Would control pay +1 for a non exiling syncopate that also burns to the face?
Probably not, generally the more mana before the X the weaker the counter spell is, especially since it will usually only deal 1-3 damage. Think about it this way, what you would rather pay 3 mana for, a hard counter like Cancel or Dissolve, or "counter target spell unless its controller pays 1, that spell's controller takes 1 damage", or even "counter target spell unless your opponent plays 2"?
UX counters like Syncopate are played because they are lesser versions of Mana Leak, which can counter your opponents 2 drops if you're on the play and 3 drops if you're on the draw. The only format this is marginally good in is Commander, where you have the time to generate the mana needed to make this card effectively UR4 "counter target spell unless its controller pays 4, that spell's controller takes 4 damage." Even then, that's not as good as it initially sounds.
Commander: UBG Tasigur, the lab enabler UR Planeswalker Control UBRW Breya's personal box of combos BRW Vampire beats, by Dre 1 Karn, where all lands are command towers UBR Inalla's Venser lock UBRGW Atog Atog contraption tribal WUB Xur's second chance UGW Derivi, bird tribal R Brother's Yamazaki BRG Prosh, the scourge of multiplayer GW Capt. Sisay's Deck Dumping Service UB All Your Spells do Belong to Me UG Tapioca Pearl BG Meren's grinder
This seems like a pretty good card to me. Potential for massive tempo play while still doing damage. It just needs to be in a deck that plays on the other guy's turn. (Could have been uncommon, though.)
Commander: UBG Tasigur, the lab enabler UR Planeswalker Control UBRW Breya's personal box of combos BRW Vampire beats, by Dre 1 Karn, where all lands are command towers UBR Inalla's Venser lock UBRGW Atog Atog contraption tribal WUB Xur's second chance UGW Derivi, bird tribal R Brother's Yamazaki BRG Prosh, the scourge of multiplayer GW Capt. Sisay's Deck Dumping Service UB All Your Spells do Belong to Me UG Tapioca Pearl BG Meren's grinder
Temur art, but no Temur watermark. Just like Utter end has Mardu art and no watermark. What's the deal?
I speculated that it's a cycle of the clan colours minus the central colour hence the lack of water mark. Sagu Mauler is the same. It refers to the Jungle which is Sultai not Temur. The UG Uncommon is Temur so I expect that's why it's a rare cycle to keep it unique. Still waiting on a R/W Jeskai and a B/G Azban rare.
The cost makes it a subpar early game counter spell but the burn effect (that works even if the spell is paid for and doesn't get countered) can be a powerful late game effect countering a spell and putting your opponent into lethal damage range or killing a planes walker (or maybe even your opponent) is very potent and I could see people playing 1-2 of these in a URx control deck.
I don't even care if it ends up sucking. I have tears in my eyes. This is all I ever wanted as an Izzet fan. *Sleeves up Spellheart Chimera once again.*
Seriously...this set is only fetchlands. What a *****ty expansion.
And then come the Pro Tour the good players will build decks abusing the "terrible" cards of Khans and everyone will be clamoring for them, just like always.
As for the card, I like it. The burn happens even if they pay for it, and you can use it to burn out walkers.
Blegh... you know something strange is up when you're more excited about the Mardu uncommon that was just revealed rather than this... *rare*. On the plus side though I really hope this Arel character appears as the second U/R walker. This text and that of the lens make him seem like someone who uses both fire and ice powers.
Would control pay +1 for a non exiling syncopate that also burns to the face?
Probably not, generally the more mana before the X the weaker the counter spell is, especially since it will usually only deal 1-3 damage. Think about it this way, what you would rather pay 3 mana for, a hard counter like Cancel or Dissolve, or "counter target spell unless its controller pays 1, that spell's controller takes 1 damage", or even "counter target spell unless your opponent plays 2"?
UX counters like Syncopate are played because they are lesser versions of Mana Leak, which can counter your opponents 2 drops if you're on the play and 3 drops if you're on the draw. The only format this is marginally good in is Commander, where you have the time to generate the mana needed to make this card effectively UR4 "counter target spell unless its controller pays 4, that spell's controller takes 4 damage." Even then, that's not as good as it initially sounds.
This is EXACTLY the case. Thank you.
Control does not need another 3+cmc removal spell, counterspell or enchantment etc. The 3 drop spot is so clogged in the current state of control decks it is absurd.
Hero's Downfall
B Light
Dissolve
Dissipate
Anger of the Gods
Ashiok
Drown in Sorrow
Sultai Charm
The other 4 Charms
Now control decks might not play all of those, but this card in a true control shell is IMO strictly worse that Dissolve 1-4 and even Dissipate. You are always going to be paying 3 or more for it and I don't really care if it does damage to my opponent. When I drop my wincon as a control deck, the game should be over. I do not want to rely on a counterspell to do so. This is not like Nephalia Drownyard where it is a wincon built into an answer (or in drownyards case, land) it is just a counterspell with a cool upside.
What control really needs now is a solid 2cmc removals spell or counterspell. Last Breath is kills courser, Grey merchant and a slew of others, but is dead late game. Bile Blight cant kill courser, Brimaz or merchant. That IMO is the biggest problem that needs to be addressed. I would love a Terminate reprint, seeing as there are 10 unspoiled lands, it could potentially work in a 4+ color control deck.
At first, I thought it dealt X to creature or player and I thought it was amazing. Then I decided to read the card again. A pretty big letdown for a rare.
That's awesome. Always loved countermagic when it has upside. The IPA block gold counters were some of my favorite cards back in the day. This is one of the more interesting designs they've had for a counterspell, an X spell, and a burn spell, which makes me a lot happier than bland rare designs like Avalanche Tusker.
Its playability isn't off the charts, to make it worth casting in the damage department, the opponent has to walk into it when you have a lot of mana. If your intent is to counter it, there are more efficient options. But it's the late game where this one shines, like a Draining Whelk, a gigantic haymaker to put their haymaker to bed. It's a great closer for an aggressive deck that needs to maintain its board state, because the damage will be back-breaking in addition to losing their stabilizing spell.
Seriously...this set is only fetchlands. What a *****ty expansion.
And then come the Pro Tour the good players will build decks abusing the "terrible" cards of Khans and everyone will be clamoring for them, just like always.
As for the card, I like it. The burn happens even if they pay for it, and you can use it to burn out walkers.
Yea it is quite solid. Many players just lack any imagination and will ***** on anything that isn't completely broken. No set is good until every card makes old sets obsolete, and when they do that people whine about the power creep.
Man, there are a lot of bad rares being previewed. And I'm not one to really complain about that, I understand there have to be some bad rares... but seriously, we've been getting a lot of them, which is even more disturbing since we usually get the good cards first.
Blegh... you know something strange is up when you're more excited about the Mardu uncommon that was just revealed rather than this... *rare*. On the plus side though I really hope this Arel character appears as the second U/R walker. This text and that of the lens make him seem like someone who uses both fire and ice powers.
Third U/R walker - just because it was a supplementary product doesn't mean Dack Fayden doesn't count! But I agree, Arel being a U/R weather-based walker would be awesome. Unfortunately, since (I believe) Khans is confirmed to be a 2-walker set, and Fate Reforged seems likely to be set in the past, if Arel is getting a 'walker card, it probably won't be until Louie...if he/she is still around after the time travel shenanigans. More likely an as-of-yet unrevealed legendary creature, which would be fun in its own right. Two pieces of flavortext and I'm already very intrigued by the character. Hopefully Arel doesn't suffer the fate of Gisa and Geralf and have to wait for three years and a supplemental product to get a card...
As for Mindswipe (fun name), it's interesting, at least. Brings a whole new meaning to "counter-burn." I'm Izzet to the core, so I'm definitely going to find some casual use for it, but it's not super efficient, as far as counters go, or as far as burn goes...
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"The true measure of all heroes is not what they achieve, but who they inspire." —Triumph of Gerrard
i like this card. Its a good late game play. Maybe not a 4x in standard but I'd say a 2x in some decks. Opponents need to play around it. Damage to the face. This is a rare for sure and I think the set is turning out quite well. There are some wishes I would like that don't look to be about to show but I'm still pleased with the set so far.
Definitely will be playing this as a 2 of at least in standard, and might be playable in Modern in UWR (it really is just a counter-burn deck at heart).
I agree 100% that this is pointless in a heavy control deck where a few points of damage are irrelevant, but what about in some kind of midrangey/tempo deck? Countering a board wipe or something big like an Elspeth, Sun's Champion while simultaneously shocking the opponent seems sweet.
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Probably not, generally the more mana before the X the weaker the counter spell is, especially since it will usually only deal 1-3 damage. Think about it this way, what you would rather pay 3 mana for, a hard counter like Cancel or Dissolve, or "counter target spell unless its controller pays 1, that spell's controller takes 1 damage", or even "counter target spell unless your opponent plays 2"?
UX counters like Syncopate are played because they are lesser versions of Mana Leak, which can counter your opponents 2 drops if you're on the play and 3 drops if you're on the draw. The only format this is marginally good in is Commander, where you have the time to generate the mana needed to make this card effectively UR4 "counter target spell unless its controller pays 4, that spell's controller takes 4 damage." Even then, that's not as good as it initially sounds.
UBG Tasigur, the lab enabler UR Planeswalker Control
UBRW Breya's personal box of combos BRW Vampire beats, by Dre
1 Karn, where all lands are command towers UBR Inalla's Venser lock
UBRGW Atog Atog contraption tribal WUB Xur's second chance
UGW Derivi, bird tribal R Brother's Yamazaki
BRG Prosh, the scourge of multiplayer GW Capt. Sisay's Deck Dumping Service
UB All Your Spells do Belong to Me UG Tapioca Pearl
BG Meren's grinder
UBG Tasigur, the lab enabler UR Planeswalker Control
UBRW Breya's personal box of combos BRW Vampire beats, by Dre
1 Karn, where all lands are command towers UBR Inalla's Venser lock
UBRGW Atog Atog contraption tribal WUB Xur's second chance
UGW Derivi, bird tribal R Brother's Yamazaki
BRG Prosh, the scourge of multiplayer GW Capt. Sisay's Deck Dumping Service
UB All Your Spells do Belong to Me UG Tapioca Pearl
BG Meren's grinder
EDH:
Niv-Mizzet
Legacy:
The Rack
Modern
Venser, the Sojourner Control
I speculated that it's a cycle of the clan colours minus the central colour hence the lack of water mark. Sagu Mauler is the same. It refers to the Jungle which is Sultai not Temur. The UG Uncommon is Temur so I expect that's why it's a rare cycle to keep it unique. Still waiting on a R/W Jeskai and a B/G Azban rare.
Nobody's going to play it.
Machius proudly supports R_E's right to Rumour!
And then come the Pro Tour the good players will build decks abusing the "terrible" cards of Khans and everyone will be clamoring for them, just like always.
As for the card, I like it. The burn happens even if they pay for it, and you can use it to burn out walkers.
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
You made one of Dack Fayden or Ral Zarek sad.
Yup.
This is EXACTLY the case. Thank you.
Control does not need another 3+cmc removal spell, counterspell or enchantment etc. The 3 drop spot is so clogged in the current state of control decks it is absurd.
Hero's Downfall
B Light
Dissolve
Dissipate
Anger of the Gods
Ashiok
Drown in Sorrow
Sultai Charm
The other 4 Charms
Now control decks might not play all of those, but this card in a true control shell is IMO strictly worse that Dissolve 1-4 and even Dissipate. You are always going to be paying 3 or more for it and I don't really care if it does damage to my opponent. When I drop my wincon as a control deck, the game should be over. I do not want to rely on a counterspell to do so. This is not like Nephalia Drownyard where it is a wincon built into an answer (or in drownyards case, land) it is just a counterspell with a cool upside.
What control really needs now is a solid 2cmc removals spell or counterspell. Last Breath is kills courser, Grey merchant and a slew of others, but is dead late game. Bile Blight cant kill courser, Brimaz or merchant. That IMO is the biggest problem that needs to be addressed. I would love a Terminate reprint, seeing as there are 10 unspoiled lands, it could potentially work in a 4+ color control deck.
At first, I thought it dealt X to creature or player and I thought it was amazing. Then I decided to read the card again. A pretty big letdown for a rare.
Its playability isn't off the charts, to make it worth casting in the damage department, the opponent has to walk into it when you have a lot of mana. If your intent is to counter it, there are more efficient options. But it's the late game where this one shines, like a Draining Whelk, a gigantic haymaker to put their haymaker to bed. It's a great closer for an aggressive deck that needs to maintain its board state, because the damage will be back-breaking in addition to losing their stabilizing spell.
Yea it is quite solid. Many players just lack any imagination and will ***** on anything that isn't completely broken. No set is good until every card makes old sets obsolete, and when they do that people whine about the power creep.
Lens of Clarity
Third U/R walker - just because it was a supplementary product doesn't mean Dack Fayden doesn't count! But I agree, Arel being a U/R weather-based walker would be awesome. Unfortunately, since (I believe) Khans is confirmed to be a 2-walker set, and Fate Reforged seems likely to be set in the past, if Arel is getting a 'walker card, it probably won't be until Louie...if he/she is still around after the time travel shenanigans. More likely an as-of-yet unrevealed legendary creature, which would be fun in its own right. Two pieces of flavortext and I'm already very intrigued by the character. Hopefully Arel doesn't suffer the fate of Gisa and Geralf and have to wait for three years and a supplemental product to get a card...
As for Mindswipe (fun name), it's interesting, at least. Brings a whole new meaning to "counter-burn." I'm Izzet to the core, so I'm definitely going to find some casual use for it, but it's not super efficient, as far as counters go, or as far as burn goes...
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/trading-post/details/360-bitterblossom-and-mistbind-clique-looking-to-trade