I'm very much enjoying this super-deadpan setup -> punchline flavor text pattern that's emerging.
If there's a way to flip this back, it could be interesting in constructed...something to keep an eye out for. In a vacuum, though, I don't want to risk being left holding the bag.
Hard to say it is strictly better. It does have an upside of becoming better than a leonin cimitar in stats, but once it flips the equip is 3, so it is hard to compare. In any case, very interesting limited card, maybe if there is an aggro-transform archetype in constructed it could see play? Heh, not holding my breath though.
Strictly Better
I consider any card that gives more options strictly better than a previous card if it is otherwise the same except for the option, similar to the definition from the wiki associated with this very website. So, I'd argue that it is not difficult to compare to Leonin Scimitar, as you have some amount of control over when and if it flips. In terms of cards being difficult to compare, I think the comparison between this and Leonin Scimitar is actually not too difficult. Even if it isn't strictly better, it is borderline. Compared to other cards that are not strictly better but are close, this is probably one of the closest.
I dislike "filler" equipment like this. Wizards should be a little expansive and perhaps think outside of Limited a little more.
That said, I presume it'd excellent with Werewolves.
This is hardly "filler" equipment. It has a decent story (not phenomenal like some flip cards, but better than most previous "filler" equipment cards), and it has a much larger impact than a lot of previous "filler" equipment. +3/+3 is useful for both offense and defense. I'd prefer this over almost any aura any day (Iona's Blessing for example, is a less playable card).
I also still can't understand why people say things like "why did they make this card for x format". Compared to earlier sets WOTC thinks a lot more about making cards for all types of players. It's not like many recent sets have been just limited filler, and most cards from a set should be aimed with limited in mind. I believe that is a major factor in the rarity of a card.
Also, limited is the best format, so there is that.
t2- heir of falkenrath
t3- play and equip neglected heirloom, discard and play fiery temper, transform heir and heirloom, swing with a 6/5 first striking flyer?
Yeah, that seems reasonable, especially if your alternate sequences include incorrigible youths and/or ravenous bloodseekers. I guess we just need a 1 mana creature with an easy to activate (madness enabling?) 0 mana transform trigger and a black or red (vampire?) basking rootwalla to make for a fundamentally unfair b/r aggro deck?
Limited just got really scary. 9 damage on turn 3, leaving you wit a 6/5 flying first strike? We're going to need a lot of strong removal for this set.
IOW, if a creature is equipped with the heirloom and its transform trigger goes on the stack and is killed in response, does the heirloom transforms? (Because the transform going on the stack is 'transform' for teh heirloom.) Or does it not? (Because the required 'transform' is to have the creature land back in play on its transformed side.)
Play this with Archangel Avacyn? The moment it transforms, you're left with a 9/8 flying and first strike that just wiped most (or at least a significant amount) of the board.
The very fast synergy with Heir of Falkenrath is perfect because after she transforms she beats Reality Smasher. Avacynian Missionaries seems more natural to use with this card but they can't equip it and transform until turn 5, maybe turn 4 if you used Hedron Crawler earlier.
Right now, I can't figure out a way to equip the transformed version of the equipment onto a deathtouch creature like Malakir Familiar, Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim, or Fathom Feeder before turn 5 but I have been trying for only 15 minutes. If Standard slows down as expected, though, then having to wait until turn 5 might not be too bad.
but does it not stay equipped when the creature transforms?
It does. So you just paid an extra two mana to turn your Heir of Falkenrath into a 6/5 flying first striker on turn 3 or your Avacynian Missionaries into a 7/7 O-ring.
Seems meh./s
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"Pop in, find a dragon, roast a dragon."
-Chandra Nalaar
Hey look it's another limited only card that they print for flavor reasons. Who cares about playing the game as long as the flavor is real right guys? This company has such a great card game and they keep ruining it for more storytime crap. Such a shame. Bad card.
If there are enough cheap, easy to trigger transform creatures, this could actually be playable in constructed, even possibly Modern. 1to play and equip is incredibly cheap for +3/+3 and First Strike. Unfortunately, it's probably not very good with Delver (Which you want to flip before you can equip anything to it), but the new discard vampire is strong with it.
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*Insert giant block of annoying garbage that no one cares about but you have to scroll past anyway here*
IOW, if a creature is equipped with the heirloom and its transform trigger goes on the stack and is killed in response, does the heirloom transforms? (Because the transform going on the stack is 'transform' for teh heirloom.) Or does it not? (Because the required 'transform' is to have the creature land back in play on its transformed side.)
If the equipped creature doesn't transform, the equipment doens't either. The equipped creature has to actually transform in order for the equipment to transform.
I don't understand the people complaining about this card. We've just come out of an environment with awful equipment for Limited (even though it was supposed to be the RW theme), and now we get an uncommon equipment that actually might be a build-around-me, something that very rarely happens for equipment, and people are dismissing it as useless? What's your problem?
Cause people love to complain, especially on new cards. Most people are quick to say something sucks but quickly go back on their statement once the money value of the card increases due to some tournament.
Could be very close to first pick in draft. One flip and you're in business hitting for +3 with first strike. Even with something as small as a 2 power flyer that's a big threat.
but does it not stay equipped when the creature transforms?
It does. So you just paid an extra two mana to turn your Heir of Falkenrath into a 6/5 flying first striker on turn 3 or your Avacynian Missionaries into a 7/7 O-ring.
Seems meh./s
Because the possibility of a 6/5 flying first striker on turn 3 with no ramp needed what so ever is very meh? seems pretty powerful to me...
but does it not stay equipped when the creature transforms?
It does. So you just paid an extra two mana to turn your Heir of Falkenrath into a 6/5 flying first striker on turn 3 or your Avacynian Missionaries into a 7/7 O-ring.
Seems meh./s
Because the possibility of a 6/5 flying first striker on turn 3 with no ramp needed what so ever is very meh? seems pretty powerful to me...
Spellthief was being sarcastic, hence the "/s".
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MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
If there's a way to flip this back, it could be interesting in constructed...something to keep an eye out for. In a vacuum, though, I don't want to risk being left holding the bag.
Strictly Better
I consider any card that gives more options strictly better than a previous card if it is otherwise the same except for the option, similar to the definition from the wiki associated with this very website. So, I'd argue that it is not difficult to compare to Leonin Scimitar, as you have some amount of control over when and if it flips. In terms of cards being difficult to compare, I think the comparison between this and Leonin Scimitar is actually not too difficult. Even if it isn't strictly better, it is borderline. Compared to other cards that are not strictly better but are close, this is probably one of the closest.
This is hardly "filler" equipment. It has a decent story (not phenomenal like some flip cards, but better than most previous "filler" equipment cards), and it has a much larger impact than a lot of previous "filler" equipment. +3/+3 is useful for both offense and defense. I'd prefer this over almost any aura any day (Iona's Blessing for example, is a less playable card).
It's not like it's Razor Boomerang or anything.
I also still can't understand why people say things like "why did they make this card for x format". Compared to earlier sets WOTC thinks a lot more about making cards for all types of players. It's not like many recent sets have been just limited filler, and most cards from a set should be aimed with limited in mind. I believe that is a major factor in the rarity of a card.
Also, limited is the best format, so there is that.
Standard
UR Control
Modern
Merfolk
Burn
Avacyn did nothing wrong!
Purify Innistrad!
#Purge
Limited just got really scary. 9 damage on turn 3, leaving you wit a 6/5 flying first strike? We're going to need a lot of strong removal for this set.
Note that it doesn't detach when it transforms.
IOW, if a creature is equipped with the heirloom and its transform trigger goes on the stack and is killed in response, does the heirloom transforms? (Because the transform going on the stack is 'transform' for teh heirloom.) Or does it not? (Because the required 'transform' is to have the creature land back in play on its transformed side.)
Right now, I can't figure out a way to equip the transformed version of the equipment onto a deathtouch creature like Malakir Familiar, Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim, or Fathom Feeder before turn 5 but I have been trying for only 15 minutes. If Standard slows down as expected, though, then having to wait until turn 5 might not be too bad.
but does it not stay equipped when the creature transforms?
Seems meh./s
-Chandra Nalaar
If the equipped creature doesn't transform, the equipment doens't either. The equipped creature has to actually transform in order for the equipment to transform.
Cause people love to complain, especially on new cards. Most people are quick to say something sucks but quickly go back on their statement once the money value of the card increases due to some tournament.
Reanimate sucks cause it needs cards like Entomb to work.
It stays flipped once you flip it.
Could be very close to first pick in draft. One flip and you're in business hitting for +3 with first strike. Even with something as small as a 2 power flyer that's a big threat.
Because the possibility of a 6/5 flying first striker on turn 3 with no ramp needed what so ever is very meh? seems pretty powerful to me...
Spellthief was being sarcastic, hence the "/s".
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.