Cliffrunner can be fun, but I am disappointed in Gwafa. IF the bribed critters also had "Cannot use abilities" it would be pretty decent, but you pay 2, tap Gwafid, let your opponent draw, and pacify one of their critters.
I will pay GG,T and place a Turd counter on Gwafa. Gwafa cannot be a part in any deck I build.
Oh well, both Rakka and Gwafa are lackluster, I just hope I don't crack any. Gimme those sweet Maelstrom Angels or even some Progenitus action instead.
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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)
Gwafa is indeed a great design and I'm happy to see it. It's a pity that there a lot creature removal that are preventing it from being really good but then again it will be insane if left unanswerable. Magic design is a very delicate balancing act.
Bane's Reading Suggestions David Eddings: The Belgariad, Mallorean, Elenium and Tamuli Series. The Redemption of Althalus Jim Butcher: The Codex Alera Series
If Gwafa set the effect in the resolution of the counter ability, then it'd be different. Very different indeed.
But as it is... yeah, it looks like it might be something... but then you notice they just kill it, and then it did nothing but feed your opponent cards with your own mana.
I'd like to point out that
If the words used are the ones we see in the first post, then this IS the functionality.
For it to have the 'better' functionality, the words used would change.
WU, T: Put a bribery counter on target creature you don't control. Its owner controller draws a card. That creature can't attack or block as long as it has a bribery counter on it.
I am also angry that this is White. The card is almost dripping with flavour, but this... damages it. White-Blue... with this kind of persuasion... it's problematic. This is precisely the kind of activity that tugs at the division and internal conflict of White-Blue - the parts less White and more Blue. Cutting deals, paying people off, and hanging around to see you're not cheated (but being unable to do anything if you get offed)... that's Blue. That's some epic-level Blue magic.
If this were White, the guy wouldn't draw a card. Or it would definitely be the 'permanent' Pacifism version. It wouldn't be bribery counters.
Still, I hope to find yet another use for my Robe of MirrorsClout of the Dominus, and wonder if there will be other ways to manipulate the counters.
5/3 is ridiculous. Making this vanilla (only conditionally french vanilla, and not even bad otherwise) a rare is a slap in the face.
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Gwafa is indeed a great design and I'm happy to see it. It's a pity that there a lot creature removal that are preventing it from being really good but then again it will be insane if left unanswerable. Magic design is a very delicate balancing act.
Even if their Gwafa Hazid is left in play, how much of a disadvantage is it for you to draw multiple cards per turn cycle and only have one creature of yours shut off per turn? Unless your deck attempts to win with only a few creatures -- keep in mind that the decks that fit that description either play creature removal themselves, run creatures that can literally ignore Gwafa Hazid, or suck -- you should be able to overwhelm someone using this card.
Yeah I don't get it. Gwafa Hazid can't be right can it? It's just so bad.
I'll play my Gray Ogre, then wait a full turn for it to come online, spend some more mana, and let my opponent draw a free card. And in exchange BAM! Free Pacifism! Oh, unless they kill Gwafa.
I mean, I guess I would play him in Limited maybe? He can hold off the opponent's bomb creatures indefinitely until they find some removal. But man, outside of that he is just stinky. Maybe some kind of control/mill deck will find a use for him? The design of the card is interesting I'll admit, but like the Exalted Looter, they seem to have deliberately janked it's power level.
the cliffrunner is rare? i guess its okay. the card is really good, but RARE? i'll be wanting this, but hell, to open this in my pack as the rare...
gwafa's okay too, but giving my opponent cards leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
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CASUAL RULES!!!
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Gwafa's... okay in limited. I wouldn't pick him very high with all the Capsule/Spray/Fire/Splinters etc. running around. Now that I think about it I would probably only side deck him for removal light opponents unless my deck was really aggressive and I needed to take out some early blockers.
If this were White, the guy wouldn't draw a card. Or it would definitely be the 'permanent' Pacifism version. It wouldn't be bribery counters.
Actually that's what i see being the white portion. He isn't just forcing his will on the other creature he is making a trade and keeping the balance. I give you a card you don't attack or block. It is a deal that is good for everyone. That's very white.
It is too bad you can't put the counters on your own dudes. Fate Transfer tricks would have been fun!
If it were to put counters on your own creatures I think it would have some nice synergy with bant. You use his ability on your Dawnray ArcherFrontline Sage or Noble Hierarch since they aren't really going to be attacking or blocking anyway. It would net you a card and keep your opponent from forcing them to attack or block to remove them. Sadly, you can't do that with what we have spoiled.
Cliffrunner can be fun, but I am disappointed in Gwafa. IF the bribed critters also had "Cannot use abilities" it would be pretty decent, but you pay 2, tap Gwafid, let your opponent draw, and pacify one of their critters.
I will pay GG,T and place a Turd counter on Gwafa. Gwafa cannot be a part in any deck I build.
Oh well, both Rakka and Gwafa are lackluster, I just hope I don't crack any. Gimme those sweet Maelstrom Angels or even some Progenitus action instead.
How is Rakka lackluster? Making a 3/1 creature every turn is really good.
If the Behemoth wasn't Rare it could do some serious damage to the Limited format. As is, it isn't a bad rare. We accepted stuff like Plague Sliver, and this is probably better like, all the time.
Gwafa isn't that bad, you will gladly trade the card for, say Jungle weaver, or almost any creature that attacks for 3. Also you can draw a card from your own creatures before dieing. Ofcourse, when an opponent draws a removal from the card, it isn't that good. Limited playable for sure, i would say. The green thing is great though, It has the "win a game" built in it. and it goes with the power 5 or greater thing.
What the...splashable 4 mana 5/3? WITH abilities???
That thing is ridiculous creep.
OK, Gwafa will be the worst card in the set by a LONG way unless its static ability changes to a permanent ability. I can't see WotC printing it as spoiled above, it's just too awful.
Seriously. If it cost 2GG, I could live with that, as (in any other time frame) it would at least require some commitment. As is, this thing is stupid powerful. Getting just one of the abilities is rough, getting both...seriously, they've just obsoleted a boatload of 4 mana green creatures. This is right at the edge of how far I'd want them to push creatures.
I've already made my thoughts on Gwafa known. I'm fairly certain the ability will be related to the counters and not be static. Otherwise, yeah, I wouldn't even run this as a 23rd in limited.
Gwafa Hazid, Profiteer - 1WU
Legendary Creature - Human Rogue (R) WU,T: Put a Bribery counter on target creature you don't control, then its controller draw a card.
Creature with Bribery counters on it cannot attack or block.
2/2.
Too bad I don't feel like letting opponents draw cards for my Pacifisms. Bad, bad rare, possibly General Jarkeld bad.
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:symur::symur::symur::symur::symur:
Several years ago, WotC apparently surveyed Magic players across the globe. They found that people liked turning things sideways, and hated LD. This is the result:
Actually that's what i see being the white portion. He isn't just forcing his will on the other creature he is making a trade and keeping the balance. I give you a card you don't attack or block.
No, but that's only the flavour IF the restriction is part of the first ability, not a separate one.
As it is, he's not bargaining for jack. He's saying you take a card, and as long as I can see you, you gotta not attack or block.
The double restriction is just dumb.
If it really were White, he could magically compel the creature to hold to what they agreed in perpetuity. *Or*, Or, the whole mechanic would be (vastly different and) just be a matter of saying "this creature has ~this~ (counter) on it." And using some awesome magic to make them all passive. Because white icons of legend do that kind of thing.
But what we see is a limited form of deal making. It's like he's giving something up for the trade.... but he still has to be there to do the rest of it. He hasn't bargained for anything. He needs that second ability (his presence) to maintain whatever it is that the first ability set up. And because of that, "what the first ability set up," in flavour terms, is unclear.
It is a deal that is good for everyone. That's very white.
White doesn't need to give you back something for what you give up. White gives itself the right to stop actions it finds immoral. There is overlap in flavour, yes, of "making everyone happy" and of exchanges in White-Blue, but the way this ended up executed is too much like Blue, what monoblue would have to deal with, in doing this. Blue finds solutions and if negotiation is an option it likes to take it. But it doesn't have the compulsion power that White does... not except for its full-blown mental compulsions (control magic/charms). So that would explain why it's still tied to Gwafa staying around... it feels more like Blue's limitations. So I'm just thinking the White cost is annoying, because clearly Gwafa isn't using it.
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RIght now a I see it, the power and Toughness is not the issue. The fact that this thing is able to drop on Turn 3 and start shutting out Aggro. This is what U/W control needs as well as Mill. J.
You're going to shut out aggro by casting Inspiration on them? Don't kind yourself, this is probably the worst card printed in 3 sets. Honestly, I have no idea why Wizards decided to throw so many damn restrictions on this card? I mean, I know it's not particularly flavorful to bribe your own creatures with damage on the stack, but it might have made there be at least some benefit to playing him. This guy needed to be something like 0/4, or even better, have shroud. As stands, he's right up there with one with nothing and mudhole.
I must say, that's beautiful art though.
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Thanks Darthmonkey at Damnation Studios for the sig.
(experiencing technical difficulties. If I weren't busy and tired, your eyeballs would be exploding due to excess magnificence)
Thanks mchief111 for the avvy.
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I will pay GG,T and place a Turd counter on Gwafa. Gwafa cannot be a part in any deck I build.
Oh well, both Rakka and Gwafa are lackluster, I just hope I don't crack any. Gimme those sweet Maelstrom Angels or even some Progenitus action instead.
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...
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Hah!
Modern
Living End Cascade (RGB)
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Lunch Box (Fatty ramp)
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Level 13 Task Mage
....
I got offtrack somehow....Powercreep...yeah....thats what I meant to say...
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Bane's Reading Suggestions
David Eddings: The Belgariad, Mallorean, Elenium and Tamuli Series. The Redemption of Althalus
Jim Butcher: The Codex Alera Series
But as it is... yeah, it looks like it might be something... but then you notice they just kill it, and then it did nothing but feed your opponent cards with your own mana.
I'd like to point out that
If the words used are the ones we see in the first post, then this IS the functionality.
For it to have the 'better' functionality, the words used would change.
WU, T: Put a bribery counter on target creature you don't control. Its
ownercontroller draws a card. That creature can't attack or block as long as it has a bribery counter on it.I am also angry that this is White. The card is almost dripping with flavour, but this... damages it. White-Blue... with this kind of persuasion... it's problematic. This is precisely the kind of activity that tugs at the division and internal conflict of White-Blue - the parts less White and more Blue. Cutting deals, paying people off, and hanging around to see you're not cheated (but being unable to do anything if you get offed)... that's Blue. That's some epic-level Blue magic.
If this were White, the guy wouldn't draw a card. Or it would definitely be the 'permanent' Pacifism version. It wouldn't be bribery counters.
Still, I hope to find yet another use for my
Robe of MirrorsClout of the Dominus, and wonder if there will be other ways to manipulate the counters.5/3 is ridiculous. Making this vanilla (only conditionally french vanilla, and not even bad otherwise) a rare is a slap in the face.
Awesome avatar provided by Krashbot @ [Epic Graphics].
Even if their Gwafa Hazid is left in play, how much of a disadvantage is it for you to draw multiple cards per turn cycle and only have one creature of yours shut off per turn? Unless your deck attempts to win with only a few creatures -- keep in mind that the decks that fit that description either play creature removal themselves, run creatures that can literally ignore Gwafa Hazid, or suck -- you should be able to overwhelm someone using this card.
I'll play my Gray Ogre, then wait a full turn for it to come online, spend some more mana, and let my opponent draw a free card. And in exchange BAM! Free Pacifism! Oh, unless they kill Gwafa.
I mean, I guess I would play him in Limited maybe? He can hold off the opponent's bomb creatures indefinitely until they find some removal. But man, outside of that he is just stinky. Maybe some kind of control/mill deck will find a use for him? The design of the card is interesting I'll admit, but like the Exalted Looter, they seem to have deliberately janked it's power level.
gwafa's okay too, but giving my opponent cards leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
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Actually that's what i see being the white portion. He isn't just forcing his will on the other creature he is making a trade and keeping the balance. I give you a card you don't attack or block. It is a deal that is good for everyone. That's very white.
If it were to put counters on your own creatures I think it would have some nice synergy with bant. You use his ability on your Dawnray Archer Frontline Sage or Noble Hierarch since they aren't really going to be attacking or blocking anyway. It would net you a card and keep your opponent from forcing them to attack or block to remove them. Sadly, you can't do that with what we have spoiled.
Remember Vengeful Firebrand?
I at least like the Cliffrunner...
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How is Rakka lackluster? Making a 3/1 creature every turn is really good.
...................__
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........('(...´...´.... ¯~/'...')
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BRO FIST - if you don't sig this you are not a bro.
I don't know how to do attachments, so here they are (I hope this is ok):
Gwafa's art is perfect.
No imageleeching, please. Use the "Manage attachments" function and upload it from URL.
-Car.
EDIT: Thanks for letting me know how to do that.
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But yeah his art is great. I really hope our spoil is wrong in some way to make him good.
Seriously. If it cost 2GG, I could live with that, as (in any other time frame) it would at least require some commitment. As is, this thing is stupid powerful. Getting just one of the abilities is rough, getting both...seriously, they've just obsoleted a boatload of 4 mana green creatures. This is right at the edge of how far I'd want them to push creatures.
I've already made my thoughts on Gwafa known. I'm fairly certain the ability will be related to the counters and not be static. Otherwise, yeah, I wouldn't even run this as a 23rd in limited.
UBDragonlord Silumgar WGKarametra, God of Harvests
BRUNekusar, the Mindrazer BGMazirek, Kraul Death Priest
URMelek, Izzet Paragon UGPrime Speaker Zegana
WUHanna, Ship's Navigator BWUSydri, Galvanic Genius
WUBRGSliver Queen RBBladewing the Risen
WBKarlov of the Ghost Council RGXenagos, God of Revels
GFreyalise, Llanowar's Fury RWAurelia, the Warleader
RIb Halfheart, Goblin Tactician BDrana, Liberator of Malakir
UAzami, Lady of Scrolls WNahiri, the Lithomancer
WBGDoran, the Siege Tower CEmrakul, the Promised End
no you cant
Too bad I don't feel like letting opponents draw cards for my Pacifisms. Bad, bad rare, possibly General Jarkeld bad.
Several years ago, WotC apparently surveyed Magic players across the globe. They found that people liked turning things sideways, and hated LD. This is the result:
No, but that's only the flavour IF the restriction is part of the first ability, not a separate one.
As it is, he's not bargaining for jack. He's saying you take a card, and as long as I can see you, you gotta not attack or block.
The double restriction is just dumb.
If it really were White, he could magically compel the creature to hold to what they agreed in perpetuity. *Or*, Or, the whole mechanic would be (vastly different and) just be a matter of saying "this creature has ~this~ (counter) on it." And using some awesome magic to make them all passive. Because white icons of legend do that kind of thing.
But what we see is a limited form of deal making. It's like he's giving something up for the trade.... but he still has to be there to do the rest of it. He hasn't bargained for anything. He needs that second ability (his presence) to maintain whatever it is that the first ability set up. And because of that, "what the first ability set up," in flavour terms, is unclear.
White doesn't need to give you back something for what you give up. White gives itself the right to stop actions it finds immoral. There is overlap in flavour, yes, of "making everyone happy" and of exchanges in White-Blue, but the way this ended up executed is too much like Blue, what monoblue would have to deal with, in doing this. Blue finds solutions and if negotiation is an option it likes to take it. But it doesn't have the compulsion power that White does... not except for its full-blown mental compulsions (control magic/charms). So that would explain why it's still tied to Gwafa staying around... it feels more like Blue's limitations. So I'm just thinking the White cost is annoying, because clearly Gwafa isn't using it.
Awesome avatar provided by Krashbot @ [Epic Graphics].
You're going to shut out aggro by casting Inspiration on them? Don't kind yourself, this is probably the worst card printed in 3 sets. Honestly, I have no idea why Wizards decided to throw so many damn restrictions on this card? I mean, I know it's not particularly flavorful to bribe your own creatures with damage on the stack, but it might have made there be at least some benefit to playing him. This guy needed to be something like 0/4, or even better, have shroud. As stands, he's right up there with one with nothing and mudhole.
I must say, that's beautiful art though.
(experiencing technical difficulties. If I weren't busy and tired, your eyeballs would be exploding due to excess magnificence)
Thanks mchief111 for the avvy.