Worldwake's Chain Reaction can blow up casual games

Chain Reaction
© Wizards of the Coast

Chain Reaction is the latest of recent Worldwake spoilers today.  Bill Stark had the pleasure of spoiling this board sweeper, and one can read his article about Chain Reaction and it’s competitive uses at TheStarkingtonPost.com here.  Worldwake's Dragonmaster Outcast and other recently spoiled Magic: the Gathering cards are creating a lot of buz across the internet.

Chain Reaction – 2RR
Sorcery
Chain Reaction deals X damage to each creature, where X is the number of creatures on the battlefield.

Chain Reaction is only good if there are a number of creatures on the board. The problem is that generally the controller of Chain Reaction will lose a couple of their own creatures in the process. So how does one take advantage of Chain Reaction to maximize its potential card advantage, and be left with a favorable board advantage after the dust settles? A quick glace back at Magic’s history might do the trick.
 
 

Pestilence
© Wizards of the Coast

New England is a hot bed for Vintage players, and in Boston there are many veteran casual magic players. From Alpha to Fifth Edition, casual players have used White Knight, Pestilence, and Circle of Protection: Black together in the same deck to wipe the board and ping their opponents to death.  Sadly Pestilence isn’t even legal in Extended. Unless they chose to play red instead of black:

4 Knight of the Holy Nimbus
4 Paladin en-Vec
3 Opal Guardian
4 Soltari Preist
4 Chain Reaction
3 Circle of Protection: Red
3 Pyrohemia
3 Earthquake
3 Lightning bolt
3 Lightning helix
3 Path to exile
2 Isochron Scepter
4 Sacred Foundry
4 Arid Mesa
4 Rugged Prarie
4 Mountain
4 Plains

Pyrohemia
© Wizards of the Coast

Pyrohemia is the new Pestilence, and has been seen as a lone orphan waiting for someone to love it.

By playing with creatures that have protection from red, the Chain Reaction player will be able to maximize the damage potential of Chain Reaction and be left with threats on the board.

Moving to Legacy gives casual players access to Silver Knight, Flame Rift, and Acidic Soil.

Worldwake is the highly anticipated next Magic: the Gathering expansion, and is the second set in the Zendikar block. Magic: the Gathering players around Boston can attend the Worldwake Pre-release on January 31st at TJ Collectibles, located at 160 Main St, in Milford, Ma.  View their website for more details or call them for more information at: (508) 473-5874.

Don't want to drive to Milford?  Contact other places to play Magic in Boston for Worldwake release events.

Recent Articles:
Worldwake's Dragonmaster Outcast
Worldwake Magic: the Gathering preview - Kitesail Apprentice
Announcing Archenemy, a new Magic: the Gathering multiplayer variant
Path of the Planeswalker, a Magic: the Gathering graphic novel
From the Vault: Relics announced

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