The card itself seems alright, but the Cipher mechanic has some serious potential. I'd imagine they'll dial it back a bit by sticking it on cards with only average effects.
So wait. Can you use Cipher from your hand without paying its mana cost onto a creature? Or do you have to cast the spell, then use the cipher ability?
Is it just me, or does the way Cipher reads mean that EVERY time that creature deals combat damage to a player you can cast the copy? If so, someone slap a Cipher on Aurelia, STAT.
Seems bonkers to me, I love it! I knew I was keeping my Stalkers for something....
Wow. Depending on the power level of the spells Dimir gets, Cipher is incredible. Especially with its interaction with double strike or the spoiled Boros angel.
I just imagine an Unsummon or a Murder type cipher spell. Stalker with multiple Ciphers. Yeesh.
Momir Vig, Simic Visionary Melek, Izzet Paragon Oona, Queen of the Fae Bruna, Light of Alabaster Gisela, Blade of Goldnight Rhys the Redeemed Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord Sen Triplets The Mimeoplasm WUBRGSliver OverlordGRBUW WUBRGSliver Hivelord(Superfriends)GRBUW
Seriously, though. We're adding one extra black mana onto a card that is banned in Legacy, and turning one of your creatures into an Ophidian for the effect? Madness...
So wait. Can you use Cipher from your hand without paying its mana cost onto a creature? Or do you have to cast the spell, then use the cipher ability?
You have to actually cast the spell. The reminder text for cipher begins with "then", and is intended to be read as a continuation of the spell's rules text; there isn't an option not to use the cipher ability.
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I'm so shocked that the U based mechanic turned out to be the most powerful.
Shocked I tell you.
A 4 mana windfall with upside? Really? Windfall's restricted in Vintage and banned in Legacy, and already incredibly good in EDH.
Once again, I get the feeling that people like Maro are completely clueless when it comes to gauging power level. This is an inherently powerful design that can't simply be checked by an easy mana cost fix.
So wait. Can you use Cipher from your hand without paying its mana cost onto a creature? Or do you have to cast the spell, then use the cipher ability?
You cast the spell, it does it's thing, and then Cipher does it's thing.
Wow, that might be the worst artwork I've ever seen.
You haven't seen that many, then. Lucky you.
Cipher feels like an aura with a Comes onto the Battlefield effect, and there is hardly any difference between the two. I guess the main upside of Cipher is that it can be cast without a target, though I don't remember thinking "Man, I wish I had a creature to enchant with Galvanic Arc and deal those three points of damage!" that often.
The effect itself seems powerful, though I'm probably not skilled enough to use it correctly. Especially when you can use it each turn.
I wish my 4/4s with haste and first strike that acted as Goblin Warchiefs were better and didn't die to instants and overshadowed all other 4 drops in the format. And that they had evasion too, and some way to dodge wrath effects.
Can you encode multiple cards onto one creature though? With the frequency of hard to block Hex Proof right now that would be a real pain in the butt to deal with.
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- Online -
X Cube Drafts X
GW Pauper Boggle GW
- Paper -
Standard:
RWB Mythic Midrange RWB
Dunes of Zairo
SHANDALAR
Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries
This fits blue/black perfectly. Something intricately deep that makes no sense and can be abused.
... I love it.
EDH:
RNorin the WaryR <-Link! (Primer - Mono Red Control)
GUEdric, Spymaster of TrestUG <- Link! (Mini-Primer - Dredge)
Duel Commander:
WUGeist of Saint TraftUW <- Link! (Aggro-Control)
BGSkullbriar, the Walking GraveGB <- Link! (Aggro)
BUGDamia, Sage of StoneGUB <- Link! (Extinction Control)
Church of the Wary
On posting Garruk of the Wild
Seems bonkers to me, I love it! I knew I was keeping my Stalkers for something....
I just imagine an Unsummon or a Murder type cipher spell. Stalker with multiple Ciphers. Yeesh.
Bring on the Bonfires.
It's like it turns into a mini-Spellbinder after being cast!
I like this even better than Evolve-
I can't wait to see the rest of the Cipher cards!
Reprint Stasis!
Control needs more love.
EDH:
WUBRGSliver OverlordGRBUW
WUBRGSliver Hivelord(Superfriends)GRBUW
Cubetutor Link
I was expecting a mill-based mechanic, really, since they may never have a better place to use it.
You have to actually cast the spell. The reminder text for cipher begins with "then", and is intended to be read as a continuation of the spell's rules text; there isn't an option not to use the cipher ability.
Shocked I tell you.
A 4 mana windfall with upside? Really? Windfall's restricted in Vintage and banned in Legacy, and already incredibly good in EDH.
Once again, I get the feeling that people like Maro are completely clueless when it comes to gauging power level. This is an inherently powerful design that can't simply be checked by an easy mana cost fix.
0 Karn
W Darien
U Arcanis
B Geth
R Norin
G Yeva
UW Hanna
RB Olivia
WB Obzedat
UR Melek
BG Glissa
WR Aurelia
GU Kraj
BRU Nicol Bolas
RGB Prossh
BGW Ghave
GUB Mimeoplasm
WUBRG Sliver Overlord
GWU Treva, the Renewer
EDH Spike:
U Azami, Lady of Scrolls
Trades
You cast the spell, it does it's thing, and then Cipher does it's thing.
- Online -
X Cube Drafts X
GW Pauper Boggle GW
- Paper -
Standard:
RWB Mythic Midrange RWB
You haven't seen that many, then. Lucky you.
Cipher feels like an aura with a Comes onto the Battlefield effect, and there is hardly any difference between the two. I guess the main upside of Cipher is that it can be cast without a target, though I don't remember thinking "Man, I wish I had a creature to enchant with Galvanic Arc and deal those three points of damage!" that often.
The effect itself seems powerful, though I'm probably not skilled enough to use it correctly. Especially when you can use it each turn.
Anyways, as I said..interesting, potentially powerful mechanic, this card in particular would be nice encoded on a Card Advantage Sphinx.
UBBreya's Toybox (Competitive, Combo)WR
RGodzilla, King of the MonstersG
-Retired Decks-
UBLazav, Dimir Mastermind (Competitive, UB Voltron/Control)UB
"Knowledge is such a burden. Release it. Release all your fears to me."
—Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
Standard:
WBRG Aggro-Reanimator Humans GRBW
Modern:
UR Twinning RU
G Venus Fly Trap G
U Artifacts Aggro U
Legacy:
B Reanimator B
WU Stoneblade UW
EDH
WBGGhave, Guru of SporesGBW
URGRiku of the Two ReflectionsGRU
WUBRGScion of the Ur-DragonGRBUW
Casual
Far too many to list
My current decks!
http://tappedout.net/users/ThePhasewalker/
Also, I really hope for a mythic that lets you "encode" instants and sorceries you cast onto it.