First off, let's get this out of the way. The art is horrible. The CGI is very very noticeable and poorly done. Oh, well.
Other than that, this card will be a 4 of in every U based control deck. Obviously better than Augur, but the question is, is it better than Sea Gate Oracle? I think because she comes down a turn earlier, and Scry's 2, it makes up for the fact that oracle is 1 more and draws.
Now, the only holes really remaining is a good cheap cantrip, perhaps a good non-narrow targeted removal (but that might be asking for too much), and well, a decent counter-spell. That said, control is definitely looking a lot more playable when Theros hits. Just have to worry about Cerberus :/
Augury owl didn't see much play when it was in standard. Thou I guess the three toughness allowing it to block dudes on the ground gives this a small leg up over the owl.
Won't see much if any Modern play but I could see it taking the place of Augur of bolas in Standard.
Scry 2 is almost equivalent to draw 1 anyway. Not to mention when you're looking for something specific it's even better than that, inching closer to draw 1.5.
I don't think that this is necessarily better than Augur, but I do think that it will most likely take Augur's place once it rotates. The three toughness is big as it can stall the small aggro creatures like BTE and Ash Zealot. I'm happy that this is a common so it will be super easy to find, I swear finding Augurs this year was harder than finding certain rares.
Please elaborate why augur is worse. Not that you're wrong, I'd just like to understand. Augur digs deeper and puts the card in your hand.
Augur is worse because he is inconsistent. Many times you won't get anything from him, and sometimes you'll get a spell, but pitch 2 lands you needed, or worse, whiff and pitch lands and aetherling, or Jace. With Omenspeaker you know you will always be getting a useful effect. Augur also doesn't fix your draws, like Omenspeaker, which makes her a lot better.
This card goes in more decks and has a higher threshold for drawing (Putting two cards on bottom is kinda similar to faithless looting)
Augur of Bolas actually draws cards and is in an (arguably) more relevant creature type. However, Augur warps decks in ways that is a little bit of an anti-synergy with itself, since more copies of Augur mean fewer copies of instants and sorceries in your deck.
Augur is better at a critical ratio of instants/sorceries, though I can't say yet what that is. However, the upside of this is far lower, since often you'll cast an Augur and get your mana's worth independent of the body. The only reason this is remotely playable is because Emissary decks are such a pain.
As already mentioned this is more an Augury Owl than a Sea Gate Oracle. Scry 2 never ever equals drawing a card.
Augur of Bolas
is way better. I wouldn't play this card unless there's a serious combo-like incentive to stack your deck while keeping 2/x's at bay. It's not a bad card per say but I think we'll find it underwhelming for constructed.
Yeah, and isn't whiffing off of Augur comparable (though not the same) to Scying 3 to the bottom for a control deck anyway? If you whiff your finisher by playing augur, then you probably didn't need it then anyway, as you shouldn't need to play augur if you're in a position to take the win as it is, thus bringing you closer to a useful instant/sorcery. All barring mana issues of course.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Until you have lived as a statue, do not talk to me of pigeons."
—Karn, silver golem
Auger is better because it lets you dig for a wrath THAT TURN. It's faster. I can't believe people actually think this is better.
But yes it will see constructed play baring some other crazy blue 2 drop.
Yet at the same time, Augur can just as easily lose you the game by pitching cards you needed. I've seen it happen so many times. Augur is terribly inconsistent. Omenspeaker is all upside, and scrying is a very powerful effect. Besides, they're both primarily played because they are X/3's for 2 CMC.
It just means Omenspeaker lends herself to decks that use more targeted removal, and with Thoughtseize and the B based removal running around, it seems like a pretty good start. We really do need a cheap-o cantrip though.
Personally, I think Augur of Bolas is better. Putting cards into hand is more valuable than top-deck manipulation IMO.
But to be honest, thats not really the comparison we should be looking for. As others have said, Augury Owl is a better comparison. I would argue the Owl probably as being slightly better than this, due to looking one card deeper and having flying. The owl didn't see much play and as a result I don't think this will either
Personally, I think Augur of Bolas is better. Putting cards into hand is more valuable than top-deck manipulation IMO.
But to be honest, thats not really the comparison we should be looking for. As others have said, Augury Owl is a better comparison. I would argue the Owl probably as being slightly better than this, due to looking one card deeper and having flying. The owl didn't see much play and as a result I don't think this will either
That's a good point, but it is entirely dependent on the meta if this sees play or not. Just cause owl didn't...
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Until you have lived as a statue, do not talk to me of pigeons."
—Karn, silver golem
Auger is better because it lets you dig for a wrath THAT TURN. It's faster. I can't believe people actually think this is better.
Or whiffs, and gets you nothing. I'll always play this over Augur of Bolas unless my sorcery/instant count is very high.
And scry 2 is close to drawing a card, and scry 3 is more than drawing a card. Heck, I will always choose Foresee over Concentrate, and not because it's more splashable. Even with scry 3 I will still choose Foresee over Concentrate.
Augur of Bolas is better. "Draw an instant or sorcery" is so vastly superior to "draw a card" that Augur's ability is significantly better than drawing a card even though it misses sometimes.
On the other hand, I do think this is a lot better than Augury Owl, just because a single 1/1 flying body generally doesn't actually do anything, but a 1/3 at least provides a little defense.
I really don't think this is good enough for Standard. I'd be a little surprised to be proven wrong on that, but it could happen.
Augur of Bolas is better. "Draw an instant or sorcery" is so vastly superior to "draw a card" that Augur's ability is significantly better than drawing a card even though it misses sometimes.
On the other hand, I do think this is a lot better than Augury Owl, just because a single 1/1 flying body generally doesn't actually do anything, but a 1/3 at least provides a little defense.
I really don't think this is good enough for Standard. I'd be a little surprised to be proven wrong on that, but it could happen.
Sea Gate Oracle saw a ton of play and cost one more. Omenspeaker is value-town. Fixing your draws (e.g. keeping you from land screw or flood), and saving you oodles of points of life. She'll see a ton of play, and will always be a 4 of MB in control decks, as she is even good in the mirror.
You don't call "dying to removal" if the removal is more expensive in resources than the creature. If you have to spend BG (Abrupt Decay), or W + basic land (PtE) to remove a 1G, that is not "dying to removal". Strictly speaking Goyf dies to removal, but actually your removal is dying to Goyf.
Augur gives you a chance to draw something. This does not. I got excited when people compared to Augur only to see she doesn't draw or at least loot with the scrying attached.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To the people that say that a card needs to be a higher rarity because of Limited... I hate you guys so much. I present to you with this.
Augury owl had to compete with insane cards (ponder/preordain), and actually was still fine if your into hyper consitency. However the format just did not really need him, squad hawk and ponder better at job. I will say I ran him and he held a sword as well as his rival. also could block malakar bloodwitch. unlike some other birds
Augur of bolas is good in decks reliant on absurd amounts of instants/sorc but those decks also had to contantly bend over backwards to play him, even if your not a
this new guy is absurd because he combos very well with jace achitect of thought. That is a big deal. augur generally limited number of jaces you could run. as well as scry bieng very power with jace raw dig ability (jace would be nutters in a good combo deck)
finally it comes down to comparison of power jace the mindsculptor vs tezzeret angent of bolas
honestly raw power wise tezzeret is better, his plus ability is far more powerfull gaining you card advantage while also digging 5 cards deep for the one you want. tezz minus ability was great at offense and defense (could even kill jace turn he came down)
and ultimate frequently kills but much early.
the tricky part is tezzeret requires specific things (artifacts) he almost always hits but could miss. he is more powerfull than jace in the value of his abilities.
but nowhere near as consitant, jace always nets cards on brainstorm, between unsummon and fateseal he has a wider net of protection. and his ultimate is very high power.
the driving point is jace is more powerfull for his flexibility and you will find this new wizard is also flexible
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Other than that, this card will be a 4 of in every U based control deck. Obviously better than Augur, but the question is, is it better than Sea Gate Oracle? I think because she comes down a turn earlier, and Scry's 2, it makes up for the fact that oracle is 1 more and draws.
Now, the only holes really remaining is a good cheap cantrip, perhaps a good non-narrow targeted removal (but that might be asking for too much), and well, a decent counter-spell. That said, control is definitely looking a lot more playable when Theros hits. Just have to worry about Cerberus :/
—Karn, silver golem
Won't see much if any Modern play but I could see it taking the place of Augur of bolas in Standard.
Augur is worse because he is inconsistent. Many times you won't get anything from him, and sometimes you'll get a spell, but pitch 2 lands you needed, or worse, whiff and pitch lands and aetherling, or Jace. With Omenspeaker you know you will always be getting a useful effect. Augur also doesn't fix your draws, like Omenspeaker, which makes her a lot better.
Omenspeaker, by a considerable margin imho. The question remains: which is better, Omenspeaker, or Sea Gate Oracle?
(Now, if only we can get a cheap cantrip + decent counter spell, I can re-live my favorite control style decks during Shards-Rise :p)
This card goes in more decks and has a higher threshold for drawing (Putting two cards on bottom is kinda similar to faithless looting)
Augur of Bolas actually draws cards and is in an (arguably) more relevant creature type. However, Augur warps decks in ways that is a little bit of an anti-synergy with itself, since more copies of Augur mean fewer copies of instants and sorceries in your deck.
Cubetutor Link
But yes it will see constructed play baring some other crazy blue 2 drop.
—Karn, silver golem
Yet at the same time, Augur can just as easily lose you the game by pitching cards you needed. I've seen it happen so many times. Augur is terribly inconsistent. Omenspeaker is all upside, and scrying is a very powerful effect. Besides, they're both primarily played because they are X/3's for 2 CMC.
It just means Omenspeaker lends herself to decks that use more targeted removal, and with Thoughtseize and the B based removal running around, it seems like a pretty good start. We really do need a cheap-o cantrip though.
But to be honest, thats not really the comparison we should be looking for. As others have said, Augury Owl is a better comparison. I would argue the Owl probably as being slightly better than this, due to looking one card deeper and having flying. The owl didn't see much play and as a result I don't think this will either
Niv-Mizzet Ramp 'n' Wheel
Godo: Strap him up and turn him sideways!
That's a good point, but it is entirely dependent on the meta if this sees play or not. Just cause owl didn't...
—Karn, silver golem
Or whiffs, and gets you nothing. I'll always play this over Augur of Bolas unless my sorcery/instant count is very high.
And scry 2 is close to drawing a card, and scry 3 is more than drawing a card. Heck, I will always choose Foresee over Concentrate, and not because it's more splashable. Even with scry 3 I will still choose Foresee over Concentrate.
On the other hand, I do think this is a lot better than Augury Owl, just because a single 1/1 flying body generally doesn't actually do anything, but a 1/3 at least provides a little defense.
I really don't think this is good enough for Standard. I'd be a little surprised to be proven wrong on that, but it could happen.
Sea Gate Oracle saw a ton of play and cost one more. Omenspeaker is value-town. Fixing your draws (e.g. keeping you from land screw or flood), and saving you oodles of points of life. She'll see a ton of play, and will always be a 4 of MB in control decks, as she is even good in the mirror.
Augur of Bolas is just so much better.
"OH GOD MY BRAIN IS EXPLOADING AT HOW BAD THE ART IS ON MY OWN CARD"
-A friend's first impression of Ancestral Recall
10/10, I tapped.
You can find me on MTGO. My username is gereffi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY8h2vp5Xis
Quicken is a cheap cantrip, though perhaps not a terribly good one.
Later in the game, Augur would be better.
finding land drops is a lot more important early than "maybe" or "probably" drawing a random spell.
Bident Layers
B Devotion
RG Devotion
UW Control
Modern:
Jund
UW Control
Combo Pod
Legacy:
DeathBlade
RUG Delver
BUG Control
Augur of bolas is good in decks reliant on absurd amounts of instants/sorc but those decks also had to contantly bend over backwards to play him, even if your not a
this new guy is absurd because he combos very well with jace achitect of thought. That is a big deal. augur generally limited number of jaces you could run. as well as scry bieng very power with jace raw dig ability (jace would be nutters in a good combo deck)
finally it comes down to comparison of power jace the mindsculptor vs tezzeret angent of bolas
honestly raw power wise tezzeret is better, his plus ability is far more powerfull gaining you card advantage while also digging 5 cards deep for the one you want. tezz minus ability was great at offense and defense (could even kill jace turn he came down)
and ultimate frequently kills but much early.
the tricky part is tezzeret requires specific things (artifacts) he almost always hits but could miss. he is more powerfull than jace in the value of his abilities.
but nowhere near as consitant, jace always nets cards on brainstorm, between unsummon and fateseal he has a wider net of protection. and his ultimate is very high power.
the driving point is jace is more powerfull for his flexibility and you will find this new wizard is also flexible