MTG Salvation

Quote from hyalapterouslemur »

Quote from Lithl »

Quote from hyalapterouslemur »

and when, pray tell, did Child of Alara become Larry instead of Nevinyrral?

Nevinyrral is Larry Niven (author of the Ringworld series) backwards.

That's my point. It makes calling Child of Alara Larry feel really weird.

I assume it's because it's almost the same effect (pre-planeswalkers, it was the same effect afaik), and it's easier to assign a person's name to a creature than a non-creature artifact (see: Bob, Steve, Gary, Tim, etc.)

I think the card only really makes sense in creature-heavy decks with either draw power or a mana sink to supplement the flip side.



I don’t know if I’ll have a chance to test it anytime soon, but I just cracked one which almost certainly has a home in my Rhys the Exiled elfball deck. IMO, elfball makes the most sense since it fits both the criteria I mentioned above and for the same reason, that’s also its most likely home if anywhere in modern. I love playing creature-based decks, but honestly don’t think I’d have much of a place for it in any of my other ones. I was thinking about converting the deck to Blue Ezuri (or Leovold, but I don’t play much and I think he’s banned now? ), where it’ll still have a spot, but I’m pretty sure elfball and Edric-style decks are its best - if only - real homes.

Quote from MRdown2urth »

On Settle the Wreckage: Does the owner of the exiled creatures get to search for as many lands he/she can, up to the number of exiled critters? Or does it have to be the exact number of basics (or nothing)?

Having two Jaces on the field...makes no sense to anyone else, right? The legendary rule allowing each player to have a card is terrible as it is, but they're really killing the flavor of the game (that we are planeswalkers...fighting against other PWs...and summoning people/creatures/spells we have learned through our travels).

Does Gishark have Yawgmoth's symbol on its chest?

While I don't particularly like the change flavor-wise, it is about the same as being able to have both Niv-Mizzets on the board or Nicol Bolas and Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker at the same time, which we've gotten fairly used to.

Edit: I already didn't particularly like the new legend rule where both sides can have the same legend/planeswalker out simultaneously fwiw.

Quote from SCDL »

Wat.

In all seriousness, I'm flabberghasted.

Basically my reaction when I saw that. I had to actually see the card image to believe it.

If you're going with Thespian's Stage, make sure you play it right. When you copy it, you have to sac the original Dark Depths (with the counters on it) to the Legend Rule, then you'll get the Thespian's Stage one with no counters to keep.

Thinking about buying Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet for EDH. I'm in no rush, but any ideas if he'll come down at all or if Modern will keep him up?

I'd say Mindcrank, especially if you're running Bloodchief Ascension (which I think you should be). The incidental mill for using a fetchland or shock, on top of any other time they'd take damage is pretty good for 2 mana against anything but graveyard decks. Goes infinite with BA, too.

I'm thinking about building a U/R artifact deck with Kaladesh and Aether Revolt coming up, and wondering how the new (and some old) eldrazi would fare. Would playing "colorless matters" things like Nettle Drone, Herald of Kozilek, and Cultivator Drone take too much away from the artifact theme to be any good? What about the titans as big, fatty beaters? I have an OG Ulamog and new Kozilek at my disposal for this cause. (I'm working on getting a Blightsteel Colossus on Pucatrade, just don't want to shell out for one if I don't have to.)

Separate question, are the UrzaTron lands too unreliable to play in a colored deck?

About the general:
Rhys has a medium cost (for an elf), and a fairly small body, but has life gain, regeneration, and a sac outlet built-in. This means Skullclamp isn't dead with +1/+1 to your creatures, and he can swing in for life gain without worrying about a chump blocker. Most importantly, he gives us access to black, giving the life gain some draining power and giving us access to powerful cards like Exsanguinate and Phyrexian Arena.

About the deck:
I've mostly built this deck to play against Krenko and/or Oloro, so it tries to blow up quickly. It has performed well goldfishing but I haven't had a chance to actually play it yet. I am of course always open to feedback.



Maybeboard:

Sideboard for multiplayer/more general play:

To acquire:
I've found with 26 creatures at 3 cmc or less, Collected Company and Aluren have been excellent value cards, especially with Aluren being a potential combo piece.

I've also considered making a UG deck with Rashmi, Eternities Crafter, but not sure what I'd do with it.

And here is the Tappedout link for anyone that wants to playtest it.

Looks like they're doing what they did with werewolves and releasing the on-color Planeswalker first, then next set the legendary. Hopefully this one is better than the previous one, though...

Interestingly, it looks like the first 5 are from the set itself, then numbering alphabetically resets starting with Aether Vial. Is this just because they're colorless artifacts?

Quote from Decimator1 »

In the worst case scenario (casting it when it's the only card in your hand), it's a non-Formidabled See the Unwritten that's guaranteed to hit a creature. I would always run that over See the Unwritten itself in Mayael.

EDIT: Just realized you don't get to pick, which is a bigger downside than See, but I still think the potential upside is worth it.

You do get to pick it's for each vote, not like Will of the Council, so you're guaranteed to at least get one of what you want.

Right, but you have to choose a number before you draw your opening hand. I suppose it depends on your draft. If you got a good mix of two-drops, I could see picking two.

Is it just me or does this name sound like an expensive UR counterspell that also does damage?

Didn't see this on the front page and since this thread has already been revived: Bloodchief Ascension+Mindcrank is a two-card combo.