13 Thoughts on Shadows Over Innistrad

In case you missed the announcement, the full spoiler for Shadows Over Innistrad has been released. It's hard to believe that we're just over two weeks away from the set's release on Magic Online, and I have yet to write a single word about the set. Now, with all the cards revealed, that means it's time for me to get writing on my full review of the set for Standard Pauper. But for today, I want to share with you some brief thoughts about my initial impressions as well as a few cards that impressed me on first glance. So in keeping with the theme, here are my thirteen thoughts on Shadows Over Innistrad!

1. Flip cards probably won't be a major emphasis, as there are only four printed at Common (two in both Red and Green). They are classic werewolves that flip to "night" if no spells are cast and flip back to "day" if two or more spells are cast.
2. There are plenty of classic Common effects costed at an extra mana with the new Investigate mechanic, such as this one. It will be interesting to see how good either the extra artifact or the two mana cycle effect will shake out to be.
3. We've got a cycle of Common Enchantments that sacrifice for a color-themed effect. The White one at least looks good.
4. Nice to see we have some discard outlets at Common, such as in Ghostly Wings.
5. Not very impressed with the Blue Commons at all.
6. Nice! Dead Weight is back.
7. Outside of Twins of Mauer Estate, Madness in Black doesn't look that attractive.
8. In the right deck, Fiery Temper lets you live the dream of casting Lightning Bolt. Otherwise, it's a more expensive and harder-to-cast Lighting Strike. 
9. Pyre Hound gains permanent counters unlike Prowess creatures. That seems...strong.
10. Just as Temur Battle Rage rotates out, we get a new Double Strike card in Red.
11. 'Clue-tokens-matter' type effect?
12. A potential combo with Pulse of Murasa? And with Stoic Builder too.
13. Green has surprisingly few creatures, and overall looks pretty weak.

And as far as cards that caught my eye: Apothecary Geist, Dauntless Cathar, Stitched Mangler, Ghoulcaller's Accomplice, Shamble Back, Fiery Temper, and Pyre Hound. 

What do you think of this set? Let me know in the comments below.