From: Jon Matthews [jonmatthewsshow@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2002 6:07 PM

Subject: Top 5 Torment Cards

Hey everyone, Well, for many who do not know me yet,
my name is Jon, AKA Damn the Typhlosions on the
message boards, better known as Jon Matthews on KPOJ.
I am very excited to be part of writing a weekly
article for the Pojo website called "Jon's Take". Each
week, I will write an article for a different section
of the website. This week it is Magic, next... who
knows. I must warn you that Pojo.com, or affiliates of
Pojo.com are not responsible for what I say or write,
but of the responsibility of myself (I wanted to do
that, no idea why). I hope to do this for a long time,
and I hope many of you enjoy my articles. Any
questions, just email me at jonmatthewsshow@yahoo.com

Ok, as I mentioned earlier, my first article is in
regards to Torment, the newest expansion from WOTC in
the continuing series of the Magic TCG, the most
successful TCG ever! WOTC have outdone themselves with
the new set, one of the best looking sets, if I do say
so myself. I decided to take a look at the spoilers
and pictures of the new cards at
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=magic/cardlist/torment
, and from there, I decided to do my top 5 picks and
also included my card pick for the worst card in the
set. So without further wait, here is my top 5:

5: BASKING ROOTWALLA: Can't go wrong with this guy in
the right deck, its complete madness, LITERALLY!!!
Torment debuts a new mechanic called Madness. If you
discard a card from your hand that has a madness cost,
you can pay the madness cost, and bring it into play.
This little guy has a cost of 0. This card is asking
for a combo. ie: Wild Mongrel-Roar of the Wurm-Basking
Rootwalla-Cephalid Looter??? Got the idea?? This one
forest-mana creature is sure to be seen in quite a few
decks in type 2 and in block play, possibly even in
extended play.

4: CHAINER, DIMENTIA CASTER: I like this guy, but
definately cannot go into any deck. Would go great
with a reanimate deck of sorts (Entombs, Life/Death,
Zombify, ect.) You will see this guy in some play, but
don't be looking for it in my deck in the near future.
Still, #4 on the list

3: LLAWAN, CEPHALID EMPRESS: Ok, this card has
SIDEBOARD all over it, but it could be one of the best
sideboard cards ever. If your opponent is playing, oh
lets say Shadowmage or any of those annoying Blue
creatures, sideboard this mega-b***h in, and "ok, no
more blue creatures for you". with a CCCU cost, not
bad, but once again, sideboard, no mainboard. This
card is probably one of the better sideboard cards in
the set. 

2: NANTUKO SHADE: Wow, this guy definately has a
target painted on it!!! When I first saw it, combos
came from everywhere: Hmmm, Early Harvest/Restock,
pumb the guy up to a crazy number/crazy number, win
the game??? At the prerelease, this guy seemed to be
the most popular there, and I was hearing combos that
seemed crazy, but possibly broken. Definately has
taken a shine to everyone, and it will probably the
highest card for both price and demand in the set, but
still not my #1 pick, because......

1: AMBASSADOR LAQUATUS: Ok, this guy is bad!!! I liked
him in the Odyssey novel, and I like him as a card.
Its a millstone rolled into a creature, but you do not
have to tap it to do the ability!!! I already have a
deck built around this guy and my favorite card of all
time (My friends who know me know all to well)
THIEVING MAGPIE!!! Add Traumatize, Haunting Echoes
into the mix, and this guy is a library murderer in
block and in Type 2. 1/3 not bad, cost of CUU
excellent, Legend eh, overall my favorite in the set.
(BTW, I am looking for many of these guys, if you
have, email me)

The set, in my mind, is average. Black is definately
the winner in this set, after a poor show in Odyssey.
Out of a scale of 1-5, 5 being the highest, I would
rate this set a 3.5. There are some great cards, and
great combos comming from this set, and many Magic
Players will find ways to play each of these cards.
This set will be playable in both Limited and
Constructed. 

Hope you enjoy my first in a series of articles. If
you would like to make a comment about my article, or
an opinion of your favorite cards in the set, don't
hesitate to drop me an email. Would be glad to hear
from you. Until next week, tahtah!!!