Kindred Most Wanted goodness

Yesterday, I visited the V:TES Brazil site, and found that it contained the spoiler card lists for the newest expansion, Kindred Most Wanted (KMW). I downloaded each list and copied/pasted them to Word for reformatting. As I reformatted the lists, I skimmed through them, trying to get a feel of the set.

It was breathtaking.

Several concepts will be greatly affected:

1. Anson master madness - with the nerfing of Anarch Revolt, it will become more difficult for the Master deck to work. Oh, I'm sure it'll still be dangerous, but with minions going anarch to avoid getting hit, it will be less of a threat. In fact, it might be more painful for the user than for the rest of the table.

2. Immortal Grapple - with the introduction of Disengage, a disciplineless card which cancels Grapples, the once-feared Wynn deck will have to think of other strategies to remain viable. One possibility: Earthshock, which causes ranged undodgeable damage to all without Flight. And, really, how many actually play Gargoyles?

At the same time, I don't think Methuselahs will be packing many Disengages, unless they're anticipating playing a heavy Grapple-combat environment. But Grapple players will be more cautious and selective of their use of their key card.

3. Frenzy - this will be a little more difficult to use, but not by much. The hoser card, Tranquility, requires Dominate for it to work, so I guess those using Drawing Out the Beast (myself included) need not be too concerned.

4. More power to the Assamites

5. The Giovanni now have a better Necromancy strike than Torment the Soul.

The problem with defensive strategy players (vote cancellation, hosers, etc.) is that because of their focus on one strategy, they might leave themselves wide open or unable to react to other types of decks.

The new set is awesome in its scope, as it attempts to compel players to try out alternative concepts.

I particularly like the new !Gangrel. Enkidu and Mithru rock, and with Bay and Howl, it might be easier to get 11-cap Enkidu the Noah into play.

Other cards that have gotten my attention: Pack Alpha (Retainer), Forced March (cel-for Freak Drive), Earthshock, Shared Strength, Dead Hand, Heart of the City, Sonar (Protean has intercept!), Leathery Hide (damage prevention for !Gangrel), Anarch Secession, Samuel Haight, From a Sinking Ship, Not to Be, the trophies, and Disengage.

Vampires: aside from the !Gangrel (I want 'em all) Count Germaine ADV, Tariq the Silent ADV, Benedict Giovanni, Echo, Rabbat the Sewer Goddess, and Sonja Blue.

And, except for the Baali deck, I really would like to collect the other three preconstructed decks in the set.

What a lovely, lovely set.