Comments on various things that caught my eye- Gearshift Ace - Youthful Knight prolly isn't good enough anymore, but it's not the worst, and if you're planning to crew with it first strike isn't the worst bonus ability. Servo Exhibition - looks good. 2 mana for two 1/1s is pretty standard, and the artifacts could matter for white(/red) aggro with Toolcraft Exemplar(and Inventor's Apprentice) Aether Meltdown - I'm not usually a fan of power shrink auras (notable exception for the one mana scalable flash variety ala Spontaneous Mutation) but in a deck looking to take advantage of the energy mechanic this could be good enough. Dramatic Reversal - This is a card to remember for the next 18 months if someone doesn't break it in the meantime. Glimmer of Genius - Best Inspiration variant yet? Scry then draw is really good- just look at the difference between Serum Visions and Preordain. If energy is relevant this could be crazy good, and still playable without a payoff. People were looking for a playable instant speed draw spell to cast with their Torrential Gearhulks. Revolutionary Rebuff- This is not the counter I was looking for. I suppose it could be playable, but it is a weak tax at 2 with a condition that might be problematic. The first Rune Snag was often fairly medium. Select for Inspection - hello there. Unsummon with upside is always worth a look. Tapped vs. untapped- unsummons are usually best in tempo decks where they can clear blockers so the tapped only clause prolly means this is bad for constructed, but might have legs in a deck with a lot of etb creatures. Diabolic Tutor - Confirmed and looking just as good as I'd hoped. Embraal Bruiser - Soooo many 3 power creatures for two mana. Thankfully they all have 2 toughness so that flaying tendrils and kozilek's return (not to mention Demon of Dark Schemes) can deal with them. This looks like one of the better ones by virtue of evasiveness. ETBT shouldn't matter too much as you likely don't want to block with your 1 toughness guy most of the time anyway. Harsh Scrutiny - mmmmmmm. I'll be casting this card. Alot. Having a good preemptive answer to all the cast and etb trigger creatures running around is nice. Make it completely maindeckable by tackinjg on a scry effect so that it's never a complete blank? Hell. Yes. It might end up worse in the standard than it would have in others due to the presence of vehicles, but still lets you dig for an answer on a whiff. Sold. Definitely one of my favorite cards in the set so far. Night Market Lookout - HA! Pulse Tracker variant with a different relevant creature type that also might be the best pilot in the set without actually being a pilot. This is a great aggressive creature for a deck with vehicles. Aethertorch Renegade - 4 energy seems like a lot from one spell. body is weak, first ability is meh. Second ability makes him a must kill for the opponent. playability outside of limited? in question, but not totally in doubt. Fateful Showdown - Tolarian Winds as a removal spell/finisher? Is this good? Exploitable? Begs to be paired with Fevered Visions, especially as an instant. Quicksmith Genius - Puresteel Paladin players help me out here, you guys interested in this at all? too slow? Without really having played with or delved too deeply into the deck it seems like it could help with consistency? Spireside Infiltrator - Another non pilot with upside as a pilot. Not that he's good outside of limited or anything, just something to keep in mind for the prerelease. Territorial Gorger - prolly not good but could be exploitable with Aetherworks Marvel, especially if we get a good unrestricted sac effect.
[card]Nature's Way[card] - that is an awfully good limited card. Deadlock Trap - is kinda sweet actually. Temporary solutions are rarely what you want at 3 mana and wait a turn but the flexibility is nice. Snare Thopter - Flying, hasty, colorless. Lacks a point of toughness but still an absurd hill giant
No good two mana black removal or blue counterspell, but this is more or less the norm these days. 3/2 for 2 is the new 2/1 for 2.
I'm surprised there aren't more people shocked by Tezzeret:
A- confiscating all of the inventions at the fair (Confiscation Coup)
B- fighting a duel with PIA NALAAR?! (Fateful Showdown)
That second one seems like it will end very badly for everyone involved.
It appears that Tezzy and Dovin are working together, and based on other cards:
1) Tezzy has Pia Nalaar captured, and offers to fight her in the arena
2) Chandra shows up to save her mom, triggering the trap set by Dovin
3) Pia and Chandra are locked in a chamber that Chandra can't burn out of without hurting her mom
4) Just before Tezzeret drains her spark and kills her, the Jacetus League shows up, with Ajani breaking the chamber
5) ???
6) Profit?
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Level 1 Judge
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
This set has lots of good cards but many disappointments. First, fabricate seems about 1 mana over-costed in almost every case. I guess you're paying for the flexibility but it feels weak. Second, energy cards feel plain bad. The abilities on energy cards could just as easily be mana abilities and there are no real pay-offs or worthwhile sinks for energy. Also they missed an obvious opportunity to print a legend that cares about energy. My third problem with the set is Depala. I was excited to finally build a w/r ed deck when she was spoiled but they didn't include enough support. Maybe Aether Revolt will fix problems 2 and 3
I agree with the beginning and the end, but wholeheartedly disagree on energy. Angry is basically a "free" resource. You don't lose them, most ways of obtaining it are based on ETB triggers. There are potent producers on the low end of curves. And to top it off, there are some pretty good sinks for it to profit, most notably, IMO, the hydra that requires 3 energy to get a counter and hexproof. I am a bit disappointed in the lack of an energy legend, but Aether Revolt just sounds better for that to happen, no? I didn't expect the R/W legend to get full on EDH support right off the bat, it will see casual play as players will just jam vehicles regardless of power, but it will require many sets to really push it to the realm of true playability, unless AER gives us some more goodies on that end.
Man, I didn't expect anything good to be left unspoiled after all of the cool cards we've seen, but there were a lot of gems here! Big fan of the Fateful Showdown, Select for Inspection, Glimmer of Genius, Dramatic Reversal and a few others I can't remember the name of. The artwork on the enemy fastlands is really good, especially the UG and GB ones. Those are downright beautiful. Basic lands are amazing too (except the forests, not a fan of those. All of the other basic lands have a no-civilization, just nature artwork that I love, but I just don't like the Forest. Looks more like a Plains to me).
Another thing I really like is the creature variety. Elephants, tigers, crocodiles and a hyena?! So cool. I hope we see more.
I will be sitting this one out. I haven't actively disliked a set since Lorwyn, but enough is far too much. Veteran Motorist is now a Magic card. What's next, Bored Traffic Cop? Angry Drunk Driver? A set called Magic: the New Yorkening? New, playable cards are always wonderful, but for me, the flavor in this set is a huge fail.
To each their own, I guess. I prefer it when Magic switches things up, and isn't just all Tolkien all the time.
Being overpriced feels like a downside So, this is actually the first serpent wich is playable.
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Thanks to SpiderBoy4 @ High-Light Studio's for the awesome banner
“I once had an entire race killed just to listen to the rattling of their dried bones as I waded through them.” —Volrath
You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
People need to take another look at Deadlock Trap. Card is good. Probably the most efficient, versatile outlet for energy in the whole set. That thing is going to win games.
Also looks like this set have a serious lack of evergreen mechanics.
I thought something was off and took another look, you are definitely right, there isn't much in the way of evergreen mechanics. Scry shows up quite a bit, but even trample seems like it took a bit of a back seat.
Hopefully this doesn't set some sort of strange precedent of things to come.
A single set, and people start worrying about it being the new norm. Calm down, guys! Geez.
I'm surprised there aren't more people shocked by Tezzeret:
A- confiscating all of the inventions at the fair (Confiscation Coup)
B- fighting a duel with PIA NALAAR?! (Fateful Showdown)
That second one seems like it will end very badly for everyone involved.
We already knew Tezzeret was involved, and that he was a major antagonist. So one of the protagonists having a showdown of some sort with him isn't all that surprising.
I will be sitting this one out. I haven't actively disliked a set since Lorwyn, but enough is far too much. Veteran Motorist is now a Magic card. What's next, Bored Traffic Cop? Angry Drunk Driver? A set called Magic: the New Yorkening? New, playable cards are always wonderful, but for me, the flavor in this set is a huge fail.
To each their own, I guess. I prefer it when Magic switches things up, and isn't just all Tolkien all the time.
Being overpriced feels like a downside So, this is actually the first serpent wich is playable.
Okay, yes. That much is true. Serpent is usually a limited-filler creature type.
People need to take another look at Deadlock Trap. Card is good. Probably the most efficient, versatile outlet for energy in the whole set. That thing is going to win games.
It's alright.
It's kind of like a different take on Tumble Magnet.
As a Rare that comes in tapped, it's a bit boring,
but there could be uses for it.
I do like that it taps Planeswalkers for no apparent reason.
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
People need to take another look at Deadlock Trap. Card is good. Probably the most efficient, versatile outlet for energy in the whole set. That thing is going to win games.
At the very least it will keep an opponent's creature or planeswalker from winning the game. The trap is definitely more versatile than Suppression Bonds because you may choose different targets for it each time it gets activated. Now that I think about it, the Trap might also open up the *possibility* of using Dubious Challenge. You know your opponent will take the better creature (unless you happen to find two of the same thing), so let them have what they want then lock it down until you can find a way to get it back via Eldrazi Displacer or some other flicker effect. That being said, the conditions to come out ahead via the Challenge are far too narrow; if I am going to give my opponent a choice I will rely on Fortune's Favor...not that I am playing that card at this time, mind you.
Then again you have a 1 cmc counterspell ( ceremonious rejection ) that will see standard/modern/legacy play in sideboards or maybe even standard maindeck depending on the meta.
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Give credit, where credit is due. Give irony and sarcasm, when ignorance and stupidity is found. The whip is kept for special occasions
The Internet was a revelation to me, I never imagined there are so many idiots on this planet.
People need to take another look at Deadlock Trap. Card is good. Probably the most efficient, versatile outlet for energy in the whole set. That thing is going to win games.
It's alright.
It's kind of like a different take on Tumble Magnet.
As a Rare that comes in tapped, it's a bit boring,
but there could be uses for it.
I do like that it taps Planeswalkers for no apparent reason.
Umm... it has a reason to tap them.
If you do it during their upkeep, their walker can't use its abilities.
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Level 1 Judge
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
People need to take another look at Deadlock Trap. Card is good. Probably the most efficient, versatile outlet for energy in the whole set. That thing is going to win games.
It's alright.
It's kind of like a different take on Tumble Magnet.
As a Rare that comes in tapped, it's a bit boring,
but there could be uses for it.
I do like that it taps Planeswalkers for no apparent reason.
I think the ability to shut down a PW on an opponent's upkeep and then shut down a blocker after your next untap is going to wreck faces.
Whether or not the ability to dump more energy into it matters or not... that remains to be seen. But this card is my favorite reason so far to generate energy with other cards.
People need to take another look at Deadlock Trap. Card is good. Probably the most efficient, versatile outlet for energy in the whole set. That thing is going to win games.
It's alright.
It's kind of like a different take on Tumble Magnet.
As a Rare that comes in tapped, it's a bit boring,
but there could be uses for it.
I do like that it taps Planeswalkers for no apparent reason.
Umm... it has a reason to tap them.
If you do it during their upkeep, their walker can't use its abilities.
I don't think that was what Empathogen meant. The question is why it also taps the Planeswalker in addition disabling it's abilities. I think it's made this way because wording it like this is just easier than something like: "Choose a target creature or a Planeswalker. If the chosen permanent is a creature, tap it and its activated abilitie's can't be activated this turn. Otherwise, its activated abilitie's can't be activated this turn".
Aethertorch Renegade: Oh, wow, and I thought Reckless Fireweaver was a good wincon! (Still a good one, mind you.) Dynavolt Tower will work great for energy production, but the Renegade will be where most red decks want to direct their energy.
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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 you do it during their upkeep, their walker can't use its abilities.
What does tapping have to do with that? It's the second clause that shuts down PWs.
I'm guessing tapping them is just for text simplicity,
though maybe AER has vehicles that can be crewed by a PW somehow.
Wouldn't Despise be a more accurate comparison than Thoughtseize?
And that's ignoring the fact that Tumble Magnet can hit artifacts,
and that it can be used the turn it comes down.
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
I don't think that was what Empathogen meant. The question is why it also taps the Planeswalker in addition disabling it's abilities. I think it's made this way because wording it like this is just easier than something like: "Choose a target creature or a Planeswalker. If the chosen permanent is a creature, tap it and its activated abilitie's can't be activated this turn. Otherwise, its activated abilitie's can't be activated this turn".
The proper template is "Target creature or planeswalker's activated abilities can't be activated this turn. If it's a creature, tap it.". Still sounds weird.
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Gearshift Ace - Youthful Knight prolly isn't good enough anymore, but it's not the worst, and if you're planning to crew with it first strike isn't the worst bonus ability.
Servo Exhibition - looks good. 2 mana for two 1/1s is pretty standard, and the artifacts could matter for white(/red) aggro with Toolcraft Exemplar(and Inventor's Apprentice)
Aether Meltdown - I'm not usually a fan of power shrink auras (notable exception for the one mana scalable flash variety ala Spontaneous Mutation) but in a deck looking to take advantage of the energy mechanic this could be good enough.
Dramatic Reversal - This is a card to remember for the next 18 months if someone doesn't break it in the meantime.
Glimmer of Genius - Best Inspiration variant yet? Scry then draw is really good- just look at the difference between Serum Visions and Preordain. If energy is relevant this could be crazy good, and still playable without a payoff. People were looking for a playable instant speed draw spell to cast with their Torrential Gearhulks.
Revolutionary Rebuff- This is not the counter I was looking for. I suppose it could be playable, but it is a weak tax at 2 with a condition that might be problematic. The first Rune Snag was often fairly medium.
Select for Inspection - hello there. Unsummon with upside is always worth a look. Tapped vs. untapped- unsummons are usually best in tempo decks where they can clear blockers so the tapped only clause prolly means this is bad for constructed, but might have legs in a deck with a lot of etb creatures.
Diabolic Tutor - Confirmed and looking just as good as I'd hoped.
Embraal Bruiser - Soooo many 3 power creatures for two mana. Thankfully they all have 2 toughness so that flaying tendrils and kozilek's return (not to mention Demon of Dark Schemes) can deal with them. This looks like one of the better ones by virtue of evasiveness. ETBT shouldn't matter too much as you likely don't want to block with your 1 toughness guy most of the time anyway.
Harsh Scrutiny - mmmmmmm. I'll be casting this card. Alot. Having a good preemptive answer to all the cast and etb trigger creatures running around is nice. Make it completely maindeckable by tackinjg on a scry effect so that it's never a complete blank? Hell. Yes. It might end up worse in the standard than it would have in others due to the presence of vehicles, but still lets you dig for an answer on a whiff. Sold. Definitely one of my favorite cards in the set so far.
Night Market Lookout - HA! Pulse Tracker variant with a different relevant creature type that also might be the best pilot in the set without actually being a pilot. This is a great aggressive creature for a deck with vehicles.
Aethertorch Renegade - 4 energy seems like a lot from one spell. body is weak, first ability is meh. Second ability makes him a must kill for the opponent. playability outside of limited? in question, but not totally in doubt.
Fateful Showdown - Tolarian Winds as a removal spell/finisher? Is this good? Exploitable? Begs to be paired with Fevered Visions, especially as an instant.
Quicksmith Genius - Puresteel Paladin players help me out here, you guys interested in this at all? too slow? Without really having played with or delved too deeply into the deck it seems like it could help with consistency?
Spireside Infiltrator - Another non pilot with upside as a pilot. Not that he's good outside of limited or anything, just something to keep in mind for the prerelease.
Territorial Gorger - prolly not good but could be exploitable with Aetherworks Marvel, especially if we get a good unrestricted sac effect.
[card]Nature's Way[card] - that is an awfully good limited card.
Deadlock Trap - is kinda sweet actually. Temporary solutions are rarely what you want at 3 mana and wait a turn but the flexibility is nice.
Snare Thopter - Flying, hasty, colorless. Lacks a point of toughness but still an absurd hill giant
No good two mana black removal or blue counterspell, but this is more or less the norm these days. 3/2 for 2 is the new 2/1 for 2.
It appears that Tezzy and Dovin are working together, and based on other cards:
1) Tezzy has Pia Nalaar captured, and offers to fight her in the arena
2) Chandra shows up to save her mom, triggering the trap set by Dovin
3) Pia and Chandra are locked in a chamber that Chandra can't burn out of without hurting her mom
4) Just before Tezzeret drains her spark and kills her, the Jacetus League shows up, with Ajani breaking the chamber
5) ???
6) Profit?
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
Ha-ha, you're right! Twice could have been an accident, but 4 times was obv intentional. Well played, Wizards.
I was wondering that myself..... some subtle clue in the art or something?
I agree with the beginning and the end, but wholeheartedly disagree on energy. Angry is basically a "free" resource. You don't lose them, most ways of obtaining it are based on ETB triggers. There are potent producers on the low end of curves. And to top it off, there are some pretty good sinks for it to profit, most notably, IMO, the hydra that requires 3 energy to get a counter and hexproof. I am a bit disappointed in the lack of an energy legend, but Aether Revolt just sounds better for that to happen, no? I didn't expect the R/W legend to get full on EDH support right off the bat, it will see casual play as players will just jam vehicles regardless of power, but it will require many sets to really push it to the realm of true playability, unless AER gives us some more goodies on that end.
Another thing I really like is the creature variety. Elephants, tigers, crocodiles and a hyena?! So cool. I hope we see more.
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Being overpriced feels like a downside So, this is actually the first serpent wich is playable.
“I once had an entire race killed just to listen to the rattling of their dried bones as I waded through them.”
—Volrath
You forgot the best one: Cat Monkey.
Liliana got tutored, and became a tutor.
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
We already knew Tezzeret was involved, and that he was a major antagonist. So one of the protagonists having a showdown of some sort with him isn't all that surprising.
Okay, yes. That much is true. Serpent is usually a limited-filler creature type.
It's alright.
It's kind of like a different take on Tumble Magnet.
As a Rare that comes in tapped, it's a bit boring,
but there could be uses for it.
I do like that it taps Planeswalkers for no apparent reason.
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
At the very least it will keep an opponent's creature or planeswalker from winning the game. The trap is definitely more versatile than Suppression Bonds because you may choose different targets for it each time it gets activated. Now that I think about it, the Trap might also open up the *possibility* of using Dubious Challenge. You know your opponent will take the better creature (unless you happen to find two of the same thing), so let them have what they want then lock it down until you can find a way to get it back via Eldrazi Displacer or some other flicker effect. That being said, the conditions to come out ahead via the Challenge are far too narrow; if I am going to give my opponent a choice I will rely on Fortune's Favor...not that I am playing that card at this time, mind you.
Just narrower.
And less effective.
For the same cost.
I'm sad now.
Want to be a better Magic player? Read the rulings forum and check out the comprehensive rules!
Then again you have a 1 cmc counterspell ( ceremonious rejection ) that will see standard/modern/legacy play in sideboards or maybe even standard maindeck depending on the meta.
Give irony and sarcasm, when ignorance and stupidity is found.
The whip is kept for special occasions
Umm... it has a reason to tap them.
If you do it during their upkeep, their walker can't use its abilities.
"I hope to have such a death... lying in triumph atop the broken bodies of those who slew me..."
I think the ability to shut down PWs is key.
I think the ability to shut down a PW on an opponent's upkeep and then shut down a blocker after your next untap is going to wreck faces.
Whether or not the ability to dump more energy into it matters or not... that remains to be seen. But this card is my favorite reason so far to generate energy with other cards.
I don't think that was what Empathogen meant. The question is why it also taps the Planeswalker in addition disabling it's abilities. I think it's made this way because wording it like this is just easier than something like: "Choose a target creature or a Planeswalker. If the chosen permanent is a creature, tap it and its activated abilitie's can't be activated this turn. Otherwise, its activated abilitie's can't be activated this turn".
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.
What does tapping have to do with that? It's the second clause that shuts down PWs.
I'm guessing tapping them is just for text simplicity,
though maybe AER has vehicles that can be crewed by a PW somehow.
Wouldn't Despise be a more accurate comparison than Thoughtseize?
And that's ignoring the fact that Tumble Magnet can hit artifacts,
and that it can be used the turn it comes down.
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
The proper template is "Target creature or planeswalker's activated abilities can't be activated this turn. If it's a creature, tap it.". Still sounds weird.