Spotlight: From the Vault: Transform
- Legends Warehouse News
- 29 Nov, 2017
Editor's note: To see the back of the cards, click the links
Every year we’re treated to a From the Vault package, and this year WotC has given Commander players a seriously awesome collection with From the Vault: Transform. Featuring fifteen of the most iconic transform cards in Magic history (and for some reason Arguel’s Blood Fast), this box set gives Commander players a ton of value. Each card in the set is foil, and since this set is entirely transform cards they are also foil on the back, which is a first for these box sets.
Right off the bat, this set contains all five of the Magic Origins transforming planeswalkers, so that’s automatically five different potential Commanders you get to build around. From heavy hitting all-stars like Jace, Vryn’s Prodigy, Nissa, Vastwood Seer, and Liliana, Heretical Healer to build-around-me Commanders like Kytheon, Hero of Akros and Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh, this is the perfect set for players looking to get a fancy version of their mono-colour Commander.
The set also contains some classic Commander staples that emphasize doing big, cool things. Elbrus, the Binding Blade is one of the best examples, as it is the first equipment to transform into a creature, and a rather impressive one at that. While Withengar Unbound can only be played in a Black deck, it’s well worth the effort to transform. As I mentioned earlier, Arguel’s Blood Fast represents Ixalan’s assortment of transform cards. This Greed variant is rather difficult to flip in Commander, but once it does, it becomes an even better Diamond Valley, so any deck looking for a valuable sacrifice outlet will be happy to have it.
Representing Shadows Over Innistrad and Eldritch Moon are Archangel Avacyn, Arlinn Kord, Gisela, the Broken Blade, and Bruna, the Fading Light. While the three creatures can each become a Commander in their own right, more often than not they fall into more angel-centric Commander decks like Gisela, Blade of Goldnight or Kaalia of the Vast. Arlinn Kord is an excellent addition to any Green/Red Commander deck, and the variety of abilities she has lends herself to different roles. She also has the advantage of being able to flip as part of her abilities, so you can use both sides with ease.
Gisela, the Broken Blade and Bruna, the Fading Light demonstrate the power of the meld mechanic, which was woefully underused in Eldritch Moon. with both of these creatures in play you can create the monstrosity Brisela, Voice of Nightmares. This card looks absolutely gorgeous in foil, and can quickly lock your opponents out of the game.
Finally, rounding out the Commander all-stars is Bloodline Keeper. This card saw a recent price spike due to the Vampiric Bloodlust deck in Commander 2017, and for good reason. Churning out vampire tokens every turn is one thing, but when it transforms into the Lord of Lineage, all of your other vampires get an additional +2/+2. These days Bloodline Keeper is difficult to track down due to its single printing back in the original Innistrad, so if you’re looking to grab a copy for your vampire deck, this is the fastest way to grab one in foil.
From the Vault: Transform isn’t just about Commander. There are also three Modern and Legacy staple cards in the set. First and foremost we have Delver of Secrets, a pillar of Legacy and one of the most tournament viable transform cards of all time. This is yet another card that only received one printing, and as this is a foil with all new artwork, this version of Delver is a must-have for foiling our your Legacy decks.
Huntmaster of the Fells is geared more toward Modern Jund and Ponza decks, but it performs a very important role. While most werewolves only do things once they turn into their monster forms, Huntmaster is unique in that it does things when it transforms to either side, either by making a token and gaining life, or dealing damage to an opponent and a creature. Like Delver of Secrets, this version of Huntmaster also features new, stunning artwork, so this is another card that’s perfect for foiling out your decks.
Lastly, Garruk Relentless holds the title of the first transforming planeswalker, debuting a full five years before Arlinn Kord. This card has seen play in various midrange Modern decks, and has even appeared in Legacy Nic Fit. Coupled with brand new artwork, Garruk Relentless is an excellent addition to any Eternal collection.
From the Vault: Transform is one of the more impressive From the Vault series in terms of value and playability, putting it leaps and bounds ahead of offerings like FtV: Annihilation and FtV: Angels. This set gives Commander and Eternal players access to foil versions of some of the strongest and most popular transform cards in Magic’s history, and I highly recommend it for players and collectors alike.