I want to put this entire cycle in Ramos just because it is 3 counters for 2 mana.
That would be cool, but the dudes would need to come down after Ramos, and by that time these two drops would have lost a lot of their efficiency (since you didn't cast them on turn 2).
A little late to the party, but is anyone else confused and annoyed that his type is Shaman instead of Wizard? I mean, he's an alchemist, he's strapped himself into some kind of destructive mechanism, and his flavourtext implies that he thinks of himself as some kind of a genius. That all screams "wizard" to me.
A little late to the party, but is anyone else confused and annoyed that his type is Shaman instead of Wizard? I mean, he's an alchemist, he's strapped himself into some kind of destructive mechanism, and his flavourtext implies that he thinks of himself as some kind of a genius. That all screams "wizard" to me.
It's a little weird, but flavorfully it's just fine. The red alchemists in particular on Innistrad get their bombastic powers by utilizing, and at times communing, with vengeful fiery spirits. That's perfectly shamanistic, even if an alchemist is more typically a wizard.
As for today's card, I ran a R/B aggro deck when I got back into the game with Alara's release (top of the curve being the lovely Demigod of Revenge) and this guy was often a remarkably good play, especially when suited up with Fists of the Demigod. Not sure I would ever want it out of that nostalgia-ridden casual deck though.
Hard to justify this cycle in EDH. But still, they are my favorite three-color two-drops.
Oh for sure. I'd say Jund Hackblade is in the top five of best tri-color two drops of all time in the history of the game, which is sure something after 25 years of Magic :D.
Esper Stormblade is kinda cool as a cog in Breya, but there are plenty of 0-2-drop artifacts to take that role.
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Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
The effect is certainly not bad, but it's held back by being a sorcery and requiring a high density of instants and sorceries. If it could also grab enchantments/artifacts I'd play it, but as is now it misses too often, IMO. Not a bad card, just not quite there.
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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.
I've been seeing Pieces of the Puzzle everywhere lately. I decided to add it to my Kruphix list a few weeks ago. Around the same time, I learned that the local Riku of Two Reflections deck started using it. My Kruphix deck has 56 instants and sorceries. The Riku list in question apparently has 48.
I also found out it's a thing in Vintage, at least fringe playable.
The fact that it puts the unselected cards in your yard is what really pushes it over the edge, assuming you run enough instants and sorceries. I haven't played a real game with it yet, but it's been solid in online testing and looked good in that Riku deck.
Assuming it is in color, I'd always take Forbidden Alchemy first and at this mana, I'd probably rather pay one more to run Fact or Fiction. While this does have potential to draw more, it requires a very specific deck, it is only sorcery speed, and I can't take whatever card I want. That being said, I think it's a surprising playable if you are in the market for this. You get to look at five cards, draw two, and mill three-four. There really is no card occupying a similar space - Strategic Planning is probably also better but also just draws one. Catalog, Frantic Search, Thirst for Knowledge and Compulsive Research are also similar and probably overall better, but discarding isn't quite the same as milling and you don't dig quite as deep. That we are comparing this to some of the best instants of all time puts it in surprising company, and for any deck that doesn't have Black in the identity (Kruphix, Riku, most Izzet Spellslingers) it is at least worth thinking about.
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Sufferer of EDHD
Commander - Currently Playing: 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
While instant speed is always nice, Forbidden Alchemy only looks at four and takes one. Looking at five and taking two is much better. And playing 6B for that effect isn't where you want to be most of the time.
As far as similar designs go, Kruphix's Insight digs a card deeper and nabs up to three, but only enchantments. I'm planning to put a copy in my Cromat deck as soon as I acquire one, because that deck has enough enchantments to make it work and I can always choose zero for on-curve synergy with Replenish.
Of course, part of my motivation for using those cards is that I love committing to a theme and trying get maximum payoff from that. Niche cards that reward very specific deck construction are right up my alley.
I want to put this entire cycle in Ramos just because it is 3 counters for 2 mana.
That would be cool, but the dudes would need to come down after Ramos, and by that time these two drops would have lost a lot of their efficiency (since you didn't cast them on turn 2).
Well that just means they are good no matter when you draw them, early game you have a creature on the field to keep things out of your face, late game you got 3 counters for 2 manas.
It is way better than people give it credit for. I play it in modern storm.
It is a deeper digging, grave filling divination or sorcery speed forbidden alchemy (in a single colour). In a singleton format I see this seeing play maybe its in your 90th card or whatever but its super playable.
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.
Card advantage is not the same thing as card draw. Something for 2B cannot be strictly worse than something for BBB or 3BB. If you're taking out Swords to Plowshares for Plummet, you're a fool. Stop doing these things!
I absolutely love this art, sadly it's stapled on a rather poor card. The effect is pretty good, enabling you to go wide, but this is a card that really wants to go on a big fatty for maximum value. Paying 6 mana to give a big fatty evasion and allow you to go wider isn't bad, per say, but it being an aura means you likely get at most 1 use out of it and decks going wide tend to favor large amounts of smaller creatures. Had this been an equipment - the cost would need to be fiddled with a bit - I could see this being played in GWx token decks, as is...too expensive, I fear.
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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.
Very expensive for an aura. I don't know wich deck wants this kinda of card? Auras are betetr on voltrons that can protect themselves but those type of decks don't go wide with tokens? Well i guess can be usefull to fight against sac cards like Fleshbag Marauder and Grave Pact. Even still its too expensive.
Oh man, I remember throwing this bad boy on Watchwolf alongside Arma-cloak and smash face back in the old sleeveless, 60 card kitchen table days. Good times.
I considered this card in a Saskia "combat matters" build that included Tana, the Bloodsower but I never finished the list. Worth noting that it goes infinite with Breath of Fury with each enchantment on a different creature.
I considered this card in a Saskia "combat matters" build that included Tana, the Bloodsower but I never finished the list. Worth noting that it goes infinite with Breath of Fury with each enchantment on a different creature.
I considered this card in a Saskia "combat matters" build that included Tana, the Bloodsower but I never finished the list. Worth noting that it goes infinite with Breath of Fury with each enchantment on a different creature.
Pretty sure you need a haste source too.
D'oh, was thinking Breath granted haste for some reason. Oh well.
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That would be cool, but the dudes would need to come down after Ramos, and by that time these two drops would have lost a lot of their efficiency (since you didn't cast them on turn 2).
Currently Playing:
Multiplayer EDH Lists (click italics for a link to the thread!)
[Primer] Lord of Tresserhorn - Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do[Primer] Roon of the Hidden Realm - Rhino Blink
5 Color Tribal Guide (Slivers, Atogs, Allies, Spirits)
Also Playing (most decklists can be found on my profile)
MarathGeistKamahlGrenzoBolasThassaGitrog
PiratesZurVial Smasher&ThrasiosYennettJhoira(cEDH)Strix(Pauper)
Legacy: Maverick
Modern:
Melira PodRIP 1/19/15GWHatebearsA little late to the party, but is anyone else confused and annoyed that his type is Shaman instead of Wizard? I mean, he's an alchemist, he's strapped himself into some kind of destructive mechanism, and his flavourtext implies that he thinks of himself as some kind of a genius. That all screams "wizard" to me.
It's a little weird, but flavorfully it's just fine. The red alchemists in particular on Innistrad get their bombastic powers by utilizing, and at times communing, with vengeful fiery spirits. That's perfectly shamanistic, even if an alchemist is more typically a wizard.
As for today's card, I ran a R/B aggro deck when I got back into the game with Alara's release (top of the curve being the lovely Demigod of Revenge) and this guy was often a remarkably good play, especially when suited up with Fists of the Demigod. Not sure I would ever want it out of that nostalgia-ridden casual deck though.
Esper Stormblade is kinda cool as a cog in Breya, but there are plenty of 0-2-drop artifacts to take that role.
On phasing:
The effect is certainly not bad, but it's held back by being a sorcery and requiring a high density of instants and sorceries. If it could also grab enchantments/artifacts I'd play it, but as is now it misses too often, IMO. Not a bad card, just not quite there.
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.
I also found out it's a thing in Vintage, at least fringe playable.
The fact that it puts the unselected cards in your yard is what really pushes it over the edge, assuming you run enough instants and sorceries. I haven't played a real game with it yet, but it's been solid in online testing and looked good in that Riku deck.
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
I ran Forbidden Alchemy back in the day, but it's been a while.
As far as similar designs go, Kruphix's Insight digs a card deeper and nabs up to three, but only enchantments. I'm planning to put a copy in my Cromat deck as soon as I acquire one, because that deck has enough enchantments to make it work and I can always choose zero for on-curve synergy with Replenish.
Of course, part of my motivation for using those cards is that I love committing to a theme and trying get maximum payoff from that. Niche cards that reward very specific deck construction are right up my alley.
Well that just means they are good no matter when you draw them, early game you have a creature on the field to keep things out of your face, late game you got 3 counters for 2 manas.
Dragons of Legend, Lead by Scion of the UR-Dragon
The Gitrog Monster
Gonti, Lord of Luxury
Shogun Saskia
Hive World
Atraxa hates fun
Abzan
Dragons of Legend, Lead by Scion of the UR-Dragon
The Gitrog Monster
Gonti, Lord of Luxury
Shogun Saskia
Hive World
Atraxa hates fun
Abzan
It is a deeper digging, grave filling divination or sorcery speed forbidden alchemy (in a single colour). In a singleton format I see this seeing play maybe its in your 90th card or whatever but its super playable.
Pioneer:UR Pheonix
Modern:U Mono U Tron
EDH
GB Glissa, the traitor: Army of Cans
UW Dragonlord Ojutai: Dragonlord NOjutai
UWGDerevi, Empyrial Tactician "you cannot fight the storm"
R Zirilan of the claw. The solution to every problem is dragons
UB Etrata, the Silencer Cloning assassination
Peasant cube: Cards I own
Well that's just cold.
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.
On phasing:
Dragons of Legend, Lead by Scion of the UR-Dragon
The Gitrog Monster
Gonti, Lord of Luxury
Shogun Saskia
Hive World
Atraxa hates fun
Abzan
I absolutely love this art, sadly it's stapled on a rather poor card. The effect is pretty good, enabling you to go wide, but this is a card that really wants to go on a big fatty for maximum value. Paying 6 mana to give a big fatty evasion and allow you to go wider isn't bad, per say, but it being an aura means you likely get at most 1 use out of it and decks going wide tend to favor large amounts of smaller creatures. Had this been an equipment - the cost would need to be fiddled with a bit - I could see this being played in GWx token decks, as is...too expensive, I fear.
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.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
I considered this card in a Saskia "combat matters" build that included Tana, the Bloodsower but I never finished the list. Worth noting that it goes infinite with Breath of Fury with each enchantment on a different creature.
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
D'oh, was thinking Breath granted haste for some reason. Oh well.