It's no Cradle, not even meant to replace Cradle. But it's MaRo's way of getting around the reserved list by making slightly weaker functional reprints. I still recall the Snow Duels and possibility of them being legendary or something... Rivals of Ixalon, where the Ice Age kills off all the dinosaurs. There, I called it. Jace, mind addled, goes along with Vraska and finds El Dorado and picks up this shiny whatsit and triggers the calamity which brings upon the ice age.
Maybe there's a barrier around Ixalan, keeping the Walkers in, but keeping the Star out. Activating El Dorado causes the barrier to drop, so Jace, Vraska, and whomever can leave, but kills the plane after, which causes Jace strife. He's witnessed the destruction of to planes, and could do nothing to stop either.
I have a feeling we'll be seeing Tolarian Academy, Workshop, and Tabernacle with hurdles to jump. From requirements such as sacrifice 4 artifacts to flip into Academy, or if your opponents have X amount of creatures flip into Tabernacle, whatever...
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
So.... we have a black enchantment that turns into a B-producing land that reprints the ability of the Reserved List Elephant Graveyard. And we have a green enchantment that turns into a G-producing land that reprints the ability of the Reserved List Gaia's Cradle.
I am betting we have three more surprises coming that turn into lands that reprint Reserved List land effects.
Tabernacle? Library of Alexandria? Mishra's Workshop? Tolarian Academy?
So.... we have a black enchantment that turns into a B-producing land that reprints the ability of the Reserved List Elephant Graveyard. And we have a green enchantment that turns into a G-producing land that reprints the ability of the Reserved List Gaia's Cradle.
I am betting we have three more surprises coming that turn into lands that reprint Reserved List land effects.
Tabernacle? Library of Alexandria? Mishra's Workshop? Tolarian Academy?
Gaea's Cradle is better, but it's not strictly better. The etb effect of the enchantment is not trivial.
Yeah, but I was saying Cradle isn't strictly worse, either. (This costs mana.)
This also can be cast and not count toward your land limit.
One of these days, I'm going to have to write a FAQ about what makes a card strictly better or worse or a functional reprint.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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!
Maybe there's a barrier around Ixalan, keeping the Walkers in, but keeping the Star out. Activating El Dorado causes the barrier to drop, so Jace, Vraska, and whomever can leave, but kills the plane after, which causes Jace strife. He's witnessed the destruction of to planes, and could do nothing to stop either.
I have a feeling we'll be seeing Tolarian Academy, Workshop, and Tabernacle with hurdles to jump. From requirements such as sacrifice 4 artifacts to flip into Academy, or if your opponents have X amount of creatures flip into Tabernacle, whatever...
Stay reasonable, be mindful of your expectations and don't feed the trolls.
Doomsdayin'
for both Thespian's Stage and Darksteel Garrison.
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
If Growing Rites is a $20 card, I'll still buy one, that's less than my World Champs Cradle, so you're right on.
Elephant Graveyard?
Oops. I guess I mixed that one up with Diamond Valley. And I feel worse now because I've told a bunch of people IRL about the "new elephant graveyard"
I think the Cradle has massive implications in Standard, I think it will be the chase foil rare of the set.
Yeah, but I was saying Cradle isn't strictly worse, either. (This costs mana.)
This also can be cast and not count toward your land limit.
One of these days, I'm going to have to write a FAQ about what makes a card strictly better or worse or a functional reprint.
On phasing:
This is definitely going to be one of those cards that speculators speculate on.
Should we start a for-fun pool for it's average price a week after release?
Selling some cards I don't want.
Generally less than tcg mid.