Actually, 5 mana for 4 power isn't overcosted in limited. It's only solid. You are just spoiled probably with all the undercosted and overcosted cards since Lorwyn block limited.
Yeah, probably true. I was thinking of him at first purely from the unblockable standpoint, from which he is a 2/3 for 5, which is really pretty pitiful, even for draft. However, the 4 power definitely buys him a few points, especially on the blocking end of things, where in limited, you could often use a decently high power blocker in case you need to get rid of something troublesome.
However, this guy still is going to be a very very low pick in drafts.
It's limited playable, in a sealed deck i'd be happy to run it in an esper pool. In a draft deck it's a late pick but it'd often make it into your deck as a 22-23 card. Constructed unplayable of course.
Am I the only one who doesn't think this sucks? I mean, it's not Good, but it's definately playable imo. To swing for 2 damage every turn is pretty nice and with 3 in toughness it dodges Magma Spray at least. He's also an artifact, meaning that he can come out quicker/be returned etc
Am I the only one who doesn't think this sucks? I mean, it's not Good, but it's definately playable imo. To swing for 2 damage every turn is pretty nice and with 3 in power it dodges Magma Spray at least. He's also an artifact, meaning that he can come out quicker/be returned etc
GB Elves <-man I hate this deck, it has a 50/50 matchup against Tier 1/2 but loses to jank aggro most of the time. UB Faeries <-only reason it's good is because of all those people that's still playing 5CC. WB Tokens <-so boring, there's only 2 ways to play this deck. RB Blightning <-Autopilotting you to victory 0-2 drop.
???B Super Secret Tech <-dude, this thing is nuts! 90/10 against all matchups.
Branching Bolt is a more common blowout if you have Strix or Screecher in play.
Maybe it's just me, but playing Esper on MTGO in both the casual and tournament practice rooms, I have seen a bunch more caldera hellions than I have branching bolts.
Quite right in Limited, though.
Dreg Reaver wasn't that bad in Sealed, so this is probably comparable. Note that it isn't complete trash if you have exalted guys.
Mmm. I guess you're right about exalted, although obviously not great colours to have many exalted guys.
NOT at FIVE mana... like xtruder implied.
Sorry, but I thought your post was so wrong... the agents supposedly have 3 toughness... the rest is ok, it is not great, indeed, as you said, but it's not always terrible.;)
Of course, when it's not terrible... it's just ok. It can win games, sure, but so does almost every card in Magic. So, not very playable:-/ with that cost (including the activation for its ability), it's not even good in the late game.
I think people are missing that the evasion is optional, and it's not a 2/3 unblockable for 5 mana + 2 a turn (which IS terrible).
It's a 4/3 for 5 (Dreg Reaver), with the option of becoming unblockable late game when you need it to be unblockable. It's solid. Maybe not a high pick, but it'll see limited play - last time I checked, midrange fat and evasion were good in limited, and this does both.
I agree completely. I wouldn't run this under a lot of circumstances. But a 1 of in an esper sealed or draft? Why the hell not? That 2 or 4 points could be what gets there late game, evasion is everything. Even the 3/3 vigilance drake has trouble getting through in the end for me. Unblockable? Sure, that makes life a lot easier.
For the record, I don't think Windwright Mage is nearly as bad as the rap she gets. I drafted 3 one time and one game, got to play them all. They sat there for a few turns, but as soon as I popped a capsule, they wrecked the game. I had like 34 life in no time.
its really alot like the 4/5 artifact dude in shards playable in the artifact deck where you have sculptors to make the cc viable, pretty weak still though
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This was obseleted about 13 years ago by air elemental
yes vectis agents is strictly worse than air elemental
great job wizards
1. Air Elemental is an uncommon, so it gets to be better.
2. It's not strictly worse, it's easier on the mana in multicolor decks, and it can attack past a Fog Bank or similarly annoying flyer on defense, unlike an Air Elemental, which would just fly there and look scary.
I think this is a pretty solid card, Esper and Grixis had been lacking large creatures in draft, this fills that role nicely, while also providing a card that can break stalemates. Solid common!
A pretty underwhelming card, but at least it has cute art. As a 4/4 it would have been much better and for that mana cost not at all too powerful for a common.
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1. Air Elemental is an uncommon, so it gets to be better.
2. It's not strictly worse, it's easier on the mana in multicolor decks, and it can attack past a Fog Bank or similarly annoying flyer on defense, unlike an Air Elemental, which would just fly there and look scary.
I think this is a pretty solid card, Esper and Grixis had been lacking large creatures in draft, this fills that role nicely, while also providing a card that can break stalemates. Solid common!
Not to mention it actually fits within the flavor of the set. I just can't see Air Elemental doing much in terms of Esper flavor. I mean, I guess it could, but even a handful of minimal flavorful reprints tends to get frowned on....*GLARES REALLY HARD AT MTGS COMMUNITY*
This card could give -3 and it'd still be more interesting and flavorful than Air Elemental, so I'm going to join the rest of Earth in not caring which card would win in an arbitrary 1 on 1 fight.
i can't understand why people are shocked that this card is terrible. its in shards block and has black mana even in limited i just can't see this EVER being playable unless CON is even worse than what we thought could be possible (think Kamigawa bad...)
I would have been perfectly happy with this card if the unblockable part didn't have a mana cost on it. It would have been a good card in limited. Now it's just crap in constructed AND limited. Sadly...I'll wind up playing it anyways.
Not to mention it actually fits within the flavor of the set. I just can't see Air Elemental doing much in terms of Esper flavor. I mean, I guess it could, but even a handful of minimal flavorful reprints tends to get frowned on....*GLARES REALLY HARD AT MTGS COMMUNITY*
This card could give -3 and it'd still be more interesting and flavorful than Air Elemental, so I'm going to join the rest of Earth in not caring which card would win in an arbitrary 1 on 1 fight.
I think if Air Elemental was reprinted in Shards, it would be a Bant card.
You're thinking of the rare creatures that have an ability when they're not blocked like Scalpelexis and Shadowmage Infiltrator... the abilities is what makes them cost so much. Oh wait, those can be blocked. Anyway, do a search for "unblockable" on oracle rules text and you'll find cards like this at common: Covert Operative Dimir Infiltrator Escape Artist
So we see that Wizards doesn't want a 4 powered unblockable (as shown in Plasma Elemental), however they are quite fine with 3 powered unblockable (as shown in Covert Operative) and plenty of 2 powered unblockable at the uncommon level. As for common level, most of the unblockable creatures are 1 powered, but you can't deny Covert Operative which I think is the best card to compare to the new card. Here's the differences from Covert Operative:
+B in cc (not in addition, just switching 1 to B)
-loses static unblockability
-becomes an artifact creature (easier to kill)
+added stats +2/+1
+gains activated ability where you have to pay to shrink it and make it unblockable
I personally think the 4/3 isn't a good card (like most are saying), but it will be played. And there's really no battle for it because Esper wants it the most, and Grixis might take one, but it's not a high pick. Bant which needs more unblockable creatures can't afford the splash. If Covert Operative was reprinted in Shards, OMG it would make blue playable again (being a little overboard with that statement). But giving three shards, especially Bant, a 3 powered unblockable would be strong. But since R&D decided to ton it down a bunch, it's not that good.
Do yes, like I expected, a lot of reprints and a lot of bad cards. One told me that they reprinted so they didn't have to make bad card like these. Bah, I really hate this block.
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hey i have managed to evolve my axolotls by feeding them thyroid glands the thyroxine contained in these gland is enough to change these water dwelling creatures into land based creatures
Posted by: Tay Collins | January 20, 2010 6:45 AM
Tay, that's not evolution. It's metamorphosis. Evolution means descent with heritable modification – individuals cannot evolve, unless they're Pokemon.
Posted by: David Marjanović | January 20, 2010 8:55 AM
If this is true I am a bit sad... another slightly underwhelming Esper chick... WHY do the pretty ones always have to lack power?!
I think Magic has a history for this Good Art = Bad Card and the other way ^^ (I know there a excpetions but not that many) But we have that Chick that was supossed to be in Shards with the Black and White etherium balls or spheres left or am I wrong ?
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Thanks to DarkNightCavalier from Heroes of the Plane Studios for this sick Signature.
Actually, 5 mana for 4 power isn't overcosted in limited. It's only solid. You are just spoiled probably with all the undercosted and overcosted cards since Lorwyn block limited.
it is overcosted when its a 4/3 for 5. the only reason it looks remotely playable is because it has evasion and that has an activation for UB I don't want to be investing 2 mana each turn just to get 2 damage in. Jhessian infiltrator is playable Vectis Agents is a dreg.
Yeah, probably true. I was thinking of him at first purely from the unblockable standpoint, from which he is a 2/3 for 5, which is really pretty pitiful, even for draft. However, the 4 power definitely buys him a few points, especially on the blocking end of things, where in limited, you could often use a decently high power blocker in case you need to get rid of something troublesome.
However, this guy still is going to be a very very low pick in drafts.
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As for the proposed card, no thank you.
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This is just plain terrible.
Sad.
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Branching Bolt is a more common blowout if you have Strix or Screecher in play.
Dreg Reaver wasn't that bad in Sealed, so this is probably comparable. Note that it isn't complete trash if you have exalted guys.
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For 5 mana, you'd expect a bomb or something.
GB Elves <-man I hate this deck, it has a 50/50 matchup against Tier 1/2 but loses to jank aggro most of the time.
UB Faeries <-only reason it's good is because of all those people that's still playing 5CC.
WB Tokens <-so boring, there's only 2 ways to play this deck.
RB Blightning <-Autopilotting you to
victory0-2 drop.???B Super Secret Tech <-dude, this thing is nuts! 90/10 against all matchups.
Maybe it's just me, but playing Esper on MTGO in both the casual and tournament practice rooms, I have seen a bunch more caldera hellions than I have branching bolts.
Quite right in Limited, though.
Mmm. I guess you're right about exalted, although obviously not great colours to have many exalted guys.
NOT at FIVE mana... like xtruder implied.
Sorry, but I thought your post was so wrong... the agents supposedly have 3 toughness... the rest is ok, it is not great, indeed, as you said, but it's not always terrible.;)
Of course, when it's not terrible... it's just ok. It can win games, sure, but so does almost every card in Magic. So, not very playable:-/ with that cost (including the activation for its ability), it's not even good in the late game.
I like 4/4s for 7.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=144195
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I agree completely. I wouldn't run this under a lot of circumstances. But a 1 of in an esper sealed or draft? Why the hell not? That 2 or 4 points could be what gets there late game, evasion is everything. Even the 3/3 vigilance drake has trouble getting through in the end for me. Unblockable? Sure, that makes life a lot easier.
For the record, I don't think Windwright Mage is nearly as bad as the rap she gets. I drafted 3 one time and one game, got to play them all. They sat there for a few turns, but as soon as I popped a capsule, they wrecked the game. I had like 34 life in no time.
Complaint box: Why was the mtg as an mmo(rpg) thread closed? I was having fun talking about it, hrmph-
1. Air Elemental is an uncommon, so it gets to be better.
2. It's not strictly worse, it's easier on the mana in multicolor decks, and it can attack past a Fog Bank or similarly annoying flyer on defense, unlike an Air Elemental, which would just fly there and look scary.
I think this is a pretty solid card, Esper and Grixis had been lacking large creatures in draft, this fills that role nicely, while also providing a card that can break stalemates. Solid common!
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Not to mention it actually fits within the flavor of the set. I just can't see Air Elemental doing much in terms of Esper flavor. I mean, I guess it could, but even a handful of minimal flavorful reprints tends to get frowned on....*GLARES REALLY HARD AT MTGS COMMUNITY*
This card could give -3 and it'd still be more interesting and flavorful than Air Elemental, so I'm going to join the rest of Earth in not caring which card would win in an arbitrary 1 on 1 fight.
I think if Air Elemental was reprinted in Shards, it would be a Bant card.
Phantom Warrior, Jhessian Infiltrator
You're thinking of the rare creatures that have an ability when they're not blocked like Scalpelexis and Shadowmage Infiltrator... the abilities is what makes them cost so much. Oh wait, those can be blocked. Anyway, do a search for "unblockable" on oracle rules text and you'll find cards like this at common:
Covert Operative
Dimir Infiltrator
Escape Artist
and at uncommon:
Inkfathom Infiltrator
FerropedePlasma Elemental
So we see that Wizards doesn't want a 4 powered unblockable (as shown in Plasma Elemental), however they are quite fine with 3 powered unblockable (as shown in Covert Operative) and plenty of 2 powered unblockable at the uncommon level. As for common level, most of the unblockable creatures are 1 powered, but you can't deny Covert Operative which I think is the best card to compare to the new card. Here's the differences from Covert Operative:
+B in cc (not in addition, just switching 1 to B)
-loses static unblockability
-becomes an artifact creature (easier to kill)
+added stats +2/+1
+gains activated ability where you have to pay to shrink it and make it unblockable
I personally think the 4/3 isn't a good card (like most are saying), but it will be played. And there's really no battle for it because Esper wants it the most, and Grixis might take one, but it's not a high pick. Bant which needs more unblockable creatures can't afford the splash. If Covert Operative was reprinted in Shards, OMG it would make blue playable again (being a little overboard with that statement). But giving three shards, especially Bant, a 3 powered unblockable would be strong. But since R&D decided to ton it down a bunch, it's not that good.
*Mayreturn*
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Posted by: Tay Collins | January 20, 2010 6:45 AM
Tay, that's not evolution. It's metamorphosis. Evolution means descent with heritable modification – individuals cannot evolve, unless they're Pokemon.
Posted by: David Marjanović | January 20, 2010 8:55 AM
I think Magic has a history for this Good Art = Bad Card and the other way ^^ (I know there a excpetions but not that many) But we have that Chick that was supossed to be in Shards with the Black and White etherium balls or spheres left or am I wrong ?
Thanks to DarkNightCavalier from Heroes of the Plane Studios for this sick Signature.
it is overcosted when its a 4/3 for 5. the only reason it looks remotely playable is because it has evasion and that has an activation for UB I don't want to be investing 2 mana each turn just to get 2 damage in. Jhessian infiltrator is playable Vectis Agents is a dreg.
Jep I means that art ^^
What no Card that´s such a waste of another beautiful art.
Thanks to DarkNightCavalier from Heroes of the Plane Studios for this sick Signature.