We are back with more pizza, ninjas, and turtles! With the new Magic the Gathering (MTG) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT), we got a plethora of half-shell warriors to add to our decks. With so many options, it begs the question: If I had to choose, which turtle would I be? I'm sure I'm not the only one. Each turtle has a very unique personality, and because of that, they have very different play styles at the table. So which turtle should you play?
First we have Leonardo. Leonardo is often depicted as being disciplined, honourable and the leader of the turtles. In this set, Leonardo cards use white mana which is very fitting as white mana often represents order and community. Many of Leonardo's cards interact with creatures and can bring them back to the battlefield or make them stronger. Leonardo is a great theme for people who really believe that teamwork makes the dream work. With team-wide buffs, each creature retrieval, and positive life mechanics, Leonardo has a big emphasis on creature synergies and working together!
Next up is Donatello. As the brains of the turtles, Donatello brings innovation and often has unconventional ways of winning. This tinkerer makes great use of the blue mana's Robot token mechanic. Blue has many strategies for making robots stronger, but if its not going well, there is a plan B: milling. Milling makes a player discard cards from the top of their deck and put them into their graveyard. With cards such as Kitsune's Technique, you can knock down your opponents deck size significantly - which could lead to an early victory. Donatello is best for people who like to plan for the long game and prefer slower paced play where outsmarting your opponent can secure wins in unconventional ways.
Raphael is all about raw emotion and brutal efficiency, he prefers to break through obstacles rather than go around them. As a high attacker, Raphael cards use red mana and all the aggro tactics that come with. Many of Raphael's cards encouraging you to attack with mechanics such as double strike (creature deals combat damage twice) and enrage. Raphael is for players who prefer action over strategy and enjoy heavy hitting combinations.
Cowabunga - its Michelangelo! Michelangelo is considered to be the heart and the “human side” of the turtles, bringing humour and a little bit of chaos. Michelangelo's cards use green mana. Green uses many token types such as food to make yourself stronger and generally offers a lot of options to achieve big beefy creatures. Michelangelo is great for players who enjoy big moments and don't mind needing a little bit of luck!
The villains have their own playstyle as well! These characters use black mana - the colour of pure ambition. Black mana often involves a lot of sacrifice mechanics and cards that deal in life, not counters or combat damage. If you're a player who enjoys winning by any means necessary, you might want to consider picking up some of these villains.
If you feel like you are a combination of these personalities or strategies, fret not; there are plenty of cards you can use together find synergies with. There are even cards where the turtles and villains are teaming up, showing both sides to them. So feel free to mix and match in and see what works for you. This set has something for everyone, no matter the personality or play style you may have!
In conclusion, the MTG: TMNT set has many exciting cards for turtle fans as the character's personalities are reflected through their mechanics. Even if you're not a big TMNT fan, it can still be really cool to play with a deck that matches a character's mindset. Want to channel your aggression and hit opponents hard? Go with Raphael. Want to win in a bizarre way that leaves your opponents scratching their heads, then play Donatello. There are so many ways to play MTG that you can use it to show your personality in the games you have!
Top Shelf Co. will be carrying these products when they release. and if you want to secure your product, you can Pre-order Here! I hope you are all as excited as we are to see where this set takes MTG. As always, thank you for reading, and we'll see you next time!
