I for one was hoping for dragons in the 1-3 cmc range. I personally collect dragons...95% are unplayable, but I have been collecting them for 20 years at this point, what I really want are some 1 and 2 drop dragons so I can finally make a playable(casual) dragon tribal deck. Since it looks like fate reforged is finally giving us dragons at common level maybe there is still some hope, and crucible of fire would make a lot more sense with some 1 and 2 power dragons.
I find it funny so many people are predicting dragon tribal to be a thing...
Considering how Theros was to be the "Enchantment" block and what we got was a bunch of the usual creatures with the enchantment sub-type stapled on and only one actual enchantments matter ability(which they printed on very few cards and not until the last set).
Also consider how Wizards handled the return of Sliver tribal...where the only decent FNM deck with them was only viable for a few months.
In the third Khans set expect there to be a dozen 5-7CMC dragons and that is it. Just trying ot save you and a lot of others from major disappointment.
They should at least make some solid four-mana Dragons, if only for old time's sake: Lightning Dragon, Rathi Dragon, Rakdos Pit Dragon, Fledgling Dragon, etc. At this point, printing a simple 5/5 Dragon with flying and firebreathing for 2RR seems fair.
It feels a bit wasteful. All these "dragons matters" effects that want to exploit a board or two or more dragons. That suggests you want to curve into to these dragon synergy enablers. But then the dragons themselves are every bit as expensive as their enablers. Why do I have this rare cycle of "dragons matter" permanents if the only permanents worth playing are the ones that are good regardless of whether or not you have their complementary pieces?
And they're all so aggro oriented. Are 8x mana dork + courser decks the imagined new aggro meta? What aggro runs anything costing six or seven cmc?
EDIT: I don't do a lot of limited. For those that do, do these decisions make any more sense in that context?
We'll probably get something to reduce their mana cost though.
A Standard-legal reprint of Dragonspeaker Shaman? I don't think even this creature would be a Standard staple. The Standard environment has plenty of removal that would stop this enabler.
So far the dragons in Fate Reforged seem to be designed strictly with limited in mind. There's nothing even close to as powerful as Stormbreath Dragon announced (even Sarkhan is a far more powerful "dragon" than any of the FRF spoils), not to mention the lack of low CMC dragons that it would take to make their tribal abilities matter at all. At this point the text "whenever a dragon..." is interchangeable with "whenever this creature".
As is, there's not a single dragon in FRF that legitimately approaches standard playability. 6+ cmc creatures that don't either impact the board as they come into play or protect themselves in some way will never ever make sense for standard.
As per usual, so far 90% of the dragons in this set are unplayable. I dont even care if dragon tribal is a thing in standard, its more to enable EDH or casual that I am interested in small dragons(aside from dragon hatchling there has never been a 1 or 2 cmc dragon...I kinda expect dragon hatchling will be reprinted in the block but am hoping for others). On a side note...I am now even wondering if they will reprint the other fetches in this block
As is, there's not a single dragon in FRF that legitimately approaches standard playability. 6+ cmc creatures that don't either impact the board as they come into play or protect themselves in some way will never ever make sense for standard.
Silumgar does have protection, maybe she has some potential vs. tokens? Though I otherwise agree that they're just meant as Limited bombs (and boy are they).
As is, there's not a single dragon in FRF that legitimately approaches standard playability. 6+ cmc creatures that don't either impact the board as they come into play or protect themselves in some way will never ever make sense for standard.
Silumgar does have protection, maybe she has some potential vs. tokens? Though I otherwise agree that they're just meant as Limited bombs (and boy are they).
As is, there's not a single dragon in FRF that legitimately approaches standard playability. 6+ cmc creatures that don't either impact the board as they come into play or protect themselves in some way will never ever make sense for standard.
Silumgar does have protection, maybe she has some potential vs. tokens? Though I otherwise agree that they're just meant as Limited bombs (and boy are they).
Silumgar is a good Control finisher.
3 dmg/turn as finisher? 7 turn clock? Highly unimpressive.
As is, there's not a single dragon in FRF that legitimately approaches standard playability. 6+ cmc creatures that don't either impact the board as they come into play or protect themselves in some way will never ever make sense for standard.
Silumgar does have protection, maybe she has some potential vs. tokens? Though I otherwise agree that they're just meant as Limited bombs (and boy are they).
Silumgar is a good Control finisher.
3 dmg/turn as finisher? 7 turn clock? Highly unimpressive.
Like Prognostic Sphinx is any different and that sometimes sees play as a finisher.
We'll probably get something to reduce their mana cost though.
A Standard-legal reprint of Dragonspeaker Shaman? I don't think even this creature would be a Standard staple. The Standard environment has plenty of removal that would stop this enabler.
I would play 3 mana Stormbreaths all day!
...in my solitaire sessions.
As is, there's not a single dragon in FRF that legitimately approaches standard playability. 6+ cmc creatures that don't either impact the board as they come into play or protect themselves in some way will never ever make sense for standard.
Silumgar does have protection, maybe she has some potential vs. tokens? Though I otherwise agree that they're just meant as Limited bombs (and boy are they).
Silumgar is a good Control finisher.
3 dmg/turn as finisher? 7 turn clock? Highly unimpressive.
Like Prognostic Sphinx is any different and that sometimes sees play as a finisher.
Uhhh, no it doesn't. There's no deck that finishes with this. Some decks use it to find ashiok or pearl lake, but no one's finishing with it.
And it also costs 2 less mana and has a way way way more relevant ability.
Silumgar does have protection, maybe she has some potential vs. tokens? Though I otherwise agree that they're just meant as Limited bombs (and boy are they).
Silumgar is a good Control finisher.
3 dmg/turn as finisher? 7 turn clock? Highly unimpressive.
Like Prognostic Sphinx is any different and that sometimes sees play as a finisher.
Uhhh, no it doesn't. There's no deck that finishes with this. Some decks use it to find ashiok or pearl lake, but no one's finishing with it.
And it also costs 2 less mana and has a way way way more relevant ability.
Actually, it does sometimes in UB Control in Standard. Silumgar has a more relevant type (avoids your own Crux of Fate) and doesn't make you discard a card to make it hexproof.
As some poster above said, we haven't had anything close to Stormbreath yet. I'm guessing DTK is the best time Wizards will have in years to release some pretty pushed dragons. Draconic version of Brimaz incoming!
the dragons in this set are completly fine power level wise. at least they are better than most dragons from core sets and so on... besides the obvious thundermaw... and of course stormbreath.
the uncommon ones are perfect for limited. and the rare ones may see some constructed play, we will see that, at least noone of them can be considered bad.
and since this is not a set with dragons as its maintheme like the next one, we can expect to get some pushed dragons in the next set...
Silumgar is also a perfect answer to Elspeth-based control decks. Kills all her tokens, can't die to her -3, Hexproof to avoid other removal. End Hostilities is still an issue, but that's no different than any other finisher in Standard. I definitely think that dragon will see some play.
Honestly, 1 or 2 drop Dragons are either wimps, i.e. Dragon Hatchling, or they would end up overpowered. If you really want to play a casual dragons deck, look into EDH. Scion of the Ur-Dragon as a general, and you can play all your otherwise "unplayable" dragons. Just go to town and play some solid support cards.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Considering how Theros was to be the "Enchantment" block and what we got was a bunch of the usual creatures with the enchantment sub-type stapled on and only one actual enchantments matter ability(which they printed on very few cards and not until the last set).
Also consider how Wizards handled the return of Sliver tribal...where the only decent FNM deck with them was only viable for a few months.
In the third Khans set expect there to be a dozen 5-7CMC dragons and that is it. Just trying ot save you and a lot of others from major disappointment.
I Stream MTGO on Twitch: broodwarjc
I also post recordings of those streams on Youtube: broodwarjcavidgamer
Standard Deck:
BUPirates
Modern Deck:
B8-Rack
And they're all so aggro oriented. Are 8x mana dork + courser decks the imagined new aggro meta? What aggro runs anything costing six or seven cmc?
EDIT: I don't do a lot of limited. For those that do, do these decisions make any more sense in that context?
Oh Rider, my heart will go on...
A Standard-legal reprint of Dragonspeaker Shaman? I don't think even this creature would be a Standard staple. The Standard environment has plenty of removal that would stop this enabler.
As is, there's not a single dragon in FRF that legitimately approaches standard playability. 6+ cmc creatures that don't either impact the board as they come into play or protect themselves in some way will never ever make sense for standard.
Silumgar does have protection, maybe she has some potential vs. tokens? Though I otherwise agree that they're just meant as Limited bombs (and boy are they).
Silumgar is a good Control finisher.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
3 dmg/turn as finisher? 7 turn clock? Highly unimpressive.
Like Prognostic Sphinx is any different and that sometimes sees play as a finisher.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
I would play 3 mana Stormbreaths all day!
...in my solitaire sessions.
Uhhh, no it doesn't. There's no deck that finishes with this. Some decks use it to find ashiok or pearl lake, but no one's finishing with it.
And it also costs 2 less mana and has a way way way more relevant ability.
Other than Dragon Hatchling (and Changelings), there is also Slumbering Dragon:
Actually, it does sometimes in UB Control in Standard. Silumgar has a more relevant type (avoids your own Crux of Fate) and doesn't make you discard a card to make it hexproof.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
the uncommon ones are perfect for limited. and the rare ones may see some constructed play, we will see that, at least noone of them can be considered bad.
and since this is not a set with dragons as its maintheme like the next one, we can expect to get some pushed dragons in the next set...
The world is on fire
and you are here to stay and burn with me.
This thread be all like now now now.
Playtesting | Karador, Ghost Chieftain | Narset, Enlightened Master | Ephara, God of the Polis
Established | Gahiji, Honored One | Shirei, Shizo's Caretaker | Opal-Eye, Konda's Yojimbo | Rubinia Soulsinger
Retired | Medomai the Ageless | Diaochan, Artful Beauty