They could have made Witches' Eye rare then. I think it all goes back to Theros really. When everyone was celebrating (the flavor of) Chained to the Rocks, I was dumbfounded. Haven't we got Journey to Nowhere before? This is a similar situation we're seeing here.
I think this is a legit claim because Wizards gives cartels a chance to tag a minimum sum of $1-2 for Bonesplitter when you could easily get them after drafts.
Bonesplitter was overpowered at it's rarity. The existence of a better card in Magic's past does not automatically make a new card bad when the old one was too good.
Thank you
Amazing that it took 18 posts before somebody stated the obvious!
"Obviously Eldrazi are back!"
"Yeah Eldrazi for sure."
"You noobs. Magic is older than Zendikar block. This is for Morph!"
"Nah, Eldrazi."
"Maybe both?"
"............. artifacts.....?"
But yeah, not too exciting a card. Maybe if it was +3/+2 just to differentiate it from other existing equipment a bit. Even at +3/+1 it would be more interesting than Bonesplitter and other basic/early equipments.
Didn't expect this card to get such negative reception here. It's not the strongest thing ever, but I think it's well designed way to support morph. I'm okay that it's rare too. Interesting effect, and equipment is really strong in limited. Pretty hard to beat early if you throw it on a 2 mana 2/2.
Definitely should have been "Eldrazi Blade" with "Equipped creature gets Annihilate 2 as long as it is colorless" That way it would at least deserve the rare slot.
Swinging turn 2 with my annihilator 2 thopters was just too beautiful a sight for this world
The problem isn't with the card design (Ghostfire and "colorless matters" is a cool concept), the problem is that it's a rare Vulshok Morningstar. A rare should be inherently splashier than this, even if it is aggressively costed.
I don't know about that... Yes, it's nice when rares make a splash. But true splashiness is really only mandatory for Mythic. Even then, i think the single biggest factor when determining rarity is crafting a limited environment. No, I don't think that Ghostfire Blade at uncommon would ruin anything limited, but at the same time, I trust the development team to balance out the power levels, and this equipment is QUITE strong. Bonesplitter was a good first pick in mirrodin, and though it didn't shine as much in the synergy driven Modern Masters format it was very good in UW artiweenies.
Flavorwise, the return of "ghostfire" and the allusion to Ugin definitely qualify for some splash.
I think that this would be a bit warping at uncommon if there are a lot of morph creatures (for Limited). Even without the colorless ability it would probably be an uncommon. Equipment is always good in Limited because there is much less removal and the games are slower, so repeatedly boosting and trading is strong. If morph creatures are common, then being able to play them as 4/4s for 4 then flip them would be strong. It's not anywhere near Pack Rat, but it is good enough that you don't want to be facing it every draft. No, it isnt a great rare, but only so many cards can be playable. I would rather have this at rare than a staple uncommon that does get played in Constructed. Rarity is about more than pure power.
I don't get people complaining that cards they don't like are too rare. I mean, if you like a card, I can see being annoyed that it will cost more than if it had been at lower rarity, but cards you think are bad/don't like? The rarer it is, the less of them you'll see!
And it's not like demoting a weak rare is going to mean you get another Restoration Angel or whatever. They print all the "pushed-for-constructed" cards that they want to print. If they cut or demote a card that isn't strong enough for constructed, the space just gets filled by another one.
Because most people tend to play Modern or Standard and are looking for some edge. Trust me when I say never take any grain salt from the rumor mill season. You sometimes wonder how much of their judgement is based on tunnel vision. Remember Pack Rat? Desecration Demon? Tarmogoyf? Snapcaster Mage? Sphinx's Revelation? All were considered average or junk rares/mythics. Which is why you should never really take most comments with a grain of salt until the dust settles and we got all the cards from the set being revealed.
Actually, Snapcaster Mage was not undervalued. Read some of the posts in here.
At least this card does something potentially in Affinity in Modern. It probably won't be good enough but the above cards literally have no use outside of maybe limited, when in need of a 22nd or 23rd card.
Wizards print good rares, players complain about cash grab. They print underwhelming rares, players complain that the cards suck. They spoil the best cards first, players complain about the insane prices of preorders. They spoil the meh cards first, players complain that this is the worst set ever.
So. I think I understand now.
As far as these forums are concerned, WotC can never do anything good because:
Card that is new and probably good = "pushed"
Card that is new and probably bad = "EDH/casual fodder"
Card that is a reprint = "lazy"
Card that is a better version of an older card = "power creep"
Card that is a weaker version of an older card = "worthless"
Obviously, this card is rare because of its implications in limited. I don't see anything wrong with the rarity, seems right to me.
So it was pushed to rare because of limited, looks like a last minute filler rare to me.
I like its unique ability, still could not help to notice how similar it is to other common cards of the past.
It seems like a filler last minute rare like Emmara Tandris. At this point i expect another Voice of Resurgence (random reindeer mythic with godlike ability) to show up sooner or later. I wonder if WOTC is getting overwhelmed by the increased number of coming blocks and has started to churn out last minute changes as policy now.
This is the best equipment we've seen since Innistrad. It's been 3 years of janky, overcosted equipment since then. This thing is Trinket Mage-able and strictly better than Bonesplitter in the right deck. It's narrow, sure, and will only see play if it gets the right support, but again: this is the only equipment we've seen since Innistrad that even has a shot of seeing constructed play. The complaints are it doesn't feel rare enough? I mean, sure, it only grants a basic stat boost, but how many equipments grant a cost reduction based on what you're equipping?
Since Limited is the only format where rarity actually matters, yes, it most probably is.
I may have been dangerous before, but now..... I have a KNIFE!
Playtesting | Karador, Ghost Chieftain | Narset, Enlightened Master | Ephara, God of the Polis
Established | Gahiji, Honored One | Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker | Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo | Rubinia Soulsinger
Retired | Medomai the Ageless | Diaochan, Artful Beauty
I think this is a legit claim because Wizards gives cartels a chance to tag a minimum sum of $1-2 for Bonesplitter when you could easily get them after drafts.
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
EDH Decks
BGGlissa, the TraitorGB
URTibor and LumiaRU
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticBUW
UBSygg, River CutthroatBU
RGXenagos, God of RevelsGR
UGVorel of the Hull CladeGU
GBSavra, Queen of the GolgariBG
URGMaelstrom WandererGRU
Playtesting | Karador, Ghost Chieftain | Narset, Enlightened Master | Ephara, God of the Polis
Established | Gahiji, Honored One | Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker | Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo | Rubinia Soulsinger
Retired | Medomai the Ageless | Diaochan, Artful Beauty
Thank you
Amazing that it took 18 posts before somebody stated the obvious!
"Obviously Eldrazi are back!"
"Yeah Eldrazi for sure."
"You noobs. Magic is older than Zendikar block. This is for Morph!"
"Nah, Eldrazi."
"Maybe both?"
"............. artifacts.....?"
But yeah, not too exciting a card. Maybe if it was +3/+2 just to differentiate it from other existing equipment a bit. Even at +3/+1 it would be more interesting than Bonesplitter and other basic/early equipments.
.
........................
Wielding this, Kozilek survives the tower of calamities. Buroken.
Swinging turn 2 with my annihilator 2 thopters was just too beautiful a sight for this world
Cubetutor Link
Flavorwise, the return of "ghostfire" and the allusion to Ugin definitely qualify for some splash.
Actually, Snapcaster Mage was not undervalued. Read some of the posts in here.
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/the-rumor-mill/new-card-discussion/235599-isd-snapcaster-mage?
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
Right, its so much worse than the following rares from previous sets recently:
Guild Feud
Avarice Amulet
Bearer of the Heavens
Conjured Currency
Death's Presence
Undercity Plague
Volatile Rig
Whims of the Fates
etc...
At least this card does something potentially in Affinity in Modern. It probably won't be good enough but the above cards literally have no use outside of maybe limited, when in need of a 22nd or 23rd card.
Feel free to bid on my cards here!
love it!!!
My custom sets:
Caeia Block (Released - Beta)
Generals of Dareth (In Design)
Standard: UBR Grixis Control
Modern: U Merfolk
Commander: UB Wydwen, the biting gale
Ornithopter is in M15. Enjoy your Stabbycopter.
----------------------------
Club Flamingo Wins: 10
----------------------------
EDH Decks
BG Vicious Varolz | RW Jor Kadeen, the Mean Machine | RG Atarka: Muh_Dragons.dec (WIP) | WU Brago, Blink Eternal (WIP)
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So it was pushed to rare because of limited, looks like a last minute filler rare to me.
I like its unique ability, still could not help to notice how similar it is to other common cards of the past.
It seems like a filler last minute rare like Emmara Tandris. At this point i expect another Voice of Resurgence (random reindeer mythic with godlike ability) to show up sooner or later. I wonder if WOTC is getting overwhelmed by the increased number of coming blocks and has started to churn out last minute changes as policy now.