Brutal Expulsion 2UR
Instant
Devoid
Choose one or both:
- Return target spell or creature to its owner's hand
- Brutal Expulsion deals 2 damage to target creature or planeswalker. If that permanent would be put into a graveyard this turn, exile it instead.
A very blue ability, a very red ability, sweet artwork (reminds me of Stephen Gammell), and it synergizes with the UR Eldrazi uncommon that makes it one cheaper. Either effect at 4cc is pretty mehful, but it's so flexible that it seems like you should be using both almost every time. This would be a ridiculous uncommon, but is it crazy enough to be rare? I feel like I want this most UR decks..
EDIT - I guess I didn't do the set tag right, but I don't think I can edit it now..
I find this a very intriguing card. As primarily a Limited player and one that started serious drafting in Invasion block, I am rather irresistibly comparing it to Jilt and Suffocating Blast.
Others have pointed out the similarities to Venser, Shaper Savant, and while it doesn't help board presence directly, it does trigger Prowess where Venser does not.
Really good card is really good. If UR sees any play in standard, it will play this.
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Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
- Manite
The spell is Devoid (colorless) which allows it to get through color protection/restrictions, for other formats. First ability I can pick Remand that can stop a spell that cannot be countered or a creature bounce. Second ability can burn 2 damage to a creature or Planeswalker. The exile condition for that turn is useful if you can follow through on killing off that creature/Planeswalker. Two damage is enough to deal with a Morph creature before the opponent can flip them.
The bounce and burn could be useful in battles. If the opponent plays a wrath, I can save one of my creatures and burn one of theirs to be exiled when it dies.
Something similar to a UR command. I especially like countering non counterable spells.
It only has two modes (A command is 'choose two of four'.), but I see the similarities.
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Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
Technically this card has 3 modes, but two are attached, and the bounce creature would be more used in an emergency, while you can place the bounce spell in their moment of weakness (and burn a creature). I like the card also glad they revisited the bounce a spell, if not for one card in the set.
Why does no one ever mention this can deal damage to Planeswalkers as well? Here's a list of Planeswalkers in the format that will have 2 Loyalty or less after they use a negative loyalty ability the turn they entered play:
Sarkhan the Dragonspeaker
Sarkhan Unbroken
Ob Nixilis Reignited
Kiora, Master of Depths
Jace, Telepath Unbound
Chandra, Roaring Flame
Sorin, Solemn Visitor
Nissa, Sage Animist
Ugin the Spirit Dragon and Liliana, Defiant Necromancer both have -X abilities
So that leaves both versions of Gideon and Narset as the only 'walkers that won't be opened up to removal if your opponent goes for the stronger ability out of the gate. I think this feature is getting way too little credit.
In a Jeskai deck, it can do some really awesome plays. Got an ascendancy and a thunderbreak regent, or some other x/4 in play? Opponent's playing Abzan with a siege rhino and some other dude in play, and smug plays a languish? Expulsion, targeting mode one on the other creature, and the damage on the rhino. Regent gets +1/+1, dodges the languish, while opponent loses both dudes and gets nothing out of their spell.
It's a very nice Tech card. Guys who like to play big derpy undercosted monsters will reject it as being a good card because it's not a big derpy creature. Synergy nuts like me will see it as one of the greatest cards in standard with tons of potential.
Against burn you can pick off one of their creatures and get some tempo without triggering Eidolon. Against Affinity you can bounce a manland and kill a creature (as well as hitting Etched Champion). Both of those are common matchups and I think it's still a decent card vs. BGx. Bounce their spell and kill a Bob/Lingering Souls token/LotV? Playable.
Vs. Twin you really hurt to any counters but bouncing a creature in response to Twin is a pretty good play and you might pick off a Snapcaster or Clique while you're at it.
I look forward to playing 1-2 copies mainboard in UWr Control.
Brutal Expulsion 2UR
Instant
Devoid
Choose one or both:
- Return target spell or creature to its owner's hand
- Brutal Expulsion deals 2 damage to target creature or planeswalker. If that permanent would be put into a graveyard this turn, exile it instead.
A very blue ability, a very red ability, sweet artwork (reminds me of Stephen Gammell), and it synergizes with the UR Eldrazi uncommon that makes it one cheaper. Either effect at 4cc is pretty mehful, but it's so flexible that it seems like you should be using both almost every time. This would be a ridiculous uncommon, but is it crazy enough to be rare? I feel like I want this most UR decks..
EDIT - I guess I didn't do the set tag right, but I don't think I can edit it now..
Maybe an enemy "devoid command" cycle? I'd love to see more of these
Others have pointed out the similarities to Venser, Shaper Savant, and while it doesn't help board presence directly, it does trigger Prowess where Venser does not.
- Manite
The spell is Devoid (colorless) which allows it to get through color protection/restrictions, for other formats. First ability I can pick Remand that can stop a spell that cannot be countered or a creature bounce. Second ability can burn 2 damage to a creature or Planeswalker. The exile condition for that turn is useful if you can follow through on killing off that creature/Planeswalker. Two damage is enough to deal with a Morph creature before the opponent can flip them.
The bounce and burn could be useful in battles. If the opponent plays a wrath, I can save one of my creatures and burn one of theirs to be exiled when it dies.
It only has two modes (A command is 'choose two of four'.), but I see the similarities.
On phasing:
You don't bounce rhinos in play, you bounce rhinos on the stack.
Bounce something like Dig Through Time... AFTER they exile their graveyard to cast it. Seriously, a great card.
Standard:
GMono-Green CountersG
Modern:
URStormUR
XMyr OverflowX
BWBlack-White TokensBW
EDH:
WUGrand Arbiter Augustine's Spell DenialWU
WGRhys's TokensWG
RKrenko's CommandR
Sarkhan the Dragonspeaker
Sarkhan Unbroken
Ob Nixilis Reignited
Kiora, Master of Depths
Jace, Telepath Unbound
Chandra, Roaring Flame
Sorin, Solemn Visitor
Nissa, Sage Animist
Ugin the Spirit Dragon and Liliana, Defiant Necromancer both have -X abilities
So that leaves both versions of Gideon and Narset as the only 'walkers that won't be opened up to removal if your opponent goes for the stronger ability out of the gate. I think this feature is getting way too little credit.
In a Jeskai deck, it can do some really awesome plays. Got an ascendancy and a thunderbreak regent, or some other x/4 in play? Opponent's playing Abzan with a siege rhino and some other dude in play, and smug plays a languish? Expulsion, targeting mode one on the other creature, and the damage on the rhino. Regent gets +1/+1, dodges the languish, while opponent loses both dudes and gets nothing out of their spell.
It's a very nice Tech card. Guys who like to play big derpy undercosted monsters will reject it as being a good card because it's not a big derpy creature. Synergy nuts like me will see it as one of the greatest cards in standard with tons of potential.
Vs. Twin you really hurt to any counters but bouncing a creature in response to Twin is a pretty good play and you might pick off a Snapcaster or Clique while you're at it.
I look forward to playing 1-2 copies mainboard in UWr Control.
Unfortunately is colorless so can't be copied.
I like this card but I am not sure what deck is actually fits in, as opposed to can fit in.