Definitely not a trap. This card is seeing play in Vintage and is already packing Top8s in Standard.
It's the first week of the new standard and the motto of the first week is always when in doubt, aggro out. All the top 8 was basically aggro decks in a GB shell and Combo saheeli. Let the meta adjust and I'll bet we will see the exact same trajectory that happened with Verdurous Gearhulk. It doesn't change the fact it is a good card, but it's weak to white and blue control cards and Fumigate is very good against the GB builds, which if you look at the deck lists many of the Jeskai and four color saheeli decks had in the side. I feel confident the price is going to go down. Vintage alone isn't going to get this guy to keep his price tag. That requires standard to make him a 4 of in every deck like rofl copter, which just isn't happening.
The thing is, I think he goes in dedicated control decks, too. He scales really well, which means you can drop him early or late whenever you have extra mana. As the control deck does its thing, he provides a perfect mana sink if your opponent doesn't play anything relevant to counter or kill. Eventually he will take over a game.
Also, the G/B deck that used him wasn't really aggro. Ballista was a crucial tool in that deck's control box.
Definitely not a trap. This card is seeing play in Vintage and is already packing Top8s in Standard.
It's the first week of the new standard and the motto of the first week is always when in doubt, aggro out. All the top 8 was basically aggro decks in a GB shell and Combo saheeli. Let the meta adjust and I'll bet we will see the exact same trajectory that happened with Verdurous Gearhulk. It doesn't change the fact it is a good card, but it's weak to white and blue control cards and Fumigate is very good against the GB builds, which if you look at the deck lists many of the Jeskai and four color saheeli decks had in the side. I feel confident the price is going to go down. Vintage alone isn't going to get this guy to keep his price tag. That requires standard to make him a 4 of in every deck like rofl copter, which just isn't happening.
The thing is, I think he goes in dedicated control decks, too. He scales really well, which means you can drop him early or late whenever you have extra mana. As the control deck does its thing, he provides a perfect mana sink if your opponent doesn't play anything relevant to counter or kill. Eventually he will take over a game.
Also, the G/B deck that used him wasn't really aggro. Ballista was a crucial tool in that deck's control box.
Well, my thoughts on the card is that it isn't capable of getting a whole lot more expensive after the gp so there isn't a need for someone to go rush out and buy a playset. Even copter settled at around 8-9 dollars when it was used literally everywhere, and if this guy ends up in that same position it will eat a ban anyway. I'd probably put the money into torrential gearhulk first. That or verdant.
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1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Would someone who's invested in Standard right now explain to me why this card is so expensive at the moment? To me, this card looks like absolute garbage. 4 mana to get +1/+1 and deal 1 damage just seems like a terrible rate no matter how many times someone can get away with doing it in a game. And the XX cost? Bleh. Why is it so popular right now?
Would someone who's invested in Standard right now explain to me why this card is so expensive at the moment? To me, this card looks like absolute garbage. 4 mana to get +1/+1 and deal 1 damage just seems like a terrible rate no matter how many times someone can get away with doing it in a game. And the XX cost? Bleh. Why is it so popular right now?
Typically, during the first major tournament following release, players slot new cards into existing decks. Although I have no doubt that BG counters will be a competitive deck in Aether Revolt Standard, the Pro Tour is going to showcase a heck of a lot more deck types than the 3-4 shown in this top 8. Ballista is a good card, but to truly break it requires a number of other cards on the field to interact with it. It isn't as format warping as Copter was.
Yeah, don't take my original post as saying he is going to get banned right now. The only reason he was prolific across so many decks is because those decks were basically all the same exact deck build. In other words, every single guy going to the Pro Tour is going to be gunning for GB aggro and Saheeli combo and the chances of those two deck types surviving the sheer salvo of hate that is going to be flung their way is not incredibly likely.
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1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Yeah, the card has a lot of potential in modern. Most of my posts are kind of time sensitive since we just got done with the first tournament of the new standard and this pattern always happens with the top cards. This guy is one to keep an eye on, but his price definitely will come down a bit to probably spell queller levels.
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
It's funny because you don't even need Heartless Summoning to combo out with Mikaeus, the Unhallowed. Even dying by SBEs he'll come back with a counter (and by that token he's probably better off without Summoning because the Ballista will die with 1 counter still on it if Summoning is on the board), ready for you to remove it and start anew with somebody at 1 less life. It's really just a 2 card combo that without ramp can be done by T56. I mean, additionally Ballista is a force on its own, so...
Also of note is that I was coming to this thread strictly to address its combo potential with Mike and you happen to be the most recent post well done, o ninja.
~Lil Kalki
EDIT: I needs to rtfc
EDIT2: Heartless Summoning or a similar debuff is necessary to combo out with Mike as he himself buffs... I really need to up my game. Thankfully that means, for me, that i don't have to shell out for a second copy at $11 for my Ayli EDH, and can be content with my one incoming $3 copy for U/G Ezuri EDH lmao
It's funny because you don't even need Heartless Summoning to combo out with Mikaeus, the Unhallowed. Even dying by SBEs he'll come back with a counter (and by that token he's probably better off without Summoning because the Ballista will die with 1 counter still on it if Summoning is on the board), ready for you to remove it and start anew with somebody at 1 less life. It's really just a 2 card combo that without ramp can be done by T56. I mean, additionally Ballista is a force on its own, so...
Also of note is that I was coming to this thread strictly to address its combo potential with Mike and you happen to be the most recent post well done, o ninja.
~Lil Kalki
EDIT: I needs to rtfc
EDIT2: Heartless Summoning or a similar debuff is necessary to combo out with Mike as he himself buffs... I really need to up my game. Thankfully that means, for me, that i don't have to shell out for a second copy at $11 for my Ayli EDH, and can be content with my one incoming $3 copy for U/G Ezuri EDH lmao
Actually, all you need is a sacrifice outlet and it works fine like Bloodflow Connoisseur. Get mike out, burn the counter on ballista, sacrifice it to Connoisseur, it comes back with a counter, use the counter, etc. Then you can use things like Reckless Fireweaver as well to just combo burn the heck out of someone.
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Would someone who's invested in Standard right now explain to me why this card is so expensive at the moment? To me, this card looks like absolute garbage. 4 mana to get +1/+1 and deal 1 damage just seems like a terrible rate no matter how many times someone can get away with doing it in a game. And the XX cost? Bleh. Why is it so popular right now?
Typically, during the first major tournament following release, players slot new cards into existing decks. Although I have no doubt that BG counters will be a competitive deck in Aether Revolt Standard, the Pro Tour is going to showcase a heck of a lot more deck types than the 3-4 shown in this top 8. Ballista is a good card, but to truly break it requires a number of other cards on the field to interact with it. It isn't as format warping as Copter was.
Yeah, I was joking....
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People with belligerent signatures are trying to compensate for something....
It's funny because you don't even need Heartless Summoning to combo out with Mikaeus, the Unhallowed. Even dying by SBEs he'll come back with a counter (and by that token he's probably better off without Summoning because the Ballista will die with 1 counter still on it if Summoning is on the board), ready for you to remove it and start anew with somebody at 1 less life. It's really just a 2 card combo that without ramp can be done by T56. I mean, additionally Ballista is a force on its own, so...
Also of note is that I was coming to this thread strictly to address its combo potential with Mike and you happen to be the most recent post well done, o ninja.
~Lil Kalki
EDIT: I needs to rtfc
EDIT2: Heartless Summoning or a similar debuff is necessary to combo out with Mike as he himself buffs... I really need to up my game. Thankfully that means, for me, that i don't have to shell out for a second copy at $11 for my Ayli EDH, and can be content with my one incoming $3 copy for U/G Ezuri EDH lmao
Actually, all you need is a sacrifice outlet and it works fine like Bloodflow Connoisseur. Get mike out, burn the counter on ballista, sacrifice it to Connoisseur, it comes back with a counter, use the counter, etc. Then you can use things like Reckless Fireweaver as well to just combo burn the heck out of someone.
3 card combos are fairly terrible.
Especially if it works as a 2 card combo with Triskelion and even that is too bad in almost any format (outside of EDH, where almost anything is somewhat playable ;P)
The thing is, I think he goes in dedicated control decks, too. He scales really well, which means you can drop him early or late whenever you have extra mana. As the control deck does its thing, he provides a perfect mana sink if your opponent doesn't play anything relevant to counter or kill. Eventually he will take over a game.
Also, the G/B deck that used him wasn't really aggro. Ballista was a crucial tool in that deck's control box.
Well, my thoughts on the card is that it isn't capable of getting a whole lot more expensive after the gp so there isn't a need for someone to go rush out and buy a playset. Even copter settled at around 8-9 dollars when it was used literally everywhere, and if this guy ends up in that same position it will eat a ban anyway. I'd probably put the money into torrential gearhulk first. That or verdant.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
WBC Eldrazi & Taxes CBW
UR Keep on Cantripin' (UR Phoenix) RU
WU Surprise! It's not UW Control! (UW Midrange) UW
BG The Rock, Straight BG
U Mono-Blue Fish U
RBW Mardu Pyromancer BWR
RG Rabble! Rabble! (GR Blood Moon Aggro) GR
Legacy
W Death & Taxes W
So it will be banned by September...;)
Typically, during the first major tournament following release, players slot new cards into existing decks. Although I have no doubt that BG counters will be a competitive deck in Aether Revolt Standard, the Pro Tour is going to showcase a heck of a lot more deck types than the 3-4 shown in this top 8. Ballista is a good card, but to truly break it requires a number of other cards on the field to interact with it. It isn't as format warping as Copter was.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Yeah, the card has a lot of potential in modern. Most of my posts are kind of time sensitive since we just got done with the first tournament of the new standard and this pattern always happens with the top cards. This guy is one to keep an eye on, but his price definitely will come down a bit to probably spell queller levels.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
It's funny because you don't even need Heartless Summoning to combo out with Mikaeus, the Unhallowed. Even dying by SBEs he'll come back with a counter
(and by that token he's probably better off without Summoning because the Ballista will die with 1 counter still on it if Summoning is on the board), ready for you to remove it and start anew with somebody at 1 less life. It's really just a 2 card combo that without ramp can be done by T56. I mean, additionally Ballista is a force on its own, so...Also of note is that I was coming to this thread strictly to address its combo potential with Mike and you happen to be the most recent post well done, o ninja.
~Lil Kalki
EDIT: I needs to rtfc
EDIT2: Heartless Summoning or a similar debuff is necessary to combo out with Mike as he himself buffs... I really need to up my game. Thankfully that means, for me, that i don't have to shell out for a second copy at $11 for my Ayli EDH, and can be content with my one incoming $3 copy for U/G Ezuri EDH lmao
Proud Disciple of the Church of the Wary
Actually, all you need is a sacrifice outlet and it works fine like Bloodflow Connoisseur. Get mike out, burn the counter on ballista, sacrifice it to Connoisseur, it comes back with a counter, use the counter, etc. Then you can use things like Reckless Fireweaver as well to just combo burn the heck out of someone.
1. (Ravnica Allegiance): You can't keep a good esper control deck down... Or Wilderness Reclamation... or Gates...
2. (War of the Spark): Guys, I know what we need! We need a cycle of really idiotic flavor text victory cards! Jace's Triumph...
3. (War of the Spark): Lets make the format with control have even more control!
Yeah, I was joking....
3 card combos are fairly terrible.
Especially if it works as a 2 card combo with Triskelion and even that is too bad in almost any format (outside of EDH, where almost anything is somewhat playable ;P)
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