5 Cards We Want from Streets of New Capenna

What secrets does this seedy city hide?

Magic: The Gathering’s spring 2022 Standard set, Streets of New Capenna, will officially release on April 29th. New Capenna features a bustling metropolis ruled by five families, all seeking power and fortune. Each clan aligns with a shard (three-color combinations introduced in Shards of Alara). MTG’s shards are best known as Bant (GWU), Jund (BRG), Esper (WUB), Grixis (UBR), and Naya (RGW).

Weekly MTG’s first look revealed more information about the families of New Capenna, including their names and color identities. Excitingly, the event spoiled new Triomes that align with each family. Wizards of the Coast went on to reveal full-art lands and Broker’s Ascendancy, which may be part of a cycle.

At this point, WotC has shared additional information about New Capenna, including promotional artwork and packaging. As a result, there is much speculation about the set’s story and card inclusions. Based on the information and images released thus far, let’s discuss 5 cards players want from New Capenna!

#1 MTG’s First Naya Planeswalker

There are 14 Planeswalkers in MTG that possess three or more colors. Interestingly, Grixis represents 6 tri-color planeswalkers, 5 of which feature Nicol Bolas. Esper, Bant, and Jund all have planeswalkers that can be your Commander. However, none of the existing 3-color planeswalkers represent Naya.

Streets of New Capenna is an ideal opportunity for WotC to introduce MTG’s first Naya planeswalker. A new Naya planeswalker may appear in the main set of New Capenna, or even become the face card of the Cabaretti Cacophony Commander precon deck. If a Naya Planeswalker is in New Capenna, there’s a chance it could be a familiar face.

#2 Multicolor Elspeth and Ob Nixilis Planeswalkers

Elspeth is traditionally a mono-white planeswalker, as seen most recently in Theros: Beyond Death. Based on information in the 2021 Showcase, it is probable that Elspeth is a planeswalker card in New Capenna. Remember, Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty contains The Wandering Emperor, and WotC is unlikely to print another mono-white planeswalker in back-to-back sets. Could Elspeth become Compleated in New Capenna’s story and transition into a multicolor Planeswalker?

If Elspeth somehow transitions into a multicolor planeswalker, her colors may become GW. Why? Well, currently there are zero GW planeswalkers legal in Standard, and GW is part of color combinations for both Bant and Naya. Speaking of Naya, it’s not far-fetched for Elspeth to become RGW, as her past planeswalker abilities created soldier tokens, distributed +1/+1 counters, increased creatures’ power and toughness, and gained life.

The 2021 Showcase information includes an image of Ob Nixilis standing over the Maestros’ presumed Demon leader. Is the artwork foreshadowing Ob Nixilis getting Compleated or aligning with Maestros’ colors? The presence of multiple mono-black planeswalkers in Standard may indicate Ob Nixilis becoming a multicolor planeswalker. While the fate of Ob Nixilis remains uncertain, it is clear he will play a role in New Capenna’s story.   

#3 A Praetor in Streets of New Capenna

Market Price: $9.01

Market Price: $63.77

The character Jin-Gitaxias made a surprising appearance in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty. Considering two Praetor cards are in Standard sets and The Brothers’ War releases later in 2022, it is probable that a Praetor arrives in New Capenna. Elesh Norn and Sheoldred are the likeliest frontrunners to re-emerge among the Praetors still lurking in the shadows. Adding another Praetor to Standard would make sense as part of the ongoing story, and would certainly appeal to players.

Market Price: $41.68

Market Price: $15.51

#4 Vehicles!

Julie Dillion’s artwork, Goddess of Speed, is featured on New Capenna Bundles and Set Booster boxes. The image depicts a car’s hood ornament, which heavily implies vehicle cards will play a role in New Capenna. How else are New Capenna’s notorious families going to traverse the city?

Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Commander Deck – Buckle Up

Commander: Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty

Market Price: $41.60

Vehicles included in New Capenna could synergize with those in Neon Dynasty, thereby improving the power level of vehicle-centric decks in Standard. Also, more vehicles mean new toys for Greasefang, Okiba Boss. As for Commander, Kotori, Pilot Prodigy and Shorikai, Genesis may benefit from additional choices to slot into their 99.

#5 Exciting Shard Commanders

WotC has confirmed that the leaders of each family possess additional creature types besides Demon. Based on available images, other possible creature types may include Cat, Dragon, and Bird. Five creatures in MTG currently possess Demon and Cat typing, one creature has Demon and Dragon typing (Malfegor), and zero are Demon and Bird.

Market Price: $20.94

The Cabaretti’s leader looks to be a Demon Cat, based on a spoiled image. Assuming this is true, it would be the first Demon Cat creature with a white or red color identity. A Naya legendary Demon Cat could easily slot into Commander decks led by Rin and Seri, Inseparable and Marisi, Breaker of the Coil, or become an alternative commander option.

The spoiled image of the Riveteers’ leader closely resembles a Demon Dragon. A Jund legendary Demon Dragon could be a Dragon tribal commander upgrade for Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund and Wasitora, Nekoru Queen. Multiple recently printed Dragons support the Riveteers’ leader, including Kura, the Boundless Sky, Manaform Hellkite, Dragonborn Champion, and Old Gnawbone.

Derevi, Empyrial Tactician

Commander Anthology | Mythic

While there isn’t a legendary Demon Bird creature in MTG at the moment, a Bird tribal commander does exist in the Brokers’ colors. Derevi, Empyrial Tactician is one of the best Bird tribal commanders available. It may be hard for the Brokers’ leader to overthrow Derevi, Empyrial Tactician unless their ability is astounding. That said, the leader of the Brokers may have abilities that are an ideal fit for a different Commander deck theme.

New Capenna introduces players to a modern-era city full of skyscrapers, magic, and all kinds of devilish mayhem. The information available for New Capenna provides some insights into the set’s theme and storyline, but plenty of questions are left unanswered. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait much longer to learn more about the plane of New Capenna, or its card inclusions.