Sagu Mauler is unstoppable in testing. That card is going to be a format staple.
The issue I see with Monastery Swiftspear is that you need to cast your burn spells in main phase 1. It's a small problem, but usually burn wants to do most of their spells on their opponent's turn.
I'm using Singing Bell Strike in EDH Walls on an Axebane Guardian or Overgrown Battlement for infinite mana combos. I don't see it having any other implications though. It's not even that amazing in limited in my experience.
That's really clever. I never even thought of using that spell as an expensive, but efficient untap engine. But wouldn't something like Thassa's Ire be more efficient?
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I fear I won't have much time to play Magic these days.
I get to watch worlds develop around me.
I get to watch great leaders, terrible oppressors, and trend setters rise and fall.
Limited, Standard, Modern, everything is a different playing field I feel I can observe, but will not actually touch.
I look forward to the stories I will hear.
And more so to the ones I will watch unfold first hand.
Isn't the unknown exciting?
With some more time to think about it, Retribution of the Ancients is an exceptionally useful card that has a very large pool of cards to work with in all formats.
For Standard you obviously have all of the Abzan cards, but creatures with Monstrosity provide a lot of -X/-X fuel here as well.
For older formats you have a lot of cards to work with - creatures with Unleash / Undying, creatures that come into play with 0/0 bodies with X +1/+1 counters, creatures that get +1/+1 for doing things (Vampires), Bloodthirst creatures, Ally creatures, Modular creatures, cards like Gavony Township...the list goes on.
Low cost efficient removal always deserves attention, especially when it gets around Regenerate and Indestructible. The fact that Retribution of the Ancients has so many enablers makes it really flexible.
With some more time to think about it, Retribution of the Ancients is an exceptionally useful card that has a very large pool of cards to work with in all formats.
For Standard you obviously have all of the Abzan cards, but creatures with Monstrosity provide a lot of -X/-X fuel here as well.
For older formats you have a lot of cards to work with - creatures with Unleash / Undying, creatures that come into play with 0/0 bodies with X +1/+1 counters, creatures that get +1/+1 for doing things (Vampires), Bloodthirst creatures, Ally creatures, Modular creatures, cards like Gavony Township...the list goes on.
Low cost efficient removal always deserves attention, especially when it gets around Regenerate and Indestructible. The fact that Retribution of the Ancients has so many enablers makes it really flexible.
Retribution with ajani steadfast in a token build is positively killer. Seems like a great way to combat midrange all day.
I'm thinkin Alter of the Brood is gonna be a good sleeper. tokens and enchantments alike are gonna go tah town with this guy. Plus there's an infinite mill combo in standard, so thisll be good in the long run.
Sagu Mauler is unstoppable in testing. That card is going to be a format staple.
The issue I see with Monastery Swiftspear is that you need to cast your burn spells in main phase 1. It's a small problem, but usually burn wants to do most of their spells on their opponent's turn.
I'm using Singing Bell Strike in EDH Walls on an Axebane Guardian or Overgrown Battlement for infinite mana combos. I don't see it having any other implications though. It's not even that amazing in limited in my experience.
That's really clever. I never even thought of using that spell as an expensive, but efficient untap engine. But wouldn't something like Thassa's Ire be more efficient?
For EDH, it's all about redundancy. Thassa's Ire is another way to do it, as is Crab Umbra.
Is Monastery Swiftspear strictly better than Goblin Guide ? Maybe not all situtions, like goblin decks, for example, but I think this is the best one drop ever printed in red.
If you can cast even one non-creature spell after Swiftspear, it is already superior to Guide with no drawback and +0/+1 to toughness.
Arguably, this raises casting cost of Swiftspear. For that reason, Gitaxian Probe is a strong synergy here. In an instant/sorcery
based deck, as many a red deck is, it will not be difficult to cast multiple spells on your turn making Swiftspear a good midrange option.
Goblin guide can lose his oomph if drawn late in the game.
I also like Vexing Devil but I think it's been established that it doesn't compare to either of the above.
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Call me crazy, but one of the cards that really sticks out to me is Sultai Soothsayer. It's a big back end and a large effect for relatively little mana. It nets you a card, digs into your library, and puts three cards into your graveyard for delve or other shenanigans.
Necropolis Fiend is honestly just a super insane effect. Its main weakness is that it cannibalizes your graveyard and doesn't play all that nicely with anything else that wants to use your graveyard.
Ankle Shanker is probably beaten out by other five drops right now, but I think anyone who runs it in a deck that can make a lot of creatures (possibly with Rabblemaster and Hordeling Outburst) is going to be very happy casting this.
Rakshasa Vizier crazy as it sounds, since it's basically vanilla that gets big. The thing is, though, it can get super big, and it still benefits off graveyard hate. It also works really well with something like Necropolis Fiend. Is it a huge breakout sleeper? No. But I think it could make the cut from casual jank to mildly fringe playable.
Warden of the Eye we've seen this effect before, but we've always seen it for instants and sorceries. Warden of the Eye grabs Planeswalkers, Enchantments, and noncreature Artifacts as well. This could be a big thing.
Jeering Instigator is an act of treason on a stick, which is generally a very nice thing to have. The weakest thing is that you have to morph it to get the effect.
Call me crazy, but one of the cards that really sticks out to me is Sultai Soothsayer. It's a big back end and a large effect for relatively little mana. It nets you a card, digs into your library, and puts three cards into your graveyard for delve or other shenanigans.
Necropolis Fiend is honestly just a super insane effect. Its main weakness is that it cannibalizes your graveyard and doesn't play all that nicely with anything else that wants to use your graveyard.
Ankle Shanker is probably beaten out by other five drops right now, but I think anyone who runs it in a deck that can make a lot of creatures (possibly with Rabblemaster and Hordeling Outburst) is going to be very happy casting this.
Rakshasa Vizier crazy as it sounds, since it's basically vanilla that gets big. The thing is, though, it can get super big, and it still benefits off graveyard hate. It also works really well with something like Necropolis Fiend. Is it a huge breakout sleeper? No. But I think it could make the cut from casual jank to mildly fringe playable.
Warden of the Eye we've seen this effect before, but we've always seen it for instants and sorceries. Warden of the Eye grabs Planeswalkers, Enchantments, and noncreature Artifacts as well. This could be a big thing.
Jeering Instigator is an act of treason on a stick, which is generally a very nice thing to have. The weakest thing is that you have to morph it to get the effect.
Warden is actually pretty unique when you consider how they normally cost cards like Anarchist, Scrivener, and Izzet Chronarch, all of which were actually reasonable back in their day.
Call me crazy, but one of the cards that really sticks out to me is Sultai Soothsayer. It's a big back end and a large effect for relatively little mana. It nets you a card, digs into your library, and puts three cards into your graveyard for delve or other shenanigans.
Necropolis Fiend is honestly just a super insane effect. Its main weakness is that it cannibalizes your graveyard and doesn't play all that nicely with anything else that wants to use your graveyard.
Ankle Shanker is probably beaten out by other five drops right now, but I think anyone who runs it in a deck that can make a lot of creatures (possibly with Rabblemaster and Hordeling Outburst) is going to be very happy casting this.
Rakshasa Vizier crazy as it sounds, since it's basically vanilla that gets big. The thing is, though, it can get super big, and it still benefits off graveyard hate. It also works really well with something like Necropolis Fiend. Is it a huge breakout sleeper? No. But I think it could make the cut from casual jank to mildly fringe playable.
Warden of the Eye we've seen this effect before, but we've always seen it for instants and sorceries. Warden of the Eye grabs Planeswalkers, Enchantments, and noncreature Artifacts as well. This could be a big thing.
Jeering Instigator is an act of treason on a stick, which is generally a very nice thing to have. The weakest thing is that you have to morph it to get the effect.
Warden is actually pretty unique when you consider how they normally cost cards like Anarchist, Scrivener, and Izzet Chronarch, all of which were actually reasonable back in their day.
I agree, but he's still the best of a bad effect :/
Oh! Another card... Grim Haruspex. This is about the cheapest we've seen this effect at in awhile, and the body is decent to boot. Not necessarily important, but you can make this look an awful like like Ruthless Ripper as well, which might make opponents wary.
An interesting note for Rakshasa Vizier. If you have 20 cards in your graveyard and cast a delve spell, you can go ahead and exile all 20. It isn't always applicable but it is a niche utility for him.
An interesting note for Rakshasa Vizier. If you have 20 cards in your graveyard and cast a delve spell, you can go ahead and exile all 20. It isn't always applicable but it is a niche utility for him.
Oooooo did not think of that. Nice catch! If only he was 4 or had trample or something. His 4/4 body is slightly silly given that you'll just pump him.
Nylea gives him trample. If you can make a deck with those two, you might be onto something
Anyway, last sleeper, Mardu Hordechief. We saw this effect before, on possibly a better creature (I think it was attended knight or something) but I think the format right now is better for this card.
An interesting note for Rakshasa Vizier. If you have 20 cards in your graveyard and cast a delve spell, you can go ahead and exile all 20. It isn't always applicable but it is a niche utility for him.
You used to be able to do this when Delve was a cost reducing effect, but I don't think you can do this anymore now that Delve functions as an alternative payment method. It just gives you the option to pay each 1 with either one mana or by exiling a card from your graveyard. Three months ago, this would have worked fine. Same with how you can no longer overtap for Convoke.
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Former Level 2 Judge (Retired / Renounced)
Went to a new shop from a friend's recommendation, DQ'ed for willful violation of CR 100.6b.
An interesting note for Rakshasa Vizier. If you have 20 cards in your graveyard and cast a delve spell, you can go ahead and exile all 20. It isn't always applicable but it is a niche utility for him.
You used to be able to do this when Delve was a cost reducing effect, but I don't think you can do this anymore now that Delve functions as an alternative payment method. It just gives you the option to pay each 1 with either one mana or by exiling a card from your graveyard. Three months ago, this would have worked fine. Same with how you can no longer overtap for Convoke.
I looked it up, and what I found is that Delve is still a cost-reduction affect:
702.65a Delve is a static ability that functions while the spell with delve is on the stack. "Delve" means "For each generic mana in this spell’s total cost, you may exile a card from your graveyard rather than pay that mana." The delve ability isn’t an additional or alternative cost and applies only after the total cost of the spell with delve is determined
However, they changed it to "for each" generic mana, limiting this exploit. Obviously you could still exile graveyard with Empty the Pits, but not other Delve spells. I guess I didn't see the rules change.
I get to watch great leaders, terrible oppressors, and trend setters rise and fall.
Limited, Standard, Modern, everything is a different playing field I feel I can observe, but will not actually touch.
I look forward to the stories I will hear.
And more so to the ones I will watch unfold first hand.
Isn't the unknown exciting?
For Standard you obviously have all of the Abzan cards, but creatures with Monstrosity provide a lot of -X/-X fuel here as well.
For older formats you have a lot of cards to work with - creatures with Unleash / Undying, creatures that come into play with 0/0 bodies with X +1/+1 counters, creatures that get +1/+1 for doing things (Vampires), Bloodthirst creatures, Ally creatures, Modular creatures, cards like Gavony Township...the list goes on.
Low cost efficient removal always deserves attention, especially when it gets around Regenerate and Indestructible. The fact that Retribution of the Ancients has so many enablers makes it really flexible.
Retribution with ajani steadfast in a token build is positively killer. Seems like a great way to combat midrange all day.
Black and Red use Empty the Pits along side cards like Mana Echoes, Pandemonium, Purphoros, God of the Forge, and Warstorm Surge.
Empty the Pits and Mana Echoes is the best.
For EDH, it's all about redundancy. Thassa's Ire is another way to do it, as is Crab Umbra.
Also considering it is an instant the haste isn't even necessary. The coming in tapped just prevents it from being a huge blowout blocking trick.
If you can cast even one non-creature spell after Swiftspear, it is already superior to Guide with no drawback and +0/+1 to toughness.
Arguably, this raises casting cost of Swiftspear. For that reason, Gitaxian Probe is a strong synergy here. In an instant/sorcery
based deck, as many a red deck is, it will not be difficult to cast multiple spells on your turn making Swiftspear a good midrange option.
Goblin guide can lose his oomph if drawn late in the game.
I also like Vexing Devil but I think it's been established that it doesn't compare to either of the above.
Legacy Helm
Legacy Belcher
Legacy Cheeri 0 s
Legacy Manaless Dredge
Cube Dragons
~
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
Necropolis Fiend is honestly just a super insane effect. Its main weakness is that it cannibalizes your graveyard and doesn't play all that nicely with anything else that wants to use your graveyard.
Ankle Shanker is probably beaten out by other five drops right now, but I think anyone who runs it in a deck that can make a lot of creatures (possibly with Rabblemaster and Hordeling Outburst) is going to be very happy casting this.
Rakshasa Vizier crazy as it sounds, since it's basically vanilla that gets big. The thing is, though, it can get super big, and it still benefits off graveyard hate. It also works really well with something like Necropolis Fiend. Is it a huge breakout sleeper? No. But I think it could make the cut from casual jank to mildly fringe playable.
Warden of the Eye we've seen this effect before, but we've always seen it for instants and sorceries. Warden of the Eye grabs Planeswalkers, Enchantments, and noncreature Artifacts as well. This could be a big thing.
Jeering Instigator is an act of treason on a stick, which is generally a very nice thing to have. The weakest thing is that you have to morph it to get the effect.
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Sig Credit: Pegasus Bishop
Time will tell, of course, but my money is on the Monk.
Legacy Helm
Legacy Belcher
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Cube Dragons
~
Warden is actually pretty unique when you consider how they normally cost cards like Anarchist, Scrivener, and Izzet Chronarch, all of which were actually reasonable back in their day.
I agree, but he's still the best of a bad effect :/
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........................
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Sig Credit: Pegasus Bishop
Oooooo did not think of that. Nice catch! If only he was 4 or had trample or something. His 4/4 body is slightly silly given that you'll just pump him.
Anyway, last sleeper, Mardu Hordechief. We saw this effect before, on possibly a better creature (I think it was attended knight or something) but I think the format right now is better for this card.
WUBRGCommander Decklists - PaperWUBRG
CCCCCommander Decklists - TheorycraftCCCC
Sig Credit: Pegasus Bishop
You used to be able to do this when Delve was a cost reducing effect, but I don't think you can do this anymore now that Delve functions as an alternative payment method. It just gives you the option to pay each 1 with either one mana or by exiling a card from your graveyard. Three months ago, this would have worked fine. Same with how you can no longer overtap for Convoke.
Went to a new shop from a friend's recommendation, DQ'ed for willful violation of CR 100.6b.
Have played duals? I have PucaPoints for them!
(Credit to DarkNightCavalier)
$tandard: Too poor.
Modern:
- GW Birthing Pod(?)
Legacy:
- UWR Delver
I looked it up, and what I found is that Delve is still a cost-reduction affect:
702.65a Delve is a static ability that functions while the spell with delve is on the stack. "Delve" means "For each generic mana in this spell’s total cost, you may exile a card from your graveyard rather than pay that mana." The delve ability isn’t an additional or alternative cost and applies only after the total cost of the spell with delve is determined
However, they changed it to "for each" generic mana, limiting this exploit. Obviously you could still exile graveyard with Empty the Pits, but not other Delve spells. I guess I didn't see the rules change.