Sets get remastered quite regularly online as many sets were released prior to MTGO and more recently MTG Arena. However, we haven’t seen this in paper for a block until now. The principal sounds great merging all three blocks into one set of curated cards to recreate a new twist on a previously great draft experience.

The interesting part is going to be what interesting reprints we are going to see for Pauper, although very little is currently confirmed. I intend to summarise some of the cards which have made an impact in Pauper.

Another thing to consider is potential downshifts, previously online masters sets have seen cards reduced in rarity with Battle Screech coming to mind. I will also offer up a few suggestions of what would be nice to see at a lower rarity.

We had some interesting mechanics and themes when originally printed so we should see many of these for a healthy draft environment. I expect to see the iconic Slivers tribe to feature bringing lots of Slivers back.

White

White feels like it was a popular colour for Pauper during the Time Spiral year.

Aven Riftwatcher has found several homes with its recurring life gain, I certainly remember it fondly from running a Standard Martyr of Sands and Proclamation of Rebirth deck.

Luminfield Thread still sees play in many sideboards though it is not really a surprise anymore when played as a Morph.

Mana Tithe surprisingly sees very little play yet at times its blue counterpart Force Spike can be popular.

Momentary Blink was the original flicker effect and it has seen play during its time.

Sinew Sliver is the alternate Muscle Sliver making other slivers bigger and a staple of the deck.

Sunlance was the staple white removal alongside Journey to Nowhere but it still sees quite a bit of play.

Whitemane Lion was really popular in its time but Kor Skyfisher has replaced it in the format.

Blue

My first pass at looking for Blue cards was not inspiring but then I remembered one of my favourite cards Mystical Teachings was of course printed in Time Spiral.

Dream Stalker is a lovely card with great toughness but also works well with Reality Acid, more of which later.

Fathom Seer is an interesting card allowing additional card draw and the interesting Morph cost in returning two Islands. Clearly this was really powerful whilst Mystic Sanctuary was legal and may return now as it would combine with Snow dual lands.

Logic Knot is a lovely counter spell that regularly finds a home in decks though not a necessarily a playset.

Mystical Teachings is a beautiful engine to search for instants or permanents with flash allowing for a powerful toolbox of options.

Reality Acid is a card I was blissfully unaware of until it was mentioned to me as a horrid card and they sent me the link to the Professor playing the deck. To those newer to the format Reality Acid enchants a permanent the targeted permanent has to be sacrificed when Reality Acid leaves play, this is by itself mean but it only needs to leave play so in addition to it being destroyed you can bounce or flicker the Reality Acid for bonus value.

Oh, my this is such a horrid deck and looks thoroughly miserable to play against, looks like I know what I am building next 😊

Black

I feel if we’d looked at the sets individually you would have a lower opinion on the black cards, however, as a group they look very solid.

Augur of Skulls has been seeing some play and even more scratching of heads at how it has managed to see play as it so restricted in use.

Dash Hopes is very popular card as a black counter spell, the problem is that most opponents just pay the alternative 5 life to preserve their spell. In a black burn style deck, it has much more relevance.

Tendrils of Corruption offers removal and life gain all rolled into one fun package. A solid sideboard option.

Vampiric Link was until recently a solid sideboard cards for black decks wanting life gain but Unexpected Fangs has effectively replaced it from the format.

Street Wraith was downshifted in Modern Masters to common and has been played in several decks since this change.

Red

Well red certainly has the most controversial cards in Pauper as both Empty the Warrens and Grapeshot were banned.

Ancient Grudge is a premium removal for artefacts and having flashback really helps solidify its position.

Keldon Marauders is a fun sideboard option, it doesn’t hang around for long but its impact is impressive when it hits it ceiling.

Mogg War Marshall has a home in both goblins and tokens decks where it is extremely reliable.

Rift Bolt is a standout burn card utilised in many decks and many formats.

Simian Spirit Guide has not seen as much play as in other formats but this in some part due to the storm banning’s and lack of combo decks in the format.

Green

Green is pretty unimpressive overall but has some great situational cards.

Essence Warden is the green Soul Warden and when needed is powerful.

Gemhide Sliver is one of the best slivers we have and mana fixing in Slivers is highly significant.

Llanowar Augur has a home in predominately the current tier 2 Infect deck but it is a fun card.

Mire Boa has had its time in the sun but it is at its best when black is influential in the format, much like its cousin River Boa as blue is dominant in Pauper. This could also be a card to watch with the new Snow dual lands if we see more ‘swamps’ appearing.

Mwonvuli Acid-Moss is currently really popular in the cascade land destruction decks so would be a popular reprint.

Penumbra Spider has been very popular recently as it has the potential to replace itself. A very sold sideboard option for midrange decks.

Virulent Sliver adds an extra dimension to Slivers by having the additional option to kill via poison counters. It is not quite as powerful as the infect strategy but it is still good.

Colourless

Not much in the colourless section of note but still some cards to be aware of.

Chromatic Star, one of the many useful eggs we have available to us.

Terramorphic Expanse made its first appearance in the set leading the way for future reprints in other sets and a functional reprint in Evolving Wilds.

Downshifts

Some mechanics did not fare well at common or just not appropriate to be have good cards at common. We could get something nice from Suspend or Split Second but probably not as Gavin Verhey has stated before with Commander Legends the draft environment is more important than any Pauper collateral damage.

I have decided to be spicy with my choices where possible trying to think outside the box to freshen up Pauper. However, Time Spiral Block was an excellent draft format and well balanced so it is unlikely many cards will be down shifted this time round.

Indeed as I was about to publish Gavin revealed the following

So I’ve ditched my ideas for down shifts as it not does not feel right. However, one for the future to be considered.

Urza’s Factory

I think this would be playable as a one off in control shells but also would please more casual Pauper players allowing them to use their Tron lands on theme.

Time Shifted Cards

We have a whole new set of time shifted cards with old frame artwork, Gavin Verhey has confirmed on the Good Morning Magic podcast we can expect several Pauper staples and as I was proof reading this article, we have had a pair spoiled already.

Summary.

When I started to put the article together, I thought I might struggle to find enough cards to write about, however, after I started organising my notes the reverse was going to be the case which was extremely pleasing.

Now, clearly, we do not have a list of which cards have been remastered yet, we are waiting with baited breath and also have the joy of an updated time shifted list which although it won’t change the rarity, we may get some curve ball reprints. My dream scenario would be something like Evincar’s Justice, Quirion Ranger or similar appearing that previously been printed in foil or only in limited numbers like an FNM foil.