Peak eruption looks like it could lead to some ridiculous blowouts against chained to the rocks. Blow up a land, deal them 3 damage, and get your dude back all for 3 mana. Seems like a pretty potent metagame scalpel.
I just noticed that Jeleva (from the upcoming Commander product) and Ashiok look very similar to each other. Deliberate? Coincidence? WotC was unhappy with one and shifted it to the other?
I see potential in the walker in standard and maybe it will see fringe in
modern.
Most standard decks aren't running creatures above the mana cost of 5 if
they want to stay competitive, so most creatures in standard and any
creature in modern (excluding decks that run high CMC reanimator/light
creature and/or heavy control) is fair game. All of the God cards are fair
game for kidnapping too.
She stinks in a control mirror, but she has potential against decks that
rely heavily on combat damage and creature tricks to win. At a glance
she isn't as attractive, to be sure. The current standard environment is
pretty mean though, what with abrupt decay and dreadbore being things,
but a deck running this planeswalker could just as easily take advantage
of those cards the same way they could end up being the victim.
EDIT: Also, it's nice to see Gainsay back in standard after around 12yrs
of retirement.
Question about Tymaret: Does this second ability mean you can sacrifice a creature to get your other copy of Tymaret out of the grave or does it mean you can activate the ability when he is in the graveyard to bring him back to your hand? I thought creatures with activated abilities that you can activate in zones other than the battlefield had to specifically state you can use them in other zones.
See cards like Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord to answer this question.
Cards that 'return from your graveyard to your hand' with an activated ability like this have that ability function from the graveyard. Your first example does not work - you cannot activate his second ability from the battlefield - although you can do what you are trying to do, as his ability functions from the graveyard.
Question about Tymaret: Does this second ability mean you can sacrifice a creature to get your other copy of Tymaret out of the grave or does it mean you can activate the ability when he is in the graveyard to bring him back to your hand? I thought creatures with activated abilities that you can activate in zones other than the battlefield had to specifically state you can use them in other zones.
You can activate the ability when he's in the graveyard, much like rot farm skeleton or Jarad's ability.
It also can be used to dodge removal by pseudo returning him to your hand; you can use his ability to sacrifice himself to return him to your hand (which saves you a creature sac'ing).
He is probably one of my favorite cards spoiled so far just for the name and the art, but he'll need a more solid support base to be really good.
I know that MaRo is not a canon source of flavor information, but it's possible that Ashiok's gender is a non-issue.
I really like the idea of a genderless androgenous planeswalker.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I fear I won't have much time to play Magic these days.
I get to watch worlds develop around me.
I get to watch great leaders, terrible oppressors, and trend setters rise and fall.
Limited, Standard, Modern, everything is a different playing field I feel I can observe, but will not actually touch.
I look forward to the stories I will hear.
And more so to the ones I will watch unfold first hand.
Isn't the unknown exciting?
I have to say, this is staggeringly narrow thinking. Ashiok doesn't need to protect himself, he's so cheap that you just play him when you can leave mana up to protect him. As for his +2 ability not providing incremental advantage, removing 3 cards from their library per turn is actually the main win condition in esper and UB control right now in standard.
Drownyard is leagues better for doing that in that style of deck then this guy.
1) Drownyard is not a spell, there for cannot be countered.
2) Drownyard can actually do something against the control mirror if it's in your opener, it can tap for mana. What will this guy do?
So even though the effects are the same, they are not even close to applied in the same way.
So yes, he mills. No, even if he was Standard playable right now, he would not see play in the UB Control deck because Drownyard is still just plain better for that effect.
So, the standard rumors of MBC floating about seem to have a bit more support to them this time around. So my question is, with all these new indestructible gods, does Lili Realm's -3 start looking a lot stronger?
Ashiok is gender undefined (unburdoned)
Easy responses? They. Them. Their. Not an it, just in discriminate.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I fear I won't have much time to play Magic these days.
I get to watch worlds develop around me.
I get to watch great leaders, terrible oppressors, and trend setters rise and fall.
Limited, Standard, Modern, everything is a different playing field I feel I can observe, but will not actually touch.
I look forward to the stories I will hear.
And more so to the ones I will watch unfold first hand.
Isn't the unknown exciting?
I love this card. I have a Modern deck where this planeswalker will fit in perfectly. Is Ashiok only the second UB planeswalker, not including Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker? The only other one I can think of is Tezzeret, Agent of Bolas.
I like him, I think in a U/B control build for some Theros Block play, he might be good.
I know I'm going to try.
*edited to add*
After reading back a few pages I see an awful lot of "sucks in control" "Good against aggro" type responses.
I see him as a control type play. Awful against an aggro build. He's cheap, so if you need to fight over him you're in the position to do it early. Ticking up is a bad drownyard. And his minus is a uncountable "put your win con into the field"
If you have to fight a 'control mirror' over your win con getting into play, then fight a control mirror over keeping it in play, doesn't logic suggest that getting it into play for free a huge advantage?
I mean, often you would drownyard yourself for some gas right? With 100 cards to go to be spoiled, all the ways to know whats on top. Using him to + yourself is going to be a very realistic play.
Haven't pulled a planeswalker ever since I've started playing magic. (ever since the first ravnica set, not the return to ravnica set) I've bought at least 5 fat packs too. So here's hoping I get Ashiok
Here are some cards that I think might be good in an Ashiok deck:
I think I figured out what really bothers me about Erebos. It's the only one of the cycle that you can't build around. The static effect the others have affect either your board or your deck, whereas hers affects your opponent, which may or may not have a single card that can gain life in it. Conversely if you want an inexpensive draw mechanic Underworld Connections is vastly better as it comes down a turn sooner, costs less "mana" to activate and you lose less life from it. The only benefit is being a 5/7 which is nice but still a bit disappointing given how weak the first effect is and how infrequently you can use the activated ability.
Uh, you know that you can activate the draw ability multiple times right? He's an indestructible draw engine that gets better as the game draws out. Plus, he and the blue god are the only ones that can actually refuel their devotion.
Whoops, my fault. Not the most intuitive forum system, this; hope the new site design is better.
They're both cmc 2 with different colors. I guess.... Lolz!
modern.
Most standard decks aren't running creatures above the mana cost of 5 if
they want to stay competitive, so most creatures in standard and any
creature in modern (excluding decks that run high CMC reanimator/light
creature and/or heavy control) is fair game. All of the God cards are fair
game for kidnapping too.
She stinks in a control mirror, but she has potential against decks that
rely heavily on combat damage and creature tricks to win. At a glance
she isn't as attractive, to be sure. The current standard environment is
pretty mean though, what with abrupt decay and dreadbore being things,
but a deck running this planeswalker could just as easily take advantage
of those cards the same way they could end up being the victim.
EDIT: Also, it's nice to see Gainsay back in standard after around 12yrs
of retirement.
WUR Enduring Ideal RUW
GGG Stompy Crux GGG
-- Elder Dragon Highlander --
UBU
Grimgrin, Zombie HordeUBURWR
Jor Kadeen TronRWRBRU Sedris Beatdown URB
UUU Llawan, Empress of "No" UUU
WBW Vish Kal Tron WBW
GRG Thromok Token GRG
RRR Zo-Zu, Hater of Everything RRR
See cards like Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord to answer this question.
Cards that 'return from your graveyard to your hand' with an activated ability like this have that ability function from the graveyard. Your first example does not work - you cannot activate his second ability from the battlefield - although you can do what you are trying to do, as his ability functions from the graveyard.
I stream Modern events semi-regularly at http://www.twitch.tv/nezeru
You can activate the ability when he's in the graveyard, much like rot farm skeleton or Jarad's ability.
It also can be used to dodge removal by pseudo returning him to your hand; you can use his ability to sacrifice himself to return him to your hand (which saves you a creature sac'ing).
He is probably one of my favorite cards spoiled so far just for the name and the art, but he'll need a more solid support base to be really good.
The Murder King is ok. The fact he can go back hand is good.
The cycle is weird.... probably the white and blue ones are the ones best used.... the rest...
Ashiok is... um, probably crazy....
What happens if we remove colour restrictions from EDH
The /tg/ Custom Cards Cube (MTGS thread)
My blog that has some Magic stuff
I really like the idea of a genderless androgenous planeswalker.
I get to watch great leaders, terrible oppressors, and trend setters rise and fall.
Limited, Standard, Modern, everything is a different playing field I feel I can observe, but will not actually touch.
I look forward to the stories I will hear.
And more so to the ones I will watch unfold first hand.
Isn't the unknown exciting?
MaRo isn't an official source for lore answers but he was asked this question on his tumblr:
Q: Is Ashiok male or female?
A: I believe so, but Ashiok does not like being defined.
Here is a link to the specific post if you want to see it or aren't already following his tumblr: http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/60521933622/is-ashiok-male-or-female#notes
Drownyard is leagues better for doing that in that style of deck then this guy.
1) Drownyard is not a spell, there for cannot be countered.
2) Drownyard can actually do something against the control mirror if it's in your opener, it can tap for mana. What will this guy do?
So even though the effects are the same, they are not even close to applied in the same way.
So yes, he mills. No, even if he was Standard playable right now, he would not see play in the UB Control deck because Drownyard is still just plain better for that effect.
As for the Planeswalker himself, he's terrible.
Thanks to Heroes of the Plane Studios for the amazing sig.
NO RUG: Primer
Tempo Thresh: Primer
Doug Beyer also got asked if Ashiok is male or female and what race Ashiok belong to. His answer:
"Would knowing that be more comforting to you?
ASHIOK IS NOT ABOUT COMFORTING KNOWLEDGE."
In the article featuring Ashiok there is a "he" used once, but that may just have been a mistake (calling Ashiok "it" would be far more confusing).
Ashiok is gender undefined (unburdoned)
Easy responses? They. Them. Their. Not an it, just in discriminate.
I get to watch great leaders, terrible oppressors, and trend setters rise and fall.
Limited, Standard, Modern, everything is a different playing field I feel I can observe, but will not actually touch.
I look forward to the stories I will hear.
And more so to the ones I will watch unfold first hand.
Isn't the unknown exciting?
I know I'm going to try.
*edited to add*
After reading back a few pages I see an awful lot of "sucks in control" "Good against aggro" type responses.
I see him as a control type play. Awful against an aggro build. He's cheap, so if you need to fight over him you're in the position to do it early. Ticking up is a bad drownyard. And his minus is a uncountable "put your win con into the field"
If you have to fight a 'control mirror' over your win con getting into play, then fight a control mirror over keeping it in play, doesn't logic suggest that getting it into play for free a huge advantage?
I mean, often you would drownyard yourself for some gas right? With 100 cards to go to be spoiled, all the ways to know whats on top. Using him to + yourself is going to be a very realistic play.
Just a thought.
How so?
EDH
Maelstrom Wanderer
Here are some cards that I think might be good in an Ashiok deck:
Praetor's Grasp
Nightveil Specter
Fiend of the Shadows
Time Ebb
Spin into Myth
Personally I'd put in Realmwright, Chromatic Lantern, and Havengul Lich as well. If you're looking for a commander deck to put this in try Wrexial, the Risen Deep
Any other suggestions for synergy? As a side note, I also wish to be having coffee right now.
Uh, you know that you can activate the draw ability multiple times right? He's an indestructible draw engine that gets better as the game draws out. Plus, he and the blue god are the only ones that can actually refuel their devotion.
Trade List
MTGSalvation trade list
---------------------------------------------------------
"If you kill me now, it is I who will live, not your damned apples."
"Just mention a firing pole with balls and he's
already thinking about 'that'..."
Decks Played:
Dark DepthslBWG (Legacy)
Coralhelm KnightsGWU (Modern)
Vengevine the Rerevengeancening BRG (Modern)
Holy Necro of all threads!
and probably not. but it would be cool though