Looking over the new Commander 2014 spoilers, and saw that the entire black deck has allegedly been revealed. As a long-time black mage, I like the look of this deck a lot, but specifically, this spell caught my eye. Since sets like this are their only outlet for adding new cards exclusively to Legacy, I figure they try to make at least one legit card each time, and I think this could be it. Destroying 2 creatures at instant speed for 2 black mana seems great, and "morbid" is a breeze to accomplish. The best part though, is that its morbid is a "cast" trigger. Therefore, like storm, a single Force of Will, or any counterspell, won't counter the second target, making this spell very difficult to fight. What are your thoughts? Could you include this in your Legacy deck?
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My Commander Decks B Maga, Traitor to Mortals B U Arcum Dagsson U BG Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord GB U Talrand, Sky Summoner U WB Ghost Council of Orzhova BW WBR Oros, the Avenger RBW UBR Gwendlyn Di Corci RBU R Zirilan of the Claw R G Kaysa G UG Vorel of the Hull Clade GU WR Anax and Cymede RW WUBRG Cromat GRBUW WU Brago, King Eternal UW UBG Sidisi, Brood Tyrant GB[U
I saw this card and thought it may have implications as well. It's potentially one of the most efficient 2:1s black has ever gotten, and I was specifically thinking in a mono-black build it could be very good.
It's a decent card, but triggering Morbid is not as easy as you might think. It generally means you're throwing a weenie of yours under the bus to a Goyf or something to get the copy trigger, at which point this is just card parity. Unless you're casting it at the same time as another removal spell, and then that requires that your opponent have three killable targets.
Also, double black is rough.
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The raw power is probably there, but the environment would really have to be perfect for this to be worth running.
1. You need a deck that is already producing BB early, which is actually tougher than you would think in Legacy, at least in the first few turns.
2. You need to reliably trigger Morbid for this to be worth running. This limits it to decks that play a decent number of their own creatures, as killing one of theirs so you can kill two more is rarely going to come up.
3. This needs to hit the targets you most care about and you need opponents to regularly have 2 of them in play for it to be worthwhile. So it could be strong against most current Delver decks, which regularly drop 2 viable targets. But that might be it, as most other decks are either creature-light or have black/hexproof creatures as key pieces. It especially hurts that this misses Grisselbrand, the reanimated fattie of choice right now.
So in the right deck I do think this could be good against Delver right now, especially the URx versions. But is that enough to outweigh its relative weaknesses elsewhere and relatively difficult casting cost? Probably not.
I think the potential is probably greatest for any deck packing Cabal Therapy. Nic Fit and Aluren are the decks that spring to mind, but Aluren is pretty far off the beaten path and Nic Fit isn't all that much more common.
The other option is just using it as a 1-for-1 removal spell that gets better if they ever bolt your dude. It's potentially playable in some weird BUG delver list under that conceptualization.
With all that in mind, I think this is unlikely to make a big splash in the format. Fringe play is likely the best it can hope for as a 2CMC removal spell not named "Abrupt Decay".
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I think the potential is probably greatest for any deck packing Cabal Therapy. Nic Fit and Aluren are the decks that spring to mind, but Aluren is pretty far off the beaten path and Nic Fit isn't all that much more common.
The other option is just using it as a 1-for-1 removal spell that gets better if they ever bolt your dude. It's potentially playable in some weird BUG delver list under that conceptualization.
With all that in mind, I think this is unlikely to make a big splash in the format. Fringe play is likely the best it can hope for as a 2CMC removal spell not named "Abrupt Decay".
To expand on what you're saying, the following decks also run Cabal Therapy:
Storm - They don't run any dudes to sac to it
Zombardment - Really fringe but I guess it could be okay here
Pox - They cause things to die all the time and their Ghasts are super expendable, but I don't think they need more removal
Elves - In their SB at least, but BB here is going to be tough to come by
Some 3-4 color Young Pyromancer Delver builds run it, but again the double black here is rough
Oops All Spells - Can't see it here
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I want to emphasize, I didn't say that it was going to become the new black-removal-staple in Legacy. I just think it's good enough that certain decks could add it to their arsenal. Those who mentioned Cabal Therapy make a good point, I think: flash-backing it, then following up with Malicious Affliction could be devastating, and not that difficult to pull off. However, only time will tell.
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My Commander Decks B Maga, Traitor to Mortals B U Arcum Dagsson U BG Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord GB U Talrand, Sky Summoner U WB Ghost Council of Orzhova BW WBR Oros, the Avenger RBW UBR Gwendlyn Di Corci RBU R Zirilan of the Claw R G Kaysa G UG Vorel of the Hull Clade GU WR Anax and Cymede RW WUBRG Cromat GRBUW WU Brago, King Eternal UW UBG Sidisi, Brood Tyrant GB[U
I like the power level of the card and think it's playable in Legacy, but the deck it's right for might not be there yet. Could try it out in a pox list or a deck that sacrifices a lot. The problem I have with it though is not being able to hit a Deathrite Shaman, Bob, or Batterskull token, all three of which are fairly represented in legacy.
Im no Legacy guru so I probably shouldn't comment, but I will anyway lol
I wouldnt expect it to be powerful because it is actually tricky condition to jump through, timing wise. The effect is undoubtedly strong at BB, no question, but like everything else it depends on the context:
-is your opponent going to be playing multiple, or even ANY non-black creatures,
-are they likely to set it up by either killing one of your creatures or attacking extra aggressively into your creatures (ie requires creatures),
- is there a worthwhile and reliable way for you to abuse morbid yourself (like others said, cabal therapy is a possiblility)
-is there something more valuable you could be doing for BB. This is the biggest one, because Hymn to tourach and smallpox are both REALLY good sources of CA..
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B Maga, Traitor to Mortals B
U Arcum Dagsson U
BG Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord GB
U Talrand, Sky Summoner U
WB Ghost Council of Orzhova BW
WBR Oros, the Avenger RBW
UBR Gwendlyn Di Corci RBU
R Zirilan of the Claw R
G Kaysa G
UG Vorel of the Hull Clade GU
WR Anax and Cymede RW
WUBRG Cromat GRBUW
WU Brago, King Eternal UW
UBG Sidisi, Brood Tyrant GB[U
Also, double black is rough.
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1. You need a deck that is already producing BB early, which is actually tougher than you would think in Legacy, at least in the first few turns.
2. You need to reliably trigger Morbid for this to be worth running. This limits it to decks that play a decent number of their own creatures, as killing one of theirs so you can kill two more is rarely going to come up.
3. This needs to hit the targets you most care about and you need opponents to regularly have 2 of them in play for it to be worthwhile. So it could be strong against most current Delver decks, which regularly drop 2 viable targets. But that might be it, as most other decks are either creature-light or have black/hexproof creatures as key pieces. It especially hurts that this misses Grisselbrand, the reanimated fattie of choice right now.
So in the right deck I do think this could be good against Delver right now, especially the URx versions. But is that enough to outweigh its relative weaknesses elsewhere and relatively difficult casting cost? Probably not.
The other option is just using it as a 1-for-1 removal spell that gets better if they ever bolt your dude. It's potentially playable in some weird BUG delver list under that conceptualization.
With all that in mind, I think this is unlikely to make a big splash in the format. Fringe play is likely the best it can hope for as a 2CMC removal spell not named "Abrupt Decay".
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To expand on what you're saying, the following decks also run Cabal Therapy:
Storm - They don't run any dudes to sac to it
Zombardment - Really fringe but I guess it could be okay here
Pox - They cause things to die all the time and their Ghasts are super expendable, but I don't think they need more removal
Elves - In their SB at least, but BB here is going to be tough to come by
Some 3-4 color Young Pyromancer Delver builds run it, but again the double black here is rough
Oops All Spells - Can't see it here
Currently Playing:
Legacy: Something U/W Controlish
EDH Cube
Hypercube! A New EDH Deck Every Week(ish)!
Young Pyromancer decks (such as UR Delver, UBRg Thresh), Maverick, Merfolk, and the now-rare Goblins get 3 creatures on the table often enough.
B Maga, Traitor to Mortals B
U Arcum Dagsson U
BG Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord GB
U Talrand, Sky Summoner U
WB Ghost Council of Orzhova BW
WBR Oros, the Avenger RBW
UBR Gwendlyn Di Corci RBU
R Zirilan of the Claw R
G Kaysa G
UG Vorel of the Hull Clade GU
WR Anax and Cymede RW
WUBRG Cromat GRBUW
WU Brago, King Eternal UW
UBG Sidisi, Brood Tyrant GB[U
I wouldnt expect it to be powerful because it is actually tricky condition to jump through, timing wise. The effect is undoubtedly strong at BB, no question, but like everything else it depends on the context:
-is your opponent going to be playing multiple, or even ANY non-black creatures,
-are they likely to set it up by either killing one of your creatures or attacking extra aggressively into your creatures (ie requires creatures),
- is there a worthwhile and reliable way for you to abuse morbid yourself (like others said, cabal therapy is a possiblility)
-is there something more valuable you could be doing for BB. This is the biggest one, because Hymn to tourach and smallpox are both REALLY good sources of CA..
I invision a future where one is not mighty when he can silence a crowd with brutality,
but when he leaves them speechless with wisdom.