I edited these to have the correct wording (but I'm not an expert, so help fix them if you know more than I do), and I think we have these two cards to add to our list...
Rupture Spire
Land [Uncommon]
Rupture Spire comes into play tapped.
When Rupture Spire comes into play, sacrifice it unless you pay 1.
{T}: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
Unstable Frontier
Land [Uncommon]
{T}: Add 1 to your mana pool
{T}: Target land you control becomes the basic land type of your choice until end of turn.
was the rarity in the puzzle? Frontier is definately uncommon, but the spire feels like a rare with the way they're moving with alara block. D:
Take your monoblack deck, then set aside 14 swamps. Add 4 Creeping Tar Pits, 4 Darkslick Shores, 4 Drowned Catacombs, and 2 Jwar isle Refuge and add 4 Jace, the Mindsculptors. Your monoblack deck is instantly better. Better yet, drop those refuges, throw in some islands and some mana leaks, and lo and behold, you're now playing a real deck. Congratulations. Welcome to the world of competitive M:TG.
was the rarity in the puzzle? Frontier is definately uncommon, but the spire feels like a rare with the way they're moving with alara block. D:
Well, it's already been spoiled that Exotic Orchard is the only rare land in the set, which makes the two of these either uncommon or common, and I doubt they're common.
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maybe everyone should sig the following:
If you think you found a way to play evermind, you are wrong.
Don't completely think Unstable Frontier as being unplayable. While not the best land, compared to the Lorwyn lands, they are what you've got in block.
But, if this domain stuff picks up (as I think it will), then it'll see more play in domain decks only. So, that's probably an obvious "duh"... other than that, it's something new and not a reprint.
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"In response to your Brainstorm, I use Vedalken Orrery to play Chains of Mephistopheles as an instant."
-- Duncan McGregor, DCI L3 Judge, while playing his "judgebreaker" deck in an IRL EDH game
I wish they would be both common because it would make color fixing that much better in limited. However uncommon is more likely. Frontier could be a common as it's basically Shimmering Grotto done in a way which boosts domain. However Spire won't be anything less than uncommon.
I have no idea why people are calling the Spire bad and worse than the shard lands. Yes it's worse for the single turn it comes into play(basically a double tapped land(itself + 1 other untapped land)), but from then on it's a true 5 color land with no restrictions on usage(no pain, no limits, no drawback at all). This will definitely be high pick in limited since it can support any shard and any splash. In block constructed it's the best land so far to support decks beyond a shard(non shard 2/3 color as well as 4 and 5 color). In standard it's hard to say, it works fantastically with Reflecting Pool but the slow down factor is even bigger than the vivid and shard lands. Regardless it's an interesting card and well worth testing.
And the other one is strictly better than Shimmering Grotto (it makes a land BASIC), but it's still, really bad.
Well, compared to Shimmering Grotto, it has the disadvantages of not working with non-land mana sources, and not working well with lands that produce multiple mana (you can only get 1 mana of any color, not 1 of any color plus more).
Wow, rarities confirmed and for some reason Frontier is the uncommon and spire is the common. I'm happy with this for limited, but I still think Spire is potentially good enough for constructed.
Unstable Frontier seems to be more powerful than first meets the eye.
The theme of conflux seems to be 5-color-decks and domain but not everyone will build decks around those themes. True, problems related to not having the right lands out is not really helped with this card (or rather, there are currently better ones out) but you can use it to turn the opponents "critical" land (his only island or even his reflecting pool) into some basic one that will either hinder ihm or help you (e.g. a swamp for your swampwalker...)
IMO, Unstable Frontier is not a bad uncommon at that...
Rupture Spire is decent mana fixing for less costly ($$$) decks, even though it does come with a heavy CiP disadvantage - tapped and costs 1 from another source. But, as has been said, from then on it is a true blue 5-color producing land with no disadvantages. No counters, no pain, nothing. 3 of this + 3-4 Shard Lands should be sufficient color fixing for the most complex of Shard decks at a budget price, and then of course with Reflecting Pool you also have that interaction. They won't kick out Vivids simply due to the double tap into play factor, but I think we will see them in several builds.
Unstable Frontier's usability will depend almost entirely on support of the Domain mechanic. I'll be waiting on that one.
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Decks
Commander
Ezuri, Renegade Leader (Aggro/Combo - Favorite) Skullbriar, the Walking Grave (Sac and Grave hijinks) Azusa, Lost but Seeking (Landfall hijinks) Kaalia of the Vast (Heavily modded)
I like the second land even if it costs you two land, this one is a nice design for this narrow designed block so far.
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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
Well for really slow decks see 3+ casting cost normally the 5 color land isn't so bad. But it seems that the format is a tad fast for decks like that at the moment.
Anyways the 5 color land is nuts in limited and very high pick. Especially if you like to splash for a 4th or 5th color in Alara limited. So there is a reason why it has to be uncommon that kind of fixing is insane in limited.
CIPT AND pay 1 mana? Garbage. The other one seems largely useless... It literally doesn't help at all. Instead of Mana Cylix, this format needed a Signet of some type. Prismatic Lens-style.
Rupture Spire is perfect for a slow Limited environment with multicolor, and it goes in any deck. This is sort of like the bounce-lands of Ravnica: Much-needed common mana-fixing.
Unstable Frontier will help out Domain in limited loads; It's like Shimmering Grotto, but with the importance of basic land types attached. This could be a staple of a Domain draft deck. When you want your Might of Alara to get +5/+5 instead of +4/+4, this is your go-to guy.
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I used to be six-foot-one and tons of fun. Now, I'm six-foot-two and I can't rhyme.
I make terrible cards in my spare time. My personal favorite, as a joke:
Flavor DestroyerRG
Creature- Insect (C)
Flying Wait, since when do red and green get efficient flyers?
2/1
I'll gladly love that Spire so so much for Limited, oh my lord. It's nowhere near as good as the tri-lands, but I'll play it. Also, WTF common.
In limited, at common, the card is amazing. 'Nuff said.
You don't always have a second turn. If you are playing 5c limited, you almost never have a second turn.
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Wow, I created both of these lands for November's DCC (except my "rupture spire" didnt come into play tapped, but then again it was a rare). May have I become some sort of unaware prophet? Anyway, I approve of these lands.
I'm calling it right now- worst rare in the set. Even good limited players will find better bombs at common and uncommon no sweat. Worst. Episode. Ever.
I really do predict this to be our worst rare in set award winner. I'd be happier opening a jar of eyeballs, so I think anything worse is highly unlikely. This card wont just have zero constructed potential, but not be significantly better than a mass of ghouls in a draft.
I love the fact that there are now functional lands that will bout see standard and Limited formats. The biggest problem for Land walkers is that no one in standard is playing Basics and there are no more Basic based lands anymore. That and in limited you may get a land walker but play someone that does not play the color you need to abuse it. So having a land that allows for optimize your walkers. As for the any color mana Land, they have always been good despite their short comings, and that fact that it is uncommon makes it better, so they budget players have a better chance to having powerful decks too. Just look at cards like gemstone mines and Ice brigde. They shined in standerd, Heck even Reflecting Pool which needs other mana to work is a top dollar card now. So it should take off.
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For the Love of God play Wrath already!!!...... What your playing green Well then Play.......
It's too bad that Unstable Frontier doesn't have a more team friendly template. I designed a similar card before with Wishmonger's wording, which works well to help teammates and stop nonbasic lands with nonmana abilities without completely messing with an opponent's mana.
"T: Target land becomes the basic land type of its controller's choice until end of turn."
Unstable Frontier
Uncommon Land
: Add to your mana pool.
: target land you control becomes the basic land type of your choice until end of turn.
With a name containing "unstable", I'd expect it to be, well, unstable. You know, in a constant state of change. But no, this particular frontier area is unstable in a different way - it changes OTHER areas. If they wanted this land to be unstable (in a state of change) shouldn't the ability be ":1mana:, : Add one mana of any colour to your mana pool"? I guess that would be Shimmering Grotto. I prefer the Grotto myself, except in the cases where land types matter.
Looks like R&D has stumbled onto the design rule of thumb we've known in the Card Creation forum for years, and have been talking about again recently - to make a land, just take the mana ability off an artifact that costs :2mana:.
Rupture Spire
Common Land
Rupture Spire comes into play tapped.
When Rupture Spire comes into play, sacrifice it unless you pay :1mana:.
: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
I'm not sure how playable this would be, especially considering the ideal play is skipping your entire second turn to colour-fix your third turn. It's interesting to see a land with a mana cost though. Might open up some design space.
was the rarity in the puzzle? Frontier is definately uncommon, but the spire feels like a rare with the way they're moving with alara block. D:
Thanks to PurpleD from Left Play Designs for the banner:D
Well, it's already been spoiled that Exotic Orchard is the only rare land in the set, which makes the two of these either uncommon or common, and I doubt they're common.
imo, it should be common, but it's too complex to be common
edit: both should be common, and looks like they will never been used at a constructed level.
The one, as mentioned, is not even as good as the Jungle Shrine
And the other one is strictly better than Shimmering Grotto (it makes a land BASIC), but it's still, really bad.
But, if this domain stuff picks up (as I think it will), then it'll see more play in domain decks only. So, that's probably an obvious "duh"... other than that, it's something new and not a reprint.
-- Duncan McGregor, DCI L3 Judge, while playing his "judgebreaker" deck in an IRL EDH game
I have no idea why people are calling the Spire bad and worse than the shard lands. Yes it's worse for the single turn it comes into play(basically a double tapped land(itself + 1 other untapped land)), but from then on it's a true 5 color land with no restrictions on usage(no pain, no limits, no drawback at all). This will definitely be high pick in limited since it can support any shard and any splash. In block constructed it's the best land so far to support decks beyond a shard(non shard 2/3 color as well as 4 and 5 color). In standard it's hard to say, it works fantastically with Reflecting Pool but the slow down factor is even bigger than the vivid and shard lands. Regardless it's an interesting card and well worth testing.
Machius proudly supports R_E's right to Rumour!
Well, compared to Shimmering Grotto, it has the disadvantages of not working with non-land mana sources, and not working well with lands that produce multiple mana (you can only get 1 mana of any color, not 1 of any color plus more).
Machius proudly supports R_E's right to Rumour!
The theme of conflux seems to be 5-color-decks and domain but not everyone will build decks around those themes. True, problems related to not having the right lands out is not really helped with this card (or rather, there are currently better ones out) but you can use it to turn the opponents "critical" land (his only island or even his reflecting pool) into some basic one that will either hinder ihm or help you (e.g. a swamp for your swampwalker...)
IMO, Unstable Frontier is not a bad uncommon at that...
DCI Judge
Unstable Frontier's usability will depend almost entirely on support of the Domain mechanic. I'll be waiting on that one.
Commander
Ezuri, Renegade Leader (Aggro/Combo - Favorite)
Skullbriar, the Walking Grave (Sac and Grave hijinks)
Azusa, Lost but Seeking (Landfall hijinks)
Kaalia of the Vast (Heavily modded)
Standard
Waiting for Innistrad...
Extended
Hah!
Modern
Living End Cascade (RGB)
Legacy
Burn
Vintage
None
Casual
WB Aggro-Control
Green Stompy
Pink Floyd (UWr Wall Control)
Lunch Box (Fatty ramp)
D-Bag (White Control)
Level 13 Task Mage
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
Anyways the 5 color land is nuts in limited and very high pick. Especially if you like to splash for a 4th or 5th color in Alara limited. So there is a reason why it has to be uncommon that kind of fixing is insane in limited.
Feel free to bid on my cards here!
CIPT AND pay 1 mana? Garbage. The other one seems largely useless... It literally doesn't help at all. Instead of Mana Cylix, this format needed a Signet of some type. Prismatic Lens-style.
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Alters for sale
Unstable Frontier will help out Domain in limited loads; It's like Shimmering Grotto, but with the importance of basic land types attached. This could be a staple of a Domain draft deck. When you want your Might of Alara to get +5/+5 instead of +4/+4, this is your go-to guy.
I make terrible cards in my spare time. My personal favorite, as a joke:
Flavor Destroyer RG
Creature- Insect (C)
Flying
Wait, since when do red and green get efficient flyers?
2/1
In limited, at common, the card is amazing. 'Nuff said.
You don't always have a second turn. If you are playing 5c limited, you almost never have a second turn.
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Unstable Frontier: B+. Shimmering Grotto.
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"T: Target land becomes the basic land type of its controller's choice until end of turn."
Meh. Oh well. Still a cool card.
With a name containing "unstable", I'd expect it to be, well, unstable. You know, in a constant state of change. But no, this particular frontier area is unstable in a different way - it changes OTHER areas. If they wanted this land to be unstable (in a state of change) shouldn't the ability be ":1mana:, : Add one mana of any colour to your mana pool"? I guess that would be Shimmering Grotto. I prefer the Grotto myself, except in the cases where land types matter.
Looks like R&D has stumbled onto the design rule of thumb we've known in the Card Creation forum for years, and have been talking about again recently - to make a land, just take the mana ability off an artifact that costs :2mana:.
I'm not sure how playable this would be, especially considering the ideal play is skipping your entire second turn to colour-fix your third turn. It's interesting to see a land with a mana cost though. Might open up some design space.
.