I'm a fan of the vivids and I run a few in my decks. Mana is usually the most expensive part my decks, so I can always use some budget options. I'm okay with the CIPT, it's still beats guildgates. I'm not sure what could best replace it, but in one deck I run Gemstone Mine over it, but that deck also has a land recursion package.
Obviously most people are going to say there are always better lands you can be running, but in a singleton format with budget on the mind, I can't afford not to give them a slot in a deck - especially in a 3 color deck.
They're fine in the right deck. I see no reason why I'd want to play them in a two-colored deck, but three or five? Sometimes they're a good call, and especially if you are running ways to get around the CIPT restriction (Amulet of Vigor) or ways of resetting them (Ravnica bouncelands)... or, as noted, if you're running a lot of proliferate effects.
They're really not ideal, but especially if you don't have money for all the fetches you might want (and, honestly, I'm astounded at how many people seem to have stacks of fetches) and run a lot of decks (as I do), they can do the trick.
So, they're fine when budget is a consideration, for whatever reason, and assuming you're not playing in a meta in which games are typically over by turn five.
As far as casual lists go, the Vivids are alright for fixers. They are the first lands I replace when I get the actual good lands, and I often choose Painlands over Vivids.
They're nothing short of amazing in 3+ color decks. I actually started going out of my way to put them in as they're the best bang for your tapped buck. I'm more than willing to trade a turn for guaranteed fixing in Rafiq or Uril, but that's probably because I can make up for that tempo loss in spades in a turn or two. Prossh? Can't really afford said loss since it's pretty much a giant combo deck, but again, the Vivid lands are fantastic for longer games.
I actually really like them, but I also own 0 legit fetches. Legit meaning the pain-fetches we all know are great, not Terramorphic Expanse and friends.
They go in every multi-color deck I make.
That said, this is coming from a semi-budget conscious player in a non-competitive environment. I can understand how people who want a finely-tuned deck and are willing to spend would replace them.
Excellent fixing for 3+ color decks. Unless you absolutely have to curve out perfectly these are incredibly good lands. Even in decks that really care about curving out they're still pretty good because you're just not ALWAYS going to have a turn 1 play.
Unfortunately every try hard from Sacramento to Shanghai preaches from the top of their 27 lands + Mana Reflection that Tooth and Nail and Time Stretch are fine to play in the same turn but Armageddon is unfair.
They also play nicely with Reflecting Pool, which is a nice boon to have, especially in budget 3/5-color lists.
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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.
Mediocre card is mediocre. It's a nice mini-wrath effect, and 5 damage is enough to kill a good chunk of things, but it fails for relying on Threshold, and generally being outclassed over time.
Not much to add. There are many boardwipes available that are less conditional, so many that I can't really see this getting much play. Maybe in a deck built around threshold? Still sounds iffy, honestly.
I've always had vague ambitions to build a natural disaster themed deck, probably with Maelstrom Wanderer at the head for maximum "sudden doom" feel, and this card would deserve a slot.
Outside of that or a "desert" themed deck I can't see it, better options all around.
(You know, I'm kind of surprised how often this has been the answer considering how "usable in edh" seems the byword for crap card for everyone else.)
Part of me wants to see if it's possible to break the fact that, without threshold, casting Swirling Sandstorm actually does nothing. Is there some way to infinite the spell for a storm effect?
(You know, I'm kind of surprised how often this has been the answer considering how "usable in edh" seems the byword for crap card for everyone else.)
It's only people who don't play the format who say things like this. Cards that are genuine rubbish also often get unfairly labeled as "Limited filler".
I didn't even know there were cards that literally didn't do anything without threshold. This one seems extremely underwhelming.
It's only people who don't play the format who say things like this. Cards that are genuine rubbish also often get unfairly labeled as "Limited filler".
I didn't even know there were cards that literally didn't do anything without threshold. This one seems extremely underwhelming.
It's literally the only threshold card printed with no effect without threshold.
As mentioned, it's good in Pauper EDH, because it's one of a very small number of effects that can sweep creatures with more than 2 toughness (the others are Martyr of Ashes, Pestilence, and Crypt Rats). That's about the only place this even deserves a second look though.
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It's literally the only threshold card printed with no effect without threshold.
As mentioned, it's good in Pauper EDH, because it's one of a very small number of effects that can sweep creatures with more than 2 toughness (the others are Martyr of Ashes, Pestilence, and Crypt Rats). That's about the only place this even deserves a second look though.
It's...an option. A severely outclassed one, but an option nonetheless. Mono-Red or Pauper only, and in non-Pauper, I doubt you'd ever see it unless a deck really needed 15 Red Wraths.
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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.
It's actually not terrible in red lists that lack black or white. Sure red has better wraths but given the singleton nature of the format this is probably like my 6th or 7th choice. Blashpemous Act, Chain Reaction, Inferno, Rolling Earthquake, and Starstorm are all obviously better but if you find that you're still in need of wraths after those then it's viable. Maybe I'm a bit wrath happy but I tend to run about 8 "wraths" in most of my decks. This one is a stretch but I could see it being used in mono red, red/green, or MAYBE red/blue. Blue has some mass bounce so it might not make the cut there. Anyways it's an OK card. I give it a 5 out 10. A subpar card that you would only run if you absolutely had to but it gets the job done technically.
Unfortunately every try hard from Sacramento to Shanghai preaches from the top of their 27 lands + Mana Reflection that Tooth and Nail and Time Stretch are fine to play in the same turn but Armageddon is unfair.
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Obviously most people are going to say there are always better lands you can be running, but in a singleton format with budget on the mind, I can't afford not to give them a slot in a deck - especially in a 3 color deck.
GWUBRDraft my Old Border Nostalgia Cube! and/or The Little Pauper Cube That Could!RBUWG
Modern:WDeath & TaxesW | RUGRUG DelverRUG
They're really not ideal, but especially if you don't have money for all the fetches you might want (and, honestly, I'm astounded at how many people seem to have stacks of fetches) and run a lot of decks (as I do), they can do the trick.
So, they're fine when budget is a consideration, for whatever reason, and assuming you're not playing in a meta in which games are typically over by turn five.
Driving Stick with Isochron Scepter.
Trinkets and Treasure: An Artificer's Toolbox.
Proc Drops: Playing with One Drops.
Deck Primer: Toshiro Umezawa
GWURafiq of the TempoGWU
They go in every multi-color deck I make.
That said, this is coming from a semi-budget conscious player in a non-competitive environment. I can understand how people who want a finely-tuned deck and are willing to spend would replace them.
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When you absolutely, positively got to kill every permanent in the room, accept no substitutes.
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.
Mediocre card is mediocre. It's a nice mini-wrath effect, and 5 damage is enough to kill a good chunk of things, but it fails for relying on Threshold, and generally being outclassed over time.
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Resources:Commander Rulings FAQ | Commander Deckbuilding Guide
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Blasphemous act is a perfect example, and the instant speed Starstorm.
[Primer] Kozilek, Butcher with Juice.
...Great art though!
Outside of that or a "desert" themed deck I can't see it, better options all around.
(You know, I'm kind of surprised how often this has been the answer considering how "usable in edh" seems the byword for crap card for everyone else.)
| B Erebos, God of VampiresB | GYeva SmashG | RBosh ArtifactsR | GURAnimar +1 BeatsGUR | RBVial's Secret Hot SauceRB | UBRNekusar, Draw if you DareUBR | RGBDarigaaz'z DragonsRGB | GBSlimeFEETGB | UBOn-Hit LazavUB | URBrudiclad's Artificer InventionsUR | GUBMuldrotha's ElementalsGUB | WUGKestia's EnchantmentsWUG | GUTatyova - Draw, Land, Go!GU | WGArahbo's EquipmentWG | BUWVarina's ZOMBIE HORDESBUW | WLyra's Angelic SalvationW | WBChurch of TeysaWB | UAzami...WizardsU
It's only people who don't play the format who say things like this. Cards that are genuine rubbish also often get unfairly labeled as "Limited filler".
I didn't even know there were cards that literally didn't do anything without threshold. This one seems extremely underwhelming.
Erebos B | Ghost Council WB | Grimgrin UB | Jhoira UR
Jor Kadeen RW | Melek UR | Mimeoplasm GUB | Rasputin WU
Savra BG | Sisay GW | Teneb BGW | Thada Adel U | Wort BR
I draft and play EDH. If a Standard player can't understand who a card is for, it's probably for me.
I also write things about good films.
It's literally the only threshold card printed with no effect without threshold.
As mentioned, it's good in Pauper EDH, because it's one of a very small number of effects that can sweep creatures with more than 2 toughness (the others are Martyr of Ashes, Pestilence, and Crypt Rats). That's about the only place this even deserves a second look though.
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Legacy: Something U/W Controlish
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GGGOmnath, Locus of the LifestreamGGG
BBBShirei, Lord of PoniesBBB
UWRasputin Dreamweaver, Russia's Greatest Love MachineUW
UBWZur, Killer of FunUBW
UGWTreva, Princess of CanterlotUGW
RWTajic, Master of the Reverse BladeRW
RRRZirilan, How to Train Your DragonRRR
PDH Decks
Gelectrode
Ascended Lawmage
Blaze Commando
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.