Saving Grasp is a similar card that I think should be considered more often. Release to the Wind is just missing a cantrip or something? Maybe not even a cantrip, just something else added to it, or a cheaper mana cost. Unfortunate rare.
"without paying its mana cost" makes quite a difference especially some of the best cast triggers belong on the Eldrazi and Release to the Wind can target all nonland permanents, not only creatures, so you can save an expensive artifact/enchantment/planeswalker when necessary. Definitely worth the 2 more. Sure, it's worse on a defensive position when used on the opponent, but that's just a natural inverse effect, at least they gave the option for either use.
But if you casted the eldrazi with 3 mana still open to cast Release, odds are you're able to just recast him for the full casting cost. In that case, it's a lot easier to just leave 1 or 2 mana open for your Rescue or Turn to Mist or whatever effect.
All in all, blue got the best, but of course they did, spellshapers are instants cosplaying as creatures.
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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!
I've been both stronghold cards in my K&T ability tribal deck. I think the card is ok but requires support to be good. Ideally you want to play them with rule of law and seedborn muse style cards.
The most annoying thing isn't getting your commander countered every turn, its that the Biologist is on the right of the table and the Machinist is on the left. Why does this matter? Because when you sort by alphabetical order, the art doesn't work, and the two sit back to back. Online, where you can't just switch them in your binder, that's a RRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!! worthy problem.
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The Meaning of Life: "M-hmm. Well, it's nothing very special. Uh, try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations"
Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Whether its blue players countering your spells, red players burning you out, or combo, if you have a problem with an aspect of Magic's gameplay, you can fix it!
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!
It also probably has strange interactions with things like suspend cards.
No. Cards with suspend only cared if they're exiled if they also have time counters on them. Release to the Wind doesn't put time counters on the exiled card, so suspend does nothing.
can it permanently remove flip cards from the game? the flipped side doesn't have a casting cost, and therefore can't be cast, right?
No. Unless otherwise specified, a card moving to a new zone ends up face-up (for a public zone like exile), unflipped (for Kamigawa flip cards), and with its front face showing (for DFCs).
However, Release to the Wind says 'cast', not 'play', so if you targeted an Ormendahl, Profane Prince with it, it would be Westvale Abbey in exile and its owner wouldn't be able to re-play it.
The Seal of X cycle aren't the best instances of their ability, but they're generally okay, if telegraphed. I would say Cleansing/Primordium (Disenchant/Naturalize) and Doom (Dark Banishing) are probably the best ones, since they strongly incentivize opponents to not play certain card types while they're on the board. Removal (Unsummon) and Fire (Shock) are weaker, since bounce doesn't get rid of a creature for long (and they still get any ETB triggers), and Fire is only 2 damage.
The Seal of X cycle aren't the best instances of their ability, but they're generally okay, if telegraphed. I would say Cleansing/Primordium (Disenchant/Naturalize) and Doom (Dark Banishing) are probably the best ones, since they strongly incentivize opponents to not play certain card types while they're on the board. Removal (Unsummon) and Fire (Shock) are weaker, since bounce doesn't get rid of a creature for long (and they still get any ETB triggers), and Fire is only 2 damage.
You forgot Seal of Strength. Though I would say Strength and Removal struck me as somewhat weaker, just because they're taking effects that really need surprise to work properly. At the same time, Sun Titan exists (also true of any instant or sorcery cosplaying as a permanent with CMC 3 or less), and you can use all the usual benefits (Replenish, enchantresses/constellation, Ancestral Mask), though unlike instants, you can't use it (or Seal of Strength) to trigger heroic.
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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!
Google tells me Takahashi is the 3rd most popular family name in Japan. In celebration of how Japanese this name is, I'm tempted to make a deck full of weenies and vehicles and call it "Kei Cars".
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Zedruu: "This deck is not only able to go crazy - it also needs to do so."
Google tells me Takahashi is the 3rd most popular family name in Japan. In celebration of how Japanese this name is, I'm tempted to make a deck full of weenies and vehicles and call it "Kei Cars".
Given today's standard, he might've be a suitable Selesnya creature.
Costs ten dollars. I highly doubt anyone shelling out a Hammy for one of these didn't feel bad afterwards.
Well the legend print is selling at 10 by TCG prices,while the Chronicles print is less than a dollar, which leads me to say this with as much venom as possible "MTG investors and the RL"
Well the legend print is selling at 10 by TCG prices,while the Chronicles print is less than a dollar, which leads me to say this with as much venom as possible "MTG investors and the RL"
Well the legend print is selling at 10 by TCG prices,while the Chronicles print is less than a dollar, which leads me to say this with as much venom as possible "MTG investors and the RL"
Why? Kei isn't on the reserved list.
I'm allowed to post stuff that doesn't make sense since it's 2 in the morning here....
Well the legend print is selling at 10 by TCG prices,while the Chronicles print is less than a dollar, which leads me to say this with as much venom as possible "MTG investors and the RL"
Why? Kei isn't on the reserved list.
I'm allowed to post stuff that doesn't make sense since it's 2 in the morning here....
Direct your venom at the 94/95 crowd of players that find reasons to play Moxen and Kei Takahashi in the same deck.
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It also probably has strange interactions with things like suspend cards.
can it permanently remove flip cards from the game? the flipped side doesn't have a casting cost, and therefore can't be cast, right?
Legacy - Solidarity - mono U aggro - burn - Imperial Painter - Strawberry Shortcake - Bluuzards - bom
But if you casted the eldrazi with 3 mana still open to cast Release, odds are you're able to just recast him for the full casting cost. In that case, it's a lot easier to just leave 1 or 2 mana open for your Rescue or Turn to Mist or whatever effect.
I really hope I have a counterspell for my opponent's commander...
Repeatedly, too. He's fragile but could be very annoying over time. I always appreciate spellshapers' discard-on-demand.
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
There are 56 spellshapers (again not counting changelings) and they're all over the place as far as utility. The better ones are:
Devout Witness
Goldmeadow Lookout
Mageta the Lion
Alexi, Zephyr Mage
Dreamscape Artist
Overtaker
Stronghold Biologist
Stronghold Machinist
Tolarian Sentinel
Waterfront Bouncer
Bog Witch (notably fun with Mana Reflection, since you net five mana)
Cackling Witch (Form Voltron!)
Greel, Mind Raker (not normally, but in a format where "draw seven cards in one turn" is the norm?)
Instigator (mostly for being a black version of this effect)
Notorious Assassin
Arc Mage (Basilisk Collar anyone?)
Hammer Mage
Jaya Ballard, Task Mage
Latulla, Keldon Overseer (and there's your mana sink slash win condition)
Dawnstrider (another lovely Spike Weaver variant)
Jolrael, Empress of Beasts
Silverglade Pathfinder
Stampede Driver
All in all, blue got the best, but of course they did, spellshapers are instants cosplaying as creatures.
On phasing:
I was always fond of his sister (and art-sharer), Stronghold Machinist. There are plenty more noncreatures I'd like to counter than creatures.
http://www.commandercast.com/category/articles/generally-speaking
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Onering's 4 simple steps that let you solve any problem with Magic's gameplay
Step 1: Identify the problem. What aspect of Magic don't you like? Step 2: Find out how others deal with the problem. How do players deal with this aspect of the game when they run into it? Step 3: Do what those players do. Step 4: No more problem. Bonus: You are now better at Magic. Enjoy those extra wins!
No. Unless otherwise specified, a card moving to a new zone ends up face-up (for a public zone like exile), unflipped (for Kamigawa flip cards), and with its front face showing (for DFCs).
However, Release to the Wind says 'cast', not 'play', so if you targeted an Ormendahl, Profane Prince with it, it would be Westvale Abbey in exile and its owner wouldn't be able to re-play it.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Shock that has to be in play ahead of time, but gets you enchantment based synergies.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
I love the flavor text..it's like Chandra was like..."well,that's number four...I guess this is my life now...."
I've always hoped that one day there would come a Pauper Infect deck that ran Seal of Strength, Briar Shield, and Rofellos's Gift because that would be sweet.
You forgot Seal of Strength. Though I would say Strength and Removal struck me as somewhat weaker, just because they're taking effects that really need surprise to work properly. At the same time, Sun Titan exists (also true of any instant or sorcery cosplaying as a permanent with CMC 3 or less), and you can use all the usual benefits (Replenish, enchantresses/constellation, Ancestral Mask), though unlike instants, you can't use it (or Seal of Strength) to trigger heroic.
On phasing:
Google tells me Takahashi is the 3rd most popular family name in Japan. In celebration of how Japanese this name is, I'm tempted to make a deck full of weenies and vehicles and call it "Kei Cars".
Given today's standard, he might've be a suitable Selesnya creature.
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
yet still worth 10 dollars
Costs ten dollars. I highly doubt anyone shelling out a Hammy for one of these didn't feel bad afterwards.
Well the legend print is selling at 10 by TCG prices,while the Chronicles print is less than a dollar, which leads me to say this with as much venom as possible "MTG investors and the RL"
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 allowed to post stuff that doesn't make sense since it's 2 in the morning here....
I did try and make a very casual EDH deck with him you can see it here, but he is terrible.
On the plus side he is a human cleric these days so Cleric Tribal might have a use for him if you want to dip into green.
Mr Barrin this Cube is on Fire!! - http://www.cubetutor.com/cubeblog/80149
WG Kei Takahashi: Is in Charge Now !? (EDH) WG
Direct your venom at the 94/95 crowd of players that find reasons to play Moxen and Kei Takahashi in the same deck.