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Ah yes, Green, the easiest color to design for in my mind. This is a color that lets you play with big scary monsters, give you innovative ways of making them even scarier, and lets you manipulate your resources and play with synergy unlike any other. With the tutors and regrowth abilities of Green, it's hard to design a bad Green creature (but hey, I did my best when it was called for).

Green also has the Recursion theme, as moving things from zone to zone (ie, graveyard to play, hand to play, etc) is very Green. I also gave the Granook a highly synergistic creature theme that stems from the powerful synergy of their creature type. The Granook are best in numbers and generally weak by themselves, but that doesn't stop them from exploding in numbers.

I also designed this powerful synergy to see what it would look like to dismantle it in the upcoming sets. There are a few Granook in Broken Borders, but Durak kills them all in the second part of the story. So drafting FFF versus drafting FFB will be interesting, while FBX (X being whatever the 3rd set is named) will be even more interesting to see how powerful cards, like Whipcord Trainer, move up and down the pick order based on the small amount of creatures available to assist in boosting her ability.

You also get powerful tutoring abilities in Green, so much so that I tied a Legendary Land to it:

Since both of these cards are very mana intensive but appear very powerful, you can push the power curve while not providing too many unfair advantages. The Fecundity-like effect stuck on Terra provides both players with incentive to do creature battle or at least try to squeeze card advantage from it.

Overall I'm just pleased as punch with Green. It's not perfect, but I love how the Granook work together and also how the Granook will be lessened in the long run while the minor theme of Wurms will only be strengthened. Something to watch for in the upcoming sets.

Here are a few of my favorite green cards:

One of my friends couldn't believe I was actually going to post my set to the world with this card in it. "It's broken!" he shouted. Well, not quite. It's very powerful, it's a huge bomb in draft, but in the wide world of Magic, a spell like this isn't quite as amazing as it may have once looked. It can swing games, it's a bomb in limited, it's a pretty damn good constructed card too. That's my definition of a well designed card.

Boy, you should've seen the first iteration of this card. It needed no mana cost to activate. This basically meant you could create a bunch of creatures with whatever means necessary (and with green, that's none too tough), then attack with all of them, and give the unblocked creature an amazing pump (sometimes +6/+6, usually more) and win the game. It was like Arcbound Ravager all over again.

Luckily, testing proved this a bit too ridiculous without a mana cost and right now I like it just fine. With enough mana it can get unfair, but the key phrase is "with enough," as there are plenty more unfair things you can do with a ton of mana.

I like spells that can be used over and over again. I just love getting the most out of each spell, and maintaining a sense of control while still trading valuable resources (ie, creatures) for making it work again and again. Basically if you trade a creature in your hand for Worship of the Wurm, that creature was probably less than a 3/3, or you needed a Wurm to power out something that the other creature could not.

This is a card that is pretty decent in this base set but gets very good with the Wurm-based improvements coming down the line.

Sorted By: Rarity - Type - Cost (In that Order)

Granook Elder - Creature - Granook : Target creature is a Granook in addition to its other creature types until end of turn. Their sayings are old, and true. 1/1 Common #201/315

Granook Faerie - Creature - Granook Granook Faerie gets +1/+1 while you control another Granook. Their songs are as sweet as the breeze blows. 1/1 Common #202/315

Kirkpine Elf - Creature - Elf Forestwalk This land...it speaks to me, and I to it. 1/1 Common #203/315

Terran Cultivator - Creature - Elf You may play an additional land during each of your turns. The Terran culture was founded on their quick establishment of their kingdom. In just a few short lifetimes they had the entire forest to themselves. - The History of Kirkwood Forest 1/1 Common #204/315

Kirkpine Gatekeeper - Creature - Weasel Defender (Defenders can't attack.) Kirkpine Gatekeeper can block as though it had flying. Creatures blocked by Kirkpine Gatekeeper don't untap during their controller's next untap step. Cute little fella...till I asked to get by. 0/4 Common #205/315

Granook Sharpshooter - Creature - Granook : Granook Sharpshooter deals X damage to target attacking creature with flying, where X equals the number of Granook in play. "The beasts strike only in packs, swarming down by the dozens. Our arrows fly into them, and the shreiks of the wounded creatures are heard for miles." - Iris of the Falling Leaf 1/3 Common #206/315

Terran Hunter - Creature - Elf Pay during your upkeep or bury Terran Hunter. We are Relentless. We are Cautious. We are Deadly. - Terran Creed 4/3 Common #207/315

Kirkpine Seer - Creature - Elf Wizard When Kirkpine Seer comes into play, you may search your library for a Forest card and put it into play tapped. Forest Blink (You may put this creature into play anytime you could play an instant if you control an amount of Forests equal or greater than its converted mana cost. It gains haste and is removed from the game at end of turn.) 2/2 Common #208/315

Snaketooth Warrior - Creature - Elf Warrior Trample Their faces a mask of rage and ferocity, their claws the very daggers of death himself. 5/3 Common #209/315

Kirkpine Beast - Creature - Granook Beast Sacrifice a Granook: Regenerate Kirkpine Beast. Their ferocity is only matched by their tenderness. 5/5 Common #210/315

Granook Dwarf - Creature - Granook Trample Recursion (When this creature is put into a graveyard from play, put a token creature into play of the same type, color, power, and toughness as this creature.) 4/4 Common #211/315

Farsight - Enchantment - Aura Enchant Creature Enchanted creature gets "This creature can block as though it had flying." "To see what you cannot, that is true enlightenment." - Terra Common #212/315

Granook Lore - Enchantment - Aura Enchant Granook You may play Granook Lore anytime you could play an instant. At the beginning of your upkeep, pay or bury Granook Lore. Enchanted creature gets +4/+4. Common #213/315

Forestborn Christening - Enchantment - Aura Enchant Creature Enchanted creature is a Granook in addition to its other creature types and gets +X/+X where X equals the number of Granook in play. Today, you are one of us. As of this moment, you will never walk alone in these ancient woods. Common #214/315

Kirkwood Call - Instant If this is your first resolved spell of the game, put a 2/2 green Granook token creature into play under your control. Otherwise, put a 1/1 green Granook token into play under your control. Common #215/315

Nature's Choice - Instant Choose one — Destroy target artifact creature; or put a +1/+1 counter on target creature; or you may play an additional land this turn. Common #216/315

Naturalize - Instant Destroy target artifact or enchantment. "Watch your step...this ancient forest can grow you into extinction in an eye blink." - Goblin Shaman Common #217/315

Terran Rage - Instant Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Forest Blink (You may play this spell for no cost if you control an amount of Forests equal or greater than its converted mana cost. Then remove it from the game.) Common #218/315

Quick to Anger - Instant You may remove a green card in your hand from the game instead of paying Quick to Anger's mana cost. Target creature gets +4/+4 until end of turn. "I've heard of swift to anger, but this is ridiculous." - Iris of the Falling Leaf Common #219/315

Battle Grounds - Sorcery Creatures you control get +1/+0 and have Trample until end of turn. Creatures that attack this turn do not untap during their controller's next untap step. The pound of the drums, the whistle in the woods...oh, to be home again. Common #220/315

Wurm Harvester - Creature - Dwarf , Sacrifice a Forest: Put a 2/2 green Wurm creature token into play under your control. Play this ability only any time you could play a sorcery. "C'mere wurmy, wurmy." 1/1 Uncommon #221/315

Emerald Knight - Creature - Human Knight Trample Protection from Token creatures These new beasts know not my fear, but will taste my blade. 3/1 Uncommon #222/315

Granook Archer - Creature - Granook First Strike Granook Archers can block as if it had flying. "Look to the skies for our enemies. The wurms will handle the rest." - Iris of the Falling Leaf 2/2 Uncommon #223/315

Wayward Traveller - Creature - Elf Tap an untapped creature you control, : Add to your mana pool. The woods embrace her, and I often lose her in the thick mists. 1/3 Uncommon #224/315

Kirkpine Caller - Creature - Elf When Kirkpine Caller comes into play, you may search your library for a green creature card, reveal it, shuffle your library and put it on top of your library. I know no one. I know everyone. 1/1 Uncommon #225/315

Terran Soothsayer - Creature - Elf When Terran Soothsayer comes into play, reveal the top card of your library. If it is a creature card with a converted mana cost equal or less than the number of Forests you control, put that creature into play under your control. 1/3 Uncommon #226/315

Whipcord Trainer - Creature - Granook : Target creature gets +X/+X until end of turn, where X equals the number of Granook in play. Their authority is not to be questioned, lest you wish to see how they earned it. 2/2 Uncommon #227/315

Snarling Wurm - Creature - Wurm Trample Forest Blink (You may put this creature into play anytime you could play an instant if you control an amount of Forests equal or greater than its converted mana cost. It gains haste and is removed from the game at end of turn.) 4/4 Uncommon #228/315

Coppice Mist - Enchantment Tap two untapped creatures you control: Target land is a 3/3 creature until end of turn that is still a land. Use this ability only once each turn. The last of the Hannook mystics discovered the place just as the vampires game. And that is how we know what happened here. Uncommon #229/315

Strength of the Granook - Instant Target creature gets +X/+X until end of turn. "Do you know the strength of my ancestors? You shall." - Iris of the Falling Leaf Uncommon #230/315

Tisara, Kirkpine Sorceress - Legendary Creature - Elf Wizard When Tisara, Kirkpine Sorceress comes into play, you may search your library for a green creature card with a converted mana cost of 2 or less, reveal it, and put it in your hand. If you do, shuffle your library. She speaks to the animals in ways only few mages know of. 2/2 Uncommon #231/315

Bountiful Harvest - Sorcery Put three +1/+1 counters on target creature you control. "Rejoice! When mother gives, you have no choice but to be thankful, and thankful we shall be." - Iris of the Falling Leaf Uncommon #232/315

Terra's Wish - Sorcery Search your library for a green creature card. Reveal that card and put it in your hand. Then shuffle your library. "Hold on to your identity and your history. These things may never be taken away from you." - Terra, Shaman of Kirkwood Uncommon #233/315

Windstorm - Sorcery Windstorm deals X damage to all creatures with flying, where X equals the number of green permanents you control. "Can you hear this wind! Can you feel this wind! Know that your kind is not welcome here!" - Iris of the Falling Leaf Uncommon #234/315

Kirkpine Whisper - Sorcery You may sacrifice three forests instead of paying Kirkpine Whisper's mana cost. Put an X/X green Granook creature token into play under your control, where X equals the number of Forests you control. Uncommon #235/315

Skulking Lizard - Creature - Lizard Whenever Skulking Lizard becomes the target of a spell or ability, destroy it. "You see something moving over there?" - Last Words, Kirkwood Dwarf 5/5 Rare #236/315

Mother Wurm - Creature - Wurm When Mother Wurm comes into play, return all Wurm cards from your graveyard to your hand. She brings life, and comfort. 7/7 Rare #237/315

Haven of Rebirth - Enchantment Sacrifice a creature you control: Put a charge counter on Haven of Rebirth. , Remove a charge counter from Haven of Rebirth: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. Rare #238/315

Patrimony - Enchantment When a player puts a land into play, they may draw a card. "No land may be claimed, only used for a small amount of time. When you take land, you are giving up something in return: your freedom to leave it." - Terra, Shaman of Kirkwood Rare #239/315

Nature's Path - Enchantment When Nature's Path comes into play, choose a basic land type. Creatures with Forestwalk have landwalk of the chosen type. : Target creature gains Forestwalk until end of turn. Rare #240/315

Wurm Sanctuary - Enchantment Sacrifice a Forest: Put a 2/2 green Wurm token into play under your control. Use this abiliy only once each turn. The land moves underfoot, the creatures below busy making their way above ground. Rare #241/315

Loyan, Terran Sorceress - Legendary Creature - Elf Sorceress : Add to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to play green creature spells. , : Return target green creature from your graveyard to your hand. Play this ability as a sorcery. 2/2 Rare #242/315

Iris of the Falling Leaf - Legendary Creature - Granook Elf Iris of the Falling Leaf can block as though it had flying. : Destroy target creature with flying with a converted mana cost less or equal to the amount of green mana in your mana pool. 4/5 Rare #243/315

Terra, Shaman of Kirkwood - Legendary Creature - Elf Enchantress Whenever a creature goes to the graveyard from play, its controller may draw a card. , : Search your library for a green creature card, reveal it, and put it in your hand. Then shuffle your library. Play this ability only any time you could play a sorcery. The forest is a place of wonder and life. 2/2 Rare #244/315

Shentar, Queen of Granook - Legendary Creature - Granook Lord All Granook get +1/+1 and have trample. She walks slowly amongst her people, and speaks only when necessary. 2/3 Rare #245/315

Wurm of Kirkwood - Legendary Creature - Wurm : Regenerate target Wurm To walk in the forest of Kirkwood and hear that slither and feel that rumble...no man shall ever speak of it, but only think of it late at night as he watches the stars and hopes it is not his time to die. 6/6 Rare #246/315

Flight of the Iris - Sorcery Destroy target flying creature. Gain life equal to that creature's power. "He spun through the air wildly, the creature lashing in defiance. They descended together, then I noticed one half of the beast falling in a different direction." - Inta, Elf Traveler Rare #247/315

Wishbone Crossing - Sorcery Search your library for three creatures with a combined converted mana cost of 7 or less. Your opponent chooses two to discard, put the other in your hand. Without wishing, no wishes would ever come true. Rare #248/315

Worship of the Wurm - Sorcery Put a 3/3 green Wurm token into play under your control. Remove a green creature card in your hand from the game: Return Worship of the Wurm from your graveyard to your hand. We have heard the wurms sleeping beneath the forest. It is time for them to awaken. Rare #249/315

Life of the Ages - Sorcery Put X 1/1 green Granook creature tokens into play under your control where X equals the number of green permanents you control. "To hear the forest and feel its mood...such things are cherished and not spoken aloud." - Shentar, Queen of Granook Rare #250/315