I think people are freaking out about this card unnecessarily. It is just a counterspell folks. It is gonna be cute if a Ux flash deck shows up in standard, but there isn't much to say about the card besides that.
Instant speed card draw, which blue has available in Standard right now in plentiful quantity: Opt, Hieroglyphic Illumination, Pull From Tomorrow, Glimmer of Genius, and Supreme Will. Also goes well with Gearhulk. I think we're going to see quite an impressive last hurrah of Monoblue Gearhulk decks, and this will probably be a part of it. Also, kind of cool that casting this off Gearhulk gets you half of Gearhulk's cost back. I'm looking forward to the day when I cast this to counter something, then flash in Gearhulk and recast this to counter another thing the same turn, and then end of their turn cast Opt or Supreme Will or whatever.
Your opponent is playing blue, they have 3 untapped lands, and at least 2 cards in hand. Conclusion: yes, they have two counterspells, so don't even try it. The only way out is more cat snakes or big dumb dinos.
Finally time for big dumb green to shine.
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“Tell me who you walk with, and I'll tell you who you are.” Esmeralda Santiago Art is life itself.
They got the thorn elemental as well...just need some good pump spells and you can one shot people.
Maybe mix some Red. Combat Celebrant plus Thorn Elemental. 14 Damage to the Face.
Your opponent is playing blue, they have 3 untapped lands, and at least 2 cards in hand. Conclusion: yes, they have two counterspells, so don't even try it. The only way out is more cat snakes or big dumb dinos.
In short, this is only good if you can realistically do something else with the mana that you untapped, which requires some build around. Otherwise, I'd stick with negate.
Not really, the point of Rewind in Standard when it was reprinted was that you could use that mana to fire more counters, so it was much harder to either win a counter war or to bait countermagic, and pretty much any instant counts as building around anyway, removal, draw, you name it. I can't see this card being absent from control decks in the upcoming meta.
And I really didn't see the "free spell" mechanic coming back, R&D considers it a mistake with good reason, but as long as there are no busted mana engines around, one or two cards like that every now and then seem fair.
Your opponent is playing blue, they have 3 untapped lands, and at least 2 cards in hand. Conclusion: yes, they have two counterspells, so don't even try it. The only way out is more cat snakes or big dumb dinos.
Finally time for big dumb green to shine.
ResidentSleeper
Kappa
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“Tell me who you walk with, and I'll tell you who you are.” Esmeralda Santiago Art is life itself.
Your opponent is playing blue, they have 3 untapped lands, and at least 2 cards in hand. Conclusion: yes, they have two counterspells, so don't even try it. The only way out is more cat snakes or big dumb dinos.
This card doesn't affect either card regardless though. I do agree though that those cards may see more play if people start playing blue based control decks.
I'm SO SICK of the "too strong for Standard" argument. It's the new "Dies to removal". We can have a two mana 4/4 with a zillion abilities, but we can't just have Accumulated Knowledge. Makes sense.
That is what I meant: blue-based control will probably be a thing, so midrange decks are going to have to rely on the big, uncounterable creature more than before. In control mirrors, the first to Nezahal wins.
Definitely interesting for pauper, in more traditional Ux control builds, especially those that run the various Ravnica guild-karoos, and Ux Tron builds. It's also going in two of my commander decks (Talrand, Sky Summoner and Mizzix of the Izmagnus).
Not really, the point of Rewind in Standard when it was reprinted was that you could use that mana to fire more counters, so it was much harder to either win a counter war or to bait countermagic
This, (and Rewind) do not help win counter wars. You don't get to untap the lands until this resolves. If they respond to this with a counter of their own, the lands remain tapped while you decide if you want to then play a second counter of some type.
I think people are freaking out about this card unnecessarily. It is just a counterspell folks. It is gonna be cute if a Ux flash deck shows up in standard, but there isn't much to say about the card besides that.
Instant speed card draw, which blue has available in Standard right now in plentiful quantity: Opt, Hieroglyphic Illumination, Pull From Tomorrow, Glimmer of Genius, and Supreme Will. Also goes well with Gearhulk. I think we're going to see quite an impressive last hurrah of Monoblue Gearhulk decks, and this will probably be a part of it. Also, kind of cool that casting this off Gearhulk gets you half of Gearhulk's cost back. I'm looking forward to the day when I cast this to counter something, then flash in Gearhulk and recast this to counter another thing the same turn, and then end of their turn cast Opt or Supreme Will or whatever.
Also, mana left open to use your Search for Azcanta at EOT.
At common too... Garfield is the real MVP. Might go in my pauper tron SB.
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Avatar by Disappointing Signet Inc
EDH Decks UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition) WRKalemne's Angels BRUG Yidris's Wild Party UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys UBRThe Pretender
The art in this set is just full of win. Jhoira's smirk here is excellently executed. I almost never care about MtG art, but this set just feels well-executed.
Color me shocked this sort of power got printed, in standard no less. They do realize they upped the bar with this one for standard, because this is more favorable than negate or cancel for the mix of the same use and cost. As this is technically a free spell, sure there is a cost, but unless you are getting into a counterspell war, there is really no reason not to see it as free since it untaps the lands used to pay for it. Whats next, counterspell? That'd be a real laugh.
This is a cool callback. I wonder if it's playable over negate.
I think it will be more along the lines of playable WITH Negate, there's a big difference between having to leave 2 or 3 mana open, so I think they will complement each other just fine. Unwind gets way better as the game drags on and opponents start tapping out for big walkers and stuff like that, leaving you the opportunity of countering and then using instant-speed card draw.
Instant speed card draw, which blue has available in Standard right now in plentiful quantity: Opt, Hieroglyphic Illumination, Pull From Tomorrow, Glimmer of Genius, and Supreme Will. Also goes well with Gearhulk. I think we're going to see quite an impressive last hurrah of Monoblue Gearhulk decks, and this will probably be a part of it. Also, kind of cool that casting this off Gearhulk gets you half of Gearhulk's cost back. I'm looking forward to the day when I cast this to counter something, then flash in Gearhulk and recast this to counter another thing the same turn, and then end of their turn cast Opt or Supreme Will or whatever.
Richard Garfield you magnificent bastard
-Chandra Nalaar
Art is life itself.
Maybe mix some Red. Combat Celebrant plus Thorn Elemental. 14 Damage to the Face.
ResidentSleeper
Spirits
Not really, the point of Rewind in Standard when it was reprinted was that you could use that mana to fire more counters, so it was much harder to either win a counter war or to bait countermagic, and pretty much any instant counts as building around anyway, removal, draw, you name it. I can't see this card being absent from control decks in the upcoming meta.
And I really didn't see the "free spell" mechanic coming back, R&D considers it a mistake with good reason, but as long as there are no busted mana engines around, one or two cards like that every now and then seem fair.
Art is life itself.
This card doesn't affect either card regardless though. I do agree though that those cards may see more play if people start playing blue based control decks.
This, (and Rewind) do not help win counter wars. You don't get to untap the lands until this resolves. If they respond to this with a counter of their own, the lands remain tapped while you decide if you want to then play a second counter of some type.
Also, mana left open to use your Search for Azcanta at EOT.
EDH Decks
UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life
RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them
WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition)
WRKalemne's Angels
BRUG Yidris's Wild Party
UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys
UBR The Pretender
Oh, and the card has text, too, so win-win.
I think it will be more along the lines of playable WITH Negate, there's a big difference between having to leave 2 or 3 mana open, so I think they will complement each other just fine. Unwind gets way better as the game drags on and opponents start tapping out for big walkers and stuff like that, leaving you the opportunity of countering and then using instant-speed card draw.
It's the creatures or stuff that gives you card advantage with the untap text that edges on broken.
UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG