Garbage. All of them. Pure and simple garbage. They take so much work to actually do something that I can't see they ever seeing any kind of play, unless some very insane and specific sinergy shows up to make one of them reasonably playable. I am utterly dissapointed, specially after seeing such a cool liliana. Now I'm sure I won't buy a single booster from this set.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
.
Would you like to read Commander stories? Check my latest stories, coming from Lorwyn and Innistrad: Ghoulcaller Gisa and Doran, The Siege Tower! If you like my writing, ask me to write something for your commander as well!
Okay, now that I've had time to sleep on it, I think Jace is absolutely wonderful for standard, his +1 isn't anything to write home about, but it does nullify aggro early on, and then his -3 allows you to cast your spells again, which is always well wanted, the fact he also helps sculpt your draw from turn 3 is pretty cool. That said, how often will you see him turn 2, he's hardly a 4 of.
Jace is perfectly good in a control deck. 1U for a looter that requires removal is just fine alongside Mr. Snappy. Looting is a good ability, and his flip is still super powerful. He needs support as he can't really win the game on his own, but I don't think he should be discounted.
Jace looks simply stunning in a the world of modern where turn 2 tasigur, the golden fang is a thing. I think I found the perfect card for my Esper mentor deck. But yes, keep thinking he is bad.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
On mtgsalvation people don't want to discuss ideas, so I give people something else to discuss: my controversial opinions.
Nissa is...unusual. The abilities after being flipped are all awesome, but flipping her, yeesh. My Karametra deck will love her, but I can't see her having a place in Standard barring some major, major land ramp enablers (right now, you'd basically HAVE to run 4 Explosive Vegetation and 4 Map the Wastes to even have a chance to see her flip before turn 8+).
Personally, I think Jace is Tibalt-level bad. He's easy to flip, but you're basically going to get one free spell from your graveyard for it. The ultimate is useless even in mill decks, and the first ability is really, really weak. Worse than Living Guildpact, in my book.
Chandra doesn't really seem that bad. Red decks usually don't want to throw down a three-drop without haste or any ETB abilities, but if you're built properly she shouldn't be too hard to flip immediately, and then it's Shock to the dome until you hit the emblem (there's really no reason to burn the loyalty to torch creatures unless you're desperate). Mono-red EDH decks should love her as a potential commander. Doubt she makes any noise in Standard unless we get a few more good red 1-drops (right now there's what, Swiftspear and Wild Slash?)
Jace would have been unplayable at 4CMC and bad at 3CMC, but at two, it's very good. Let's all look at the fact that it's two mana. He can loot to fuel delve spells. He flips easily. With five loyalty points. With semi protection with its +1. With a sorcery speed repeatable Snapcaster -3.
I liked the comment of when jaces flips his flashback ability is irrelevant. So when you had 5+ cards in your graveyard you're telling me that none of them are going to be potential flashback targets? Yeah that makes a whole lot of sense /sarcasm.
I like all of them a lot. Merfolk looter that turns into sorcery speed snapcaster/give something -2/-0? Sure not to mention the starting loyalty is 5/quite a bit. To the people saying "may" exile him and then return him transformed would be better, well yeah of course it would be better but it would be a spectacular flavor fail. You "may" ascend to planeswalker status makes literal zero sense.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Yawgmoth," Freyalise whispered as she set the bomb, "now you will pay for your treachery."
Shame he doesn't seem to fit into UW control atm. Dammit, give UW some love wizards.
I dunno, I think it's interesting he's the only 2 drop with at least 3 others being 3 drops which means he can be brought back with Ojutai's Command's first mode. Flashing back removal seems like the prime use for his -3 though and I don't know if white has the kind of removal in standard right now that works best with that.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
They didn't care that he was the savior of Fort Keff, the great hunter of Ondu, the champion of Kabira. To them, he was just another piece of flesh, a thing with life to be drained away.
This Jace is incredible. On the play he enters the battlefield when your opponent only has one land, there is no counterspell in standard for that (Modern has Spell Snare but not Pierce since he is a creature). He dies to Shock, but only the first turn, because otherwise you can loot in response and flip him (assuming minor graveyard requirement). Once flipped he stops the power of most on curve creatures protecting himself while going up to 7 (!!!) loyalty. His minus is a sorcery speed Snapcaster Mage where the mana invested was spent in prior turns. His Ultimate isn't exile the library tier game ending, but it makes it so that your control deck can't easily be run out of game ending threats as all those Divination type cards pair up with your sweepers to bring an out to the table.
Merfork Looter made the top 8 of Worlds in 2001 in an Aggro countrol deck that wanted to find lock pieces and creatures. Liliana could possibly be that lock piece in upcoming standard simply +1ing each turn to lock it up. Sidisi's Faithful very well could become a no play, to staple play common. (1 drop 0/4, unsummon (gives them a card in hard for Liliana's +1), flips Liliana). He also can be resurrected by Liliana, or put creatures into the graveyard for her to target (until they flip in which case she begins to fill that role).
Jace is a mythic Merfolk Looter, Nissa is a mythic Borderland Ranger and Chandra does a poor impression of a mythic Guttersnipe. The PW sides aren't all that great either. I can't say I'm impressed, sadly.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My Commander decks:
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
The only thing I don't like about the new Jace is that his "Snapcaster" ability is only sorcery speed. In any Modern decks he would see play in, you would want to get back the cards at instant speed. That's just make take though.
I feel like Nissa is being undervalued, even if she never ends up seeing play. Green control decks could play her, if there's something like Sultai that comes back. It's card advantage even if it doesn't flip.
And if it's not a mainboard card, I could easily see it being used in the sideboard for control mirrors. You wouldn't build around it, but it seems to be pretty good.
When it flips it gets to make a 4/4, and then potentially start drawing you lands. All these little things add up to pretty decent value.
Unless there's some unforeseen support, like a combo deck, I don't think Jace is very good. Merfolk looter isn't really playable, and when it flips, I dont think its worth playing a merfolk looter.
This guy, would either eat up several turns worth of mana to get a slow permanent that relies on your already have some board presence (after wasting said mana), or dies without generating any advantage.
Jace is fast but doesn't do much as a 0/2. Nissa is very slow and will never flip in some games against aggro decks, might be something for the sideboard.
I don't know how I feel about anything that dies to Wild Slash really. This whole cycle might just be weak sauce. Hopefully Gideon has 3 toughness.
Not being able to re-use your instants on your opponents turn is what kills Jace.
While it would have been much better, not having to pay an extra 2 mana to cast a spell is also really nice. Besides free Supreme Verdicts are pretty cool.
His +1 can also be really potent at changing up combat math.
Jace is fast but doesn't do much as a 0/2. Nissa is very slow and will never flip in some games against aggro decks, might be something for the sideboard.
I don't know how I feel about anything that dies to Wild Slash really. This whole cycle might just be weak sauce. Hopefully Gideon has 3 toughness.
Actually, I think Nissa is fine against aggro just for the creature side. It gives you a blocker while making sure you dont miss land drops on your way to going over the top of them. It might not flip, but I dont think Nissa has to flip to be playable, and if she does flip, she becomes quite good.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Rules Advisor as of 4/23/10
Regarding Stoneforge Mystic
Quote from oranges2 »
This guy, would either eat up several turns worth of mana to get a slow permanent that relies on your already have some board presence (after wasting said mana), or dies without generating any advantage.
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
Dies to a Street Sweeper...
Retired: WUEphara, God of the PolisWU blink | WGerrard CapashenW lifegain | WUB Ertai, the CorruptedWUB combo | WAvacyn, Angel of HopeW
mono-white controlangel tribalPauper: UBDimirKittyUB | RBG Deathcycle RBG
Modern: GWUEnchantressGWU | GWUTurbofogGWU
Read my other stories as well (some ongoing):
Reaper King (a horror story), Kaalia of the Vast (an origin story), Sequels for Innistrad (Alternative sequels for Inn), Grey Areas (Odric's fanfic), Royal Succession (goblins),The Tracker's Message (eldrazi on Innistrad) and Ugin and his Eye (the end of OGW).
Commander: WUBRG Superfriends, GW Rhys Tokens, WUBRG Scion of the Ur-Dragon
Kitchen Table (now that's real Magic): WUBRG Domain, GU Biovisionary, UB Korlash Grandeur, UW Merfolk Mill
Decks I'm playing in Modern right now:
URB Grixis Reveler (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-grixis-reveler/)
UB Faeries (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/ub-fae-2/)
UW Azorious Control (http://www.mtgvault.com/supast4r7/decks/modern-ojutai-control-2/)
Personally, I think Jace is Tibalt-level bad. He's easy to flip, but you're basically going to get one free spell from your graveyard for it. The ultimate is useless even in mill decks, and the first ability is really, really weak. Worse than Living Guildpact, in my book.
Chandra doesn't really seem that bad. Red decks usually don't want to throw down a three-drop without haste or any ETB abilities, but if you're built properly she shouldn't be too hard to flip immediately, and then it's Shock to the dome until you hit the emblem (there's really no reason to burn the loyalty to torch creatures unless you're desperate). Mono-red EDH decks should love her as a potential commander. Doubt she makes any noise in Standard unless we get a few more good red 1-drops (right now there's what, Swiftspear and Wild Slash?)
UBDragonlord Silumgar WGKarametra, God of Harvests
BRUNekusar, the Mindrazer BGMazirek, Kraul Death Priest
URMelek, Izzet Paragon UGPrime Speaker Zegana
WUHanna, Ship's Navigator BWUSydri, Galvanic Genius
WUBRGSliver Queen RBBladewing the Risen
WBKarlov of the Ghost Council RGXenagos, God of Revels
GFreyalise, Llanowar's Fury RWAurelia, the Warleader
RIb Halfheart, Goblin Tactician BDrana, Liberator of Malakir
UAzami, Lady of Scrolls WNahiri, the Lithomancer
WBGDoran, the Siege Tower CEmrakul, the Promised End
In standard, his +1 slows down the aggro decks giving you more time to stabilize. His -3 will flashback Anticipate, Hero's Downfall, Foul-Tongue Invocation, Crux of Fate, and most importantly Dig Through Time.
I didn't buy into the hype of Narset, but I can for this one.
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
I like all of them a lot. Merfolk looter that turns into sorcery speed snapcaster/give something -2/-0? Sure not to mention the starting loyalty is 5/quite a bit. To the people saying "may" exile him and then return him transformed would be better, well yeah of course it would be better but it would be a spectacular flavor fail. You "may" ascend to planeswalker status makes literal zero sense.
Currently Playing:
Retired
Cubetutor Peasant'ish-Funbox
Project: Khans of Tarkir Cube (cubetutor)
I dunno, I think it's interesting he's the only 2 drop with at least 3 others being 3 drops which means he can be brought back with Ojutai's Command's first mode. Flashing back removal seems like the prime use for his -3 though and I don't know if white has the kind of removal in standard right now that works best with that.
But the people behind the barrier knew.
It's a small world after all...
Dunes of Zairo
SHANDALAR
Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries
Merfork Looter made the top 8 of Worlds in 2001 in an Aggro countrol deck that wanted to find lock pieces and creatures. Liliana could possibly be that lock piece in upcoming standard simply +1ing each turn to lock it up. Sidisi's Faithful very well could become a no play, to staple play common. (1 drop 0/4, unsummon (gives them a card in hard for Liliana's +1), flips Liliana). He also can be resurrected by Liliana, or put creatures into the graveyard for her to target (until they flip in which case she begins to fill that role).
Chandra, Torch of Defiance - Oops! All Chandras.
Prime Speaker Zegana - Draw for Power.
Pir & Toothy - Counterpalooza.
Arcades, the Strategist - Another Brick in the Wall.
Zacama, Primal Calamity - Calamity of Double Mana.
Edgar Markov - Vampires Don't Die.
Child of Alara - Dreamcrusher.
Storm Crow is strictly worse than Seacoast Drake.
And if it's not a mainboard card, I could easily see it being used in the sideboard for control mirrors. You wouldn't build around it, but it seems to be pretty good.
When it flips it gets to make a 4/4, and then potentially start drawing you lands. All these little things add up to pretty decent value.
Unless there's some unforeseen support, like a combo deck, I don't think Jace is very good. Merfolk looter isn't really playable, and when it flips, I dont think its worth playing a merfolk looter.
Edit: My Engrish.
Rules Advisor as of 4/23/10
Regarding Stoneforge Mystic
I don't know how I feel about anything that dies to Wild Slash really. This whole cycle might just be weak sauce. Hopefully Gideon has 3 toughness.
While it would have been much better, not having to pay an extra 2 mana to cast a spell is also really nice. Besides free Supreme Verdicts are pretty cool.
His +1 can also be really potent at changing up combat math.
Actually, I think Nissa is fine against aggro just for the creature side. It gives you a blocker while making sure you dont miss land drops on your way to going over the top of them. It might not flip, but I dont think Nissa has to flip to be playable, and if she does flip, she becomes quite good.
Rules Advisor as of 4/23/10
Regarding Stoneforge Mystic