So the +2 doesn't "do" anything, the ultimate super doesn't "do" anything. Doesn't really...protect himself.
Let's see how cheap I can preorder just for the art+character alone.
Maybe there will be some nice enchantments to synergize with and help protect Ashiok.
Not sure what to make of this at all. As we've all learned, 3 mana walkers aren't to be underestimated, but where does this fit in? In control matchups, it's mostly just a straight Nephalia Drownyard that wastes a card slot, unless you get lucky and steal Aetherling or something. Against aggro, it's a T3 play that doesn't impact the board or keep mana up. Granted, it can be a nice little engine once you get get it going, but it certainly takes some time to get online.
I think the biggest thing he suffers from is linearity, which is the same problem Gideon 2.0 had. You only have one option on the first turn, and it doesn't net you any kind of immediate value.
The flavor is pure win though. I only wish you could exile the cards face down so you could taunt your opponent on later turns with what you stole off the top!
he doesn't need defending. The loyalty gain alone is very defensive. your opponent will have to be playing a very aggressive deck to easily kill this card if you +2 every turn. the problem is not fragility to damage. the problem is that the card just doesn't do much.
That is a great point about not needing defending. But if you don't then his -x won't do much the next turn, so really, its best if you can defend him. Otherwise, you risk not developing CA, which is ultimately what you're going to do with this dude most often, if anything.
On the other hand, if they attack him, they ain't attacking you, I guess.
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"Until you have lived as a statue, do not talk to me of pigeons."
—Karn, silver golem
I dont think this card will see any play in standard. What I do know is that he will see a crap load of play in my pals Kitchen table deck, and most likely lots of others.
PS, The art on this walker is one of the best....if not the best I have seen.
So permanently getting rid of three cards a turn is bad suddenly? He would be WORSE if it just threw them in the grave....
I'm not saying this guy is an all star... but I think he may actually be somewhat solid.
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Currently Playing:
EDH: UBRNicol Bolas and Friends UB Grimgrin, Zombie Lord UW Bruna, Light of Lockdown G Omnath, Mana Mana GR Borborgomos, Get off my Land! UWG Derevi, Flickering your taps WBU Oloro, Artifact Beatdown? R Marton Stromgald, the Glass Cannon Standard: BG Relentless Trolls Modern: WB Life Gaining Tokens RWG Zoo Midrange U Tron Legacy: URGBW Manaless Dredge Casual: BW Gideon's Empire UR Titan Wildfrie BU Crypt Ghast
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.
So permanently getting rid of three cards a turn is bad suddenly? He would be WORSE if it just threw them in the grave....
I'm not saying this guy is an all star... but I think he may actually be somewhat solid.
Actually, I needed them to be put in the graveyard for my Kill Mill deck in Modern. This is what it would need to be to be playable
Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver :1mana::symu::symb:
Planeswalker-Ashiok
+1; Exile the top 3 cards of target opponent's library.
-X; You may cast a nonland card exiled by Ashiok with converted mana cost X without paying its mana cost. If it is a creature card, it is a nightmare in addition to its other types.
-4; Exile target nonland permanent
4
Wish the ultimate was -5 to exile their graveyards; -10 for a mind rot is never going to happen. "Yeah! I minus 10 mah guy! Now I can use all your sweet creatures with mah.... .... ... .. .. 1 Loyalty."
His obvious use is in a deck heavy on the Excommunicate stuff, under the condition that the other player is playing beefy creatures. Proactive, he obviously isn't.
Edit: I kind of wish the Ashiok exiled pool persisted between instances of Ashiok cards. It'd be kind of flufftastic if he could cark it, you cast him again, and he'd be all like "Ah, sorry about that. Had to come back from hell. Again. Now... where was I?"
3 drop planeswalker naturally defend themselves by being cheap. Jace Beleren can't protect himself at all, and he's considered good.
It's actually a fine 3 drop as it represents a vague threat.
It may stall the aggro player by making them attack it, and 5 loyalty is a decent amount to start at. If they ignore it, they risk you pulling value from it and still stalling the aggro player out.
It's a strange walker, the second ability is the actual ultimate. It's closest cousin is Jace, Architect of Thought's ultimate. Nowhere as consistent, but much faster. The big 3rd ability just is there to feed the 2nd.
Only thing I hate about it is how the -X has to be a creature. Besides that it seems pretty solid as far as 3 cmc walker is. The lack of self protection also hurts but dimir should have the removal to protect after the first turn.
I think what people are missing is that he hits soooo much stuff in theros... if we end up using any of the gods he hits those and all the enchant/Creatures.
But I would agree that his biggest down side is he doesn't protect himself well...
He is probably the best PW for EDH multiplayer I've seen. Immensely threatening to some players, and not even a slight worry for others. I can see a table fighting to kill and save him- so he can ult.
I think people are underestimating the effect that Thassa combined with this guy will have on grixis control in standard...I think milling people out is actually starting to become a real thing...
I know this may seem magical christmas land-ish, but think about turn 3 ashiok, turn 4 thassa, turn 5 mirko vosk...your opponent is milled out most likely by turn 7...
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Let's see how cheap I can preorder just for the art+character alone.
Maybe there will be some nice enchantments to synergize with and help protect Ashiok.
I think the biggest thing he suffers from is linearity, which is the same problem Gideon 2.0 had. You only have one option on the first turn, and it doesn't net you any kind of immediate value.
The flavor is pure win though. I only wish you could exile the cards face down so you could taunt your opponent on later turns with what you stole off the top!
Cubetutor Link
That is a great point about not needing defending. But if you don't then his -x won't do much the next turn, so really, its best if you can defend him. Otherwise, you risk not developing CA, which is ultimately what you're going to do with this dude most often, if anything.
On the other hand, if they attack him, they ain't attacking you, I guess.
—Karn, silver golem
PS, The art on this walker is one of the best....if not the best I have seen.
I'm not saying this guy is an all star... but I think he may actually be somewhat solid.
UBR Nicol Bolas and Friends
UB Grimgrin, Zombie Lord
UW Bruna, Light of Lockdown
G Omnath, Mana Mana
GR Borborgomos, Get off my Land!
UWG Derevi, Flickering your taps
WBU Oloro, Artifact Beatdown?
R Marton Stromgald, the Glass Cannon
Standard:
BG Relentless Trolls
Modern:
WB Life Gaining Tokens
RWG Zoo Midrange
U Tron
Legacy:
URGBW Manaless Dredge
Casual:
BW Gideon's Empire
UR Titan Wildfrie
BU Crypt Ghast
Considering graveyard interaction is going to be low to nill; it doesn't make it better.
Standard
W.I.P.
EDH
WNorn Tokens
I'm under the impression that Ashiok transcends binary gender.
Two for the sideboard Vs control should work out nicely.
"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.
Actually, I needed them to be put in the graveyard for my Kill Mill deck in Modern. This is what it would need to be to be playable
Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver :1mana::symu::symb:
Planeswalker-Ashiok
+1; Exile the top 3 cards of target opponent's library.
-X; You may cast a nonland card exiled by Ashiok with converted mana cost X without paying its mana cost. If it is a creature card, it is a nightmare in addition to its other types.
-4; Exile target nonland permanent
4
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
His obvious use is in a deck heavy on the Excommunicate stuff, under the condition that the other player is playing beefy creatures. Proactive, he obviously isn't.
Edit: I kind of wish the Ashiok exiled pool persisted between instances of Ashiok cards. It'd be kind of flufftastic if he could cark it, you cast him again, and he'd be all like "Ah, sorry about that. Had to come back from hell. Again. Now... where was I?"
It's actually a fine 3 drop as it represents a vague threat.
It may stall the aggro player by making them attack it, and 5 loyalty is a decent amount to start at. If they ignore it, they risk you pulling value from it and still stalling the aggro player out.
It's a strange walker, the second ability is the actual ultimate. It's closest cousin is Jace, Architect of Thought's ultimate. Nowhere as consistent, but much faster. The big 3rd ability just is there to feed the 2nd.
It is not an identity crisis it is better and worse, it doesnt exiles your stuff
But I would agree that his biggest down side is he doesn't protect himself well...
Bold Prediction: This card will end up at the same price as Tibalt, the Fiend-Blooded.
That is it, I am buying out all vendors of these two.
So Pro I have an alpha Volcanic Island
Good. Because I am playing this in Modern.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.