#mtgima

Bladewing the Risen

Nothing says Zombie Dragon than a giant skeleton, amirite? The Masters sets have been good to Bladewing, as Rorix, Risen, and Thrall all have new (better) artwork. And this one actually has flesh, making it a Zombie instead of a Skeleton!

Guttersnipe

“Of course Jay picked the goblin!” You’re darn tootin’ I did. I like Steve Prescott’s original, but it’s a little too obviously Ravnican, and this new art could make it an alleyway on any plane with the green style of goblin. Rather than lurking and presumed threat, it’s also very in-your-face intimidating. How has Mathias Kollros only ever been commissioned for one goblin before? That needs to change.

Furnace Whelp

Furnace Whelp by Shreya Shetty

The original Furnace Whelp is... not a pretty creature, and it’s pretty inextricably tied to Mirrodin. That’s a minor problem, as Mirrodin is now New Phyrexia and there aren’t really any baby dragons hanging out being incompleat. The solution? Given the pieces to the queen of cute monsters, and let her go to town. The new piece could still be Mirrodin, but it could also be just about anywhere else.

Ancestral Vision

Ancestral Vision by John Avon

This is by far my favorite new piece of art, depicting what appears to be an ancient Thran city (note the skyships). The original art references the classic Ancestral Recall, but what that ended up meaning was some random ziggurats of a culture no one was in touch with. The new version will feel right at home during our return to Dominaria.

Phantom Tiger

Seb McKinnon’s art always amazes. This Phantom Tiger manages to be both hauntingly beautiful and genuinely intimidating. The original art looked more like a giant gray wolverine than a spirit tiger.

Serra Ascendant 

Serra Ascendant is a very powerful card (especially in Commander), but the original art doesn’t do a fantastic job of telling you what’s going on. Is that a Kor? Why is that cloak billowing like that? What’s with those random streamers? Howard Lion’s piece takes the same concept but clarifies those questions. No, it’s not a Kor, it’s a pale bald human. That cloak and those streamers are the manifestation of divinity in the monk. The concept of a monk in transition to divinity is much more clear in then new art.

Auriok Champion