New Unspeakable art. But doesn't look very Kamigawa.
That's funny, because it looks very Kamigawa to me. Indeed, the waterfall in question is all over Kamigawa art, most noticeably on every one of the Kamigawa islands and the art of Keiga, the Tide Star.
It doesn't look like the Kamitaki falls to me. Jhoira looks off as well, older and darker? IDK.
Hooray for Beacon of Tomorrows and Temporal Fissure reprints tho!
It badly needed a building (preferably Library) beneath it for scale though. In the tiny space of the art box, the greenery could pass for moss and it made The Unspeakable look like a Bat taking a bath instead of a giant Kami rising up because of someone seeking forbidden knowledge.
Zo-Zu the Punisher also looked way cooler in his original because he was deflecting mountain shards (or at least I think it is mountain shards because not much else I can think of given his location and scale).
I also liked both Legends' original flavor texts better than the new ones.
I hate to be picky and comparative when they went out of their way to "bring back" Kamigawa, but argh combined it's too jarring for me to not just voice it out. At least Desperate Ritual looks okay (in fact better since the original was nothing much to write about).
Same with Lovisa. She was also forty-something when she played a role in the story, and the original art AGAIN nailed it. She had a twenty-something old son, Lothar. The original art is a strong, middle-aged woman both regal and barbaric. Not a flirtatious young blonde.
Lovisa's art is downright disappointment, Jhoira is an improvement, but still far from ideal.
I think Lovisa's new art and flavor text are meant to show her during her younger days. Less Coldsnap, and more Ice Age. Just a theory.
All of this new-art Kamigawa stuff is making me mighty suspicious in my mind.
It probably doesn't mean anything, yet someone clearly went to some effort updating the Kamigawa style guide.
It is possible they intend to release a "Planeshift: Kamigawa" like they have done with Zendikar, Innistrad, and Kaladesh.
Either way, since a more modern Kamigawa appeared in Commander, and WotC have learned through MaRo's tumbler that the setting of Kamigawa is decently popular (but not the sets), they've updated it so they can use it more in auxiliary products. I am fairly certain they have no plans on using it for a standard legal set currently.
But Personally I've always been of the opinion that if the flavor of a world is good, then it should be given a second chance, if not in a standard legal set, then in an auxiliary product where they can push the power level without breaking standard.
It took Rosewater's Tumblr for them to realize Kamigawa was popular? Jeez, stop relying on gosh darn focus testing so much. It stifles good ideas. It's the reason big budget video games for the last decade have largely been grey and brown military shooters.
Same with Lovisa. She was also forty-something when she played a role in the story, and the original art AGAIN nailed it. She had a twenty-something old son, Lothar. The original art is a strong, middle-aged woman both regal and barbaric. Not a flirtatious young blonde.
Lovisa's art is downright disappointment, Jhoira is an improvement, but still far from ideal.
I think Lovisa's new art and flavor text are meant to show her during her younger days. Less Coldsnap, and more Ice Age. Just a theory.
All of this new-art Kamigawa stuff is making me mighty suspicious in my mind.
It probably doesn't mean anything, yet someone clearly went to some effort updating the Kamigawa style guide.
It is possible they intend to release a "Planeshift: Kamigawa" like they have done with Zendikar, Innistrad, and Kaladesh.
Either way, since a more modern Kamigawa appeared in Commander, and WotC have learned through MaRo's tumbler that the setting of Kamigawa is decently popular (but not the sets), they've updated it so they can use it more in auxiliary products. I am fairly certain they have no plans on using it for a standard legal set currently.
But Personally I've always been of the opinion that if the flavor of a world is good, then it should be given a second chance, if not in a standard legal set, then in an auxiliary product where they can push the power level without breaking standard.
It took Rosewater's Tumblr for them to realize Kamigawa was popular? Jeez, stop relying on gosh darn focus testing so much. It stifles good ideas. It's the reason big budget video games for the last decade have largely been grey and brown military shooters.
Blogatog is the main way for WotC to get the pulse on what the community is feeling about older sets. Their site polls are mostly used to check on things shortly after release. It is also the main reason they've set up other blogs to interact with the community. It's a good way for the community to share thoughts on the most long lasting CCG ever with the people who make it.
Also, the Kamigawa sets were not popular, it almost killed the Legend supertype. If every rare creature is legendary, none of them are. This combined with parasitic mechanics and just straight up poor mechanics (Sweep, seriously) almost caused M:TG to collapse. Ravnica managed to save it though. It's not to say Kamigawa didn't have good parts. Both Bushido and Ninjitsu were great mechanics, and the flavor was spot on. It is good that they are willing to revisit less popular planes in auxiliary products, it at least gives Ulgrotha a chance.
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It's about time for the reserved list to die, for the sake of Vintage and Legacy (And Commander).
Despite the criticism, I do think that this is a huge step in the right direction for Duel Decks. The decks feel more streamlined than they used to, and the multiple copies of cards, cooler (and more needed) reprints, and more rares is a good choice for this product.
Yeah that's a fair point, I'd shouldn't and wouldn't would be most applicable. Wizards has done things that people thought they couldn't do, I would not put it past them to f up a product, some commander cads are just really weak (Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas comes to mind when thinking of weaker command cards).
If you think Kalemne is weak, you've obviously never played a deck built around her. I used to wreck face with her constantly to the degree that I had to promise to dismantle the deck because I won so often. As soon as you hit three or four experience with her (which isn't particularly hard, especially if you can protect her), it's pretty much game over for my opponents unless they manage to get a board sweeper, and even then it's just a matter of time before she hits the board again. She is a monster.
IF you protect her and buid around her, but that applies to every legendary creature. I'm intrigued about this list that was "too good", is it posted somewhere?
Yeah that's a fair point, I'd shouldn't and wouldn't would be most applicable. Wizards has done things that people thought they couldn't do, I would not put it past them to f up a product, some commander cads are just really weak (Kalemne, Disciple of Iroas comes to mind when thinking of weaker command cards).
If you think Kalemne is weak, you've obviously never played a deck built around her. I used to wreck face with her constantly to the degree that I had to promise to dismantle the deck because I won so often. As soon as you hit three or four experience with her (which isn't particularly hard, especially if you can protect her), it's pretty much game over for my opponents unless they manage to get a board sweeper, and even then it's just a matter of time before she hits the board again. She is a monster.
IF you protect her and buid around her, but that applies to every legendary creature. I'm intrigued about this list that was "too good", is it posted somewhere?
Nope, can't even recall half of the cards in it, but it routinely dropped her on turn 3 followed by more 5CC+ creatures on turn 4, 5, and 6. I usually got them hasted as well. The deck was filled with cheap accellerants like sol ring and the usual mana rocks, as well as medallions. There were a lot of giants from Lorwyn and Theros blocks in it, as well as angels (like Baneslayer Angel of course, can't get much better than that for five mana), and the better dragons. If there was a card that made giants, angels, and/or dragons cheaper to cast, it was in the deck.
Positives: New artwork. More rares, cohesion.
Negatives: Still has way too many 1-of non legendary cards.
It almost looks like they want people to use these as starting points to build commander decks. I cannot remember the last time they included so many legendary creatures.
Positives: New artwork. More rares, cohesion.
Negatives: Still has way too many 1-of non legendary cards.
It almost looks like they want people to use these as starting points to build commander decks. I cannot remember the last time they included so many legendary creatures.
That's pretty much what I've been using duel decks for since I started playing commander. Of course, you'd have to your Radha for the red/green deck... But seriously, I pretty much see duel decks as tool boxes for commander players new and old.
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It's about time for the reserved list to die, for the sake of Vintage and Legacy (And Commander).
A lot of people are commenting on how the "Mind" deck might (no pun intended) be a but too advanced for brand new players.
But what about for those of us that are existing players? I always felt DD was weak and watered down. Will the "Mind" deck scratch my "needs thinking" itch?
A lot of people are commenting on how the "Mind" deck might (no pun intended) be a but too advanced for brand new players.
But what about for those of us that are existing players? I always felt DD was weak and watered down. Will the "Mind" deck scratch my "needs thinking" itch?
If you like the concept of a "Storm" deck, then you will like Mind. It is a bit cerebral, particularly compared to the mindlessness of Might.
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It's about time for the reserved list to die, for the sake of Vintage and Legacy (And Commander).
I'm kinda sad that the Might deck didn't get a rare card with the word "Might" in it. At least the Mind deck had Mind's Desire. Is Gauntlet of Might on the reserved list? If so, Might of Oaks could have fit right in instead.
Still, I'm happy about getting a copy of Jhoira and Radha (who could have been a face for the Might deck instead of Lovisa).
Despite the criticism, I do think that this is a huge step in the right direction for Duel Decks. The decks feel more streamlined than they used to, and the multiple copies of cards, cooler (and more needed) reprints, and more rares is a good choice for this product.
I think my biggest criticism is still that $5 increase. I'm not seeing why it was necessary.
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It badly needed a building (preferably Library) beneath it for scale though. In the tiny space of the art box, the greenery could pass for moss and it made The Unspeakable look like a Bat taking a bath instead of a giant Kami rising up because of someone seeking forbidden knowledge.
Zo-Zu the Punisher also looked way cooler in his original because he was deflecting mountain shards (or at least I think it is mountain shards because not much else I can think of given his location and scale).
I also liked both Legends' original flavor texts better than the new ones.
I hate to be picky and comparative when they went out of their way to "bring back" Kamigawa, but argh combined it's too jarring for me to not just voice it out. At least Desperate Ritual looks okay (in fact better since the original was nothing much to write about).
It took Rosewater's Tumblr for them to realize Kamigawa was popular? Jeez, stop relying on gosh darn focus testing so much. It stifles good ideas. It's the reason big budget video games for the last decade have largely been grey and brown military shooters.
Blogatog is the main way for WotC to get the pulse on what the community is feeling about older sets. Their site polls are mostly used to check on things shortly after release. It is also the main reason they've set up other blogs to interact with the community. It's a good way for the community to share thoughts on the most long lasting CCG ever with the people who make it.
Also, the Kamigawa sets were not popular, it almost killed the Legend supertype. If every rare creature is legendary, none of them are. This combined with parasitic mechanics and just straight up poor mechanics (Sweep, seriously) almost caused M:TG to collapse. Ravnica managed to save it though. It's not to say Kamigawa didn't have good parts. Both Bushido and Ninjitsu were great mechanics, and the flavor was spot on. It is good that they are willing to revisit less popular planes in auxiliary products, it at least gives Ulgrotha a chance.
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.
Dunes of Zairo
SHANDALAR
Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries
(W/U)(B/R)GForm of Progenitus, Shape of a Scrubland
BRGJund Tokens with Prossh, the Magic Dragon Foil
URGAnimar, the RUG CleanerFoil
RRRFeldon of the Third Path 2.0 Foil
BG(B/G)Not Another Meren DeckFoil
UR(U/R)Mizzix, Y Control and X Burn Spells
(W/U)(B/R)GHarold Ramos - The 35 Foot Long Twinkie (In +1/+1 counters)
UB(U/B)Dragonlord Silumgar
Negatives: Still has way too many 1-of non legendary cards.
Nope, can't even recall half of the cards in it, but it routinely dropped her on turn 3 followed by more 5CC+ creatures on turn 4, 5, and 6. I usually got them hasted as well. The deck was filled with cheap accellerants like sol ring and the usual mana rocks, as well as medallions. There were a lot of giants from Lorwyn and Theros blocks in it, as well as angels (like Baneslayer Angel of course, can't get much better than that for five mana), and the better dragons. If there was a card that made giants, angels, and/or dragons cheaper to cast, it was in the deck.
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.
We got them already: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/duel-decks-mind-vs-might-2017-03-20
W(W/U)U Ephara - Flash & Taxes W(W/U)U || B(B/G)G Meren - Circle of Life B(B/G)G
RGW Marath - Ever shifting Wilds RGW || (U/R)C(W/B) Breya - Artificial Dominion (U/R)C(W/B)
UBR Becket Brass - take what you can, give nothing back UBR
It almost looks like they want people to use these as starting points to build commander decks. I cannot remember the last time they included so many legendary creatures.
That's pretty much what I've been using duel decks for since I started playing commander. Of course, you'd have to your Radha for the red/green deck... But seriously, I pretty much see duel decks as tool boxes for commander players new and old.
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.
But what about for those of us that are existing players? I always felt DD was weak and watered down. Will the "Mind" deck scratch my "needs thinking" itch?
If you like the concept of a "Storm" deck, then you will like Mind. It is a bit cerebral, particularly compared to the mindlessness of Might.
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.
Still, I'm happy about getting a copy of Jhoira and Radha (who could have been a face for the Might deck instead of Lovisa).
I think my biggest criticism is still that $5 increase. I'm not seeing why it was necessary.