One of the best blue finishers of all time? Do you have proof of that statement, or could you let us know after some sufficient testing? The card is pretty bad in comparison to, well, the list is too long to get into. Especially considering gold cards, which this basically counts as because of its abilities.
I'm sorry; I meant more in Standard. If there are many mono-blue finishers I'm not aware of (Palinchron is one of them, I know) I'm sorry; I've come in at the end of Legions, so...
Anyway, yeah this pretty much does come right after Oona, almost.
Excellent removal on a stick? This would be pretty good without the untap ability. Add that and it's freakin' sweet. Of course, it doesn't make an immediate impact and will require most(or all) of your mana each turn to be truly effective. Awesome for casual and limited. Should see some competitive play.
I'm surprised everyone thinks this is powerful. I'm not really that impressed with him (in constructed of course). Creatures that require expensive tap abilities have never really been that great, and to actually attack with this guy and use his ability requires you to tie up all your mana. This is almost strictly worse than Visara (demands 3 colors, have to pay a lot of mana for the ability) and Visara only saw play in sideboards.
Whoever said among the best blue finishers of all time is out of his mind, just the fact that he demands a tricolor deck alone makes him pretty weak compared to the competition, let alone his actual abilities. Funny thing is, right now the best blue finishers in the entire game are psychatog (not mono blue) and tarmogoyf (not blue at all).
How would you compare this to Visara. Visara is black, WAY more expensive,
You mean 1 more mana, and has a tap ability that requires no mana to use?
Visara saw some actual constructed tournament play in Standard/Extended in Rock sideboards; I'm confident this guy will see very little outside of block.
not T2, a legend and not a mortify on a stick. Comparing this to Visara is stupid, sorry.
The enchantment destruction part of this ability is, well, useless. Why would you wait around 6 turns to destroy an enchantment, and why would it be relevant?
I think this card would've been balanced without making it tap for the ability. Something like: 1WBDestroy target creature or enchantment. Play this ability only as a sorcery and once each turn.
Then give him another ability, say WUBReturn Ethersworn Adjudicator to its owner's hand.
Meh, I mean the card has got some decent flavor and its fairly fun, but it would've been alot more playable if it were the above IMO.
Wouldn't that cost more mana? Like....insane amounts more?
You pay three for his first ability, then untap him. 6 mana. 9 if you reuse the ability. 3 to 4 of this mana is colorless.
If he returned to your hand it would go. 3 to destroy something. 3 to return him,5 to replay him,3 to destroy something again. That's 14 mana, 9 of which is colored.
I prefer him as is. Much cheaper, even if it's still reasonably high...
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Phylactery Lich will forever be known, to me at least, as Pimpin' Lich. Get up on it, suckas.
I was all excited about putting this in an Esper control deck, but then I started to think that any time I draw this, I would probably wish it were Scourglass instead...true, this can hit artifact creatures, but so can Executioner's Capsule. I still like it, but I don't know where to put it. Esper already has so many good fliers, so another 4/4 for 5 doesn't really seem necessary to me.
I was all excited about putting this in an Esper control deck, but then I started to think that any time I draw this, I would probably wish it were Scourglass instead...true, this can hit artifact creatures, but so can Executioner's Capsule. I still like it, but I don't know where to put it. Esper already has so many good fliers, so another 4/4 for 5 doesn't really seem necessary to me.
I'm rebuilding my Esper deck as well into a Control version, without my 4x Master of Etherium.
Top of my head general decklist, cause i'm at my work right now:
And got 3 more slots right now.. I'm thinking about 3x Adjudicator.. because a 4/4 flier is actually epic to have as a finisher and it can also remove any possible remaining threats.
Don't know how well this build would perform... but i'm having high hopes...
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Before you try to sound smart, play the game. The difference between 4U and BBB3 is groundshattering at the least. Perhaps if Urborg was still around, it wouldnt be that bad, but if Visara and this both were in T2, noone would play Visara (noone, yes) and at least a bunch of decks would play this guy, even if they werent t1.
Only if there's a UWB archetype or a 5 color archetype that needs this weird creatures as a finisher. It's too slow for board control.
No way would you build a deck around a 5 cc 4/4 non-black flyer that kills 1 creature a turn by tapping two off color mana.
UWBis a far less common color combination to produce in most T2 metagames I remember than BBB.
Wouldn't that cost more mana? Like....insane amounts more?
You pay three for his first ability, then untap him. 6 mana. 9 if you reuse the ability. 3 to 4 of this mana is colorless.
If he returned to your hand it would go. 3 to destroy something. 3 to return him,5 to replay him,3 to destroy something again. That's 14 mana, 9 of which is colored.
I prefer him as is. Much cheaper, even if it's still reasonably high...
Well I wasn't thinking of the return to hand ability that way, instead I mentioned it as a possible way to give him a second ability that was actually relevant (i.e. surviving removal).
I play tested a bit. This is a great finisher. Opponent will often kill it right away if they can. If they can't, they face a huge disadvantage. It's a very good "must kill now" card for a control deck. Esper control might be viable. Worth at least some testing.
The untap ability is not to be underestimated. This costs 5 mana. If you hit another land, you can use both its abilities twice (attack, untap, destroy). Being able to handle creatures and enchantment is great utility value for a control deck. There are lots of relevant cards you can destroy. O-ring is one of them. And of course, it's a creature based meta. It's never going to be useless.
Being an artifact, it's open to recursion via sanctum gargoyle and sharuum. Also, it's a finisher but I don't think playing 3 copies is too many. It did so well in testing I think I'd try running 4 copies. I find that with path of exile in the meta now, some of your best threats are always going to the void.
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"Wizards could put $100 bills in packs and people would complain about how they were folded." - from Dr Jeebus's Sig
5 mana for 4/4 flyer is quite efficient. it's easier to cast than air elemental, and that's just a vanilla. this has 2 abilities, 3 if you count it being artifact. cheap enough that you can still have mana for counters. then it slowly becomes a one-sided wrath at best. it's a mid-game finisher. you could still fit in one or two bigger creatures to mop up.
it's one of the bigger knights around. just something for haakon fans to think about or knight theme decks in general.
I got this guy in a sealed pool last night. He was super solid. Funny thing was when I was laying out my build, I had him next to Cloudheath Drake. Now I know it's not fair to compare these two based on rarity etc, but man, same cost and you get SO much more from the Adjudicator.. even just the 4/4 part is massive.
I got him on board an started blowing up his guys (worked great on super annoying pro-green grizzly bears). He had to deal with it asap (and he did) but had he not it was going to be game over pretty quick.
Really cool card, and I love that it's cost is one 4U and not gold.
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Marshall S. - Co-host of Limited Resources Podcast and owner of magiclifecounters.com
I got this guy in a sealed pool last night. He was super solid. Funny thing was when I was laying out my build, I had him next to Cloudheath Drake. Now I know it's not fair to compare these two based on rarity etc, but man, same cost and you get SO much more from the Adjudicator.. even just the 4/4 part is massive.
I got him on board an started blowing up his guys (worked great on super annoying pro-green grizzly bears). He had to deal with it asap (and he did) but had he not it was going to be game over pretty quick.
Really cool card, and I love that it's cost is one 4U and not gold.
This is almost the definition of bomb in limited, I evy you for pulling him.
For all you advocating his play in construction: I really just have on question, "Is he better than sharuum or any of the esper finishers?" Knocking off bitterblossom is a nice perk but the color combination can already knock off creatures like there is no tomorrow and running this guy wouldn't lower your removal count. he is really bad against control decks to being solid but not something you want to use 5 mana for.
Don't get me wrong, I like him; I just don't think he makes the cut.
This is almost the definition of bomb in limited, I evy you for pulling him.
For all you advocating his play in construction: I really just have on question, "Is he better than sharuum or any of the esper finishers?" Knocking off bitterblossom is a nice perk but the color combination can already knock off creatures like there is no tomorrow and running this guy wouldn't lower your removal count. he is really bad against control decks to being solid but not something you want to use 5 mana for.
Don't get me wrong, I like him; I just don't think he makes the cut.
It's neither better or worse than sharuum as a finisher. For a creature to make the cut in a control deck, it needs some utility value (finks gains life, cloudthresher kills faeries, oona can make tokens, broodmate takes 2 spot removal or a wrath etc). Adjudicator has super utility value in a creature heavy format. It's removal, a good blocker (can untap), immune to lots of removal (maw and terror, have 4 toughness). The most amazing thing I found in testing is that even cloudthresher can't surprise block it if you have 6 mana open.
I agree it doesn't cut your removal count, but it's nice because once this lives for a turn, you never really need to cast another removal spell. It wins the game all by itself. It makes creatures they draw into dead cards. And 5 mana is not too much. You need to think in the context of a control deck. If you run path to exile and wrath of god, it can't be that hard to hit 5 mana even against the fastest decks. Control decks are built to take the game long. In the context of a control deck, this is THE cheapest finisher ever. Oona broodmate, and thresher costs 6. This costs 5 and only requires 1 colored mana!
Also, modern control decks pack a good chunk of creatures. I wouldn't say this card is bad vs control. It's not hard to resolve. 5cc control packs 8 counters at most. It's rare for a control player nowadays to have a counter in hand for 3 consecutive turns. It's not like your entire deck consists of Adjudicator. You'll be playing other spells too. Why not run this AND sharuum? Counter adjudicator? Play sharuum the next turn and they better have a counter.
You really need to play with it and I'm quite sure you'll think it's a good card.
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"Wizards could put $100 bills in packs and people would complain about how they were folded." - from Dr Jeebus's Sig
It's neither better or worse than sharuum as a finisher. For a creature to make the cut in a control deck, it needs some utility value (finks gains life, cloudthresher kills faeries, oona can make tokens, broodmate takes 2 spot removal or a wrath etc). Adjudicator has super utility value in a creature heavy format. It's removal, a good blocker (can untap), immune to lots of removal (maw and terror, have 4 toughness). The most amazing thing I found in testing is that even cloudthresher can't surprise block it if you have 6 mana open.
I agree it doesn't cut your removal count, but it's nice because once this lives for a turn, you never really need to cast another removal spell. It wins the game all by itself. It makes creatures they draw into dead cards. And 5 mana is not too much. You need to think in the context of a control deck. If you run path to exile and wrath of god, it can't be that hard to hit 5 mana even against the fastest decks. Control decks are built to take the game long. In the context of a control deck, this is THE cheapest finisher ever. Oona broodmate, and thresher costs 6. This costs 5 and only requires 1 colored mana!
Also, modern control decks pack a good chunk of creatures. I wouldn't say this card is bad vs control. It's not hard to resolve. 5cc control packs 8 counters at most. It's rare for a control player nowadays to have a counter in hand for 3 consecutive turns. It's not like your entire deck consists of Adjudicator. You'll be playing other spells too. Why not run this AND sharuum? Counter adjudicator? Play sharuum the next turn and they better have a counter.
You really need to play with it and I'm quite sure you'll think it's a good card.
Well first of all, if you are running a control deck, how are you going to curve out if you are running two different finishers above 5 mana? That sounds pretty ludicrous for a control curve. Second, I think I disagree with you about him definitely being a better finisher than Sharuum. Sharuum is one more damage and toughness in the air, which makes a large difference, and is great card advantage. So far I don't know quite what to think about this guy overall. The design just seems awkward, although I'm not saying that its not good...I think that remains to be seen. The main thing I take issue with is having both Sharuum and him in the same deck, that seems destined to fail.
Nonsense, Burnt. Everyone with a bit of intuition will see that Sharuum and the Adjudicator belong into the same deck. Sharuum comes out after the Adjudicator and therfore can get him back. They both share color and type. It sounds awkward if you propose "play one, but not both" when its actually the perfect opposite.
Hmm well, prove me wrong then. I definitely would not run more than 2 of each though.
Otherwise, I gotta side with those naysaying this in constructed. It's just too much mana to invest each turn for such a slow clock, versatile as it may be.
I'm sorry; I meant more in Standard. If there are many mono-blue finishers I'm not aware of (Palinchron is one of them, I know) I'm sorry; I've come in at the end of Legions, so...
Anyway, yeah this pretty much does come right after Oona, almost.
GX Tron XG
UR Phoenix RU
GG Freyalise High Tide GG
UR Parun Counterspells RU
BB Yawgmoth Token Storm BB
WB Pestilence BW
Whoever said among the best blue finishers of all time is out of his mind, just the fact that he demands a tricolor deck alone makes him pretty weak compared to the competition, let alone his actual abilities. Funny thing is, right now the best blue finishers in the entire game are psychatog (not mono blue) and tarmogoyf (not blue at all).
You mean 1 more mana, and has a tap ability that requires no mana to use?
Visara saw some actual constructed tournament play in Standard/Extended in Rock sideboards; I'm confident this guy will see very little outside of block.
The enchantment destruction part of this ability is, well, useless. Why would you wait around 6 turns to destroy an enchantment, and why would it be relevant?
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
Then give him another ability, say WUBReturn Ethersworn Adjudicator to its owner's hand.
Meh, I mean the card has got some decent flavor and its fairly fun, but it would've been alot more playable if it were the above IMO.
You pay three for his first ability, then untap him. 6 mana. 9 if you reuse the ability. 3 to 4 of this mana is colorless.
If he returned to your hand it would go. 3 to destroy something. 3 to return him,5 to replay him,3 to destroy something again. That's 14 mana, 9 of which is colored.
I prefer him as is. Much cheaper, even if it's still reasonably high...
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I'm rebuilding my Esper deck as well into a Control version, without my 4x Master of Etherium.
Top of my head general decklist, cause i'm at my work right now:
4x scourglass
4x executioner's capsule
4x tidehollow sculler
3x sanctum gargoyle
4x cancel
3x punish the ignorance
3x esper charm
4x courier's capsule
2x Tezzeret the Seeker
2x Sharuum the Hegemon
4x arcane sanctum
2x Seaside Citadel
7x island
6x swamp
5x plains
And got 3 more slots right now.. I'm thinking about 3x Adjudicator.. because a 4/4 flier is actually epic to have as a finisher and it can also remove any possible remaining threats.
Don't know how well this build would perform... but i'm having high hopes...
Only if there's a UWB archetype or a 5 color archetype that needs this weird creatures as a finisher. It's too slow for board control.
No way would you build a deck around a 5 cc 4/4 non-black flyer that kills 1 creature a turn by tapping two off color mana.
UWBis a far less common color combination to produce in most T2 metagames I remember than BBB.
Well I wasn't thinking of the return to hand ability that way, instead I mentioned it as a possible way to give him a second ability that was actually relevant (i.e. surviving removal).
The untap ability is not to be underestimated. This costs 5 mana. If you hit another land, you can use both its abilities twice (attack, untap, destroy). Being able to handle creatures and enchantment is great utility value for a control deck. There are lots of relevant cards you can destroy. O-ring is one of them. And of course, it's a creature based meta. It's never going to be useless.
Being an artifact, it's open to recursion via sanctum gargoyle and sharuum. Also, it's a finisher but I don't think playing 3 copies is too many. It did so well in testing I think I'd try running 4 copies. I find that with path of exile in the meta now, some of your best threats are always going to the void.
it's one of the bigger knights around. just something for haakon fans to think about or knight theme decks in general.
........................
I got him on board an started blowing up his guys (worked great on super annoying pro-green grizzly bears). He had to deal with it asap (and he did) but had he not it was going to be game over pretty quick.
Really cool card, and I love that it's cost is one 4U and not gold.
Marshall S. - Co-host of Limited Resources Podcast and owner of magiclifecounters.com
This is almost the definition of bomb in limited, I evy you for pulling him.
For all you advocating his play in construction: I really just have on question, "Is he better than sharuum or any of the esper finishers?" Knocking off bitterblossom is a nice perk but the color combination can already knock off creatures like there is no tomorrow and running this guy wouldn't lower your removal count. he is really bad against control decks to being solid but not something you want to use 5 mana for.
Don't get me wrong, I like him; I just don't think he makes the cut.
It's neither better or worse than sharuum as a finisher. For a creature to make the cut in a control deck, it needs some utility value (finks gains life, cloudthresher kills faeries, oona can make tokens, broodmate takes 2 spot removal or a wrath etc). Adjudicator has super utility value in a creature heavy format. It's removal, a good blocker (can untap), immune to lots of removal (maw and terror, have 4 toughness). The most amazing thing I found in testing is that even cloudthresher can't surprise block it if you have 6 mana open.
I agree it doesn't cut your removal count, but it's nice because once this lives for a turn, you never really need to cast another removal spell. It wins the game all by itself. It makes creatures they draw into dead cards. And 5 mana is not too much. You need to think in the context of a control deck. If you run path to exile and wrath of god, it can't be that hard to hit 5 mana even against the fastest decks. Control decks are built to take the game long. In the context of a control deck, this is THE cheapest finisher ever. Oona broodmate, and thresher costs 6. This costs 5 and only requires 1 colored mana!
Also, modern control decks pack a good chunk of creatures. I wouldn't say this card is bad vs control. It's not hard to resolve. 5cc control packs 8 counters at most. It's rare for a control player nowadays to have a counter in hand for 3 consecutive turns. It's not like your entire deck consists of Adjudicator. You'll be playing other spells too. Why not run this AND sharuum? Counter adjudicator? Play sharuum the next turn and they better have a counter.
You really need to play with it and I'm quite sure you'll think it's a good card.
Well first of all, if you are running a control deck, how are you going to curve out if you are running two different finishers above 5 mana? That sounds pretty ludicrous for a control curve. Second, I think I disagree with you about him definitely being a better finisher than Sharuum. Sharuum is one more damage and toughness in the air, which makes a large difference, and is great card advantage. So far I don't know quite what to think about this guy overall. The design just seems awkward, although I'm not saying that its not good...I think that remains to be seen. The main thing I take issue with is having both Sharuum and him in the same deck, that seems destined to fail.
Hmm well, prove me wrong then. I definitely would not run more than 2 of each though.
Otherwise, I gotta side with those naysaying this in constructed. It's just too much mana to invest each turn for such a slow clock, versatile as it may be.
RWUNumot, the DevastatorUWR - UBDralnu, Lich LordBU - WBURGReaper KingGRUBW - RBMalfegorBR