From the Vault: Twenty (20)

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So after a short hiatus writing for this blog (I fixed the subscribing to the blog thing, so please follow/subscribe to show your support and encouragement for more posts), I realized I never covered From the Vault: Twenty.

So what we know from the official announcement from Wizards is that there will be 20 cards, with one card representing a card that was key in the top deck of a premier tournament each year Magic has been produced.

So without further ado, we have 20 years to cover and not much time. Obviously there will be a card for each year. Since 2013 hasn't ended yet, I'm going to assume that we will be dealing with 1993 through 2012. Of course, this poses a small problem:

1993 is comprised of Alpha, Beta, Unlimited, and Arabian Knights. Many great cards are on the reserve list from those. So we've got a bit of a problem trying to figure out what 1993 may have... I had a theory about it, but I found something to disprove my thought.

What did I think? Karn, Silver Golem is on the reserve list, yet he appeared in From the Vault: Relics. Of course he also received a print as an oversized card in Commander's Arsenal, but that's different. So why will we not be getting a Black Lotus, Moxen, or other Power 9 card in FTV:20? Because of this post by Mark Rosewater. If you know anything about why the audience didn't like the relaxation of the reserve list, please let me know in the comments (I for one liked it as I now have a copy for Commander. Getting my Sliver Queen for Commander was a real pain in the ass so I'm not too thrilled with the reserve list. At least release stuff produced after 1996... but I digress).

Personally, I'm thinking we'll get some sweet alternate art, foil Sinkhole action. It's an awesome card, and for only double black mana, you can destroy any one land. Another reason why it could be candidate? It was removed from the reserve list in March of 2002. It hasn't been printed again though, so why not now? Of course, it wasn't used in the final match in 1993 as far as I can tell...

Predictions

1993: Sinkhole

We have many more years to cover, but the only year I feel like I have a very good or definite idea is 2010. 2010 is the year both Jace, the Mind Sculptor and Stoneforge Mystic were released and largely played. Or in 2011 when they were banned on July 1st of that year. Either way, one of them would show up. Just imagine the price of a foil Jace showing up in one of the boxes... But personally, I'd rather see him show up in From the Vault: Planeswalkers, whenever that shows up, or is done, or whatever. It would definitely be cool if they did an FTV dedicated to planeswalkers soon.

Predictions
1993: "Sinkhole"
2010?: "Jace, the Mind Sculptor" or "Stoneforge Mystic"