I think people are truly undervaluing the phoenix atm...have we ever seen a vanilla overcoster flyer like that? (Because he is essentially a 5/5 flyer for 4)...
No, we have not. But the rarity is still annoying (and the poor flavor :-/).
I want the Phoenix. Wish its recycle effect was active regardless of tribute. Flavor wise it should have been. The Hero has great synergy wish enchantments. Whoo!
I think people are truly undervaluing the phoenix atm...have we ever seen a vanilla overcoster flyer like that? (Because he is essentially a 5/5 flyer for 4)...
Not if that's what you want him to be. It will almost always be the opposite of what you want it to be. See why this card sucks?
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My favorite flavor text: Time of Heroes
Feel free to tell me yours!
I really want to like the phoenix, because I really want to like Tribute. I was hoping they would push it pretty far at higher rarities, but it would appear that is not the case. I suppose it can turn into a feel-bad situation if both choices are extremely good, but you run that risk when you decide to create a punisher mechanic in the first place.
TL;DR They should have pushed the phoenix (and by extent, tribute) much more at higher rarities.
Black has Desecration Demon while green has Arbor Colossus. Blue, aka Master of Waves decks, will probably be the only decks that have to think about which mode they want to face when racing the phoenix.
Face it, the thing is mythic just for limited. Really makes me sad.
The hero looks good though. Might be able to push Heroic into the limelight if they print some good stuff this set.
Still waiting to see some real Enchantments that look fun to build around, stuff like Five-Alarm Fire. They shouldn't have called Theros the Enchantment block when so far it's been the Aura block.
Hero of Iroas1W
Creature - Human Soldier (R)
Aura spells you cast cost less to cast. Heroic - Whenever you cast a spell that targets Hero of Iroas, put a +1/+1 counter on Hero of Iroas.
2/2 "My left has felled a cyclops. My right has slain a giant. I bring both to every fight."
Wizards probably thank the gods, and apologize to the flavor team, that there wasn't room for him to brag about what his third arm did to the sirens.
Whatever happened to equipment, anyway?
I've not seen equipment hit play since scars, with the honorable exception of Silver-Inlaid Dagger and some overpowered spear.
Whatever happened to equipment, anyway?
I've not seen equipment hit play since scars, with the honorable exception of Silver-Inlaid Dagger and some overpowered spear.
Good question, I guess it comes and goes - and now we're not where equipments stand much of a chance for flavour reasons
But I would expect atleast one good equipment out of this block, just one.. C'mon, Wizards
Phoenix is either a 3/3 flying haste that recycles (value!) or a 5/5 flyer for 4 with no drawback which you pretty much never see.
LOVE the Hero, omg - my only question is does he also reduce the cost of Bestow? I think it does because doesn't bestow say that you cast the card as an Aura? (in which case you can drop this guy T2 and T3 slap on 2~3 auras and just go to town (Unflinching Courage anyone? Or Aqueous Form + Ordeal of Thassa and wheeee massive unblockable critter + card draw...)
LOVE the Hero, omg - my only question is does he also reduce the cost of Bestow? I think it does because doesn't bestow say that you cast the card as an Aura? (in which case you can drop this guy T2 and T3 slap on 2~3 auras and just go to town (Unflinching Courage anyone? Or Aqueous Form + Ordeal of Thassa and wheeee massive unblockable critter + card draw...)
So when a Mythic is bad, all can complain about a Mythic slot being wasted, but when a card is absurdly good, all can complain about it being too expensive and money grabs?
Good to knwo there's literally no victories that can be achieved design wise by Wizards. Man, I wish these genius who knew how to make good Mythics that won't fetch a high price and not be 'a waste of a Mythic slot' would start designing Magic cards. They are obviously far more certified than people who play Magic as a living.
/sarcasm
Phoenix is decent enough. It's not surprising people don't think it is good; after all, the MTGS community thought Thundermaw Hellkite was overpriced and wouldn't see any place. And that Falkenrath Aristocrat was too fragile to ever be good. Those sure were some wasted Mythic slots, weren't they?
Hero of Iroas is solid. Bears with upsides are usually good cards, and this has two of those. He's also Human, meaning he gets value from Xathird Necromancer.
People need to let go of this Mythic covetousness...the phoenix is at Mythic simply because it would be outrageously OP as a regular turnup as a short set rare in Limited. A 5/5 flyer for 4 in red is powerful and will see play. Mono red playing Hammer of Purphoros and RB playing Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch both make the Tribute drawback far from cut-and-dried, and the current Standard is not exactly choked with chump flyers to throw in front of the phoenix. Tmaw was a truly OP card and I think has warped many players' abilities to evaluate cards...not every card has to break the format to be good.
I didn't like tribute when first unveiled, but thought that maybe they'll manage to push a couple cards enough to make it playable/interesting, but if this is what a mythic with that mechanic looks like, I don't have much hopes for it :/ As it is, tribute is a mechanic that is cool the 1-3 in 10 times that your opponent doesn't have an answer. Every other time, he'll be happy to give you your silly little +1/+1 counters, then untap and get rid of it. This Phoenix needed either haste and/or be put back in the battlefield from the grave to actually give a somewhat difficult choice to the opponent.
I'm calling it right now- worst rare in the set. Even good limited players will find better bombs at common and uncommon no sweat. Worst. Episode. Ever.
I really do predict this to be our worst rare in set award winner. I'd be happier opening a jar of eyeballs, so I think anything worse is highly unlikely. This card wont just have zero constructed potential, but not be significantly better than a mass of ghouls in a draft.
okay, so let me get this straight, ppl are complaining about a possible 5/5 flier (which is pseudo evasion from blockers) or someone who dies, comes back again and reset the scenario?
I am trying to grasp what is so bad about him because to be honest, I am not seeing it.
The Phoenix is a playable card in aggressive red decks that top off at 4. It is actually better than Stormbreath Dragon in those decks, because they don't need to worry about getting to 5 mana.
Underrated card. Just like the Pain Seer is overrated. I'd bet that this card sees more standard play than Pain Seer (provided that *any* other decent black 2 drop sees print.)
I give them a B+ for the card design. Since it is a phoenix it really should have the recursion regardless of the tribute. Either way, the amount of whining about that one card is oddly depressing.
No, we have not. But the rarity is still annoying (and the poor flavor :-/).
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
kinda like iroas,
not sure if will be good, at least I can have more fun with bestow
UBBreya's Toybox (Competitive, Combo)WR
RGodzilla, King of the MonstersG
-Retired Decks-
UBLazav, Dimir Mastermind (Competitive, UB Voltron/Control)UB
"Knowledge is such a burden. Release it. Release all your fears to me."
—Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
|| 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 ||
Not if that's what you want him to be. It will almost always be the opposite of what you want it to be. See why this card sucks?
Feel free to tell me yours!
TL;DR They should have pushed the phoenix (and by extent, tribute) much more at higher rarities.
Maybe because it is very obvious???
- H. L. Mencken
French Duel Commander
WBR Kaalia of the Vast WBR
RUG Maelstrom Wanderer RUG
Face it, the thing is mythic just for limited. Really makes me sad.
The hero looks good though. Might be able to push Heroic into the limelight if they print some good stuff this set.
Still waiting to see some real Enchantments that look fun to build around, stuff like Five-Alarm Fire. They shouldn't have called Theros the Enchantment block when so far it's been the Aura block.
Wizards probably thank the gods, and apologize to the flavor team, that there wasn't room for him to brag about what his third arm did to the sirens.
Whatever happened to equipment, anyway?
I've not seen equipment hit play since scars, with the honorable exception of Silver-Inlaid Dagger and some overpowered spear.
This block has been a gift since the Theros set~ Praised be Jeremy Jarvis. PRAISED BE.
Serra Stan - Angel Enthusiast - Garruk and Tyvar thirsty follower - Flavor and Art Enthusiast
Good question, I guess it comes and goes - and now we're not where equipments stand much of a chance for flavour reasons
But I would expect atleast one good equipment out of this block, just one.. C'mon, Wizards
Phoenix is either a 3/3 flying haste that recycles (value!) or a 5/5 flyer for 4 with no drawback which you pretty much never see.
LOVE the Hero, omg - my only question is does he also reduce the cost of Bestow? I think it does because doesn't bestow say that you cast the card as an Aura? (in which case you can drop this guy T2 and T3 slap on 2~3 auras and just go to town (Unflinching Courage anyone? Or Aqueous Form + Ordeal of Thassa and wheeee massive unblockable critter + card draw...)
It does reduce the bestow cost
Good to knwo there's literally no victories that can be achieved design wise by Wizards. Man, I wish these genius who knew how to make good Mythics that won't fetch a high price and not be 'a waste of a Mythic slot' would start designing Magic cards. They are obviously far more certified than people who play Magic as a living.
/sarcasm
Phoenix is decent enough. It's not surprising people don't think it is good; after all, the MTGS community thought Thundermaw Hellkite was overpriced and wouldn't see any place. And that Falkenrath Aristocrat was too fragile to ever be good. Those sure were some wasted Mythic slots, weren't they?
Hero of Iroas is solid. Bears with upsides are usually good cards, and this has two of those. He's also Human, meaning he gets value from Xathird Necromancer.
Except in every deck concept other than red devotion...:rolleyes:
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I am trying to grasp what is so bad about him because to be honest, I am not seeing it.
Underrated card. Just like the Pain Seer is overrated. I'd bet that this card sees more standard play than Pain Seer (provided that *any* other decent black 2 drop sees print.)
I give them a B+ for the card design. Since it is a phoenix it really should have the recursion regardless of the tribute. Either way, the amount of whining about that one card is oddly depressing.
It will be pretty hard for them to print a better 2 drop than Pack Rat.