You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
I have still hope that from this set we'll have a card palyable in eternal non casual format.
Limited seems to improving with the spoilers, good thing.
@Ajani: gaining 100 life is awfully childish... "nanana i attack you for 10000000000000000000"
@Blue mage: yet another bad time walk card, will they ever come up with something different for blue mithyc?
Overall the best things of this set are the artworks
- L
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"The problem isn't when Scissors says Rock is overpowered, it's when Paper says it is."
-Mark Rosewater
Cast new Ajani.
Second +1, hitting Goldmane or Caller of the Pride. Take other creatures for defense the other turns.
Win before the rest of this even happens.
Ult for arbitrary large life.
Cast the other Ajani.
Large life and card advantage give you time to tick up that Ajani.
Ult for something based off of your (now huge) life total.
Combo.
GW ajani isn't really that surprising, it's been predicted for quite awhile now (though the ultimate is pretty lulzy). The only deck that can probably get through the ultimate in good time is Mono Blue. The most I've ever done in one turn was over 200 (slam double master down with a path of bravery out), which was the earliest I could get a kill since the previous turn I could only do 9...
This Ajani is pretty underwhelming. I think it needs a cold analysis. Since his CMC is 5, most likely his relevant ability will be the second one, that gives you some sort of card advantage, but nothing really to crazy for a 5 casting cost planeswalker (just look at jace, memory adept that draws things and liliana vess that tutors). His first ability most likely wouldn't fit in a deck where he would be relevant. He is too expensive for weenie decks, and why would a midrange deck benefit from +1/+1 counters? Maybe he was printed to work together with heroic cards, but then again one wrath effect and all of your ajani's pumps were useless. And his ultimate is pathetic. It doesn't win you the game, it just grants you time. And maybe some think that this is a lot of time, but in a world of pack rats and elspeth ultimates 100 life can give you 4~5 turns at best.
It will be hard to find a home for this one. Something that run planeswalkers and creatures, benefit from +1/+1 counters and eventually can do something with lifegain. Still, 5 mana to take a dreadbore or hero's downfall to the face. I don't think it is impressive at all.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
.
Would you like to read Commander stories? Check my latest stories, coming from Lorwyn and Innistrad: Ghoulcaller Gisa and Doran, The Siege Tower! If you like my writing, ask me to write something for your commander as well!
Crystalline Nautilus .. is that considered removal in limited it seems good at killing gods - enchant it on your opponents creature - cast anything targeting the creature and you are left with a 4/4 ?
YES! Bestow with drawbacks! I've been calling for this ever since Theros was released and am very happy to see this here.
The Red one is well-costed for its curve and will fit well into R/W Heroic decks for Limited. White is big for its cost, but I don't think it'll see much play in Standard Wx Aggro due to the Loyal Pegasus effect. Blue and green ones are interesting, to say the least.
Now I realized that the black one is probably the least exciting of them all, but it IS a one-drop for Minotaur tribal so it at least has that.
As for Ajani... yeah, that's a crazy -8. Bant decks just found a whole new way to be even more annoying.
I really liked the story that came with Ajani. "How quickly Theros transformed events into history, and history into myth!" My thoughts exactly.
as for Ajani himself... Holy hell..arious! He seems to have good use in a lot of archetypes: Control will like him just for the 100 life. First +1 will go off even if it has no targets, wich is good since you don't want to filter out your non-creature-non-walker answers with the second one, unless you're REALLY itching for a Jace/Elspeth/Kiora. Meanwhile, Midrange and Aggro and even Heroic will enjoy both modes. Super friends will love him too since he can grab another walker. 5 mana does seem like a lot, but in Control and midrange, that shouldn't really be a problem.
I'm a little disappointed in Sage of hours, too, but it's an ultimate johnny card. I wish it wad less counters, though, but i'm guessing that would be crazy. It would be cool to see combo be a real part of standard, but with the way Eggs turned out in Modern, i'm not sure they'd bee keen on that.
the Bestow cycle is the bestow cycle. Not much to say other than i think they all deserve that uncommon slot, and those drawbacks are pretty cool. Nautilus and the... green thing would be pretty cool in Evolve--both are pretty ahead of the curve, so it'll evolve a lot when it hits. It's hyper-aggressive so Green's drawback doesn't care abut blocking (so it's better when bestowed). Evolve doesn't target (not even Renegade Krasis), so Mautilus doesn't care (best when not bestowed). What the article said about the red "downside" pretty much sums it up: "ATTACK"
Sightless Brawler's art is weird to me--is he the one in front or behiond? Guessing behind since he's also all starry, but he kinda looks like a giant. maybe i'd have to look at the card up close to know for sure. It's also pretty cool
Speaking of flavor, Spirespine's is pretty great. Blocks each turn if able, the way it presents itself in the art, plus the pile of bones in the corner... what is it protecting?
Love the temples, of course. Epiphany's art is hilarious with everyone panicking, and Malady is just foreboding.. hopefully they won't be too expensive so i can grab a few!
Not too impressed with Ajani, he doesn't make me want to go make a deck using 2 or more of him. GW and Naya might play a copy or two, but if you're going Naya, you should just play Domri, and if you're ramping, just use the M14 Garruk. Honestly, if they would have just cut the whole +1/+1 counter thing out in favor of a -1 or some sort of minus ability that help protect your creatures and himself, that would have been much better. Imagine if he had his -1 something similar to Selesnya Charm: -1: Exile target creature with power 4 or greater. And his ultimate is cute, but it just buys time. That's no fun.
Kiora and the Nautilus can do some naughty things... lol
UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
"OH GOD MY BRAIN IS EXPLOADING AT HOW BAD THE ART IS ON MY OWN CARD"
-A friend's first impression of Ancestral Recall
10/10, I tapped.
Don't see what the crying is all about
someone that wants more stamples at MRarity.....
Limited seems to improving with the spoilers, good thing.
@Ajani: gaining 100 life is awfully childish... "nanana i attack you for 10000000000000000000"
@Blue mage: yet another bad time walk card, will they ever come up with something different for blue mithyc?
Overall the best things of this set are the artworks
- L
"The problem isn't when Scissors says Rock is overpowered, it's when Paper says it is."
-Mark Rosewater
Sage of Hours + Sunbond + 5 power lifelinker
Even without the sage, the Hero with the Eidolon and Sunbond alone would be a 5/5 double striking lifelinker that puts 5 more counters on itself.
Mafia Stats
Kill shot: BB
Issue with my shooting? Please visit my helpdesk and help me learn to aim!
Second +1, hitting Goldmane or Caller of the Pride. Take other creatures for defense the other turns.
Win before the rest of this even happens.
Ult for arbitrary large life.
Cast the other Ajani.
Large life and card advantage give you time to tick up that Ajani.
Ult for something based off of your (now huge) life total.
Combo.
HA! Love it. I thought the same thing. [c]doubling season[c/] combined with a Superfriends style deck. What is not to love
It will be hard to find a home for this one. Something that run planeswalkers and creatures, benefit from +1/+1 counters and eventually can do something with lifegain. Still, 5 mana to take a dreadbore or hero's downfall to the face. I don't think it is impressive at all.
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).
The Red one is well-costed for its curve and will fit well into R/W Heroic decks for Limited. White is big for its cost, but I don't think it'll see much play in Standard Wx Aggro due to the Loyal Pegasus effect. Blue and green ones are interesting, to say the least.
Now I realized that the black one is probably the least exciting of them all, but it IS a one-drop for Minotaur tribal so it at least has that.
As for Ajani... yeah, that's a crazy -8. Bant decks just found a whole new way to be even more annoying.
Standard: UBR Grixis Control
Modern: U Merfolk
Commander: UB Wydwen, the biting gale
Dunes of Zairo
SHANDALAR
Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries
Interesting that none of these cards have flavor text. I guess there wasn't room in the textbox.
as for Ajani himself... Holy hell..arious! He seems to have good use in a lot of archetypes: Control will like him just for the 100 life. First +1 will go off even if it has no targets, wich is good since you don't want to filter out your non-creature-non-walker answers with the second one, unless you're REALLY itching for a Jace/Elspeth/Kiora. Meanwhile, Midrange and Aggro and even Heroic will enjoy both modes. Super friends will love him too since he can grab another walker. 5 mana does seem like a lot, but in Control and midrange, that shouldn't really be a problem.
I'm a little disappointed in Sage of hours, too, but it's an ultimate johnny card. I wish it wad less counters, though, but i'm guessing that would be crazy. It would be cool to see combo be a real part of standard, but with the way Eggs turned out in Modern, i'm not sure they'd bee keen on that.
the Bestow cycle is the bestow cycle. Not much to say other than i think they all deserve that uncommon slot, and those drawbacks are pretty cool. Nautilus and the... green thing would be pretty cool in Evolve--both are pretty ahead of the curve, so it'll evolve a lot when it hits. It's hyper-aggressive so Green's drawback doesn't care abut blocking (so it's better when bestowed). Evolve doesn't target (not even Renegade Krasis), so Mautilus doesn't care (best when not bestowed). What the article said about the red "downside" pretty much sums it up: "ATTACK"
Sightless Brawler's art is weird to me--is he the one in front or behiond? Guessing behind since he's also all starry, but he kinda looks like a giant. maybe i'd have to look at the card up close to know for sure. It's also pretty cool
Speaking of flavor, Spirespine's is pretty great. Blocks each turn if able, the way it presents itself in the art, plus the pile of bones in the corner... what is it protecting?
Love the temples, of course. Epiphany's art is hilarious with everyone panicking, and Malady is just foreboding.. hopefully they won't be too expensive so i can grab a few!
enchanting Witchstalker with Raised by Wolves
From his tone, it sounded (to me) like he was using the heroic trigger.
Steel Sabotage'ng Orbs of Mellowness since 2011.