I try to be optimistic and avoid complaining about new cards, but as a Dimir player, I'm very upset with Phenax. I don't even play Standard and I'm upset, because I was really hoping to see a new avenue for UB to explore.
Edit: I don't imagine the Hero will see much constructed play, but at least it's an interesting take on Heroic.
Soooo, I think I'll definitely get my hands on Phenax, change my Wrexial deck to an Oona deck and be all about the mills. Speaking of milling, I wonder when WotC's going to get off this 'UB is only for milling' thing. UB's for ninjas too, gosh.
The "evacuation" card is pretty good. I actually love Phenax. BUG mill could be a thing. I don't know about top tier but could win a couple of fnm's. Consuming Aberation, this guy, ashiok, kiora, sylvan caryatid, mind grind all could be in the deck.
Whelming Wave is really cool. Fairly costed burst of tempo. Shame it's got to compete with Supreme Verdict and/or Cyclonic Rift in T2, but I'm sure someone's dusting off their Quest for Ula's Temple somewhere.
Hero of Leina Tower is okay, first playable green Heroic card we've seen. Seems alright as a mana sink for Heroic.
Phenax is lol. I mean, do all blue/black Mythic rares have to mill now? That being said, the ability itself might prove to be a dangerous catalyst in a Modern deck. You can mill your own library with it...meh
Phenax is mill, so what. If you have him in play you probably are going to win the game with him in the next turn or 2. He alone mills for 7 and hes gonna have back up, does not even need devotion to turn on.
Probably won't crack constructed but I don't think hes anything but first pick in draft. Just draft turtles and win.
Green dude feels pretty bad. Not only do you have to use a spell and open yourself to the 2 for 1, but then you have to spend mana on top of that just to make his heroic do something? Sick tech.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
The devil's in the detail. BSkithiryx, the Blight DragonB GAzusa, Lost but SeekingG
While octopuses technically works, octopi is one of the coolest words in the English language. An inexcusable oversight IMO. The spoils are rife with weird grammar already.
"Each player can't draw more than one card each turn." Why not "players?"
"Searing Blood deals 2 damage to target creature. When that creature dies this turn, Searing Blood deals 3 damage to that creature's controller." Why "when" instead of "if?"
"Choose target artifact or enchantment. Its owner shuffles it into his or her library." Why don't they just change his or her to simply "her" or better yet "their" for anyone with more ambiguous gender. It is 2014.
As some other have surely pointed out Phenax sets up Inspired triggers like a boss. Also Blue and black have the fattest butts, they have been making big butts on black cards much more prominent the past couple of sets.
Why are people surprised that Phenax mills. Of course he mills what else would he do. I for one will be looking forward to adding him into my Wrexial EDH deck.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"If we don't know what we are doing, the enemy certainly can't anticipate our future actions!"
-Anonymous
Hover barrier, frost wall, mnemnic wall, phantasm... ok that sounds terrible
It's got more than 10 different strategies you can choose from.
Comment about it here.
No, I am with you on this. Seems solid, and consistently can be a way to use excess mana if you can keep heroic online.
hilarious sorcery is hilarious.
hmmm. heroic hydra is interesting...
thats this set's hydra, right?
C Kozilek C
GB Gitrog GB
G Titania G
WU Brago WU
GB MerenGB
Duel Commander Decks
UR Keranos UR
BRG Jund BRG
GR Tron GR GW Tron GW
C Eldrazi Tron (SB) C
BG Lantern Control BG
UW Control (SB) UW
Edit: I don't imagine the Hero will see much constructed play, but at least it's an interesting take on Heroic.
Am I reading Phenax wrong, or does it grant all my other creatures that mill ability while it's an enchantment?
Lim-Dul Zombies
Kresh | Ghost Council | Sliver Overlord | Reaper King | Sharuum
Kaalia | Ghave | Zedruu | Mimeoplasm | Riku | Child of Alara (Kamigawa) | Anax and Cymede | Damia | Melek | Rakdos | Vela
Building:
Derevi | Maelstrom Wanderer (Primeval) | Nekusar | Borb, Enraged | Tymaret | Ur-Dragon | Marrow-Gnawer | Ruric Thar | Lavinia
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
next up - a milling ninja.
Modern
RBig RedR
GMean GreenG
WWW AlliesW
BGScavengeBG
WUVenser SilenceWU
EDH
RWAurelia 1 vs 1RW
GWURoonGWU
GWSaffiGW
****!
they could of given him so many things.
BUNCH
OF
********ERS!
in other news quest for ulas temple.deck got a whole lot cooler.
UUUAzami, Lady of ScrollsUUU
Mizzix of the Izmagnus
Vorel of the Hull Clade
Lazav, Dimir Mastermind
WUBSharuum the HegemonWUB
GWURafiq of the ManyGWU
Jhoira of the Ghitu
GGG [Primer] Omnath, Big Green Beatstick Machine GGG
Owner of IcyGeek.com
Hero of Leina Tower is okay, first playable green Heroic card we've seen. Seems alright as a mana sink for Heroic.
Phenax is lol. I mean, do all blue/black Mythic rares have to mill now? That being said, the ability itself might prove to be a dangerous catalyst in a Modern deck. You can mill your own library with it...meh
Probably won't crack constructed but I don't think hes anything but first pick in draft. Just draft turtles and win.
Http://www.fantasticneighborhood.com/
Comedy gaming podcast. Listening to it makes you cool.
BSkithiryx, the Blight DragonB
GAzusa, Lost but SeekingG
Whelming Wave on the upside is amazing, maybe Grixis has some legs now.
Octopi?
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
RGWMayael the AnimaRGW
UBRMarchesa, the Black RoseUBR
Modern Decks
RGWNaya BurnRGW
While octopuses technically works, octopi is one of the coolest words in the English language. An inexcusable oversight IMO. The spoils are rife with weird grammar already.
"Each player can't draw more than one card each turn." Why not "players?"
"Searing Blood deals 2 damage to target creature. When that creature dies this turn, Searing Blood deals 3 damage to that creature's controller." Why "when" instead of "if?"
"Choose target artifact or enchantment. Its owner shuffles it into his or her library." Why don't they just change his or her to simply "her" or better yet "their" for anyone with more ambiguous gender. It is 2014.
As some other have surely pointed out Phenax sets up Inspired triggers like a boss. Also Blue and black have the fattest butts, they have been making big butts on black cards much more prominent the past couple of sets.
-Anonymous
You got it right. It turns all of your creatures into tap: mill for toughness.
Provided you have a few wall-ish creatures on the board that ability can win you the game in quick order. The problem is reliability.