The true mind can weather all the lies and illusions without being lost. The true heart can tough the poison of hatred without being harmed. Since beginning-less time, darkness thrives in the void but always yields to purifying light.
I invision a future where one is not mighty when he can silence a crowd with brutality,
but when he leaves them speechless with wisdom.
So, are they ever going to make a tribute card where it isn't blatantly obvious what the "correct" choice is?
Every tribute card so far has their effects made so that there's no reason at all to ever choose one of the effects over the other. Why even bother giving your opponents a choice when it's laid out right for them?
I'd say Fanatic of Xenagos is the best tribute card so far. Can come down as early as t2 and being a slow 4/4 puts him out of a lot of removal.
So if they've got something you really want to destroy, they'll let you have a slightly undercosted fatty. If they don't, they'll let you have a Ravaging Horde.
This thread serves as a fascinating example of how hard sarcasm can be to detect on the internet, how willing people are to assume that someone else is a total moron, and how few people bother to test hypotheses about which they are/should be uncertain.
It all depends on the audience though.
In MTGS, everyone is quick to assume someone is a total moron.
Wonder why?
At any rate, why do they pick cards like this as card previews? I would be miserable to write about this.
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News and spoiler contributor for GatheringMagic.com
This thread serves as a fascinating example of how hard sarcasm can be to detect on the internet, how willing people are to assume that someone else is a total moron, and how few people bother to test hypotheses about which they are/should be uncertain.
I've learned to never assume anything on MTGS...<especially if you've read through some of Cz's posts in the casual forum.>
In any constructed format, a single vanilla 6/6 for five is too easy to neutralize to have any relevance. Especially when that 6/6 can just be a 3/3 that blows up a land when your opponent has extra to spare.
In limited, this is okay but not stellar. I'd rather play Pharagax Giant given a choice between the two, but I wouldn't be totally embarrassed to run this.
Now this is interesting, this guy seems better to me in limited than the giant. Obviously 6/6s are better than 5/5s, and this guy also seems better when tribute isn't paid, as it's actually card advantage vs. reducing the life total of someone who clearly believes they can take it. The only way this seems like it could be worse is if the ability was bad often enough, but with bestow providing targets and monstrosity/bestow making lands 6-8 quite relevant that seems like a pretty rare scenario.
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I primarily play limited, so most of my spoiler season comments view cards through that lens.
I hate this mechanic with a passion, not a single card so far makes me think it will be playable.
I guess this is supposed to be the limited mechanic for the set? Yet inspiration or w/e is pretty bad too so far.
No thanks Wizards.
I don't think theres anything inherently wrong with tribute. I mean, the choice could be between something more interactive than just +1/+1 counters on the one side, but I understand its meant to play as a counterpoint to Monstrous. But while the mechanic itself could be appropriately costed to create very good cards that make for tough decisions, it hasn't. The one playable tribute card we've seen is one that only passes the test because the two choices its giving you are almost exactly the same thing. And boy, thats sure hard for development to cost appropriately
I think they made a huge misstep by having a mechanic development wasn't comfortable with understanding. They've never really impressed me to begin with, but this has been one nonstop horror show so far. Give me five minutes and a powerpoint slide and I'd teach them how to do it objectively and mathematically
I think haste+trample would do it, or haste+hexproof, but I don't know about hexproof+trample.
For some reason i want this guy to have blample(blocking trample). Why? Not sure
I just like the ability and wish it showed up on more than 1 card
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The true mind can weather all the lies and illusions without being lost. The true heart can tough the poison of hatred without being harmed. Since beginning-less time, darkness thrives in the void but always yields to purifying light.
I invision a future where one is not mighty when he can silence a crowd with brutality,
but when he leaves them speechless with wisdom.
The way it's worded, the opponent doesn't get to know what you're blowing up until they choose whether you get the counters or not. I'm sure that's how it will work when it's translated into English, right?
At any rate, why do they pick cards like this as card previews? I would be miserable to write about this.
I do wonder that. I remember Gatecrash, when two of the last rares that we only saw with the full spoiler were Boros Reckoner and Immortal Servitude, two cards that would have been a blast to talk about. Meanwhile, this card would have zero comments outside of set reviews if it were posted on the final day of reviews. It's a solid filler card, but you should have more to promote your set with than filler.
I would have less of a problem with tribute myself if the flavor matched up. Perhaps if these were particularly regal, diabolical, or vain monsters, tribute would have made flavor sense. But all we have with this card is a random beast that will stop destroying your stuff if you make it big for some reason.
It all depends on the audience though.
In MTGS, everyone is quick to assume someone is a total moron.
Wonder why?
At any rate, why do they pick cards like this as card previews? I would be miserable to write about this.
I thought the same thing... if they approached me to write about this I would compare it to Browbeat, Fact or Fiction, and all the other Punisher cards people played with and then spend 80% of the article explaining how this is not a good Punisher card because both options are sort of lame. I'd never get another spoiler.
Petroglyphs - It has abilities so not even good there.
I think they made a huge misstep by having a mechanic development wasn't comfortable with understanding. They've never really impressed me to begin with, but this has been one nonstop horror show so far. Give me five minutes and a powerpoint slide and I'd teach them how to do it objectively and mathematically
LOL, I love when randos on the internet think they can do so much better than the professionals, but this is one of the most grandiose and pompous I've seen yet!
This guy needs to be paired with Nylea and/or Xenagod. I think most of us comparing him with Arbor Colossus or destroying Elspeth. Alone, pretty bad but situational. Combo, pretty decent card. Perhaps the new trend to be more midrange-combo style of game ?
This doesn't even seem very good in Limited; a lot of the time it will be a 5 mana 3/3 and kill a land the opponent doesn't really need. (Especially if it's cast off curve).
Do bestows count as non-creature spells when they're acting as auras? If so, this guy is marginally better in limited.
Yknow what would be cool here? "Remove a +1/+1 counter: Regenerate ~." This plus trample and or hexproof and id like this beast just sayin
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The true mind can weather all the lies and illusions without being lost. The true heart can tough the poison of hatred without being harmed. Since beginning-less time, darkness thrives in the void but always yields to purifying light.
I invision a future where one is not mighty when he can silence a crowd with brutality,
but when he leaves them speechless with wisdom.
I was saying in custom card creation that it would be very interesting to see a tribute card where both sides could have an interesting upside/downside in any game situation and it wouldn't be so clear cut. Something where the +1/+1 counters interacted mechanically with the card to have an effect other than just giving you a big dumb vanilla beater. Right now the only choice you get is "vanilla beater or bad stuff". Which is mechanically very uninteresting and poorly designed.
Well, you've got me with the Xenagos tribute creature.
Great, we've seen ONE tribute card that isn't total ****. Isn't that showing off how cool the mechanic is?
Like I've said before, if they're going to make the choice so obvious about what to pick, then they might as well either not even have the option for choice, or just make it so that when they choose the "obvious" option, that there's something in it for the person playing the creature.
I don't think theres anything inherently wrong with tribute....
I knew as soon as something resembling a Punisher card showed up, I'd find you arguing about how bad they are... the cards that clearly want to do X are trying to do X but aren't. Nice
Well, you've got me with the Xenagos tribute creature.
Great, we've seen ONE tribute card that isn't total ****. Isn't that showing off how cool the mechanic is?
Like I've said before, if they're going to make the choice so obvious about what to pick, then they might as well either not even have the option for choice, or just make it so that when they choose the "obvious" option, that there's something in it for the person playing the creature.
I mean, if the difficulty is in them costing it appropriately, the xenagos tribute gives you a choice between a 4/4 trample and a 4/4 trample haste for one turn and then a downgrade. Next thing you know they'll print a tribute thats a gray ogre with tribute 1 and if the tribute isn't paid, you put a +1/+1 counter on it anyway and call it a day
I knew as soon as something resembling a Punisher card showed up, I'd find you arguing about how bad they are... the cards that clearly want to do X are trying to do X but aren't. Nice
I have nothing "against" punisher mechanics. Its just a mechanic like any other. If its done right, it can be a pretty convincing mechanic too
I have something against the way wizards keeps botching them, however.
If you like the card though, for sure use it in edh.
They are right though, there are cards that are closer to this than primordial.
EDIT: let's play a game "called what does this card need to be good?"
What would u guys think if it had hexproof?
What about trample? Or haste? Id like it with hexproof honestly. Makes your opponent have to tthink harder
I invision a future where one is not mighty when he can silence a crowd with brutality,
but when he leaves them speechless with wisdom.
I'd say Fanatic of Xenagos is the best tribute card so far. Can come down as early as t2 and being a slow 4/4 puts him out of a lot of removal.
Is this a joke? Nessian Asp is near 1st pick.
.
It all depends on the audience though.
In MTGS, everyone is quick to assume someone is a total moron.
Wonder why?
At any rate, why do they pick cards like this as card previews? I would be miserable to write about this.
Twitter
I've learned to never assume anything on MTGS...<especially if you've read through some of Cz's posts in the casual forum.>
Infraction for flaming and trolling. -TK
Now this is interesting, this guy seems better to me in limited than the giant. Obviously 6/6s are better than 5/5s, and this guy also seems better when tribute isn't paid, as it's actually card advantage vs. reducing the life total of someone who clearly believes they can take it. The only way this seems like it could be worse is if the ability was bad often enough, but with bestow providing targets and monstrosity/bestow making lands 6-8 quite relevant that seems like a pretty rare scenario.
Interested in Custom Card Creation.
My Cube:Cardinal Custom Cube
A custom version of a third modern masters: MM2019
(filter->rarity to see in set rarity).
I don't think theres anything inherently wrong with tribute. I mean, the choice could be between something more interactive than just +1/+1 counters on the one side, but I understand its meant to play as a counterpoint to Monstrous. But while the mechanic itself could be appropriately costed to create very good cards that make for tough decisions, it hasn't. The one playable tribute card we've seen is one that only passes the test because the two choices its giving you are almost exactly the same thing. And boy, thats sure hard for development to cost appropriately
I think they made a huge misstep by having a mechanic development wasn't comfortable with understanding. They've never really impressed me to begin with, but this has been one nonstop horror show so far. Give me five minutes and a powerpoint slide and I'd teach them how to do it objectively and mathematically
I think haste+trample would do it, or haste+hexproof, but I don't know about hexproof+trample.
Interested in Custom Card Creation.
My Cube:Cardinal Custom Cube
A custom version of a third modern masters: MM2019
(filter->rarity to see in set rarity).
For some reason i want this guy to have blample(blocking trample). Why? Not sure
I just like the ability and wish it showed up on more than 1 card
I invision a future where one is not mighty when he can silence a crowd with brutality,
but when he leaves them speechless with wisdom.
I do wonder that. I remember Gatecrash, when two of the last rares that we only saw with the full spoiler were Boros Reckoner and Immortal Servitude, two cards that would have been a blast to talk about. Meanwhile, this card would have zero comments outside of set reviews if it were posted on the final day of reviews. It's a solid filler card, but you should have more to promote your set with than filler.
I would have less of a problem with tribute myself if the flavor matched up. Perhaps if these were particularly regal, diabolical, or vain monsters, tribute would have made flavor sense. But all we have with this card is a random beast that will stop destroying your stuff if you make it big for some reason.
Cubetutor Link
I thought the same thing... if they approached me to write about this I would compare it to Browbeat, Fact or Fiction, and all the other Punisher cards people played with and then spend 80% of the article explaining how this is not a good Punisher card because both options are sort of lame. I'd never get another spoiler.
Petroglyphs - It has abilities so not even good there.
WUBRGPauper Battle BoxWUBRG ... and why I am not a fan of Wayne Reynolds' Illustrations.
LOL, I love when randos on the internet think they can do so much better than the professionals, but this is one of the most grandiose and pompous I've seen yet!
Modern : RG Titan Shift RG | RG Revolt Zoo RG | RG Ponza RG | RGW Naya Burn RGW
Legacy : RG Belcher RG
Do bestows count as non-creature spells when they're acting as auras? If so, this guy is marginally better in limited.
I invision a future where one is not mighty when he can silence a crowd with brutality,
but when he leaves them speechless with wisdom.
Yes, which makes this guy significantly better in limited. Still not that great though.
Interested in Custom Card Creation.
My Cube:Cardinal Custom Cube
A custom version of a third modern masters: MM2019
(filter->rarity to see in set rarity).
Well, you've got me with the Xenagos tribute creature.
Great, we've seen ONE tribute card that isn't total ****. Isn't that showing off how cool the mechanic is?
Like I've said before, if they're going to make the choice so obvious about what to pick, then they might as well either not even have the option for choice, or just make it so that when they choose the "obvious" option, that there's something in it for the person playing the creature.
I knew as soon as something resembling a Punisher card showed up, I'd find you arguing about how bad they are... the cards that clearly want to do X are trying to do X but aren't. Nice
WUBRGPauper Battle BoxWUBRG ... and why I am not a fan of Wayne Reynolds' Illustrations.
I mean, if the difficulty is in them costing it appropriately, the xenagos tribute gives you a choice between a 4/4 trample and a 4/4 trample haste for one turn and then a downgrade. Next thing you know they'll print a tribute thats a gray ogre with tribute 1 and if the tribute isn't paid, you put a +1/+1 counter on it anyway and call it a day
I have nothing "against" punisher mechanics. Its just a mechanic like any other. If its done right, it can be a pretty convincing mechanic too
I have something against the way wizards keeps botching them, however.