I believe the issue boils down to (at least in my discussions about the card) the fact that people who bring up the card associate it in situations where there is something else Id rather be doing with the card in my hand. I was told that "doomed traveler is highly underrated" (which I agree with) and a variant of "you should be playing it" (which I do not) Now, to further explain what I mean I am going to tell you that the deck in question was not Township Tokens or WW aggro or even WU aggro. I play a UW snapcaster mage control deck using swords as tempo with Midnight Haunting and Moorland Haunt as my form of token production. If I were dropping creatures every turn and the deck was about racing board presence i admit Id be playing it myself, but a 1/1 chump blocker does not add to my association of UW control...even if it is a 3-for-1 with moorland haunt
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Decks I have in my bag of tricks- Needless to say, someone who wants to play will probably have a deck UB/x Faeries UR Storm XURWB Affinity G Elves UW control
I believe the issue boils down to (at least in my discussions about the card) the fact that people who bring up the card associate it in situations where there is something else Id rather be doing with the card in my hand. I was told that "doomed traveler is highly underrated" (which I agree with) and a variant of "you should be playing it" (which I do not) Now, to further explain what I mean I am going to tell you that the deck in question was not Township Tokens or WW aggro or even WU aggro. I play a UW snapcaster mage control deck using swords as tempo with Midnight Haunting and Moorland Haunt as my form of token production. If I were dropping creatures every turn and the deck was about racing board presence i admit Id be playing it myself, but a 1/1 chump blocker does not add to my association of UW control...even if it is a 3-for-1 with moorland haunt
Playing a very similar deck to you, I can say that you should try him out. I've been running him as a 4 of so I have a turn 1 play that isn't Ponder. It works out pretty well, turn 1 DT turn 2 hold Mana Leak open. Turn 3 Ponder with leak open or DT with Leak. Turn 4 wrath into turn 5 drop sword and swing. He's an excellent place filler, and helps with the whole CA from half Squacks from a single card Instant thing. It's endless waves of Caw.
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Legacy Decks
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Too many to list efficiently. Find me online with the same SN if you want to play, or message me here to set up a time to play.
Modern
~~~~~~~~~
Whatever pile of 75 I throw together the night before without testing. Usually: :symb::symu::symg:
RnD during Time Spiral:
Rosewater: "Color Pie, WTF is that, If I want Black to be able to wrath, counter and have green creatures then I will damnit!"
Random RnD guy: "RED AKORMA! FTW!"
Gleemax: "Rosewater has broken out of my mind control!"
RnD after 2008:
MaRo: Hmm how do we fix the problems of pricing with cards like Tarmogoyf and Thoughtsieze
Random RnD Guy: OO lets make a new RED RARITY SYMBOL!
MARO: OMGWTFBBQ! Thats a great idea, we'll call it Mythic Rarity!
Gleemax: NOT AGAIN! CELEB
I'd have to agree with the OP for this topic, the traveler is by far the best 1 drop white creature printed in a fall set yet, blocks ok sure i get another 1/1, sure play Intangible Virtue next turn swing for 2 with vigilance nuts.
Eh...I think there's been better. For instance, Steppe Lynx was pretty much the nuts in its day.
I'd have to agree with the OP for this topic, the traveler is by far the best 1 drop white creature printed in a fall set yet, blocks ok sure i get another 1/1, sure play Intangible Virtue next turn swing for 2 with vigilance nuts.
*ahem*
Isamaru, Hound of Konda was printed in a fall set too. I don't see Doomed Traveler being that far ahead of Isamaru
The problem with efficient 1-mana creatures is that they just don't do enough. As some people have said (and then got criticized for), there are much stronger creatures out there at higher costs. When those creatures just outclass and dominate a game, you can't afford to play 1-mana guys unless they're game winners. For example, look at Dragonmaster Outcast. He was super efficient for 1 mana, but just wasn't enough. Paying one mana to get a 1/1 that's still a 1/1 after it's killed isn't going to be enough, because he only does one damage a turn. He's a 20 turn clock, one that your opponent doesn't really have to spend removal to deal with.
Basically, he has too little impact on the board. Sure, he's card advantage in a sense, but he's also pretty poor card quality (card strength) in that in both incarnations, he's just a 1/1. He will be irrelevant to the board most of the time past turn 2 or 3. Sure there are decks that can take advantage of him, like white weenie decks and such, featuring honor of the pure. He's great there, especially for his ability to stick around post-wrath. But there currently isn't a huge white weenie decklist, so he's not getting played everywhere because outside some focused strategies, you just need beefier cards.
So stop bashing people who claim it's the titans that make him less palatable, because it's true. Such explosive cards at the high end mean you can't afford to diddle around with 1-mana creatures unless you're a very aggressive deck.
For me, the only problem of this guy is the fact that he is a human. In world of Stromkirk Noble he can be a problem because basically you want him to die. Still, he's an awesome 1CMC drop.
I had the same exact revelation. If he weren't a human, he would be outstanding. Even so, I find him to be a great meta-choice versus alot of the field.
This card is so bad it makes my eyes hurt. If I'm playing a control deck, this card does nothing I want. (Hint: being a 1/1 flyer was not what made squaddy good). If I'm playing an aggro deck, I want my one drops to have two power or kill opposing creatures.
There are excpetions; but suntail hawk hasn't been what you would call regularly played, and this guy is mostly worse.
This card is so bad it makes my eyes hurt. If I'm playing a control deck, this card does nothing I want. (Hint: being a 1/1 flyer was not what made squaddy good). If I'm playing an aggro deck, I want my one drops to have two power or kill opposing creatures.
There are excpetions; but suntail hawk hasn't been what you would call regularly played, and this guy is mostly worse.
The thing is, he needs to be played in a deck where he'd be good. U/W control has better cards for that deck. White Aggro and Human decks would be great, plus you could always follow a curve in those decks and have answers to higher power cards. Also white weenie is fun as well
He seems good in G/W humans. Solid 1 drop if you don't have your champ, or gives you a second 1 drop on turn 2 potentially. He's not nutty, but he's solid.
He seems good in G/W humans. Solid 1 drop if you don't have your champ, or gives you a second 1 drop on turn 2 potentially. He's not nutty, but he's solid.
But wouldn't you rather play some kind of elite 2/1 which is a human and some proportion of a hell of a lot better? Or a 1/1 which produces white mana?
Bad card is bad is the point I am trying to make here...
But wouldn't you rather play some kind of elite 2/1 which is a human and some proportion of a hell of a lot better? Or a 1/1 which produces white mana?
Bad card is bad is the point I am trying to make here...
Elite Vanguard still dies to the same creature, but does Elite Vanguard give you a token with evasion that can be pumped? A two for one never hurts and you're not going to have a perfect draw every time.
I didn't pay much attention to him until he consistently proved to be a nuisance. He's also a lot scarier when they have persistant pump or swords and wrath.
I didn't pay much attention to him until he consistently proved to be a nuisance. He's also a lot scarier when they have persistant pump or swords and wrath.
I think some kind of UW swords build is the only deck I'd take him really seriously in. He's not a horrible 1 drop for a weenie strategy, but he's not awesome for that either.
Really, 1/1s just don't do enough, even when you get two of them. You need a way to make each 1/1 matter -a lot- for him to be good. 1/1s aren't good for much more than chumping, and even 2/2s (Honor of the Pure) aren't going to get there unless you're dropping a horde of them.
Does have a nice interaction with Mentor of the Meek, though.
Tukatongue Thallid had a similar effect and he never saw any use.
I think he's a good card. He almost has "flashback 0: put a 1/1 flier into play".
The biggest difference between this card and others like it is that the second creature is also tribal-relevant and in fact better than the original creature.
I've cut him from some sealed decks, but not very often.
He is pretty solid in u/w blade builds as a 1 drop, much better than invis stalker in my opinion as he is solid vs aggro (no waif transform, trades with scamp, double chumps at worse, etc). Without a sword of any backup, he's not that impressive vs everything else though.
He is pretty solid in u/w blade builds as a 1 drop, much better than invis stalker in my opinion as he is solid vs aggro (no waif transform, trades with scamp, double chumps at worse, etc). Without a sword of any backup, he's not that impressive vs everything else though.
You know Invisible Stalker has hexproof and is unblockable, right? lol
I just got into magic for the standard, I figured that it would be the cheapest as far as me being competative in tournaments because the older cards other people have are usually expenseive, (standard isn't cheap either)
I was a new player back in Lorwyn and I actually quit Standard because it is the most expensive format. My group became more casual so we do EDH instead.
Legacy/Modern might be a better investment for competitive play.
But does the doomed traveller kill creatures with toughness two? Or does he do two damage early on, so he becomes a threat?
The truth is he will almost never be a two for one (unless your opponent is really bad).
Its a 1/1, even with flying it not a threat, it's basically two chump blockers in one, which in most cases is not a great thing.
It survives wrath effects, but a 1/1 flier isn't all that great.
Its a nice sword bearer, but you have better options for that.
In a WW, a elite vanguard is a better aggressive card, and a law keeper is a better support card.
In a block token deck this card is good, but beside that I cant seam to find any place that doomed traveller is worth the space in the deck.
It at least bears discussion in UWx blade decks, simply because it gives you a second sword wielder after a Day of Judgment/Black Sun's Zenith. Beyond that, it's just not that great because these guys just don't have much impact on the board. Yes, it's card advantage. Yes, it's an evasive creature. Yes, it survives a sweeper. But without a sword, there are almost no cases where the control player is going to cast Day of Judgment and care that you got your 1/1 flyer afterwards.
I just wanted to say that I played WW at my local FNM tonight and Doomed Traveler was one of the best cards in my deck. So amazing in every matchup. When I coupled it with mortar pod it was sickening.
Great suggestion. I won the tournament.
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UB/x Faeries
UR Storm
XURWB Affinity
G Elves
UW control
Playing a very similar deck to you, I can say that you should try him out. I've been running him as a 4 of so I have a turn 1 play that isn't Ponder. It works out pretty well, turn 1 DT turn 2 hold Mana Leak open. Turn 3 Ponder with leak open or DT with Leak. Turn 4 wrath into turn 5 drop sword and swing. He's an excellent place filler, and helps with the whole CA from half Squacks from a single card Instant thing. It's endless waves of Caw.
~~~~~~~~~
Too many to list efficiently. Find me online with the same SN if you want to play, or message me here to set up a time to play.
Modern
~~~~~~~~~
Whatever pile of 75 I throw together the night before without testing. Usually: :symb::symu::symg:
Flying
Rosewater: "Color Pie, WTF is that, If I want Black to be able to wrath, counter and have green creatures then I will damnit!"
Random RnD guy: "RED AKORMA! FTW!"
Gleemax: "Rosewater has broken out of my mind control!"
RnD after 2008:
MaRo: Hmm how do we fix the problems of pricing with cards like Tarmogoyf and Thoughtsieze
Random RnD Guy: OO lets make a new RED RARITY SYMBOL!
MARO: OMGWTFBBQ! Thats a great idea, we'll call it Mythic Rarity!
Gleemax: NOT AGAIN!
CELEB
Eh...I think there's been better. For instance, Steppe Lynx was pretty much the nuts in its day.
*ahem*
Isamaru, Hound of Konda was printed in a fall set too. I don't see Doomed Traveler being that far ahead of Isamaru
Basically, he has too little impact on the board. Sure, he's card advantage in a sense, but he's also pretty poor card quality (card strength) in that in both incarnations, he's just a 1/1. He will be irrelevant to the board most of the time past turn 2 or 3. Sure there are decks that can take advantage of him, like white weenie decks and such, featuring honor of the pure. He's great there, especially for his ability to stick around post-wrath. But there currently isn't a huge white weenie decklist, so he's not getting played everywhere because outside some focused strategies, you just need beefier cards.
So stop bashing people who claim it's the titans that make him less palatable, because it's true. Such explosive cards at the high end mean you can't afford to diddle around with 1-mana creatures unless you're a very aggressive deck.
Karador EDH
Comments on decks welcome: http://tappedout.net/users/AradonTemplar/
Currently developing Set 1 of 3, 'Shadow': http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=436885
And Honor of the Pure
They're not on same levels, especially with Liliana in T2
I had the same exact revelation. If he weren't a human, he would be outstanding. Even so, I find him to be a great meta-choice versus alot of the field.
PucaTrade Invite. Sign up and enjoy the first 500 points ($5) free!
There are excpetions; but suntail hawk hasn't been what you would call regularly played, and this guy is mostly worse.
The thing is, he needs to be played in a deck where he'd be good. U/W control has better cards for that deck. White Aggro and Human decks would be great, plus you could always follow a curve in those decks and have answers to higher power cards. Also white weenie is fun as well
But wouldn't you rather play some kind of elite 2/1 which is a human and some proportion of a hell of a lot better? Or a 1/1 which produces white mana?
Bad card is bad is the point I am trying to make here...
Elite Vanguard still dies to the same creature, but does Elite Vanguard give you a token with evasion that can be pumped? A two for one never hurts and you're not going to have a perfect draw every time.
Standard
W.I.P.
EDH
WNorn Tokens
I think some kind of UW swords build is the only deck I'd take him really seriously in. He's not a horrible 1 drop for a weenie strategy, but he's not awesome for that either.
Really, 1/1s just don't do enough, even when you get two of them. You need a way to make each 1/1 matter -a lot- for him to be good. 1/1s aren't good for much more than chumping, and even 2/2s (Honor of the Pure) aren't going to get there unless you're dropping a horde of them.
Does have a nice interaction with Mentor of the Meek, though.
I think he's a good card. He almost has "flashback 0: put a 1/1 flier into play".
The biggest difference between this card and others like it is that the second creature is also tribal-relevant and in fact better than the original creature.
I've cut him from some sealed decks, but not very often.
EDHCommanderWUBSharuum the HegemonBUW
UGRRiku of the Two ReflectionsRGU
Clan Limited
You know Invisible Stalker has hexproof and is unblockable, right? lol
I was a new player back in Lorwyn and I actually quit Standard because it is the most expensive format. My group became more casual so we do EDH instead.
Legacy/Modern might be a better investment for competitive play.
It at least bears discussion in UWx blade decks, simply because it gives you a second sword wielder after a Day of Judgment/Black Sun's Zenith. Beyond that, it's just not that great because these guys just don't have much impact on the board. Yes, it's card advantage. Yes, it's an evasive creature. Yes, it survives a sweeper. But without a sword, there are almost no cases where the control player is going to cast Day of Judgment and care that you got your 1/1 flyer afterwards.
Great suggestion. I won the tournament.