If the spoiler for 8th Edition is right, the folks at Wizards R&D have got some kinda personal grudge against land destruction.

And the timing couldn't be any worse. What with the emphasis on expensive spells and creatures, LD seems like a viable alternative for the rogue player. So I was a little taken aback by the offerings of the"Core" set. Let us bow our heads and say a prayer for the departed - the cards that have not the influence, nor the spark to make the leap from 7^th to 8^th Edition.

Befoul
The sorta Black version of Creeping Mold. 'Cept you can target non-black critters instead of artifacts or enchantments. I really liked this card and it played an important part in my Regional deck... Which means that its MIA status for 8^th Edition is a direct slap in my face.

Wizards R&D guy:"Well, I suppose we could keep Befoul, but Ken really likes it."

Other Wizards R&D guy:"I never liked Ken much anyway. So let's get rid of it."

Ken:"Noooooo!"

You know that you can be paranoid and have everyone out to get you. You know that, don't you?

Pillage
I guess with Masticore reduced to doing a guest shot in the artwork for Deep Analysis, Pillage seems to be rather quaint in the eyes of the powers that be. Too bad, since it was the perfect compliment to Stone Rain.

Wildfire
You know, it's going to be awfully tough to construct a Wildfire deck for States this fall when there is no frickin' Wildfire to construct it with!

Okay, I'm calming down.

To be fair, a Wildfire deck with Ensnaring Bridge and lots of handy burn spells would be quite formidable against small critter decks like white weenie, elves, goblins, and the like. Man, I was looking forward to building this monster.

Thanks Wizards.

Enough moping; time to take a look at what the Core Edition is offering up.

The Returning Favorites
Here are the spells that were seen as fit to keep in Standard play. I suppose it would be nice to comment on their uses in Type One or Extended play as well. Too bad I don't know enough about them to make intelligent comments. So let's just stick with Standard.

Boil
Motto:"The best humidifier money can buy!"

The bane of mono-blue decks for years, Boil has been used effectively against U/G and U/B decks.

Pros: Beyond the obvious joy of proclaiming"Bye bye, islands!" Boil is also an instant... Which is fantastic when your opponent taps out for Upheaval or some other wicked spell.

Confident Opponent:"Okay, I'm going to tap all my mana for..."

Even More Confident You:"Boil."

Stunned Opponent:"But I... You just... Waaaaaaaa!"

Cons: Like Flashfires, it's only effective against one type of land. Also, Boil is very well-known, so your opponent will likely take precautions.

Outlook: They say that blue is dead - but they've been wrong before. Effective against any deck that utilizes islands, Boil will retain its proper place in the sideboard.

Creeping Mold
Motto:"Putting a fresh coat of green on things you hate."

I never thought the name of the spell quite captured what it does. After all, I hardly associate"creeping" with"fast" - yet it can destroy a land, enchantment, or artifact in one turn. I guess I just lack the sense of humor or vision or, um sense to get past the word"creeping."

Pros: Never a dead card, since you can always pick off a land. Especially handy against decks that employ a single, powerful land like Contested Cliffs in the first game of the match. Not to mention its uses against enchantments and artifact - wait, I just mentioned it.

Cons: The payment of four mana isn't quite as bad as the double green cost. Making it harder to splash in a red-heavy deck. However, since green boasts a number of land grabber spells, this is not really much of a problem.

Outlook: With Naturalize taking lead actor status, Creeping Mold becomes far less desirable for those who have no wish to destroy land.

Stone Rain
Motto:"Any land, anytime, anywhere, gone for good."

This venerable spell had the right connections to stay in Standard. I guess the hue 'n cry from the masses would be too much if this was left out.

Pros: Versatility. Can be used against any land, 'nuff said.

Cons: None, really - it does what it's designed to do.

Outlook: The sideboard is not the best place for Stone Rain; you build your deck around it. After all, Boil 'n Flashfires are far more effective land hosers. Still, with its regular spot in Astral Slide sideboards and the like, Stone Rain will still be employed. However, because of its reduced workload, a pay cut may be in order.

The"New" Boys
Welcome to those glorious days of yesteryear when you young pups tore open a fresh pack and proclaimed,"Look guys, I got Flashfires! Can't wait to fill my binder with these!"

Yea, I'm way too sarcastic for my own good.

Demolish
Motto:"Did you cry at the loss of Pillage? Well, keep crying."

I guess Wizards is serious about not bringing Masticore back then, huh?

Pros: Who needs Shatter when you got this baby in the line-up? Also, its single red mana cost means it's easier to splash than Pillage was.

Cons: It costs four. Many articles on Magic deal with tempo; the faster you can play the spell, the better. When States rolls around, there will be just two Standard-legal LD spells (Mirrodin notwithstanding) that cost three mana; Stone Rain and Ark of Blight. And the Blight costs two just to get it on the board. A third three-mana spell is needed if LD is going to be a force again - as it is, Demolish is a little slow for the job.

Outlook: Not good. Its splashability is nice, but it's not as quick as Stone Rain or as versatile as Creeping Mold. It is better than Shatter, but that's not much of a compliment.

Flashfires
Motto:"Removing weeds, buffalo, and unwanted settlers the old-fashioned way."

I think"Prairie Fire" would be a good name also. Anyone who's slammed a shot of this at the local bar can attest to how powerful it is.

Pros: Can be devastating against mono-white decks that use expensive creatures and spells. Somewhat less devastating against white weenie decks with low cost spells, since they can recover faster. And it's really annoying against multi-colored decks like G/W.

Cons: Obviously useless against decks that have no plains.

Outlook: For the past couple of years, there has been this almost desperate attempt to make white weenie a viable deck. If this comes true, Flashfires will be a great sideboard card for the red mage... Especially since Pyroclasm made the cut as well. Now you can clear out your white weenie opponent for a mere six mana.

Obliterate
Motto:"Zip Bang! All gone now!"

One of my favorites from the Invasion era. I've gotten out of many a jam with this spell.

Pros: When you absolutely, positively have to get rid of almost everything right now. This is the big one. And it's even more special 'cause there's nothing your opponent can do about it. Combos nicely with some enchantments like Form of the Dragon, although admittedly it's a bit expensive.

Cons: Problem is, all your stuff is gone, too. Plus, there's that the little fact that annoying little enchantments like Circle of Protection: Red are still going to be on the board.

Outlook: You will see this when 8^th becomes legal. The ultimate"get out of trouble now" card, you must build your deck around the possibility of it being used. I've never perceived this as part of a traditional LD deck; it's more useful as a giant reset button.

Spreading Algae
Motto:"Making you wish Compost was still legal."

Just like the real stuff, it dies hard.

Pros: For a mere one mana, you can stop a swamp from tapping. Not exciting enough for you? Well, once it hits the graveyard, it'll leap back into your hand. Like a good clown or a bad virus, wouldn't you say?

No, I didn't think so.

Cons: It's no Compost, but mono-black will not be as strong in the post-Odyssey environment - assuming, of course, that Zombies do not rise up and dominate the Standard landscape.

Outlook: For the mono-green player, this might have a place in the sideboard. Although it would probably take the place of something more useful. I guess we'll have to wait 'n see if Zombies become a tier one deck. But if you're packing red, Stone Rain is probably a better choice.

Those that are close, but not quite LD spells.
Since the word"destroy" does not appear in their abilities, the following spells are not technically land destruction. They do have a similar enough effect though, that they had to be included.

Blood Moon
Motto:"Turning what you got into a beautiful Mountain skyline."

"Great artwork." seems to be the most popular comment I've heard so far about Blood Moon.

Pros: Opponents who like to slowly lay down a dual land card, then wink at you before playing some killer spell, will have something else to think about when Blood Moon is on the table. Also, being an enchantment means you get a continuous effect for a one-time price.

Cons: Too bad Spitting Earth didn't make it the cut, 'cause it would be a nice companion card. It also has the drawbacks of being an enchantment, thus subject to easy elimination from such spells as Naturalize or Demystify.

Outlook: I can see this in the sideboard if I squint hard enough. But unless there is a powerful new deck type that utilizes lots of non-basic land, Blood Moon will draw only oohs and aahs for its impressive art, instead of its effect on your opponent.

Choke
Motto:"Humiliation for island lovers is just three mana away."

Man, a R/G Beats deck could go to town on blue in Standard. What's next, a spell that robs a blue mage of the most valuable rare from his trade book?

Pros: The price seems right for this island hoser, and it's tough for the blue mage to get rid of once it hits the table. It combines well with other LD spells, like Stone Rain or Creeping Mold, to get rid of non-basic lands that can produce blue mana.

Cons: Other than the obvious,"worthless against non-islands." bit, nothing at all.

Outlook: I think Boil is better if you're packing red. But for those keepin' it green, Choke is a good choice for your sideboard.

Plow Under
Motto:"Putting your opponent's land where it should be - on top of their library."

Busy Magic writer Bennie Smith seems fairly excited about this spell coming back. Well, if one spell helped you win a State championship, you'd be excited, too.

Pros: Removing two lands is nice, but screwing with your opponent's draw is even better. Lots of possibilities here.

Cons: At five mana with double green in its cost, Plow Under is somewhat expensive. And really, you're only getting rid of one land for one turn.

Outlook: It's fairly expensive, but in the right deck it can cause some major headaches. But is that"right deck" a land destruction one?

Thus ends the review portion of my article.

As for myself, I was looking forward to building interesting, powerful, and downright nasty LD decks for the upcoming fall season. Now, unless Mirrodin ponies up some decent stuff, it will be difficult to create a good rogue deck centered around land destruction. If you include the Onslaught Block, we have exactly five target LD spells that actually destroy land. They are:

• Stone Rain
• Ark of Blight
• Demolish
• Lay Waste
• Creeping Mold

The transition from tier one terror to occasional sideboard choice seems complete. Land destruction has certainly fallen from grace. Whether that's a good thing or not is in the eye of the beholder.

In my eyes, it's not.