Abrade is a good sign. It's flexible and in the right direction for commander, I can see some metas jamming this as a staple. The red 1/4 is a decent sign too. It scales up into commander and has politics on its side. It just suffers from only working in niche spell decks.
eternalize cost: Return [card name] from your graveyard to your hand. Activate this ability only during your upkeep. [basically key wording Eternal Dragon!!]
Eternalize: Put an Eternity counter on this card. As long as this card has an Eternity counter on it, it can't leave the battlefield.
Comparing this to Sacred Cat's Embalm (2 mana 1/1 return from graveyard once) and Fleecemane Lion's Monstrosity 1 (7 mana 4/4 Indestructible and Hexproof), I can see 7 mana for a perma 1/1 as a viable mechanic, given how large of an investment it is. I sure hope it's not pay 5 to return a 1/1 from your graveyard to your hand.
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Modern
Competitive: GW Hatebears - UG Infect - BGW Liege Rhino
Casual: GR Titan Ramp - BR Aggro
WIP: BUW Control Mill
My take on Eternalize is more or less Reflection tokens, the same as someone upthread. So:
Eternalize X (X: Create a token named X and exile all other tokens named X you control. Activate this ability only once per turn and only if ~ is in your graveyard.)
Keywording Eternal Dragon is all well and good, but paying 3WW to return a 1/1 Double Striker to your hand is pretty lame for a Rare.
At first I was thinking there's no way Eternalize makes cards indestructible, since that would make for awful bordstalls in limited where no one can attack.
BUT! But this is the ONE set they could do this. -1/-1 counters still get rid of indestructible creatures and Afflict is fine with getting blocked by indestructible creatures. They really could pull this off.
It's weird to think that Bolas actually delivers on his promise and cute little kittens get to live a life eternal.
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Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
—Eli Shiffrin, Rules Manager, on a design stacking lifelink instances
I have got to ask, does anyone else find it odd that the Cat's claw is going over the border line like that? Is that the first card art that does something like that other than the Un-sets and planeswalkers?
Am curious to see what else they do with Afflict, since punisher mechanics like this are tricky things and don't always turn out that great. But this could be interesting. Am just seeing attacking with that Zombie Jackel and getting to cast something like Cruel Ultimatum in Commander/Cube/something.
Life loss seems odd for red, also MaRo said, for black focus goes from life loss to direct damage to make more answers for planeswalkers - but red has a lot of direct damage so it probably fine. Pretty sure we will see this mechanic in black, too.
Wonder how many green naga will cost - Crucible of Worlds is $50 right now but green mana cost is a downside. Will work well with cycling, no doubt.
Also: what if Eternalize creates a token without exiling a card from the graveyard? Seems eternal enough for me.
I have to say the flavor text on Ramunap Excavator is interesting (as are the connotations of the name). Seems like the set is laying a foundation for rebuilding the plane (upon its more fruitful past) even as we have the destruction of its last oasis on our minds.
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Planar Chaos was not a mistake neither was it random. You might want to look at it again.
[thread=239793][Game] Level Up - Creature[/thread]
Crucible on a stick is great. Definitely shouldn't reach crucible levels, but will be a good chase rare. Eternalize will make or break that kitrycat. 2 mana 1/1 DS is pretty okay, but probably won't bust into my cube without eternalize being amazing.
Wildfire Eternal makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
Once again, small set has the godly hype cards while the big set has the good cards scattered among an onslaught of draft fodder. No lightning strike, though.
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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!
Once again, small set has the godly hype cards while the big set has the good cards scattered among an onslaught of draft fodder. No lightning strike, though.
Hoping for Searing Spear with Hazoret on it.
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"The essence of every world, every spell and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
Older Magic as a Board Game: Panglacial Wurm , Mill
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.
For 5 mana on a rare, it will hopefully be something better than just return to your hand
New guy is a savvy thinker. I like it.
How you should approach every game of Magic.
Mod Helpdesk (defunct)
My Flawless Score MCC Card | My Other One | # Three!
Comparing this to Sacred Cat's Embalm (2 mana 1/1 return from graveyard once) and Fleecemane Lion's Monstrosity 1 (7 mana 4/4 Indestructible and Hexproof), I can see 7 mana for a perma 1/1 as a viable mechanic, given how large of an investment it is. I sure hope it's not pay 5 to return a 1/1 from your graveyard to your hand.
Competitive: GW Hatebears - UG Infect - BGW Liege Rhino
Casual: GR Titan Ramp - BR Aggro
WIP: BUW Control Mill
Eternalize X (X: Create a token named X and exile all other tokens named X you control. Activate this ability only once per turn and only if ~ is in your graveyard.)
Keywording Eternal Dragon is all well and good, but paying 3WW to return a 1/1 Double Striker to your hand is pretty lame for a Rare.
BUT! But this is the ONE set they could do this. -1/-1 counters still get rid of indestructible creatures and Afflict is fine with getting blocked by indestructible creatures. They really could pull this off.
It's weird to think that Bolas actually delivers on his promise and cute little kittens get to live a life eternal.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
—Eli Shiffrin, Rules Manager, on a design stacking lifelink instances
Am curious to see what else they do with Afflict, since punisher mechanics like this are tricky things and don't always turn out that great. But this could be interesting. Am just seeing attacking with that Zombie Jackel and getting to cast something like Cruel Ultimatum in Commander/Cube/something.
Eternalize: Pay 5 mana. Be disappointed. Forever.
Wonder how many green naga will cost - Crucible of Worlds is $50 right now but green mana cost is a downside. Will work well with cycling, no doubt.
Also: what if Eternalize creates a token without exiling a card from the graveyard? Seems eternal enough for me.
And as for ramunap exacator
(2 minutes later)
That's...that's....that's a creature version of crucible of worlds!!!
Finally a good white villain quote: "So, do I ever re-evaluate my life choices? Never, because I know what I'm doing is a righteous cause."
Factions: Sleeping
Remnants: Valheim
Legendary Journey: Heroes & Planeswalkers
Saga: Shards of Rabiah
Legends: The Elder Dragons
Read up on Red Flags & NWO
Wildfire Eternal makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
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!
Hoping for Searing Spear with Hazoret on it.
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
Momir Vig, Simic Visionary Primer UG