People making the comparison to Summoning Trap don't seem to realize that they aren't the same card. Trap is an instant, which gives it loads more flexibility than See The Unwritten, and it has an alternate casting cost of 0! The "two fatties is better than one" argument is silly - I'd venture to say that most of the time you'll still only be getting one creature from StU, and when you do get 2 it's mostly a win-more proposition. This also feels rare or lower, much like Lotus Cobra. Will StU see play in EDH? Absolutely. Will it see play in Standard? Maybe as a niche strategy or a 1/2-of in G Devotion. Other than that it's just trade fodder for people who don't know any better.
The Ascendancy is anti-synergistic, as Gals points out above, but whatever.
The Ascendancy is anti-synergistic, as Gals points out above, but whatever.
The counterpoint to the lack of synergy: it can have an impact pretty much whenever you pull it (save for just after a boardwipe). Early on it offers a natural defense against removal and lets you play more aggressively with your creatures, later on it gives your army an extra buff to put it over the top.
(I like that the Abzan's +1/+1 counter theme got described as "sliver-like" in the article - it's never going to be that synergistic, but it does imply a ton of internal synergy for Abzan cards, which is fun both mechanically and flavorfully, what with the Houses' "survive together" mentality. The mechanic is a bit dull, but I'm loving the support for it.)
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"The true measure of all heroes is not what they achieve, but who they inspire." —Triumph of Gerrard
See the unwritten will see no play in standard. 6 mana is just too slow. It's also going to be hard to keep ferocious on in a lot of games. Hell if you have it on, you're probably going to win anyway. This just seems like one of those cards that people freak out over in spoiler season, then ends up doing nothing.
Abzan ascendancy however, is awesome. Both effects are fantastic. I doubt it will be played as a 4-of since you need creatures and the deck will probably have some removal and maybe thoughtseize, but I can totally see 3-of. It's going to interesting to see if the abzan deck ends up being an agro deck or a midrange deck.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
If MTG is a part of your life, the formats are like relationships:
Standard/Block = The on-again, off-again holiday fling
Modern/Vintage/Legacy = Stable, homely. A ***** after absence/misreading
Limited/Sealed = Heart breaking free spirit
Commander/Cube = Agreeable, needy and expensive
Pauper/Peasant = Sweet, kind, practical, but shy and boring
See the Unwritten is cute, but since you're not exactly picking the creature you'll be getting (Unless you did Worldly Tutor beforehand or something) it's not gonna see the play that the likes of Chord of Calling and Tooth and Nail did.
Ascendency acts as a enduring, pumping your creatures up, while in case they die (as they are larger threats now) you get a spirit to help try and stall if your down.
Abzan enchantment looks good. As long as there is creature(s) on board card it is not dead.
See The Unwritten seems ok-ish Genesis Wavy thingy, but I don't see reason why it's mythic, there is nothing mythic about it. Though one could argue that ferocity trigger makes it mythic, but since that is probably hard to achieve I really can't concider this card mythic. Then again Archangel's Light was mythic...
It's mythic because that will be REALLY good in draft and they don't want it around too much. It's very appropriate use of the mythic status IMO.
Abzan Ascendancy seems good. I like the guy who suggested pairing this with Spirit Bonds: I dunno if that deck would be viable, but it WOULD be fun.
See the Unwritten, I dunno if it is good, but it'd be fun to put it in a Genesis Hydra deck and just make it "search out fatties.dek". But if it sees play it'll probably be in Delve: 1-2 dudes out + 6-7 cards in your GY to feed Delve? That seems strong. It might be too slow, though.
Turns all your dudes into Doomed Travelers? Awesome for aggro. Bad for control. Undying was SUPER annoying to deal back in Innistrad standard. X_x Cool card.
See the unseen seems ok. Doesn't seem to hard to get the Ferocious part.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To the people that say that a card needs to be a higher rarity because of Limited... I hate you guys so much. I present to you with this.
Reap Intellect, Beguiler of Wills, Archangel's light, The Chain Veil, The soul run from m15, Descent into madness, Misthollow griffin, Tibalt, Lich's Mirror, Sphinxs soverign. So second worse far from it this one is actually playable and has awesome interaction with graveyard and can put two creatures on the battlefield it is pretty sweet.
As someone who is thinking about picking Temur for the pre-release, I'm disappointed with See the Unwritten. Genesis Hydra and Chord of Calling are both better choices than this. It being a mythic is even worse for me.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Modern U Merfolk U UBR Death's Shadow UBR
EDH UR Jhoira of the Ghitu UR G Omnath, Locus of Mana G
Finally, an Abzan card that feels more Orzhov than Selesnya. I was starting to think they forgot that black was in the wedge...
Abzan Ascendency is going to be a fun card. As for See the Unwritten, I think some of you folks are underestimating it. Great for Temur fatties, Sultai delve, and reanimator.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Trolljutai, YOLOghan, Swagumgar, Bromoka, and Derptarka, the Elder Dragons.
A huge limiting factor in summoning trap was having good topdeck creatures to choose from. Getting to choose twice doesn't fix this, in fact that means the second creature choice is exponentially worse, while summoning trap had a very relevant upside of cheating itself into play. And as said in one of the first replies, was never considered a good card
it's like they're trying to make my favorite wedge, Temur, as useless and unplayable as possible, while giving the Abzan everything in the world for hosing any kind of deck that could come out of the format.:/ I might have to switch clans, at this rate. As it is, the art and flavor is Temur, but the card is extremely clearly meant for a Sultai Delve deck.
See the Unwritten - The instant speed and trap part of Summoning Trap helped it a lot (not to mention it was in the same environment as some of the most degenerate fatties ever - Emrakul, Avenger, Terastadon etc.). This digs 1 deeper and potentially brings out 2 creatures but at the cost of being a sorcery and only having the 6cc mana cost. I don't doubt that some people will try it at the FNM level to varying levels of success but I strongly doubt that this will have an impact of the higher end standard metagame (especially given it's competing with Genesis Hydra (you could play both but hitting a hydra or 2 with this would be painful)).
Abzan Ascendancy - A very well made and potent wedge enchantment, a 3cc "anthem" which while it can't pump new creatures does leave the +1/+1 even if it's destroyed is pretty decent, add the death trigger making spirit tokens and you've got something that could enable an Abzan aggro strategy.
See the Unwritten - The instant speed and trap part of Summoning Trap helped it a lot (not to mention it was in the same environment as some of the most degenerate fatties ever - Emrakul, Avenger, Terastadon etc.). This digs 1 deeper and potentially brings out 2 creatures but at the cost of being a sorcery and only having the 6cc mana cost. I don't doubt that some people will try it at the FNM level to varying levels of success but I strongly doubt that this will have an impact of the higher end standard metagame (especially given it's competing with Genesis Hydra (you could play both but hitting a hydra or 2 with this would be painful)).
Abzan Ascendancy - A very well made and potent wedge enchantment, a 3cc "anthem" which while it can't pump new creatures does leave the +1/+1 even if it's destroyed is pretty decent, add the death trigger making spirit tokens and you've got something that could enable an Abzan aggro strategy.
Emphasis mine. You know, I can see that. However, like a few other people I'm a bit disappointed by that. I was hoping the Abzan would end up much more controlling from what we were told and I'm worried that we'll end up with a standard where nobody builds the decks that Wizards thought they'd build.
Does this make Nessian Game Warden playable in monogreen? Might be some monogreen dredge coming too, we'll have to see. This, Genesis Hydra and Chord of Calling all together (plus Yisan?!) looks to be an interesting "Tutor" deck in a color not especially accustomed to having so much "tutor" available at once. Im not saying its a tier 1 deck, but could be a fun rogue deck
Currently playing:
GCasual 8-post
R Casual Land Destruction
UBRWG Legacy Dredge
WGB Modern Melira Pod
RUG EDH
The Ascendancy is anti-synergistic, as Gals points out above, but whatever.
The counterpoint to the lack of synergy: it can have an impact pretty much whenever you pull it (save for just after a boardwipe). Early on it offers a natural defense against removal and lets you play more aggressively with your creatures, later on it gives your army an extra buff to put it over the top.
(I like that the Abzan's +1/+1 counter theme got described as "sliver-like" in the article - it's never going to be that synergistic, but it does imply a ton of internal synergy for Abzan cards, which is fun both mechanically and flavorfully, what with the Houses' "survive together" mentality. The mechanic is a bit dull, but I'm loving the support for it.)
Abzan ascendancy however, is awesome. Both effects are fantastic. I doubt it will be played as a 4-of since you need creatures and the deck will probably have some removal and maybe thoughtseize, but I can totally see 3-of. It's going to interesting to see if the abzan deck ends up being an agro deck or a midrange deck.
Standard/Block = The on-again, off-again holiday fling
Modern/Vintage/Legacy = Stable, homely. A ***** after absence/misreading
Limited/Sealed = Heart breaking free spirit
Commander/Cube = Agreeable, needy and expensive
Pauper/Peasant = Sweet, kind, practical, but shy and boring
Azban Ascendancy is neat.
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
It's mythic because that will be REALLY good in draft and they don't want it around too much. It's very appropriate use of the mythic status IMO.
See the Unwritten, I dunno if it is good, but it'd be fun to put it in a Genesis Hydra deck and just make it "search out fatties.dek". But if it sees play it'll probably be in Delve: 1-2 dudes out + 6-7 cards in your GY to feed Delve? That seems strong. It might be too slow, though.
See the unseen seems ok. Doesn't seem to hard to get the Ferocious part.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY8h2vp5Xis
EDH:
Niv-Mizzet
Legacy:
The Rack
Modern
Venser, the Sojourner Control
U Merfolk U
UBR Death's Shadow UBR
EDH
UR Jhoira of the Ghitu UR
G Omnath, Locus of Mana G
Abzan Ascendency is going to be a fun card. As for See the Unwritten, I think some of you folks are underestimating it. Great for Temur fatties, Sultai delve, and reanimator.
Abzan Ascendancy - A very well made and potent wedge enchantment, a 3cc "anthem" which while it can't pump new creatures does leave the +1/+1 even if it's destroyed is pretty decent, add the death trigger making spirit tokens and you've got something that could enable an Abzan aggro strategy.
Machius proudly supports R_E's right to Rumour!
Emphasis mine. You know, I can see that. However, like a few other people I'm a bit disappointed by that. I was hoping the Abzan would end up much more controlling from what we were told and I'm worried that we'll end up with a standard where nobody builds the decks that Wizards thought they'd build.
This thought makes me happy though...