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.
I'm actually a bit disappointed that there's not a single Thrull in the set. No Dwarves, either, but I guess we can't get everything...
There's a 5/5 Thrull with deathtouch.
As for the set, eh. Reminds me of Rivals of Ixalan in terms of power. Kaladesh block still will forever influence standard until it rotates. I bought a box of this too.
I hope it's expeditions in the set because the EV isn't that high.
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"The essence of every world, every spell and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
First, the art this set is awesome. So much better to me than....I dont even know what set I would have liked more. Just great.
Second, its so nice, how little 'screen time' was wasted on the Gatewatch. I was actually startled when I saw the art for Gideon's Reproach because...the rest of the art is showing the PLANE and not these overdone walkers.
I guess Dominaria looks a bit more interesting than your typical block but the "historic matters" theme is boring and repeatable as usual - to do something, cycle or discard a card (Amonkhet), you need to have an artifact entered or left the battlefirld this turn (Kaladesh), you need to have four different card types among cards in your graveyard (Innistrad), cast a historic spell (Dominaria)...
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.
I guess Dominaria looks a bit more interesting than your typical block but the "historic matters" theme is boring and repeatable as usual - to do something, cycle or discard a card (Amonkhet), you need to have an artifact entered or left the battlefirld this turn (Kaladesh), you need to have four different card types among cards in your graveyard (Innistrad), cast a historic spell (Dominaria)...
I wouldn't be surprised if the series of "boring and repeatable" themes has to do with focus on draft. (Do we know when WotC started making draft a major concern?) I'll grant I have no use for draft, but I do wonder if Constructed design and Draft design are inherently at cross purposes.
Just to get a sense of perspective, when would you say the last block whose theme wasn't "boring and repeatable" was?
Overall the basic land AWs are not as good as I'd hoped. Still a bit miffed that the new Meandering River is the only callback to Timespiral era geography (come on, that was just 60 years ago...). Would have greatly preferred more callbacks to that instead of the random Thran structures, which look pretty uninspired for the most part.
Still, the basics by Demitar (Dimitar?) Marinski are great. And the Urborg one and the Lunter island I guess.
Some more basic land observations:
- There's now another top art for the "Wizards doesn't know what Islands are" joke album (the underwater city)
- The Weatherlight can be seen in every "Thran structure" art
- Why does every Mark Poole basic have an archway except for the Forest?
I guess Dominaria looks a bit more interesting than your typical block but the "historic matters" theme is boring and repeatable as usual - to do something, cycle or discard a card (Amonkhet), you need to have an artifact entered or left the battlefirld this turn (Kaladesh), you need to have four different card types among cards in your graveyard (Innistrad), cast a historic spell (Dominaria)...
I wouldn't be surprised if the series of "boring and repeatable" themes has to do with focus on draft. (Do we know when WotC started making draft a major concern?) I'll grant I have no use for draft, but I do wonder if Constructed design and Draft design are inherently at cross purposes.
Just to get a sense of perspective, when would you say the last block whose theme wasn't "boring and repeatable" was?
Draft might have to do something with it, but I also think it's underestimated how difficult it is to keep an old game "interesting and exciting" in the eyes of players who have been around a while without ending up with broken mechanics.
I guess Dominaria looks a bit more interesting than your typical block but the "historic matters" theme is boring and repeatable as usual - to do something, cycle or discard a card (Amonkhet), you need to have an artifact entered or left the battlefirld this turn (Kaladesh), you need to have four different card types among cards in your graveyard (Innistrad), cast a historic spell (Dominaria)...
I wouldn't be surprised if the series of "boring and repeatable" themes has to do with focus on draft. (Do we know when WotC started making draft a major concern?) I'll grant I have no use for draft, but I do wonder if Constructed design and Draft design are inherently at cross purposes.
Just to get a sense of perspective, when would you say the last block whose theme wasn't "boring and repeatable" was?
Not quite sure but probably Innistrad (2011) and somehow RtR. Theros already has Heroic and Constellation that settled the trend I guess.
The only not-already-spoiled card that called my attention was Ghitu Lavarunner. It is no goblin guide, but maybe in the correct shell it can shine.
As for the story, I didn't know Nissa was leaving the Gatewatch. About time. I guess after she went blue in Amonketh they needed to find a green planeswalker more true to its colors
I think the overall powerlevel of the set is what we have come to expect from a standard set - not high. There are some cards that I can see porting into eternal formats, like the new Karn, Cast Down, etc. However, overall, this set biggest impact is going to be in EDH, flushing the format with tons of new legends to build around.
The positive note I see is how the rarity is distributed in this set. Uncommons feel like uncommons again, mythics are not carrying the whole pricetag of the set, and rares and commons are okay.
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Would you like to read Commander stories? Check my latest stories, coming from Lorwyn and Innistrad: Ghoulcaller Gisa and Doran, The Siege Tower! If you like my writing, ask me to write something for your commander as well!
Fourth, I hope a Thallid deck happens in Standard.
Same. I've already been brewing a normal Thallid/Saproling tribal deck, and a ridiculous Slimefoot combo deck. Not sure either is super strong, yet, but they aren't even close to optimized, either.
This set's power level is crazy-high, especially outside of the common slot, so I don't know what folks are smoking. It's definitely going to tie with or surpass Kaladesh as the strongest set in standard. It may be the strongest set they've put out since original Innistrad.
But as always, the last day doesn't have a ton of goodies especially considering how much got spoiled early. A few cards that pinged my radar;
Adamant Will is a very powerful combat trick. Maybe not quite at the Standard/Pauper staple level, but it ain't far off and it's going to cause a lot of mayhem in limited for sure.
Dark Bargain probably doesn't quite get there in standard, but black almost never gets their draw at instant speed so this is a twist to keep an eye on.
Bloodstone Goblin and Keldon Warcaller are mostly notable for power creep; just a few sets ago it was a big deal that red could get a Grizzly Bear at common in the form of Defiant Khenra. Now, red has multiple 2/2s in relevant tribes with upside for 1R at common.
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Sufferer of EDHD
Commander - Currently Playing: RCRDaretti: Superfriends Forever RCR WGBDoran: Ent-mootWBG GGGMultani: Group Bear HugGGG GB(B/G)The Gitrog Monster: Dredgefall DurdleGB(B/G) RGWGahiji, the Honored Group Hug MonsterRGW UB(U/B)Yuriko, Ninja Trinket AggroUB(U/B) WUBRGAtogatog: Assembling a OHKOWUBRG
https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/card-image-gallery/dominaria
Artificer's Assistant is probably gonna be a limited all star. Tragic Poet fits in the set. I'm still looking it over.
Awesome references in art and flavor text on Voltaic Servant!
Soooooo Gideon
There's a 5/5 Thrull with deathtouch.
As for the set, eh. Reminds me of Rivals of Ixalan in terms of power. Kaladesh block still will forever influence standard until it rotates. I bought a box of this too.
I hope it's expeditions in the set because the EV isn't that high.
There is a thrull though...
You missed it because it doesn't look like a thrull, but Feral Abomination!
Second, its so nice, how little 'screen time' was wasted on the Gatewatch. I was actually startled when I saw the art for Gideon's Reproach because...the rest of the art is showing the PLANE and not these overdone walkers.
Third, I knew this was Reynolds, instantly, lol Champion of the Flame
Fourth, I hope a Thallid deck happens in Standard.
Spirits
No Dwarves, though? If there was one, that would give (at least) one card from each of Sarpadia's races, no?
I guess Dominaria looks a bit more interesting than your typical block but the "historic matters" theme is boring and repeatable as usual - to do something, cycle or discard a card (Amonkhet), you need to have an artifact entered or left the battlefirld this turn (Kaladesh), you need to have four different card types among cards in your graveyard (Innistrad), cast a historic spell (Dominaria)...
-Chandra Nalaar
Ah, the usual "THIS SET SUX!!1!" sentiments never seem to die on MTGS, no matter how sweet a set is.
Anyhow, Grow from the Ashes is a sweet, sweet common, since the lands you fetch come into play UNTAPPED.
Believe me, I wanted to LOVE this set. But once nostalgia-blindness subdues, ppl will realize how mediocre Dominaria is in terms of power level.
I wouldn't be surprised if the series of "boring and repeatable" themes has to do with focus on draft. (Do we know when WotC started making draft a major concern?) I'll grant I have no use for draft, but I do wonder if Constructed design and Draft design are inherently at cross purposes.
Just to get a sense of perspective, when would you say the last block whose theme wasn't "boring and repeatable" was?
Still, the basics by Demitar (Dimitar?) Marinski are great. And the Urborg one and the Lunter island I guess.
Some more basic land observations:
- There's now another top art for the "Wizards doesn't know what Islands are" joke album (the underwater city)
- The Weatherlight can be seen in every "Thran structure" art
- Why does every Mark Poole basic have an archway except for the Forest?
Draft might have to do something with it, but I also think it's underestimated how difficult it is to keep an old game "interesting and exciting" in the eyes of players who have been around a while without ending up with broken mechanics.
Not quite sure but probably Innistrad (2011) and somehow RtR. Theros already has Heroic and Constellation that settled the trend I guess.
As for the story, I didn't know Nissa was leaving the Gatewatch. About time. I guess after she went blue in Amonketh they needed to find a green planeswalker more true to its colors
I think the overall powerlevel of the set is what we have come to expect from a standard set - not high. There are some cards that I can see porting into eternal formats, like the new Karn, Cast Down, etc. However, overall, this set biggest impact is going to be in EDH, flushing the format with tons of new legends to build around.
The positive note I see is how the rarity is distributed in this set. Uncommons feel like uncommons again, mythics are not carrying the whole pricetag of the set, and rares and commons are okay.
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).
Lavarunner was spoiled in the first leak.
Same. I've already been brewing a normal Thallid/Saproling tribal deck, and a ridiculous Slimefoot combo deck. Not sure either is super strong, yet, but they aren't even close to optimized, either.
What? Still best than most of Ixalan.
But as always, the last day doesn't have a ton of goodies especially considering how much got spoiled early. A few cards that pinged my radar;
Adamant Will is a very powerful combat trick. Maybe not quite at the Standard/Pauper staple level, but it ain't far off and it's going to cause a lot of mayhem in limited for sure.
Artificer's Assistant is my kind of durdling and seems an EDH-staple.
Dark Bargain probably doesn't quite get there in standard, but black almost never gets their draw at instant speed so this is a twist to keep an eye on.
We knew Whisper, Blood Liturgist already but at uncommon is In.Sane.
Bloodstone Goblin and Keldon Warcaller are mostly notable for power creep; just a few sets ago it was a big deal that red could get a Grizzly Bear at common in the form of Defiant Khenra. Now, red has multiple 2/2s in relevant tribes with upside for 1R at common.
RCRDaretti: Superfriends Forever RCR
WGBDoran: Ent-mootWBG
GGGMultani: Group Bear HugGGG
GB(B/G)The Gitrog Monster: Dredgefall DurdleGB(B/G)
RGWGahiji, the Honored Group Hug MonsterRGW
UB(U/B)Yuriko, Ninja Trinket AggroUB(U/B)
WUBRGAtogatog: Assembling a OHKOWUBRG
The Dwarves of Sarpadia went extinct in Fallen Empires my friend.
---
Numquam evolutioni obstes. Solum conculceris.
Pascite draconem, evolvite aut morimini.