We are a mere fortnight away from the Zendikar preleases and the spoiler season is in full blast. Some insane cards are being spoiled both officially and unofficially, and Patrick Chapin has already predicted brazenly that Zendikar will be the biggest and fastest selling Magic set of all time, bigger even that M10.

There are many reasons behind the hyperbole, but mostly because of the presence in Zendikar of what many Magic players had wished for for quite some time, but had not gotten until now – enemy fetchlands. Wizards of the Coast never ceases to amaze me with the surprises they pull and there was no inkling whatsoever that these new money drains, err, chase rares were coming anytime soon (well, at least not soooo long after the original allied-color fetchlands came out in Onslaught, which seems to have been ages ago).

Those five fetchlands, plus the rare cycle suggested by Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle and Emeria, the Sky Ruin (which I call the “busybody” lands) already look like future staples (and they aren’t even legendary) and must-haves for any serious spell slinger. These, plus the awesome planeswalkers spoiled so far (yes, even Chandra gets an upgrade) spells multiple flights at the prerelease and release parties plus all the drafts you can enter in the next month (and I already foresee/estimate possibly spending/investing at least 10 grand for all these events for the four weeks after September 26 so I better start saving up).

And some of the new cards really whet your appetite. Iona, Shield of Emeria, the 7/7 angel which prevents opponents from playing spells of the named COLOR, is already being called the best nine-drop ever and will fire up the “reanimator” and “Oath” strategies many players love. Warren Instigator is being called the super Goblin Lackey because double strike could conceivably double the number of goblins you can send into the battlefield for FREE. Can anyone say “here’s two Siege Gang Commanders” for your failure to block?

The 5cc black mythic Ob Nixillis (which will probably be shortened to Ob-Noxious by foes at the receiving end of its attacks) drains opponents for three and gains 3 +1/+1 counters when you play a land (or someone pathing another of your creatures although obviously, Ob Nixillis should be the first target for any opponents casting PTE against you). Rampaging Baloths and its 4/4 beasts might even pale in comparison and I’m holding out hope that the promised Legendary Octopus will live up to its stentacular build-up.

There is also the Ascension cycle for the Johnnies out there who wish to take on the challenge of fulfilling the criteria to trigger it, and the Quest cyle for those who wish for a simpler objective.

As for splashy spells already spoiled like the newer, fairer Wrath of God which allows regeneration (Day of Judgment), the super Double Negative which can be cast for free sometimes (Mindbreak Trap), the two-card kill combo of Sanguine Bond and Blood Tribute (someone will try it for sure in the return of mono-black), and we’re still waiting for their red and green counterparts (unless Electropotence is it for red).

Not so bad, considering that I began this column with the intention of merely singing the praises of the full-art basic lands that will appear in Zendikar boosters and fat packs (but not those lands that will be given out/ehem, used at the prereleases or the precons), which finally gives all of us cheapskates access to them pretty lands. I suggest getting at least 25 of each basic land – preferably the same art for your mono-color decks, at the outset but if you can 25 each of all five of each land design and type – and it might be worth it to invest in them as they will only appear in Zendikar and its follow-up land set Worldwake, then do it.

These lands are surely my type of land.