Oh boy ... lots of cards today Walkers Nicol Bolas, the God Pharaoh: Solid. Whacks hands Kills creatures. Gets a free spell. Fun. Will slot in Yidris nicely. Samut, the Tested: Double strike for voltron is decent. Otherwise, this is trash. Nicol Bolas, the Deciever: Not likely to be too good. Annihilate for a minus is decent but it seems that this will fall into the do something not worth the mana cost then die cast of walkers. HOU
The "" defeat cycle seems too narrow to me. Only 66 slots on average... I want my removal to count. I do love the flavor of the gatewatch lsoing though. The Scorpian God is really unique and a flavor home run. There are a lot of synergies and -1/-1 is a nice niche built that shouldn't make the player much of a target. Hour of Revelation: Slots right into Karador. Three mana wipes that hit more than just creatures are gas.
The deserts might be relevant as additional cycle lands. Ramunap Excavator: I like an affordable crucible. Being locked to green is a downside, but I imagine most decks in the market for the effect are green anyway (unless they are STAX). Ixalan Revel in Riches gives an interesting alt wincon to a popular strategy. Not my cup of tea but could work for those who like it. Kimalla's Sunwing: Imposing Sovereign with wings is sweet. Hoses combos, makes haste awkward and is a dinosaur - all solid. Boneyard Parley: FoF for reanimation could be interesting. It seems like a ton of value. Herald of Seven Servants: Good way to break stalls in +1/+1 counter decks or Animar. Shaper's Sanctuary: I don't know how good this is simply due to the prevalence of wipes, but I imagine it is still fine. It's a good way to ensure a dead guy gets replaced. Mynea Frian, Dark Apostle: Tribal seems out of the question due to awkward color identity. Maybe tokens or voltron (creating an idiot is a great way to dodge edict effects). Aegriah's Marauders: Double damage for only my stuff. This seems awesome. Will be good in Kalemne. Verdant Sun's Avatar: In a good color for lifegain. Tocaf's Honor Guard: Torpor Orb on a stick is just brutal. Will see play. Fathom Fleet Captain: OMFG PIRATE TRIBAL! Burning Sun's Avatar: Decent removal on a big body. Seems kinda meh but Dino tribal could be relevant. Sunbird's Invocation: I like the pseudo cascade. Might try in Yidris. River's Revuke: Great way to blow out one player. Unfortunately, it is just one player. Priest of the Wandering Sun: Yep. Dino tribal is a thing. Tutoring for Dinos seems strong, though five is steep. The lifegain isn't irrelevant though. Tilomalli's Skinshifter: What a unique card! Copying a nonlengendary attacker seems really strong. Balefire Dragon two people.... seems legit. Kopala, Warden of Waves: Might be decent disruption for fish. Carnage Tyrant: Big stompy hexproof dino! Scuttle the Wreckage looks like it could definitely blow somebody out. Also could definitely backfire. I love it. Waker of the Wilds: Unique mana sink. Unfortunately, "you control" means you can't use it do dissuade board wipes very well. Admiral Beckett Brass: Aaaaaand here's the priate general. Getting three pirates through seems tough, but blue has plenty of ways to give things unblockable. Stealing things is so flavorful.... pirates always plunder when they damage. I like it. Gishark, Sun's Avatar: Dragon general. Pushing all of that damage through seems tough, but getting even one free dino seems worth. Star of Extinction: Costly board wipe. I hope it doesn't mean the dinos die. Haven Raptor: Seems a little vanilla, but it can draw cards... Tiehana, Voice of Thunder: This would be the merfolk general folks were wating for. It also seems nuts in Animar and most other UB decks. Great EDH card. Bishop of Rebirth: Only creature and no ETB makes this MUCH worse than Sun Titan, even with the discount. The effect is strong enough that it still could be decent, and white vamps are nontrivial. Deeproot Champion could get pretty large... with it said a player though. Dreamcaller Siren: Relevant pirate seems good. Goring Ceratops: What a beating. That's a lot of damage from a lot of large dinos. Also, combos with Gishark. Vraska's Contempt: Four mana seems high but exile might be relevant enought to make it worthwhile. Rowdy Crew: Discarding at random is tough but it is a pirate. Bloodstained Paladin: I feel like this needs evasion to be good. It could work in something like Ghoulcaller Gisa that cares about the power of the creature getting sacced though. Arcane Adaptation: Conspiracy is good. This will be good. Captain Lannery Storm: Likes to attack and ramps... solid for the pirate deck. Vanquisher's Banner: I like to draw cards. This seems pretty obviously good.
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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
The scorpion god, might he be good in something self-sacrifice deck? Put -1/-1 counters on your own creatures, sac them for benefit, and cantrip while doing so...
Everything coming out in this set is total gravy now that we have Snek of Worlds.
Hour of Revelation is going to be an all star in white decks. This is known.
The cycling lands Desert of the True, ect are not exciting, but the decks who want cycling lands are happy to have more. I'll certainly find room for the playable ones in Gitrog, Borbor and Norin. Mono white and red are, I think, exceptionally happy to have 'em.
The Scorpion God - Is our first new commander out of the set and I think it'll be a casual favorite. It's a little less powerful than Hapatra (in the -1/-1 theme), but I like the color combo. Wondering if there's some kind of Everlasting Torment + Repercussion themed deck there.
I really don't know what to think of Supreme Will. My initial impression was that I love both Impulse and Mana Leak in this format, so I should like this new card, but thinking more, the reason I like those two cards is that they only cost 2 mana. This on the other hand is a turn slower early game, and requires me to hold up an extra mana, both of which I really want to avoid. 3 mana is too much for a counterspell - even a good unconditional one, which this isn't - and too much for a cantrip with some digging attached. So yeah, dunno. Will need some testing.
Bolas tend to leave the stain of Black on his minions, as seen in Tezz and Sarkhan, which is why I think The Sacarab God would be Dimir.
The theory at the moment is that the three gods are all three two color combos in Bolas' colors, which would leave Dimir and Izzet to be done. The other possibility I've seen floated would be an inverse of the three angels in Avacyn Restored, with all the non-white color combos with black. I think the first one is more likely (mostly because the original plan was that the only trials would be in bolas' colors), but either could work.
Bolas tend to leave the stain of Black on his minions, as seen in Tezz and Sarkhan, which is why I think The Sacarab God would be Dimir.
The theory at the moment is that the three gods are all three two color combos in Bolas' colors, which would leave Dimir and Izzet to be done. The other possibility I've seen floated would be an inverse of the three angels in Avacyn Restored, with all the non-white color combos with black. I think the first one is more likely (mostly because the original plan was that the only trials would be in bolas' colors), but either could work.
Now developer confirmed that the Gods will indeed be BR, UR, and BU.
What's your guys opinions on The Scorpion God as a competitive general? Bad right?
BR can be very destructive, and The Scorpion God has high synergy potential, but ultimately fall short compare to combo decks like Derevi, durable ones like Tasigur, and burst damage like Prossh. However, I do think Scorpion God plays better in multiplayer where politics matter.
Oketra's Last Mercy is quite powerful for three mana, to gain up to 39 life.
Cat tribal could be cooler (better?) with a multicolored cat legend...given we get cat cats (or cat snakes) on this plane instead of leonin, I don't think we'll get it here.
Having said that, leonin being cats but naga being not snakes remains BS.
I like Mirage Mirror as another way to copy enchantments beyond Clever Impersonator and Copy Enchantment. I'm not sure I'll end up running the card, but I'll consider it. It's fairly mana-intensive.
the third option for the despicable dark depths trick
also with paradox haze + celestial convergence instant win (upkeep number one turn the mirror into the celestial then the second upkeep triggers its howdy dowdy time.)
I plan on playing Oketra's Last Mercy in my Darien, King of Kjeldor deck because it is all about self damage and gaining a bunch of life for cheap is great. However, I don't see playing it in much else as the drawback is pretty high.
Hostage Taker
2UB
Creature - Human Pirate
When Hostage Taker enters the battlefield, exile target artifact or creature until Hostage Taker leaves the battlefield. You may cast that card for as long as it remains exiled, and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast that spell.
2/1
So Hostage Taker+Panharmonicon+your-etb-creature-here is infinite etb effects right?
Assuming A) the wording is accurate and B) there's no rules changes between then and now (For example, something as simple as modifying the rules around oneshot effects to make it so it permanently exiles itself rather than returning repeatedly). Otherwise the card instantly draws the game if cast with no targets around, which seems like something they'd want to avoid printing.
Assuming A) the wording is accurate and B) there's no rules changes between then and now (For example, something as simple as modifying the rules around oneshot effects to make it so it permanently exiles itself rather than returning repeatedly). Otherwise the card instantly draws the game if cast with no targets around, which seems like something they'd want to avoid printing.
Yeah I mean I entirely expect that it doesn't allow it to target itself. I want to say that they wouldn't allow something like that through but they let Copycat through so I cant really say that.
Walkers
Nicol Bolas, the God Pharaoh: Solid. Whacks hands Kills creatures. Gets a free spell. Fun. Will slot in Yidris nicely.
Samut, the Tested: Double strike for voltron is decent. Otherwise, this is trash.
Nicol Bolas, the Deciever: Not likely to be too good. Annihilate for a minus is decent but it seems that this will fall into the do something not worth the mana cost then die cast of walkers.
HOU
The "" defeat cycle seems too narrow to me. Only 66 slots on average... I want my removal to count. I do love the flavor of the gatewatch lsoing though.
The Scorpian God is really unique and a flavor home run. There are a lot of synergies and -1/-1 is a nice niche built that shouldn't make the player much of a target.
Hour of Revelation: Slots right into Karador. Three mana wipes that hit more than just creatures are gas.
The deserts might be relevant as additional cycle lands.
Ramunap Excavator: I like an affordable crucible. Being locked to green is a downside, but I imagine most decks in the market for the effect are green anyway (unless they are STAX).
Ixalan
Revel in Riches gives an interesting alt wincon to a popular strategy. Not my cup of tea but could work for those who like it.
Kimalla's Sunwing: Imposing Sovereign with wings is sweet. Hoses combos, makes haste awkward and is a dinosaur - all solid.
Boneyard Parley: FoF for reanimation could be interesting. It seems like a ton of value.
Herald of Seven Servants: Good way to break stalls in +1/+1 counter decks or Animar.
Shaper's Sanctuary: I don't know how good this is simply due to the prevalence of wipes, but I imagine it is still fine. It's a good way to ensure a dead guy gets replaced.
Mynea Frian, Dark Apostle: Tribal seems out of the question due to awkward color identity. Maybe tokens or voltron (creating an idiot is a great way to dodge edict effects).
Aegriah's Marauders: Double damage for only my stuff. This seems awesome. Will be good in Kalemne.
Verdant Sun's Avatar: In a good color for lifegain.
Tocaf's Honor Guard: Torpor Orb on a stick is just brutal. Will see play.
Fathom Fleet Captain: OMFG PIRATE TRIBAL!
Burning Sun's Avatar: Decent removal on a big body. Seems kinda meh but Dino tribal could be relevant.
Sunbird's Invocation: I like the pseudo cascade. Might try in Yidris.
River's Revuke: Great way to blow out one player. Unfortunately, it is just one player.
Priest of the Wandering Sun: Yep. Dino tribal is a thing. Tutoring for Dinos seems strong, though five is steep. The lifegain isn't irrelevant though.
Tilomalli's Skinshifter: What a unique card! Copying a nonlengendary attacker seems really strong. Balefire Dragon two people.... seems legit.
Kopala, Warden of Waves: Might be decent disruption for fish.
Carnage Tyrant: Big stompy hexproof dino!
Scuttle the Wreckage looks like it could definitely blow somebody out. Also could definitely backfire. I love it.
Waker of the Wilds: Unique mana sink. Unfortunately, "you control" means you can't use it do dissuade board wipes very well.
Admiral Beckett Brass: Aaaaaand here's the priate general. Getting three pirates through seems tough, but blue has plenty of ways to give things unblockable. Stealing things is so flavorful.... pirates always plunder when they damage. I like it.
Gishark, Sun's Avatar: Dragon general. Pushing all of that damage through seems tough, but getting even one free dino seems worth.
Star of Extinction: Costly board wipe. I hope it doesn't mean the dinos die.
Haven Raptor: Seems a little vanilla, but it can draw cards...
Tiehana, Voice of Thunder: This would be the merfolk general folks were wating for. It also seems nuts in Animar and most other UB decks. Great EDH card.
Bishop of Rebirth: Only creature and no ETB makes this MUCH worse than Sun Titan, even with the discount. The effect is strong enough that it still could be decent, and white vamps are nontrivial.
Deeproot Champion could get pretty large... with it said a player though.
Dreamcaller Siren: Relevant pirate seems good.
Goring Ceratops: What a beating. That's a lot of damage from a lot of large dinos. Also, combos with Gishark.
Vraska's Contempt: Four mana seems high but exile might be relevant enought to make it worthwhile.
Rowdy Crew: Discarding at random is tough but it is a pirate.
Bloodstained Paladin: I feel like this needs evasion to be good. It could work in something like Ghoulcaller Gisa that cares about the power of the creature getting sacced though.
Arcane Adaptation: Conspiracy is good. This will be good.
Captain Lannery Storm: Likes to attack and ramps... solid for the pirate deck.
Vanquisher's Banner: I like to draw cards. This seems pretty obviously good.
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
Hour of Revelation is going to be an all star in white decks. This is known.
The cycling lands Desert of the True, ect are not exciting, but the decks who want cycling lands are happy to have more. I'll certainly find room for the playable ones in Gitrog, Borbor and Norin. Mono white and red are, I think, exceptionally happy to have 'em.
The Scorpion God - Is our first new commander out of the set and I think it'll be a casual favorite. It's a little less powerful than Hapatra (in the -1/-1 theme), but I like the color combo. Wondering if there's some kind of Everlasting Torment + Repercussion themed deck there.
R Norin the Wary: I've Got a Bad Feeling About This
UG Thrasios & Kydele: Knowledge is Power
RG Borborygmos Enraged: The Breaking of the World
BG The Gitrog Monster: All Glory to the Hypnotoad
WUR Zedruu the Greathearted: Endless Possibilities, One Outcome
WBG Karador, Ghost Chieftain: What's Dead May Never Die
Turn your junk into something great with PucaTrade!
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
How do we know he's not red/blue
Bolas tend to leave the stain of Black on his minions, as seen in Tezz and Sarkhan, which is why I think The Sacarab God would be Dimir.
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
A proof of concept the devastation successfully happened.
BChainer, Dementia Master(Big Mana/Reanimator)
BRRakdos, The Showstopper (Mass Life Loss/Ramp)
BUThe Scarab God (Zombie Tribal/Control)
BWKarlov of the Ghost Council (Life Gain)
BGJarad, Golgari Lich Lord (Stompy/Dredge)
BRGProssh, Skyraider of Kher (Tokens/Non-infinite Combo)
Now developer confirmed that the Gods will indeed be BR, UR, and BU.
BR can be very destructive, and The Scorpion God has high synergy potential, but ultimately fall short compare to combo decks like Derevi, durable ones like Tasigur, and burst damage like Prossh. However, I do think Scorpion God plays better in multiplayer where politics matter.
Oketra's Last Mercy is quite powerful for three mana, to gain up to 39 life.
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
Cat tribal could be cooler (better?) with a multicolored cat legend...given we get cat cats (or cat snakes) on this plane instead of leonin, I don't think we'll get it here.
Having said that, leonin being cats but naga being not snakes remains BS.
(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'
Gonna include in my Temmet deck.
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
the third option for the despicable dark depths trick
also with paradox haze + celestial convergence instant win (upkeep number one turn the mirror into the celestial then the second upkeep triggers its howdy dowdy time.)
and the mirror + thespian's stage + cloudpost + glimmerpost = 11 mana or 19 mana if you throw in the Vesuva.
*EYES GET WIDE*
He is so going in my ninja (Vela) deck.
UB Vela the Night-Clad BUDecklist
WBG Ghave, Guru of Spores GBW
WUBRGThe Ur-DragonWUBRGDecklist
Yeah I mean I entirely expect that it doesn't allow it to target itself. I want to say that they wouldn't allow something like that through but they let Copycat through so I cant really say that.
(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'