I'm calling it now: Meld, if it's successful, is a forerunner of rules for Assemble a contraption.
Assemble seems to be basically "Assemble: put x 1/1 down for x" or something. I think its going to mirror populate.
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I am trying to get better at making decks. I have had trouble creating more competitive decks as I only really build with the cards I have. I dont have that many value cards, in function or expense. I (almost) never play at FNM type events so its not like im playing against $2k decks. If I do usally play at one, Its a draft or limited game. Any advice on building decks is greatly supported! DMs are appreciated.
Thank you!
To put it more simply, it's like saying, "I can prove Jesus is real and loves you. See? Here's my Hispanic friend Jesus. He's had a crush on you for a long time. Tell em' Jesus."
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I am way way down on this mechanic. I was hoping the leaked stuff would be just a couple of rares/mythics kind of like assembling the sword/shield etc. of kaldra. But if this makes an appearance at common. Yikes...
I am way way down on this mechanic. I was hoping the leaked stuff would be just a couple of rares/mythics kind of like assembling the sword/shield etc. of kaldra. But if this makes an appearance at common. Yikes...
Your in luck, there's only three pairs of meld cards, and only the rats and scavengers here are common of the bunch.
Well. That's disturbing. There are three pairs of meld cards: Hanweir Battlements and Hanweir Garrison, plus two more you can read about in other articles on DailyMTG today
is this to be read as "three pairs in all the block" or simply "three pairs spoilered today" ?
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The mechanic is... Interesting. It's nice that each half is playable on its own and never dead weight, but I don't think I care much for it, myself.
Edit: I think the problem I have with this mechanic is that it will read like a downside.
Where as I might have been happy to crack a single faced Gisela, now instead I'll be disappointed that I can't use part of the card if I don't have Bruna to go with it... Even though I still get EVERYTHING that the single faced Gisela would have given me.
While you could look at it as being just a perk of owning both cards, I think most players will see it as a penalty for NOT having them.
Disclaimer: A lot of these are generous assumptions on how the mechanic will pan out, but I felt like I wanted to state them even before the mechanics article (and previews) hit anyway.
I'm pretty fine with this mechanic. I mean, the shown card was only a common, so it's sort of expected it's "Limited Fodder" (a generous assumption but I really doubt Chittering Host would be great enough to be a Constructed powerhouse of any sort). The cards may be reliant on each other, but the mechanic itself is quite standalone (so it's not like one has to build an entire deck around Melding... unless there's a card that supports the mechanic so well it demands for a deck to do so).
Perhaps I've played the game too long, but honestly even if a card (example: Hanweir) needs two rares to Meld together, I don't feel like it's going to cause anybody to really "buy more packs" in an attempt to get both pieces. Even if one half of a card (or the Melded Side) is a chase rare, the other half will not demand equal value (elevated, yes, but not equal). The mechanic itself seems way too clunky for me to ever consider it to be Non-Rotating playable, so I doubt it will have any insane price tags labelled on them.
I'm more curious that one which card(s) will the Melded side of the card appear on, I doubt both cards are actual DFCs (it's sort of pointless and probably needs a lot more printing logistics at work) and since Ulrich has taken a Mythic DFC slot (EMN being a small set likely means only 2 Mythic DFCs in total), if there is a Mythic Melded card (likely Bruna/Gisela Hybrid)... it means one of the components isn't a Mythic by itself (which warps things if both cards have the same back and that back is a Mythic).
Well, I got half the things right and the other half wrong. Looking at all the previews (since there's only 3 pairs and they're all out), I'm still pretty sure other than Brisela, the rest probably won't see play in Standard (Hanweir might, but I'm very skeptical considering how clunky it is alone and it doesn't feel like anything in Standard can help that while the competition is a lot swifter). I'm pretty sure none of them will see play in non-rotating formats (Gisela fails the Bolt test and Bruna costs 7, at which you're better off with direct Eldrazi in older formats).
I don't claim to be an expert, but even if I did predict their playability wrongly, they're only 3 pairs - this is no Fetchland/Expedition Rush scenario - they won't drastically drive sales up the wall.
On a more solid note, I actually got the Bruna/Gisela will be a Mythic/Rare Meld guess on the spot.
However, I got the Melded Side wrongly - they really literally did a BFM-style card for the Meld backs and to put it in more annoyingly, Bruna's Melded back has her collector's number, but the Mythic rare symbol instead, which is literally the "warps things" scenario I pictured). Well, since the front is a rare, I would assume safely that she's still a rare by allocation (otherwise the rare symbol is pointless).
The fact that the original spoiler of the two common merge cards as well as the Emerge mechanic has proven to be true makes it very likely that the rumored Eldritch Evolution is also a real card.
I'm just glad they only printed 3 meld cards. It seems to me that Wizards knows the mechanic is clunky so they didn't want to ruin the entire set with this one mechanic. Sure, Brisela are fine on their own and the meld side is good but I don't think it can ever be a winning strategy to try and get Brisela out.
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I think meld is actually fine in limited since their is only 1 pair at common, and the halves are in the same color and playable on their own (1B vanilla 2/1 less so, but the other is a slightly-worse warren pilferers.) So it can be an extra incentive to pick up more copies of those 2 cards. It's also very cute that the gravedigger half can recur the other half.
If you do ever end up melding it in limited, you feel like you did a cool thing. I like it.
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I find it funny that they are only doing 3 pairs. I would have assumed they would have done 5, one for each color. The combination they chose is... Weird. Black/Black, White/White Red/Land...?
I am betting we will see this mechanic pop up again but next time it will be crazy pants.
Brisela could definitely see play. You just need to mill yourself to get Gisela into the grave, then ramp to get to 7 mana ASAP. At that point, you have beast on the field with 4 good keywords and an ability to prevent your opponent from casting cheap spells.
Now that the cards have been revealed, meld is more like Pokemon TCG Legend cards and Cardfight Vanguard Legion cards more than anything. Yugioh has never done something where it is literally half a card combined with another half of a card. Pokemon's version, with Ho-oH and Lugia legend is basically an incomplete version unless you have both halves, while the other ones are basically 2 Pokemon together, so not exactly a fusion. Cardfight Vanguard's is basically 2 units "holding hands" and attacking together.
For Cardfight Vanguard, although I have never played it, I think that each half can be used on its own, but for Pokemon TCG Legend cards, you need both halves in your hand in order to play them.
It's like some people think the card is half as good without the other card, while some people think the card is double as good with both cards.
Brisela could definitely see play. You just need to mill yourself to get Gisela into the grave, then ramp to get to 7 mana ASAP. At that point, you have beast on the field with 4 good keywords and an ability to prevent your opponent from casting cheap spells.
If Eldrich Evolution is a real card you play Thalia's Lancers find a Gisela then discard it with any of the dozens of outlets then T6sac Lancers to Eldrich Evolution and boom you get a crazy good eldrazi. What removal is currently played in standard that can deal with this once the eldrazi is resolved?
Okay. I actually have no problem with the cards combining to flip into a extra large removal target. In general, it seems like a totally functional concept and potentially fun mechanic. I do have 2 problems with the implementation though.
First, I hate that it's spread across half of the back face of both of the cards. I wish that you just exiled one underneath the other. I don't like the extra large card and I don't like rotating both cards when attacking. It just seems like a complicated and bad implementation of a fine mechanic.
Second, why would they only print 6 meld pairs total?? Only 3 melded eldrazi and only 1 at common? A card that is basically just a bad rare in limited (Hanweir Battlements) without also pulling a specific second rare? It's like they were so scared that this mechanic wouldn't work they weren't willing to take ownership of it. Give me 5 pairs with more at common or uncommon for the sake of limited play and I'd be happier.
Edit: Battlements is bad in limited, not Garrison.
It's not scared, it's sensible. It's the same thing they do with every other new mechanic these days, after some of the disasterous ALL-IN mechanic introductions of the past. Start simple, start safe. Let people play with the cards for a year. If the reception is good, start bringing out the crazy/prolific designs next time you have a chance.
It's better than vomitting a ton of it into the cardpool right away, then finding out a few months later that "Oh, Affinity is cancer."
Okay. I actually have no problem with the cards combining to flip into a extra large removal target. In general, it seems like a totally functional concept and potentially fun mechanic. I do have 2 problems with the implementation though.
First, I hate that it's spread across half of the back face of both of the cards. I wish that you just exiled one underneath the other. I don't like the extra large card and I don't like rotating both cards when attacking. It just seems like a complicated and bad implementation of a fine mechanic.
Second, why would they only print 6 meld pairs total?? Only 3 melded eldrazi and only 1 at common? A card that is basically just a bad rare in limited (Hanweir Garrison) without also pulling a specific second rare? It's like they were so scared that this mechanic wouldn't work they weren't willing to take ownership of it. Give me 5 pairs with more at common or uncommon for the sake of limited play and I'd be happier.
1. It creates for a cool looking and unique moment when the two cards merge. It gets people's attention. Also, stacking is lame.
2. WotC was clearly afraid of the mechanic and the reaction people would have to it. So they limited it. As for why one is at common? Because if your theme is not at common, it isn't your theme. Having said that, I find their choices... Strange. I would have gone for 5 pairs, one for each color. Going White/White, Black/Black and Red/land is just... Weird.
I agree, it feels like they did it because they "had to" but they didn't really "want to". My bet is that there were more melds and they cut most of them. They were either bad, broken or WotC could not figure out how to make them work.
I am disappointed at this mechanic. It is another draft anomaly, which the pros won't do the same, which is a bad part of DFC in SOI already. And in the volume we are going to see, it isn't suitable for draft anyway. It is also almost a perfect example of one of the "mistakes" Maro wrote about in his article: Don't do it because you can, do it because the game needs it. The game didn't need this.
However, I do approve of their risk-taking. I just think this one is a dud.
Meld seems to be a very flavorful mechanic (looking at you Hanweir) but I dont see it in much constructed play. In limited, maybe. Just maybe. Only if there isn't much added removal in EMN.
Hanweir will probably see play in constructed. I think Red/White Humans is going to be the new thing (Perhaps RWB).
Hanweir Garrison is going to be a must-have in human decks. And if you are using the Garrison anyway, there's no reason not to include a few Hanweir Battlements too, as an alternate win strategy.
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Hanweir will probably see play in constructed. I think Red/White Humans is going to be the new thing (Perhaps RWB).
Hanweir Garrison is going to be a must-have in human decks. And if you are using the Garrison anyway, there's no reason not to include a few Hanweir Battlements too, as an alternate win strategy.
Yep. I think both cards are individually strong enough to slot into RW humans. If anything, the meld component of these two is probably better used as insurance against removal targeting the garrison. Much like how most players know to use Westvale Abbey as insurance against removal of tokens rather than activating it right away.
Meld seems to be a very flavorful mechanic (looking at you Hanweir) but I dont see it in much constructed play. In limited, maybe. Just maybe. Only if there isn't much added removal in EMN.
Hanweir will probably see play in constructed. I think Red/White Humans is going to be the new thing (Perhaps RWB).
Hanweir Garrison is going to be a must-have in human decks. And if you are using the Garrison anyway, there's no reason not to include a few Hanweir Battlements too, as an alternate win strategy.
After thinking, I think meld would do well. Im thinking of making a r/w aggro focused on cryptolith fragment and it's flip. Adding brisela would be a great addition to what I want.
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I am trying to get better at making decks. I have had trouble creating more competitive decks as I only really build with the cards I have. I dont have that many value cards, in function or expense. I (almost) never play at FNM type events so its not like im playing against $2k decks. If I do usally play at one, Its a draft or limited game. Any advice on building decks is greatly supported! DMs are appreciated.
Thank you!
To put it more simply, it's like saying, "I can prove Jesus is real and loves you. See? Here's my Hispanic friend Jesus. He's had a crush on you for a long time. Tell em' Jesus."
Here's a joke! Whats the internal temperature of a Taun-Taun?
Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
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Assemble seems to be basically "Assemble: put x 1/1 down for x" or something. I think its going to mirror populate.
Thank you!
Your in luck, there's only three pairs of meld cards, and only the rats and scavengers here are common of the bunch.
Choose one of these judge of creation:
Make Strionic Resonator shine!
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is this to be read as "three pairs in all the block" or simply "three pairs spoilered today" ?
So that's good news neither one go in exile permanently
It's the same as that misprint endbringer
So it was parshally never a misprint it was a beta test for meld.
The mechanic is... Interesting. It's nice that each half is playable on its own and never dead weight, but I don't think I care much for it, myself.
Edit: I think the problem I have with this mechanic is that it will read like a downside.
Where as I might have been happy to crack a single faced Gisela, now instead I'll be disappointed that I can't use part of the card if I don't have Bruna to go with it... Even though I still get EVERYTHING that the single faced Gisela would have given me.
While you could look at it as being just a perk of owning both cards, I think most players will see it as a penalty for NOT having them.
Well, I got half the things right and the other half wrong. Looking at all the previews (since there's only 3 pairs and they're all out), I'm still pretty sure other than Brisela, the rest probably won't see play in Standard (Hanweir might, but I'm very skeptical considering how clunky it is alone and it doesn't feel like anything in Standard can help that while the competition is a lot swifter). I'm pretty sure none of them will see play in non-rotating formats (Gisela fails the Bolt test and Bruna costs 7, at which you're better off with direct Eldrazi in older formats).
I don't claim to be an expert, but even if I did predict their playability wrongly, they're only 3 pairs - this is no Fetchland/Expedition Rush scenario - they won't drastically drive sales up the wall.
On a more solid note, I actually got the Bruna/Gisela will be a Mythic/Rare Meld guess on the spot.
However, I got the Melded Side wrongly - they really literally did a BFM-style card for the Meld backs and to put it in more annoyingly, Bruna's Melded back has her collector's number, but the Mythic rare symbol instead, which is literally the "warps things" scenario I pictured). Well, since the front is a rare, I would assume safely that she's still a rare by allocation (otherwise the rare symbol is pointless).
I find it hilarious that 'meld' cards allow EMN filler to be split into two cards. MtG now has double the filler! *seal clap*
Oh and Gisela/Bruna are the worst. If I have to spend 11 mana and two cards to get a stupid angel in play, it had damn well better win me the game.
These cards might see limited play, but never constructed. They are dollar-bin fodder at best.
Hopefully, the spoilers will give us something actually playable out of this set before it's over.
Competitive: GW Hatebears - UG Infect - BGW Liege Rhino
Casual: GR Titan Ramp - BR Aggro
WIP: BUW Control Mill
If you do ever end up melding it in limited, you feel like you did a cool thing. I like it.
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I find it funny that they are only doing 3 pairs. I would have assumed they would have done 5, one for each color. The combination they chose is... Weird. Black/Black, White/White Red/Land...?
I am betting we will see this mechanic pop up again but next time it will be crazy pants.
Brisela could definitely see play. You just need to mill yourself to get Gisela into the grave, then ramp to get to 7 mana ASAP. At that point, you have beast on the field with 4 good keywords and an ability to prevent your opponent from casting cheap spells.
For Cardfight Vanguard, although I have never played it, I think that each half can be used on its own, but for Pokemon TCG Legend cards, you need both halves in your hand in order to play them.
It's like some people think the card is half as good without the other card, while some people think the card is double as good with both cards.
If Eldrich Evolution is a real card you play Thalia's Lancers find a Gisela then discard it with any of the dozens of outlets then T6sac Lancers to Eldrich Evolution and boom you get a crazy good eldrazi. What removal is currently played in standard that can deal with this once the eldrazi is resolved?
First, I hate that it's spread across half of the back face of both of the cards. I wish that you just exiled one underneath the other. I don't like the extra large card and I don't like rotating both cards when attacking. It just seems like a complicated and bad implementation of a fine mechanic.
Second, why would they only print 6 meld pairs total?? Only 3 melded eldrazi and only 1 at common? A card that is basically just a bad rare in limited (Hanweir Battlements) without also pulling a specific second rare? It's like they were so scared that this mechanic wouldn't work they weren't willing to take ownership of it. Give me 5 pairs with more at common or uncommon for the sake of limited play and I'd be happier.
Edit: Battlements is bad in limited, not Garrison.
It's better than vomitting a ton of it into the cardpool right away, then finding out a few months later that "Oh, Affinity is cancer."
1. It creates for a cool looking and unique moment when the two cards merge. It gets people's attention. Also, stacking is lame.
2. WotC was clearly afraid of the mechanic and the reaction people would have to it. So they limited it. As for why one is at common? Because if your theme is not at common, it isn't your theme. Having said that, I find their choices... Strange. I would have gone for 5 pairs, one for each color. Going White/White, Black/Black and Red/land is just... Weird.
I agree, it feels like they did it because they "had to" but they didn't really "want to". My bet is that there were more melds and they cut most of them. They were either bad, broken or WotC could not figure out how to make them work.
However, I do approve of their risk-taking. I just think this one is a dud.
Hanweir will probably see play in constructed. I think Red/White Humans is going to be the new thing (Perhaps RWB).
Hanweir Garrison is going to be a must-have in human decks. And if you are using the Garrison anyway, there's no reason not to include a few Hanweir Battlements too, as an alternate win strategy.
Yep. I think both cards are individually strong enough to slot into RW humans. If anything, the meld component of these two is probably better used as insurance against removal targeting the garrison. Much like how most players know to use Westvale Abbey as insurance against removal of tokens rather than activating it right away.
After thinking, I think meld would do well. Im thinking of making a r/w aggro focused on cryptolith fragment and it's flip. Adding brisela would be a great addition to what I want.
Thank you!
On phasing: