I Recall this Card!

Modern Masters is almost here. It’s preview time. Can we preview something never before seen? Of course not – Modern Masters is entirely reprints. But some reprints are better than others. This could be great, or this could be another copy of Pacifism with recycled art and maybe a new frame. Here at PureMTGO.com, we do get some marginal cards to preview, but we also get solid cards like Disdainful Stroke . Today's card in in the latter category.

Here’s my checklist for whether a reprint is awesome. Let’s see – and hear - how we do. I hired Zurgo Bellstriker to whack his bell for each hit on the checklist. Ready? Here we go:

· Is it regularly played in a competitive format? BONG!

o Is it widely played? BONG!

o Is it likely to see play going forward? BONG!

o Is it a format staple? BONG!

· Does it retail for a decent price? BONG!

· Is it worth reprinting – meaning not too many copies in the system? BONG!

· Does the reprint offer something new, like:

o First time in the new card frame? Bink.

o New art? -- crickets --

o First time in black border? --more crickets--

· Is this an instant for 1U, like our last couple really good preview cards? BONG!

· Can I use a list of questions to make people scroll down the page? Can I use a list of questions to make people scroll down the page?

Hiring Zurgo may have been a mistake – my ears are still ringing. Still, out preview card scores on seven of ten; scoring big on some and getting a tap on the ninth. Pretty good.

Here’s our card:

This card was $30 yesterday. It may drop a bit once this article goes up, but the card is a sideboard staple in Vintage and sees play whenever Affinity gets obnoxious in Legacy and Modern. It also plays a part in storm decks, or even in strange combo decks like Puresteel Paladin . It is a solid card that will see play for a long time.

Our preview card does not have new art, and while the card frame is only very slightly different from that printed before (it adds the hologram oval), I really cannot complain. This is a $30 tournament staple being reprinted for the first time since Tenth Edition. Sweet!

My only regret is that I didn’t sell off my 10E copies beforehand, but I was taking no chances with my playset until I was sure it would be reprinted. The card is too good to be without.

PRJ