One of the best things about WotC pushing monocolor identity with M14 is that we get really neat cards like this one right here.
This is an absolute perfect fit in my old school-style Stompy deck. A deck which was almost viable, but was missing just a couple important cards... between this, Scavenging Ooze, and Kalonian Tusker, it's going to be legitimately competitive.
I'm disappointed that they're still printing hexproof creatures, but I suppose I could live with this one.
As long as we don't have the stupid hexproof deck where you just slap as many buffs as possible on your invincible creature and ride it to victory. It's just frustrating to play against because there's literally nothing you can do.
Alright, why not just remove control as an archetype from the game altogether, like it has already pretty much happened with combo? It's boring to play against and you can also be beaten to death by something like a sissy counter spell. Not nearly MANLY enough. They should remove spells from the game altogether while they are at it, we need more MANLY creatures!
This card really isn't control hate, control plays counter-spells, and Hexproof doesn't do sh*t about counters. It isn't like control is failing, bant control and esper are still a thing, and will continue to be. Although control is boring to play against, and even more boring to play... Delver when it was in standard is the only control deck I ever enjoyed.
If it said Blue or Black spell period then we're talking. It would be more old school then.
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Out of the blackness and stench of the engulfing swamp emerged a shimmering figure. Only the splattered armor and ichor-stained sword hinted at the unfathomable evil the knight had just laid waste.
Bant Aura usually plays 4 Pilgrim, this thing can come down on turn 2. Turn 3 he gets [Insert Random Aura here] and he's going to get out of control quickly. I can see this guy easily replacing Loxodon Smither in every Bant Aura build.
Ehh... I wouldn't count on that. In this standard, hitting 1GW is easier than 1GG and the smiter's cannot be countered/discarded and extra P/T is all very, very relevant. Not to mention that pilgrim provides W, so you will need 2 green mana sources.
Not to be outdone, Witchstalker's hexproof is also very relevant, but spot removal ain't what it used to be, and the primary removal for control ATM (besides sweepers) is Far//Away, which by the time they cast it, hexproof won't matter as much. However, the "on your turn" I think is what hurts it plenty. Your opponent gets the option whether or not to counter a spell, and if it is worth it, they will.
I would always rather play Smiter just because of versatility, however, Stalker isn't bad, just kind of underwhelming.
I'm disappointed that they're still printing hexproof creatures, but I suppose I could live with this one.
As long as we don't have the stupid hexproof deck where you just slap as many buffs as possible on your invincible creature and ride it to victory. It's just frustrating to play against because there's literally nothing you can do.
Thats why literally every top 8 is all hexproof decks
With geist and stalker leaving standard, I think the reanimator reign of terror is over. Wait, did I say jund? I meant hexproof
Wow, that art. Why is its head so huge, and its legs so stubby? Really strange.
I thought it was a boar at first. I really like this card - it will absolutely see play.
I'm seeing a trend here, like the paladin, where a card gains some kind of benefit from its enemy colors opponents play. Hopefully it's a full 5-card cycle. I really am starting to think that Theros will be a tribal wedge block. If that's the case, I'm going to call it Wedgends.
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Evil is boring. The universe is friendly. Life is on your side. Joy is your birthright. Cynicism is idiotic. Fear is a bad habit. Despair is lazy. In fact, all of creation wants you to succeed. Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes to assist you in turning into the gorgeous masterpiece you were born to be. . . Life always gives you exactly what you need, exactly when you need it.
This card doesn't really hate on blue/black any more than any old 3/3 hexproof would. This is not a Great Sable Stag.
And while a hexproof might hate on decks that rely on pinpoint removal, it isn't singling out black and blue. You can't Searing Spear it. You can't Oblivion Ring it. You have to overload your Mizzium Mortars.
I don't play constructed, but I don't understand why people are complaining about it like the blue and black clause is the major focus.
Honestly I wish they would do away with color hate. I feel like it makes for very bland cards and just hates too hard. I love Hexproof on a 3/3 for 3 but honestly I don't think that it's a very interesting card by a long shot. I would have much rather seen something... Different. Don't get me wrong, it's a good card. But just like that new rare white knight, the protection effects are just getting old and lazy. Nothing fun about them. Think of more interesting ways to slam enemy colors that just slapping on protection or giving them abilities against the colors.
These days spells aren't cast much in opponents turns... traditional control is long dead but they keep printing hate cards for it, over and over again. See Voice of Resurgence...
It still may see some play in a standard bant hexproof deck and might even be one of format-defining cards in post-rotation Standard.
I don't see this in Modern, Great Sable Stag is a similar hate card but sees no play. Witchstalker is more maindeckable but no deck has room for this type of card, it seems too slow for the auras/hexproof deck.
These days spells aren't cast much in opponents turns... traditional control is long dead but they keep printing hate cards for it, over and over again. See Voice of Resurgence...
It still may see some play in a standard bant hexproof deck and might even be one of format-defining cards in post-rotation Standard.
I don't see this in Modern, Great Sable Stag is a similar hate card but sees no play. Witchstalker is more maindeckable but no deck has room for this type of card, it seems too slow for the auras/hexproof deck.
This is my current Stompy build. Come M14, it's going to get significantly better. I'll drop Wandering Wolf for Scavenging Ooze, Predator Ooze for Witchstalker, and Kalonian Tusker will probably replace Strangleroot Geist, with Geist heading to the sideboard.
Black is the worst color in standard and blue is in 4th place, while green is in everything. So what print this? Wizards need to print some sort of green hoser instead of just printing more hosers for colors that are doing poorly as it is.
Unfortunately not, as once you cast trait doctoring, your opponent has already cast a different-colored spell. Therefore the stalker's triggered ability would not have triggered in the first place. LOL trait doctoring still sucks.
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Evil is boring. The universe is friendly. Life is on your side. Joy is your birthright. Cynicism is idiotic. Fear is a bad habit. Despair is lazy. In fact, all of creation wants you to succeed. Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes to assist you in turning into the gorgeous masterpiece you were born to be. . . Life always gives you exactly what you need, exactly when you need it.
One of the best things about WotC pushing monocolor identity with M14 is that we get really neat cards like this one right here.
This is an absolute perfect fit in my old school-style Stompy deck. A deck which was almost viable, but was missing just a couple important cards... between this, Scavenging Ooze, and Kalonian Tusker, it's going to be legitimately competitive.
Expect a primer write-up from me once M14 is out.
WotC, please hire me already.
As long as we don't have the stupid hexproof deck where you just slap as many buffs as possible on your invincible creature and ride it to victory. It's just frustrating to play against because there's literally nothing you can do.
There is the dude in white that can't be targeted by black and red, and now this dude that grow when somebody cast blue or black.
Ehh... I wouldn't count on that. In this standard, hitting 1GW is easier than 1GG and the smiter's cannot be countered/discarded and extra P/T is all very, very relevant. Not to mention that pilgrim provides W, so you will need 2 green mana sources.
Not to be outdone, Witchstalker's hexproof is also very relevant, but spot removal ain't what it used to be, and the primary removal for control ATM (besides sweepers) is Far//Away, which by the time they cast it, hexproof won't matter as much. However, the "on your turn" I think is what hurts it plenty. Your opponent gets the option whether or not to counter a spell, and if it is worth it, they will.
I would always rather play Smiter just because of versatility, however, Stalker isn't bad, just kind of underwhelming.
MTGS egos at their finest.
Thoughts on proxies:
Thats why literally every top 8 is all hexproof decks
With geist and stalker leaving standard, I think the reanimator reign of terror is over. Wait, did I say jund? I meant hexproof
I thought it was a boar at first. I really like this card - it will absolutely see play.
I'm seeing a trend here, like the paladin, where a card gains some kind of benefit from its enemy colors opponents play. Hopefully it's a full 5-card cycle. I really am starting to think that Theros will be a tribal wedge block. If that's the case, I'm going to call it Wedgends.
And while a hexproof might hate on decks that rely on pinpoint removal, it isn't singling out black and blue. You can't Searing Spear it. You can't Oblivion Ring it. You have to overload your Mizzium Mortars.
I don't play constructed, but I don't understand why people are complaining about it like the blue and black clause is the major focus.
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Finally a use for Trait Doctoring?
Except it triggers on the spell being cast. If you change the color on the stack, it does nothing.
If it didn't only last that turn.... it would still be terrible because it still only triggers on spells played on your turn.
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It still may see some play in a standard bant hexproof deck and might even be one of format-defining cards in post-rotation Standard.
I don't see this in Modern, Great Sable Stag is a similar hate card but sees no play. Witchstalker is more maindeckable but no deck has room for this type of card, it seems too slow for the auras/hexproof deck.
I disagree.
//Spells
4 Giant Growth
4 Rancor
4 Titanic Growth
//Creatures
4 Young Wolf
4 Dryad Militant
4 Wolfbitten Captive
4 Wandering Wolf
4 Experiment One
4 Strangleroot Geist
4 Predator Ooze
//Land
20 Forest
//Sideboard
SB: 2 Plummet
SB: 2 Naturalize
SB: 2 Skylasher
SB: 2 Ranger's Guile
SB: 2 Ulvenwald Tracker
SB: 4 Fog
SB: 1 Pithing Needle
This is my current Stompy build. Come M14, it's going to get significantly better. I'll drop Wandering Wolf for Scavenging Ooze, Predator Ooze for Witchstalker, and Kalonian Tusker will probably replace Strangleroot Geist, with Geist heading to the sideboard.
WotC, please hire me already.
Unfortunately not, as once you cast trait doctoring, your opponent has already cast a different-colored spell. Therefore the stalker's triggered ability would not have triggered in the first place. LOL trait doctoring still sucks.
Really craps on UWR cycling their think twice and azorius charms.
WBG Karador GBW
R Daretti R
RG Omnath GR
WRG Modern Burn GRW
WB Modern Tokens BW
DCI Rules Advisor as of 5/18/2015
Yeah, but Bant Hexproof already runs 4x Voice of Resurgence for this purpose. It's tough for this deck to run 3 drops that aren't Geist.