopters, drawing cards, and fetching permanents. A formidable mythic.

36. Talrand’s Invocation

This useful card generates two 2/2 flying drakes for four mana, great for mid-game board presence.

37. Totally Lost

Totally Lost returns any non-land permanent to the top of its owner’s library for five mana. Useful, but pricey.

38. Uncomfortable Chill

This three-mana instant debuffs all opponent’s creatures and draws you a card. It’s a strong combat trick.

39. Wall of Mist

This two-mana 0/5 defender is a simple but effective card for stalling aggro decks.

40. Windreader Sphinx

Windreader Sphinx is a seven-mana 3/7 flyer that nets you card draw whenever a flyer attacks. A strong finisher.

In summary, Blue in Core Set 2019 offers versatile tempo plays and solid control strategies, with key highlights including Djinn of Wishes, Essence Scatter, Exclusion Mage, and Windreader Sphinx. This set's blue cards excel at card draw and tempo control, making it an attractive option for drafters looking for strategic depth.

Keywords

• Magic 2019
• Set Review
• Blue
• Limited Play
• Card Analysis
• Djinn of Wishes
• Essence Scatter
• Exclusion Mage
• Control Strategies
• Tempo Control

FAQs

Q: Is Djinn of Wishes a good card in Magic 2019 limited format?

A: Yes, Djinn of Wishes is a strong mid-to-late game finisher with its flying ability and potential to cast spells for free.

Q: How does Bone to Ash compare to other counterspells?

A: Bone to Ash offers card advantage but is more expensive than much better counterspells like Essence Scatter, making it situationally useful mainly in control-heavy decks.

Q: What are the best two-drop blue creatures in this set?

A: Some solid two-drop blue creatures include Aviation Pioneer and Departed Deckhand. Both offer good value early in the game while contributing to mid-game strategies.

Q: Would you recommend using entirely blue decks in limited play?

A: While blue offers strong control and tempo options, it’s advisable to pair it with another color to cover weaknesses, especially in creature combat and removal.

Q: Is Patient Rebuilding effective in this limited format?

A: Patient Rebuilding can be an effective control win condition, providing both card advantage and a milling strategy that can win games through attrition.

Q: How many Essence Scatters should I ideally run in a draft?

A: Depending on your deck composition and creature base format, running two to three Essence Scatters can offer a good balance of countering threats without overcommitting to non-creature spells.