Hello my fellow Planeswalkers! I am The MTG Hero, and with Lorwyn Eclipsed just around the corner, I want to take some time to highlight a few cards that could become major players in the near future. The goal here is to give you a head start on brewing and help you decide where to invest those precious wildcards.
There are plenty of cards in this set that I expect to make waves in Modern and Commander. However, since this is an Arena-focused site, my primary lens will be Standard. If I skip over a card you are excited about in an eternal format, do not take it personally. I fully recognize that this set is packed with power across every format.
Strong mana is the backbone of any successful deck, and quality dual lands often define entire formats. Lorwyn finally completes the shock land cycle, which is a massive upgrade for mana bases across the board. This matters even more right now because so many Standard decks are leaning heavily on the Verge lands.
While improved mana will naturally boost existing top-tier decks like Izzet Lessons by smoothing out their consistency, it also opens the door for archetypes that have struggled to find stability. Golgari, in particular, now has a real chance to compete. With full access to both Shock and Verge lands, the possibility of three-color decks like Abzan emerging is very real, and that is always exciting to see.
New planeswalkers are often the most anticipated part of any set, and Ajani, Outland Chaperone is a compelling new option for white decks. One of the most appealing aspects of Ajani is his flexibility. He can reasonably fit into a wide range of strategies, but I am especially eager to test him in token-based midrange shells. The built-in token generation is already solid, but the added “free” removal makes the deck even better at grinding opponents down through incremental card advantage. That, in turn, lets you save premium removal spells like Get Lost for truly problematic threats.
Oko, Lorwyn Liege is another planeswalker that has me intrigued. True to classic Oko fashion, I do not have a firm verdict on his power level yet. He is absolutely a card I want to test extensively before drawing conclusions. Creating two 3/3 creatures for three mana is an excellent rate, assuming you get to untap with him. What really stands out is his flexibility. You can flip him based on what the board state demands that turn. Even though his front side is relatively modest, the fact that he ticks up twice as fast means you can flip and ultimate him in as little as three turns. This card could end up as a brewer’s favorite or a defining Standard staple. Time will tell.
Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn is a serviceable creature with reasonable stats for its mana cost, but the real power lies on the back side as Isilu, Carrier of Twilight. Granting persist to creatures in an aggressive deck is already strong, but this card feels tailor-made for Aristocrats strategies. Giving everything you sacrifice persist is absurdly powerful. If this does not push that archetype into tier one territory, I am not sure what will.
The Evoke Elementals are another standout cycle. Early in the game, they function like modal spells, letting you choose the effect you need most in the moment. Later on, when you can pay their full mana cost, you get both effects along with a sizable elemental body. Every elemental in the cycle looks impressive, and I expect most of them to see play, even if it is primarily out of sideboards.
Among them, Deceit looks especially potent. It fits perfectly into Dimir Midrange. Early on, bouncing a permanent or stripping a card from your opponent’s hand are both excellent plays. In the late game, getting both effects attached to a creature can be backbreaking and, in some cases, outright game ending.
Catharsis also stands out as a potential finisher, particularly for Boros decks, an archetype that has been on the verge of greatness for quite some time. Six mana is a steep cost, and I am not entirely sure if that will be a dealbreaker. That said, I can easily imagine Catharsis replacing Nova Hellkite in some red-based aggressive shells. This is another card that will need real testing to evaluate properly.
Sticking with Dimir Midrange, Bitterbloom Bearer is a clear callback to Bitterblossom, a card that once dominated Standard. Placing that effect on a creature does make it more manageable, but as Badgermole Cub has shown, that is not always enough to keep a card in check. I am confident this will see play in both Dimir and Mono-Black decks. Be prepared for scenarios where Bearer is flashed in at the end of your turn, followed by the token being bounced to sneak in a Kaito, Bane of Nightmares.
Figure of Fable really resonates with me, having played Figure of Destiny during the original Lorwyn Standard. While it is possible that the pseudo level-up mechanic has been power-crept out of viability, it still provides an excellent mana sink for white and Selesnya decks and is worth keeping an eye on.
Hexing Squelcher is a modern callback to Vexing Shusher and looks poised to become a staple in red decks. Red has taken several hits from recent bans and restrictions, and this card helps it fight back by punishing targeted removal. If that trend continues, I would not be shocked to see Squelcher itself become a problem down the line, as taxing interaction can be brutal for current midrange strategies.
Mono-Red also gains access to Sear, which is a significant upgrade over the former sideboard staple Obliterating Bolt. Right now, this slot is often filled by Iroh’s Demonstration, but the instant-speed nature of Sear may give it the edge despite Demonstration’s flexibility.
Finally, Bloomtender is another personal favorite, and I believe it has the potential to be downright absurd in the right shell. Pairing it with Leyline of the Guildpact to generate five mana a turn as early as turn three means you can produce eight mana on turn three and have powerful removal in Leyline Binding If that does not scream “brew-around,” I do not know what does.
Wrap-Up
These are the cards that immediately caught my eye when I went through the spoiler list. Honestly, I’m excited to play with just about everything in this set because it looks absolutely incredible. Standard has felt a bit stale since Worlds 2025, and Lorwyn Eclipse feels like exactly the shake-up the format has been waiting for.
Did I miss a card you’re especially excited about? Let me know. I love hearing what readers are brewing and hyped to play, and your feedback helps me create even better content for you. I hope you’re just as excited for this set and ready to return to one of Magic’s most beloved planes. Until next time, Planeswalkers. Hero out!
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