This violates the color pie the same way Hornet Queen, Giant Dustwasp, Caustic Wasps, Bayou Dragonfly, Cockatrice, Faerie Noble, Flailing Drake, Giant Caterpillar, Hawkeater Moth, Ifh-Biff Efreet, Jugan-the Rising Star, Killer Bees, Kyscu Drake, Locust Swarm, Mindbender Spores, Moon Sprite, Pixie Queen, Scryb Ranger, Scryb Sprites, Uktabi Drake, Uktabi Faerie, Unyaro Bees, Venomous Dragonfly, Willow Faerie, and Xantid swarm violate the color pie.
To be fair, quite a few of those are from much earlier in magic's history, before they had the whole "green doesn't get flyers" solidified. Of the more recent examples, most are from Time Spiral block and were either callbacks to earlier cards, or from planar chaos, which has never counted for color pie arguments. That isn't to say that it's not possible for small flying token production to be part of green's color pie, but the examples you list aren't exactly indicative of modern color pie positions.
What I'm getting at is that it IS in Greens part of the color pie to get flying. Very rarely, AND if you haven't noticed usually tied to Creature Type-Insect. Following these rules it is safe to say this card doesn't violate the color pie at all.
And what I'm getting at is that one card in the past seven years does not a strong color pie argument make, especially in a supplemental product with several other color pie violations (Chaos Warp, for example). That said, given that they're reprinting Hornet Queen in this set, it's entirely possible the color pie has shifted to allow small fliers in green, but a seven year gap is typically there for a reason. Or it could just mean that Aaron really likes Hornets, as he pointed out in his tweet, and thus is willing to bend the pie for them, rather than an overall shift in policy.
True, but I feel like bugs most definitely fit into Green, and if they tend to have flying, meh.
Green gets fliers so rarely, does it really matter? Also, Birds of Paradise, Patagia Viper, and even Skinshifter could become a part-time flier. I don't think the fact that three creatures outside of TSP block shennigans have (or could turn into something with) Flying has warped the game. Additionally, what color would wasps BE if not green?
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Decks
Commander
Ezuri, Renegade Leader (Aggro/Combo - Favorite) Skullbriar, the Walking Grave (Sac and Grave hijinks) Azusa, Lost but Seeking (Landfall hijinks) Kaalia of the Vast (Heavily modded)
My favorite combo with this? Acorn Catapult. Is it good? No. Is it hilarious to whack the hornets nest with an acorn every turn, getting a squirrel and a hornet? Yes.
You can't see it, but my grin is enormous right now.
This actually seems... playable? Granted, it bites it to a simple removal spell. But it provides card advantage against burn spells and creatures. I'm impressed. Sure, it's just a wall, but a really good wall at that. At worst I think it's sideboard material against fast aggro.
This is quite probably one of my favorite designs for an MTG card; it has great flavor, yet is simultaneously not unplayable. (The fact it's in my favorite color also doesn't hurt my view of it)
Assume you have Midnight Guard out without summoning sickness, and Burning Anger enchanting it. You also have Hornet Nest in play. Activate Soul of New Phyrexia (from the graveyard if necessary). Tap Guard to deal 2 damage to the Nest, and get two insects. Let the first untap trigger on Guard resolve, then tap it for 2 damage to your opponent, then let the second untap resolve. Repeat for infinite damage (and insects).
Assume you have Midnight Guard out without summoning sickness, and Burning Anger enchanting it. You also have Hornet Nest in play. Activate Soul of New Phyrexia (from the graveyard if necessary). Tap Guard to deal 2 damage to the Nest, and get two insects. Let the first untap trigger on Guard resolve, then tap it for 2 damage to your opponent, then let the second untap resolve. Repeat for infinite damage (and insects).
LOL that's hilarious!
Gotta love standard block combo!
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Quote from Galspanic »
If someone is playing Icy Manipulator against you, you've already won.
This is a fun card. Reminds me of some of the terrible things I used to try when I first started back in 1996. Ya know, real broken combos like Fungusaur + Prodigal Sorcerer. I am so revved up for this Core Set. I always kinda like drafting core sets because they have a classic Magic feel, but this one in particular has rattled my G-spot, baby.
I like this card by itself, but it has some nice synergy with Chord of Calling. It's great to surprise block with, but if you get the in the other order, the hornet tokens work great with Chord of Calling as well. I'll definitely want to jam these in a deck somewhere. This is the sort of thing my Karador deck loved. Fortunately, that deck is no more.
Opponent is attacking with 3 creature.
You only have Hornet Nest in the battlefield, but you have a Lightning Strike in your hand. There is kind of 3 "to do" option (depending on the situation/life/mana taped/card in hand).
First : Lightning Strike your Hornet Nest then block your opponent creature with three 1/1 Death-Flies.
Second : Block the strongest creature, zap another and let one deal damage to your.
Third : Block the strongest then counter attack with an army of Bees and zap your opponent.
Ah, a hexproof player. And so the agenda is revealed. I think it's time to put Hexproof as a strategy to bed for a bit.
And I play a bit competitively, not casual. And this might be ok in a super casual game where you never have a hope in hell of winning a real game outside of limited, but this is just that bad.
I wouldn't mind it uncommon. I definitely wouldn't mind it if it didn't take the place of a real game winner that Green needs.
Will Defender.dec be a thing....we need Vent Sentinal, right now Doorkeeper is the closest they have to a win condition.
Probably not. It is a fun looking card though.
How about: Axebane Gaurdian + Memnonic Wall + Twinflame? There's a win con for you (add and card draw or burn spell to win)!
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I'm a proud member of the Online Campaign for Real English. If you believe in capital letters, correct spelling, and good sentence structure, then copy this into your signature.
"People with needs have trivial purchasing power while people with purchasing power have trivial needs." -Steve Randy Waldman, Interfludity
Come rotation, this card has very real potential to work with the control shells. It should be pretty fair to assume that Standard is not going to have a W-centric control shell and this really is where BUG from block begins to get some very real tools to be an actual control deck. Hornet Nest and AEtherspouts are two cards that allow this deck to push past hyper aggressive decks M15 is capable of producing.
To say this card is a wasted rare slot or unplayable seems a bit hasty given the information we have from block constructed.
It's a two-player "cube" format with 250 or so cards, all unique. You both start with all 5 basics and 5 guildgates that are outside of the game, and an initial draw of 4 cards. You can play a land per turn, and you both draw from the same massive deck. The difference between it and normal cube other than the rules stated previously is most of the cards are medium power level. There's a lot of "Do X and draw a card" type cards. It's pretty fun and the games are quite engaging and can last for a while.
Many thanks to DNC at Heroes of the Plane Studios
Commander
Ezuri, Renegade Leader (Aggro/Combo - Favorite)
Skullbriar, the Walking Grave (Sac and Grave hijinks)
Azusa, Lost but Seeking (Landfall hijinks)
Kaalia of the Vast (Heavily modded)
Standard
Waiting for Innistrad...
Extended
Hah!
Modern
Living End Cascade (RGB)
Legacy
Burn
Vintage
None
Casual
WB Aggro-Control
Green Stompy
Pink Floyd (UWr Wall Control)
Lunch Box (Fatty ramp)
D-Bag (White Control)
Level 13 Task Mage
You can't see it, but my grin is enormous right now.
I want several.
Now we're cooking with gas! This is living the dream
You don't even have to go outside M15.
Hornet Nest
Soul of New Phyrexia
Midnight Guard
Burning Anger
Assume you have Midnight Guard out without summoning sickness, and Burning Anger enchanting it. You also have Hornet Nest in play. Activate Soul of New Phyrexia (from the graveyard if necessary). Tap Guard to deal 2 damage to the Nest, and get two insects. Let the first untap trigger on Guard resolve, then tap it for 2 damage to your opponent, then let the second untap resolve. Repeat for infinite damage (and insects).
LOL that's hilarious!
Gotta love standard block combo!
4 Chord of Calling
1 Soul of New Phyrexia
Thread | Draft
I love it for the flavor and how potentially evil this can be. I hate it because I f'ing HATE YELLOW JACKETS!!!!
Karador EDH
Comments on decks welcome: http://tappedout.net/users/AradonTemplar/
Currently developing Set 1 of 3, 'Shadow': http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=436885
Opponent is attacking with 3 creature.
You only have Hornet Nest in the battlefield, but you have a Lightning Strike in your hand.
There is kind of 3 "to do" option (depending on the situation/life/mana taped/card in hand).
First : Lightning Strike your Hornet Nest then block your opponent creature with three 1/1 Death-Flies.
Second : Block the strongest creature, zap another and let one deal damage to your.
Third : Block the strongest then counter attack with an army of Bees and zap your opponent.
N/A
Modern:
Grishoalbrand / Grixis Death's Shadow / Jeskai Control / UW Control
And I play a bit competitively, not casual. And this might be ok in a super casual game where you never have a hope in hell of winning a real game outside of limited, but this is just that bad.
I wouldn't mind it uncommon. I definitely wouldn't mind it if it didn't take the place of a real game winner that Green needs.
How about: Axebane Gaurdian + Memnonic Wall + Twinflame? There's a win con for you (add and card draw or burn spell to win)!
I'm a proud member of the Online Campaign for Real English. If you believe in capital letters, correct spelling, and good sentence structure, then copy this into your signature.
"People with needs have trivial purchasing power while people with purchasing power have trivial needs."
-Steve Randy Waldman, Interfludity
What's battlebox?
Feel free to tell me yours!
To say this card is a wasted rare slot or unplayable seems a bit hasty given the information we have from block constructed.
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
It's a two-player "cube" format with 250 or so cards, all unique. You both start with all 5 basics and 5 guildgates that are outside of the game, and an initial draw of 4 cards. You can play a land per turn, and you both draw from the same massive deck. The difference between it and normal cube other than the rules stated previously is most of the cards are medium power level. There's a lot of "Do X and draw a card" type cards. It's pretty fun and the games are quite engaging and can last for a while.
Here's a link to Magic Pro Ben Stark's article describing it further with a list: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/stark-reality-battle-box/
Izzet Staticaster.
Even has flash and haste for the surprise ambush. Makes you 3 colors though.
But in all seriousness, this card is a HUGE rattlesnake card. I absolutely love it.
I don't know if it will see constructed play at all, but the fact is that I don't care. I'm so happy this card exists.