Blue God2U
Legendary Creature - God
Indestructible, Flying
Can't attack or block unless you have 7 or more cards in your hand. 3U: Draw a card and you may return a land you control to your hand.
5/5
Keeping 7 cards is kind of strict and difficult to do, but a 5/5 for 3 is very efficient. If this god were to lead a deck as general. What cards would work especially well with it.
Yeah, I think Control with him as a finisher is the way to go. Other than Training Grounds ... Rings of Brighthearth and/or Illusionist's Bracers? (More) equipment to get a three-turn clock? And about every carddraw spell. He's pretty generic in a good way; you don't really need very specific cards to support him. He's far from a powerhouse, but I think I'll tinker with him a bit.
The more I think about it, I don't like the Blue God. I can play Thassa, God of Sea for the 2U and have an indestructible 5/5 but I have to jump through far fewer hoops and I don't have to sit on my hand. I don't think it's worth it to play voltron just for the flying and the draw a card for 3U ability.
I don't think having a fat hand is much of a downside. I'd often want to have that many cards already. And unlike the original gods, losing the condition mid-combat doesn't matter so you can't be caught off-guard by a spell you have to counter. For mono-blue, I'd probably rather have a fat hand than keep a bunch of mana symbols on the board (as much as I like invoke prejudice).
Draw ability is ok, but arguably worse than thassa's scry since it requires mana. Free evasion, but doesn't enable anyone else's evasion and isn't totally unblockable unlike Thassa.
Thassa was a pretty unexciting commander imo, and this one seems about the same to me. It's hard to make an interesting mono-color commander - it has to be exciting enough to justify the inherent weaknesses of mono-color AND be more exciting than the existent 60+ legends in each color. All of which is sort of contrary to the idea that Gods are supposed to be archetypical of their color, not doing then exciting weird stuff.
I love Temmet's design, and he is hard to get rid of, consider he can safely go to graveyard and exile himself. A blue token deck can certainly uses his ability, but I'm more intrigued by him replicating himself and fights better after death. Temmet Voltron?
I'm gonna hum Mortal Kombat theme whenever I play Ready // Fight, and mocks Bolas's (supposed) voice: Test your Might!
Kefnet, the Mindful is like Soramaro, First to Dream, but the land aspect is optional. Many people questioned why Library of Alexandria was so good, consider its 7 cards requirement. While Kefnet is no Library, but the Library is an example why getting 7 cards in hand isn't asking too much. I wonder if Kefnet's playing a reference to the Library here...
Drake Haven is excellent with the all the discard shenanigans in blue. Consider Wizards have been using "If you X one or more cards/permanents" to avoid multiple triggers, I feel that Drake Haven may allow you to create more tokens if you pay 1 PER card you discard, such as Frantic Search.
What's new: Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun: Pretty niche. I think people have covered this one. Kefnet the Careful: I think I like this a bit more, but seven cards in hand is still pretty hard. The ability is mediocre and overpriced. Good enough finisher that it could lead its own deck. Channeler Initiate: Any color and ending 3/4 is pretty good. There are a lot of mana dorks in this format though and this will need a niche to warrant it. Drake Haven: Wheel dot deck like a lot of creatures for no effort. This will be hillarious there are the cycle.deck.
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EDH Decks UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition) WRKalemne's Angels BRUG Yidris's Wild Party UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys UBRThe Pretender
So Sacred Cat is a strict upgrade to Trained Caracal for Karlov decks, making for a 9th 1-drop for the deck. I love it when random niche-y decks like that get toys.
So how does embalm work with commander tax/replacement effects? If say, I cast him for 2, he dies, I leave him in my graveyard instead of sending him to the command zone, subsequently embalm him and then send him to the command zone instead of exile, is this legal play?
So how does embalm work with commander tax/replacement effects? If say, I cast him for 2, he dies, I leave him in my graveyard instead of sending him to the command zone, subsequently embalm him and then send him to the command zone instead of exile, is this legal play?
Thanks
Yes, you can do this.
Of note, you can then cast your commander again for 4 mana, but either the embalmed token or the original will go to the graveyard based on state-based actions, since they do have the same name. Also, the token does not deal commander damage.
This set seems really unexciting so far, even for commander. The gods are awful and probably unplayable everywhere that's not standard. Dusk // Dawn as well as Rhonas's Monument seems to be the best cards so far, but the red and white monuments probably have some use too.
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UG Arixmethes Combo UGR Wanderer UGB Tasigur Control URB Jeleva Storm RW Gisela Control
The rules change on Split cards will only really impact me in one way: I can no longer imprint split cards onto Isochron Scepter. Fire // Ice was a good one.
Far // Away is no longer in my Phenax deck, but now that Disciple of Deceit and Transmute cards treat it like a 5 mana spell, I am definitely happy it's out of my deck.
I've never played any other split cards in EDH though.
In enchantress: Sometimes I draw Banishing Light or ORing too early, such that playing them would put a target on me. I came into the block hoping for enchantment gods...and maybe some way to give enchantments flash. I always wanted more cheap ways to draw cards until my engine gets going.
My prayers were somewhat answered in Cast Out: It fits the slot of a single-target removal enchantment, I can play it at instant speed, and if I get it too early, I can just cycle it away (to be recurred later)! I like when uncommons check many boxes.
Exemplar of Strength is a 4/4 for 1G with no downside. Even removes -1/-1 counters and gains you some life. Crocodile of the Crossing is a 5/4 with Haste for 3G with no downside. Channeler Initiate is just a 3/4 for 1G with no downside other than being unable to ramp. But there is a beauty in that. Like choosing when you want to play Initiate and when you want to play Melira. If you want the ramp you would accept the -1/-1 counters and cast Melira later. If you just want a bigger body you cast the Initiate after Melira.
I've never played any other split cards in EDH though.
I run Bound // Determined in Child of Alara. 5 mana instant-speed board wipe + recur 5 cards is absolutely sick.
Oh yeah, and sometimes it lets me duck a counterspell, I guess...
In enchantress: Sometimes I draw Banishing Light or ORing too early, such that playing them would put a target on me. I came into the block hoping for enchantment gods...and maybe some way to give enchantments flash. I always wanted more cheap ways to draw cards until my engine gets going.
My prayers were somewhat answered in Cast Out: It fits the slot of a single-target removal enchantment, I can play it at instant speed, and if I get it too early, I can just cycle it away (to be recurred later)! I like when uncommons check many boxes.
yeah i was pretty happy with that card too, i've been looking for an instant-speed o-ring for a long time. and cycling is just gravy.
I think the Blue god is actually pretty scary in the right shell. Provided you play a max of 2 cards before dropping him, you can guarantee a strike for 5 in the air by turn 4 (ignoring mana rocks here). If you played one spell before him, just use his draw ability and you're good to go. If you played two, draw + bounce a land. I think that if you want to go Blue Aggro, this really isn't a poor choice.
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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.
But so is Thrasios, Triton Hero with any kind of infinite mana. And having access to G for recursion outweighs Kefnets indestructibility imo. If you play a deck with him at the helm, I think you should make use of his beefy body, go the voltron route and cut combo stuff for more control and draw.
Opinions on him seem very varied so far. I'm curious if people come up with decks where he's really good.
(U/B)(U/B)(U/B) JUMP IN THE LINE, ROCK YOUR BODY IN TIME
(R/W)(R/W)(R/W) RISING FROM THE NEON GLOOM, SHINING LIKE A CRAZY MOON
(U/R)(R/G)(G/U) STEALIN' WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUYIN'
Legendary Creature - God
Indestructible, Flying
Can't attack or block unless you have 7 or more cards in your hand.
3U: Draw a card and you may return a land you control to your hand.
5/5
Keeping 7 cards is kind of strict and difficult to do, but a 5/5 for 3 is very efficient. If this god were to lead a deck as general. What cards would work especially well with it.
Training Grounds comes to mind for sure.
What else? Draw/Go control Voltron?
UBRKess, Dissident MageUBR - Controlling Dissidents
GRhonas the IndomitableG - Indomitable Four Drops
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticWUB - Loot & Renanimate
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
UBRKess, Dissident MageUBR - Controlling Dissidents
GRhonas the IndomitableG - Indomitable Four Drops
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticWUB - Loot & Renanimate
Draw ability is ok, but arguably worse than thassa's scry since it requires mana. Free evasion, but doesn't enable anyone else's evasion and isn't totally unblockable unlike Thassa.
Thassa was a pretty unexciting commander imo, and this one seems about the same to me. It's hard to make an interesting mono-color commander - it has to be exciting enough to justify the inherent weaknesses of mono-color AND be more exciting than the existent 60+ legends in each color. All of which is sort of contrary to the idea that Gods are supposed to be archetypical of their color, not doing then exciting weird stuff.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
I'm gonna hum Mortal Kombat theme whenever I play Ready // Fight, and mocks Bolas's (supposed) voice: Test your Might!
Kefnet, the Mindful is like Soramaro, First to Dream, but the land aspect is optional. Many people questioned why Library of Alexandria was so good, consider its 7 cards requirement. While Kefnet is no Library, but the Library is an example why getting 7 cards in hand isn't asking too much. I wonder if Kefnet's playing a reference to the Library here...
Drake Haven is excellent with the all the discard shenanigans in blue. Consider Wizards have been using "If you X one or more cards/permanents" to avoid multiple triggers, I feel that Drake Haven may allow you to create more tokens if you pay 1 PER card you discard, such as Frantic Search.
Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest WUR Voltron Control
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun WU Unblockable Mirror Trickery
Ra's al Ghul (Sidar Kondo) and Face-Down Ninjas
Brudiclad, Token Engineer
Vaevictis (VV2) the Dire Lantern
Rona, Disciple of Gix
Tiana the Auror
Hallar
Ulrich the Politician
Zur the Rebel
Scorpion, Locust, Scarab, Egyptian Gods
O-Kagachi, Mathas, Mairsil
"Non-Tribal" Tribal Generals, Eggs
Temmet, Vizier of Naktamun: Pretty niche. I think people have covered this one.
Kefnet the Careful: I think I like this a bit more, but seven cards in hand is still pretty hard. The ability is mediocre and overpriced. Good enough finisher that it could lead its own deck.
Channeler Initiate: Any color and ending 3/4 is pretty good. There are a lot of mana dorks in this format though and this will need a niche to warrant it.
Drake Haven: Wheel dot deck like a lot of creatures for no effort. This will be hillarious there are the cycle.deck.
EDH Decks
UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life
RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them
WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition)
WRKalemne's Angels
BRUG Yidris's Wild Party
UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys
UBR The Pretender
I am officially dubbing this card: Scaredy Cat.
So how does embalm work with commander tax/replacement effects? If say, I cast him for 2, he dies, I leave him in my graveyard instead of sending him to the command zone, subsequently embalm him and then send him to the command zone instead of exile, is this legal play?
Thanks
Yes, you can do this.
Of note, you can then cast your commander again for 4 mana, but either the embalmed token or the original will go to the graveyard based on state-based actions, since they do have the same name. Also, the token does not deal commander damage.
UGR Wanderer
UGB Tasigur Control
URB Jeleva Storm
RW Gisela Control
Far // Away is no longer in my Phenax deck, but now that Disciple of Deceit and Transmute cards treat it like a 5 mana spell, I am definitely happy it's out of my deck.
I've never played any other split cards in EDH though.
8.RG Green Devotion Ramp/Combo 9.UR Draw Triggers 10.WUR Group stalling 11.WUR Voltron Spellslinger 12.WB Sacrificial Shenanigans
13.BR Creatureless Panharmonicon 14.BR Pingers and Eldrazi 15.URG Untapped Cascading
16.Reyhan, last of the Abzan's WUBG +1/+1 Counter Craziness 17.WUBRG Dragons aka Why did I make this?
Building: The Gitrog Monster lands, Glissa the Traitor stax, Muldrotha, the Gravetide Planeswalker Combo, Kydele, Chosen of Kruphix + Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa Clues, and Tribal Scarecrow Planeswalkers
Tymna & Ishai, ie Esper Edric
Crosis Turbotrash
My prayers were somewhat answered in Cast Out: It fits the slot of a single-target removal enchantment, I can play it at instant speed, and if I get it too early, I can just cycle it away (to be recurred later)! I like when uncommons check many boxes.
(U/B)(U/B)(U/B) JUMP IN THE LINE, ROCK YOUR BODY IN TIME
(R/W)(R/W)(R/W) RISING FROM THE NEON GLOOM, SHINING LIKE A CRAZY MOON
(U/R)(R/G)(G/U) STEALIN' WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUYIN'
RCRDaretti: Superfriends Forever RCR
WGBDoran: Ent-mootWBG
GGGMultani: Group Bear HugGGG
GB(B/G)The Gitrog Monster: Dredgefall DurdleGB(B/G)
RGWGahiji, the Honored Group Hug MonsterRGW
UB(U/B)Yuriko, Ninja Trinket AggroUB(U/B)
WUBRGAtogatog: Assembling a OHKOWUBRG
Exemplar of Strength is a 4/4 for 1G with no downside. Even removes -1/-1 counters and gains you some life.
Crocodile of the Crossing is a 5/4 with Haste for 3G with no downside.
Channeler Initiate is just a 3/4 for 1G with no downside other than being unable to ramp. But there is a beauty in that. Like choosing when you want to play Initiate and when you want to play Melira. If you want the ramp you would accept the -1/-1 counters and cast Melira later. If you just want a bigger body you cast the Initiate after Melira.
Well, you can still imprint Wax // Wane
I run Bound // Determined in Child of Alara. 5 mana instant-speed board wipe + recur 5 cards is absolutely sick.
Oh yeah, and sometimes it lets me duck a counterspell, I guess...
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
yeah i was pretty happy with that card too, i've been looking for an instant-speed o-ring for a long time. and cycling is just gravy.
Tymna & Ishai, ie Esper Edric
Crosis Turbotrash
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.
But so is Thrasios, Triton Hero with any kind of infinite mana. And having access to G for recursion outweighs Kefnets indestructibility imo. If you play a deck with him at the helm, I think you should make use of his beefy body, go the voltron route and cut combo stuff for more control and draw.
Opinions on him seem very varied so far. I'm curious if people come up with decks where he's really good.
I think the red one is the winner. In a deck like Norin, it will certainly smooth out some clunky draws.