So im in the middle of designing a Wedge themed block for a custom standard im working on, and I got to the land part of the design process. A few quick moments with Gatherer showed that there has only ever been one Wedge land printed previous, Murmuring Bosk.
My intention if I can figure out a way to do it, is to create a cycle of lands similar to this, for each wedge, but I have one problem, my block isnt Tribal focus, so the "reveal an X creature type" clause is completely irrelevant. Can anyong suggest an alternative that would be balanced enough so that a potential Tri-Land that come in untapped doesnt completely upset the market and sky-rockets to $300 due to Eternal formats?
Also, as a small bit of context as to this decision, in my custom Core Set, the full cycle of Fetchlands are reprinted which means these will be searchable with them.
Junk Wedge Tri-Land
Land - Swamp
(T: Add B to your mana pool.)
~ enters the battlefield tapped unless you pay 2 life.
T: Add G or W to your mana pool, target opponent gains 1 life.
2) "Check clause" replacing Tribal requirement
Example
Junk Wedge Tri-Land
Land - Swamp
(T: Add B to your mana pool.)
~ enters the battlefield tapped unless you control a Forest or Plains.
T: Add G or W to your mana pool.
3) Drop it all together and leave the land as is.
Example
Junk Wedge Tri-Land
Land - Swamp
(T: Add B to your mana pool.)
T, Pay 1 life: Add G or W to your mana pool.
4) Dont let them ever ETB untapped.
Example
Junk Wedge Tri-Land
Land - Swamp
(T: Add B to your mana pool.)
~ enters the battlefield tapped.
T, Pay 1 life: Add G or W to your mana pool.
By full cycle of fetchlands, do you mean all 10 Onslaught and Zendikar fetchlands? That is A LOT of fetchlands for one standard format.
Anyway, I would consider versions 1 and 3 unprintable right away. The "drawback" on Grove of the Burnwillows is not a drawback in control decks, and has been shown that it can even be beneficial in an aggro deck with the rightsupport. Entering untapped with no conditional drawback should be obvious that it is too good.
Version 2 is interesting and would be worth testing.
Version 4 is obviously the safe way to go.
Both versions 2 and 4 would probably want to be rare though. For a multicolor set focused on wedges, it might be better to simply do the wedge equivalents of Seaside Citadel to give good mana fixing at uncommon.
Originally yes, I planned to do all 10 fetchlands, as a "everyone wants them reprinted, so why not," and also as a "I dont know a better way for good mana fixing outside of green."
I agree Version 1 and 3 seemed the most powerful, and would almost invalidate even the ABUR duals, I was just throwing the ideas i initially though of out there.
I did like the "Checkland" clause version as well, but it just seems a little weird and unwieldy, especially with Fetchlands being present, they may as well enter untapped anyways.
I agree version 4 seems the safest of those I posted, but it seems weaker than the vanilla Shard Tri-Lands from Alara.
Now, a real question for a Wedge block, outside of printing Wedge equivalents of Alara's Shardlands, and possibly even the Vivid Cycle again, is there any way to not just inherently hose any wedges dont include Green, short of every deck being 4 Color Goodstuff? Or maybe just do a rip-off mana base of Alara with allied Fetches as back-up.
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My intention if I can figure out a way to do it, is to create a cycle of lands similar to this, for each wedge, but I have one problem, my block isnt Tribal focus, so the "reveal an X creature type" clause is completely irrelevant. Can anyong suggest an alternative that would be balanced enough so that a potential Tri-Land that come in untapped doesnt completely upset the market and sky-rockets to $300 due to Eternal formats?
Also, as a small bit of context as to this decision, in my custom Core Set, the full cycle of Fetchlands are reprinted which means these will be searchable with them.
Initial ideas
1) "Shock clause" combined with Grove of the Burnwillows styled life gain on the Wedge colors
Example
Junk Wedge Tri-Land
Land - Swamp
(T: Add B to your mana pool.)
~ enters the battlefield tapped unless you pay 2 life.
T: Add G or W to your mana pool, target opponent gains 1 life.
2) "Check clause" replacing Tribal requirement
Example
Junk Wedge Tri-Land
Land - Swamp
(T: Add B to your mana pool.)
~ enters the battlefield tapped unless you control a Forest or Plains.
T: Add G or W to your mana pool.
3) Drop it all together and leave the land as is.
Example
Junk Wedge Tri-Land
Land - Swamp
(T: Add B to your mana pool.)
T, Pay 1 life: Add G or W to your mana pool.
4) Dont let them ever ETB untapped.
Example
Junk Wedge Tri-Land
Land - Swamp
(T: Add B to your mana pool.)
~ enters the battlefield tapped.
T, Pay 1 life: Add G or W to your mana pool.
Anyway, I would consider versions 1 and 3 unprintable right away. The "drawback" on Grove of the Burnwillows is not a drawback in control decks, and has been shown that it can even be beneficial in an aggro deck with the right support. Entering untapped with no conditional drawback should be obvious that it is too good.
Version 2 is interesting and would be worth testing.
Version 4 is obviously the safe way to go.
Both versions 2 and 4 would probably want to be rare though. For a multicolor set focused on wedges, it might be better to simply do the wedge equivalents of Seaside Citadel to give good mana fixing at uncommon.
I agree Version 1 and 3 seemed the most powerful, and would almost invalidate even the ABUR duals, I was just throwing the ideas i initially though of out there.
I did like the "Checkland" clause version as well, but it just seems a little weird and unwieldy, especially with Fetchlands being present, they may as well enter untapped anyways.
I agree version 4 seems the safest of those I posted, but it seems weaker than the vanilla Shard Tri-Lands from Alara.
Now, a real question for a Wedge block, outside of printing Wedge equivalents of Alara's Shardlands, and possibly even the Vivid Cycle again, is there any way to not just inherently hose any wedges dont include Green, short of every deck being 4 Color Goodstuff? Or maybe just do a rip-off mana base of Alara with allied Fetches as back-up.