He is a mana sink, so can be built in a sort of ElfBall deck and used as such if you don't draw your Fireball cards. White allows for some (not much, but some) protection and spot removal.
He untaps lands, allowing him to fit right into a Naya Enchantress deck that focuses on Utopia Sprawl and similar cards. I personally think Maranth, Will of the Wild is better just due to you having a win con in the Command Zone, but he definitely belongs in the 99 if you want to take him.
He's also a pretty decent Voltron commander, considering he has two highly relevant keyword (Vigilance and Trample), can clear/weaken blockers, and comes with the ability to equip even the most expensive items on him the turn he drops for free.
Dude's got plenty of direction if you can read his map
I already said he directs towards ramp, but everyone's playing ramp anyway so that's not much direction. Not sure why you'd say elves specifically given that he has negative synergy with nonland mana producers. Auras, sure, but not any moreso than regular, putting-lands-into-play ramp.
He's a horrible voltron commander. He's way overpriced for his stats and is in a bit of a dead zone for effective power since he needs 2 more to be a natural 2-hit kill but he's way overpriced for a 3-hit kill. Given that you're anticipating loading up a voltron commander with equipment anyway, paying 9 for a bunch of p/t is pretty pointless when you could pick anyone cheaper and be killing people before Zacama even hits the board. Plus voltron is a horribly ineffective archetype to begin with, but that's more my personal opinion.
Here’s an idea, don’t build him then. I mean, we all got choices, right?
Personally, he has built in utility that lends itself to specific builds based on each of his abilities.
He doesn’t slot into a pre-existing archetype, which is always a plus with newly spoiled legends.
But, for reals, you are wasting your time trying to explain why he’s “bad”.In reality, he’s just not for you which is cool, just stick with that instead of trying to persuade others to share your opinion.
Here’s an idea, don’t build him then. I mean, we all got choices, right?
Personally, he has built in utility that lends itself to specific builds based on each of his abilities.
He doesn’t slot into a pre-existing archetype, which is always a plus with newly spoiled legends.
But, for reals, you are wasting your time trying to explain why he’s “bad”.In reality, he’s just not for you which is cool, just stick with that instead of trying to persuade others to share your opinion.
I think you're completely missing Dirk's point here, Sam. Dirk isn't claiming that Zacama is a bad card. The only thing Dirk's trying to claim here is that Zacama isn't that interesting to build around as a commander since there really isn't any kind of direction to take it besides ramping, something a lot of Commander decks are going to do anyway.
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WUBRGMr. Bones' Wild RideGRBUW Trap your friends in an endless game with this 23-card combo!
Yes I, the only one who contested it, said that the release notes confirmed that to be the case. I only contested it once. Not much of a war. However, just because the rules say it's true doesn't mean it makes any more sense.
The reason people are going to build Zacama in droves is because of the Timmy appeal. It's a giant three-headed dinosaur. There's a subset of the commander crowd that would build the deck even if the card was significantly worse than it is, interesting build around or no.
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[Pr]Jaya | Estrid | A rotating cast of decks built out of my box.
Here's an interesting question: Does Zacama want Mycosynth Lattice? It seems pretty easy for him to make infinite mana. One out would easily be for him to just blow up all of your opponents things.
Might as well include Aetherflux Resovior. If your making infinite mana you could gain infinite life and kill everyone. Of course, making infinite G is easier than infinite W.
That makes literally zero sense. The ability making things into swamps is gone. But the official release notes confirm so sure. Makes no ******* sense though.
This has been true of Urborg since its release; Blood Sun functions almost identically to Blood Moon. (Blood Sun will take away non-mana abilities granted to basic lands with something like Underworld Connections, and Blood Moon will make a multicolor deck stuffed with nonbasics have a hard time casting things.)
It may seem unintuitive at first glance, but it's a simple application of the game's layers system. With Urborg and Blood Sun in play, when the game wants to know the characteristics of an Island, it goes step by step through the layers. At layer 4, the game sees Urborg's ability, and makes the Island into an Island Swamp. At layer 6, is sees Blood Sun's ability, and removes Urborg's ability. But Urborg has already been applied, so that doesn't matter.
I think you're completely missing Dirk's point here, Sam. Dirk isn't claiming that Zacama is a bad card. The only thing Dirk's trying to claim here is that Zacama isn't that interesting to build around as a commander since there really isn't any kind of direction to take it besides ramping, something a lot of Commander decks are going to do anyway.
This. The only reason I commented on him was because I ran down all the new legends we got, which I do every set. I didn't single out Zacama personally, it was just my "review" that got commented on.
Anyway I'm not overenthusiastic about any of the legends in the set, but there are a lot of cool nonlegends. I've been loving the way the current flip lands play and I'll be slotting in a bunch of these too. Only bummer is that, as mostly 2-color cards, they fit into fewer decks.
As an Edgar Markov player, this set has me PUMPED. So here's my listing of the cards I'll at least consider. (Anything not mentioned isn't going to go in anyway)
Bishop of Binding - While this makes me a bit weaker to wraths, the ability to take away a threat and make one of mine bigger is not to be underestimated. Not a shoe-in, but certainly an option. Forerunner of the Legion - It may only be a topdeck tutor and it's Vampire ETB effect may not be all that strong, the fact that it tutors and pumps is already enough. A guaranteed in, especially now that there's actual drawpower he can tutor. Martyr of Dusk - Looks very unassuming but is 3 bodies for 2 mana, albeit one coming later. Will slot in over another 2-drop. Skymarcher Aspirant - Unexciting but it's a 1 drop that is likely to fly later in the game. Good value for mana, will bump off another 1 drop. Champion of Dusk - ALL OF MY YES. Drawing cards is probably the weakest point of Edgar. Being able to draw a glut just for doing what the deck does already? Oh yes, Edgar is ready! Dusk Legion Zealot - Yet another unassuming card that will quietly slide into the deck and do decent work. Cantripping vampire taking along a second body is useful. Oathsworn Vampire - The deck is relatively light on lifegain but there are enough sources to enable a reasonably consistent casting of this guy. Recurrent vampires are always a plus. Twilight Prophet - That thing about drawing cards? Yeah. It may not be the strongest draw effect, but Bloodgift Demon was never a truly bad card and this is usually going to be much better. Elenda, the Dusk Rose - Great if she can be paired with a sac outlet, enabling her to grow massively during a boardwipe, leaving me with an army after it. But she might be too inconsistent to work, so not an auto-in. Legion Lieutenant - A 2 mana anthem on a stick. I'm not sure if I could've asked for more.
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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.
This has been true of Urborg since its release; Blood Sun functions almost identically to Blood Moon.
Note that the interaction between Blood Moon and Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth has the opposite result of that between Urborg and Blood Sun, so the two don't function identically in this case. Blood Moon does prevent Urborg from turning everything into Swamps because it's in the same layer and because of dependency.
Well, I guess normally this thread isn't used much for Masters sets, but one thing immediately jumped out to me among the spoilers - Zada, Hedron Grinder at uncommon. This immediately made me want to whip up a PDH list - especially since Hordeling Outburst is at common now. Most can- and slowtrips that make the backbone of a Zada deck are already common. It would be a little less combo oriented than a traditional Zada build, but it definitely seems very viable.
Mox Amber
0
Legendary Artifact
T: Add one mana of any color among legendary creatures and planeswalkers you control.
• Mox Amber's ability adds one mana of the color of your choice from among the colors of legendary creatures and planeswalkers you control. It doesn't add one mana of each of those colors.
• If you control no legendary creatures or planeswalkers, you can activate Mox Amber's ability, but you won't add any mana.
• If your legendary creatures and planeswalkers are all colorless, you can activate Mox Amber's ability, but you won't add any mana. Colorless is not a color.
Rat.dec
Rat Colony
1B
Creature — Rat
2/1
Rat Colony gets +1/+0 for each other Rat you control.
A deck can have any number of cards named Rat Colony.
• Rat Colony's last ability lets you ignore only the "four-of" rule. It doesn't let you ignore format legality.
Found another one for my Voltron deck
Tiana, Ship's Caretaker
3RW
Legendary Creature — Angel Artificer
3/3
Flying, first strike
Whenever an Aura or Equipment you control is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, you may return that card to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.
EDIT II:
Helm of the Host
4
Legendary Artifact — Equipment
At the beginning of combat on your turn, create a token that's a copy of equipped creature, except the token isn't legendary if equipped creature is legendary. That token gains haste.
Equip 5
I'm not sure if i should be concerned about Legendary Sorceries or not...
I cna't wait to see the artwork for
Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain
2UR
Legendary Creature — Human Artificer
3/3
Whenever you cast a historic spell, draw a card.
Historic is a game term that refers to a card that has the legendary supertype,the artifact card type, or the Saga enchantment type
is this only applying to this set or does it include stuff like Akroma's Memorial?
It aplies to every card with those types. From Sidisi, Undead Vizier to Mindstone as examples. only the Saga enchantments are the unique case since they are only in this set.
Here’s an idea, don’t build him then. I mean, we all got choices, right?
Personally, he has built in utility that lends itself to specific builds based on each of his abilities.
He doesn’t slot into a pre-existing archetype, which is always a plus with newly spoiled legends.
But, for reals, you are wasting your time trying to explain why he’s “bad”.In reality, he’s just not for you which is cool, just stick with that instead of trying to persuade others to share your opinion.
Trap your friends in an endless game with this 23-card combo!
Yes I, the only one who contested it, said that the release notes confirmed that to be the case. I only contested it once. Not much of a war. However, just because the rules say it's true doesn't mean it makes any more sense.
This has been true of Urborg since its release; Blood Sun functions almost identically to Blood Moon. (Blood Sun will take away non-mana abilities granted to basic lands with something like Underworld Connections, and Blood Moon will make a multicolor deck stuffed with nonbasics have a hard time casting things.)
It may seem unintuitive at first glance, but it's a simple application of the game's layers system. With Urborg and Blood Sun in play, when the game wants to know the characteristics of an Island, it goes step by step through the layers. At layer 4, the game sees Urborg's ability, and makes the Island into an Island Swamp. At layer 6, is sees Blood Sun's ability, and removes Urborg's ability. But Urborg has already been applied, so that doesn't matter.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Anyway I'm not overenthusiastic about any of the legends in the set, but there are a lot of cool nonlegends. I've been loving the way the current flip lands play and I'll be slotting in a bunch of these too. Only bummer is that, as mostly 2-color cards, they fit into fewer decks.
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
Bishop of Binding - While this makes me a bit weaker to wraths, the ability to take away a threat and make one of mine bigger is not to be underestimated. Not a shoe-in, but certainly an option.
Forerunner of the Legion - It may only be a topdeck tutor and it's Vampire ETB effect may not be all that strong, the fact that it tutors and pumps is already enough. A guaranteed in, especially now that there's actual drawpower he can tutor.
Martyr of Dusk - Looks very unassuming but is 3 bodies for 2 mana, albeit one coming later. Will slot in over another 2-drop.
Skymarcher Aspirant - Unexciting but it's a 1 drop that is likely to fly later in the game. Good value for mana, will bump off another 1 drop.
Champion of Dusk - ALL OF MY YES. Drawing cards is probably the weakest point of Edgar. Being able to draw a glut just for doing what the deck does already? Oh yes, Edgar is ready!
Dusk Legion Zealot - Yet another unassuming card that will quietly slide into the deck and do decent work. Cantripping vampire taking along a second body is useful.
Oathsworn Vampire - The deck is relatively light on lifegain but there are enough sources to enable a reasonably consistent casting of this guy. Recurrent vampires are always a plus.
Twilight Prophet - That thing about drawing cards? Yeah. It may not be the strongest draw effect, but Bloodgift Demon was never a truly bad card and this is usually going to be much better.
Elenda, the Dusk Rose - Great if she can be paired with a sac outlet, enabling her to grow massively during a boardwipe, leaving me with an army after it. But she might be too inconsistent to work, so not an auto-in.
Legion Lieutenant - A 2 mana anthem on a stick. I'm not sure if I could've asked for more.
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.
Anyways i really liek Zacama and would like to try making a deck.
Don't forget Aegis Automaton!
Note that the interaction between Blood Moon and Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth has the opposite result of that between Urborg and Blood Sun, so the two don't function identically in this case. Blood Moon does prevent Urborg from turning everything into Swamps because it's in the same layer and because of dependency.
Forerunner of the Legion - Will definitely go into Edgar Markov
Riverwise Augur - I'm going to try this in both Brago, King Eternal Blink and Ni-Mizzet, the Firemind
Champion of the Dusk - Edgar Markov
Pitiless Plunderer - Will go into Enrek Sahr, Master Breeder as a way to turn Thrulls into mana.
Twilight Prophet - Edgar Markov
Tendershot Dryad - I have a small Saproling theme in my Ghave, Guru of Spores deck and this plays well into all that deck's other themes as well.
Wayward Swordtooth - Will be a good addition to Damia, Sage of Stone, mostly due to the additional land drop.
Angrath, the Flame-Chained - Perfect for Nicol Bolas discard deck.
Azor, the Lawbringer - Might be perfect for Brago, King Eternal
Elenda, the Dusk Rose - Would be very good in Ghave
Legion Lieutenant - Edgar Markov
Journey to Eternity - Seems like a fun card to try out in Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Azor's Gateway - Definitey going into Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind, but I'm going to try it in any deck that runs Paradox Engine.
Jalira, Master Polymorphist | Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder | Bosh, Iron Golem | Ezuri, Renegade Leader
Brago, King Eternal | Oona, Queen of the Fae | Wort, Boggart Auntie | Wort, the Raidmother
Captain Sisay | Rhys, the Redeemed | Trostani, Selesnya's Voice | Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight | Obzedat, Ghost Council | Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind | Vorel of the Hull Clade
Uril, the Miststalker | Prossh, Skyraider of Kher | Nicol Bolas | Progenitus
Ghave, Guru of Spores | Zedruu the Greathearted | Damia, Sage of Stone | Riku of Two Reflections
- Mist-Cloaked Herald for Edric
- Journey to Eternity for Meren
- Flood of Recollection for Azami
(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'
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
[Primer] Erebos, God of the Dead
HONK HONK
Mox Amber
0
Legendary Artifact
T: Add one mana of any color among legendary creatures and planeswalkers you control.
• Mox Amber's ability adds one mana of the color of your choice from among the colors of legendary creatures and planeswalkers you control. It doesn't add one mana of each of those colors.
• If you control no legendary creatures or planeswalkers, you can activate Mox Amber's ability, but you won't add any mana.
• If your legendary creatures and planeswalkers are all colorless, you can activate Mox Amber's ability, but you won't add any mana. Colorless is not a color.
https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/dominaria-leak-2018-03-08
Rat.dec
Rat Colony
1B
Creature — Rat
2/1
Rat Colony gets +1/+0 for each other Rat you control.
A deck can have any number of cards named Rat Colony.
• Rat Colony's last ability lets you ignore only the "four-of" rule. It doesn't let you ignore format legality.
Found another one for my Voltron deck
Tiana, Ship's Caretaker
3RW
Legendary Creature — Angel Artificer
3/3
Flying, first strike
Whenever an Aura or Equipment you control is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, you may return that card to its owner's hand at the beginning of the next end step.
EDIT II:
Helm of the Host
4
Legendary Artifact — Equipment
At the beginning of combat on your turn, create a token that's a copy of equipped creature, except the token isn't legendary if equipped creature is legendary. That token gains haste.
Equip 5
I'm not sure if i should be concerned about Legendary Sorceries or not...
I cna't wait to see the artwork for
Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain
2UR
Legendary Creature — Human Artificer
3/3
Whenever you cast a historic spell, draw a card.
It aplies to every card with those types. From Sidisi, Undead Vizier to Mindstone as examples. only the Saga enchantments are the unique case since they are only in this set.
I want to love this card because i love Gix, but it seems kinda... bad? Am i missing something?
Rona, disciple of Gix 1ub
Human Artificer
Etba, exile a historic card from your graveyard
4, tap: exile the top card from your library
You may cast nonland cards exiled with Rona.
I mean, 4 mana is steep for virtually drawing a card..
“I once had an entire race killed just to listen to the rattling of their dried bones as I waded through them.”
—Volrath
It's pretty rough, at least without seeing any of the cards printed around it.
Jodah, Archmage Eternal pushes you toward Omniscience and huge Eldrazi.
Slimefoot, the Stowaway provides a mana sink and a way to cause your opponents to lose the game.
Muldrotha, the Gravetide provides an absurd amount of value. Mindslaver and Strip Mine spring to mind.
Grand Warlord Radha goes infinite with Aggravated Assault and four other creatures.