I don't know why they didn't spoil Halimar Tidecaller along with Scatter to the Winds. Remember when they fear Snapcaster Mage and Mana Leak together? Well, it's back. And in a sense, even more abusable with Mirror Mockery. Awaken.dec is gonna be a thing.
There isn't even an upcharge on the base cost for the spell like they sometimes do for kicker style mechanics. You get cancel as your base rate which is not exciting, but is a solid workable counter. The difference between cancel,dissolve, dissipate and this is pretty minimal. They are all three 3 mana unconditional counterspells. Cancel sets their base power level and then you get a fraction of a spell's bonus on dissolve every time you cast it, a smaller fraction of a spell's worth of bonus on every dissipate, and a full spell's worth of bonus if you pay the awaken cost on this one. So yes, awakencancel is just cancel during the early game, but once you have ground the opponent down these awaken spells provide two full spells worth of effect. That's what we call:
I think everyone's missing my point. I'm not saying the card is unplayable... I'm saying it a bad option, because it's a trap. The ttap being when the bait spell hits the table... you'll be less likely to let the bait spell go through, to maximize the value of this counter. And then when you use this counter for its Awaken cost, it opens the control player up to another potentially more powerful spell. I think this card puts the control player in more forced bad situations, especially if they're trying to lean on this spell as a potential finisher.
I don't understand this argument at all?
Its a bad option because its a trap?
The two scenarios you gave
A)Using it on a bait spell instead of the actual spell they are trying to resolve
B)Using it for its awaken cost, "it opens them up to another potential more powerful spell"
I don't get what you mean by B. Are you saying, you are tapping out to awaken in a counter war and they may resolve something better?
If they are casting a bait spell, why are you more likely to cast this spell?
Let's pretend this didn't have its "trap" cost.
In this scenario, you let the bait spell resolve to save the counter for the non-bait spell.
Why does awakening change this? Because you got greedy? Sounds more like a judgement issue than a card issue
In the second case, I see this just like casting mana leak into 3 open mana. in which I've had counted back (correctly) knowing when to tap low/out and when not to is very important.
If your countering a must answer spell, its on you to make the judgment call if you can "get more value" or not. Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't, but when you can't. since the spell was must answer, I don't see this as an issue. again if you try to go for more value when you shouldn't, greed on the player.
Both cases, the player misplayed, but this doesn't make the card bad, just used wrong.
Also the card is a split card
1UU counter and 4UU counter
Sure, 4UU is "better" but if you have to use it for 1UU, I didn't "waste" the card, I used the card as functioned. I needed a 3 mana counterspell when a 6 mana would not have worked.
And when you can use it as a 6 mana counter spell, you were able to use the same deck slot as a 3 mana counterspell during deck construction. In what world is this ever bad?
Its not a trap, its a very flexible card, but like all cards with lots of options are harder to use.
And as for earlier when you said Control players "Don't want to use their lands as creatures" - This is like the exact opposite. Now in my control deck I can play 28 lands and not have to be worried about flooding out. Late game I can make my lands into win cons. I need to have less dedicated slots to win cons (or just have none at all) relying only on awaken cards. This is INSANE. Why are the man lands great? because they dont use up spell slots and can still kill opponents.Where is the upside? Deck construction.
If your using this spell in bad situation because its your "finisher", your using it wrong, or you made your deck wrong (not having back up finishers in the case your opponent never casts spells [though if this is the case, I see no issue]) Worse case, if they aren't casting spells, you can always counter your own spell to get a guy. but I don't see where this is ever going to be an issue
RGWMayael the AnimaRGW
UBRMarchesa, the Black RoseUBR
Modern Decks
RGWNaya BurnRGW
Guessing we'll be getting Drana tomorrow, since this week's UR is about her. Seems like a fitting spot for the card.
When did they say that tomorrow's UR was going to be about Drana?
RGWMayael the AnimaRGW
UBRMarchesa, the Black RoseUBR
Modern Decks
RGWNaya BurnRGW
On the main BFZ site
Episode 5: Memories of Blood
"Drana ... "
RGWMayael the AnimaRGW
UBRMarchesa, the Black RoseUBR
Modern Decks
RGWNaya BurnRGW
I don't understand this argument at all?
Its a bad option because its a trap?
The two scenarios you gave
A)Using it on a bait spell instead of the actual spell they are trying to resolve
B)Using it for its awaken cost, "it opens them up to another potential more powerful spell"
I don't get what you mean by B. Are you saying, you are tapping out to awaken in a counter war and they may resolve something better?
If they are casting a bait spell, why are you more likely to cast this spell?
Let's pretend this didn't have its "trap" cost.
In this scenario, you let the bait spell resolve to save the counter for the non-bait spell.
Why does awakening change this? Because you got greedy? Sounds more like a judgement issue than a card issue
In the second case, I see this just like casting mana leak into 3 open mana. in which I've had counted back (correctly) knowing when to tap low/out and when not to is very important.
If your countering a must answer spell, its on you to make the judgment call if you can "get more value" or not. Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't, but when you can't. since the spell was must answer, I don't see this as an issue. again if you try to go for more value when you shouldn't, greed on the player.
Both cases, the player misplayed, but this doesn't make the card bad, just used wrong.
Also the card is a split card
1UU counter and 4UU counter
Sure, 4UU is "better" but if you have to use it for 1UU, I didn't "waste" the card, I used the card as functioned. I needed a 3 mana counterspell when a 6 mana would not have worked.
And when you can use it as a 6 mana counter spell, you were able to use the same deck slot as a 3 mana counterspell during deck construction. In what world is this ever bad?
Its not a trap, its a very flexible card, but like all cards with lots of options are harder to use.
And as for earlier when you said Control players "Don't want to use their lands as creatures" - This is like the exact opposite. Now in my control deck I can play 28 lands and not have to be worried about flooding out. Late game I can make my lands into win cons. I need to have less dedicated slots to win cons (or just have none at all) relying only on awaken cards. This is INSANE. Why are the man lands great? because they dont use up spell slots and can still kill opponents.Where is the upside? Deck construction.
If your using this spell in bad situation because its your "finisher", your using it wrong, or you made your deck wrong (not having back up finishers in the case your opponent never casts spells [though if this is the case, I see no issue]) Worse case, if they aren't casting spells, you can always counter your own spell to get a guy. but I don't see where this is ever going to be an issue
MOD::symw::symu::symb: Gifts
LEG::symg::symb: Infect