Sandsteppe Mastodon - Rare - 5GG
Creature - Elephant
Reach
When Sandsteppe Mastodon enters the battlefield Bolster 5 (Choose a creature with the least toughness or tied with the least toughness among creatures you control. Put 5 +1/+1 counters on it.)
5/5
I was gonna question why the wording was "least toughness" rather than "lowest toughness", but I find that the only card that uses either of these phrases Purging Scythe, used "lowest" in print, but is using "least" in oracle wording.
Bolster, eh?
Incredible combo with Deadly Insect, if this does not, in fact, target.
From the way it's worded, it looks like Bolster isn't always an enter-the-battlefield effect (or else it would just say "Bolster 5" and have "when ~ enters the battlefield" be a part of the ability description). Means it could be an activated ability, a triggered ability, a leaves-the-battlefield ability, be an effect on instants or sorceries...there's some fun potential versatility there. I'm liking it. It's also pretty flavorful, strengthening the weakest link to strengthen the clan as a whole.
7 mana is a bit pricey to see play, but it is still 10 power for that 7 mana, so who knows. It's no Wolfir Silverheart, but the block/standard isn't on the same power level as it was when the Silverheart was released.
Also yay, elephants. Nice to see the living mastodons that Rotting Mastodon implied we'd be getting in the past.
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"The true measure of all heroes is not what they achieve, but who they inspire." —Triumph of Gerrard
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"
I'm SO SICK of the "too strong for Standard" argument. It's the new "Dies to removal". We can have a two mana 4/4 with a zillion abilities, but we can't just have Accumulated Knowledge. Makes sense.
So does this mean all colors are getting this very Abzan-y mechanic,
or are we getting five *new* clan mechanics?
The first seems silly and the second excessive-
maybe some clans get new mechanics and some keep the previous ones
(ie- a mix of mechanics from KTK and DTK)?
Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
Melek, Izzet Paragon
Oona, Queen of the Fae
Bruna, Light of Alabaster
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Rhys the Redeemed
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Sen Triplets
The Mimeoplasm WUBRGSliver OverlordGRBUW WUBRGSliver Hivelord(Superfriends)GRBUW
The card looks pretty boring, while boster "could" be a mechanic similiar to evolve and throw some counters around.
If a card has a small "bolster" like 1 , it will be much worse as you are forced to put counters on your smallest creature.
But this makes for some interesting plays in limited, as you might suicide attack your 1/1 tokens, so your bigger creature gets the counters.
So in terms of limited, it will be a nice mechanic, in terms of constructed we need some seriously pushed creatures to make bolster relevant (like a 1 drop with bolster 2 or something like that).
I think that small creatures with bolster will end up being unplayable. Since it doesn't say "other creature", it could just put the counters on itself. So the creature+bolster can't be too far ahead of curve. Your example would be a 3/3 for 1 for example. I'm not sure if they can find a spot where a creature is playable for its bolster effect without ending up in a similar spot.
It could be interesting to see a 1/0 bolster 1 for 1, but most likely we will get a Bond Beetle variant.
While a 10/10 Reach for 5GG is decent enough, I don't know what kind of deck would run this card when you could just as easily run Hornet Queen. Still, might be nice to see Bolster on a non-creature spell. Could be an interesting mechanic
Since you can only pick creature with least power then I guess bolster put more +1/+1 than the usual put +1/+1 counter trigger. Should be awesome in limited with morph or simply to boost small creatures with evasion.
I think that small creatures with bolster will end up being unplayable. Since it doesn't say "other creature", it could just put the counters on itself. So the creature+bolster can't be too far ahead of curve. Your example would be a 3/3 for 1 for example. I'm not sure if they can find a spot where a creature is playable for its bolster effect without ending up in a similar spot.
It could be interesting to see a 1/0 bolster 1 for 1, but most likely we will get a Bond Beetle variant.
EDIT: Didn't think that through.
I more thought of a creature along the line of white 1 drops we got in the current past, which are W 0/3 for example.
Such a card with bolster would be at least more solid and it would work with bolster, as it doesnt have 1 thoughness and you could play it turn 1 as a 1/4 vanilla if you wanted.
We allready got the black B 0/4 with outlast, so i could totally see a W 0/4 with bolster 1 work aswell, or say a 0/2 with bolster 2 for 1W.
But overall you are right, we probably wont see any or at least not many cheap bolster creatures, which will make this mechanic most likely just limited only.
Eh, I don't think this will see much constructed play. As someone pointed out, Hornet Queen makes a much more efficient flying blocker for green, and if you're worried about Drown in Sorrow or Bile Blight, you could also get a 6/6 reach for 5 with another ability.
I'm going to guess that we're going to be seeing two, at most three, new keywords for clans and the others will get a "mechanic" like Naya's "Power 5 matters." I just want to know if the five mechanics for KTK will make a return in this set or not.
I'm going to guess that we're going to be seeing two, at most three, new keywords for clans and the others will get a "mechanic" like Naya's "Power 5 matters." I just want to know if the five mechanics for KTK will make a return in this set or not.
My guess is that we will get three mechanics from KTK and two new ones. Then, in Dragons of Tarkir, only the two new mechanics will remain and three new ones will be introduced.
This way, the mechanics would make almost the same sense when considered in reverse order of sets (which is, I guess, an esthetic concern Wizards have). Also, the new mechanics would not have the wedge color identities -- remember we were told that KTK is a wedge set, but not a wedge block?
I think that small creatures with bolster will end up being unplayable. Since it doesn't say "other creature", it could just put the counters on itself. So the creature+bolster can't be too far ahead of curve. Your example would be a 3/3 for 1 for example. I'm not sure if they can find a spot where a creature is playable for its bolster effect without ending up in a similar spot.
It could be interesting to see a 1/0 bolster 1 for 1, but most likely we will get a Bond Beetle variant.
EDIT: Didn't think that through.
I more thought of a creature along the line of white 1 drops we got in the current past, which are W 0/3 for example.
Such a card with bolster would be at least more solid and it would work with bolster, as it doesnt have 1 thoughness and you could play it turn 1 as a 1/4 vanilla if you wanted.
We allready got the black B 0/4 with outlast, so i could totally see a W 0/4 with bolster 1 work aswell, or say a 0/2 with bolster 2 for 1W.
But overall you are right, we probably wont see any or at least not many cheap bolster creatures, which will make this mechanic most likely just limited only.
That's more reasonable. But I doubt they would let you have a 1/4 for 1.
I'm going to guess that we're going to be seeing two, at most three, new keywords for clans and the others will get a "mechanic" like Naya's "Power 5 matters." I just want to know if the five mechanics for KTK will make a return in this set or not.
My guess is that we will get three mechanics from KTK and two new ones. Then, in Dragons of Tarkir, only the two new mechanics will remain and three new ones will be introduced.
This way, the mechanics would make almost the same sense when considered in reverse order of sets (which is, I guess, an esthetic concern Wizards have). Also, the new mechanics would not have the wedge color identities -- remember we were told that KTK is a wedge set, but not a wedge block?
When there are factions, and players have a chance to be "attached" to factions, I get the impression that Wizards want to treat the factions equally.
For example, they did not want to have any of the guilds in RTR get their old mechanic from original Ravnica block as a returning mechanic, as players of those guilds might feel "cheated" of new toys.
But it seems weird that they would bring all or none of them forward too..
So there's a new Simic Infinite in EDH then, eh? Sage of Hours + this + Conjurer's Closet/Any way to bounce/reabuse him *coughDeadeye Navigatorcough* and you're in the money.
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My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
When there are factions, and players have a chance to be "attached" to factions, I get the impression that Wizards want to treat the factions equally.
For example, they did not want to have any of the guilds in RTR get their old mechanic from original Ravnica block as a returning mechanic, as players of those guilds might feel "cheated" of new toys.
But it seems weird that they would bring all or none of them forward too..
This has to do with the whole feel of the block. The second set will be drafter with both first and third sets, and the flavor seems to be that first and third sets are two distinct alternative futures of the second set. This means that the mechanics must make sense both in KTK-FRF context and in Dragons of Tarkir-FRF context.
But there's more. I believe that what Wizards is going for, just because they can, is that they want the sets to make just as much sense if they were released in the reverse order. It has to do with symmetry of both alternate presents -- they want us to feel that either of them could reasonably come first.
My proposed solution would mean that KTK and Dragons of Tarkir wouldn't share any keyword mechanics except for morph, but each of them would share some mechanics with FRF. Since it's not possible to share exactly half of mechanics, one possibility would be for FRF to have 2/3 mix; however, it's also possible that it will actually have 2/2 or 3/3 mix and not actually contain five clan/group mechanics.
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Sandsteppe Mastodon - Rare - 5GG
Creature - Elephant
Reach
When Sandsteppe Mastodon enters the battlefield Bolster 5 (Choose a creature with the least toughness or tied with the least toughness among creatures you control. Put 5 +1/+1 counters on it.)
5/5
also elephants
Shout out to commandercast for keeping me entertained.
Bolster, eh?
Incredible combo with Deadly Insect, if this does not, in fact, target.
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
7 mana is a bit pricey to see play, but it is still 10 power for that 7 mana, so who knows. It's no Wolfir Silverheart, but the block/standard isn't on the same power level as it was when the Silverheart was released.
Also yay, elephants. Nice to see the living mastodons that Rotting Mastodon implied we'd be getting in the past.
Look at its tusks, that elephant just sways his head around and kills stuff that way.
thats because it looks like it's printed on one of those schedule papers. remember bident of thassa?
It looks to be from one of those Magic-Calendar-Posters that shops get for PR purposes. We've had such spoilers earlier as well.
EDIT: I am slow
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
or are we getting five *new* clan mechanics?
The first seems silly and the second excessive-
maybe some clans get new mechanics and some keep the previous ones
(ie- a mix of mechanics from KTK and DTK)?
Reprint Stasis!
Control needs more love.
EDH:
Momir Vig, Simic Visionary
Melek, Izzet Paragon
Oona, Queen of the Fae
Bruna, Light of Alabaster
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Rhys the Redeemed
Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Sen Triplets
The Mimeoplasm
WUBRGSliver OverlordGRBUW
WUBRGSliver Hivelord(Superfriends)GRBUW
If a card has a small "bolster" like 1 , it will be much worse as you are forced to put counters on your smallest creature.
But this makes for some interesting plays in limited, as you might suicide attack your 1/1 tokens, so your bigger creature gets the counters.
So in terms of limited, it will be a nice mechanic, in terms of constructed we need some seriously pushed creatures to make bolster relevant (like a 1 drop with bolster 2 or something like that).
WUBRG#BlackLotusMatterWUBRG
👮👮👮 #BlueLivesMatter 👮👮👮
It could be interesting to see a 1/0 bolster 1 for 1, butmost likely we will get a Bond Beetle variant.EDIT: Didn't think that through.
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
I more thought of a creature along the line of white 1 drops we got in the current past, which are W 0/3 for example.
Such a card with bolster would be at least more solid and it would work with bolster, as it doesnt have 1 thoughness and you could play it turn 1 as a 1/4 vanilla if you wanted.
We allready got the black B 0/4 with outlast, so i could totally see a W 0/4 with bolster 1 work aswell, or say a 0/2 with bolster 2 for 1W.
But overall you are right, we probably wont see any or at least not many cheap bolster creatures, which will make this mechanic most likely just limited only.
WUBRG#BlackLotusMatterWUBRG
👮👮👮 #BlueLivesMatter 👮👮👮
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
My guess is that we will get three mechanics from KTK and two new ones. Then, in Dragons of Tarkir, only the two new mechanics will remain and three new ones will be introduced.
This way, the mechanics would make almost the same sense when considered in reverse order of sets (which is, I guess, an esthetic concern Wizards have). Also, the new mechanics would not have the wedge color identities -- remember we were told that KTK is a wedge set, but not a wedge block?
UR Blue-Red Control
Modern:
UBR Grixis Control
UWR Jeskai Control
That's more reasonable. But I doubt they would let you have a 1/4 for 1.
When there are factions, and players have a chance to be "attached" to factions, I get the impression that Wizards want to treat the factions equally.
For example, they did not want to have any of the guilds in RTR get their old mechanic from original Ravnica block as a returning mechanic, as players of those guilds might feel "cheated" of new toys.
But it seems weird that they would bring all or none of them forward too..
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
So there's a new Simic Infinite in EDH then, eh? Sage of Hours + this + Conjurer's Closet/Any way to bounce/reabuse him *coughDeadeye Navigatorcough* and you're in the money.
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
This has to do with the whole feel of the block. The second set will be drafter with both first and third sets, and the flavor seems to be that first and third sets are two distinct alternative futures of the second set. This means that the mechanics must make sense both in KTK-FRF context and in Dragons of Tarkir-FRF context.
But there's more. I believe that what Wizards is going for, just because they can, is that they want the sets to make just as much sense if they were released in the reverse order. It has to do with symmetry of both alternate presents -- they want us to feel that either of them could reasonably come first.
My proposed solution would mean that KTK and Dragons of Tarkir wouldn't share any keyword mechanics except for morph, but each of them would share some mechanics with FRF. Since it's not possible to share exactly half of mechanics, one possibility would be for FRF to have 2/3 mix; however, it's also possible that it will actually have 2/2 or 3/3 mix and not actually contain five clan/group mechanics.